Off the beaten path is where Doris and Sonny’s Homelike Restaurant lies.

Well, actually, it is at 6856 Ohio 128 in Miamitown and serves up Cincinnati’s best burger.

The restaurant was opened by owner Kent Hugentobler’s parents, Sonny and Doris, in 1963.

Things started to change two years ago when Homelike’s Winged Burger was selected as one of the top 40 burgers in Greater Cincinnati by Cincinnati Magazine.

The Winged Burger is a beef patty topped with grill-fried buffalo chicken goetta and jalapeno blue cheese coleslaw.

“There is nothing else like it,” said Hugentobler.

This year, Cincinnati Magazine devised a different format to select the best burger in the city.

The contest, called Burger Madness, was based on the NCAA basketball tournament bracket.

The magazine picked 32 burgers to compete weekly. Winners were determined by online voting.

The competition was steep. Homelike began its burger journey against Virgil’s Café. The next opponent was Senate. It then took on City View Tavern, followed by Zip’s Café.

Week by week, the small, non-alcohol serving restaurant continued to garner more votes.

Finally, Homelike faced off against Gabby’s Café, and won.

“It was a real shock and surprise,” said Hugentobler.

Now, everything has changed for the restaurant. It is frequently mystery shopped, and hours have been extended.

Hugentobler said Homelike will celebrate its 50th year in business in 2013, and he is  proud the restaurant has been family owned so long.

Hugentobler, however, is finding it increasingly difficult to single-handedly keep up with the extended hours. He is training an evening manager who eventually will run the restaurant.

When I called and asked if he had a minute to talk he chuckled and asked “When?” while letting a waitress know her order was up.

“I can’t keep up like this until my end,” said the 54-year-old Hugentobler. “This is my exit plan.”

Hugentobler thanks customers for their in-store and online support through the past 49 years.

“I want to welcome them back home to Homelike,” he said.

Doris and Sonny’s Homelike Restaurant offers a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items. It is open Tuesday through Friday 5 a.m. - 8 p.m., Monday and Saturday 5 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.