28 Iconic Cincinnati Restaurants to Take Out-of-Towners

Arnold's Bar & Grill

210 E. Eighth St., Downtown
Downtown's Arnold's Bar & Grill is renowned for being the oldest continuously operating drinking destination in Cincinnati — one of the oldest in America, in fact, at 160 years. There's the infamous Arnold's bathtub, reportedly used to make bootleg gin during Prohibition. There is even a rumor that this bar filled with spirits (as in alcohol) and other sorts of spirits (as in dead people).

Camp Washington Chili

3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington
Named one of the “10 Best Restaurants in Cincinnati” by USA Today, there’s no question as to why Camp Washington Chili has been operating since 1940. It is good eats! Despite having ‘chili’ in the name, this establishment also offers many chili-free options, including burgers, grilled chicken, hot dogs, fries, coleslaw and salad.

Zip's Cafe

1036 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout
Zip’s Cafe has been open since 1926 and is known for its Zip Burger, named the best in Ohio by Food & Wine. They also have other menu items, including “famous chili” and a classic grilled cheese. With worn wood flooring and dark wood paneling, the small space is separated into a dining area and a bar by a saloon-style door with a model train circling above. Head to the back bar for a local beer on draft while you wait for space at a booth or a seat at one of the shared family-style tables.

Pho Lang Thang

1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
Cincinnati Vietnamese eatery Pho Lang Thang opened their new location across the street from Findlay Market in the fall of 2019. Order from a wide variety of pho options, ranging from brisket and meatballs (nam, bo vien) to vegan mushroom pho or tendon and tripe (gan, sach). Grab a Lang Thang Vietnamese Coffee hot and iced.

Sotto

118 E. Sixth St., Downtown
Sotto is the perfect place for a romantic Italian meal or a night out with friends. The basement trattoria is one of hottest places in town to grab homemade pasta and a classic cocktail. Be sure to reserve a table in advance, or snag a seat at their bar. Ask for a table with a view of the kitchen to get a front-row seat to all of the behind-the-scenes action.

Sleepy Bee Cafe

3098 Madison Road, Oakley; 9514 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash; 8 E. Fourth St., Downtown; 5920 Hamilton Ave., College Hill
Serving locally sourced food for breakfast, brunch and lunch, Sleepy Bee Cafe offers both dine-in and carry-out options. Popular items include the Queen City Bee, which is a breakfast sandwich with goetta, apple, arugula, broken yolk egg and “nectar” sauce on a milk bun, and The Worker Bee, which is two eggs of any style, your choice of bacon, sausage and goetta or vegan goetta. Other items include different salads, sandwiches and soups plus delicious fluffy pancakes.

Brown Bear Bakery

116 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine
Brown Bear Bakery first started in 2012 and has become increasingly popular every year. It grew from just a table with some pastries to a full retail bakery, featuring a variety of desserts. Lines can be long, sometimes out the door, but getting to try popular items like the Everything Bagel croissant is worth any wait. Their doors open at 9 a.m., and it's best to get there early.

Eli’s BBQ

3313 Riverside Drive, East End; 133 W Elder St., Findlay Market
Eli's BBQ is well known for hickory-smoked barbecue and signature barbecue sauce. While the inside of the original East End location is definitely considered tiny, there is plenty of outdoor seating and Southern hospitality. The no-frills affair specializes in meats, pulled and smoked and served in a red plastic basket.

Libby's Southern Comfort

35 W. Eighth St., Covington
This Covington eatery pays tribute to Southern classics like fried chicken and half-shell oysters served alongside a variety of bourbon drinks and other local favorites. The atmosphere is hip, with plenty of opportunities to share a dish with your sweetheart. Brunch is served on Sundays and offers up Southern breakfast favorites like chicken and waffles and their take on a Kentucky Brown. Order anything with a side of home fries and a mimosa.

Goodfellas Pizzeria

1211 Main St., Over-the-Rhine; 6099 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge; 603 Main St., Covington
Goodfellas Pizzeria features New York-style pizza in a 1920s-inspired setting. The wait in a literal line to try their popular pizza can be long, especially on the weekends, but it's worth it. Alongside their giant slices and pies, other menu items include calzones, salads and their signature meatball sub. For an extra dose of carbs, grab a breadstick the size of your arm.

Sugar n’ Spice Diner

4381 Reading Road, Paddock Hills; 1203 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine; 10275 Summit Parkway, Blue Ash
Open since 1941, Sugar n' Spice's original pink Paddock Hills diner is known for its fun atmosphere and being a comfortable and family-friendly place to eat (ask for a free rubber duck with your meal). Favorite menu items include "wispy thin" pancakes and giant omelets. Lines at the petite original can be long, but there is also a second, larger location in Over-the-Rhine.

Scotti's Italian Eatery

919 Vine St., Downtown
Family-owned since 1912, Scotti's has solidified itself as a Queen City staple. Their large menu features just about every pasta imaginable and nearly 20 different varieties of veal dishes. Finish off your meal with a bottle of wine and you'll be full for days. Multi-colored tiles plaster the walls, and candles drip layer upon layer of wax on Chianti bottles at every table, providing a little light to the otherwise dimly lit dining room.

The Precinct

311 Delta Ave., Columbia Tusculum
The Precinct, housed in a historical Romanesque-style former police precinct, opened in 1981 and was the first in a long line of Jeff Ruby's steakhouses. The space is intimate and elegant, offering excellent service as well as a menu boasting prime steaks, fresh seafood and a generous wine selection.

Gomez Salsa

107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine; 2437 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills
Gomez’s has it all: fish tacos with Baja sauce, chips with pineapple salsa, taco salad bowls and owner Andrew Gomez’s greatest invention, the Turtle Shell. Take a tortilla, stuff it with rice, beans, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, meat, veggies and cheese, layer in a tostado for crunch, put some cheese on the top and then brown it. It’s a fat little crunchy burrito envelope, a true walking taco.

The Golden Lamb

27 S. Broadway St., Lebanon
Jonas Seaman came to Ohio from New Jersey in 1803. In a time when many couldn't read, the business was marked by a symbol, not a name: a golden lamb. Present-day, the historic hotel and restaurant, in the heart of the Lebanon DORA district, has served 12 presidents and an array of other famous figures. The menu offers items like braised lamb shank, hickory-roasted prime rib and seared salmon. The attached Black Horse Tavern is a more casual dining spot on the backside of the hotel that serves specialty cocktails and the same delicious menu as the main dining area.

Taste of Belgium

Multiple locations including 16 West Freedom Way, Downtown; 1135 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Taste of Belgium has been expanding its operations since its first waffle was pulled from a cast-iron waffle-press at Findlay Market in 2007, opening multiple brick-and-mortar bistros since. Along with its locally famous sweet, sturdy and caramelized Belgian waffles, the brunch offerings have piloted the restaurant’s rapid ascent. In addition to staples like a strawberries-and-cream-topped waffle or a savory buckwheat galette, they also offer dishes like the Brunch Burger (burger, egg, bacon, havarti, Ohio maple syrup, served on a waffle) and the McWaffle (like the Brunch Burger minus the burger part).

Pompilios

600 Washington Ave., Newport
Open since 1933, Pompilios is locally beloved for its family-friendly Italian fare and appearance in several motion pictures, including that toothpick scene in Rain Man and '90s Rollerblading film Airborne. Founder Colonel Pompilio was also the first to secure a liquor license in Kentucky after Prohibition ended, so they have a surprisingly extensive bourbon list. The menu is classic red-sauce Italian with dishes like homemade lasagna, manicotti and veal.

Holtman’s Donut Shop

Multiple locations including 3356 Madison Road, Oakley; 1399 State Route 28, Loveland
Holtman’s will give you a reason to crawl out of bed on a weekend morning. The Loveland-based operation now has multiple locations that serve up their flaky melt-in-your mouth donuts. Lines for the pastries often wrap outside the door and with good reason: the bakery serves up an array of options — from classic glazed to maple to vanilla-icing-dusted with Fruity Pebbles — to suit any craving.

The Rhined

1737 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
The Rhined is a little cheese shop located across from Findlay Market. It's great for grab-and-go goodies, but also features indoor seats and a seasonal outdoor patio. Guests can choose from assorted cheese board options or from a variety of snacks, including a sandwich menu. And the lovely staff can not only recommend a particular cheese based on your preferences, but a perfect wine pairing, too.

Mazunte

611 Main St., Downtown; 5207 Madison Road, Madisonville
Mazunte has been long-hailed as a "hidden gem," offering a mix of casual order-at-the-counter dining with authentic, high-quality Mexican cuisine. The Madisonville location is the most popular, with typical waits for both dine-in and carry-out.