Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of CincinnatiĀ®, 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. Cincinnati’s food scene is ever-evolving, introducing us to new and amazing eats every year. From places serving classic Italian pasta dishes to those with premium oysters or “mostly French” cuisine, these are the best restaurants to recently grace the Queen City, according to our readers.
No. 10 Best New Restaurant: Parkside
2637 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
If youāre a fan of Delwood in Mt. Lookout, youāll also love its sister restaurant, Parkside in nearby Hyde Park. Some of the menu items are the same and the overall decor and mood can be described as a modern and welcoming vibe where you’ll often run into a neighbor or two, just like Delwood. But Parkside also stands on its own legs, with a menu consisting of dishes you won’t see at Delwood. And while itās not a Peruvian restaurant, youāll see some influences, like in the empanadas and yuca fries.
Menu recommendation: Pimento Cheeseburger: Two 4-oz. Patties topped with housemade pimento cheese, roasted garlic aioli and grilled jalapeƱos. Photo: Aidan Mahoney No. 9 Best New Restaurant: Al-Posto Italian Ristorante
2710 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
The home of Tellerās of Hyde Park for 25 years reopened last spring as āItalian-inspiredā Al-Posto, an Italian phrase that translates to āat the spot.ā The approachable Italian menu features a variety of classic pasta dishes, as well as dishes like a filet and gourmet cheeseburger. The compact list of wines available by the glass, according to the menu, is hand-selected by wine director & sommelier, Austin Heidt.
Menu recommendation: Spaghetti Allo Scoglio: A pasta dish featuring clams, shrimp, bottarga (salted, cured fish roe), garlic and bread crumbs, paired with the pinot grigio or caposaldo. Photo: facebook.com/al-posto No. 8 Best New Restaurant: VV The Italian Experience
1026 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout
CafƩ and shop VV The Italian Experience dishes up an authentic Italian experience in Mt. Lookout Square. Owners Melissa and Andrea De Giorgi wanted to recreate an Italian la cafeteria, a place for family and friends to spend time together, relax for breakfast and lunch and enjoy aperitivo, or happy hour with delicious bites. The space is simple yet elegant and combines both vintage and modern Italian styles in a seamless and welcoming manner.
Menu recommendation: Volare: A vegan panini featuring grilled vegetables, sundried tomatoes, almonds and VVās red pesto. Photo: facebook.com/VV The Italian Experience Atwood Oyster House
1220 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
For some coastal cuisine in the heart of Over-the-Rhine, give Atwood Oyster House a visit. This restaurant offers a sophisticated and intimate dining experience that still manages to be playful. The menu combines tradition and innovation, with a focus on seafood and its seasonal selection of oysters that come from a variety of North American regions, including New England, British Columbia, Washington state and more. If youāre new to oysters and unsure how one kind will taste compared to another, Atwoodās menu tells you exactly what flavors you can expect for each. They also have a full bar, which serves a diverse menu of classic and creative house cocktails and a wine list, all of which were selected to complement the restaurantās seafood and vegetarian dishes. Photo: instagram.com/@atwoodoysterhouse Amador
1 Levee Way, Newport
Havana has come to Greater Cincinnati. Amador opened at Newport on the Levee in May with a menu featuring traditional Cuban dishes like empanadas, croquetas, and Cubano sandwiches, but with an āAmador twist.ā The energetic and playful atmosphere aims to transport diners to a tropical vacation, with its jungle-esque vibe, lush greenery and an outdoor patio that overlooks the Ohio River and Cincinnati skyline. And unlike other Cuban restaurants, their small plates are meant to be shared. To drink, the restaurant has Cuban coffee, craft cocktails and Latin American beers, wines and rare spirits. They also have their bodega-style walk-up window, āLa Ventanitaā (little window), where guests can order something to-go from a limited menu. Photo: facebook.com/CityofNewportKY Five on Vine
1324 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Crown Restaurant Groupās Five on Vine is more than just fine dining ā its concept comes from co-owner and chef Anthony Sitekās view on food as an opportunity for connection, from where they source their ingredients to how they greet and take care of their guests. The menu features modern and elevated takes on traditional American comfort food; you may have seen these dishes growing up, like Five on Vineās stroganoff or pot roast, but theyāre reinvented in a way you may not have experienced yet. For example, Gracieās Meatballs are crafted with beef and tomato sauce like your grandmother may have made them, but they have the added thought of raisins and pine nuts to add a little sweetness and texture, the Sicilian way. No matter what you get though, itāll be made from scratch in Five on Vineās kitchen. To drink, try one of their craft cocktails, like the Emerald Dream (gin, green chartreuse, lime, agave, absinthe, watermelon and basil) or The Rite of Spring (gin, cucumber liqueur, grapefruit, honey, Italicus and mint). Photo: Hailey Bollinger No. 4 Best New Restaurant: Shake Shack
7669 Blake St., Liberty Township
Popular milkshake and burger chain Shake Shack finally opened its doors to its first Greater Cincinnati location this December. The fast-food chain is best known for its hand-spun milkshakes, as well as elevated American classics like their made-to-order burgers, crispy chicken, crinkle-cut fries and signature Hot-Ones Spicy ShackSauce.
Menu recommendation: The classic ShackBurger ā an Angus beef cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce on a toasted potato bun ā and a Cookies & Cream Shake. Photo: Provided by Shake Shack Gilliganās on the Green
400 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming
Gilliganās on the Green opened in a former Wyoming firehouse in early November as an extension of the Village Green park and performance pavilion. The restaurant and taproom offers Irish and American fare for lunch, dinner and weekend brunches. On the menu, youāll find classic Irish dishes like fish and chips, beef stew and shepherdās pie with a Cincy twist alongside a mix of Irish- and American-inspired appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, salads and soups. Gilliganās also has a full bar with wine, craft cocktails and beer brewed by West Side Brewing. Photo: facebook.com/GilligansOnTheGreen No. 2 Best New Restaurant: Colette
1400 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
A restaurant from chef Danny Combs opened just steps away from Washington Park this November. Colette embodies Old World style, with a warm and inviting atmosphere that doesnāt lose that neighborhood feel. On the menu, youāll find French and French-inspired cuisine. To drink, guests can choose from an extensive list of sparkling, white and red wines, craft cocktails and beer. And for dessert, donāt miss out on the Tarte Colette (chocolate fondant cake) or the Mille-Feuille (caramelized puff pastry with crĆØme diplomate).
Menu recommendation: Steak Frites: 8-oz. Creekstone NY strip steak served with peppercorn sauce and fries. Photo: facebook.com/colettecincy No. 1 Best New Restaurant: Opal Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
535 Madison Ave., Covington
Stunning views of Cincinnati and Covington and specially curated and intentional design elements that shift as you move throughout Opal Rooftop Restaurant & Bar will have you thinking youāre dining in a real gemstone. The design, lighting and food are a mood, the latter of which is an experience driven by the restaurantās Grillworks wood-fired grill, the only one of its kind in a two-hour radius. This unique grill drives Opalās open-fire grill and wine-forward menu, which features dishes made from fresh, local fare and products, and the craft cocktail menu and wine selection have been curated to complement the dishes.
Menu recommendation: The Chicken: Al pastor yogurt chicken with carrots, charred onion, whipped feta, fennel pollen and piquillo peppers. Photo: facebook.com/OpalRooftop
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