22 New Cincinnati Restaurants That Have Opened So Far This Year

OTR Chili Co.

1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Housed in the old Sartre space in the Rhinegeist Brewery building, OTR Chili Company is a retro diner-style spot offering self-proclaimed "authentic Cincinnati chili" in addition to burgers, salads and shakes. The chili menu features all the classics: a 3-, 4- or 5-Way made with 100-percent beef and secret spice blend, plus a vegetarian way. For booze fans, you can add a shot of bourbon to your malted chocolate or vanilla shake for just $4.
Photo via Facebook.com/Rhinegeist

Fifty West Burger Bar

7605 Wooster Pike, Newtown
Fifty West Brewing Company continues to build upon their Columbia Township empire with the addition of the new Fifty West Burger Bar, an homage to the 1950s roadside root beer stand. Offering a variety of proteins (including the vegetarian-friendly ‘Beyond patty’), each is offered in 12 different ways, named for the 12 different states U.S. Route 50 travels through.
Photo: Savana Willhoite

Subito

311 Pike St., Downtown
Situated inside the Lytle Park Hotel, Subito is an upscale Italian eatery with an open kitchen concept. The menu boasts brick oven pizzas, a raw bar and traditional antipasti along with “the freshest seafood, flown in daily from the ports.” Pair the meal with a wine from the carefully curated cellar or a cocktail whipped up by a resident mixologist.
Photo: Emily Palm

Pata Roja Taqueria

1324 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Gaining a reputation for some of the best Mexican street food in the city, Pata Roja started at Rosedale and continued to gain traction through pop-ups at Forty Thieves and now The Takeaway. Serving up al pastor, bistec and veggie tacos, Pata Roja also offers four different types of salsa — something for everyone’s taste.
Photo via Facebook.com/PataRojaTacos

Bridgeview Box Park

1 Levee Way, Newport
Bridgeview Box Park, a cluster of small food, drink and shopping vendors — conglomerated where Mitchell’s Fish Market used to sit at Newport on the Levee — is now open to the public. The establishments are housed next to each other in shipping-like containers — hence “box park” — and are interspersed among a common outdoor area. Expect empanadas from Che on Wheels, Asian street food from Bon Mi Street, tiki drinks from Kon-Tiki and other food and beverage options.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Governor

231 Main St., Milford
Brothers Paul and Neil Barraco had been working in fine dining for years when they returned to their East Coast roots to open a classic diner with a modern twist. The mission of the Governor is to offer the perks of fine dining — locally procured meat and produce, a menu made from scratch, a carefully designed cocktail list — at a medium price point in a laid-back environment. The menu at the Governor features cuisine ranging from Asian to Italian to classic Americana.
Photo: Savana Willhoite

Third Eye Brewing

11276 Chester Road, Sharonville
After brewing for family and friends for two decades, Third Eye Brewing finally has a taproom to serve in. Currently serving 10 original brews including Jelly Brain milkshake IPA, Enlightenment Raspberry American Wheat and Good Livin’ Czech Lager, the brewery also offers other hand-crafted beverages to enjoy. The food menu features elevated street food such as beef short rib poutine, Cajun garlic herb wings and low country shrimp boil.
Photo: Savana Willhoite

CityBird

7893 Beechmont Ave., Anderson
Thunderdome Restaurant Group has expanded with a fourth location of its CityBird chicken tender chain and the first with a drive-thru. The deep-fried offspring of Thunderdome's The Eagle in Over-the-Rhine dishes out cage-free, all-natural chicken tenders paired with housemade craft sauces, plus chicken tender sandwiches, salads and sides. This Anderson CityBird joins additional locations in Symmes Township, Crestview Hills and their flagship in Over-the-Rhine.
Photo via Facebook.com/CityBirdBeechmont

Papi Jochos

633 Madison Ave., Covington
From the owners of Agave & Rye comes this new fast-casual concept. Serving up “authentic Mexican street dogs,” along with sangria and margaritas of all styles, Jochos promises to deliver a creative and playful food experience. Try the ‘Original Papi Jochos’ with grilled onions, housemade chili sauce, queso Oaxaca, ketchup, mustard, tomato, house pickles, cojita and grilled jalapeño, or one of their seven different hot dog versions (bacon-wrapped, anyone?).
Photo via Facebook.com/PapiJochosStreetDogsandCantina

Boom Box Buns

1400 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine
Boombox Buns, an Over-the-Rhine carry-out eatery offering homemade Chinese-style steamed buns, also known as baozi or bao, opened its much-anticipated brick-and-mortar location this spring. Serving up the fluffiest steamed buns you have ever seen, Boom Box offers a variety of fillings including their cumin lamb bun, sweet potato bun and beef bun. Finish the meal off with a fried sweet bun for dessert and a Thai iced tea on the side.
Photo: Provided by Boom Box Buns

Cream & Sugar Coffeehouse

3546 Montgomery Road, Evanston
Serving up locally sourced organic coffee and tea, Cream & Sugar also offers breakfast and lunch with a focus on local and plant-based ingredients, to patrons throughout the Evanston neighborhood and beyond, as well as the Xavier community. Owned by longtime friends Karen Kinebrew and Crystal Grace, the coffee shop is designed to evoke a calming vibe, with shades of blue and teal, and window seating as well as lounge space for larger groups.
Photo via Facebook.com/CreamandSugarCoffeehouse

Galactic Fried Chicken

624 Sixth Ave., Dayton
Former food truck Galactic Fried Chicken recently opened a brick-and-mortar in Northern Kentucky's Dayton neighborhood, next door to Unataza Coffee. The restaurant, owned by Shane Coffey and his wife Kathy McDonald, serves fried chicken, chicken tenders and sandwiches, along with a variety of sides ranging from mac and cheese to deviled eggs, fries and salads. They also offer a vegetarian option of fried jackfruit nuggets.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Northern Row Brewing

111 West McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine
You may have seen Northern Row brews popping up on taps around town over the past year, but the taproom and patio are now officially opened. With 13 taps of their own beers including an oatmeal stout (The Banker), peach fruit beer (The Preacher) and five different IPAs (ex. The Wanker English IPA), the brewery also offers a full bar and cocktail menu — soon to feature their own spirits as well. Worlds collide with their signature “Preacherito,” a classic mojito topped with the Preacher beer. Chef EJ Monroe has curated an “elevated picnic” menu featuring his grandma’s beanies and weenies, roast beef and cheddar sliders and vegan stuffed peppers.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Adesso

125 E. Main St., Mason
Offering traditional Italian espresso beverages as well as a menu focused on seasonal bites that represent the flavors of the Ohio Valley, "Adesso" means "now," which owner Chuck Pfahler says is the "essence of coffee." The shop offers ethically sourced coffee, teas from around the world, dishes that explore both local and global flavors and seasonal cocktails.
Photo via Facebook.com/Adess0coffee

Ruby’s Chocolates Oakley

3923 Isabella Ave., Oakley
Oakley has gotten a little bit sweeter with the addition of Ruby's Chocolates sweet shop. Visitors can look forward to enjoying a variety of favorites from Ruby's, including their signature truffle cakes, which are similar to a cake pop and come in a variety of flavors; "Joy Sticks," which are pretzels enrobed in caramel, chocolate, peanut butter and other toppings; no-bake cookies; chocolate bark; and a new menu item dubbed "Phatty Cakes," which are two petite cakes with a layer of icing in between.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Genki Ramen

5005 Deerfield Blvd., Mason
Mason needed a ramen spot and Genki filled that void perfectly. Cooking up seven different takes on the classic ramen dish, the eatery also offers rice bowls like their curry chicken katsu don and gyoza for a starter.
Photo via Genki Ramen’s Facebook

MPH Brewing

7880 Remington Road, Montgomery
Cousins Jim Christmann and co-founder and president of Colorado-based Left Hand Brewing Eric Wallace returned to their Cincinnati roots to offer a taste of the wild West in suburban Ohio. MPH Brewing serves over a dozen of their own craft beers, select wines and features seven of Left Hand’s brews as well. Order one of their five signature pizzas or some loaded tots to complete the experience.
Photo via Facebook.com/MPHBrew

Empanadas Aqui

322 Reading Road, Mason
Venezuelan food truck Empanadas Aqui has opened their highly anticipated brick-and-mortar restaurant in downtown Mason. The restaurant, owned by Pat Fettig, Brett and Venezuela native Dadnitri Johnson, offers a plentiful menu featuring a selection of arepas like the Gringo Pepiada and the caprese; entrees like the pabellon, the national dish of Venezuela; and of course empanadas, like the Carne Mechada and the queso and plantains.
Photo via Facebook.com/EmpanadasAqui

The NBL CKN

4450 Eastgate South Drive, Eastgate
AKA The Nobel Chicken, this eatery opened their first brick-and-mortar spot in Jungle Jim’s after winning “fan favorite” at a food festival. Their menu boasts “remixed” fried chicken sandwiches like the MNRCHY (pimento cheese, bacon jam and bourbon mayo) and the IMPRL (habanero-ghost cheese, pico de gallo and avocado). Go classic with some chicken tenders or spice it up with some Fyre Frys topped with ghost-pepper ranch.
Photo via Facebook.com/NBLCKNeastgate

Taqueria Los Compadres Mexican Grill

2780 Dixie Highway, Hamilton
Los Compadres serves up “delicious Mexican food, made the Mexican way.” With a menu featuring burritos, quesadillas and the "classicos" like carne asada and chilaquiles, your mouth will be watering. Finish your meal with some flan or take home tamales to go if you just can’t get enough.
Photo via Facebook.com/TaqueriaLosCompadresMexicanGrill