A new Hawaiian tiki bar and grill concept is set to open just steps from Ziegler Park and its pool in Over-the-Rhine this summer.
Poco Moco Restaurant Group, which owns Onolicious on Court Street in downtown Cincinnati, signed a lease for the space at 213 Woodward St., formerly home to bar Ziggy’s and poolside taco bar Yuli’s. Restaurant group co-owner Vinny Benedett says they expect to open 10th Island Tiki Bar & Grill in the space sometime in June.
10th Island will focus on Hawaiian fare like Onolicious, but will have a completely different concept. The menu will feature light bites like burgers and sandwiches, along with mussels, calamari and other seafood-centric appetizers. There will also be a selection of tiki cocktails and traditional Hawaiian shave ice.
“We’re designing 10th Island to make you feel like you’re on an island — not just during pool season, but all year long,” Benedett said in a press release. “The windows will actually be covered so you cannot see in or out and the décor will play into the island vibe. We’re here to spread happiness and joy through the food and culture we love and I’m really looking forward to creating an entirely new concept that brings in a new crowd of people for us to share it with.”
While not himself Hawaiian, Benedett came to love and appreciate the culture while living with a friend’s family in San Francisco during a difficult time. The family was from Oahu and taught Benedett the importance of sharing it with the world, as well as how to cook their native cuisine. Having built a career in the restaurant industry, Benedett says his mission is to spread Hawaiian culture and the “aloha spirit” to Cincinnati through food.
The name “10th Island” was chosen as a nod to Cincinnati being the unofficial 10th island of Hawaii. While there are many islands in Hawaii, the eight largest are considered the most well-known. Las Vegas is informally known as the “ninth island” due to the large Hawaiian population living there. Benedett says he felt the title of “10th Island” was appropriate for Cincinnati because of the growing number of local Hawaiians relocating here.
“The 10th Island Tiki Bar and Grill is the perfect complement to Ziegler Park and will be an ideal fit for this unique location that essentially serves as an extension of the space,” said Christy Samad, executive vice president of Civic & Commercial Space Activation for 3CDC. “Onolicious has been a great addition to Court Street Plaza, and we are confident that the Benedetts will transform this space into a Hawaiian oasis, as well, bringing additional vibrancy to the area and adding to the eclectic mix of small businesses nearby.”
A grand opening for 10th Island is being planned for June. Poco Moco will also celebrate Father’s Day with their annual luau in Ziegler Park on Sunday, June 15, and all are invited to attend. You can follow Onolicious on social media for more information.
Related Stories
New Hawaiian Restaurant Set to Open Near Ziegler Park This Week
This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2025.
