Cincinnati in Pictures

The Best Breakfast Spots in Greater Cincinnati, According to Our Readers

Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike pick which bars are the booziest, which people are…

By CityBeat Staff

Apr 18, 2024

No. 9 Best Breakfast: Blue Jay Restaurant
4154 Hamilton Ave., Northside
This homey Northside diner has been owned and operated by the Petropoulos family since 1967. Stepping inside is almost like stepping back in time with the row of cozy booths, wood paneling on the walls and the dining counter. The menu features classic breakfast and lunch dishes that come in generous portions, as well as Cincinnati-style chili.

Menu recommendation: The Northsider: A 3-Way omelet with cheddar cheese and chili that you can also build up to a 7-Way by adding onion, tomatoes, peppers and/or beans.

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Food & Drink

20 Meal Deals You Can Get During Greater Cincinnati's Spring Restaurant Week

Support local restaurants and indulge in some delicious specials for Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week this week. Restaurant Week returns Monday-Sunday, April 15-21…

By Katherine Barrier

Apr 15, 2024

Nicholson’s Pub
625 Walnut St., Downtown
$36 Lunch & Dinner
First Course: Choice of: Grilled Romaine Salad (romaine heart, toasted breadcrumbs, Caesar dressing and shredded parmesan) or Tavern Salad (spring mix, dried cranberries, Granny Smith apples, Stilton blue cheese crumbles and house-made bee pollen vinaigrette)
Second Course: Choice of: Half Rack of Baby Back Ribs (with garlic roasted potatoes, coleslaw and Scottish BBQ) // Grilled Salmon (with fresh vegetables, mashed potatoes and highland beurre blanc) // or Lamb Loin Chops (two 4-oz. chops, charred broccolini, mashed potatoes and mint chutney)
Third Course: Choice of: Sticky Toffee Pudding (Scottish steamed pudding, dates and toffee sauce) or Pineapple Upside-Down Cake (caramelized brown sugar pineapple and cherry topping)

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Food & Drink

The Best Eats in Cincinnati, According to CityBeat Readers (Part 2)

CityBeat has been in the business of curating the Best Of Cincinnati® for more than 25 years, highlighting the city’s most outstanding selections…

By CityBeat Staff

Apr 12, 2024

Best Tacos
Winner: Agave & Rye
Runners-up: Mazunte, Condado Tacos

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Food & Drink

The Best Eats in Cincinnati, According to CityBeat Readers (Part 1)

CityBeat has been in the business of curating the Best Of Cincinnati® for more than 25 years, highlighting the city’s most outstanding…

By CityBeat Staff

Apr 12, 2024

Best Late-Night Eatery
Winner: Goodfellas Pizzeria
Runners-up: Skyline Chili, Anchor Grill

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Food & Drink

The Best New Bars in Greater Cincinnati, According to CityBeat Readers

Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike pick which bars are the booziest, which people are…

By CityBeat Staff

Apr 11, 2024

No. 3 Best New Bar: Binski’s Bar
2872 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington
When Binski’s Bar opened last year, it did so with the goal of being Camp Washington’s communal watering hole. The bar sits in a bright green building from the early 1900s that was originally a saloon and boarding house (wink wink). An Old Style sign hangs outside — "a signal to anyone in Chicago you’re about to walk into a great bar,” says owner Kiel Erdelac. Inside, visitors will find some classic bar staples like a CD jukebox, darts, rotating drink specials and a community that makes you feel welcome.

Drink recommendation: The beer on the sign: Heileman's Old Style.

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Food & Drink

The Best New Restaurants in Greater Cincinnati, According to CityBeat Readers

Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike pick which bars are the booziest, which people are…

By CityBeat Staff

Apr 11, 2024

No. 1 Best New Restaurant: Opal Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
535 Madison Ave., Covington
Stunning views of Cincinnati and Covington and specially curated and intentional design elements that shift as you move throughout Opal Rooftop Restaurant & Bar will have you thinking you’re dining in a real gemstone. The design, lighting and food are a mood, the latter of which is an experience driven by the restaurant’s Grillworks wood-fired grill, the only one of its kind in a two-hour radius. This unique grill drives Opal’s open-fire grill and wine-forward menu, which features dishes made from fresh, local fare and products, and the craft cocktail menu and wine selection have been curated to complement the dishes.

Menu recommendation: The Chicken: Al pastor yogurt chicken with carrots, charred onion, whipped feta, fennel pollen and piquillo peppers.

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Best Of Cincinnati

These are Cincinnati's Best Restaurants, According to CityBeat Readers

Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike decide which bars are the booziest, which people are…

By CityBeat Staff

Apr 10, 2024

No. 7 Overall Restaurant: Boca
114 E. Sixth St., Downtown

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Best Of Cincinnati

These are Cincinnati's Best Bars, According to CityBeat Readers

Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike pick which bars are the booziest, which people are…

By CityBeat Staff

Apr 10, 2024

No. 4 Overall Bar: Northside Yacht Club
4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside

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Food & Drink

28 of Cincinnati's Most Delicious Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants

Cincinnati is home to hundreds of different restaurants, ranging from upscale steakhouses to mobile food trucks. We have a diverse variety of…

By CityBeat Staff

Apr 5, 2024

Quatman Cafe
2434 Quatman Ave., Norwood; 224 West Main St., Mason
Since 1966, Quatman has provided Cincinnatians with cheap burgers, soup and "the coldest beer in town." There are canned beers as well as a draft selection and rotating seasonal brews. They've also got daily specials where you can get a main dish plus fries and a drink for $10.

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Food & Drink

Bratter Up: Everything We're Excited to Eat at Great American Ball Park This Year

As the Cincinnati Reds are gearing up for Opening Day Thursday, March 28, chefs at Great American Ball Park are prepping their…

By Katherine Barrier

Mar 22, 2024

Hempler's Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage
Grilled jalapeño cheddar sausage, topped with ballpark kraut and mustard and served on a toasted pretzel bun. It's available at Scouts Alley and the Food Bar in Section 109.

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Food & Drink

Here are the Top 12 Restaurants Cincinnati Chef Jose Salazar Recommends

At CityBeat, we love giving restaurant recommendations, but we thought it was time to ask Cincinnati's culinary pros what they think. We…

By CityBeat Staff

Mar 22, 2024

Jose Salazar, proprietor of Mita's, Goose & Elder and the upcoming Moroccan-inspired wine bar Safi.

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Food & Drink

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at These Greater Cincinnati Creamy Whips

Spring is kicking into high gear, and that means creamy whips across the Cincinnati area are opening their walk-up windows and switching…

By CityBeat Staff

Mar 15, 2024

Whetsel Whip
4825 Whetsel Ave., Madisonville
Located right next to The Cheesecakery, Whetsel Whip offers classic chocolate and vanilla soft-serve with hard shell flavors of chocolate, birthday cake and butterscotch. Sure you can get that in a classic waffle cone, but you can also get it served up in a delicious, fluffy bubble waffle. And if you can’t choose between the selection of mouthwatering sundaes, order a flight, which comes with four signature flavors.

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Food & Drink

Get a Look Inside The Foundry's New American Brasserie The Davidson

American-style brasserie The Davidson opened in The Foundry, a mixed-use complex across the street from Fountain Square last month, taking over the…

By Katherine Barrier

Mar 11, 2024

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Food & Drink

33 Black-Owned Greater Cincinnati Restaurants You Need to Try ASAP

From hearty Southern-style breakfasts to traditional West African dishes, açai bowls to barbecue and authentic tacos, Cincinnati's Black-owned eateries are a vital…

By CityBeat Staff

Feb 22, 2024

Pata Roja Taqueria
52 E. Court St., Downtown
Taqueria Pata Roja got its start in 2019 as a food truck that could typically be found behind Bar Saeso in Pendleton. From there it grew in popularity, becoming known for its authentic street tacos and Mexican dishes. With this success, owner Derrick Braziel decided to put down roots in downtown Cincinnati. In February, Braziel opened Pata Roja in its new brick-and-mortar spot in Court Street Plaza. Pata Roja’s new space is modeled after the iconic taquerias of Mexico City, with colorful tiles and a central focus of the trompo, a meat rotisserie that’s front and center in the kitchen, which will be used to roast pork for the authentic tacos al pastor. On the menu, guests will find a variety of street tacos, including the al pastor and the popular campechano, which combines several meats into one taco, as well as frozen margaritas and fresh salsas.

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Food & Drink

Photos: Inside Walnut Hills' Newest Restaurant, The Aperture

The Aperture is the real deal, a first-rate addition to our city’s dining firmament. Not downtown or in Over-the-Rhine, The Aperture is…

By Pama Mitchell

Feb 16, 2024

The Aperture, 900 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills

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Food & Drink

All the $5-$7 Meal Deals You Can Get During the First-Ever Cincinnati Chili Week

It’s almost time to eat chili and win prizes, Cincinnati. The inaugural Cincinnati Chili Week is happening Monday-Sunday, Feb. 19-25 and will…

By Katherine Barrier

Feb 16, 2024

Gold Star Chili
Multiple locations
SPECIALS: Two cheese coneys for $5; any regular 3-way, 4-way or 5-way for $6; and chili burger and fries for $7

Gold Star will also be giving 100 lucky winners free chili for a year. More info.

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Food & Drink

Photos: Inside Cobblestone OTR's Romantic Valentine's Day Pop-Up

Cobblestone OTR is inviting all hopeless romantics (or even just those who appreciate a good themed party) to celebrate Valentine's Day at…

By Ashley Moor

Feb 13, 2024

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Food & Drink

Greater Cincinnati Fish Frys You Need to Try

It’s the Lenten season in Cincinnati, which can only mean one thing: It's Fry-day Fish Fry Season. So many churches — plus…

By Katherine Barrier

Feb 9, 2024

Chloe’s Eatery
2872 Lawrenceburg Road, North Bend
Chloe’s Eatery will be open on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14) from 4-8 p.m. to serve up its limited-time breaded cod sandwich. Following Ash Wednesday, the fish sandwich will be available only on Fridays through March 29.

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Food & Drink

Photos: All of the Drunken Fun We Spotted During the Cincy Beerfest

Presented by Fifty West Brewing and The Party Source, the Cincy Beerfest brought over 150 local craft brews to the Duke Energy…

By CityBeat Staff

Feb 5, 2024

Cincy Beerfest took place on Feb. 2 and 3 at the Duke Energy Convention Center

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Food & Drink

Photos: Take a Tour of The Banks' New Irish Pub, Red Leprechaun

There's a new place to raise a pint at The Banks. Red Leprechaun Irish Pub, located at 20 W. Freedom Way between…

By Katherine Barrier

Feb 2, 2024

Red Leprechaun Irish Pub | 20 W. Freedom Way, The Banks

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Food & Drink

Cheap Eats: 25 Greater Cincinnati Restaurants Where You Can Get a Meal Under $15

Feelin' hungry for a bite that won't break the bank? We've got you covered. There are plenty of tasty local eateries to…

By CityBeat Staff

Feb 2, 2024

Gomez Salsa
107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine; 2437 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills
This Mexican-style eatery offers walking tacos for $6 each, as well as bowls and burritos starting at $12. But perhaps the most mouthwatering of all its affordable offerings is the Turtle — owner Andrew Gomez’s greatest invention. Take a tortilla, stuff it with rice, beans, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, meat, veggies and cheese, layer in a tostada for crunch, put some cheese on the top and then brown it. It’s a fat little crunchy burrito envelope that’s worth every penny of its $12 price tag.

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Food & Drink

These are Some of Greater Cincinnati's Most Romantic Restaurants

From a cozy basement trattoria hidden beneath the city streets to upscale restaurants boasting spectacular views of the city, award-winning steakhouses and…

By CityBeat Staff

Jan 25, 2024

Sotto
118 E. Sixth St., Downtown
Located under Boca restaurant, the Tuscan-inspired Sotto offers an approachable atmosphere and is the perfect place for a romantic meal. The basement trattoria’s interior calls to mind a rustic Italian wine cellar with its rough brick walls and wooden ceiling beams. With multiple dining rooms, the kitchen is open to view, including the custom-made wood-fire grill in front and a fresh pasta room in the back hallway. Menu items include handmade pasta, Salumi & Formaggi (cured meats and cheeses) and big-ticket items like Bistecca Fiorentina, a grilled Creekstone porterhouse steak.

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Food & Drink

Here's Some of the Delicious Food Deals You Can Get During Cincinnati's Asian Cuisine Week

Asianati's Asian Cuisine Week, featuring more than 50 Asian Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky restaurants, is back for its fifth year. From…

By Katherine Barrier

Jan 18, 2024

Lalo Chino Latino Kitchen
26 W. Court St., Downtown
MENU: Asian Street Tacos for $10
Lalo’s Chicken Plate for $12
Mexi Miso Ramen for $12

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Food & Drink

10 Appetizing Food and Dining Stories that we Devoured in Greater Cincinnati in 2023

The top food and dining stories from 2023 include new restaurants, themed pop-ups and even the arrival of Malört in Ohio. Keep…

By Katherine Barrier

Dec 27, 2023

Ohio Held its Nose With the Arrival of Malört on its Shelves
By Madeline Fening
Malört, a liquor with a botanical bitterness courtesy of wormwood (think of it as if someone watered bitter herbs with gasoline and then bottled the runoff), finally made its way onto Ohio shelves this April. Production of Malört started in Chicago in the 1930s before bouncing to Kentucky and Florida, but the hard-to-find spirit has most commonly been found in Chicago, where it developed a cult following. Chicagoans have been throwing back shots of the stuff with an Old Style beer for years, calling the boilermaker a "Chicago Handshake." Ohioans can now get a taste of the unruly spirit, thanks to a partnership between Jeppson’s Malört and Heidelberg Distributing.

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Food & Drink

Photos: Inside Cobblestone OTR's Enchanting Holiday Pop-Up

In search of a cozy spot to host a festive get-together with friends or family before the end of the holiday season?…

By CityBeat Staff

Dec 21, 2023

The Winter Wonderland at Cobblestone Holiday Pop-Up

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Food & Drink

We Miss These Greater Cincinnati Restaurants That Closed in 2023

It was undoubtedly a rough year for many of Greater Cincinnati's restaurants in 2023. From rising food costs to labor shortages and…

By Katherine Barrier

Dec 21, 2023

Nomad
Bellevue bar and grill Nomad, which was best known for its milkshakes (both boozy and virgin) and tater tot baskets, closed at the end of November after about three years in business. The owners say a combination of factors, including too many bad-weather days and rising food costs, forced them to permanently close.

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Food & Drink

The Hottest New Restaurants and Bars in Greater Cincinnati

Over the last year, the Greater Cincinnati area welcomed a lot of new and exciting restaurant and bar concepts to the local…

By CityBeat Staff

Dec 15, 2023

Razzo
1201 Broadway St., Over-the-Rhine
Pendleton welcomed a new pizza and natural wine bar in the former Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey space this October. Razzo, which means “rocket” in Italian, is owned by Michael Guilfoil and Christy Wulfson, the team behind Bar Saeso and the Airbnb The Carriage House. Wulfson and Guilfoil created a cozy, neon-lit space with a bar, dining room and patio. The Italian menu, featuring Roman-inspired pizzas (a pan-baked version known for its rectangular slices and interesting toppings) and natural wines by the glass, plays into the Italianate architecture around Pendleton and the neighborhood’s European feel, as well as the team’s personal love of Rome. You’ll also find various pasta dishes on the menu and gelato for dessert.

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Food & Drink

The 24 Best Greater Cincinnati Restaurants Right Now, According to Yelp

At CityBeat, we know a thing or two about picking the best restaurants in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, but Yelpers have some…

By CityBeat Staff

Dec 12, 2023

Alcove
1410 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
“Great food and atmosphere. Had bread and cheese boards, fish of the day, and sliders, along with a basil rosé and paloma cocktails, sauvignon blanc and Tropical PsycHOPathy. All were great, but I was especially impressed with the fish. It was perfectly cooked and was served on a vinaigrette cabbage base that went well and mashed edamame. Overall a great experience!” -Dan P.

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Food & Drink

Eat, Drink and Be Cozy at These Greater Cincinnati Restaurants and Bars With Heated Igloos and Patios

It's getting cold out here in Cincinnati, but just because the mercury's dropping doesn't mean you have to move the party inside.…

By CityBeat Staff

Dec 1, 2023

Braxton Brewing Co. (Covington)
27 W. Seventh St., Covington
Keep cozy in one of 10 heated rooftop igloos featuring a ski-resort theme. Order piping hot pizza from Dewey’s to enjoy in the igloo, and to drink, Braxton has 15 beers on tap, as well as two wines (a red and white option), High Noon vodka sodas and a small selection of liquor. You can reserve an igloo for $35 for a two-and-a-half-hour time slot. Each one seats up to eight people and includes a Bluetooth speaker.

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Food & Drink

Greater Cincinnati Comfort-Food Restaurants Better Than Dinner With Your Dysfunctional Family

With the holidays coming up, you might be spending a lot of time and dinners with your family — and depending on…

By CityBeat Staff

Nov 10, 2023

Soul Secrets
1434 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
This OTR spot doesn’t just offer soul food – their recipes tell the story of owner Candice Holloway’s family. "Our recipes – that's what we bring to the table. They're historic, they're traditional, they are original, they're from scratch, they are made with love,” Holloway told CityBeat. A look at the menu shows entrees that, in a lot of the South, would just be called good ol’ home cooking, like fried chicken, shrimp and grits, fried whiting and catfish. On the side, there’s macaroni and cheese, collard greens, sweet potatoes and cornbread — the kinds of dishes prepared for the family and that you’d hope for when someone offers to “fix you a plate.”

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Food & Drink

25 Restaurants Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Within Driving Distance of Cincinnati

Welcome to Flavortown. Guy Fieri is well known for his hit show Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, on which he travels all over the…

By CityBeat Staff

Nov 2, 2023

Big Jays Place
930 Hempstead Drive, Finneytown
Season 38, Episode 1
Big Jays Place in Finneytown offers a menu bursting with flavor from its Caribbean comfort food dishes, like the Soul Food Plate, featuring jerk chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens and cilantro rice, or the half-pound Jerk Burrito, which comes with a choice of shrimp, jerk chicken or salmon. But what Big Jays is best known for is its oxtail, which Fieri got to try on his visit, saying, “If you don’t like oxtail, then come on down here to the oxtail conversion program.”

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Food & Drink

All the $10 Pizzas You Can Enjoy During Cincinnati Pizza Week

Things are about to get cheesy in Cincinnati. Cincinnati Pizza Week returns Monday-Sunday, Nov. 6-12 and with it brings $10 pizza deals…

By Katherine Barrier

Nov 1, 2023

Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria
336 Monmouth St., Newport; 1990 N. Bend Road, Hebron; 10336 US Highway 42, Union; 1 E. High St., Lawrenceburg; 8974 Reading Road, Reading
Old World Pepperoni: This 10-inch Old World Style pizza begins with a base of sliced mozzarella, homemade red sauce and pepperoni. It’s then baked to perfection in Strong’s Italian brick oven.
Almost Famous Hot & Spicy: A 10-inch pie featuring buffalo cream sauce, mozzarella, jalapeños and bacon and topped with Grippo’s BBQ Chips for an amazing, crunchy kick.

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