25 Cincinnati Restaurants That Are Totally Worth the Wait

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

Incline Public House

2601 W. Eighth St., Price Hill
With a 1,400-square-foot deck for soaking in vistas and cocktails, this eatery boasts some spectacular views of the Queen City. The Incline Public House’s name is derived from the actual Cincinnati Incline that existed there from the late 1800s to the 1940s. This place can get packed on the weekends and evenings so make sure you are able to get there early for a seat. They do not take reservations, but you are welcome to call ahead to check if they are busy or to ask about accommodating large groups. Their upscale twist on pub food features sandwiches, salads, epicurean appetizers and a slew of craft cocktails and draft beers. Build your own pizza with toppings ranging from pepperoni and prosciutto to fried egg and oven-roasted tomato.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Baker’s Table

1004 Monmouth St., Newport
Chef David Willocks calls the bread he bakes the canvas upon which his food appears. This hip brunch destination often has a line out the door for patrons waiting to try seasonal main courses or ever-popular options like biscuits and gravy with Eckerlin pork sausage, ricotta donuts with strawberry-lemon curd and eggs-in-a-hole. Everything is sourced locally with sustainability in mind.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Eagle

1342 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
The Eagle is nested inside a retired post office and has a relatively small menu, comprised of fried chicken, sandwiches, snacks and several side dishes. Booze-wise, they serve 100 kinds of beer and have about 15 different brews on tap. It is repeatedly voted one of the best restaurants in the city by CityBeat readers, which makes getting a seat at the eatery tough, especially because they only have a limited number of tables available for reservation online. The fried chicken is free-range, all natural and sourced from Ohio farms. Opt for a whole, half chicken (white and dark meat) or a quarter of a chicken (select white or dark). The spicy honey served with chicken is a must — try it on everything.
Photo via Facebook/TheEagleOTR

Nada

600 Walnut St., Downtown
Nada offers Modern Mexican in a vibrant and artfully-curated space. The popular eatery encourages guests to make a reservation via OpenTable or over the phone ahead of their visit. The menu features herby-fresh dishes like delicious dill-garnished lobster rolls wrapped in a bibb lettuce blanket, in addition to plenty of tasty tacos, shareables and large plates, including braised chicken enchiladas. It’s in a great location next to the Aronoff Center downtown, and the patio is a big attraction when nice weather beckons.
Photo via Facebook/EatDrinkNada

Sotto

118 E. Sixth St., Cincinnati
Sotto is Cincinnati's hidden basement trattoria — a below-street-level Italian eatery, nestled underneath sister restaurant Boca on Sixth Street downtown. It’s a hot-spot for diners celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for some excellent pasta. With multiple dining rooms, the kitchen is open to view, including the custom-made woodfire grill in front and a fresh-pasta room in the back hallway. Menu items include handmade pasta, house-cured salami and big-ticket items like Bistecca Fiorentina, a grilled Creekstone porterhouse steak with daily sides. Sotto sources their bread from Blue Oven and also grows their own herbs and vegetables. Make a reservation in advance to ensure a spot or try to snag a seat at the bar.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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

Eli’s BBQ

3313 Riverside Drive, East End
With outdoor seating and some Southern hospitality, this restaurant is a literal breath of fresh air. The no-frills affair specializes in meats, pulled and smoked and served in a red plastic basket. Order your food inside and grab a seat (you might need to squeeze when the weather’s nice) at the picnic tables outside. The line to order may be long at times, but food tends to come out quickly.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Bakersfield

1213 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Part bar, part taco joint, all classy. Bakersfield is OTR’s favorite taco joint. It’s typically a tough spot to get a seat, but if you’re willing to wait a little while, you will be rewarded with some top-notch tacos and arguably some of the best margs in the city. Bakersfield specializes in gourmet tacos (pollo rojo, pastor, huitlacoche, etc.), quality tequilas and whiskeys and hand-crafted margaritas made the old-fashioned way, not from a pre-made mix. They take reservations via OpenTable Sunday through Thursday; Fridays and Saturdays are first come, first served.
Photo via Facebook/BakersfieldOTR

Sleepy Bee

3098 Madison Road, Oakley; 8 E. Fourth St., Downtown; 9514 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash
At Sleepy Bee, everything from their sammies to their scrambles are top-notch and delightfully tasty even when you yourself are a bit of a sleepy weekend bruncher. If you plan to stop by during peak brunch or lunch hours, be prepared to wait. Standouts include the specialty pancakes, like the blue cakes full of blueberries with a maple-blueberry sauce, as well as the light and lovely Bumblebee’s breakfast, a yogurt granola bowl with tasty apricot coulis and tahini.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Goodfellas Pizzeria

603 Main St., Covington; 1211 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Goodfellas makes their dough fresh every morning and their sauce in-house. If you’re headed there for a late-night slice or for lunch, be prepared for quite a line, but you’ll be glad you put in the time. While you wait, watch as the pizzaiolos spin dough saucers high into the air. The slices are New York-style and as big as your face. They also offer subs, calzones and a multitude of dipping sauces. A bourbon bar is upstairs.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Echo

3510 Edwards Road, Hyde Park
The line leading out of The Echo on weekend mornings doesn’t discriminate. It’s a sampler platter of Cincinnati demographics: Hung-over college kids, grandparents with family members and business executives all congregate waiting to get into the longstanding diner. The Echo’s all-day offerings balance sweet and savory with unicorn-like skill. There are seasonal features, breakfast classics, healthy items (denoted by a leaf illustration), sandwiches, pan-fried chicken on the weekends and $6 brunch cocktails. Or just throw in for a mimosa pitcher. Plus, if the line seems too tedious for a lazy Sunday, you can always get take out.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Maplewood Kitchen and Bar

525 Race St., Downtown; 5065 Deerfield Blvd., Mason
The line to order at this local favorite lunch and brunch spot may seem daunting during peak hours, but you’ll be glad you stuck around. Maplewood serves up dishes and ingredients that would be right at home on the West Coast: cold-pressed juices, superfood salads, egg-white omelets and somewhat nutritious cocktails, like the roasted tomatillo bloody mary. Made with Tito’s vodka, house tomatillo bloody mary mix and cold-pressed Super Greens juice (kale, celery, spinach, romaine and pineapple), it’s topped off by a purple cabbage accouterment. Their lemon ricotta pancakes have been featured everywhere from the TODAY show to People magazine.
Photo via Facebook/MaplewoodKitchen

Zip's Cafe

1036 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout
Zip’s has been doing burgers right since 1926, and generations of East Side Cincinnatians call Zipburgers their favorite. If you’re feeling like a light meal, order a classic Zip burger, with fresh, flame-broiled meat from local butcher Avril-Bleh & Sons, nestled in a toasted honey-egg bun from Klosterman Baking Company, and a side of super crispy onion rings. Or go big with the Girth Burger, a Zip burger topped with a split Avril-Bleh mettwurst. With worn wood flooring and dark wood paneling, the small space is separated into a dining area and a bar by a saloon-style door. Head to the back bar for a local beer on draft while you wait for space at a booth or a seat at one of the shared family-style tables.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Brown Bear Bakery

116 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine
Cincinnati pastry artist Blair Fornshell uses all-natural ingredients to create so-beautiful-you-almost-feel-bad-about-eating-them desserts, such as salty chocolate chip cookies, gooey cinnamon rolls and a variety of matcha-infused baked goods. The OTR bakery and café space is the perfect blend of old and new and has a very Lower Manhattan vibe.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey

1201 Broadway St., Pendleton
At Boomtown, the true delight comes plated. The signature biscuit isn’t a run-of-the-mill thousand-layer flaked baked good; it’s a buttery, soft disc with a close crumb and a browned, lightly bubbled top that no breakfast chain can compete with. Choose from sandwiches, plates, bowls, sides and dessert. Prepare to arrive early in order to snag a spot at this hoppin’ brunch spot if you don’t want to weather the wait. Though, we assure you the wait will be worth it.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Mazunte Taqueria

5207 Madison Road, Madisonville
This Madisonville hot spot typically has a line out the door. Taco fillings range from shredded pork to crispy braised chicken, and specialties include memelitas (open-faced tortillas), corn husk tamales and corn empanadas with queso Oaxaca. It’s a refreshing and authentic culinary surprise, considering the restaurant’s location in a Madisonville strip mall. The restaurant recently opened a downtown location called Mazunte Centro at 611 Main St.
Photo via Facebook/MazunteTacos

Holtman’s Donuts

Multiple locations including 1332 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine; 1399 State Route 28, Loveland
Holtman’s will give you a reason to crawl out of bed on a weekend morning. The Loveland-based operation now has multiple locations that serve up their flaky melt-in-your mouth donuts. Lines for the pastries often wrap outside the door and with good reason: the bakery serves up an array of options — from classic glazed to toasted coconut to lemon-icing-dusted with Fruity Pebbles — to suit any craving. East Siders, rejoice: The family-owned business is opening their fifth location in Oakley, right across from MadTree’s taproom.
Photo: Jesse Fox

The Wildflower Cafe

207 E. Main St., Mason
With only 50 seats available in the restaurant, this may be one of the smallest venues on our list. This place can fill up quickly on any given day, so be sure to schedule a reservation to guarantee a spot. With local farm-raised, grass-fed beef and an extensive wine list that features products from Cincinnati-area vineyards, Wildflower is dedicated to producing the freshest and best-quality food at an honest price. Foods are local, sustainable and seasonal to offer peak freshness.
Photo via Facebook/WildFlowerCafeMason

Two Cities Pizza Company

202 W. Main St., Mason
If you’re looking for some damn good pizza, this Mason eatery is absolutely worth the trek — and wait for a seat. Two Cities Pizza Company, a dining destination housed in Mason’s former city hall — with a bit of an Art Deco nightclub rebrand — closes the chasm between the dueling pizza metropolises. Go classic and grab a deep dish Windy City with sausage, onion, green pepper and chunky tomato; and the Marathoner NYC-style margherita. In addition to pizza, they offer tempting best-of-both-worlds street food, like a Chicago dog with all the fixings (no ketchup; add celery salt) or a New York dog with brown mustard and sauerkraut.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger