Cincinnati CityBeat is your free source for Cincinnati and Ohio news, arts and culture coverage, restaurant reviews, music, things to do, photos, and more.
Hello. Are you hungry? You probably will be at some point today or in the near future (unless youre a robot). And when youre ready to eat, you may need a restaurant recommendation. Thats where we come in. This slideshow is a slightly overwhelming assortment of delicious places to eat as decided on by readers of CityBeat‘s our annual Best Of Cincinnati issue.
Weve been in the business of curating the BOC for more than two decades, highlighting the citys most outstanding selections in Eats, Shops & Services, Music & Nightlife, et al, and the responsibility of selecting these exceptional entities is divided between our readers and staff. In 2018, more than 900,000 votes were tallied to determine our Reader Picks and readers logged on to the ballot site to vote for their favorites in a slew of categories. As this is a slideshow about food, were focusing on winners in the Eats section.
Note: This is obviously not a list of every restaurant in Cincinnati. And you may not agree with every pick on here. But it is certainly an excellent starting point in any conversation that begins with Where should we eat? that would otherwise end in a) tears b) loud arguments c) starvation.
See all of the BOC Eats results here (including winners that are national chain restaurants and some smaller neighborhood-specific picks) and the entire Best Of Cincinnati issue here.
Best New Restaurant
Tafts Brewpourium
4831 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village, taftsalehouse.com/brewpourium.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Overall Restaurant // Best Italian // Best Restaurant for a First Date // Best Romantic Restaurant
Sotto
118 E. Sixth St., Over-the-Rhine, sottocincinnati.com.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Overall Restaurant (Northern Kentucky)
Pompilios
600 Washington Ave., Newport, Ky., pompilios.com.
Photo: Khoi NguyenBest Menu (Most Innovative) // Best Restaurant Design // Best Restaurant to Take a Foodie
Boca
114 E. Sixth St., Downtown, bocacincinnati.com.
Photo: ProvidedBest Appetizer // Best Guacamole // Best Tacos
Bakersfield
1213 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, bakersfieldtacos.com.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Barbecue // Restaurant for the Best Bang for Your Buck
Elis BBQ
3133 Riverside Drive, East End; 133 W. Elder St., Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine, elisbarbeque.com.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Butcher Shop
Avril-Bleh & Sons
33 E. Court St., Downtown, avril-blehmeats.com.
Photo: Sami StewartBest Cajun/Soul Food
Knotty Pine on the Bayou
6302 Licking Pike, Cold Spring, Ky., theknottypineonthebayou.com.
Photo: Facebook.com/knottypineonthebayouBest Cheese Shop // Best Cooking Classes
Jungle Jims International Market
5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield; 4450 Eastgate Drive S., Eastgate, junglejims.com.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Chef
Jean-Robert de Cavel
Table, L, French Crust, Le Bar A Boeuf
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Chili (Non-Chain)
Blue Ash Chili
Multiple locations including 9565 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, blueashchili.com.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Chicken
The Eagle OTR
1342 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, theeagleotr.com.
Photo: Facebook.com/theeagleotrBest Chili (Chain)
Skyline Chili
Multiple locations including 643 Vine St., Downtown, skylinechili.com/.
Photo: ProvidedBest Coffeehouse (Local)
Coffee Emporium
Multiple locations including 110 E. Central Parkway, Over-the-Rhine, coffee-emporium.com.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Tea Selection
Churchills Fine Teas
122 W. Elder St., Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine, churchillsteas.com.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Delicatessen
Izzys
Multiple locations including 800 Elm St., Downtown, izzys.com.
Photo: Facebook.com/izzykadetzBest Overall Bakery (Breads) // Best Farmers Market Food Stall
Blue Oven Bakery
125 W. Elder St., Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine, blueovenbakery.com.
Photo: Facebook.com/blueovenbakeryBest Ice Cream // Best Desserts (Retail)
Graeters
Multiple locations including 511 Walnut St., Downtown, graeters.com.
Photo: Jesse FoxBest Chocolates
Aglamesis Bros.
3046 Madison Road, Oakley, aglamesis.com.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Gelato/Sorbetto/Frozen Ice
Dojo Gelato
137 W. Elder St., Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine; 1735 Blue Rock St., Northside (seasonal), dojogelato.com.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Creamy Whip
Putzs Creamy Whip
2673 Putzs Place, Westwood, putzscreamywhip.com
Photo: Jesse FoxBest Macaron
Macaron Bar
Multiple locations including 1206 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, macaron-bar.com.
Photo: ProvidedBest Donuts
Holtmans Donuts
Multiple locations including 1332 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, holtmansdonutshop.com.
Photo: Jesse FoxBest Cupcakes
Abby Girl Sweets
41 W. Fifth St., Downtown; 4773 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash, abbygirlsweets.com.
Photo: FacebookBest Farmers Market // Best Specialty Food Market
Findlay Market
1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, findlaymarket.org.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Food Truck
Red Sesame Korean BBQ
redsesamebbq.com.
Photo: Facebook.com/redsesamefoodtruckBest Hot Dog
Senate
1212 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine; 1100 Summit Place Drive, Blue Ash, senateblueash.com.
Photo: Catie VioxBest German
Hofbrauhaus
200 E. Third St., Newport, Ky., hofbrauhausnewport.com.
Photo: Susan KellerBest Indian
Ambar India
350 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, ambarindia.com.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Japanese
Kaze
1400 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, kazeotr.com.
Photo: Keith BowersBest Chinese
Kung Food Chus AmerAsia
521 Madison Ave., Covington, facebook.com/kungfoodchu.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Korean
Riverside Korean
512 Madison Ave., Covington, riversidekoreanrestaurant.com.
Photo: FacebookBest Thai
Green Papaya
2942 Wasson Road, Hyde Park; 4002 Plainville Road, Mariemont, greenpapayacincinnati.com.
Photo: FacebookBest Sushi
Cloud 9 Sushi
1018 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout, places.singleplatform.com/cloud-9-sushi/menu.
Photo: FacebookBest Mexican // Best Under the Radar Restaurant
Mazunte
5207 Madison Road, Hyde Park, mazuntetacos.com.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Mediterranean/Greek
Aladdins Eatery
Multiple locations including 1203 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/aladdinseateryOTR.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Late-Night Eatery
Gomez Salsa
107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine; 2437 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills, gomezsalsa.com.
Photo: Lindsay McCartyBest Overall Pizza (Non-Chain)
A Tavola
1220 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine; 7022 Miami Ave., Madiera, atavolapizza.com.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Overall Pizza (Chain) // Best Salads
Deweys
Multiple locations including 3014 Madison Ave., Oakley, deweyspizza.com.
Photo: ProvidedBest Tapas
Abigail Street
1214 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, abigailstreet.com.
Photo: FacebookBest Raw Bar
Jeff Rubys Steakhouse
700 Walnut St., Downtown, jeffruby.com/cincinnati.
Photo: ProvidedBest Vegetarian/Vegan Selection
Melt
4100 Hamilton Ave., Northside, meltrevival.com.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Outdoor/Patio Dining // Best Pub Food // Best View from Your Table
Incline Public House
2601 E. Eighth St., Price Hill, inclinepublichouse.com.
Photo: Henry SeverdingBest Live Music While You Eat
Arnolds Bar and Grill
210 E. Eighth St., Downtown, arnoldsbarandgrill.com.
Photo: Hailey BollingerBest Waterfront Dining // Best Restaurant to Take Visitors
Montgomery Inn
9440 Montgomery Road, Montgomery; 925 Riverside Drive, Downtown, montgomeryinn.com
Photo: Facebook