Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike pick which bars are the booziest, which people are the coolest and which shops are your best bet for dropping a pretty penny. As summer kicks into high gear, many diners are looking for the best spot to enjoy a meal with a view. Luckily, Cincinnati’s many riverfront restaurants present the perfect opportunity to relax, eat, drink and take it all in.
Best Waterfront Dining No. 10: Cancun Mexican Bar and Grill (Riverboat Row)
401 Riverboat Row, Newport
Must-try: The Seafood Enchiladas — two enchiladas stuffed with shrimp and crab and topped with cheese sauce — will pair well with your riverfront view. Comes with rice and salad.
Best Waterfront Dining No. 9: Enson Harbor
25 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue
Must-try: Try the seafood boil — your choice of clams, green or black mussels, shrimp, snow or king crab legs, scallops, lobster tail or crawfish (when in season) by the half pound or pound. All options come with two servings of corn and two servings of potatoes. If you’re not feeling seafood, Enson Harbor also offers delicious dim sum selections.
Best Waterfront Dining No. 8: Pirates Cove Tropical Bar and Grill
4609 Kellogg Ave., East End
Must-try: Try the house-favorite specialty, Grouper Fingers: fresh grouper hand-cut into fingers and lightly coated with seasoned breading. It’s then fried to a golden brown and served with tartar sauce.
Best Waterfront Dining No. 7: The Monkey Bar & Grille
7837 Old 3C Highway, Maineville
Must-try: The World Famous Monkey Dog: a quarter-pound beef frank served on a warmed brioche bun and topped with hot honey, house nacho chili and banana peppers.
Best Waterfront Dining No. 6: MRBL
119 Fairfield Ave., Fourth Floor, Bellevue
Must-try: Opt for one of the steaks, like the 8-oz. filet mignon or split the 30-oz. MRBL Tomahawk, but be sure to pair it with the shareable side, the Potato Volcano, featuring bacon, sour cream, cheese and chives.
Best Waterfront Dining No. 5: Chart House
405 Riverboat Row, Newport
Must-try: The Spiced Ahi, served with furikake rice, grilled bok choy and wasabi cream ginger soy sauce. Save room (and time) for dessert — the Hot Chocolate Lava Cake (served with chocolate liqueur, Heath Bar Crunch vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce) takes 30 minutes to prepare but comes highly recommended.
Best Waterfront Dining No. 4: Buckhead Mountain Grill
35 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue
Must-try: Try the Kentucky Hot Brown — Texas Toast topped with roasted turkey, homemade Mornay, bacon, parmesan and tomatoes. Be sure to get some Cheese Boulders to split with the table, as well.
Best Waterfront Dining No. 3: Moerlein Lager House
115 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks
Must-try: The Moer Burger hits the spot every time. The burger is crafted with premium ground beef and topped with pastrami, applewood bacon, cheddar, a fried egg, sweet onion relish and black pepper aioli, served on a potato bun. It also pairs well with any of Moerlein’s house-made beers.
Best Waterfront Dining No. 2: Cabana on the River
7445 Forbes Road, Sayler Park
Must-try: The Mahi Mahi comes highly recommended. Get it as a filet, served with an orzo-rice blend and mango salsa, or as a sandwich, grilled and served on a multigrain bun with lettuce, tomato and a side of “chilisabi” sauce.
Best Waterfront Dining No. 1: Montgomery Inn Boathouse
925 Riverside Drive, Downtown
Must-try: If you’re at the Boathouse, you gotta try an order of Montgomery Inn’s Original World Famous Pork Loin Back Ribs, plus a side of the onion straws.