Greater Cincinnati’s dining scene continues to receive national praise after 12 restaurants landed on a prestigious list that recognizes excellence in restaurant wine service, including three newcomers and one award upgrade.
Wine culture magazine Wine Spectator recently released its 2025 list of Restaurant Award recipients, which features over 3,800 restaurants across the globe, including spots in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, that offer outstanding wine programs. Twelve Cincinnati-area and Northern Kentucky restaurants are among the award recipients, including first-time Award of Excellence winners Boca and Council Oak Steaks & Seafood in downtown Cincinnati and Ripple Wine Bar in Covington.
“A wine list is a restaurant’s identity in print, and this year’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Award winners reflect both deep knowledge and a passion for discovery,” Marvin R. Shanken, Wine Spectator editor and publisher, said in a press release. “I proudly present the 3,811 restaurants worldwide that earned a Restaurant Award this year — we raise a glass to all our winners.”
Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Awards encompass three categories: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award. Three local restaurants — Alfio’s in Hyde Park, Carlo & Johnny by Jeff Ruby in Montgomery and The Precinct by Jeff Ruby in Columbia Tusculum all landed in the Best of Award of Excellence category. This is the first year Alfio’s has appeared in this second-tier category.
Nine local restaurants were among the 2,010 Award of Excellence winners. This award honors restaurants with wine lists that feature a well-curated selection of quality producers along with a thematic match in price and style to the menu. Local winners include:
- Al-Posto in Hyde Park
- Boca in downtown Cincinnati
- Council Oak Steak & Seafood
- Eddie Merlot’s in Montgomery
- Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in downtown Cincinnati
- Ripple Wine Bar in Covington
- Ripple Wine Bar in O’Bryonville
- Seasons 52 in Norwood
- Subito in downtown Cincinnati
Award of Excellence winner Subito, The Lytle Park Hotel’s signature restaurant, says it’s excited to be named on the list for the second year in a row.
“This year’s award highlights not only Subito’s expansive and intentional wine list but also the evolving culture of wine at The Lytle Park Hotel, evidenced by the return of its second-annual Wine Festival this past May, created to unite wine lovers of all backgrounds and celebrate exceptional vintners from around the world,” the hotel said in a press release.
Subito offers a selection of wines from Northern and Central Italy and says its wine program is rooted in diversity and discovery. The list is carefully curated by Wine Director Lindsay Laubenstein, with selections that place special emphasis on both woman-owned and woman-made wines, as well as wines made with sustainable and ethical practices.
Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Awards issue will be on newsstands July 15. Learn more about the awards here.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 8, 2025.
