New cheese shops seem to be popping up in neighborhoods across Cincinnati, offering that sometimes stinky, often gooey, a little sharp or nutty, but always delicious cheese to its loving fans. Cheese boards seem to be the culinary trend of the year, as more and more restaurants — in addition to cheese shops — have begun offering the dairy platters. Who doesn’t like adult lunchables? Sophisticated, yet fun and shareable, it’s a no-brainer that cheese (and charcuterie boards) have stolen our hearts.

For those who are lookin’ for their next cheesy fix, we put together a list of some local restaurants/bars/shops that offer cheese boards across the Queen City.

 

The Rhined 1737 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine The Rhined is great for grab-and-go (there are 50ish artisan cheeses to choose from) but it does have 11 seats, including a bar and patio, and three very cute menu boards with owner/cheesemonger Stephanie Webster’s signature themed cheese board options ($12). You can add charcuterie to your board if you so choose, although Webster likes to remind that The Rhined is really about the cheese. Well, the cheese and wine. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Share: Cheesebar 6105 Ridge Ave., Pleasant Ridge At Share: Cheesebar diners can choose from an array of rotating curated cheese plates ($15-$25), or opt to add charcuterie from the shop’s selection of meats, which range from prosciutto to chorizo. Goodies like marcona almonds, olives and preserves come on the side. The majority of the plates sold are “chef’s choice,” where staffers pick the cheese samples for you. Share also offers a seasonal Fondue For Two special on Wednesday nights where guests can enjoy small bites dipped in delicious melty cheese ($20-$24). Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Panino 1313-1315 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Nino Loreto’s handcrafted cured meats — salumi, mortadella, capicola and more — show up in a starring role on the charcuterie platters at Panino, his OTR eatery and sandwich shop. Sit at the bar and enjoy his meaty art (all sourced from the restaurant’s basement curing chamber) paired with a selection of local cheeses and “appropriate accoutrement.” ($14-$50) Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Hamilton 4029 Hamilton Ave., Northside Northside neighborhood wine bar The Hamilton offers “Eats and Treats,” from wines by the glass and bottle to crafty cocktails and shareable snacks. The Northside Charcuterie plate features an impressively stacked array of goodies, from cheeses to cured meats and house-brined olives to babba ganouj, ciopinni onions soaked in balsamic vinegar and various pickled vegetables ($15). They also offer a vegan cheeseboard ($12). Photo: Hailey Bollinger
LouVino OTR 1142 Main St., Over-the-Rhine LouVino’s menu is stacked with shareable plates inspired by the South and the state of Georgia, the home state of the founders, Chad and Lauren Coulter. The restaurant offers a classic charcuterie board with a rotating selection of cured meats and cheeses, toast and accompaniments for $24. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Postmark 3410 Telford St., Clifton The full-service, white-tablecloth, wine-oriented restaurant harkens back to the early days of its namesake, the beloved La Poste. Postmark offers a “farmhouse refined” style of menu with Creole and Southern influences. Their epic cheese board ($15) includes a selection of cheeses, housemade crostinis, candied nuts, dried fruit compotes and honey. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Bouquet Restaurant & Wine Bar 519 Main St., Covington The super seasonal Bouquet Restaurant & Wine Bar goes above and beyond by offering multiple ways to enjoy your meats and cheese. There’s an artisan cheese plate ($16) with pistachio relish, seasonal jam and four cheeses; the charcuterie plate ($24) with four cheeses, two cured meats, house mustard and assorted pickles; and the Motherboard ($38) with four cured meats, five cheeses and a whole bunch of snackable and spreadable extras ($16-$38). Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Somm Wine Bar 3101 Price Ave., Price Hill For those looking to have a refined, cultivated dining experience, Somm Wine Bar is the place for you. With swinging Jazz floating through the space on Fridays and the fire cracking blissfully on the patio, you can feel serene while diving into a cheesy heaven. The charcuterie comes in three different sizes, ranging from $12 to $31, with carefully selected artisan cheeses. Photo via Facebook.com/sommwinebar
Urban Stead Cheese 3036 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills The artisan shop and small-batch manufacturer is the first urban cheese company in Cincy. The “Mother Board” ($45) features your choice of six cheeses, charcuterie, fresh fruit and house pickles. Or choose the cheese board ($18), which is your choice of three cheeses, fresh fruit, nuts and house pickles. Photo via Facebook.com/UrbanSteadCheese
Liberty’s Bar & Bottle Shop 1427 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Liberty’s offers the best of both the bar and the bottle with 20 rotating craft beers on tap and 15 wines available by the glass — including half-pours — along with 100 bottles of wine and 40 craft beers via retail. In addition to beverages, they also offer a cheese board, with ($12) or without meat ($9) which comes with crackers, and pickles and mustard. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Globe 12 E. Fifth St., Covington This hidden gem of a bar is a great place to get your cheese fix. In the building of the former gentlemen’s club known as Club Venus, The Globe gives off an easygoing atmosphere with a modern twist. On their small bites menu, they offer a charcuterie plate as well as a baked brie served with a fruit jam, apple slices and a baguette. You can enjoy both of these delicious dishes for $16. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Cellar at Oakley Wines 4011 Allston St., Oakley Oakley Wines, recently taken over by the owners of The Rhined, started as a boutique bottle shop just off the main drag in Oakley. After its popular Friday night wine tastings, they expanded to the basement with the The Cellar bar. The subterranean bar features a full drink list, with wine and beer on tap, and upscale snacks like their charcuterie board ($16) with cheese and meat from The Rhined, pickled vegetables, house nut mix, mustard and crackers. Photo via Oakley Wines Facebook page
Aster on Fourth 8 E. Fourth St., Downtown This social sippery is a casual cocktail space above the downtown location of Sleepy Bee Cafe. The bar offers sharable bites including a cheese board ($14) with three rotating cheeses as well as a charcuterie board ($16) with three cured meats and accoutrements. Photo via Facebook.com/AsterOnFourth
UnWind Wine Bar 3435 Michigan Ave., Hyde Park This wine bar features an upscale-casual ambiance with a wide selection of New World and Old World wines and small plates that complement the drinks. All of the food is either vegetarian or vegan (the owners are vegan). With choices such as crostini, flatbread, warm olives, a hummus sampler, and their artisan cheese board ($16), along with a few desserts. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Dutch’s 3378 Erie Ave., Hyde Park Dutch’s chef selection charcuterie board comes with four, six or eight items paired with assorted edibles like jams, spreads, mustards and more. You can also grab your board “to go” to impress your friends — or just snack your way to bliss at home ($25-$45). Photo: Jesse Fox
Crafts and Vines 642 Main St., Covington Located in historic MainStrasse Village, this family-owned establishment features unique offerings in both draft wine and beer, as well as a great selection of bottles. The cozy environment is perfect for anyone looking to sit back, relax and explore their palate. They offer a charcuterie and cheese board, allowing you to select six cured meats and three of your favorite cheeses, accompanied by accoutrements and Sixteen Bricks bread. For a cheesy experience that’s a little more laid back, you can enjoy the Truck Stop Charcuterie. The dish comes with housemade maple-Sriracha bacon, housemade beef jerky, pimento cheese (aka Dolly’s Caviar) and, last but not least, saltine crackers. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Coppin’s at Hotel Covington 638 Madison Ave., Covington The cheese board at Coppin’s expands on the popularity of their pimento spread with a flight of local cheese dips representing different local dairy farms and Kentucky traditions, says chef Mitch Arens. Sixteen Bricks sourdough, salted rye crostini and housemade herb crackers accompany pimento cheese, benedictine and a whipped ricotta. Photo: Mitch Arens
Branch 1535 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills The team behind The Littlefield opened a new concept in East Walnut Hills in the former Art Deco Central Trust Bank Building at the corner of Woodburn and Madison avenues. The menu at Branch is overseen by executive chef Shoshannah Anderson and offers a self-proclaimed mix of “classic and contemporary American with ethnic influences.” Their shared section of their menu offers an option for a charcuterie board ($20/$26) with the chef’s weekly choice of three meats, two cheeses, local honey and bread, house pickles and condiments or the cheese board featuring three cheeses (cow, sheep and goat) and accoutrements. Photo: Hailey Bollinger