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Cincinnati’s 25 Hottest Restaurants Right Now According to Yelp

By on Fri, May 17, 2019 at 2:24 pm

Yelp, everyone's favorite crowd-sourced ratings aggregate site, is an easy go-to when deciding where to dine. Is it new? Does it have a good Yelp review? People tend to trust their peers to give honest (and sometimes highly entertaining) feedback about local eateries. That being said, these are the top 25 best restaurants in Cincinnati according to Yelp — literally at the second this was published. Because Yelp is a pretty, pretty popular site and people are constantly reviewing and adding stars, etc., this list is constantly in flux. The No. 1 restaurant position will change, sometimes daily, and several eateries will jockey for position in and out of that top 25. But regardless of the rank, these are some of the public's favorite places to dine in the Queen City. And we've captured some of their reviews to tell you why. (Also, you can Google "top 10 best Cincinnati restaurants Yelp" to get the most current list at any point in time.)
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Cincinnati’s 25 Hottest Restaurants Right Now According to Yelp
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1. The Eagle 1342 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine ”I'm a big fan of fried chicken and The Eagle OTR does it very well. Please go give it a try with some of their awesome sides. The Eagle is located along this fun street filled with shops and restaurants and the atmosphere inside is exciting and hip. This visit I went with the dark meat, mac n cheese and horseradish mashed potatoes. Everything was perfect and full of flavor. The hot honey is a perfect addition to the fried chicken, too.” — Chris F. Photo via Facebook.com/TheEagleOTR

1. The Eagle

1342 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
”I'm a big fan of fried chicken and The Eagle OTR does it very well. Please go give it a try with some of their awesome sides. The Eagle is located along this fun street filled with shops and restaurants and the atmosphere inside is exciting and hip. This visit I went with the dark meat, mac n cheese and horseradish mashed potatoes. Everything was perfect and full of flavor. The hot honey is a perfect addition to the fried chicken, too.” — Chris F.
Photo via Facebook.com/TheEagleOTR
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2. Mazunte Taqueria 5207 Madison Road, Oakley ”So, their chips and salsa are housemade and if you are lucky, you could land a hot and fresh batch. They are SO GOOD! And you can refill it, too. My friend devoured the empanadas. And their tacos are heavenly! The thing that impressed me the most, is the service. A lot of people, including us, were unaware that it closes at 9 p.m. The guys didn't rush us and at 9:45, they still asked us to stay as long as we wanted. This is a testimony to the service here, and it is so unique. ” — Aditi R. Photo: Patty Salas

2. Mazunte Taqueria

5207 Madison Road, Oakley
”So, their chips and salsa are housemade and if you are lucky, you could land a hot and fresh batch. They are SO GOOD! And you can refill it, too. My friend devoured the empanadas. And their tacos are heavenly! The thing that impressed me the most, is the service. A lot of people, including us, were unaware that it closes at 9 p.m. The guys didn't rush us and at 9:45, they still asked us to stay as long as we wanted. This is a testimony to the service here, and it is so unique. ” — Aditi R.
Photo: Patty Salas
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3. LouVino OTR 1142 Main St., Over-the-Rhine ”First, I love the tapas-style concept. Everything is so good you'll want to get a few plates just to try as much as you can. The first time I went I was with a decent-sized group and we made a reservation. I definitely recommend making a reservation before you walk in. We were seated right away and given wonderful service. I tried the wine flight with the added cheeses, delicious!! I also sampled the Brussels Sprouts Salad and Chicken Tacos. Let's just say there weren't any leftovers.” — Rachel F. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

3. LouVino OTR

1142 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
”First, I love the tapas-style concept. Everything is so good you'll want to get a few plates just to try as much as you can. The first time I went I was with a decent-sized group and we made a reservation. I definitely recommend making a reservation before you walk in. We were seated right away and given wonderful service. I tried the wine flight with the added cheeses, delicious!! I also sampled the Brussels Sprouts Salad and Chicken Tacos. Let's just say there weren't any leftovers.” — Rachel F.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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4. Delwood 3204 Linwood Ave., Mt. Lookout ”Wow, sitting here eating the second half of my burger from yesterday's lunch at Delwood and I'm still blown away. It was so tasty! A simple menu packed with flavor. The owner is from Peru so there is a Latin flare to all the dishes. Our very favorite items we tried were the Brussels sprouts, the kale and Caesar salad with braised chicken and the spicy fried chicken sandwich, but everything we tried was worth reordering. A casual atmosphere, kid-friendly and wonderful happy hour deals.” — Leah B. Photo via Facebook.com/DelwoodCincy, Joniel Riewoldt Taylor

4. Delwood

3204 Linwood Ave., Mt. Lookout
”Wow, sitting here eating the second half of my burger from yesterday's lunch at Delwood and I'm still blown away. It was so tasty! A simple menu packed with flavor. The owner is from Peru so there is a Latin flare to all the dishes. Our very favorite items we tried were the Brussels sprouts, the kale and Caesar salad with braised chicken and the spicy fried chicken sandwich, but everything we tried was worth reordering. A casual atmosphere, kid-friendly and wonderful happy hour deals.” — Leah B.
Photo via Facebook.com/DelwoodCincy, Joniel Riewoldt Taylor
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5. Conscious Kitchen 2912 Short Vine St., Corryville ”When I came yesterday, the service was a bit slow due to the busy flow, but nothing to be upset about considering how friendly they were. I ordered a salad that was plated beautifully and a minute later the server came and notified me that they had run out of snap peas that were supposed to be in the dish (I didn't even notice yet) and he promptly offered to give me side of fries as a replacement; I was really grateful for his excellent customer service! I've had the Caribbean Jerk salad and the Far East salad and love both. Also, they are very accommodating when it comes to dietary restrictions, as they'll happily make the salads vegetarian for me and take off $2 for taking off the meat option, which is awesome.” — Jessie T. Photo via Facebook.com/ConsciousKitchen513

5. Conscious Kitchen

2912 Short Vine St., Corryville
”When I came yesterday, the service was a bit slow due to the busy flow, but nothing to be upset about considering how friendly they were. I ordered a salad that was plated beautifully and a minute later the server came and notified me that they had run out of snap peas that were supposed to be in the dish (I didn't even notice yet) and he promptly offered to give me side of fries as a replacement; I was really grateful for his excellent customer service! I've had the Caribbean Jerk salad and the Far East salad and love both. Also, they are very accommodating when it comes to dietary restrictions, as they'll happily make the salads vegetarian for me and take off $2 for taking off the meat option, which is awesome.” — Jessie T.
Photo via Facebook.com/ConsciousKitchen513
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6. Boomtown Biscuits and Whiskey 1201 Broadway St., Over-the-Rhine ”Despite being one of the coolest vibes I have experienced in Cincinnati, Boomtown's food is what really sold it for me. I am not a biscuits and gravy person so I was skeptical. However, I was blown away! Although simple, the menu offers enough for anyone to choose from. The food is 'camping' style. Boomtown took American classics and made them top tier. On top of killer food, the bourbon/whiskey selection is relatively fairly priced.” — Drew S. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

6. Boomtown Biscuits and Whiskey

1201 Broadway St., Over-the-Rhine
”Despite being one of the coolest vibes I have experienced in Cincinnati, Boomtown's food is what really sold it for me. I am not a biscuits and gravy person so I was skeptical. However, I was blown away! Although simple, the menu offers enough for anyone to choose from. The food is 'camping' style. Boomtown took American classics and made them top tier. On top of killer food, the bourbon/whiskey selection is relatively fairly priced.” — Drew S.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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7. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar 525 Race St., Downtown ”The space is absolutely gorgeous: beautiful light fixtures, large columns, lovely bright windows, plenty of succulents, etc. Orders are placed at the counter and then food is brought to your table. We only waited about 10 minutes for our food, and everything came out just as we ordered it. I got the Guajillo Chicken Bowl. It was served deconstructed and was absolutely delicious! It was SO flavorful and perfectly portioned. I would return for this dish in a heartbeat!” —Emily V. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

7. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar

525 Race St., Downtown
”The space is absolutely gorgeous: beautiful light fixtures, large columns, lovely bright windows, plenty of succulents, etc. Orders are placed at the counter and then food is brought to your table. We only waited about 10 minutes for our food, and everything came out just as we ordered it. I got the Guajillo Chicken Bowl. It was served deconstructed and was absolutely delicious! It was SO flavorful and perfectly portioned. I would return for this dish in a heartbeat!” —Emily V.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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8. Crzy Monk 627 Main St., Downtown ”I came with a friend and we decided to split a few menu items. We started with some spring rolls. The spring rolls were pretty standard, but also tasty. For our entrees, we split the Bao-Buns and the Cr-Zy Dumplins. Both entrees were excellent, but the Bao-Buns really stole the show. As I type this review, I'm reminded of the breading and salivating thinking about how delicious they were (I'll be back soon to get more). It looks like the menu had a mix of healthy items as well, but clearly I steered the other way.” — Tyler M. Photo via Facebook.com/CrzyMonk

8. Crzy Monk

627 Main St., Downtown
”I came with a friend and we decided to split a few menu items. We started with some spring rolls. The spring rolls were pretty standard, but also tasty. For our entrees, we split the Bao-Buns and the Cr-Zy Dumplins. Both entrees were excellent, but the Bao-Buns really stole the show. As I type this review, I'm reminded of the breading and salivating thinking about how delicious they were (I'll be back soon to get more). It looks like the menu had a mix of healthy items as well, but clearly I steered the other way.” — Tyler M.
Photo via Facebook.com/CrzyMonk
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9. Krueger’s Tavern 1211 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine ”If you're looking for somewhere to chill, get a couple of drinks and good food, this is the place to go. The place is a warm and friendly. Staff was welcoming. I ordered the Kruger Burger $9. It had two packed patties, shredded lettuce, onion, American cheese, their special sauce, homemade pickles, Dijonnaise, challah bun. It was very delicious. The patties were cooked perfectly. Recommend the thin fries with salt and pepper with malt vinegar aioli, which was amazingly delicious and exactly what I was looking for. Crispy every bite you take.” — Francine N. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

9. Krueger’s Tavern

1211 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
”If you're looking for somewhere to chill, get a couple of drinks and good food, this is the place to go. The place is a warm and friendly. Staff was welcoming. I ordered the Kruger Burger $9. It had two packed patties, shredded lettuce, onion, American cheese, their special sauce, homemade pickles, Dijonnaise, challah bun. It was very delicious. The patties were cooked perfectly. Recommend the thin fries with salt and pepper with malt vinegar aioli, which was amazingly delicious and exactly what I was looking for. Crispy every bite you take.” — Francine N.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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10. Arrechissimo Restaurant 8100 Blue Ash Road, Blue Ash ”You order at the window and there are a few tables outside, but it's best to take your bounty home. The owner is very helpful at aiding you in navigating the menu if it's your first time. I'd recommend the arepas and empanadas! You can ask for the chef's special arepa or empanada which consists of black beans, shredded beef, fried plantains and cheese — delicious! The spicy green sauce is perfect for dipping!” — Jessica S. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

10. Arrechissimo Restaurant

8100 Blue Ash Road, Blue Ash
”You order at the window and there are a few tables outside, but it's best to take your bounty home. The owner is very helpful at aiding you in navigating the menu if it's your first time. I'd recommend the arepas and empanadas! You can ask for the chef's special arepa or empanada which consists of black beans, shredded beef, fried plantains and cheese — delicious! The spicy green sauce is perfect for dipping!” — Jessica S.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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11. Forty Thieves 1538 Race St., Over-the-Rhine ”Cool new Mediterranean spot next to the new Holiday Spirits bar (you can order from inside the bar or outside). Both spots are created by the founders of Abigail Street, Senate and Pontiac. The menu is small and simple but everything is really good. It was the best falafel we've had in OTR and probably all of Cincy, and the fries were good, too. Service was extremely quick. Next time we'll try the shawarma and the rest of the menu!” — Taylor E. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

11. Forty Thieves

1538 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
”Cool new Mediterranean spot next to the new Holiday Spirits bar (you can order from inside the bar or outside). Both spots are created by the founders of Abigail Street, Senate and Pontiac. The menu is small and simple but everything is really good. It was the best falafel we've had in OTR and probably all of Cincy, and the fries were good, too. Service was extremely quick. Next time we'll try the shawarma and the rest of the menu!” — Taylor E.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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12. Lonely Pine Steakhouse 6085 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge ”Delightful, fun experience. I saw that the Lonely Pine was opening and I was really excited to try it with a friend. We had steaks, which we loved. I loved my Ohio Wagyu Filet with blue cheese butter. The fingerling potatoes were subtle but delicious. I also liked the wedge salad. Really charming atmosphere. I'm a big fan of the Gorilla Cinema bars and was so happy to see they opened this restaurant next to their Overlook Lodge.” — Shauna W. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

12. Lonely Pine Steakhouse

6085 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
”Delightful, fun experience. I saw that the Lonely Pine was opening and I was really excited to try it with a friend. We had steaks, which we loved. I loved my Ohio Wagyu Filet with blue cheese butter. The fingerling potatoes were subtle but delicious. I also liked the wedge salad. Really charming atmosphere. I'm a big fan of the Gorilla Cinema bars and was so happy to see they opened this restaurant next to their Overlook Lodge.” — Shauna W.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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13. Taft’s Ale House 1429 Race St., Over-the-Rhine ”My wife and I tried the flights of beer and we seriously enjoyed them all. I got mostly IPAs which my wife hates but she insisted on trying them all as the first one was so delicious. We didn't try any food but it did look cool. The second floor is bar service (at least it was when we were there on a Saturday afternoon) and the first floor was long tables (e.g. like a German beer hall) and there was a basement with another bar and tables. I would most certainly go back to try their food!” — Dan H. Photo: Jesse Fox

13. Taft’s Ale House

1429 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
”My wife and I tried the flights of beer and we seriously enjoyed them all. I got mostly IPAs which my wife hates but she insisted on trying them all as the first one was so delicious. We didn't try any food but it did look cool. The second floor is bar service (at least it was when we were there on a Saturday afternoon) and the first floor was long tables (e.g. like a German beer hall) and there was a basement with another bar and tables. I would most certainly go back to try their food!” — Dan H.
Photo: Jesse Fox
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14. Sacred Beast 1437 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine ”The best chicken nuggets in the world — which is what they should call them — paired with homemade ranch, spicy mustard, and a wonderfully complex barbecue sauce, surprising because it's made with only four ingredients. Because they change their menu regularly — not just pay lip service to the concept — expect more great food, more great surprises.” — Andy M. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

14. Sacred Beast

1437 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
”The best chicken nuggets in the world — which is what they should call them — paired with homemade ranch, spicy mustard, and a wonderfully complex barbecue sauce, surprising because it's made with only four ingredients. Because they change their menu regularly — not just pay lip service to the concept — expect more great food, more great surprises.” — Andy M.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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15. The Littlefield 3934 Spring Grove Ave., Northside ”The Littlefield is our neighborhood staple! The base menu is great (love the bean salad, kreplachs, falafel, and tofu bahn mi), and the specials are always updating. We tried the short rib specials last night, which had plantains, rice and beans. It was a hearty meal which did not disappoint. The drink specials changes monthly, and their take on the French 75 this month was delicious! We love trying their creative items.” — Taylor M. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

15. The Littlefield

3934 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
”The Littlefield is our neighborhood staple! The base menu is great (love the bean salad, kreplachs, falafel, and tofu bahn mi), and the specials are always updating. We tried the short rib specials last night, which had plantains, rice and beans. It was a hearty meal which did not disappoint. The drink specials changes monthly, and their take on the French 75 this month was delicious! We love trying their creative items.” — Taylor M.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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16. Lalo 709 Main St., Downtown ”Great lunch spot! Most recently visited Lalo on a Wednesday and took advantage of their $7 Burrito deal of the day. It was huge! Yet we were not rushed in any way so I took my time through it — it was delicious. I've also had their Mexi Bibimbap and it did not disappoint. They definitely fill up right at noon, but if you get there beforehand the place is nearly empty.” — Sam R. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

16. Lalo

709 Main St., Downtown
”Great lunch spot! Most recently visited Lalo on a Wednesday and took advantage of their $7 Burrito deal of the day. It was huge! Yet we were not rushed in any way so I took my time through it — it was delicious. I've also had their Mexi Bibimbap and it did not disappoint. They definitely fill up right at noon, but if you get there beforehand the place is nearly empty.” — Sam R.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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17. Grove Park Grille 6735 Kellogg Road, Anderson Township ”The level of service was exceptional and the food and drinks were great. We decided to mix it up and ordered a variety of appetizers. Do yourself a favor and order the Goetta Croquettes. Such a unique dish and equally delicious. I don't normally rave about Brussels sprouts but these deserve it. The perfect amount of crispness and loaded with flavor! The grilled fish tacos were a little short on fish but still good nonetheless. We'll definitely be back.” — Kevin Y. Photo via Facebook.com/GroveParkGrilleCincinnati

17. Grove Park Grille

6735 Kellogg Road, Anderson Township
”The level of service was exceptional and the food and drinks were great. We decided to mix it up and ordered a variety of appetizers. Do yourself a favor and order the Goetta Croquettes. Such a unique dish and equally delicious. I don't normally rave about Brussels sprouts but these deserve it. The perfect amount of crispness and loaded with flavor! The grilled fish tacos were a little short on fish but still good nonetheless. We'll definitely be back.” — Kevin Y.
Photo via Facebook.com/GroveParkGrilleCincinnati
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18. Sotto 118 E. Sixth St., Downtown ”The Bistecca Fiorentina here is what dreams are made of. Get it medium rare for some of the most heavenly, melt-in-your-mouth steak your tastebuds will encounter. Pasta would be my other recommendation — it is top notch as well — and in the back of the restaurant, you can actually see everything being made by hand. For dessert, I found the ricotta doughnuts with the three dipping sauces to be a lot of fun to share. Definitely treat yourself to a three course meal + wine when you're here — this is a place to fully indulge and be reminded of how delightful a good meal can be.” — Amy C. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

18. Sotto

118 E. Sixth St., Downtown
”The Bistecca Fiorentina here is what dreams are made of. Get it medium rare for some of the most heavenly, melt-in-your-mouth steak your tastebuds will encounter. Pasta would be my other recommendation — it is top notch as well — and in the back of the restaurant, you can actually see everything being made by hand. For dessert, I found the ricotta doughnuts with the three dipping sauces to be a lot of fun to share. Definitely treat yourself to a three course meal + wine when you're here — this is a place to fully indulge and be reminded of how delightful a good meal can be.” — Amy C.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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19. Bridges 4165 Hamilton Ave., Northside ”The food is, in a word, delicious! The samosas are excellent and very generously sized. The momos are beautiful and you get so many of them in an order! My chicken tikka masala combo hit the mark and my husband and daughter loved their food, too, the pork chili and veggie options, respectively. The staff is more than happy to guide your selection if you're not sure what to order.” — Nanette B. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

19. Bridges

4165 Hamilton Ave., Northside
”The food is, in a word, delicious! The samosas are excellent and very generously sized. The momos are beautiful and you get so many of them in an order! My chicken tikka masala combo hit the mark and my husband and daughter loved their food, too, the pork chili and veggie options, respectively. The staff is more than happy to guide your selection if you're not sure what to order.” — Nanette B.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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