25 Classic Cincinnati Diners, Delis and Cafes You Should Have Tried By Now

Hathaway’s Diner

441 Vine St., Downtown
The old-fashioned flavors of the soda fountain are found at Hathaway’s, including the best darn chocolate shake in town. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped through a time portal to the 1950s (the diner opened in 1956). Don’t miss the French toast and goetta. Hathaway’s does them both exactly right.
Photo via Facebook/HathawaysDiner

Sugar n’ Spice

4381 Reading Road, Paddock Hills
For over 75 years, this family-friendly Paddock Hills diner has been serving up “Wispy Thin” pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, steak and eggs, corned beef hash, breakfast quesadillas and much more to one of the most-diverse clienteles in town. From the after-church crowds to college students to doctors heading off to work at nearby hospitals, folks from all over the economic spectrum continue to start their day at this cozy counter or crammed into the precious few booths. Wait time is often long for this popular spot, but it’s not unlikely that your hanger might be soothed by some complimentary nuggets of fried macaroni and cheese or gooey chocolate brownies. When those coveted seats finally come available, younger diners are rewarded with rubber duckies in addition to their meals.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Scherpies Produce & Deli

503 E. Ross Ave., Saint Bernard
The popular neighborhood deli offers fresh produce and goods in addition to its sandwich and side offerings. Devoted patrons love their affordable prices, build-your-own sandwiches, soups and salad bar.
Photo via Facebook/Scherpies

Blue Jay Restaurant

4154 Hamilton Ave., Northside
Since its opening in 1967, the Blue Jay Restaurant has, for the most part, remained the same, boasting a nostalgic image and homestyle eats. As with any good local diner, there’s Cincinnati-style chili in bowls, on coneys and 3-ways, plus classics like all-day breakfast, double decker sandwiches and homemade pie.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Fred & Gari’s

629 Vine St., Downtown
This quaint downtown lunch spot is an unassuming gem that’s been in the business of slinging classic diner bites for over 30 years. Offering both hot and cold sandwiches, soups and pizza, the retro-styled take-out eatery packs a whole lot of flavor and charm in a tiny little space.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Camp Washington Chili

3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington
A great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Camp Washington Chili features greasy-spoon breakfast offerings, double-decker sandwiches, Cincinnati-style chili, coneys and even a few salads. A James Beard Award winner, Camp Washington Chili opened its doors in 1940, and current owner Johnny Johnson has been working at the parlor since 1951. Open 24/6 — they’re closed on Sundays.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Anchor Grill

438 W. Pike St., Covington
While we typically seem to eat brunch after 11 a.m., the Anchor Grill is open 24/7, so you can chow down literally any time at this Covington greasy spoon, which has been serving up diner fare for decades. It’s a throwback dive with wood paneling, retro fixtures and black leather booths. As an added bonus, a tiny animatronic Big Band orchestra — led by a swingin’ Barbie doll — plays and moves along to jukebox selections in a vintage Chicago Coin’s Band-Box by the ceiling. The Anchor doesn't serve booze, so opt for diner-style coffee and a slice of their famous chocolate-covered peanut butter pie. It’s cash only, so come prepared.
Photo: Emerson Swoger

Caffe Barista & Deli

231 W. Fourth St., Downtown
Caffe Barista is a cafe-deli hybrid that offers a little bit of everything. Their expansive menu offers gourmet coffee, omelettes, burgers, pizza, soups, sandwiches and more. They offer standard sandwiches like a classic deli club or spice it up with more adventurous options like a jerk turkey and ranch or Cajun roast beef. All of their sandwiches are made-to-order and come with a pickle and a bag of chips.
Photo: Screen grab from Google Maps

Carl’s Deli

2836 Observatory Ave., Hyde Park
Carl’s Deli is the closest thing you’re going to get to a New York deli, sans the attitude. Open seven days a week since 1938, they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. A hidden neighborhood gem, the striped awning and bistro chairs beckon sandwich seekers in for favorites like hot crab and artichoke salad on a croissant, turkey tetrazzini or a damn good egg salad. There are daily housemade soup offerings, quiche, casseroles and a nice selection of wine and beer.
Photo via Facebook/CarlsDeliCincinnati

The Echo

3510 Edwards Road, Hyde Park
Opened as a sandwich shop in 1945 by Louise Schwartz, customer favorites include the Echo Grill (baked ham, Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato served with tartar sauce), an open-faced turkey sandwich and the “hangover helper” Hot Mess, with layers of home fries, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, gravy and cheese.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Deer Park Deli

7916 Blue Ash Road, Deer Park,
This neighborhood deli has been serving the Deer Park community since 1950. There are a plethora of made-to-order $5 sandwiches available, as well as breakfast sandwiches for under $3. If a delicious breakfast and lunch was not enough, this deli is also a grocery and liquor store featuring a massive beer and wine collection.
Photo via deerparkdeli.com

Marx Hot Bagels

9701 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash
If you take your bagels with a side of New York attitude, Marx is the ultimate Kosher deli for a salad or schmear. Certified by Vaad Hoier of Cincinnati and in operation since 1969, Marx’s bagels are boiled then baked and contain no preservatives, butter or oil but are more than indulgent. There are 30 varieties made fresh daily, plus tuna salad, egg salad and nova lox that come with their own mascot: Bagel Man, the superhero-outfit-clad owner who may or may not be behind the counter offering a side of sass with your order.
Photo via Facebook/MarxHotBagels

Dunlap Cafe

1926 Dunlap St., Over-the-Rhine
Dunlap Cafe has been operational since 1936 with an emphasis on home-cooked meals, all-day breakfast and, recently, draft beer. Breakfast sandwiches, omelets and other early morning classics are available all day long with a selection of traditional and specialty burger and sandwich options for seriously reasonable prices.
Photo: Paige Deglow

Cretan Grill

7039 Vine St., Carthage
Well-hidden in Carthage, Cretan Grill is a vintage oasis that doesn’t just sling classic diner food: if you’re able to find time to visit the grill between its elusive hours (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), you’ll slip into a realm of cozy Americana. Cretan’s is a Hopper-esque landscape of linoleum and wood-paneling, serving Cokes in Styrofoam cups and sandwich platters listed on a menu that’s essentially Arial font on laminated printer paper.
Photo: Jude Noel

Bacalls Cafe

6118 Hamilton Ave., College Hill
An Art Deco dreamland complete with a custom piece of frosted glass depicting Union Terminal and a phone booth tucked in the corner. Classy, but Bacalls still has TVs on which you can watch the game. The menu has something for everyone including soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, pasta and other entrees. Serving meals and booze to locals and visitors in College Hill for 35-plus years, they must be doing something right.
Photo via Facebook/BacallsRestaurant

J&W Sandwich Shoppe

2004 Worth Ave., Norwood
This classic Norwood deli is the real deal. Come hungry, because J&W Sandwich Shoppe sandwiches are thick with the meats. Popular menu items include their club sandwich, Philly steak hot sandwich and the BLT sandwich, all under less than $6.
Photo via Facebook/JWSandwhichShoppe

Parkside Cafe

1024 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills
Parkside Café is like the BMV of brunch spots, and we mean that in the best way possible. The assortment of folks seated in the low booths of this repurposed Frisch’s ranges widely, from a group of large-hatted church ladies to a cop eating a steak on his lunch break to an older couple patiently trekking toward the outrageously inexpensive weekend breakfast buffet to the Cheers-reminiscent gang of best married friends. The menu ranges widely, too. You want pancakes? Walnut Hills Pancake Stack, coming right up. Steak and eggs? Check. Delightfully varied omelets? Southern-style biscuits and gravy? Parkside has you covered for lunch, too.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Proud Rooster Restaurant

345 Ludlow Ave., Clifton
Proud Rooster is a breakfast and lunch spot revered by Clifton residents for its dedication to classic diner fare. The fried chicken lunch is especially popular (they're proud of that fried rooster), but a stack of pancakes with a side of goetta and eggs would go down just as well. Cash only!
Photo via Facebook/ProudRoosterRestaurant

Price Hill Chili

4920 Glenway Ave., Price Hill
Generations of West Side patrons have grown up on this iconic, family-owned restaurant’s diverse, fairly priced menu. Having expanded several times over the years, there are now multiple dining areas and a full-service attached cocktail lounge called Golden Fleece. What sets them apart from other chili joints is their liquor license and full menu, which features an excellent Greek salad (with secret-recipe dressing), specialty sandwiches, steaks, all-day breakfast and amazing homemade macaroni and cheese on Fridays (available after 1 p.m.).
Photo: Marci Rhodes

Pleasant Ridge Chili

6032 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
A local multi-generational chili joint that is more than 50 years old. Offers late-night eats (until 4:30 a.m.) and a traditional breakfast menu with items like French toast, omelets and breakfast sandwiches — in addition to plenty of chili offerings.
Photo via Facebook/PleasantRidgeChili