While downtown and Over-the-Rhine offer many Instagrammable restaurants, bakeries and bars, there are other hip Cincinnati eateries located outside the city center. These restaurants sling foodie favorites and craft cocktails for those looking to avoid the long waits and parking hassle or who just want to try a little something new.

Lonely Pine Steakhouse 6085 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge This steakhouse, located next door to the Shining-themed Overlook Lodge, is inspired by Midcentury Modern styling and the spirit of America’s great landscapes. The menu features ribeyes, strips and rare cuts, along with steakhouse sides, cocktails and a “bold” wine list. All can be savored while taking in the Route 66-style atmosphere. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Governor 231 Main St., Milford Brothers Paul and Neil Barraco had been working in fine dining for years when they returned to their East Coast roots to open a classic diner with a modern twist. The mission of the Governor is to offer the perks of fine dining — locally procured meat and produce, a menu made from scratch, a carefully designed cocktail list — at a medium price point in a laid-back environment. The menu at the Governor features cuisine ranging from Asian to Italian to classic Americana, and all-day breakfast. Photo: Savana Willhoite Photo: Savana Willhoite
Cafe Mochiko 1524 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills This Japanese-style pop-up run by Elaine Townsend and Erik Bentz has been a local favorite for years, and the duo opened their first storefront in East Walnut Hills in spring of 2021. The shop specializes in a fusion cuisine known as “yoshoku,” which borrows elements from Asian and Western cooking styles. A pastry chef, Townsend focuses on the daytime baked goods, crafting items including a delicious ube halaya (purple yam) croissant, various melonpan and loaves of shokupan. At night, the dinner menu offers options like a Hokkaido Smash Burger, shoyu ramen and intermittent specialities including a beloved Cincinnati-chili-style ramen. Photo: Francisco Huerta
Agave & Rye Hyde Park 3825 Edwards Road, Hyde Park Diners flock to the restaurant to enjoy its vibrant murals and funky decor while chowing down on unique tacos, with proteins including kangaroo, duck, crab cakes, butter-poached lobster, crispy cauliflower, salt and pepper fries and fried chicken — in addition to more familiar bases like steak, pork carnitas and mahi mahi. With a flagship location in Covington, Agave & Rye’s Hyde Park spot is larger, with a massive patio. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Tela Bar & Kitchen 1212 Springfield Pike, Wyoming Wyoming’s Phish-leaning Tela Bar & Kitchen offers high-level pub grub in a laid-back atmosphere. Burgers start with. Angus reserve beef patties and then branch out with options like the Royale with Cheese, a beef patty plus with your choice of three cheese options, aioli or 2001 Island topped with your pick of many veggies all on a Sixteen Bricks sesame bun. For something a bit healthier they’ve got four loaded salads that you can choose to top with chicken, salmon or shrimp. Photo via Facebook.com/telabandk
Ivory House 2998 Harrison Ave., Westwood Self-described as offering “steak and seafood, elevated,” Ivory House’s menu is a fresh take on nostalgic-feeling dishes. A large selection of wines and clever cocktails are a perfect accompaniment to a menu that features everything from filet mignon and grilled tuna to skirt steak in red chimichurri. They also offer Japanese A5 wagyu strip that can set you back a couple hundred bucks. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Hi-Mark 3229 Riverside Drive, East End From the owners of Eli’s BBQ and Pho Lang Thang, Hi-Mark is located in a transformed historic 1860s home. The restaurant offers dishes like pulled pork banh mi and jumbo wings plus loaded snacks like nacho fries and Lang Thang chili mac. The drinks menu focuses on hi-balls, whiskey and craft and local beers, with a bonus “essentials” list that includes Budweiser, Hamm’s and more. Photo: Facebook.com/thehimark
Brown Dog Cafe 4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash For years, Brown Dog has been a prime Blue Ash destination for great (and sometimes unusual) meats. Their menu has featured everything from rabbit to wild boar to venison. They also offer non-meat options like sustainable seafoods; vegetarian offerings; soups; and creative appetizers. In warmer weather, the giant patio is a welcome people-watching hang for those with dogs — and those without. Photo via Facebook.com/thebrowndogcafe
No. 3 Veggie Burger: S.W. Clyborne Co. Provisions and Spirits 5948 Snider Road, Mason Helmed by executive chef Mark Bodenstein, formerly of Piccolo Casa and Nuvo at Greenup, S.W. Clyborne Co. offers its titular provisions and spirits in a lineup of New-American-meets-Italian-meets-Southern dishes: fried chicken with macaroni and cheese, sweet corn and tomato carbonara, Queen City poutine, etc. But we’re here for the veggie burger. The mushroom lentil burger is a housemade patty crafted with roasted mushrooms and black beluga lentils, topped with lettuce, pickled onions, avocado and Sriracha aioli on a toasted potato bun. Photo: Facebook.com/Clybornes Photo: Facebook.com/Clybornes
Forno Osteria + Bar 3514 Erie Ave., Oakley; 9415 Montgomery Road, Montgomery One of the city’s First Families of Food – the Pietosos of Nicola’s and Via Vite – have brought upscale-casual Italian cooking to the East Side and Montgomery with Forno, serving what they describe as “Italian comfort food.” In addition to a selection of red- and white-sauced pizzas, the menu offers fresh pasta and various meat and seafood entrées. Photo via Facebook.com/FornoOsteriaBar
No. 11: Emery 6914 Wooster Pike, Mariemont “This was our first time eating at Emery and I was so impressed. The decor was beautifully thoughtful, the ambiance was perfect, and the service was top-notch. Our dinner partners have been three times already and have raved about most things they’ve eaten in the past. Some standouts for us this time were the beet and mushroom tartare, the whipped feta, the lobster and shrimp pot pie and the twin filets with shrimp scampi! Actually our server was epic! I was having a tough time deciding what to get because so many things on the menu looked good to me. I asked him to just pick what he thought the best dish on the menu was (filets w/ shrimp scampi) and he definitely did NOT disappoint! We would absolutely go back to work our way through the menu or try any new specials.” -Kelly H. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Overlook Kitchen + Bar 5345 Medpace Way, Madisonville Foodies, take note: a lot of excellent food comes out of the kitchen division of the Overlook Kitchen + Bar at Madisonville’s The Summit hotel. From five onion bisque with chives and crispy onions to NY strip and seared salmon, the fare created at Overlook is both delightful and seasonal. Grab a seat at the bar or head to the outdoor patio for cocktails and conversation alongside scenic views. Photo: Provided by Summit Hotel
Red Feather Kitchen 3200 Madison Road, Oakley Red Feather serves up from-scratch housemade dishes using the best possible ingredients. Described as New American, the chef-driven menu reflects a diversity of global influences and the seasons. While the offerings change based on the time of year, expect items like oysters, crispy chicken skins and melt-in-your-mouth beef short rib. Red Feather’s bar also puts out some of the best cocktails in town. Photo: Facebook.com/RedFeatherKitchen
The Wildflower Cafe 207 E. Main St. Mason With local farm-raised, grass-fed beef and an extensive wine list that features products from Cincinnati-area vineyards, Wildflower is dedicated to producing the freshest and best-quality food at an honest price. Foods are local, sustainable and seasonable to offer peak freshness. The cafe offers grab-and-go as well as charcuterie, salads, soups and daily specials for dine-in. Photo via Facebook.com/WildflowerCafeMason
BrewRiver Creole Kitchen 4632 Eastern Ave., Linwood The atmosphere and cuisine at BrewRiver Creole Kitchen brings the spirit of New Orleans to Cincinnati in a stately historic building on Eastern Avenue (the former home of Bella Luna). Chef Michael Shields, who earned his chops under Emeril Lagasse, has maintained the favorites from the restaurant’s former iteration as BrewRiver GastroPub and added new items to the menu — broiled oysters, fried green tomatoes with a cornmeal crust and bananas foster bread pudding for dessert. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Senate Blue Ash 1100 Summit Place Drive, Blue Ash Summit Park’s Senate is a suburban location of the OTR-based favorite for glammed-up hot dog creations. The eatery offers an expansive outdoor patio that overlooks the park. Photo: Catie Viox Photo: Catie Viox
Oakley Kitchen Food Hall 3715 Madison Road, Oakley Oakley Kitchen Food Hall is a warehouse-style assortment of casual food and drink stands with enough space and variety to accommodate the hungry masses.The first floor of what had been an antique mall houses more than a half-dozen separate eateries and an excellent bar, while the second floor is reserved for seating. In the evenings, enough people come to fill up two or three nearby parking lots. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Gulow Street 1614 Hoffner St., Northside Gulow Street is a cozy yet sophisticated bar and restaurant located at the corner of Hoffner and Gulow streets — the establishment’s namesake. The streamlined menu offers bites like a burger and breakfast sandwich with pimento cheese, plus a cocktail menu. Clever house drinks include the Spaghett (Miller High Life, Aperol and lemon) and a basil paloma with Tajin. A converted garage on the property doubles as a patio space, and dogs are welcome to hang out there with their people. Hailey Bollinger
Taglio Bar & Pizzeria 56 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine Taglio is an upscale take on pizza and Italian food, making several things fresh daily from sourced ingredients. They have New York- and Detroit-style pizzas. The more traditional New York-style pizza features a thinner crust that tastes like bakery-quality bread on its own, but the savory and slightly sweet sauce, dense layer of cheese and pepperoni baked into a perfectly crispy bowl steal the show. The Detroit-style pizza has a delicious buttery, crispy baked outer crust that’s a gargantuan of flavor surrounding the thick, baked dough with a full layer of perfectly greasy mozzarella, a dollop of chunky tomato sauce and, in this case, large slices of pepperoni. They also offer a curated wine and beer list, cocktails, appetizers, salads and gelato. The OTR location is also a sports bar and a Pub Partner of FC Cincinnati. It’s a perfect spot to watch the game, with 25 TVs, NFL Sunday Ticket and 14 drafts on tap. And, when the weather’s nice, you can take your pizza and drinks out on the patio. Photo: Facebook.com/EatTaglio
Fifty West Burger Bar 7508 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township; 5224 District Park Drive, Mason An homage to a 1950s roadside rootbeer stand, Fifty West Brewing Company’s Burger Bar serves a handful of proteins — single or double burger, chicken patty, flattop dog or black bean burger — 12 different ways, each named for the 12 different states U.S. Route 50 travels through. The eatery has a variety of Fifty West brand brews to wash it all down with and features plenty of tables (with umbrellas) to dine upon. Photo: Savana Willhoite
Spread of shareable plates and cocktails Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Two Cities Pizza Co. 202 W. Main St., Mason If you need options when dining out, look no further than Two Cities Pizza Co. in Mason, which offers both New York-style and Chicago deep dish pizzas so you don’t have to compromise. Pick from a number of aptly named pizzas like New York’s Gotham Gangster (white sauce, chicken, bacon, cheddar, scallions, barbecue sauce drizzle) or Chicago’s Wrigley Pie (mushrooms, spinach, feta, red onions, red sauce). If none of the flavor combos speak to you, you can create your own pie. Located in Mason’s Art Deco former City Hall, the restaurant’s bathroom, modeled after a New York subway platform, won a national award for best bathroom design. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Incline Public House 2601 W. Eighth St., Price Hill Named after the Cincinnati incline that traveled to Price Hill, Incline Public House features a gorgeous view of the city as well as New American eats for brunch, lunch and dinner. The menu includes pizzas, burgers, salads and even cheesesteak, plus a great bloody mary at brunch. It’s a popular and busy restaurant, so be prepared for wait. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Eli’s BBQ 133 W Elder St., Findlay Market; 3313 Riverside Drive, East End While Eli’s BBQ 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: Hailey Bollinger
Dutch’s 3373 Erie Ave., Hyde Park This pony keg turned bar, bottle shop and artisanal larder is an East Side hang with an expansive kitchen, pantry and patio. Pair one of many different available wines or craft beers on-tap with farmstead cheeses, sandwiches, soups, salad, snacks or even truffle popcorn. Recently taken over and reopened by chef Brad Bernstein of Red Feather Kitchen, the menu and grocer features an elevated and refined version of the classic Dutch’s. Photo: facebook.com/dutchslarder