25 Must-Try Cincinnati Restaurants That Opened This Summer

Teak OTR

1200 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
After closing its doors in Mount Adams in 2017, the owners of Teak Thai have reopened in a fresh, new space across from Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine. Officially opened in July, the eatery is known for its top-notch Thai cuisine — including their incredibly popular pad Thai — and their sushi offerings. Talented longtime chef John Lee from the Mount Adams location joined the new Teak OTR, and brought his sushi expertise with him.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Subito

311 Pike St., Downtown
Downtown's new The Lytle Park Hotel opened to the public this June, along with their in-house, upscale Italian eatery Subito and sophisticated rooftop lounge, Vista at Lytle Park. Subito's menu focuses on homemade pastas, stone-oven pizzas, fresh seafood, steaks and antipasti, with executive chef Michael McIntosh at the helm. Guests can choose from more traditional Italian eats like cacio e pepe, burrata and margherita pizza or opt for creative takes on classics like their vegan torta di ceci with vegan tofu-ricotta, farinata, kale, beets, carrot ribbons lemon oil and micro greens. Head to their bar for a selection of whites, reds and sparkling wines — including their own house sparkling wine by Ohio River Valley. They also boast spirits and cocktails, like their Mabel's Manhattan with Woodford Rye, Carpano Antica, Peychaud's and Benedictine bitters and a filthy cherry.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Sugar n' Spice OTR

1203 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine
Cincinnati's cult favorite breakfast eatery Sugar n' Spice officially opened up their much-anticipated Over-the-Rhine location in the former Joe's Diner on July 11. The Paddock Hills eatery, which opened in 1941, is well-known for its "wispy thin" pancakes, vibrant decor and rubber duckies that come with every meal — elements that traveled to its second branch. You can expect many of your favorites, in addition to a few new pork-infused dishes like the cubano and eggs benedict with pulled pork.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Bridgeview Box Park

1 Levee Way, Newport
Bridgeview Box Park, a cluster of small food, drink and shopping vendors conglomerated where Mitchell’s Fish Market used to sit at Newport on the Levee, hosted its grand opening in June. The establishments are housed next to each other in shipping-like containers — hence the “box park” in the name — and are interspersed among a common outdoor area. The breezy space overlooks the Ohio River and city and features turf lounge areas, string lights and outdoor games like corn hole and giant Jenga.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

OTR Chili Co.

1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Housed in the old Sartre space in the Rhinegeist Brewery building, OTR Chili Company is a retro diner-style spot offering self-proclaimed "authentic Cincinnati chili" in addition to burgers, salads and shakes. The chili menu features all the classics: a 3-, 4- or 5-Way made with 100-percent beef and secret spice blend, plus a vegetarian way. They also offer Impossible burgers and some incredible pies. For booze fans, you can add a shot of bourbon to your malted chocolate or vanilla shake for just $4.
Photo via OTR Chili Co.’s Facebook

Ivory House

2998 Harrison Ave., Westwood
This West Side eatery opened its doors in July and prides itself on specializing in “familiar food, elevated.” The menu is a fresh take on nostalgic-feeling dishes. Executive chef Dana Adkins, formerly of the Thunderdome Restaurant Group, came on board earlier this year, bringing with him an invigorating vision that reimagines well-known dishes and familiarizes unconventional and surprising ingredients.?The menu offers nearly a dozen small plates like the ham and bean agnolotti, mussels diablo and Appalachian shrimp and grits, as well as shareable 34-ounce angus prime ribeye Tomahawk for two, and lunch dishes like the vegan club, pork belly tacos and Ivory House wagyu and cheddar. They also recently rolled out a brunch menu.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Condado Tacos Mason

5070 Deerfield Blvd., Mason
Columbus-based build-your-own taco chain Condado Tacos opened their third Cincinnati location this August. Located in Mason's Deerfield Towne Center, the eatery features over-the-top taco creations, shareables and margaritas, plus other boozy bevs to wash it all down.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Standard

434 Main St., Covington
The dynamic duo behind popular Covington dining and drinking destinations Otto's, Frida and Larry's have opened their most recent project, The Standard, breathing life into a familiar corner in the neighborhood. Co-owner Emily Wolff says that when the opportunity to embark on a new journey to transform the former garage and filling station on the corner of Fifth and Main streets presented itself, they were all in. The Standard's food menu features bright and playful flavors that complement the warmer season. Popular cocktails like the U-Haul and Hot Rod are on-brand with the establishment's overall theme. The Standard has both indoor and outdoor seating, with plenty of patio space beneath the garage's canopies and beyond to spread out and socially distance.
Photo: Savana Willhoite

Good Plates Eatery

235 W. McMillan, Clifton Heights, CUF
Despite the pandemic, a new restaurant has blossomed, taking over the space formerly occupied by long-standing Clifton/CUF favorite Cilantro Vietnamese Bistro. Good Plates Eatery officially opened its doors on Aug. 12 with co-owners and husband-and-wife Jamie and Andrew Schlanser at the helm. Good Plates focuses on simple foods and bold flavors, offering a variety of sandwiches and bowls (of the quinoa and salad variety) for both meat-eaters and vegetarians.
Photo via Instagram/goodplateseatery

Papi Jocho's Street Dogs & Cantina

633 Madison Ave., Covington
From the owners of Agave & Rye comes this new fast-casual concept which opened in May. Serving up “authentic Mexican street dogs,” along with sangria and margaritas of all styles, Jocho's promises to deliver a creative and playful food experience. Try the ‘Original Papi Jocho's with grilled onions, housemade chili sauce, queso Oaxaca, ketchup, mustard, tomato, house pickles, cojita and grilled jalapeño, or one of their seven different hot dog versions (bacon-wrapped, anyone?).
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Green House Bar

424 W. Sixth St., Covington
A well-known MainStrasse watering hole turned over a new leaf. After 26 years, Pachinko Bar has transforming into a chic and breezy West Coast-inspired drinking establishment called Green House Bar. The new bar and restaurant opened in August and offers a trendy spot for visitors to "kick back, relax, have good conversation and a little tomfoolery.” The menu offers several seasonal cocktails, like Amy's Paloma and The Green House, a vodka, lemon and lavender cocktail, plus classic cocktails, craft nonalcoholic beverages and a petite list of wines. In addition to sips, they also have a few light bites like pimento cheese and charcuterie.
Photo: Provided by Green House Bar

Genki Ramen

5005 Deerfield Blvd., Mason
This suburban ramen spot opened its doors in June. Located in the Deerfield Towne Center, the eatery offers several different ramen options, including their Original Genki Tonkotsu Ramen and Genki Miso Ramen, rice bowls including the Chicken Katsu-Don, plus starters like fried oysters and squid legs or edamame.
Photo via Facebook.com/GenkiRamen

Pontiac OTR

1403 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Over-the-Rhine's Pontiac BBQ announced in July that they would be converting into a new concept due to the time-intensive nature of making good-ass brisket and other barbecue. The restaurant reopened in August as Pontiac OTR and moving forward will focus on smoked wings and tiki cocktails.
Photo via Facebook.com/PontiacOTR

Third Eye Brewing

11276 Chester Road, Sharonville
Third Eye is one of the newest breweries to hit the Cincinnati beer scene; it hosted its grand opening June 17. Walk in to the brewery and you are faced with a vibrant and whimsical atmosphere, with a colorful and slightly psychedelic mural by David Jonathan Uy serving as the centerpiece of the bar and giving the industrial space some “warmth and character,” says co-owner Tom Collins. The creative design of the space goes hand in hand with their unique and playful brews, including Jelly Brain, a milkshake IPA with pineapple and coconut, and Beyond Sight, a brown ale with hazelnut. More traditional brews are up for grabs, too, like the West Coast IPA called Third Eye P.A. and a chocolate oatmeal stout named Astral. Chef Steven Vanderpool has designed a menu to match the creativity of the rest of the experience with “a bit of Southern and Cajun flare to spice things up,” says Collins, including a low country shrimp boil and Cajun garlic herb wings.
Photo: Savana Willhoite

O Pie O OTR

32 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine
Cincinnati-based bakery O Pie O has been a local favorite for flaky and decadent baked goods since its inception as a Findlay Market pop-up. The bakery opened a brick and mortar in East Walnut Hills in 2015 and is slated to open their second location in Over-the-Rhine on Aug. 28. The new spot will focus on grab-and-go baked goods and carry-out bites, a perfect fit for our current dining climate. Guests can expect many O Pie O favorites, plus a larger menu of popovers, galettes and biscuits. The eatery's cooler will have salads and drinks to go, plus a selection of frozen take-and-bake pot pies and pre-made dough in the freezer. The bakery will also offer gluten-free baked treats. In addition to goods baked or prepared in house, they will also offer foods and items from local businesses, including coffees, spices, sauces and ice creams.
Photo: Jesse Fox

Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge

1432 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge, which officially opened on Aug. 21, features bottles from women and minority winemakers, as well as eight wines on tap, live music, a limited selection of spirits and beer, and small plates from local businesses.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Dear Restaurant & Butchery

2710 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
This Hyde park eatery and butcher shop takes over the space formerly occupied by Teller’s of Hyde Park. Currently, they’re offering a selection of take and bake meals, grill kits, charcuterie boards, soups, salads and butcher items to-go, but will be opening their full-service restaurant soon.
Photo via Facebook.com/DearHydePark

Vista at Lytle Park

311 Pike St., Downtown
Cincinnati’s new Lytle Park Hotel features a spectacular rooftop patio named the Vista at Lytle Park. The 5,000-square-foot rooftop lounge offers panoramic views of the Queen City and Ohio River. The space is equipped with an "indoor" lounge (where the bar is located) lined with windows that open up to the outdoor patio with two fireplaces, seating and tables. Choose from a selection of cocktails, wine, beer and spirits, or opt for their large-format cocktails that serve four or more. They also offer a selection of light bites and shareables.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Milkman Ice Cream

6063 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
This brand new walk-up, located outside of Pleasant Ridge's Revolution Rotisserie, offers ice cream and milkshakes on weekends and freshly made donuts on Sundays. With both boozy and non-alcoholic options, Milkman has been selling out almost every weekend since opening, so you know it’s delicious. Try flavors like Chocolate Ganache or Brown Sugar Peach Sorbet.
Photo via Facebook.com/milkmancincy

MPH Brewing

7880 Remington Road, Montgomery
Cousins Jim Christmann and co-founder and president of Colorado-based Left Hand Brewing Eric Wallace returned to their Cincinnati roots to offer a taste of the wild West in suburban Ohio. Opened in late May, MPH Brewing serves over a dozen of their own craft beers, select wines and features seven of Left Hand’s brews as well. Order one of their five signature pizzas or some loaded tots to complete the experience.
Photo via Facebook.com/MPHBrew