From classic staples like Skyline and LaRosa’s to newer 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 Diner or a traditional breakfast from Sleepy Bee. Later, either make the obligatory chili run to Camp Washington Chili or grab some tacos at Mazunte or Gomez — the Cincy-exclusive possibilities are endless.

Camp Washington Chili 3005 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati 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: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Zip’s Cafe 1036 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout Zip’s Cafe has been open since 1926 and is known for its Zip Burger, named the best in Ohio by Food & Wine. They also have other menu items, including “famous chili” and a classic grilled cheese. With worn wood flooring and dark wood paneling, the small space is separated into a dining area and a bar by a saloon-style door with a model train circling above. Head to the back bar for a local beer on draft while you wait for space at a booth or a seat at one of the shared family-style tables. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Pho Lang Thang 1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati Vietnamese eatery Pho Lang Thang opened their new location across the street from Findlay Market in the fall of 2019. Order from a wide variety of pho options, ranging from brisket and meatballs (nam, bo vien) to vegan mushroom pho or tendon and tripe (gan, sach). Grab a Lang Thang Vietnamese Coffee hot and iced. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Sotto 118 E. Sixth St., Downtown Sotto is the perfect place for a romantic Italian meal or a night out with friends. The basement trattoria is one of hottest places in town to grab homemade pasta and a classic cocktail. Be sure to reserve a table in advance, or snag a seat at their bar. Ask for a table with a view of the kitchen to get a front-row seat to all of the behind-the-scenes action. Photo: facebook.com/sottocincinnati
Arnold’s Bar & Grill 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown Downtown’s Arnold’s Bar & Grill is renowned for being the oldest continuously operating drinking destination in Cincinnati — one of the oldest in America, in fact, at 160 years. There’s the infamous Arnold’s bathtub, reportedly used to make bootleg gin during Prohibition. There is even a rumor that this bar filled with spirits (as in alcohol) and other sorts of spirits (as in dead people). Photo: Maggy McDonel
Spread of shareable plates and cocktails Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Brown Bear Bakery 116 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine Brown Bear Bakery first started in 2012 and has become increasingly popular every year. It grew from just a table with some pastries to a full retail bakery, featuring a variety of desserts. Lines can be long, sometimes out the door, but getting to try popular items like the Everything Bagel croissant is worth any wait. Their doors open at 9 a.m., and it’s best to get there early. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Eli’s BBQ 3313 Riverside Drive, East End; 133 W Elder St., Findlay Market Eli’s BBQ is well known for hickory-smoked barbecue and signature barbecue sauce. While the inside of the original East End location is definitely considered tiny, there is plenty of outdoor seating and Southern hospitality. The no-frills affair specializes in meats, pulled and smoked and served in a red plastic basket. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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
You can order Goodfellas Pizzeria’s pizza by the (giant) slice or by the pie. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Sugar n’ Spice Diner 4381 Reading Road, Paddock Hills; 1203 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine; 10275 Summit Parkway, Blue Ash Open since 1941, Sugar n’ Spice’s original pink Paddock Hills diner is known for its fun atmosphere and being a comfortable and family-friendly place to eat (ask for a free rubber duck with your meal). Favorite menu items include “wispy thin” pancakes and giant omelets. Lines at the petite original can be long, but there is also a second, larger location in Over-the-Rhine. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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 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
Gomez Salsa 107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine; 2437 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills Gomez’s has 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: facebook.com/EatMoreSalsa
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
Taste of Belgium 1135 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Season 21, Episode 6 Taste of Belgium’s Vine Street location was visited by Fieri and a few of his family members, though the restaurant has several locations across Cincinnati. The eatery offers authentic Belgian-style dishes with an American twist. The restaurant is best known for its signature Belgian waffle, which Fieri truly loved. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Pompilios 600 Washington Ave., Newport Open since 1933, Pompilios is locally beloved for its family-friendly Italian fare and appearance in several motion pictures, including that toothpick scene in Rain Man and ’90s Rollerblading film Airborne. Founder Colonel Pompilio was also the first to secure a liquor license in Kentucky after Prohibition ended, so they have a surprisingly extensive bourbon list. The menu is classic red-sauce Italian with dishes like homemade lasagna, manicotti and veal. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Holtman’s Donut Shop Multiple locations including 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 maple to vanilla-icing-dusted with Fruity Pebbles — to suit any craving. Photo: facebook.com/Holtmansdonuts
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. Photo: facebook.com/therhined
Mazunte 611 Main St., Downtown; 5207 Madison Road, Madisonville Mazunte has been long-hailed as a “hidden gem,” offering a mix of casual order-at-the-counter dining with authentic, high-quality Mexican cuisine. The Madisonville location is the most popular, with typical waits for both dine-in and carry-out. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Skyline Chili 3-Way Multiple Locations The history of Cincinnati-style chili goes back to the 1920s, when it was invented by Greek immigrants who used Mediterranean-inspired spices to create a meat sauce used initially to top hot dogs sold out of a cart. The beef-based sauce — it’s kind of like a runny pasta sauce with hints of cinnamon, chocolate and other spices — eventually became the key ingredient in the 3-way, a plate of pasta topped with chili, an unnecessary amount of shredded cheddar cheese and a side of oyster crackers. Adding onions to the 3-way makes it a 4-way; onions and beans make a 5-way. Local chain Skyline Chili was founded by Greek immigrant Nicholas Lambrinides in 1949, inspired by his mother’s family recipes from their hometown of Kastoria, Greece. In an eternal regional chili war, locals are divided over whether Skyline has the best chili and the other popular local chain, Gold Star, is for losers, or if it’s the other way around. You’ll find die-hard supporters of both. But if you want to go non-chain, there are more than 250 chili parlors in Cincinnati — restaurants big and small offering their own take on this regional favorite. Most people, however, start with Skyline. Photo via Facebook.com/SkylineChili Photo: Provided by Skyline
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 a wait. Photo: facebook.com/InclinePublicHouse
The Eagle 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). Photo: Facebook.com/TheEagleRestaurant
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: Jesse Fox
LaRosa’s Multiple Locations Buddy LaRosa started in 1954 with only $400 dollars and his Aunt Dena’s pizza recipe. Now, in 2022, 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
Otto’s 521 Main St., Covington, Ky. Otto’s does lunch and dinner, but it’s definitely a happening brunch spot. For brunch, Otto’s Benedict substitutes fried grit cake and smoked salmon for the English muffin and ham of a traditional eggs Benedict. It’s delicious, a bit rich and a true indulgence. There are a half-dozen mimosa options. Otto’s is known for its panko-crusted fried green tomatoes, so if you go during brunch, order the B.L.F.G.T. aka the bacon, lettuce, fried green tomato, egg and cheese sandwich on a croissant. Photo: facebook.com/ottos521cov
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: facebook.com/MontgomeryInnMontgomery
Bakersfield 1213 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Part bar, part taco joint, all classy. Bakersfield specializes in gourmet tacos (pollo verde, pastor, huitlacoche, etc.), quality tequilas and whiskeys and hand-crafted margaritas made the old-fashioned way, not from a pre-made mix. Photo: provided by Thunderdome Restaurant Group