Over the past decade, Over-the-Rhine's Vine Street has become a treasure trove of tasty dining destinations. From sophisticated diner food to Japanese cuisine, pizzerias and Mexican food to sharable tapas spots and fancy hot dogs — the list goes on.
If you were having trouble choosing before, your decision will soon get a little bit more complicated. Thunderdome Restaurant Group — the team behind The Eagle, Bakersfield, Currito and Maplewood Kitchen and Bar — plans to open a new concept this November at the corner of 15th and Vine streets.
Italian cuisine will be this focus of this eatery, with a pasta-heavy menu. According to Joe Lanni, Thunderdome's co-founder and owner, the pasta will be broken into two categories: traditional and non-traditional.
“The former will be classic Italian pastas which will highlight particular regional favorites, as well as some Italian-American classics,” he says. “The latter will be our culinary development team’s take on pastas which will still be Italian in flavor but are a bit more inventive.”
In addition to homemade pasta dishes, the restaurant's menu will offer cicchetti, which are sharable appetizers.
Featuring two bars — one in the basement and the other in the main dining space — the Italian restaurant will implement the same style for their wine selection that they used for their pasta: traditional vs. non. In addition to wine, they have "some very interesting ideas swirling around for the cocktail program," Lanni explains.
While there may already be a few Italian options to choose from in Cincinnati, Lanni believes that this restaurant's unique blend of authentic Italian, Italian-American and their creative spin on traditional Italian flavors will differentiate them from what's available.
Without releasing any details about the physical attributes of what to expect in terms of the restaurant's design, Lanni explains that the two-floor space will be a place to gather over food and drink.
“The design is also unexpectedly beautiful for the price point we are aiming for,” he says. “This will be the best-looking restaurant we have opened.”
For more information, visit thunderdomerestaurants.com.
