The 25 Best Restaurants on the East Side of Cincinnati, According to Yelp

No. 11: Emery

6914 Wooster Pike, Mariemont
“This was our first time eating at Emery and I was so impressed. The decor was beautifully thoughtful, the ambiance was perfect, and the service was top-notch. Our dinner partners have been three times already and have raved about most things they've eaten in the past. Some standouts for us this time were the beet and mushroom tartare, the whipped feta, the lobster and shrimp pot pie and the twin filets with shrimp scampi! Actually our server was epic! I was having a tough time deciding what to get because so many things on the menu looked good to me. I asked him to just pick what he thought the best dish on the menu was (filets w/ shrimp scampi) and he definitely did NOT disappoint! We would absolutely go back to work our way through the menu or try any new specials.” -Kelly H.

No. 25: VV the Italian Experience

1026 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout
“Definitely an Italian experience, it felt like I was transported to a little cafe in Italy! Super friendly staff. I loved the tiramisu, napule panini and va pensiero- everything was fantastic, tasted so light and fresh.” -Nhi T.

No. 24: The Aperture

900 E. McMillan St., East Walnut Hills
“A great experience! We dashed in for a meal prior to going to the theatre. Our server was outstanding. She guided us through a well-thought-out and delicious Mediterranean-inspired mezze-style meal. Particular standouts were the wood-fired pita, roasted carrots and yellow beets. Beautiful, clean modern setting in a classic building. We will be back!” -Christopher B.

No. 23: Rodi Italian

115 Karl Brown Way, Loveland
“Let me start by saying this place has incredible Italian food. Everything we have had here has been unbelievable. Their pizzas are all great, thin crust, stone-fired. They have great appetizers: fabulous calamari, pork belly, bread dish options. Their pasta is also incredible: Cacio e Pepe, Spaghetti Vongole, and the risotto is also delicious. Their tiramisu is my personal favorite of all time. We sat on their patio for the first time this past Saturday and it is one of the nicest outdoor areas I've ever experienced. We had our engagement party here and they were able to accommodate 20+ people. What really puts Rodi a step above other restaurants to me is the service. The staff really seems to care about working there and love what they do. … I will surely be back soon, to hopefully sit on the patio again. If you love good Italian food: pasta, pizza, and seafood, like me, this is a must-hit spot!” -Daulton F.

No. 22: Arrechissimo Restaurant

8100 Blue Ash Road, Deer Park
“I never write reviews. Ever. But this place deserves the positive recognition.

The atmosphere of this establishment can only be described as inviting. The owner, Javier, provides great recommendations for anyone new to Venezuelan cuisine.

Following his suggestion, we ordered: one arepa w/chicken and avocado, one empanada w/beef and white cheese, and one Pabellón Bowl (it's worthy to note that the arepa and empanada are both pretty big portions, all of the food we ordered was split two ways and it was more than enough!)

For drinks, we ordered a passion fruit juice (good and not super sweet) and Chicha (pretty thick and sweet).

I honestly loved everything about this place. The food tasted homemade. The drinks were refreshing. The outdoor seating was nice. Even the wait was quick as the food arrived only 10 or 15 minutes after we ordered at the window.

If I wasn't just passing through Ohio for the weekend, I'd be a regular here. Seriously, give this place a shot! It's worth it!” -Macy M.

No. 21: Midwest Best BBQ & Creamery

669 Justice Court, Loveland
“Stopped here while in town and looking for a local spot to check out. Oh man, SO GOOD. Got the sampler that comes with two sliders, three wings and a side. Tried one of each of brisket and pulled pork for the sliders with their sweet BBQ sauce. Both were *chef's kiss*. Smoky, fresh, not at all fatty. Tried the GFUNK dry rub on the wings. Great seasonings and a nice crispy yet tender wing. For my side, I had the green beans and was very happy with them. So flavorful! Have to say the service was also five-star. The young lady at the counter was helpful and patient. The gentleman from the kitchen who served our meal to the table and checked on us later was very nice and we watched him be extremely helpful to a more finicky customer nearby. Highly recommend!” -Lindy V.

No. 20: Catch Me If U Can

6112 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
“This has been on my list to visit and I am glad I finally made it. From the music to the food to the drinks! It was a good time! Service was great and the staff are welcoming and friendly. I had the shrimp tacos and potatoes and onions! OMG! Whatever that red sauce is with the fresh taco shell - they know something in the kitchen! Everyone in my party was highly satisfied and we can't wait to come back! It's the fact the prices aren't outrageous too! Affordability definitely makes this a 5-star with taste and service! Oh that Arnold Palmer with some mango is what the doctor ordered! The drinks are sweet but it's the perfect balance with the savory food!” -Latrice W.

No. 19: Thai Lom Cuisine

145 W. Benson St., Reading
“The food here has been consistently good! We order from here often and did so again last night. The Shrimp Tempura was delicious! Crispy and perfectly fried. It was our first time ordering it but would definitely order it again. The Hot Basil with chicken was tasty. I get it with the fried egg option. It's my favorite and they do the dish well. My husband had the 3 Flavor Fish this time and said it was really, really good. The service has also been great. Always friendly and quick.” -Michelle D.

No. 18:Alara

5410 Medpace Way, Madisonville
“Five Stars all around!

We were lucky enough to get a seat at the chef's table on a Sunday night, and it was an awesome experience.

Upon being seated, we were greeted with an absolutely delicious foie gras toast and wine by the chef. He was so friendly and personable. At that point, we knew we were in for a treat.

We opted for the HOP cakes, lobster carbonara, scallops, carrots, and smoked pear cocktail. I also had a glass of wine, and my husband — a non-drinker — opted for a non-alcoholic beer. The HOP cakes were so delicious, citrusy, and bright. They also weren't too heavy. The scallops were perfectly cooked and presented. The star of the show was the lobster carbonara. Huge chunks of lobster, accompanied by a deliciously cooked egg yolk on top made this dish exquisite.

We didn't have dessert, although they looked delicious. Can't wait to come back to this beautiful space!” -Caroline K.

No. 17: A Tavola

7022 Miami Ave., Madeira
“My favorite pizza place in the Cincy area. Such a cool little place. A must-get is the fig pizza. My sole reason for existence is to eat that pizza. The service is always speedy too! Waiters are very attentive. A must visit if you're in the area.” -Anna S.

No. 16: Il Gusto Pizza & Pasta

3936 E Galbraith Road, Deer Park
“Il Gusto is one of the best-kept secrets of the city... Family-owned and very well-run. The calzones are huge and served with a delicious side of marinara. The margarita pizza is always a must-have and if you're really hungry get the chicken alfredo. The alfredo sauce is amazing and they offer a very nice size portion on this dish. Thanks to Il Gusto for a great experience every time we order. Go support this family-owned business in Cincinnati, you won't regret it!” -Trevor F.

No. 15: Delwood

3204 Linwood Ave., Mt. Lookout
“Delwood is home to the BEST burger, period. This is one of my favorite spots to dine in Cincinnati! The double cheeseburger smothered is so delicious!! The food is truly perfect every time, and their spicy aioli is amazing. Delwood also has an amazing staff who are super kind and attentive.” -Sloane A.

No. 14: Nine Giant Brewpub

6095 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
“Went to Nine Giant to watch the FC Cincinnati game and had a great experience. They recently renovated and added much more space to the brewery. Beer here is pretty good but the food is what stole the show. The NG burger was cooked perfectly and had some great toppings (bacon was well worth the extra $2). My buddy ordered the pesto mac and cheese and loved it, so I'll have to come back and try that!” -Noah C.

No. 13: Artemis Mediterranean Bistro

7791 Cooper Road, Montgomery
“I expected them to be good based on reviews, but they still blew me away. Great food, quick and responsive service, and nice ambiance. We had chicken and lamb kebab which my kids loved, stuffed grape leaves, and hummus made in house. They were very accommodating to my young children without being asked. Will definitely come back when I'm in the area.” -Dave H.

No. 12: The Birch

702 Indian Hill Road, Terrace Park
“I love the Birch burger, but they do a lot a good here. I would say the best thing is the atmosphere. The patio on a fall or spring day is an excellent place to grab a table and have a couple drinks and a good burger. The tacos are pretty outstanding as well. I have also had the quinoa bowl, which is good if you are trying to be on the healthy side.” -Scott F.

Editor’s note: Please note, The Birch is temporarily closed as they rebuild from a fire.

No. 10: Kitchen Social

9340 Montgomery Road, Montgomery
“10/10! Everything we got was so good! This place will definitely be somewhere we frequent! We had the biscuits (I'll be dreaming about them until further notice), the Thai chicken bowl (Great flavor with a little bit of heat! If you are sensitive to spicy foods, I'd say pass or ask them to tone it down. It was spicier than we expected but we loved it!), Gerber Farms chicken (those crispy potatoes... wow) and finished with the chocolate cake, which was amazing. To drink, I tried the spicy margarita and watermelon margarita. Both were great! Highly recommend this place!!” -Kandice N.

No. 9: Nation Kitchen & Bar (Milford)

203 Mill St., Milford
“The husband wanted a burger for dinner and I found Nation! Located in cute downtown Milford, this place is great! Nice and spacious vibe … my husband wanted the burger and ordered [the] Red and Bleu and the quality of this burger was super good. Great flavor from the beef patties and he really enjoyed the sweet potato tots. I ordered the Phoenix, which was their Nashville-fried chicken sandwich and omg this was delicious. The crust on this chicken was perfect, the chicken was juicy — everything was just superb. Definitely coming back and highly recommend the food here.” -Trang L.

No. 8: Inkazteka Peruvian Restaurant

3920 E. Galbraith Road, Deer Park
“A great family-run place for authentic Peruvian and Mexican food. I've gotten takeout from here 4-5 times, and hosted a group of 10 people here. The food has never disappointed. Absolutely love their ceviche de pescado — very fresh, bright, and perfectly acidic. Also loved the fajitas. And the Fajita Tropicana is epic — served in half a pineapple shell, with corn tortillas and fixings on the side. You can eat it straight, and then feast on tacos from it days afterwards. And their chicken soup never disappoints. It's very authentic, with big slabs of chicken chunks and hunks of potato floating in it. When our group was there, we were their only customers — I suspect they get more of a lunch than an evening crowd. But the service was amazing. The owner waited on us herself, chatting with us, and kept bringing out great condiments for us to try with our meal.” -Judith G.

No. 7: Parkside

2637 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
“The food was amazing, best hamburger in Cincinnati hands down. I'd also recommend grabbing a margarita, both made fresh daily! We also ordered appetizers, everything we ordered was great. The vibe and service were both on point. Everyone was so friendly & welcoming. I'm looking forward to going back when it warms up to sit out on front patio, looks like an awesome spot to enjoy an afternoon or evening in Hyde Park. I love that they had speakers out on the patio to enjoy some tunes. If your looking for a cool original spot with light music, fresh food, and cocktail/beer - this is the spot. Kid friendly as well!” -Tony C.

No. 6: The Pacific Kitchen

8300 Market Place Lane, Montgomery
“We just ate at The Pacific Kitchen and my whole family loved everything! I ordered the duck confit bao and it was delicious. The menu is incredible and everything we tasted was great. The dessert menu was fun and creative. We ordered the Asian beignets - fried dough with green tea dusting! So good. The service was also great. We can't believe we just discovered this place.” -Stacey S.