Throughout 2024, the Greater Cincinnati area welcomed a lot of new and exciting restaurant concepts to the local dining scene. From beloved breweries and restaurants expanding to new neighborhoods to newcomers with offerings ranging from sushi rolling past your table on a conveyor belt to classic American fare featuring modern and internationals twists, here is just a sampling of the new restaurants that have recently opened.

Alara 5410 Medpace Way, Madisonville Alara is the newest concept from Looking Glass Hospitality and offers fine dining inspired by experiences its owners have enjoyed on their travels. Described as contemporary American and high-end, Alara offers an immersive dining experience and a menu of innovative dishes that encourage exploration and sharing. Alara offers several mocktails you can enjoy with your meal. If you’re craving a margarita with some kick, try the Spicy Hibiscus Margarita, made with Clean Co. non-alcoholic tequila, agave, Fresno-hibiscus syrup and fresh lime, with a habanero-hibiscus rim. For a spritz, they’ve got the Passion Fruit Spritz, made with passion fruit puree, grenadine, soda and boba. There’s also the Verjus Pear — Verjus Blanc, prickly pear puree and ginger ale. Photo: Lydia Schembre
Safi Wine Bar 1401 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine Chef Jose Salazar operated his self-named restaurant at 1401 Republic St. in Over-the-Rhine for 10 years before announcing at the end of 2023 that he and his wife would be moving the restaurant into the former Saks Fifth Avenue building in downtown Cincinnati. They said they would keep the original Salazar space and introduce a new concept there: Safi, the idea of which came to the couple after a trip to Morocco. Safi opened in June and sports a laid-back atmosphere, with a menu that’s approachable, but still offers some “fancier” dishes, as well as small plates. The menu features dishes like chicken pastilla cigars; slow-cooked lamb shank tagine with made-from-scratch Israeli couscous; an eggplant and tomato compote called Zalouk; Briwat, a Moroccan almond pastry; and the trendy “caviar bump.” Photo: Lydia Schembre
Fifty West Burger Bar (Deerfield Township) 5224 District Park Drive, Mason Eternal summer camp Fifty West Burger Bar held a soft opening of its second Greater Cincinnati location in August. The new burger bar offers all the fun and deliciousness as the original, with tons of activities to enjoy, like sand volleyball and pickleball. The menu features bread-and-butter diner specialties like classic cheeseburgers, flat-top hot dogs and loaded crinkle-cut fries. Don’t miss the 12 specialty burgers named for the 12 states that U.S. Route 50 runs through, and make sure you grab a house-made root beer or orange soda to wash it all down, or choose from a wide range of Fifty West canned, bottled or draft beers and seltzers. Photo: facebook.com/FiftyWestDeerfield
Pata Roja Taqueria 1208 Sycamore St., Pendleton Pata Roja Taqueria has found a permanent home in Pendleton on Bar Saeso’s patio space. The restaurant specializes in food inspired by Mexico City such as al pastor and bistec street tacos and bean stew with sausage. The bar patio provides outdoor seating to enjoy in the summer months. Guests can also choose indoor seating and order beer from the bar. This spot is perfect for a late-night dinner or quick to-go meal. Photo: Facebook.com/PataRojaTacos Photo: facebook.com/PataRojaTacos
Wildweed 1301 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine Wildweed opened in its permanent location in Over-the-Rhine this summer, offering a variety of pasta dishes made from regional grains and served with non-traditional sauces. Guests can choose between two different dining experiences, including an à la carte menu and the chef’s counter, which offers a view into the kitchen and each menu offers a story of seven ingredients over about 12 dishes, painting a picture of time and place. The chefs interact with guests and talk more about the dishes. And while the menu is designed to feel extensive, the time commitment is not. And while the food is the star of the restaurant, don’t forget to take time to admire the space’s artwork by local artists, including a colorful mural by Blake Lipper at the entryway and another mural of mushrooms by Maxwell Redder. Photo: Lydia Schembre
Immortal Vibes 230 Main St., Hamilton Sporting an aura of class with a rockstar edge, Immortal Vibes offers a vintage guitar experience along with its drinks. The bar opened in December 2023 with a menu of coffee and cocktails, some named after famous musicians like the Freddie Mercury or Eddie Van Halen, along with more traditional drinks, including two house old fashioneds. The menu also includes coffee-infused cocktails. Customers are also welcome to come in and experience the collection of vintage guitars that line the wall. Photo: Logan Turner
The Davidson 501 Vine St., Downtown American-style brasserie The Davidson opened in The Foundry in February, taking over the spot formerly occupied by Royce. The menu is described as “a classic American brasserie meets French and Italian influence.” It features dishes like handmade pastas, steak frites, the Davidson Burger (gruyere, caramelized onions, dijonnaise, french fries and bearnaise aioli), bone-in pork chops and a selection of soups and salads. Photo: Aidan Mahoney
Alley Baby 2810 Highland Ave., Norwood It started with a gyro cart and a dream one mid-October night during BLINK in 2022. Having been in the restaurant industry for years, Over-the-Rhine resident Alex Frohlich decided to take a chance and set up a recently purchased gyro cart in his apartment’s courtyard during BLINK for neighbors and passersby to try some of his dishes and give their feedback. As luck would have it, the feedback was positive, and Frohlich remembers thinking, “There’s something here; I’m gonna keep working towards this.” And so Alley Baby began. After spending two years moving around Cincinnati in a food truck, Frohlich is getting ready to open Alley Baby in a brick-and-mortar space around Christmas, and the menu will include some classic crowd-pleasers, like wings, a coconut chicken sandwich and burgers. He also hopes to introduce different dishes each week to keep customers on their toes. Photo: Lydia Schembre
Bourbon’s Craft Kitchen & Bar 199 E. Sixth St., Downtown Bourbon’s Craft Kitchen & Bar opened in downtown in April and offers a menu of gourmet street food, plus craft cocktails and over 130 whiskeys. Classic starters include wings — including cauliflower wings for a non-meat option — and chips and dip, plus potstickers and lettuce wraps. Entrées feature a variety of steakburgers, tacos and tasty chicken options, like tenders and chicken and waffles. To accompany your meal, you can opt for traditional barbecue-style sides like fries, coleslaw and mac-and-cheese or pick from salads, French onion soup and elote. The whiskey selection is lengthy and even carries some rare options like Blanton’s, Van Winkle 10 Year and a special New Riff bourbon pick. The cocktail list leans heavily on bourbon drinks, but there’s also a featured margarita and mojito, as well as some wines. Photo: Provided by Bourbon's Craft Kitchen & Bar
Kawa Revolving Sushi (Oakley) 3880 Paxton Ave., Oakley Kawa Revolving Sushi was the first restaurant to bring the concept of the revolving sushi conveyor belt to the Greater Cincinnati area, opening its first location in Symmes Township in 2023. Following its success there, the restaurant recently expanded to Oakley. At Kawa, you can pick and choose plates of sushi as they rotate around the restaurant, or you can order from the iPad at your table. Along with sushi rolls, sashimi and nigiri, Kawa also offers ramen; appetizers like edamame, gyoza and spring rolls; and tempura and teriyaki dishes. Photo: facebook.com/Kawa revolving sushi
The Green Line Kitchen and Cocktails 25 N. Ft. Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas Charming and welcoming, The Green Line Kitchen is an upscale family restaurant that opened in the heart of Ft. Thomas in March. The space is convivial and lively, with a menu of traditional offerings like prime rib, salmon and porkchops, as well as pastas like the bolognese and chicken parmesan and sandwiches, including the burger, a prime rib dip, turkey club and fried cod. To drink Green Line offers an extensive list of wines, both cocktails and mocktails, beer and seltzer and champagne. Photo: instagram.com/@thegreenlinerestaurant
MaineTowne 8143 OH-48, Maineville Diners can find new restaurant MaineTowne at the village’s four-way stop, serving elevated bar food crafted with high-quality ingredients and never in a fryer. Like the restaurant’s location, its menu is an intersection that combines American fare with hints of Mediterranean, Mexican and Thai influences. The menu is divided into appetizers, salads and handheld options. Appetizers include a variety of flatbreads, like the Whipped Feta (served with sweet-and-spicy peppers and honey), the Hot Honey (red sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella, provolone and house hot honey) and the Buffalo Chicken. Handhelds feature dishes like the American ever-classic Sloppy Joe, made with smoked brisket, fried onions, pickles and pickled peppers and served on a brioche bun; a chicken tinga torta; and the B.L.M.T. (bacon, arugula, tomato, caramelized onion, pesto mayo and mozzarella on Italian bread). Photo: facebook.com/MaineTowne
Almost V’gan Lounge 34 E. Court St., Downtown Almost V’gan, a health-conscious eatery with a mix of vegan and traditional dishes, opened downtown in July. The space features a restaurant with bottle service on one side and an upscale bar and lounge on the other. The menu features a similar vegan pairing for every traditional dish, like jackfruit or pot roast tacos, grilled tofu or salmon sliders and grilled watermelon salad, among others. Diners will also find a selection of handcrafted cocktails and signature drinks. Photo: Provided by 3CDC
Twelve08 1208 Springfield Pike, Wyoming Visit Twevle08 in Wyoming and let Claudia make you a meal. No, Claudia’s not a person, but the restaurant’s pizza oven. The menu at Twelve08 is pizza-forward, but this isn’t your average pizza joint. Twelve08 says their dishes are made with intention, focusing on healthy and freshly prepared ingredients, and inspired by flavors around the world, like the seasonal Street Corn Pizza, which features cilantro, roasted sweet corn, jalapeño and tajin. In addition to pizza, Twelve08 also offers salads, wings and a variety of beer, bourbon, wine and cocktails to drink. Photo: facebook.com/Twelve08
Ziggy’s 213 Woodward St., Over-the-Rhine Ziggy’s, described as “not your average dive bar,” opened just steps away from Ziegler Park and its pool this spring. The menu features an array of summer and poolside-coded alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages like frozen cocktails, canned wines, draft beers and Coke products. The space is bright and playful, decorated with lush hanging plants and other greenery, and there’s indoor table seating, plus more seating at the horseshoe-shaped bar. Ziggy’s also has two dog-friendly patio areas, one with seating and another with shuffleboard. While it is a drinks-only concept right now, patrons are welcome to bring in outside food. Photo: facebook.com/Ziggy's OTR
No. 24: The Aperture 900 E. McMillan St., East Walnut Hills “A great experience! We dashed in for a meal prior to going to the theatre. Our server was outstanding. She guided us through a well-thought-out and delicious Mediterranean-inspired mezze-style meal. Particular standouts were the wood-fired pita, roasted carrots and yellow beets. Beautiful, clean modern setting in a classic building. We will be back!” -Christopher B. Photo: Aidan Mahoney
Mercer Social House 6623 Main St., Newtown Mercer Social House, named after Newtown’s original settlement, Mercersburg, opened in the former Urban Grill on Main space this spring. The restaurant offers a friendly and laid-back atmosphere, born from the owners’ desire to create a place where the community can gather or you can make memories with friends and family. The seasonal menu features American fare with a modern twist, including handhelds like burgers, grilled cheese and a spicy chicken sandwich, as well as pasta, ribs and bar-fare apps like smoked wings, fried mozzarella and pretzels and beer cheese. Diners can also enjoy elevated wine, beer and cocktail offerings. Photo: facebook.com/Mercer Social House
San Jeanetta’s Table 7714 Montgomery Road, Kenwood For some chef-quality comfort food, San Jeanetta’s got you covered. Before opening their brick-and-mortar store in Kenwood, husband-and-wife team Chef Dion and Tiffany Metts were making a name for themselves by selling their famous mac-and-cheese bowls at food and beverage park Covington Yard. The menu at the Kenwood store, which held a grand opening in July, features the mac-and-cheese bowls, along with grits bowls, all-day brunch and chicken in tender, wing and sandwich form. You can also get Southern-style platters, including blackened salmon, biscuits and gravy, cauliflower wings, chicken thighs and fried cod. Photo: facebook.com/SanJeanettasTable
Court Street Kitchen 7 E. Court St., Downtown Court Street Kitchen, the first self-created concept from experienced restaurateur Braheam Shteiwi, opened downtown this February. The menu features New American fare, with a focus on steak and seafood, alongside traditional American favorites like the classic hamburger. The restaurant also offers Sixteen Bricks bread service, as well as starters, salads and soups to complement entrées like filet mignon, branzino, roasted chicken and more. Photo: Provided by 3CDC
Vinology 3181 Linwood Ave., Mt. Lookout Vinology held its grand opening in June. The new wine bar and bottleshop in Mt. Lookout offers a selection of more than 400 wines, most of which have been curated from a master list by wine critic and journalist David Schildknecht, who is also a local resident. Vinology’s tasting bar shares a space with Lookout Joe Coffee Shop and offers a place where patrons can taste, learn about and enjoy these exclusive wines. And if you like something you try, you can purchase bottles from the extensive cellar and bottle shop located just down the hall. You can also learn more about the art of wine and wine-tasting at Vinology’s Cincinnati Wine Academy, located on the second floor of the building. Photo: facebook.com/vinology.club
Young Buck Deli 1332 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine This Cincinnati delicatessen opened its first brick-and-mortar store in May, where it offers the experience of a traditional sandwich shop from a chef’s perspective, with items made from scratch as often as possible. Lunch meat, bread and accouterments are crafted in-house using fresh and seasonal ingredients. The deli has both a menu of eight to 10 sandwiches, like their Chicago Hot Italian Beef, Italian Cold Cuts and the Vermonter, along with the opportunity to build your own sandwich. Photo: Young Buck Deli
The Park 161 E. Freedom Way, The Banks The Park is a bar and restaurant at The Banks that brings the outside in. The concept, as its name suggests, offers the outdoor feel of a park setting, with a tree-like sculpture centerpiece that guests can dine under inside and year-round patio seating outside. The space has a modern aesthetic, and the drinks menu features cocktails and classic beverages. To eat, The Park offers guests dishes from Good Plates Eatery, a creative, American-style restaurant in CUF that offers the perfect picnic-esque food for a day at “The Park.” Photo: facebook.com/The Park Cincy
Oakley Greens 3065 Vandercar Way, Oakley Oakley Greens is Gorilla Cinema’s newest concept and opened in June. While it’s similar to Covington Yard, one of its already successful open-air bars, with specialty cocktails, a large green space with ample seating, massive flat screens and options for dining in, it’s different in that it has 36 holes of elevated mini golf, making it a great place to drink, eat and play. Oakley Greens offers specialty cocktails, like the Caddy Shack Margarita with an accompanying shot of Grand Marnier, the Gilmore G&T, with lemon tonic and Tanqueray, and a classic Aperol Spritz. Mocktails are also available (the Peach Palmer has peach sweet tea and lemonade, while the Par 3 has ginger beer, grape juice and lime). Guests can get food from Hangry Omar’s Food Hall, which offers sliders, loaded fries, tater tots and cheese bites. Carnitas tacos, chips and queso, nachos, pizza and salads are also available for ordering at the two kiosks inside the main Oakley Greens building, and Mr. Oakley’s Ice Cream Shop offers a sweet treat for adults and kids alike. Photo: Twin Spire Photography
Vintage on Race 500 Race St., Downtown This sports bar and lounge will open its doors at the end of August and offer patrons a great spot to catch a game, grab a drink and enjoy live music. The space has a retro vibe, sporting a color palette of gold, copper orange, magenta and deep blues, and features a 9-foot-by-36-foot video wall to watch sports, with other large TVs around the space to provide a view from every angle. On the menu, guests will find elevated-yet-approachable eats, including a range of Midwest favorites like the Pie Pan Nachos and the “Vintage Meal,” which offers a burger or nuggets, fries and an adult beverage or shake. There will also be healthier options to accommodate different diets, like the Buffalo Cauliflower, Grilled Avocado Smash and Killer Kale Salad. Photo: Provided by 3CDC

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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...