OTR's LouVino Offers Sharable Southern-Inspired Bites and Fine Wines on Tap

Midwestern Cincinnati got another dose of Southern cooking with the opening of Louisville, Ky.-based LouVino. But that palate comes with twist, says owner, Chad Coulter. In an email, Coulter describes the restaurant’s style as “chic-industrial with a trendy, upbeat vibe.” Its newly minted Over-the-Rhine location (opened as of Aug. 21) marks the regional brand’s fourth location, and its first in the Queen City (the other three are in Louisville and Indiana with another opening in downtown Indianapolis). Expect small plates to pass around the table. Coulter says that a party of two could order four to five plates between them and expect wide, varied, flavored dishes. You can wash that down wine, because they offer over 60 types by the glass and 17 wine flights. Plus, a wide range of bourbons, cocktails and beer. “The flights are pre-selected, themed and offer guests a taste of some of the most compelling wine styles and varieties from all over the world,” Coulter says. “The list is designed to offer unique pairings to guests seeking an elevated wine-food experience.” Brunchers: Louvino serves up $2 mimosas on Saturdays and Sundays plus foodie items like pancake tacos, stuffed French toast and chicken biscuit sliders. Get a little more traditional with dishes like steak and eggs, eggs benedict or a croissant BLT sandwich. As for non-brunch dishes, the chef says that their Brussels sprouts salad topped with pickled cherry peppers and a cilantro-lime vinaigrette (it’s vegan! And gluten-free!) is among their customers’ favorite dishes, along with their fried chicken tacos on a flour tortilla (topped with house mash, pepper gravy and Kenny’s cheddar) and their loaded tater tots. “Half of our menu is the same company-wide, known as the ‘Classic,’” he says. “The other half of our menu changes one to two times per quarter so our guests can almost always expect something different on the menu, which makes our concept super exciting.” This growing regional Southern-inspired foodie haven decided to expand North into Cincinnati because they wanted to be a part of Cincinnati’s “burgeoning food scene and the revitalization of the OTR neighborhood.” For more info on Louvino, visit louvino.com or drop by their OTR storefront located at 1142 Main St.