These 23 Restaurants and Bars are New or Coming Soon to Cincinnati
By CityBeat Staff
Cincinnati's city center is an ever-expanding hub for foodies and nightlife enthusiasts. Here are some of the places that are opening soon — or have recently opened — in Over-the-Rhine, Pendleton, downtown and nearby.
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701 Madison Ave., Covington This bar and restaurant operates out of the more than 100-year-old building formerly occupied by Rich's Gruen Watches, a high-end jewelry store. The bar’s menu includes wine, beer, cocktails and spirits, with a special emphasis placed on bourbon. The kitchen provides food with a twist on Southern fare with Creole and Kentucky influences.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
324 Ludlow Ave., Clifton This iconic and eclectic Clifton coffee shop recently reopened under new ownership with a new vegetarian/vegan menu but the same bohemian vibe.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
From the Columbus-based Rise Brands, the group behind 16-Bit, this new bar will have 25 pinball machines and 10 duckpin bowling lanes, plus other “old school” entertainment options like foosball, bocce ball and shuffle board. The three-story bar will also boast a rooftop patio.
1124 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Photo via Facebook.com/Pins-Mechanical-Co
Craft brewer Platform Beer Co., which opened in Cleveland in 2014, has its sights set on Over-the-Rhine. The company is working with local developer Urban Sites to open its third Ohio-based taproom — a 2,500-square-foot space at 1201 Main St. (that navy and red building across from Japp’s). According to a statement from Platform, the Cincinnati brewery will combine beer, coffee and barrel aging.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
131 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine This former Findlay Market booth has transferred to a full storefront space and expanded its menu of South American staples. Find arepas with fillings like chorizo and cheese or black beans, cheese and fried plantains; ground beef, cheese, chicken or potato and eggplant empanadas; and sides like plantain chips.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
This Columbus bar is expanding into the Queen City with a dual-purpose establishment at 2014 Elm St., just down the way from Rhinegeist. There will be drinks and pizza.
Photo: Emerson Swoger
This new brewery will be located in the old pre-Prohibition Christian Moerlein lager house at 111 W. McMicken Ave. in Over-the-Rhine. According to the brewery, the name is taken from an old Cincinnati nickname for Liberty Street and its role in the brewing industry. Northern Row will "pay tribute to our roots as a historic lager house, committed to revisiting traditional lagers but we also look forward, pledged to bring consistent, clean, and flavorful ales that drive the craft beer world today. Our spirits catalog will similarly mirror our beer portfolio. Old recipes will meet new, combining to push the envelope while also respecting tradition." Chef Jose Salazar will be curating the food menu and you can sample some Northern Row beers now at these locations. Photo: Emerson Swoger
This Findlay Market bagelry is slated to open soon. According to our interview with the team behind OTR Bagel Bar in 2017, the space will take its decorative cue and overall ambiance from a “nostalgic” stance. The tables will have gameboard tops — ’80s board games will be present to play — and colorful chairs have been sourced from elementary schools. A tentative lineup of 10 standard bagels — such as poppy seed, onion, everything and plain — and specialty bagels like carrot cake will grace the menu. They will also be making specialty cream cheeses, like jalapeño and cookie dough, and bagel breakfast sandwiches.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
This bar is located across from Washington Park. According to its website, "Bars are the great intersections of life. They’re where we cross paths to celebrate, relax, meet someone new and connect with old friends, all while enjoying the perfect drink. Stop by to mingle with neighbors, wind down after a day at Washington Park or just to say hi — we’ll be ready with a lineup of your favorite beer, wine and cocktails." So expect that.
1132 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Photo via CoblestoneOTR.com
300 E. Seventh St., Downtown The team behind Pleasantry has brought a unique spin on chicken to Cincinnati’s Central Business District: a “chef-driven fast-casual” chicken eatery that holds on to values of rich flavor and sustainable sourcing, but operates in a capacity to accommodate downtown lunch and dinner hours.
Photo via Facebook.com/Money-Chicken
