From classic staples like Skyline and LaRosa’s to new favorites such as Pearlstar and Pho Lang Thang, the Queen City has many unique dining options to delight outsiders.

If you have guests visiting, you can start off the day with Holtman’s donuts, wispy thin pancakes from Sugar n’ Spice or a traditional breakfast from Sleepy Bee. Later, either make the obligatory chili run to Camp Washington Chili or grab some tacos at Bakersfield or Gomez. The Cincy-exclusive possibilities are endless.

Camp Washington Chili 3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington Named one of the “10 Best Restaurants in Cincinnati” by USA Today, there’s no question as to why Camp Washington Chili has been operating since 1940. It is good eats! Despite having ‘chili’ in the name, this establishment offers many chili-free options, including burgers, grilled chicken, hot dogs, fries, coleslaw and salad. Photo: Jesse Fox
Zip’s Cafe 1036 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout Zip’s Cafe was founded in 1926, meaning that it has been running for a whopping 95 years. With meat delivered daily from Avril-Bleh and “simple but fresh” toppings, Zip’s classic burgers are grilled on a flat top, which cooks them in their own delicious fat. If you’re looking to expand your palate beyond the classic Zipburger — recently named the best burger in Ohio by Food & Wine magazine — the cafe offers specialties such as the Flying Pig, topped with shaved ham and bacon, or the popular Girthburger (named by former Cincinnati Bengals punter Pat McInally), topped with a butterflied mettwurst. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Pho Lang Thang 1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Pho Lang Thang has been serving excellent Vietnamese eats since opening in Findlay Market in 2011. After relocating to a larger storefront right nearby the original, the restaurant now offers a 14-seater bar with Asian-inspired cocktails. The food menu features everything from pho to bahn mi to bun thit nuong (lemongrass grilled pork). For a pick-me-up, try some delicious Vietnamese-style iced coffee made with condensed milk. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Sotto 118 E. Sixth St., Downtown Sotto is Cincinnati’s hidden 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. Menu items include handmade pasta and big-ticket items like breaded pork loin with daily sides. Sotto sources their bread from Blue Oven, making a bread plate or bruschetta a must-have. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Sleepy Bee Cafe 3098 Madison Road, Oakley / 8 E. Fourth St., Downtown / 9514 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash At Sleepy Bee, everything from their sammies to their scrambles are top-notch and delightfully tasty even when you yourself are a bit of a sleepy weekend bruncher. If you plan to stop by during peak brunch or lunch hours, be prepared to wait. Standouts include the specialty pancakes, like the Blue Bee Stack, full of blueberries with a maple-blueberry sauce, as well as the light and lovely Bumblebee’s breakfast, a yogurt granola bowl with tasty apricot coulis and tahini. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Arnold’s Bar & Grill 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown Open since 1861, Arnold’s is the oldest continuously running tavern in town, complete with dark wood walls, vintage memorabilia and a big ol’ bathtub in the dining room, rumored to have been used to make gin during Prohibition. A Cincinnati classic, it serves up a nice range of lunch and dinner options — pasta, sandwiches and burgers, plus vegan and gluten-free options — at bargain prices. Enjoy a local draft in the outdoor beer garden and almost daily live music. Named as one of the best bars in America by Esquire magazine. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Brown Bear Bakery 116 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati pastry artist Blair Fornshell uses all-natural ingredients to create so-beautiful-you-almost-feel-bad-about-eating-them desserts, such as salty chocolate chip cookies, gooey cinnamon rolls and a variety of rotating seasonal baked goods like their Matchadoodle cookie. The OTR bakery and café space is the perfect blend of old and new and has a very Lower Manhattan vibe. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Rhined 1737 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine The Rhined is a little cheese shop located across from Findlay Market. It’s great for grab-and-go goodies, but also features indoor seats and a seasonal outdoor patio. Guests can choose from assorted cheese board options or from a variety of snacks, including a sandwich menu. And the lovely staff can not only recommend a particular cheese based on your preferences, but a perfect wine pairing, too. Check their social media for specials, like Raclette nights. You won’t be disappointed. Photo via Facebook.com/TheRhined
Goodfellas Pizzeria 603 Main St., Covington; 1211 Main St., Over-the-Rhine; 6099 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge Goodfellas makes their dough fresh every morning and their sauce in-house. If you’re headed there for a late-night slice or for lunch, be prepared for quite a line, but you’ll be glad you put in the time. While you wait, watch as the pizzaiolos spin dough saucers high into the air. The slices are New York-style and as big as your face. They also offer subs, calzones and a multitude of dipping sauces. Wiseguy Lounge, a bourbon bar with over 400 bourbons, specialty cocktails and draft beer awaits each location. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Sugar n’ Spice 4381 Reading Road, Paddock Hills; 1203 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine Huge, fluffy omelets and “wispy-thin” pancakes have made Sugar n’ Spice a bona fide breakfast institution for over 75 years. One of the city’s most popular places for people of all ages and backgrounds to dine and socialize, the original Paddock Hills location got a sister spot in Over-the-Rhine when the owners renovated an old diner with their signature colorful and vintage flair. They are famous for giving patrons little rubber ducks as a souvenir. It’s a charming quirk that keeps people coming back. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Precinct 311 Delta Ave., Columbia Tusculum You can always rely on a Jeff Ruby restaurant for a big, rare steak and platters of seafood. The Precinct, housed in a historical Romanesque-style former police precinct, opened in 1981 and was the first in a long line of Ruby steakhouses. You can’t go wrong with a sirloin or porterhouse, named after current and past Cincinnati sports greats. But there are other options, like blackened diver scallops or something from the tableside service menu like seafood fettuccine alfredo for two. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Gomez 107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine; 2437 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills Gomez’s walk-up taco window in OTR and main restaurant in Walnut Hills have it all: fish tacos with Baja sauce, chips with pineapple salsa, taco salad bowls and owner Andrew Gomez’s greatest invention, the Turtle Shell. Take a tortilla, stuff it with rice, beans, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, meat, veggies and cheese, layer in a tostado for crunch, put some cheese on the top and then brown it. It’s a fat little crunchy burrito envelope, a true walking taco. Photo: Lindsay McCarty
Taste of Belgium Multiple locations including 16 West Freedom Way, Downtown; 1135 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Taste of Belgium has been expanding its operations since its first waffle was pulled from a cast-iron waffle-press at Findlay Market in 2007, opening multiple brick-and-mortar bistros since. Along with its locally famous sweet, sturdy and caramelized Belgian waffles, the brunch offerings have piloted the restaurant’s rapid ascent. In addition to staples like a strawberries-and-cream-topped waffle or a savory buckwheat galette, they also offer dishes like the Brunch Burger (burger, egg, bacon, havarti, Ohio maple syrup, served on a waffle) and the McWaffle (like the Brunch Burger minus the burger part). Photo: Brittany Thornton
Pompilio’s 600 Washington Ave., Newport This restaurant, where the toothpick scene in Rain Man was filmed, has been offering classic family Italian food since 1933. You can’t go wrong with any pasta dish or the homemade lasagna. Play a game of bocce ball on the back court or grab a beer-and-burger in the attached bar, Colonel Pomp’s Tavern. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Incline Public House 2601 W. Eighth St., Price Hill With a 1,400-square-foot deck for soaking in vistas and cocktails, IPH’s name is derived from the actual Cincinnati Incline that existed there from the late 1800s to the 1940s. Their upscale twist on pub food features sandwiches, salads, epicurean appetizers and a slew of craft cocktails and draft beers. Build your own pizza with toppings ranging from pepperoni and prosciutto to fried egg and sun-dried tomatoes. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Eli’s BBQ 133 W Elder St., Findlay Market; 3313 Riverside Drive, East End With multiple locations (including two brick-and-mortars and hubs inside of Kroger), Eli’s BBQ can be found across Greater Cincinnati. While Eli’s is well known for hickory-smoked barbecue and signature barbecue sauce, the restaurant offers an allergy and dietary chart for those who are gluten-free, vegetarian or have common food allergies. Anyone is able to find something they can eat at Eli’s, making their experience one-of-a-kind. Photo: Facebook.com/Eli’sBBQ
Pearlstar 1220 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Brand new oyster bar Pearlstar opened in September, offering both East and West Coast oysters and other raw delicacies including crudo, ceviche and tartare. The kitchen — overseen by former Senate executive Chef Leroy Ansley — also features a wood-burning grill to create (non-raw) burgers and steak sandwiches. The bar pours “old-school martinis, frozen drinks and Lone Star Beer on tap.” This is a great place to show out-of-towners that Cincinnati does have some class Photo: Catie Vox
The Eagle OTR 1342 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine The Eagle is nested inside a retired post office and has a relatively small menu, comprised of fried chicken, sandwiches, snacks and several side dishes. Booze-wise, they serve tons of beer and cocktails made from scratch. The fried chicken is free-range, all natural and sourced from Ohio farms. Opt for a whole, half chicken (white and dark meat) or a quarter of a chicken (select white or dark). The brown sugar bacon is a must. Photo: Facebook.com/TheEagleOTR
LaRosa’s Multiple locations Buddy LaRosa started in 1954 with only $400 dollars and his Aunt Dena’s pizza recipe. Now, in 2021, LaRosa’s is arguably the best-known pizza joint in Cincinnati. Serving pizzas, calzones, hoagies, fries, garlic bread, fried cheese sticks, salads, ravioli, spaghetti lasagna, and now hydroponically grown lettuce there is no question as to why the business has thrived for so long. Photo: Provided by LaRosa’s
Libby’s Southern Comfort 35 W. Eighth St., Covington The menu at Libby’s Southern Comfort pays tribute to Southern classics with a touch of Charleston and features dishes like goetta hush puppies, oysters on the half shell and fried chicken. For brunch, try the Kentucky Breakfast Brown, made with goetta. In addition to food, Libby’s serves a wide drink menu that features vintage bourbons, Cheerwine bourbon slushes and Braxton Beers, among other options. Photo: facebook.com/libbyssoutherncomfort
Otto’s 521 Main St., Covington This Covington classic has been serving Southern-style cuisine right on MainStrasse since 2003. They are open for brunch on weekends and reopen in the evening for a luxurious dinner service. For brunch, Otto’s Benedict features a cheesy bacon grit cake instead of an English muffin, with country ham, poached egg, spinach, tomato and hollandaise. Photo: facebook.com/ottos521cov Photo: Otto's
Montgomery Inn 9440 Montgomery Road, Montgomery; Montgomery Inn Boathouse, 925 Riverside Drive, Downtown World famous for its ribs, Ted and Matula Gregory’s Montgomery Inn has been a staple in Cincinnati since 1951. Matula’s secret-recipe sweet and tangy all-natural barbecue sauce dresses the hand-spiced, slow-roasted and custom broiled ribs and is featured on everything from barbecue spring chicken and pork chops to Saratoga chips. Photo: Provided
Taft’s Ale House 1429 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Located inside a former church, the building is an ode to Cincinnatian and former President William Howard Taft. The multi-floor brewpub maintains some of the sanctuary’s charm (like the bell tower). The 14 beers on tap and a menu focused on tri-tip beef are practically begging you to spend Saturday afternoon drinking there. Photo: Jesse Fox
Bakersfield 1213 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Part bar, part taco joint, all classy. Bakersfield specializes in gourmet tacos (pollo verde, pastor, short rib, etc.), quality tequilas and whiskeys and hand-crafted margaritas made the old-fashioned way, not from a pre-made mix. Photo: Facebook.com/BakersfieldOTR
Holtman’s Donuts Multiple locations including 1332 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine; 3356 Madison Road, Oakley; 1399 State Route 28, Loveland Holtman’s will give you a reason to crawl out of bed on a weekend morning. The Loveland-based operation now has multiple locations that serve up their flaky melt-in-your mouth donuts. Lines for the pastries often wrap outside the door and with good reason: the bakery serves up an array of options — from classic glazed to toasted coconut to lemon-icing-dusted with Fruity Pebbles — to suit any craving. Photo: Facebook.com/HoltmansDonuts
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. Photo: Paige Deglow
The Golden Lamb 27 S. Broadway St., Lebanon Jonas Seaman came to Ohio from New Jersey in 1803. In a time when many couldn’t read, the business was marked by a symbol, not a name: a golden lamb. Present-day, the historic hotel and restaurant, in the heart of the Lebanon DORA district, has served 12 presidents and an array of other famous figures. The menu offers items like braised lamb shank, hickory-roasted prime rib and seared salmon. The attached Black Horse Tavern is a more casual dining spot on the backside of the hotel that serves specialty cocktails and the same delicious menu as the main dining area. Photo: Facebook.com/TheGoldenLamb
Graeter’s Ice Cream Multiple Cincinnati locations including 332 Ludlow Ave., Clifton; 511 Walnut St., Downtown and 2704 Erie Ave., Hyde Park This local French pot ice cream chain is iconic for its giant chocolate chips — chunks, really. They pour gourmet chocolate over churning cream to form a shell that their artisans then break up. It’s totally unique and perfect in flavors like Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip — their all-time best-seller made with black raspberries from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Photo: Facebook.com/Graeters
Skyline Chili Multiple locations Skyline has been one of the pioneers of Cincinnati chili since opening in 1949. First founded by Greek immigrants, the chili parlor pours the Queen City staple over spaghetti or hot dogs and tops it with a mound of cheese, oyster crackers, and — depending on your taste preference — onions and beans. Also available are chili burritos, fries, baked potatoes and vegetarian chili, which is made with black beans and rice. Photo: Provided