Yes, it’s true: You can dine at any one of Cincinnati’s most expensive restaurants and manage to enjoy a meal without totally busting your budget. Relish in the pleasures of fine dining all without sacrificing your entire paycheck.

In this informal survey of menu bargains, we’re revisiting the results of CityBeat’s original “Chic on the Cheap” story, first published 15 years ago. And the city’s restaurant scene has changed a lot since then. Gone are the late and lamented Maisonette and La Normandie, along with other dearly departed eateries such as Jean-Robert at Pigall’s, Barresi’s, The Celestial, Mike Fink, Mt. Adams Fish House, Beluga, Michael G’s, Daveed’s at 934 and Jimmy D’s. 

Newer high-end eateries have all arrived to take their place. Here’s a comparison guide to the city’s top 25 dining spots (as ranked by the most expensive regular nightly dinner meal on their menus) along with tips on an alternative bargain dish that price-conscious consumers can expect to find at each location.

No. 2: Jag’s Steak & Seafood 5980 West Chester Road, West Chester The top-priced menu item at this West Chester favorite is the Neptune Raw Bar Platter, with eight colossal shrimp, six oysters on the half shell and a half pound of king crab legs for $145. The bargain-priced dinner option: Chicken marsala with garlic mashed potatoes for $31, caramelized black truffle scallops for $32 or there’s Portabella Napoleon for $29. Photo via Facebook.com/JagsSteakandSeafood
No. 3: Ruth’s Chris Steak House 100 E. Freedom Way, Downtown Top-of-the-line menu items at this downtown chain steakhouse on The Banks include their Tomahawk rib-eye (bone-in; 40-ounces) and Chilled Seafood Tower (lobster, lump blue crab, shrimp); these meals can easily set you back a whopping $119 and $118, respectively. The bargain-priced dinner option: Mushrooms stuffed with crabmeat ($15) or the veal osso buco ravioli ($16). Photo via Facebook.com/RuthsChrisSteakHouseCincinnati
No. 4: Carlo & Johnny 9769 Montgomery Road, Montgomery The most expensive dinner meal at this Montgomery Jeff Ruby joint is The Hatchet, a 30-ounce dry-aged rib-eye, listed at a cool $115. The bargain-priced dinner option: Crispy chicken marsala at $30. If you want something cheaper, the Jeff Ruby Burger includes a special blend of dry-aged beef, Wisconsin cheddar cheese, caramelized shallot jam and Duke’s peppercorn mayo on a brioche bun with fries for $22. Photo via Facebook.com/JeffRubysCarloAndJohnny
No. 5: Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse 700 Walnut St., Downtown The top-priced dish at this downtown location is also The Hatchet rib-eye at $115. The bargain-priced dinner option (not including burgers): Confit rosemary potatoes at $18, with corn polenta, fava beans, carrots and brown butter. Photo via Facebook.com/JeffRubysSteakhouse
No. 7: Eddie Merlot’s 10808 Montgomery Road, Montgomery The top-priced menu meal — marble score 7/8+ wagyu rib-eye — lists at $99.95. The bargain-priced dinner option: Vegetarian bucatini pasta for $19.95. There’s also a vegan grilled vegetable dish for $19.95. Photo via Facebook.com/Merlots
No. 8: The Capital Grille 3821 Edwards Road, Hyde Park Top-priced menu item the Grand Plateau (crab, lobster, shrimp, oysters) lists at $99, while the bone-in wagyu strip is $85. The bargain-priced dinner option: Roasted chicken with baby potatoes and Mediterranean olives for $30. Photo: Provided
No. 9: Morton’s The Steakhouse 441 Vine St., Downtown The top-priced menu meal for a single diner at this Carew Tower nightspot is the jumbo cold-water lobster tail for $99. The bargain-priced dinner option: Chicken bianco for $27. Photo via Facebook.com/Mortons
Prime Cincinnati 580 Walnut St., Downtown The top-priced menu meal at this downtown steakhouse is the 12-ounce Ohio wagyu filet mignon, listed at $98. The bargain-priced dinner option: Garlic gerber chicken or shrimp linguini for $24. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
No. 11: Red Feather 3200 Madison Road, Oakley The top-priced dinner item at this Oakley outlet is the Outlaw Cowboy with smashed loaded potatoes and barbecue butter for $84. The bargain-priced dinner option: Pork belly steamed buns with pickled red onion and cucumber for $9 in the small plates section or the boursin burger entrée for $15 with candied bacon, red onion marmalade and French fries. Photo via Facebook.com/RedFeatherKitchen Photo: facebook.com/RedFeatherKitchen
No. 12: Embers 8170 Montgomery Road, Kenwood The surf-and-turf filet mignon and poached lobster tail is the priciest dish here and lists at $72. The bargain-priced dinner option (not including sushi rolls): Baby-back ribs or roasted Amish chicken, either for $28. Photo via Facbeook.com/EmbersRestaurant
No. 13: Boca 114 E. Sixth St., Downtown The top-priced menu incarnation, Beef Wellington, lists at $69. The bargain-priced dinner option: Petrale sole grenobloise (sunchoke purée, roasted cauliflower, sautéed spinach) for $20 for a tasting portion or $38 for a full portion. There’s also the Amish chicken listed at $32, with wild mushroom risotto, heirloom carrots and black truffle. Photo via Facebook.com/BocaRestaurant
No. 14: Tony’s of Cincinnati 12110 Montgomery Road, Montgomery The top-priced menu items presented by owner-operator Tony Ricci are Quinn’s bone-in filet or the prime bone-in ribeye, which both list at $69. The bargain-priced dinner option: Bucatini primavera for $24. Photo via tonysofcincinnati.com
No. 15: Lisse Steakhuis 530 Main St., Covington The top-priced menu item is the 21-ounce bone-in cowboy rib-eye, which lists at $56. The bargain-priced dinner option: Bami fettuccine with chicken for $18. Photo: Lindsay McCarty
No. 16: The Butcher and Barrel 700 Race St., Downtown The top-priced individual menu item is a 12-ounce Bife de Lomo filet mignon for $55. The bargain-priced dinner option (not including burgers): Ravioles de espinaca (spinach ravioli) for $20, or choose a Milanesa chicken classica for $16. Photo: Provided by Butcher and Barrel
No. 17: Prism Steak & Seafood 100 Broadway St., Pendleton The bone-in dry-aged 18-ounce ribeye — broiled in a 1,800-degree broiler and finished with clarified butter — will set you back $55. The bargain-priced dinner option: A 10-ounce steakburger with white cheddar, tomato chutney, arugula, smoked bacon and fries for $21. Photo via Facebook.com/JackCincyCasino
No. 18: Firebirds Wood Fired Grill 5075 Deerfield Blvd., Mason The Surf & Turf is a half-pound lobster tail accompanied by a 7-ounce bacon-wrapped filet and lists at $52. The bargain-priced dinner option (not including burgers): Kobe beef meatloaf at $20, or there are also pasta and chicken dishes for $19. Photo via Facebook.com/FirebirdsGrill
No. 19: Boi Na Braza 441 Vine St., Downtown The all-you-can-eat meat menu at this downtown Brazilian restaurant lists at $49.95. The bargain-priced dinner option: The seafood salad and smoked salmon “salad” bar with marinated beef for $24.47. Photo via Facebook.com/BoiNaBrazaSteakhouse
No. 20: Orchids at Palm Court 35 W. Fifth St., Downtown The top-priced meals are the pan-seared lamb loin or roasted duck breast; both list at $48. The bargain-priced dinner option: Braised pork cheeks for $40. Photo via Facebook.com/OrchidsatPalmCourt
No. 23: Primavista 810 Matson Place, Price Hill Also ringing in at $42 is Primavista’s center-cut filet or their sautéed seasonal fish dish with crab. The bargain-priced dinner option: The vegetarian penne “cionni” pasta for $19. Photo via Facebook.com/PrimavistaRestaurant
No. 24: Parkers Blue Ash Tavern 4200 Cooper Road, Blue Ash For $42, try the mesquite charcoal-grilled 10-ounce filet mignon finished with herb butter, sea salt and béarnaise sauce. The bargain-priced dinner option: The housemade veggie burger with mushroom and brown rice rings in at just $13. Photo via Facebook.com/ParkersBlueAsh
No. 25: Cozy’s Cafe & Pub 6440 Cin-Day Road, Liberty Township Again, for a lucky $42, you can get a 12-ounce strip steak and sides. The bargain-priced dinner option: A vegetarian roasted cauliflower steak for $17. Photo via Facebook.com/CozysCafeandPub