From a cozy basement trattoria hidden beneath the city streets to upscale restaurants boasting spectacular views of the city, award-winning steakhouses and more, the Queen City is home to dozens of elegant eateries where you can treat your special someone to an intimate evening on the town, whatever the occasion.

Sotto 118 E. Sixth St., Downtown Sotto is Cincinnati’s clandestine basement trattoria — a below-street-level Italian eatery, nestled underneath sister restaurant Boca on Sixth Street downtown. It’s a hot spot for diners celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for some excellent pasta. With multiple dining rooms, the kitchen is open to view, including the custom-made woodfire grill in front and a fresh-pasta room in the back hallway. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Precinct 311 Delta Ave., Columbia Tusculum The Precinct, housed in a historical Romanesque-style former police precinct, opened in 1981 and was the first in a long line of Jeff Ruby’s steakhouses. The space is intimate and elegant, offering excellent service as well as a menu boasting prime steaks, fresh seafood and a generous wine selection. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Nicola’s 1420 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine Italian darling Nicola’s opened in a renovated car barn in Over-the-Rhine several decades ago. Patrons will be delighted by the lovely main dining room, resplendent with a beautiful interior where everything your eye rests on makes you feel indulged. Nicola’s housemade pastas and secondi piatti transport diners to the heart of Italy. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Pepp & Dolores 1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Pepp & Dolores is inspired by Sunday dinners at Thunderdome co-founders Joe and John Lanni’s grandparents’ house.The menu features housemade pastas — like spaghetti limone, a butternut and mascarpone pasta and a lobster and squid ink pasta — along with a focus on shareable dishes, salads and bread. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The View at Shires’ Garden 509 Vine St., Downtown The View at Shires’ Garden is located on the 10th floor of the City Club Apartments with views of the riverfront and the surrounding cityscape. This rooftop spot features an indoor dining room, an outdoor patio and a private event lounge with a bar, cigar patio, baby grand piano and firelit tables. The décor mixes modern furnishings with the style of the original Shires’ Garden from the 19th century — a historic Queen City amusement resort of sorts in this same spot at Vine and Third streets. The food menu features Saturday and Sunday brunch and dinner options like mussels, Baby Wellington (a bite-sized take on Beef Wellington) and stuffed squash. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Carlo & Johnny 9769 Montgomery Road, Montgomery Carlo & Johnny is another upscale steakhouse from the team behind Jeff Ruby’s. Located in Montgomery, this restaurant is situated in a historic mansion that was formerly a gangster hideout, stagecoach stopover and casino. They offer over 14 U.S.D.A Prime steaks as well as a variety of fresh seafoods and impeccable service. Photo via Facebook.com/JeffRubysCarloAndJohnny Photo: Facebook.com/JeffRubysCarloAndJohnny
Primavista 810 Matson Place, East Price Hill Along with a beautiful view of the city, this restaurant offers an upscale dining experience with menu options like sausage and mushroom ravioli, roasted lamb loin and tiramisu. Without leaving your seat, you can look out on views of Carew Tower, Great American Tower and the Cincinnati sign with a glass of wine in hand. Photo via Facebook.com/Primivista Photo: facebook.com/Primavista
Mita’s 501 Race St., Downtown Chef Jose Salazar is a continent away from his mamita and the hand-cranked mill she still uses to grind corn for arepas and empanadas, but his restaurant, Mita’s, is a tribute to her spirit and to Spanish and Latin American food. Some of the more intriguing dishes at Mita’s use familiar ingredients in new ways. The fresh emerald-green sauce for the short-rib empanadas is unexpectedly minty, and the beef is tucked into cornmeal crusts so light and crisp that it lifts the dish to the sublime. They also have one of the best margaritas in town. Photo via Facebook.com/MitasCincinnati Photo: facebook.com/Mita's Cincinnati
6. Nada 600 Walnut St., Downtown Photo via Facebook.com/eatdrinknada Photo: Facebook.com/eatdrinknada
Ivory House 2998 Harrison Ave., Westwood Self-described as “steak and seafood, elevated,” the menu is a fresh take on nostalgic-feeling dishes. A large wine menu and clever cocktails are a perfect accompaniment to a menu that features everything from filet mignon and grilled tuna to a Japanese A5 wagyu strip. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Salazar 40 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine This petite eatery from Chef Jose Salazar mixes old and new to create an approachable yet refined farm-inspired menu. The elegant space features a massive marble bar countertop, and opening dining space. There are creative, comfortable choices like burgers, fish and a vegetarian option. Seasonal, farm-fresh specials frequently pop up on the changing menu. Photo: Facebook/SalazarCincinnati
Boca 114 E. Sixth St., Downtown A trip to chef David Falk’s Italian/French gemstone is an experience to be savored as much as the food itself. Take your time, invest a few hours and allow him and his attentive, knowledgeable staff to unfold an epic tale of two or three courses, plus dessert. Photo: Facebook.com/BocaRestaurant
Scotti’s Italian Eatery 919 Vine St., Downtown Family-owned since 1912, Scotti’s has solidified itself as a Queen City staple. Their large menu features just about every pasta imaginable and nearly 20 different varieties of veal dishes. Finish off your meal with a bottle of wine and you’ll be full for days. Multi-colored tiles plaster the walls, and candles drip layer upon layer of wax on Chianti bottles at every table, providing a little light to the otherwise dimly lit dining room. Scotti’s is named after early 20th-century opera star Antonio Scotti, so the sounds pumping through the speakers isn’t Muzak or clichéd Sinatra tunes, it’s Rossini and Puccini and Pavaratti — just another aspect that sets this landmark apart from the pack. Photo: Paige Deglow Photo: Paige Deglow
Prime Cincinnati 580 Walnut St., Downtown This downtown steakhouse offers an upscale and sophisticated dining experience along with excellent service. The menu offers a variety of shareable starters like oysters on the half shell or prosciutto wrapped sea scallops and a hearty dinner menu boasting Prime Angus Beef in a range of cuts plus Ohio Wagyu beef from the Wyoming Meat Market — and of course some fresh seafood to top. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Jag’s Steak & Seafood 5980 West Chester Road, West Chester Grilled filet mignon with spring onion compound butter, veal demi-glaze, garlic mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus Photo: Provided Photo: Provided by Jag's Steak & Seafood
Libby’s Southern Comfort 35 W. Eighth St., Covington, This Covington eatery pays tribute to Southern classics like fried chicken and half-shell oysters served alongside a variety of bourbon drinks and other local favorites. The atmosphere is hip, with plenty of opportunities to share a dish with your sweetheart. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Bouquet Restaurant 519 Main St. Covington Working closely with local sources, Bouquet’s upscale farm-to-table approach means a fresh, frequently rotating menu packed with seasonal ingredients. Elegant small plates, entrées and thoughtful wine pairings set the stage for an intimate dining experience. Photo: Bouquet Restaurant
Via Vite 520 Vine St., Downtown 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 21. $30; $10 children 12 and under. The Fountain Square eatery will be serving a special brunch buffet featuring authentic Italian items and traditional brunch favorites Photo: Via Vite Facebook Photo: Facebook.com/ViaVite
Losanti 1401 Race St., Over-the-Rhine This Over-the-Rhine steakhouse from the Crown Republic Gastropub team features steak, pasta, wine and shaken and stirred cocktails. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Okto 645 Walnut St., Downtown Cincinnati-based Earth & Ocean Restaurant Group (the team behind Hyde Park’s E+O Kitchen) has brought the fresh flavors of the Mediterranean to downtown. The menu at Okto includes traditional Greek dishes, like savory tiropita and spanakopita pastries, kebabs, flaming saganaki (a pan-fried cheese) and baklava. Okto’s bar is stocked with a selection of wine and liquors imported from Greece as well as cocktails created to pair nicely with the restaurant’s Mediterranean flavors. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Metropole at 21c Museum Hotel 609 Walnut St., Downtown Located inside the 21c Museum Hotel, Metropole offers excellent eats and cocktails in an artful environment. The dinner menu is a spin on modern French and Italian, with a focus on the seasonal and local. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Abigail Street 1214 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine This wine and tapas bar from Chef Daniel Wright offers decadent small plates to share. The food has a Mediterranean lean and includes dishes like wood-grilled chicken skewers, roasted beets with lebna and churros for dessert. Wine on tap is available by the glass, quartino or bottle. Photo: facebook.com/abigailwinebar
The Baker’s Table 1004 Monmouth St., Newport This farm-to-table bakery and restaurant offers seasonally fresh and locally-sourced ingredients. The menu offers two a prix-fixe — three courses or two — with changing starters, pastas and mains. There are vegetarian options, as well as decadent dishes for meat eaters. Don’t skip dessert, especially the ricotta donuts. Photo: Facebook.com/BakersTableNewport