Quick simple reviews
So hear are the places I have eaten so far in downtown Cincinnti:
1. Scotti’s Italian Restaurant
Location: Corner of Vine St and W Court St
Thoughts: $$
Good, classic Italian hole in the wall restaurant. Fun and gaudy atmosphere with bad tile on the walls, candle drippings and hanging Chianti bottles littered the room. Just let them order for you!
2. Mayberry
Location: Corner of Vine St and W Court St
Thoughts: $
The cob salad is the only cob salad that actually exists, translation delicious. The BLT is also a hit!
3. Skyline
Location: Corner of 4th street and Sycamore or W.Court and Vine
Thoughts: $
If you want a true taste of Cincinnati this is where it is! The famous Cincinnati chili 3-way, spaghetti topped with chili (not Texas style, just meaty deliciousness). Strange for anyone that has never tried it and is used to chili as a soup. Don’t forget the Tums for afterward though, but completely worth it!
4. Tom & Chee
Location: Corner of E. Court street and Main Street also across the river in Newport on the levee
Thoughts: $$
The most delicious and fun grilled cheese you will ever eat. The only thing I don’t love her is sadly their regular tomato soup and the gazpacho, but the creamy tomato is great! Get ready for a greasy taste of Cincinnati, as featured on the Food Network!
5. Campanello’s “three blocks from the beach”
Location: Corner of Central Ave and 4th street
Thoughts: $
Fresh, homemade pasta and dessert with a sauce that tasted like it had been marinating all day.
6. Arnold’s Bar and Grill
Location: Corner of E 8th and Main Street
Thoughts: $$
You walk in to your typical hole in the wall bar and then there is a light at the end of the tunnel of this beautiful hidden grotto like patio nestled in between the surrounding buildings. While the food is your run of the mill bar food with a Greek twist not great but not terrible either.
7. Taqueria Mercado
Location: Corner of Walnut and E 8th street
Thoughts: $$
Authentic Mexican food and some of the best tacos in the city!
8. Lavomatic
Location: Vine Street and E. 12th
Thoughts: $$$$
Could be a miss, over priced bar food, but some people love the burger.
9. Senate
Location: Vine Street and E. 12th
Thoughts: $$$
Perfect service with good simple food done right; gourmet hot dogs at their finest and delicious beer
10. Abigail Street
Location: Vine Street and E. 12th
Thoughts: $$$
Great service, tapas restaurant with Mediterranean influences. Order a couple meals to share and make sure to get some wine on tap, delicious!
11. Bakersfield
Location: Vine Street and E. 12th
Thoughts: $$
Tequila, whiskey and tacos; need I say more.
12. Taste of Belgium
Location: Vine Street and E. 12th
Thoughts: $$
Fried chicken, waffles, Belgium French fries and beer; yummy beer. It is like easting at your favorite little private café but with way better food and drinks.
13. Graeter’s Ice Cream
Location: On Fountain Square
Thoughts: $
The best Ice Cream in the world, hands down!!!
14. Via Vita
Location: On Fountain Square
Thoughts: $$$
Homemade pizzas and pasta and a great view of the square.
15. First Watch
Location: Corner of 7th & Walnut
Thoughts: $
Mostly a breakfast joint but they also have some great lunch items; try the goetta, only found in Cincinnati.
16. Nada
Location: Corner of 6th and Walnut across from the Contemporary Art Museum
Thoughts: $$$$
Pretty good Mexican food for Cincinnati, and delicious margaritas; great atmosphere to have a drink at. Think high class Mexican food, not spicy but very unique.
17. Local 127
Location: between 4th and 5th Street on Vine
Thoughts: $$$
Locally sources all their food, practically heaven on your plate!
18. Mr. Sushi
Location: Corner of Walnut and 6th St
Thoughts: $$$
Everything is fresh and comes out relatively quick. Cincinnati has a habit of making sushi fancier then it really has to be but this was a more tradition view.
19. Trattoria Roma Restaurant
Location: Corner of Walnut and 6th St
Thoughts: $$
Get the Panini; it’s not a Panini but the best ham sandwich around. Your basic Italian restaurant, homey yummy pasta.
20. Fusian Sushi
Location: Corner of Race St and W 4th street, in the mall
Thoughts: $$
This place gets the extra thumbs up for its creativity. Think chipotle meets sushi and you don’t get food poisoning
21. Madonna’s Bar and Grill
Location: corner of E. 7th. St. and Vine Street
Thoughts: $$
Bar food at its finest and fresh cut fries!!!
22. Akash India
Location: Corner of E. 6th st and Vine
Thoughts: $$
It’s Indian folks…nothing awesome nothing bad; same delicious belly filling food that India is known for.
