18 Most Anticipated Restaurants to Open in Cincinnati This Spring

OTR Chili

1910 Elm Street and Eton Ave., Over-the-Rhine
Over-the-Rhine will soon be home to the newest face of Cincinnati chili. Housed in the old Sartre space in the Rhinegeist brewery, OTR Chili is set to open this spring. In addition to classic chili dishes like 3-ways and coneys, OTR Chili will also include a menu full of options like classic burgers and an abundance of sandwiches, from fried chicken to gyros, plus wine, spirits and cocktails.
Photo: Provided

Subito

311 Pike St., Downtown
Slated to open downtown this March, The Lytle Park Hotel — "situated within a classic 1909 building," according to the website — will soon be home to Subito, an upscale Italian eatery and Vista at Lytle Park Rooftop, which offers "5,177 sq. ft. to accommodate up to 270 guests across the indoor and outdoor venue," says a press email. Subito is scheduled to open alongside the hotel and will feature an open kitchen, as well as an outdoor all-seasons dining space "blending the line between park and hotel."
Photo via marriott.com

Khora

37 W. Seventh St., Downtown
A chic new restaurant by two notable Louisville chefs is slated to open inside of downtown’s forthcoming Kinley Hotel. Chefs Edward Lee and Kevin Ashworth plan to open Khora in the spring, with a global approach and vegetable-forward menu. Chef Lee is the owner of several popular restaurants in Louisville, including 610 Magnolia and MilkWood, in addition to being an author and a host of PBS's Mind of a Chef.
Photo via marriot.com

Boom Box Buns

1400 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine
Steamed bun-centric eatery Boombox Buns opened a walk-up window in October 2018 at 1324 Main St., quickly becoming a must-visit evening weekend stop when traversing through Over-the-Rhine, and gathering a loyal following. The eatery announced its plans to launch a brick-and-mortar location at 1400 Republic Street, slated to open this spring. Boombox Buns' new space will still offer the same quick service takeout model, but with limited seating. "We will be expanding our menu with additional buns, sides and drinks! Though we still want the menu to continue to focus on buns, leaving room for more creative and experimental specials," said owner and operator Nathan Friday in an email interview.
Photo: Provided

Purrfect Day Cafe

17 W. Eighth St., Covington
Great news for feline lovers (and folks who enjoy coffee): A cat cafe will soon open up shop in Covington. Purrfect Day Cafe is slated to open early this June next to Libby's Southern Comfort. According to Northern Kentucky native and cafe "purrprietor" Chuck Patton, the cafe will collaborate with local animal shelter Kenton County Animal Services to provide cat adoptions, and will offer a variety of caffeinated beverages and bites — and eventually some fun events.
Photo via facebook.com/Purrfect-Day-Cafe-Covington

Adesso Coffee

125 E. Main St., Mason
Opened on March 9, Mason's Adesso Coffee has a cozy, cottage aesthetic and focuses on the Italian roots of espresso, according to founder Chuck Pfahler (who is also the founder of La Terza Coffee). The rustic, bowled cups that the espresso is served in complements the authentic Italian presentation of Adesso. Offers seasonal brews like Honey Cinnamon Cappuccino and Peach Latte Macchiato.
Photo via facebook.com/adess0coffeei

Tortilleria Garcia

Location TBA
In a rather short but sweet Facebook post on Nov. 15, Tortilleria Garcia dropped some major news for its loyal fans. They will be expanding with a third location in Mason. The restaurant currently has two locations — one in Springdale and another which recently opened in College Hill. Known for their hand-crafted corn tortillas and dishes made with traditional methods and family recipes, the eateries have become essential taco destinations throughout the Greater Cincinnati area, especially on Tuesdays when they offer a $1 taco special. They are slated to open this May.
Photo: Paige Deglow

Northern Row Brewing

111 West McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine
Northern Row Brewery & Distillery, is located on West McMicken Avenue in a building that was originally constructed in 1895 as Christian Moerlein’s icehouse and storage space. Northern Row pays homage to its historic roots by preserving as much of the original building as possible and housing other repurposed Cincinnati pieces that may have otherwise been forgotten or lost to time. Slated to open this spring as a distillery and brewery, Northern Row will not only feature beer, but also a variety of wine and spirits. From grain to glass, they’re currently mashing, fermenting and distilling special variations of rums, gins and bourbons using traditional pre-Prohibition recipes.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Nomad

225 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue
New Bellevue bar Nomad will serve craft cocktails, coffee, carefully selected wine and beer and late-night donuts out of a renovated vintage 1976 Bristol double-decker bus and a dreamy outdoor courtyard. The space is meant to bring together the adventurers in life to relax, connect and reflect on their journeys. The bar is slated to open officially this spring.
Photo: Meagan White

Mon Petit Choux

24A W. Court St., Downtown
The owner of Cheviot’s Maribelle Cakery is breaking out of her cake mold to bring French pastries to downtown’s Central Business District. Nine years after buying Maribelle from the original owners, Angela Grillo is branching out with her new venture, Mon Petit Choux, which is set to open in the next couple months on Court Street. Expect classic French delicacies including, but not limited to: fruit tarts, eclairs, macaron towers, croquembouche and cream puffs, plus a lunch menu and coffee from Deeper Roots Coffee.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Catch-a-Fire Pizza

9290 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash
Popular food truck and an Oakley brewery/pizzeria favorite, Catch-a-Fire announced last fall their plans to open a second location in downtown Blue Ash, slated to open this April. The new location will be a full-service restaurant, with a bar and bottle service. The dining and bar spaces will offer a casual atmosphere with a view of the kitchen where chefs will be making the pizzas. In warmer seasons, guests will be able to enjoy a spacious outdoor patio.
Photo via Facebook/CatchaFirePizza

Emery

6914 Wooster Pike, Mariemont
A new restaurant is coming to historic Mariemont Square. The Emery, located at 6914 Wooster Pike, will be a "polished casual full-service restaurant, with a seafood-leaning menu," according to a release from Looking Glass Hospitality Group. Slated to open this spring, Jared Bennett, formerly of Metropole at 21c and Karrikin, will act as executive chef, with Mark Bodenstein (S.W. Clyborne Provision & Spirits, Piccolo Casa, Via Vite) as corporate development chef. In addition to seafood, the menu will feature "fare from the garden and farm" as well as a hearty wine list, craft cocktails and craft beer. Photo: Nancy Parrott // Looking Glass Hospitality Group

Esoteric Brewing Co.

900 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills
Esoteric Brewing, Cincinnati’s first minority-owned brewery, is slated to open in Walnut Hills this May. The brewery will be located in the 1930s Art Deco Paramount Building, part of the Paramount Square development at Peebles Corner. The 6,000-square-foot public space will have a speakeasy vibe, with lounge chairs, cocktail tables and a waitstaff. Because the brewing equipment will be housed in the basement, a viewing space will be carved out so customers can look down into the brew hub. As for food, they’ve partnered with grilled cheese truck C’est Cheese, which will serve food from a window inside the taproom.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

C’est Cheese

900 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills
Food truck C’est Cheese is opening next to the forthcoming Esoteric Brewing in Walnut Hills and will offer the same favorite grilled cheeses that were available on wheels, plus other cheese-centric food items. C’est’s bites can be enjoyed to-go or at the brewery. They will also offer take-and-bake options. From the same cheese-genius behind Share: Cheesebar in Pleasant Ridge, Emily Frank.
Photo via Facebook/CestCheeseCincy

Empanadas Aqui

322 Reading Road, Mason
Empanadas Aqui has been serving and catering to Cincinnati from the road via their food truck since 2014. In March, they opened a more permanent home through the establishment of their first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Mason. Serving authentic Venezuelan street food like Carne Molida empanadas consisting of ground beef simmered with roasted peppers, onions and garlic, the new restaurant will look to keep up with the original food truck’s reputation for tasty Venezuelan cuisines with the new location.
Photo via facebook.com/empanadasaqui

Aperture

900 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills
Pop-up restaurant experience The Aperture is getting a brick-and-mortar in Walnut Hills, the eatery announced on its Instagram. The restaurant is slated to open in spring 2020 in the historic Paramount Building at Gilbert Avenue and E. McMillan Street. Chef and owner Jordan Anthony-Brown will highlight the "techniques, flavors, and ingredients from countries such as Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, and Israel, and light influence from North African traditions such as Egypt and Morocco," says the website. Think seasonal, simple and shareable mezze.
Photo via instagram.com/theaperturecinci/

Lydia’s on Ludlow

329 Ludlow Ave., Clifton
The Gaslight District’s eco-friendly eatery Lydia’s Cafe recently went through the process of acquiring new ownership after closing in February. Now, with a new Lydia in charge, the greenest cafe in Cincinnati is coming back with the same vibe and cheaper prices. Opening back up in April, the new Lydia’s will be bringing tasty foods and live music back to the Gaslight District.
Photo via Facebook.com/LydiasOnLudlow