Margarita Madness At The Purple People Bridge : May 17th

The 27 Hottest New Restaurants in Greater Cincinnati

By CityBeat Staff on Fri, Jun 9, 2023 at 11:10 am

Over the last year, the Greater Cincinnati area welcomed a lot of new and exciting restaurant concepts to the local dining scene. From chains expanding to the Tri-State to newcomers with offerings ranging from eclectic American cuisine to authentic Cubanos and Italian dishes that remind you of home, here is just a sampling of the new restaurants that have recently opened.

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Photo: facebook.com/CityofNewportKY

Amador

1 Levee Way, Newport
Havana has come to Greater Cincinnati. Amador opened at Newport on the Levee in May with a menu featuring traditional Cuban dishes like empanadas, croquetas, and Cubano sandwiches, but with an “Amador twist.” The energetic and playful atmosphere aims to transport diners to a tropical vacation, with its jungle-esque vibe, lush greenery and an outdoor patio that overlooks the Ohio River and Cincinnati skyline. And unlike other Cuban restaurants, their small plates are meant to be shared. To drink, the restaurant has Cuban coffee, craft cocktails and Latin American beers, wines and rare spirits. They also have their bodega-style walk-up window, “La Ventanita” (little window), where guests can order something to-go from a limited menu.

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Photo: facebook.com/killerqueencin

Killer Queen

180 E. Freedom Way, The Banks
Killer Queen is The Banks newest cocktail bar and pizza joint, with a menu that focuses on build-your-own pizzas, plus appetizers like salads and soft pretzels. They also boast a cocktail menu featuring eight drinks “inspired by the most treacherous kings and queens in history,” the bar says. The restaurant and bar has a high-energy atmosphere with an Americana-style interior, including a wrap-around bar, and is a catch-all for any activity, whether you’re enjoying daytime drinks, watching the game or dancing until 2 a.m.

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Photo: Brian Cross

The Acres

9941 Reading Road, Evendale
Before it was recently overhauled and rebranded as The Acres, Etter’s Golf Center had offered a basic driving range and a small mini golf course since it opened in 1950. The Acres debuted in June 2022 and now features two mini golf courses, a Trackman interactive golf simulator and the golf center’s first full bar and restaurant. They also added space to just hang out. There are fire pits, cornhole boards and plenty of outdoor tables and seating. The food menu at The Acres’ restaurant is a short selection of what managing partner Todd Gailar calls “elevated American classics.” The Acres consulted with Chef LeRoy Ansley, formerly of Queen City Hospitality (Senate), to create the menu.

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Photo: Katie Griffith

Lil’s Kitchen

601 Overton St., Newport; 301 Sixth Ave., Dayton
Lil's Kitchen, formerly known as Lil's Bagels, opened in its shared space with Roebling Point Books & Coffee in April after failed lease negotiations pushed them from their Covington cafe. Lil’s Kitchen at Roebling Books and Coffee is a combination of Roebling’s third location and Lil’s Bagels reimagined. Inside, a taste of the former Lil’s Bagels’ colorful, funky interior blends into bookshelves, eclectic art, a full coffee bar and a modest but delectable menu of food. The menu includes a variety of locally made snacks and pastries; an egg and cheese sandwich served on a challah roll; a selection of soup, salad and spreads; and signature sandwiches, like the Lillian, their take on bagel and lox, but served on a challah roll.

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Photo: facebook.com/rhinegeist (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)

Local Cantina

1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
This new eatery is the first to open in Rhinegeist’s taproom since OTR Chili closed in early 2022. The Columbus-based Tex-Mex chain offers high-quality, hand-crafted fare like tacos, burritos and bowls, as well as beer-friendly shareables like nachos and queso dip.

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Photo: facebook.com/Roy Rogers

Roy Rogers

151 Cooper Ave., Cleves
Western-themed fast-food chain Roy Rogers, named for the Cincinnati-born actor and cowboy, was highly anticipated ahead of its opening this past winter. This historic franchise, founded in 1968, is known for items like fried chicken, roast beef sandwiches and their iconic Double R Burger — a quarter-pounder topped with American cheese and ham on a Kaiser roll. It also brought its famed "Fixin’s bar" to Greater Cincinnati, allowing customers to top their burgers with their choice of condiments and veggies.

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Photo: Provided by 3CDC

bb.q Chicken

150 W. Fourth St., Downtown
This South Korea-based chain opened its first location in Cincinnati this spring. bb.q, which stands for "best of the best quality," serves Korean fried chicken in a variety of flavors, like honey garlic, golden original and Gangnam style, with black pepper sauce. The menu also offers a selection of ddeokbokki, a Korean street food made of rice and fish cakes, as well as sides like french fries, pickled radish and fried dumplings.

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