Downtown Cincinnati is now home to a new bistro and bar helmed by Boca’s former chef de cuisine, whose experience spans from Michelin-starred restaurants to luxury resorts and fine-dining establishments.
Pennyflower Bistro and Bar, located at the corner of Seventh and Broadway streets, is now open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. The restaurant is rooted in local history and guided by culinary artistry, with a menu that blends classic comfort foods with innovation and global flavors.
The bistro is the vision of Chef Jacob Benavides, who says Pennyflower’s menu emphasizes sustainable sourcing from farms, ranches and oceans to create dishes that tell a story.
“At Pennyflower, we take a simplistic approach to classic dishes, ensuring they bring comfort to our guests,” Benavides said in a press release. “We believe food is meant to be shared with friends and family. We strive to create a conversation around food, wine and craft spirits that foster connection and curiosity. Our goal is to offer a space where the community can come together over thoughtfully prepared meals crafted from simple, high-quality ingredients.”
Dishes include elevated yet approachable takes on classic comfort food dishes, including the Chicken Schnitzel on a potato bun with sauce gribiche, cabbage slaw, pickled red onion and lemon and the Grilled Prime New York, served with Black Diamond cheddar pearls, beef tallow, smoked beets and bordelaise. There are also bold, innovative dishes like the Amish Chicken Pressade, served with fingerling potatoes, chimichurri and Calabrian chiles, and a vegetarian lasagna, crafted with arrabbiata sauce, Castelvetrano olives and parmesan.
Benavides adds that the restaurant showcases a range of products from local artisans and producers, like eggs from Egg Shack in Kentucky and bread from Sixteen Bricks.
As for Pennyflower’s name, that stems from a piece of 19th-century Cincinnati history. Following the demolition of Fountain Square’s notorious public meat market in the 1860s, a small flower cart was installed on the site to honor a legal stipulation that the space remain a market. Cincinnati’s mayor would purchase a flower a year from the cart for a penny, starting a tradition that inspired the name “pennyflower.”
You can make reservations at Pennyflower here or by calling 513-904-4149.
Pennyflower Bistro and Bar, 701 Broadway St., Downtown. More info: pennyflowerbistro.com.
This article appears in Jan 8-21, 2025.