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22 New Cincinnati Restaurants You Need to Try This Spring

By CityBeat Staff

The Cincinnati food scene is about to get a lot more flavorful. Between two specialty meat and cheese shops, a cannabis-themed sub restaurant and a craft cocktail bar, your options are endless for the 2021 dining experience. While 2020 was hard on many area restaurants with frequent closures and switches to carry-out dining, these places are ready to serve up some delicious fare during this much better year.

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Parlor Pizza Project

3392 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
Pizza Parlor Project's petite shop officially opened on Friday, Feb. 19. The pizzeria focuses on carry-out pizzas and salads, with six signature 16" pizzas to choose from plus the option to create your own. The menu currently features one salad, the Caesar, which serves two. Many fell first fell in love with Parlor Pizza Project at its Sunday Slice pop-up series at Oakley Wines.
Photo via Facebook.com/ParlorPizzaProject

FB’s Kitchen & Lounge

126 W. 6th St., Downtown
FB’s recently hosted their grand opening on March 10. The eatery boasts 4K TVs, fresh pasta and pizza and a patio, making it the “only Italian-inspired sports bar in Downtown Cincinnati,” their website says. The menu features wagyu beef meatballs, 12-inch specialty pizzas and a variety of cocktails. FB’s is a brainchild of the Earth + Ocean Restaurant Group (folks behind E+O Kitchen and E+O New Asian).
Photo: Tony Frank

Hello Honey

1530 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills
Hello Honey is set to open its second location in East Walnut Hills. The ice-cream shop has been crafting small batches of original flavors with fresh ingredients since its preliminary opening in 2012. Some current in-house flavors include honey lavender, banana honeycomb and thai iced tea. The shop also features several vegan flavor options. Other desserts such as cakes and coconut macaroons are also made to order. The owners are still undergoing renovations for the new spot, which will open near other restaurants such as Branch, O Pie O and the forthcoming Mochiko.
Photo via Facebook.com/HelloHoneyIceCream

Oakley Fish House

3036 Madison Road, Oakley
Oakley Square welcomed a deliciously nostalgic addition over the course of the pandemic, taking over the space formerly occupied by long-time eatery Habits Cafe. Though Oakley Fish House, from the team behind Teak OTR, opened its doors in November, owner Chanaka Delanerolle says it took roughly 14 months to build out the space into their new home. The eatery takes inspiration from Delanerolle's former Mt. Adams Fish House, which closed about a decade ago. Delanerolle also owned Teak, Longworth's and Celestial Steakhouse in Mt. Adams, and Aspara in Blue Ash.
Photo: Francisco Huerta

Kanji

1739 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Local restaurateur behind Clifton's Drunken Bento and Drunken Taco, Inho Cha recently opened his third Cincinnati restaurant with Kanji in Findlay Market. The restaurant's menu focuses on sushi and Korean cuisine and was inspired by Cha's desire to plant more of his South Korean roots to the Queen City, offering a glimpse into the culture and flavors of his home country. Kanji officially opened in the former Harvest Pizzeria space (which shuttered over the summer) on Jan. 23.
Photo via Facebook.com/KanjiOTR

Mochiko

1524 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills
The Japanese-style pop-up has been a local favorite for years, and it is now scheduled to open its own storefront in East Walnut Hills. The shop specializes in fusion cuisine known as “yoshoku,” which borrows elements from Asian and Western cooking styles. Some savory dishes and sweet treats on Mochiko’s menu include melonpan and ramen kits. Folks can look forward to slurping up “Cincinnati-style” ramen when they open this spring. The store currently operates via a webstore for carry-out, but its own brick-and-mortar will soon be available.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Pitch Cincy

1430 Central Parkway, Over-the-Rhine
This upcoming sports bar is located directly across from the West End Stadium where guests can dine on the rooftop with a scenic view of the neighborhood. The bar will also feature an outdoor patio. On the inside, there will be a wall dedicated to sports video to present an “immersive sports watching experience.” In the Pitch’s parking lot, a rotation of different food trucks will be stationed for guests to try. The Pitch is slated to “open soon” with additional details forthcoming.
Photo via The Pitch Cincy’s Facebook page

Yucca

700 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue
The team behind Covington’s popular new brunch spot Cedar are opening their second Northern Kentucky restaurant in Bellevue’s former Fairfield Market space this spring. The eatery, like Cedar, will serve brunch, but this establishment will have a Latin American-inspired menu, featuring items like chilaquiles and Cubano sandwiches and a full cocktail menu. Yucca is slated to open late this spring.
Photo: Francisco Huerta

Pata Roja Taqueria

1208 Sycamore St., Pendleton
Pata Roja Taqueria has found a more permanent home in Pendleton on Bar Saeso’s patio space. The restaurant specializes in food inspired by Mexico City such as street tacos and al pastor, and their patio provides outdoor seating to enjoy the upcoming summer months. Guests can also choose indoor seating and order beer from the bar. This spot is perfect for a late-night dinner or quick to-go meal.
Photo via Facebook.com/PataRojaTacos

Anjou Craft Cocktail Bar

2804 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills
Anjou Craft Cocktail Bar will soon open in East Walnut Hills. The space is currently undergoing renovations, which are being chronicled in “Building a Bar” blogs on Facebook. The bar takes several influences from European culture—for example, its namesake is Margaret of Anjou, once-queen of England and nominal queen of France in the 1400s. The bar will feature a wide assortment of beers, spirits and wines.
Photo via Instagram.com/AnjouCinci/