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East Walnut Hills' New Restaurant Solstice is a Celebration of the Tropics

Solstice serves up tacos and shareables inspired by dishes from tropical regions across the globe.

Jun 29, 2023 at 1:02 pm

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Photo: Lesley Wolfe (@lesleywolfedesign)/Provided by Solstice

Solstice in East Walnut Hills

East Walnut Hills welcomed a new restaurant to the neighborhood this week with the opening of Solstice.

Solstice is the second enterprise from 3B4D Hospitality Group. Operating partner Chris Wolfe told CityBeat that after 3B4D Hospitality Group opened their bar, Anjou, in East Walnut Hills in 2021, they fell in love with the community and wanted to help revitalize by offering another quality dining option and creating desirable employment opportunities in the neighborhood.

Anjou Offers Easy Charm and Clever Cocktails in East Walnut Hills: Anjou's most popular drink is the Benedetto Alfieri, with red pepper, shallot and basil.

A celebration of the tropics, Solstice contains that ethos in every aspect of its concept – from the menu to the decor to its atmosphere and the name itself. Wolfe says the name “Solstice” refers to how the tropics are determined, with the borders of the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn created by the southernmost and northernmost latitudes where the sun is directly overhead, which only happens on the solstices.

The restaurant itself was designed to have an energetic and fun, yet unassuming vibe, with bold and rich colors that are unique to the tropics. The style features contemporary qualities like industrial tile and metal that are blended with more tropical elements like natural wood, stone and live greenery to create a sense of permanence, says Wolfe.

On the menu, you’ll find a diverse selection of flavors from tropical regions across the globe, including the Caribbean, Africa and Southeast Asia. While tacos are the star of the menu, they aren’t your typical Tex-Mex variety; rather, they feature inspiration from dishes from these tropical regions, such as pad kra pao from Thailand, Malabar beef roast from India and awaze tibs from Ethiopia. There are also sharable plates, like the masala sweet potato fries, fried pork belly with Asian ‘churri, warm tomato chutney and salads.

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Photo: Lesley Wolfe (@lesleywolfedesign)/Provided by Solstice

Tacos from Solstice

Solstice says they’re also mindful of dietary restrictions, offering a mostly gluten-free menu (with the exception of their flour tortillas, which can be substituted for corn tortillas), as well as options for vegetarian and vegan diners.

The beverage menu has beer and wines from the tropics, and their cocktails highlight regional spirits and ingredients. Try the Zobo Punch, which honors a staple, traditional tea in many West African countries, or the Flightless Bird, a showcase of Southeast Asian flavors.

Solstice is open Tuesday-Thursday from 4-9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 4-11 p.m. It’s currently only offering dinner service, but Wolfe says they plan to add lunch and brunch in a few weeks when the team is ready.

Solstice, 1544 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills. More info: facebook.com/SolsticeCinci.

Slideshow

The 27 Hottest New Restaurants in Greater Cincinnati

Rusk Kitchen + Bar2724 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut HillsJust opened in April, Rusk Kitchen + Bar serves up eclectic American cuisine and elevated bar food alongside beverage options like beer, wine and housemade cocktails you can enjoy on their rooftop patio. With its cozy, welcoming vibes, Rusk aims to become a neighborhood go-to where you can watch the game, enjoy date night or just hang out with friends. The menu features a variety of lunch and dinner dishes, including sandwiches, like what would surely be Michael Scott’s favorite sandwich, “That’s What Brie Said” (grilled chicken, melted brie, honey dijonnaise, lettuce and tomato served on a croissant), burgers, entrees, salads and power bowls, as well as daily specials. Brunch is served from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with classics like eggs benedicts, pancakes and a breakfast burger on the menu.

Baru595 Race St., DowntownThis elevated sushi and cocktail concept places most of its focus on its atmosphere and unique menu, all centered around its bar, which has been strategically placed to be the focal point of the restaurant. The idea behind Baru is stay-and-drink sushi, inspired by izakaya, which are beloved Japanese establishments where guests can stay, drink and unwind long into the night. Its menu is sophisticated but approachable, with fresh fish flown in daily, American and Japanese wagyu and shareable items. It also offers omakase meals, where guests leave dining decisions up to the chef.

Chacabanas Cuban Sandwiches1809 Elm St., Over-the-RhineIf you love Cuban sandwiches, you need to try one of the newest eateries in town, Chacabanas (named after the shirt style popular in Cuba and the Dominican Republic). This sandwich shop specializes in authentic Cubanos with three options: the classic El Cubano (roast pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on toasted Cuban bread); the Ybor City Cubano, made with roasted pork shoulder and featuring the addition of Genoa salami; or the Croqueta Preparada – their Cuban topped with their croquettes. Chacabanas also offers antojitos, or snacks, like yuca fries, empanadas and their croquetas.

Daylily Deli3751 Eastern Ave., Columbia TusculumChef Jose Salazar and Deeper Roots Coffee's New York-style bodega Daylily Deli opened last summer. The menu features everything from the New York staple egg on a roll with American cheese, a chopped cheese sandwich (with ground beef, cheese, banana peppers, sauteed onion, lettuce, tomato and special sauce on a hoagie) and even an egg cream coffee soda. Deeper Roots offers its full coffee menu — but not in the infamous blue-and-white Greek coffee cup. That New York favorite has been swapped out for a compostable version. There are also two wine taps and two beer taps, with a selection of alcohol for carry-out.

Primo Italian Steakhouse6 S. Broad St., MiddletownAnchoring the prominent corner of Walnut and Sixth streets Downtown, Prime Cincinnati has become a mainstay restaurant on a block known for some of the best restaurants in the city. Prime now has a sister restaurant in downtown Middletown. With a solid foundation to build on, Prime's owners have partnered to open another upscale steakhouse with its own identity. Prime goes Italian with the new concept, Primo. The menu features a heavy focus on pasta dishes, like the Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese (featuring pork, beef, tomato, ragu and Parmigiano Vacche Rosse) and Ravioli Burro e Salvia (made with butternut squash, ricotta, butter and sage, but also leans into its identity as a steakhouse with a variety of bistecca options.

The Filson25 E. Freedom Way, The BanksThis elevated sports bar opened last September and features Cincinnati-inspired dishes, like their locally made mettwurst, which you can get ‘nati style with chili, cheese and onions, and the Porkopolis burger, which comes with housemade BBQ sauce, bacon, cheddar cheese, fried onions, pickle and mayo. On game days, they serve a simplified menu of all the sports-bar favorites, like wings and nachos. Apart from their menu, one of their best features is their intimate outdoor patio where you can dine underneath string lights with a stunning view of Smale Riverfront Park and the Roebling Bridge. They also have a fire pit and Adirondack chairs to cozy up in while you sip on a locally brewed beer, specialty cocktail or craft soda.

Milkman1106 Race St., Over-the-RhineMilkman, which opened in the former Revolutionary Rotisserie space last summer, serves up nostalgic vibes along with its unique take on diner food with smash burgers; fried chicken sandwiches that range from the classic (topped with dill pickles) to Thai (topped with spicy cucumber slaw and sweet chili sauce); and “not a burger” options like hot dogs, salads and Italian beef sandwiches. There are also options for non-meat eaters, including tofu nugs plus the meat for any of the chicken sandwiches can be switched out for fried tofu. You also can’t leave without trying one of their boozy milkshakes.

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...