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. Greater Cincinnati’s food scene is ever-growing in popularity, and if you have a foodie in your life, there’s no shortage of restaurants here you can take them to for a delicious meal. From Italian favorites to savory fried chicken and mouth-watering steak, these are CityBeat readers’ recs on where to take your foodie friends.

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
The bar with wrap-around seating Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Boca 114 E. Sixth St., Cincinnati Showcasing both Italian and French flavors, Boca has been featured on many top restaurant lists as one of the best French restaurants in the United States. Some of Boca’s menu items include the short rib tartare, beet mezzaluna and Amish chicken. There is also a variety of desserts and wine available. Reserve your table advance to ensure you can enjoy this European-style restaurant. Photo: Provided by Boca
Pepp & Dolores 1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Pepp & Dolores sports two personalities and one delicious menu. The upper level was designed to have the timeless look and feel of a mid-century bistro or cafe, while the basement level is darker and cozier and has a romantic charm and ambiance reminiscent of a New York City supper club. The menu was inspired by Sunday dinners at co-founders Joe and John Lanni’s grandparents’ home and features housemade pastas, shareable dishes, salads and bread. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Best No. 7 Restaurant to Take a Foodie: Salazar (Temporarily closed) New location to open at 101 W. Fifth St., Downtown Cincinnati chef Jose Salazar is making some more major moves when it comes to his restaurants, and the city’s dining scene as a whole. Read more about Salazar’s new location here. Rendering: Provided by 3CDC
7. Abigail Street 1214 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine “This is my new favorite restaurant in cincinnati! I can’t wait to return. The service, food and wine are the best in town. The ambiance is the best vibe and very chill but a great date night. Let’s just talk about the food, it is melt in your mouth delicious and has something for everyone. My favorite was the black garlic shrimp, lamb spaghetti and ricotta cheese! Don’t miss this.” -Kelli R. Photo: Matthew Allen
Mita’s 501 Race St., Downtown Chef Jose Salazar is a continent away from his mamita and the hand-cranked mill she still uses to grind corn for arepas and empanadas, but his restaurant, Mita’s, is a tribute to her spirit and to Spanish and Latin American food. Some of the more intriguing dishes at Mita’s use familiar ingredients in new ways. The fresh emerald-green sauce for the short-rib empanadas is unexpectedly minty, and the beef is tucked into cornmeal crusts so light and crisp that it lifts the dish to the sublime. They also have one of the best margaritas in town. Photo via Facebook.com/MitasCincinnati Photo: facebook.com/Mita's Cincinnati
The Eagle 1342 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine The Eagle has become a popular place to dine in Cincinnati thanks to their great fried-chicken, beer and Southern comfort food. Inside the welcoming and rustic interior of The Eagle are 16 taps that pour local, craft, and domestic beer. Try their natural and antibiotic-free chicken, and their many sides like mac and cheese, white cheddar grits, homemade biscuits and coleslaw. Photo: facebook.com/TheEagleRestaurant
No. 4 Best Restaurant to Take a Foodie: Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse 505 Vine St., Downtown Photo: facebook.com/JeffRubysSteakhouse
Tuba Baking Co. 517 Sixth Ave., Dayton Specializing in artisan sourdough Swabian-style soft pretzels, this German gastropub in Northern Kentucky packs a punch of flavor with its made-from-scratch Southern German cuisine. On the menu, you’ll find fare like Flammkuchen (a sort of German flatbread/pizza), Spätzle (a type of egg noodle) and the Christoph Von Bayern, a massive sandwich topped with pork loin, ham, gherkins, Gouda and a house-made spicy, whole-grain mustard. Tuba Baking Co. also has a bar with German-centric beers, wines, liquors, cocktails and ciders that you can enjoy inside or out in their new “brezelgarten.” Photo: Drew Rath
6. Sotto 118 E. Sixth St., Downtown “The thing that is special about Sotto is that it hits all the marks. Beautiful atmosphere, exceptional service, and wonderful food make an evening there unforgettable.” -Oneya O. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she...