At CityBeat, we love giving restaurant recommendations, but we thought it was time to ask Cincinnati’s culinary pros what they think. We reached out to Chef Jose Salazar, the proprietor of beloved Cincinnati restaurants like Mita’s and the Moroccan-inspired wine bar Safi, to see where in the city he likes to eat and what dishes he gravitates toward.

Salazar gave us a list of 12 Greater Cincinnati restaurants, including places with authentic Colombian fare; an upscale, but not fussy, Southern eatery; and a pizzeria that’s doing pizza right (high praise from a born-and-raised New Yorker like Salazar).

Keep scrolling to see which restaurants, in no particular order, he recommends.

Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Bouquet Restaurant 519 Main St. Covington Working closely with local sources, Bouquet’s upscale farm-to-table approach means a fresh, frequently rotating menu packed with seasonal ingredients. Elegant small plates, entrées and thoughtful wine pairings set the stage for an intimate dining experience. Photo: Bouquet Restaurant
Saint Francis Apizza 3392 Erie Ave., Hyde Park Saint Francis Apizza opened in Hyde Park in February. Formerly known as Parlor Pizza Project, the team had to rebrand after just over a month in the new shop due to a trademark issue. Owner Alex Plattner, a Cincinnati native, has made pizza for many years, from when he lived in Minneapolis to after he moved back to Cincinnati in June 2020. Before the rebranding, Parlor Pizza Project did a series of Sunday night dinner pop-ups at Oakley Wines from August 2020 to January 2021 as well before opening the brick-and-mortar shop in Hyde Park. The popular pizzeria offers a variety of house pies, like the pepperoni and olive and the Fancy White. Customers can also build their own. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Best Mexican Winner: Mazunte Runners-up: Agave & Rye, Tortilleria Garcia Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Arepa Place 131 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine Breakfast/Brunch: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday; 10 a.m.-noon Sunday Never had an arepa? This is the place to learn why the rest of the world is catching on to these Latin American delights in a hurry. Originally launched as a Findlay Market pop-up tent by native Colombian Isis Arrieta-Dennis, The Arepa Place now has a brick-and-mortar market spot from which to serve its traditional corn flour street food specialty. Each arepa is grilled then sliced and stuffed with fillings ranging from mozzarella cheese and chorizo to fried plantains and black beans. The space might prove unassuming for a brunch spot due to its relatively small dining area, but the eatery offers top-notch breakfast food, with alcohol, which makes this a quirky off-the-radar (until now) brunch destination. Must Try: The arepa de huevo — a deep-fried cornmeal sandwich stuffed with egg and ground beef — along with a beer; Presidente, a Dominican pilsner, is worth a try. They also serve aguapanela, which is sugarcane water with lemon. Each dish comes with one salsa, but extra sides of the condiment are only $1 if you want to try a variety. — SMP Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
No. 6 Best Overall Bar/Club: Longfellow 1233 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Best Chinese Winner: Oriental Wok Runners-up: KungFood AmerAsia, First Wok Photo: Facebook.com/OrientalWok
Kiki College Hill 5932 Hamilton Ave., College Hill Chefs and husband-and-wife duo Hideki and Yuko Harada met at the Tsuji Culinary Institute in Osaka, Japan. They opened Kiki College Hill in 2019 with the goal of sharing Japanese dishes that can be hard to find in America. With several gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options, it’s the perfect place to accommodate multiple dietary needs without breaking the bank. Kiki’s kimchi ramen ($10) is a soul-nourishing delight, made with slurp-worthy noodles, housemade kimchi, tender tofu, green onion and a tea-marinated egg. The shio ramen ($10) is the meaty counterpart, with chicken broth and pork belly. Keep an eye out for their seasonal specials and desserts. (MM) Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Best Neighborhood Restaurant (East Side) Winner: Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct Runners-up: Mazunte, Dead Low Brewing Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Pickled Pig | 645 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills Photo: Facebook.com/SmokedAndPickled
No. 6 Best New Restaurant: Onolicious Hawaii 1005 Walnut St., Downtown (Coming Soon) NOTE: Onolicious Hawaii is no longer at Oakley Kitchen Food Hall, but will be opening a location downtown. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Colette 1400 Race St., Over-the-Rhine A new restaurant from chef Danny Combs, Colette is a French-ish restaurant that opened just steps away from Washington Park last November. The restaurant embodies Old World style, with a warm and inviting atmosphere that doesn’t lose that neighborhood feel. Salazar says the place has “some of the most talented pros in the city under one roof. Pretty much everything is going to be well executed.” On that well-executed menu, you’ll find French and French-inspired cuisine like Raviole du Dauphiné (served with Comté cheese, ricotta and brown butter) and Steak Frites (an 8-ounce Creekstone New York strip steak with peppercorn sauce and served with fries). To drink, guests can choose from an extensive list of sparkling, white and red wines, craft cocktails and beer. And for dessert, don’t miss out on the Mille-Feuille (caramelized puff pastry with crème diplomate). Photo: instagram.com/@colettecincy
Jose Salazar, proprietor of Mita’s, Goose & Elder and the upcoming Moroccan-inspired wine bar Safi. Photo: Erin Matulis, Corporation for Findlay Market