Category Archives: Cincinnati

Restaurants in Cincinnati

Wildflower Cafe

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Wildflower Cafe, Mason

Work trips probably have more cons than pros but one solid pro is that I get to eat out and when traveling solo you are not only on your own schedule but your taste buds come first. I have been here now twice and was not let down either time. The cafe is in a house and while the tables (both upstairs and downstairs) are reservation only the bar for the most part is open. I have lucked out twice and was able to squeeze in; after talking to a few turns out that is not always the case. I suggest The truffled mushroom fonduta, which is served with “16 bricks” bread. Be sure to eat quickly as the cheese can harden and make a little more difficult to eat. On my most recent visit their ribeye steak for the night was smoked. I couldn’t recall if I’d ever eaten a smoked steak before so thought I’d throw in the wild card and order it. I’m not sure what I was expecting but it did in fact have a serious smoked flavor closer to pork or something you might barbecue. I’m not sure this is the steak I would eat everyday but savored the modification. The bread pudding is also worth mentioning but be careful as to not become too full with everything else offered. If you figure out how to do this please let me in on the secret.

The Rookwood

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The Rookwood, Cincinnati

Mount Adams is a fabulous neighborhood in Cincinnati. It is set on a hill that looks over the Ohio river and it also happens to be home to one of my oldest and best friends from college. Miraculously our schedules worked out so we could get dinner when I was in town. The weather also cooperated and we were able to sit outside. While catching up we ordered the bacon wrapped dates and a couple glasses of wine. Pretty good selection of wine by the glass, which were were thankful for. I wish it could have been a bottle sort of night but sadly it was only a Wednesday. While responsibilities held me back in one department they did not hold me back when I choose to order the pork shank. I would come back for this pork shank. It feel off the bone and braising it in apple cider was a fabulous decision. My only hesitation would be the service as it was not the best nor fastest but luckily neither of us minded as we weren’t trying to rush.

Zula

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Zula, Cincinnati (OTR)

I was back in Cincinnati for work but this time for a much shorter trip all the while I was still able to try one new restaurant! It was a bistro specializing in Mediterranean flavors and wine! A friend raved about the mussels so while I already knew my friend Lindsey and I were sharing a pot of those we had many other small plates to choose from. If you happen to love bacon this would be an especially good place for you since it was included in many of the dishes. We started out with the Plancha Mushrooms with smoked bacon, scallions, lime, & cilantro. The Yellow Fin Tuna Crudo with tomatoes, avocado, citrus, & Serrano peppers; I just loved the spiciness of the peppers and coolness of the raw fish. The Roasted Beet Salad with bleu cheese, herb salad, pistachios, & beet vinaigrette. The beet on beet flavors was cool to see since I would never think to do that myself. Then we pigged out on the Mediterranean Mussels the broth included scallions, Serrano peppers, garlic confit, lemon, parsley, mint, & sun-dried tomatoes. We ordered a side of bread too and were able to soak up all the soup we wanted, literally two meals in one! We shared a bottle of Kermit Lynch Côtes du Rhône, which may have been a little heavy for what we were having but we both enjoyed it since we tend to prefer heavier/ earthier wines! We finished the meal with a dessert that was out of this world. The Raspberry Marsala Cake was both light and sweet. It came with mascarpone cream and vanilla bean panna cotta. While both Lindsey were polite this is a dish you want the last bite of! We came on a week night so it wasn’t too busy and the waitress was great, she never loaded our table with too many dishes at once. The parking was a little problematic due to construction but besides that I wouldn’t say there were a whole lot of cons. 

Abigail Street

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Abigail Street, Cincinnati (OTR)

This will be my last post for Cincinnati (at least for now) and while all restaurants have been beyond satisfying this dinner will resonate in my mind for a while. The menu won my friend Morgan and I over before we even got there but our waitress was also perfect because she could actually advise on the food & wine and not just give the standard party line: “the whole menu is great you won’t be disappointed”. That’s a huge pet peeve of mine.

We were first overwhelmed at the wine selection because not only did they have wine by the bottle but also on tap and while the wines on tap were enticing we decided on a bottle. Morgan and I shared all dishes and I’d say got a good array. First came the Butternut Squash Soup and Gnocchi. I am typically not a fan of butternut squash but this soup blew me away. It had strong flavors of curry and was anything but ordinary. The gnocchi were pan seared similar to pierogies and came with sautéed leeks and asparagus that only contributed to the whole dish. Next came the Beets, Moroccan Spiced Carrot Salad, and Grilled Hanger Steak.  I wouldn’t classify these plates as small but if you share you can get a few and be all the more satisfied. To finish up we got Baklava one walnut and one pistachio; the honey, nut, and filo dough combination is never a disappointment.

The plates all had focused flavors from the Mediterranean but included elements from northern Europe. Although that sounds like a challenging endeavor all were executed without a glitch.

The Echo Restaurant

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The Echo Restaurant, Cincinnati (Hyde Park)

Did anyone else have an old diner in their town growing up that only felt right when you went with your parents and ordered a donut to kick off the meal? Well I did it and was called Ann’s; the food was dependably good and the waitress turn over was negative. When I walked into Echo on a very snowy Saturday morning with my friend Vanessa floods of memories came back of being a kid sitting in an orange vinyl booth and eating that sprinkled donut I so desperately needed.

I was craving everything that morning so I thought it best to order the Steph’s Sampler. I got two scrambled eggs, two pancakes, bacon, sausage, & potatoes. These pancakes were big & fluffy– kind you can only get out and I quickly devoured them. The eggs and bacon went next and by the time I called it quits only the sausage and half of the potatoes were left. I was completely stuffed but it was well worth it.

The waitress was friendly and the yellow walls were very welcoming. Echo is a place you could take anyone, who enjoys breakfast, and they would be pleased.

Bakersfield OTR

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Bakersfield OTR, Cincinnati (Over-the-Rhine)

I went here last time I was in Cincinnati for work and knew I had to come back. While last time I split a pitcher of sangria I opted for the House Margarita this time around. The Chips & Queso with chorizo sounded too good to pass up. I ordered two Tacos– the fish & short rib, both were outstanding. They are small and the tortillas are very thin. The fillings are certainly the main attraction, which is the way it should be. This place specializes in tacos, tequila, & whiskey and plays country along with showing old-time westerns… I don’t have much to compare this place to but I am certainly down with the funky Americano vibe mixed with Mexican food!

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Senate

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Senate, Cincinnati (Over-the-Rhine)

Fancy hot dogs? No need to convince me! I looked at the menu before I went so I knew that these would be fully loaded. While I had one in mind I quickly threw it out the window when I heard their special for the night: The Snoop Dog. It was a pork sausage topped with bacon, fried mushrooms, cheese sauce, & Dijon mustard on a brioche bun. Holy crap this place was not F****** around. I felt a little awkward being so messy but I didn’t really want to lose anything so I took special care with mouth/ hot dog placement… yes this is a real thing. I actually might consider it a science or else you could end up with not everything in every bite and that is a tragic thought. Besides the Snoop Dog I ordered the Duck Fat Fries, which were of course amazing. And to wash it all down I enjoyed a pint of Chomolungma, a brown ale that was on their rotating tap. I sat at the bar and was a little cramped but I didn’t have to wait and after over hearing about an hour and a half wait I won’t complain! They had other things on their menu that looked good and would all fall under the branch of comfort food but I would definitely stick to the hot dogs. I also appreciated the randomness of the music since my iPod is just as eclectic, I heard The Temptations, Lorde, and Notorious B.I.G. all within an hour.

The Snoop Dog

The Snoop Dog

Jimmy G’s

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Jimmy G’s, Cincinnati (Downtown)

And the good times keep on coming! This time I was not only able to catch up with two good friends, Morgan & Lauren, but Morgan’s mom was in town and seeing Mrs. B is always a treat. Morgan is probably the only other friend that enjoys a good steak as much as I do. So when she knew we would all be together she knew exactly where to take us.

Prior to sitting down we got drinks at the bar and before jumping into wine I got a dirty dry Hendrix Martini. It was of course exactly what I needed to start enjoying the weekend. To start Morgan and I shared the Crab Cake appetizer that had very nice sized clumps of crab. Few things are as disappointing than ordering a crab cake that has no meat in it! After that I transitioned to wine and the table was enjoying a lovely Cab from Walla Walla Valley Washington, L’Ecole No. 14. In fact we enjoyed it so much we ordered another bottle before the meals end. I chose the Dry-aged NY Strip Steak and was extremely happy- it was perfectly charred on the outside and had insanely good flavor. As a table we got the Mashed Potatoes and the description of “butter, butter, & butter” didn’t do it justice. I have never had potatoes as pureed as those, and coincidentally I now have a new mashed potato standard which may or may not be a good thing.

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So fortunate to have been able to try this wonderful steakhouse with even better people!

Kaze

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Kaze, Cincinnati (Over-the-Rhine)

Another meal another friend! While it has been rather cold I’m not minding since I get to see so many good friends while in town for work. It was hump day and Andrea had just taken an exam so we thought it would be good to celebrate! We decided on Kaze, a Japanese restaurant she had been wanting to try.

Due to the arctic like temperatures outside I started with the Udon Soup. Soup always fools me… I often think I will be hungry after but the broth was hearty and the vegetables plentiful. This still didn’t stop me though from ordering half a Crunchy Scallop Roll and a few sashimi pieces: Toro (fatty tuna), Tako (octopus) and Tamago (egg). It had been a while since I have enjoyed raw dead fish and this was a good place to splurge. The sashimi was absolutely fresh and the roll executed well.

Not that I ever want a good restaurant to be empty but I was almost glad since I came in dressed pretty casual. The restaurant itself is rather swanky and the prices definitely cater to a more affluent crowd. Although, I did see a few happy hour specials that looked tempting if you want rolls or a cocktail!

 

Sotto

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Sotto, Cincinnati (Downtown)

Work has taken me to Cincinnati and while I’ve been here I’m taking advantage of checking out another city’s restaurant scene. The first night I was in town I went to an Italian restaurant with a dear friend and had the best time catching up and enjoying wonderful food. The waitress made a great suggestion and said to share everything, which I now too will suggest if you ever go here.

Lindsey and I started with the Burrata Bruschetta (which I have never shied away from) that was served with basil olive oil. Next was the Farro Antipasti which included beets, almonds, golden raisins, & goat cheese (keep the cheese coming!) this salad was hearty and delicious. I have to admit I can’t remember if I’ve ever had farro before but after that dish I will certainly start trying to have it more. For the pasta dish we decided on the Linguine con Cavolfiore which also included anchovies & garlic. The pasta is made in-house and if you go to the bathroom you can see them make their pasta!! And since no true dinner is complete without dessert we shared the Buttermilk-Vanilla Panna Cotta. It was light and creamy and just the perfect way to end the meal.

For a Sunday night this restaurant was  busy and I can now see why since the food and service were both delightful.