Don’t you just love a good restaurant? I realized that I barely left my house last year. Rightfully so, we’re still in a panni and covid loves to invite all its cousins to the party. One of the personal goals that I wanted to achieve when I moved back to Cincinnati was to do an eating tour of the city. Cincinnati is made up of so many different neighborhoods and there are so many places to eat. Since I’m still working on my food tour of Cincinnati, I wanted to share some of the places that I’ve eaten from or have tried since I moved back. While I have eaten at way more than 22 places, I’m only including restaurants on this list that are unique to the area or a place where so many folks recommended to me.
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AMBAR INDIA RESTAURANT
350 LUDLOW AVE
There is nothing like Indian food in Cincinnati. I don’t know what makes it so special, but every place I tried – in the states – just doesn’t compare to Cincinnati. There are a ton of Indian restaurants in the city but I think Ambar, located in Clifton Heights, is by far the best. While I haven’t visited the restaurant since my return, Ubereats allows me to eat it whenever I’m craving Indian food.
Their spicy level is actually the level they say they are. As a spice girl (ha!), I usually order somewhere between 8-10. But even their 10 sometimes is a little too spicy for me depending on who’s the cook. I’m a creature of habit and typically stick to the Chicken Tikka Masala because I’m a sauce girl. I have tried other items (Saag Paneer, Aloo, etc.) on their menu, you know to switch it up, but there’s nothing like their masala and garlic naan. This is the best Indian restaurant in the city and highly recommend it.
AGAVE & RYE
3825 EDWARDS RD
I’ve been here twice and still trying to figure out the hype about this place. The first time I went to Agave and Rye, it was for a work lunch so I didn’t get to try any of the drinks. The great thing about this restaurant is the decor and you can pick from a wide variety of different tacos that have unique pairings. During this first visit, I had the Alderman, The Snitch III, and the Plain Jane. To be frank, I wasn’t that impressed with the tacos.
Agave and Rye overfill the taco with a bunch of toppings that hide the meat. The little meat that I tasted was good but the toppings are really the only things you can taste. You will not complete a taco without spilling the toppings. The second time I went was for a dinner on Taco Tuesday where they have happy hour prices all day. I was trying to be a little more open-minded about the tacos but it was still underwhelmed because their toppings are just too much. But the drink I had was delicious. I don’t see myself going here again by choice.
SHANGHAI ON ELM
700 ELM ST
Formerly Shanghai Mamas, Shanghai on Elm is a Cincinnati staple when it comes to Chinese food. I’ve always wanted to visit when the restaurant was still downtown but I honestly can’t remember why I never went. The first time I went was for a friend’s birthday. It’s her favorite restaurant and I just knew I had to make it so I could finally try this spot. I had the Szechuan chicken and the side of fried rice. So, so yummy. It was the perfect level of spiciness and the cosmo was really good! I definitely recommend it if you’re looking to eat Chinese food!
MESA LOCA
2653 ERIE AVE
This is where the old Cock and Bull used to be in Hyde Park. My first trip to Mesa Loca was for another work lunch so no drinks were had. But this is a place that has been officially added to my must-visit again list. I had the Spicy Beef tacos. De. Lish. Ous. The beef was well seasoned and the mango salsa was the best I’ve had in the states. I ate that so fast, I wanted to ask who ate my other tacos? I decided to go back for my birthday dinner last year and had birria tacos. I didn’t like this as much as the Spice Beef tacos but was still good.
GOMEZ SALSA
2437 GILBERT AVE
Gomez Salsa serves Mexican American cuisine. Their signature item is the Turtle – a burrito-sized tortilla, stuff it with all the goodies – rice, beans, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, meat, veggies, cheese, or anything else you’d like – sealed up with an extra cheesy, tostada crunch. I tried the Diablo Turtle. Maybe it’s because I’m not a huge fan of burritos — tacos or enchiladas over everything — I just wasn’t the biggest fan of this item. I’m typically wary when restaurants say their food is spicy when it’s really not. The Diablo lived up to this spicy girl’s dream.
I haven’t gone back to try anything else, the Turtle really turned me off. But I want to try their tacos before I really decide if it’s worth, to me. But if you’re a burrito lover, this place is for you. They have a location in both Walnut Hills and Over-the-Rhine.
GHOST CHICKEN
701 BROADWAY ST
This was a random UberEAts purchase because I find myself not wanting to cook on Friday evenings and literally just picked a restaurant depending on my craving. I really wanted a chicken sandwich that wasn’t from Popeyes. Enters Ghost Chicken. I don’t remember this restaurant being around during my last stint in the city. I purchased the Ghost Chicken Sandwich. The chicken sandwich was really good, but it wasn’t as spicy as I hoped it would be. If you’re looking for a place that makes good chicken sandwiches, I recommend it!
FOODGOD TRUFFLE FRIES
2635 EDMONDSON RD
This was another random UberEAts purchase because I was craving truffle fries and stumbled upon Foodgod Truffle Fries. I ordered the truffle chicken sandwich with truffles. Big. Mistake. The “sandwich” was two chicken strips on a bun. This was my fault for not reading the description of the sandwich. But I was pissed when I took a bite into the sandwich and figured out it wasn’t a real chicken sandwich. Also, the truffle sauce they put on the chicken strips had a weird taste. The truffle fries were not as good as the truffle fries from the Eagle. Needless to say, I will not be ordering from that place ever again.
COPPER AND FLAME
115 VINE ST
Copper and Flame was the first restaurant that I went to in person after moving to Cincinnati. And that was last summer. 😅 This was also my first time hanging out with Bri. There was a Cincy Cocoa Blogger event the week before and we clicked and decided to be friends! Copper and Flame is heaven okay? They have alcohol – beer, wine, and mixed drinks – on tap!
Everything on tap is self pour and you can purchase them by the ounce. You can find some for as low as 40 cents an ounce! They also have a bartender upstairs that you can order from if you don’t see anything on tap that you’d want to purchase. You can order food a la carte from the kitchen. The menu rotates and I can’t remember what I ordered because it’s not currently on the menu. But I remember enjoying it. If you’re looking for a chill place with good food and drinks, Copper and Flame is your place.
CITYBIRD TENDERS
1344 VINE ST
This is another place that was overhyped. Even though I’m not a huge chicken tenders fan, I decided to go for it with CityBird Tenders because of all the reviews. This was not a life changing meal. While the dipping sauce – Cola BBQ – was good, I don’t get the hype of this place. Maybe I need to try another item before giving it up? If chicken tenders are your jam, this is the place for you. I doubt I’ll order from here again.
WILD GINDER
3655 EDWARDS RD
This is my go to sushi place for those workdays that I’ve been slammed in back to back meetings and didn’t have a chance to cook. I’ve been missing the place in DC that I was literally next door to my apartment where I would walk to, work in, and eat good sushi. And Wild Ginger reminds me so much of that place because they have sushi combos! While I haven’t been there in person, it’s my staple sushi place that I know will not let me down.
KING’S WAY CAFE
3550 MONTGOMERY RD
This is a Black owned restaurant that serves breakfast and brunch! I’ve been there a few times last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. My favorite item on the menu is the french toast puff. Everyone raves about it, rightfully so it’s delicious! It tastes like funnel cake. I’m salivating just thinking about it. If you’re looking for a place with good breakfast/brunch, you should definitely check out King’s Way Cafe.
DOPE! ASIAN STREET FARE
100 E COURT ST
When I was in the DMV, I discovered really good ramen at Sakuramen Ramen Bar in Adams Morgan and it’s been really hard to find a good ramen place here. Mostly because there’s not a ton of options and I’ve been wary of randomly trying ramen places. But I’m glad that I randomly stumble across Dope! because the ramen is so good! I’m glad it’s getting cooler again cause this is the spot. I’ve ordered the Pork belly Miso Ramen and the Char Siu Miso which were both really good but my favorite is the Char Siu Miso.
THE AREPA PLACE
131 W. ELDER ST
This was another place that I discovered on UberEats and haven’t been in person yet. I was looking for Mexican food and the Arepa Place kept popping up as the highest-rated place to eat. Even though it’s Colombian, I decided to try it out mostly because they offered plantains as a side. That’s always a win in my book. I’ve ordered from there several times and always get the Great Arepa. It’s so delicious! The arepas are stuffed with chicken, beef, chorizo, black beans, cheese, and plantains. I didn’t know that all of these items could go together and I’m glad I discovered this wonderful dish. One day I will make it to the restaurant but for now, I’ll keep UberEating it.
GRAETER’S ICE CREAM
1401 VINE ST
While I will always support Ben and Jerry’s because they are that brand, Graeter’s is by far the superior tasting ice cream. Pints of this ice cream can actually be found at Fresh Markets and Whole Foods nationwide. It was one of the few Cincinnati pleasures that I was able to continue to indulge in when I was in the DMV. The signature move of Graeter’s is the ginormous chunks of chocolate in their ice cream. 🤤 I typically purchase the pints from Kroger but if I’m near Graeter’s I will walk right in and grab a waffle cone of cookies and cream.
THE EAGLE
1342 VINE ST
The Eagle is a Southern style cuisine restaurant that opened before I moved. As someone raised in the South, I know what good southern cooking should taste like and while this is quality it’s not the same as the food I grew up on. Every now and then when I want to get a taste without cooking myself, I hit up the Eagle. However, if you’ve never had true southern cuisine, I think this is a good introduction. The honey hot sauce is absolutely delicious.
TASTE OF BELGIUM
3825 EDWARDS RD
I typically get the chicken and waffles at the Taste of Belgium but the last time I was there, I order the Grilled Ham and Cheese sandwich and it was quite a disappointment. It was a reminder to stick to what I know because they really are only good at one thing – their waffles. The thing that makes the chicken and waffles so good is the sauce which is a combination of syrup and hot sauce. Taste gets an average rating from me but I recommend going because it’s a staple in the city and an easy place to go to when you’re not sure where to go for brunch.
RICH’S PROPER FOOD AND DRINK
701 MADISON AVE COVINGTON, KY
I went here with Cofi for lunch in August and the menu I was looking at before I went was the dinner menu and I didn’t realize it until we got there. So, I didn’t get to try the item that I really wanted to eat. I had the shrimp po boy and having had them in New Orleans, it definitely does not compare. But I don’t want to count this place out completely. I want to try their dinner menu before making a final decision on this place.
FIRESIDE PIZZA
773 E MCMILLIAN ST
This may be super basic but I really enjoy Dominos pizza. And if it ain’t Dominos, I make my own. So, pizza isn’t a place that I would normally go to and try outside of that. I’m also super picky about the sauce. I’m a sauce girl and the sauce has to be something special for me to really enjoy it. Fireside Pizza opened before I moved from Cincinnati. I really enjoy their sauce and the meats pizza. I don’t get it often because I eat pizza probably once every blue moon but it’s definitely a staple whenever I’m craving pizza.
HOOK FISH AND CHICKEN
1920 LINN ST
Hook and Fish was a substitute to Alabama Fish Bar because it’s not currently on any of the delivery apps and I still don’t have a car. It’s a good enough substitute when I don’t have the ability to get Alabama Fish Bar and I don’t have fresh fish to fry myself. I would give it an average rating because I’ve fried better fish myself.
ELI’S BBQ
133 WEST ELDER ST
People have been raving about Eli’s BBQ since I moved here the first time. I’ve very picky when it comes to BBQ – it needs to be seasoned well and have lots of sauce. The ribs I had from Eli’s had a dry rub and I didn’t realize that until I got the food. The ribs I had didn’t meet up to the hype and I likely won’t be eating there again.
CHE
1342 WALNUT ST
I went here to meet up with a few of the Cincy Cocoa Bloggers before we went to the Classical Roots concert in August. It was my first time at this restaurant but it was so good. Che is Argentian cuisine and known for its empanadas. The empanadas were sooo good. I had the Short Rib, Buffalo Chicken, and Jerk Chicken. I would recommend getting more than three because they are so small. But since we didn’t have a lot of time before the concert, three was enough for the quick bite to sustain me until the concert was over.
I will say that the restaurant itself is quite small. So much so, I didn’t feel comfortable sitting inside but luckily our party was large enough that we were able to move outside. They opened a second location in O’Bryonville in November which looks like a larger location. I’m excited about it cause it’ll be closer to me. I highly recommend Che if you’re looking for good empanadas in the city.
BOOMTOWN BISCUITS AND WHISKEY
1201 BROADWAY ST
This is a Black-owned restaurant located in Pendleton. But based on the clientele and the breakdown between kitchen staff and the front of the house, you wouldn’t think that by just walking in. To be honest, I don’t care for how those optics look. Boomtown Biscuits and Whiskey is that girl, okay? Everything I had was delicious! The berry mimosa, the bloody mary, and their shrimp and grits.
I always judge a brunch spot by their shrimp and grits if it’s on the menu, especially if the restaurant is Black-owned. If you can’t get this right, I can’t really trust the rest of your menu items. The shrimp and grits are bomb dot com! It comes in a mini cast-iron skillet. Unfortunately for everyone, the owner announced that it’s closing this month so I’m doing everything I can to eat there a couple more times before it closes.
ANY CINCINNATI RESTAURANT THAT I SHOULD HAVE ON MY LIST?
