Each year, CityBeat readers vote on their favorite things in Cincinnati in our Best Of Cincinnati® Readers Poll, ranging from the best shops to the best hiking trails and, of course, the best places to eat. When it comes to Cincinnati, there’s no shortage of great restaurants to try, but there are a ton of pleasant surprises when it comes to Cincinnati dining. From sweeping city views paired with a good bite to a speakeasy tucked away in Mt. Adams, these eateries boast some of the best, lesser-known dishes and drinks around.  

Galactic Fried Chicken 624 Sixth Ave., Dayton Former food truck Galactic Fried Chicken recently opened a brick-and-mortar in Northern Kentucky’s Dayton neighborhood, next door to Unataza Coffee. The restaurant, owned by Shane Coffey and his wife Kathy McDonald, serves fried chicken, chicken tenders and sandwiches, along with a variety of sides ranging from mac and cheese to deviled eggs, fries and salads. They also offer a vegetarian option of fried jackfruit nuggets. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Best Mexican No. 1: Mazunte 5207 Madison Road, Madisonville; 6216 Madison Road, Madisonville; 611 Main St., Downtown Must-try: Try the Memelitas: Chicken, chorizo, pork or veggies with black bean purée, queso Oaxaca, avocado salsa, salsa roja and queso fresco, served on top of a masa cake. Photo: facebook.com/MazunteTacos
Maury’s Tiny Cove 3908 Harrison Ave., Cheviot, maurys-steakhouse.com Maury’s Tiny Cove has been packed full of flavor and West Side tradition since 1949. The dimly lit supper-club vibe backdrops an extensive menu consisting of all the classic steakhouse options: tender, juicy filets, seafood and chicken cooked just right, plus pasta, Atomic Age sides (shredded lettuce salads; a complimentary ramekin of pickles on every table) and a perfect martini. And in 1995, writer Steve Ramos paid tribute to this comforting stalwart, comparing the diner to Shangri-La with a baked potato on the side: “Maury’s is a culinary temple to permanence. Dining fads come and go, health trends constantly change. But Maury’s stays the same: red meat, baked potatoes, salads. We’re not talking about some retro diner a la Johnny Rockets that tries to recreate an old-fashioned eatery with a ’90s twist. This is the real thing.” And you can’t forget Maury’s iconic sign, featuring a kitschy cartoon steer holding a martini. The restaurant is still a staple and was immortalized on screen in the Oscar-nominated, Cincinnati-filmed movie Carol. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Best Hidden Gem No. 7: Kiki Opening in new location at 358 Ludlow Ave., Clifton Must-Try: While Kiki closed its original location in College Hill, it will soon be reopening in the former Habanero space in Clifton. If the menu remains mostly the same, we recommend getting the Shio Ramen — made with chicken broth, a tea-marinated egg, pork belly, green onion, nori and rayu. Photo: facebook.com/KikiCollegeHill
The Governor 231 Main St., Milford Brothers Paul and Neil Barraco had been working in fine dining for years when they returned to their East Coast roots to open a classic diner with a modern twist. The mission of the Governor is to offer the perks of fine dining — locally procured meat and produce, a menu made from scratch, a carefully designed cocktail list — at a medium price point in a laid-back environment. The menu at the Governor features cuisine ranging from Asian to Italian to classic Americana, and all-day breakfast. Photo: Savana Willhoite Photo: Savana Willhoite
No. 4 Best New Restaurant: Pig Candy BBQ 5901 Kellogg Ave., California Photo: Provided by Pig Candy BBQ
Best Hidden Gem No. 4: Tuba Baking Co. 517 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Ky. Must-Try: Try one of the Flammkuchens (wood-fired German flatbread). The Kraut & Wurst features a rye and spelt sourdough flatbread with a red pepper and onion sauce, mettwurst, sauerkraut, onions and butterkäse and Swiss cheeses. Photo: facebook.com/tubabakingco
Incline Public House 2601 W. Eighth St., Price Hill Named after the Cincinnati incline that traveled to Price Hill, Incline Public House features a gorgeous view of the city as well as New American eats for brunch, lunch and dinner. The menu includes pizzas, burgers, salads and even cheesesteak, plus a great bloody mary at brunch. It’s a popular and busy restaurant, so be prepared for wait. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Best Hidden Gem No. 2: Tickle Pickle 4176 Hamilton Ave., Northside; 915 N. Ft. Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas Must-Try: The Rob Zomwich — burger patty, cheddar cheese, spicy ketchup, hot sauce, jalapeño poppers, grilled peppers and onions and banana peppers on a pretzel bun. You can also replace the burger patty with chicken, a mushroom cap, black bean patty or Impossible Burger. Photo: ticklepicklenorthside.com
The Blind Lemon 936 Hatch St., Mt. Adams The Blind Lemon has been Mount Adams’ favorite backyard bar since 1963. Walk down a set of stairs to find a secret, little hideaway. Outside, the relaxed garden patio is like a boho blend of Bourbon Street and Paris café life. It’s also one of the most romantic drinking destinations in the city, offering a delicious selection of cocktails, beer, wine bourbon and scotch. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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