Greater Cincinnati is no slouch when it comes to fantastic brunch spots like the ever-popular Sleepy Bee, Maplewood and Taste of Belgium. But while those places are most definitely worth the wait, there are also many other restaurants and bars that may not be as high on your brunch-time radar, offering laid-back and low-key experiences along with delicious food. From live music venues where you can rock out all Saturday night and roll in the next morning for some hangover-curing food to a German eatery tucked away in the West End and Pleasant Ridge cafe offering healthy, satisfying Mediterranean dishes, here are some brunch spots in Greater Cincinnati that may not yet be on your radar. 

Photo: facebook.com/TheCometCincinnati
Allyn’s Cafe 3538 Columbia Parkway, Columbia Tusculum Allyn’s Cafe originally opened as a corner bar in Columbia Tusculum in 1991, but has grown and evolved with the neighborhood. The restaurant now offers eclectic Cajun fare, along with vegan dishes and beer, wine and cocktails, as well as a vibrant, community-centric atmosphere that has made it a neighborhood staple for over 30 years. Their under-the-radar Sunday brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a small but mighty menu of eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, Texas toast, French toast, a brunch burger and the delicious huevos rancheros, which can also be made vegan. Photo: facebook.com/allynscafecincinnati
alReddy Cafe 11083 Reading Road, Sharonville Family-run since 2003, alReddy Cafe offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and a full-serve espresso bar, perfect for those brunch-time cravings. Dishes are crafted with healthier, fresh and high-quality ingredients, with brunch specials focusing on eat-on-the-go items like avocado toast, a fresh-fruit “sundae” and a breakfast wrap. If you can stay a little longer, try the crème brûlée French toast, made with Sixteen Bricks challah bread soaked in a Grand Marnier custard and served with fresh berries and your choice of a side. To drink, try a classic offering from the espresso bar like the cappuccino or americano, or opt for one of alReddy’s smoothies. Photo: facebook.com/alreddycafe
Kantine Biergarten 1220 Harrison Ave., West End Kantine offers Southern German fare from an off-the-beaten-path spot in the West End. Try the Allgäuer Kässpatzen (house-made spätzle, allgäuer cheese blend and fried onions with a side salad) for $15 or currywurst with pan-roasted potatoes for $12. The restaurant also offers 12-inch Italian-style pizzas on Wednesday nights, all of which are $16 or less. Photo: facebook.com/kantineonwheels
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
6 ‘N The Mornin’ 1535 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills You can get your day started right with breakfast or brunch at 6 ‘N the Mornin’. Dishes are inspired by classic Southern favorites with a twist, and their menu names feature cities from across that region, like the New Orleans Shrimp ‘N Grits or the Nashville Kickin’ Chicken with waffles (which can also come as red velvet). Add one of their specialty mimosas to complete the most important meal of the day. Photo: facebook.com/6nthemornincincy1
Cafe Alma 6111 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge Health-focused Mediterranean restaurant Café Alma offers delicious but healthy dishes that use high-quality ingredients packed with good flavors. Breakfast offers everything from a build-your-own omelet to four different options of the Middle Eastern breakfast favorite shakshuka. Heading into lunch, they have salad, bowls and sandwiches all packed with fresh ingredients. The restaurant is also certified Kosher. Photo: Casey Roberts
“The Show Must Go On,” by Killian Baarlaer and Brent Stroud May 31 issue As Greater Cincinnati music venues finally returned back to normal operations for the first time since the height of the Covid pandemic, CityBeat music writers Killian Baarlaer and Brent Stroud spoke with large and small venues about how they’ve managed to bounce back from Covid-related challenges. Unlike other major cities, Cincinnati did not lose a single independent venue as a result of the Covid pandemic. Instead, against all odds, two new music venues opened in Cincinnati directly following the height of the pandemic — MegaCorp Pavilion and the Andrew J Brady Music Center. In the aftermath of the pandemic, venues are still facing several unique obstacles to success, including rising artist fees, increased customer demand and, on the flip side, hesitancy from some customers who aren’t fully comfortable yet with attending large in-person events. Photo: Aidan Mahoney
West Shine Restaurant 3245 Westbourne Drive, Green Township Family-owned West Shine serves up hot, fresh breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes. The menu features recipes handed down for generations, as well as some creations from the diner’s culinary team. For breakfast, try one of their omelets, which you create by selecting your veggies, cheese and meat. They also have a selection of breakfast sandwiches, called Shinewiches, which includes their Breakfast Coney (sausage or goetta, with homemade sausage gravy and cheddar). And for lunch, you can pick from a variety of sandwiches or burgers, or try their Gripp’en Chicken as a sandwich, strips or in their homemade mac and cheese. West Shine now also offers Bloody Marys, mimosas and beer. Photo: facebook.com/westshinerestaurant
Coppin’s Restaurant 638 Madison Ave., Covington Coppin’s Restaurant is located inside luxury Hotel Covington. Brunch is offered on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a menu featuring lighter fare like Greek yogurt, seasonal frittata or the crisp wedge salad, as well as filling dishes like the Porkopolis omelet (Glier’s goetta, local smoked ham and gruyère) and hearty breakfast sandwich of bacon, fried egg, red wine onion, cheddar and honey mustard on Texas toast. If you have to wait for a table, head out to the patio to play lawn games and relax. Coppin’s also has a unique cocktail menu, featuring imaginative and picture-worthy drinks for a beautiful morning-turned-afternoon. Photo: facebook.com/CoppinsCovington
Mid City Restaurant 40 E. Court St., Downtown Helmed by the same team as popular Over-the-Rhine bar Longfellow, Mid City Restaurant describes itself as intimate and relaxed, with a menu of savory small (but hearty) plates. The restaurant features cafe-style seating and walls lined with traditional-style oil paintings, as well as a calming beige, white and green color palette for a laid-back dining experience. And while it’s a popular dinner spot, Mid City also offers brunch on Saturday and Sunday with a menu of elevated dishes. For a sweeter meal, try the corn fritter, with pumpkin butter, maple syrup and powdered sugar, or the bread pudding with benedictine glaze and seasonal fruit. On the savory side, Mid City has the salmon gravlax, their version of bagel and lox, with an everything bagel, herb cream cheese, pickle, dill and onion, or the fried sandwich: yam, leek, black garlic and Manchego cheese with egg on top. Photo: facebook.com/midcitycinti
Bellevue Bistro 313 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue Bellevue Bistro is a cozy breakfast and lunch spot in the heart of historic Bellevue. The space offers an eclectic and vintage vibe, from the pressed-tin ceilings to the striped awning out front. And while the eatery is on the smaller side, the menu features wholesome dishes with big flavors. There’s an assortment of breakfast bakes, like the goetta/cheddar jack/sautéed onions Bellevue option or the vegetarian-friendly Mediterranean, made with mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, spinach, basil, feta and mozzarella. You can also opt for one of the benedicts or hot browns or try the avocado toast or spicy breakfast tacos. For lunch, Bellevue Bistro serves up a variety of sandwiches, including paninis, wraps and even a cinnabread one topped with fried eggs, cheddar jack and American cheese, with pepper jelly and potatoes on the side. Photo: facebook.com/bellevuebistroky
The Park Pour 4815 Cooper Road, Blue Ash For a savory brunch paired with wine in a relaxed atmosphere, head to The Park Pour in Blue Ash. This wine bar offers a seasonal brunch menu featuring items like quiche, Spanish crepes and eggs Florentine, along with a selection of sharables like hummus and whipped goat feta; salads and sandwiches. Along with hot and iced coffee drinks, tea and soft drinks, The Park Pour also has a selection of wines by the glass and specialty cocktails available for brunch. Photo: facebook.com/theparkpour
Ché 1342 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine; 3009 O’Bryon St., O’Bryonville Ché’s menu spans from Fundido (traditional Argentine stew with steak, squash, corn and sausage) to Choripan (flame-grilled sausage) and chimichurri wings to a slew of empanadas: jamon y queso, four cheese, short rib, de carne, mushroom, feta and more. Photo: facebook.com/Cheotrcincy
Luca Bistro 934 Hatch St., Mt. Adams Simple and French cuisine make up the unlikely duo at Luca Bistro. The menu is filled with cozy, flavorful and laid-back dishes that Chef Frédéric Maniet says are common in French foods. Breakfast offers familiar favorites like omelets, tartine and croissants. For lunch, the menu changes to include salads and sandwiches, like a classic Niçoise salad and a mouthwatering croque monsieur layered with delicious ham, gruyère and béchamel. Photo: Provided by Luca Bistro