The 20 Hottest New Restaurants in Cincinnati Right Now

Copper and Flame

1115 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Pour-your-own-drink concept Copper & Flame opened in the former Rook OTR space on June 3. The bar boasts 68 different taps of draft beer, plus craft cocktails and wine — all priced by-the-ounce and poured by the individual. Co-owner Kathy O'Connell says this concept allows customers to explore new styles of drinks and try as little or as much as they want. But don't expect to see familiar brews — Copper & Flame is highlighting rare beer varieties that you likely won't find on draft lists around the neighborhood. Just load money onto an RFID card when you enter and use that to buy your drinks. In addition to sips, the bar offers a menu of elevated street food, with a fusion of Central/South American and Southeast Asian flavors by chef Sydney Fisher.
Photo: Facebook.com/CopperandFlameotr

Proud Hound Coffee

6717 Montgomery Road, Silverton
After several years of growing their brand through pop-ups, wholesale operations, events and collabs, Silverton-based coffee roasting brand Proud Hound Coffee is ready to welcome the community to their new cafe and kitchen. Their 4,000-square-foot warehouse is already home to the brand's roasting facility, and now they've dedicated a portion of it to serve the coffee-loving community face-to-face. In addition to drip coffee, house and single-origin espressos, the cafe offers a variety of milk and milk alternatives for all your coffee-infused beverage needs, plus Vancouver imported teas from 05 Tea, housemade flavor infusions and chai tea. Expect some experimental coffee creations. Proud Hound has brought in chef Kierstin Dudley to lead the kitchen, which boasts a Southern-inspired breakfast and brunch menu, with a focus on locally sourced ingredients and seasonal dishes.
Photo: Provided

Gulow Street

1614 Hoffner St., Northside
Northside recently welcomed a new addition to the neighborhood. Gulow Street is a cozy yet sophisticated bar and restaurant located at the corner of Hoffner and Gulow streets (the establishment's namesake). Gulow Street's food menu is small but mighty, offering seven dishes ranging from breakfast to dinner, with stand-out items including sesame noodles, a pimento-stuffed breakfast sandwich, rigatoni bolognese and a cheeseburger. The cocktail menu sports four craft cocktails ranging in spirits from bourbon and vodka to gin. The bar/restaurant also has a dog-friendly patio.
Photo: Alex Mouch

BEBO’s Burgers and Frappes

29 E. Court St., Downtown
Specializing in artisan burgers and rich frappes, BEBO’s opened in Downtown’s Court Street this summer. The menu offers 12 burgers and sandwiches, ranging from the simple Old Fashioned burger with American cheese, LTP, onion and mayo to the Latin Lover burger with a spicy twist, topped with pepper jack cheese, beer battered jalapenos, chipotle aioli and chile toreado. Looking for a sweet and savory combo, order one of BEBO’s frappes made with a base of nutella, milk, sugar and ice.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Saint Francis Apizza

3392 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
Saint Francis Apizza opened in Hyde Park in February. Formerly known as Parlor Pizza Project, the team had to rebrand after just over a month in the new shop due to a trademark issue. Owner Alex Plattner, a Cincinnati native, has made pizza for many years, from when he lived in Minneapolis to after he moved back to Cincinnati in June 2020. Parlor Pizza Project did a series of Sunday night dinner pop-ups at Oakley Wines from August 2020 to January 2021 as well before opening the brick-and-mortar shop in Hyde Park. The popular new pizzeria offers a variety of house pies, like the pepperoni and olive and the Fancy White Pie, as well as a $23 weekly special on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Customers can also build their own.
Photo: Facebook.com/stfrancispizza

Frosthaus

115 Park Place, Covington
Frosthaus — located next to German-style spaghetti eis cream shop Eishaus — offers a slew of frozen delights, specifically booze-infused slushies. Opt for the rainbow-hued Cov Sunset, with mango, strawberry and mojito; or the Frosé + Cream, with rosé wine, vodka and ice cream. They also offer non-alcoholic frozen drinks, German-inspired salads and sandwiches, macaroni and cheese and flatbreads.
Photo: Facebook.com/FrosthausCov

The Emery

6914 Wooster Pike, Mariemont
Looking Glass Hospitality Group — the team behind TAHONA Kitchen+Bar, S.W. Clyborne Provision & Spirits, Fretboard Brewing & Public House and Toast & Berry — opened their latest restaurant in December 2020 in Mariemont Square. Described as a "polished-casual" restaurant, "the menu is seafood-leaning but also includes fare from the garden and farm," says a release.The 5,800-square-foot eatery features a second-floor dining room and cocktail lounge with a first-floor pub and outdoor patio. It also features a saltwater aquarium as a "centerpiece" on the second floor.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Nine Giant Brewing’s Fermentorium

6095 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
While Nine Giant Brewing is an established Pleasant Ridge destination, the Fermentorium is a new hot spot located in the basement of the brewing company. The fermentorium offers a selection of housemade artisan wines, barrel-aged and experimental beers and tiki cocktails. Feeling a little bit hungry? Head back up to Nine Giant’s taproom for some scratch-made eats.
Photo: Facebook.com/nfgermentorium

Mochiko

1524 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills
The Japanese-style pop-up has been a local favorite for years, and recently opened 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, a Hokkaido Smash Burger and shoyu ramen.
Photo: Francisco Huerta

Bee’s Barbecue

5910 Chandler St., Madisonville
Bee’s Barbecue began as a pop-up in 2017, offering craveable smoked meats at Oakley Wines and the currently-defunct Dutch’s Larder in Hyde Park (local chef Brad Bernstein reopened the space this summer). But, from the beginning, owner Brendan “Bee” Hague knew he wanted a brick-and-mortar location. In 2019, he found the storefront on Chandler Street — previously home to Jojo’s Chicken & Fish, a pizzeria and a candy shop — and has been paying rent on the space ever since. The restaurant officially opened in April and serves smoked brisket, pulled pork, turkey breast, Cincinnati hot links, ribs and black pepper Lockhart, plus a range of sides.
Photo: Provided by Bee’s Barbeque