The Queen City’s dining scene was on fire this summer, dishing out delicious new concepts and opening additional locations of popular establishments across town. From an upscale Greek eatery to several new taco spots, barbecue joints and bakeries, here’s a taste of what Cincy was up to this summer.
Okto 645 Walnut St., Downtown Cincinnati-based Earth & Ocean Restaurant Group (the team behind Hyde Park’s E+O Kitchen) is bringing the fresh flavors of the Mediterranean to the Queen City with Okto downtown. The Greek restaurant concept takes over the space formerly occupied by E+O New Asian at the corner of Walnut and E. Seventh streets, right across the street from Weston Art Gallery. Okto sets out to be a sophisticated, yet approachable, dining destination with fresh ingredients, an esteemed chef and an immersive experience for guests. Okto hosted its grand opening on Aug. 24. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Proud Hound Coffee 6717 Montgomery Road, Silverton Located in a 4,000-square-foot warehouse, the new café officially opened on June 26 — a milestone the team has been chasing for years. Since launching in 2019, Proud Hound has been helping Cincinnatians get their caffeine fix via pop-ups with its coffee truck and cart, wholesale operations, events and collaborations. The flagship location, complete with a coffee bar and full-service kitchen, also houses its roasting facility, viewable by customers through large glass windows. Customers can expect all the usual espresso-based beverages — cortados, cappuccinos, americanos, lattes and mochas — alongside cold brews, pour overs and drip coffees. Not into coffee? The café also slings teas, hot chocolate and more. You can even order a picturesque blue matcha. The kitchen, run by executive chef Kierstin Dudley, serves up Southern-centric breakfast and brunch with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and seasonal dishes. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Oakley Kitchen Food Hall 3715 Madison Road, Oakley With the opening of incubator kitchen and event space Oakley Kitchen Food Hall, area chefs and food entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to develop their ideas, skills and products even further. The food hall features eight local food vendors and The Cutaway Bar, with Mike Stankovich of Over-the-Rhine’s Longfellow at the helm. There are eight kitchen pods for start-ups and ghost kitchens on the first floor, along with Campfire Foods Commissary, the bar and a marketplace that offers local products from both new and established local businesses. Restaurants include La Petite Frite, Khana Gourmet Indian Grill, Jimmie Lou’s, Loakley, Parts & Labor, Onolicious Hawaii, Olive Tree and an outpost of Milford’s Padrino pizza and pasta parlor. Upstairs, Oakley Kitchen Food Hall features a 10,000 square-foot seating space/rentable event venue that can be used for food-centric parties, private events and weddings. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
OLLA Taqueria 302 W. MLK Jr. Blvd, Covington Covington’s OLLA Taqueria Gutierrez recently opened on West MLK Jr. Boulevard, serving up Mexican-style street food with some extravagant twists. The new eatery is owned by Sergio Gutierrez — whose father owns Gutierrez Deli just down the street— and has received a great deal of buzz over social media since opening its doors. The menu is stacked with your typical street dishes like tacos, burritos and quesadillas as well as loaded nachos and “Guti fries,” which are similar to nachos but made with fries as the base. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Ziggy Whip 1324 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Chef David Jackman recently opened creamy whip and hand pie eatery Ziggy Whip in Over-the-Rhine’s The Takeaway walk-up window. Jackman works alongside his wife, Lydia, as well as Ethan Bartlett. The trio has decades of culinary experience between them and the résumés to show for it. Prior to starting up Ziggy Whip, Lydia ran the foodservice at Oakley Wines and The Rhined, Bartlett was at Sleepy Bee and Jackman was the sous chef at the now-shuttered Please. Now, they’ve combined their expertise to bring their own concept to life. Photo: Provided by Ziggy Whip
Gulow Street 1614 Hoffner St., Northside Gulow Street, a cozy yet sophisticated bar and restaurant located at the corner of Hoffner Street and Gulow Street — the establishment’s namesake — is a family operation, owned by brothers/cousins Jonathan, Danny and Alex Mouch. 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. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Rosie’s Cocktails & Pies 300 E. Seventh St., Downtown Rosie’s hosted its grand opening in April of 2021 but closed shortly after due to a car accident involving the restaurant. The eatery reopened August. From the team behind Crown Republic Gastropub and Losanti, this East Coast-style pizza spot takes over the space formerly occupied by Money Chicken. Rosie’s features a unique style of pizza made with house dough, which is then layered with cheese, toppings and sauce on top — creating a light and crisp pizza from the crust to the center of the pie. Ingredients are either made in-house or sourced from Ohio-based businesses. They also offer a selection of craft cocktails, wine and beer. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Pitch Cincy 1430 Central Parkway, Over-the-Rhine Soccer-themed sports bar The Pitch Cincy, located directly across from TQL stadium, opened before the first home match of FC Cincinnati’s 2021 Major League Soccer season in May. Housed in the former two-story Metropolitan Baptist Church space, the bar boasts artificial turf on the ceiling, a second-floor scarf wall and a 9-foot-tall wall of 4K TVs (there’s another 50 TVs spread throughout the bar). And from the coveted rooftop patio, patrons can almost see into the FCC stadium. Photo: Facebook.com/thepitchcincy
Taco Fuerte Food Truck 5 Orphanage Road, Fort Mitchell Taco Fuerte food truck hosted its grand opening in July and is located outside of Braxton Barrel House. The truck boasts a selection of hand-crafted creations ranging from birria or cheesecake tacos to totchos and vegetarian-friendly bites. Braxton says the truck’s menu was crafted to pair nicely with the brewery’s beers. Photo: Facebook Event Page
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. 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 Photo: Facebook.com/CopperandFlameotr
Pilar 56 E. Court St., Downtown Downtown’s recently revitalized Court Street welcomed a tropical new addition to the neighborhood with the opening of Key West-themed bar Pilar. The new drinking destination, from Four Entertainment Group (4EG) hosted its grand opening celebration on Saturday, Aug. 28. Located across the street from Kroger on the Rhine, the bar takes inspiration from famed American author Ernest Hemingway — the bar’s namesake is in honor of Hemingway’s 38-foot fishing boat. Pilar is decorated with lush tropical plants, nautical artwork and a boat replica hanging from the ceiling. Photo: Provided by 4EG
Clear Mountain Food Park 2792 Old State Rt. 32, Batavia Clear Mountain Food Park opened to the public on July 23 on a lot that once held a Gold Star chili. Located at the corner of Old State Route 32 and Half-Acre Road in Batavia, the park features a rotating variety of food trucks (for lunch and dinner), live music, outdoor games and “indoor/outdoor beverage stations.” The website promises local craft and national beers, plus wine and spirits. Photo: Provided by Clear Mountain Food Park Photo: Provided by Clear Mountain Food Park
Tahona Kitchen + Bar Loveland 115 Karl Brown Way, Loveland Tahona Kitchen + Bar expanded from its Blue Ash base at Summit Park with a second location in downtown Loveland. Diners can expect the same menu and vibe — plus a nice patio. There are tacos (including a vegetarian tofu option), tortas and a chips and salsa bar. But don’t miss out on the fresh cinnamon-and-sugar donut holes or the fun “walking taco”: a hard corn tortilla cone placed in a cup and filled with ground beef, colby-jack cheese, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo and crema. Photo: Facebook.com/TAHONALoveland
Hard Rock Cafe Cincinnati 1000 Broadway St., Downtown Cincinnati’s new Hard Rock Cafe, which exclusively welcomes those 21 and older, opened to the public on July 15. The first Hard Rock Cafe premiered in London in 1971, and the brand now has more than 185 locations in over 74 countries. Along with collectibles, the cafe offers lunch and dinner with a focus on fresh-ground burgers and cocktails. The Cincinnati location will “continually” update its menu with limited-time offerings. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Container Bar 520 Vine St., Downtown Fountain Square announced the opening of The Container Bar on Facebook on Aug. 24, welcoming folks to visit the 20-foot-by-8-foot shipping-container-turned-bar located on the bustling square. The new drinking spot, across from the restrooms, features a full-service bar, as well as seating both at the bar and at 10 tables surrounding it. The bar sports a grey exterior and a deep red color on the inside. Photo: Facebook.com/MyFountainSquare
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
Pensive Distilling 720 Monmouth St., Newport This new distillery/restaurant takes over the space formerly occupied by 27 Bar+Kitchen. The bar offers a petite menu of cocktails ranging from an Old Fashioned to Watermelon Mule or Mint Julep. Chow down on Southern-inspired dishes like shrimp and grits or a selection of jazzed-up sliders featuring toppings like spicy corn salsa or garlic avocado mash. Photo: Instagram.com/PensiveDistiling
Pig Candy BBQ Kitchen 5901 Kellogg Ave., California Pig Candy specializes in smoked, barbecued meats with pulled pork, smoked and sliced turkey and grilled bone-in chicken thighs on the menu. Certain dishes have a Mexican-influence, like the pulled pork posole, barbecue quesadilla and grilled salsa. The name “Pig Candy” comes from their specialty: a fluffy gluten-free waffle pressed with pulled pork and topped with peach maple glaze. Unlike some other barbecue joints, though, Pig Candy offers alternatives for those with dietary restrictions, including housemade vegan goetta and gluten-free waffles. Photo via Facebook.com/eatpigcandy
Maplewood (Downtown) 525 Race St., Downtown After 16 months of pandemic-induced closure, Maplewood Kitchen + Bar’s downtown location reopened on Aug. 17 (its Deerfield location reopened in August 2020). And it’s not just the reopening that California-style brunch fans have to look forward to: Thunderdome Restaurant Group says it also will be introducing a “refreshed” menu. The menu will look similar to the updates undergone at the Deerfield location over the past couple of months. But don’t worry: “The lemon ricotta pancakes aren’t going anywhere,” assures John Lanni, co-founder of Thunderdome, in a press release. Photo: Provided by Maplewood Kitchen + Bar
Red Feather Larder at Dutch’s 3366-3378 Erie Ave., Hyde Park Brad Bernstein of Red Feather Kitchen in Oakley (and recently-closed Postmark in Clifton) purchased Dutch’s in the summer of 2020 after partners behind the longtime Hyde Park staple closed the establishment earlier that year. Bernstein will maintain a similar business model — excellent eats and drinks, and artisan products so that guests can “shop like a chef,” Bernstein told
The Bread Bar 2900 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills Giminetti Baking Company in Walnut Hills expanded this summer with a new cafe and bread store — and a new pastry chef. Chef Cory Colton left New York City to launch The Bread Bar at Giminetti Baking Company. The eatery serves up unique breakfast, brunch, lunch and desserts. Photo: Right Sized Marketing
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: Facebook.com/beesbarbecue
Wooden Cask on the Levee Newport on the Levee, Newport Newport’s Wooden Cask is opening a walk-up taproom on the Levee Labor Day weekend. The Wooden Cask, which has operated a microbrewery and taproom in Newport since 2016, will open a 2,400-square-foot outpost on the Levee, with garage-style doors offering an indoor-outdoor vibe. The menu will feature their craft beer and wine, plus seltzers and snacks including wood-grilled pizzas. It will also serve a special Blueberry Levee lager at this location only. Bonus: 4EG’s new Beeline cocktail bar and patio will officially open on Sept. 18. Photo: Provided by Newport on the Levee
Bebo’s Burgers and Frappes 29 E. Court St., Downtown Specializing in artisan burgers and rich frappes, Bebo’s opened on 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
Baked by Rooted Juicery + Kitchen 113 W. Elder St., Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine Vegan-centric juice bar Rooted Juicery + Kitchen has expanded its local imprint with a new storefront in Findlay Market, located in the former Mainwood Pastry space. But this location — called “Baked” — focuses on the titular baked goods. Rooted prepares and serves housemade baked goods out of this spot, along with menu items found at the other three Rooted locales, including pressed juices, smoothies, toasts, bowls, et al. Baked also serves alcohol, so you can have a glass of rosé with your matcha latte. Photo: Instagram.com/RootedJuicery