At CityBeat, we know a thing or two about picking the best restaurants in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky (nominations for the 2026 Best of Cincinnati are live here), but Yelpers have some hot takes of their own.
Whether you’re a local or coming to Cincinnati for a visit, the platform offers an easy way to see what restaurants are hot and what diners are loving. From places serving up authentic Italian dishes to seasonal menus with the freshest ingredients and restaurants with small plates and massive flavor, these are the restaurants in Greater Cincinnati that Yelpers can’t stop talking about.
*Note: This was the list at the time of publication. Based on ongoing input, restaurant locations in this Yelp list may change. Reviews may have been shortened or edited slightly for clarity and grammar.
No. 25: Fillo Modern Greek
1505 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
“So I travelled to Greece back in the 1990’s and island hopped and ate where the locals ate, sometimes even welcomed in their houses. This restaurant is exactly what I had in my travels. Very authentic. Fresh. Greek wines were perfectly chosen and paired well with the food. Not a bad item on the menu. Amazingly fresh and tons of flavor.” -Michael O.
No. 24: The Baker’s Table
1004 Monmouth St., Newport
“This was truly a 10/10. It is not just a restaurant, it’s an experience. It’s the most fun setup I have ever heard of. The food was unbelievable and unique. Each course was made and prepared with such care. The chef delivered each course and explained the ingredients and where they came from, which was so special! You must try this at least once, but the menu switches for each month’s produce production, so you might as well try it every month.” -Addison M.
No. 23: Juniper’s
409 W. Sixth St., Covington
“We walked into this charming establishment with just enough eclectic decor to make it interesting. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable and professional. The drink selection was vast and quality superb. We sampled the tapas menu and were delighted with the selection, quality and flavor! The evening was filled with wonderful live music, great food and delicious drinks.” -Diona K.
No. 22: Sacred Beast
1437 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
“Another excellent meal today. Went there first [for] brunch. Allison took good care of us. Cheesy eggs were ordered by two of our group. I had the lemon ricotta pancakes; light and tasty! Fourth in [the] party had the Diner [Breakfast] with eggs, goetta (very nice looking slice portion-wise) and hash browns. Had a nice large booth — comfy.” -Darah F.
No. 21: Hawker’s Alley
28 W. Court St., Downtown
“My wife and I walked here before seeing a play at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.
We split an Okonomiyaki Pancake, which was absolutely delicious. We also ordered a Thai iced tea that was creamy, sweet, and about 128 ounces smaller than I would have preferred (it was liquid gold).
For my entree, I picked the Charred Pork Belly Bahn Mi, which was sweet and savory, crispy and juicy, and all the veggie accoutrements all blended together well for a fantastic sandwich. Also, it was outrageously large for a ridiculously low $11.
My wife got the firecracker sandwich, which was also quite tasty, though it couldn’t hold a candle to my sandwich in bahn mi opinion.
Everything else was so tasty we couldn’t resist getting dessert, so we ordered the yuzu cheesecake, which was rich, sweet, tart, and definitely hit the spot.
We were able to get two entrees, an appetizer, a drink, and dessert for roughly $50, including tip! If that isn’t a convincing reason to visit, I don’t know what would be.” -Jason B.
No. 20: Abigail Street
1214 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
“The food was amazing!!!! I loved my octopus – the dish was so well balanced. The broccoli was the best I have ever had?!?!! The gnocchi was wonderful too!!
We had some dietary restrictions and they were great with accommodations. We went for an early dinner and it was just getting busy, but not crowded. A lot of spacious seats so you can feel alone, even with a group. I loved the decor and vibe of the restaurant. Such a great place to feel inspired! Our server was kind and attentive. Definitely coming back!” -Isabel E.
No. 19: VV The Italian Experience
1026 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout
“Wow! Big Italian fan and decided to try VV Italian tonight. Everything was incredible. Most notable item was the pistachio pesto rigatoni. No notes. Everything was to die for. Some of the best pasta in the city. I will definitely be back. Server was very knowledgeable too.” – Sammi M.
No. 18: Boca
114 E. Sixth St., Downtown
“Boca was truly a phenomenal fine dining experience. The service is incredible – our server talked us through the menu, guided us in ordering the best dishes and the full wait staff was quick to clear empty plates and refill our drinks. Cocktails were delicious – we especially enjoyed the Madison and the Old Fashioned 2.0. Each dish was incredible — the Eufs mayonnaise was described to us as the “grandfather of the deviled egg” and was a great start to our meal. Next was the tuna crudo (excellent, high-quality thick tuna) and diver scallop (those Brussels sprouts are unreal! Cooked for 3 hours and so flavorful). We had the elote/sweet corn pasta dish–which is seasonal and not something we’d normally order, but our server thankfully persuaded us to try it. For larger dishes, we had the halibut almondine (incredible) and the chicken (actually not my favorite, but still very well prepared). Finished the night with an excellent maple mascarpone cheesecake. The pricetag is high… but for a special occasion, Boca is an all-around amazing experience.” -Katrina L.
No. 17: Wunderbar
1132 Lee St., Covington
“Amazing Sausages and the pretzel with beer cheese was massive! Hilarious bartender/waiter. Walked in, ordered at bar, sat down, amazing food delivered, housed it, walked out 30 minutes later. Great experience.” -Robert M.
No. 16: Crown Republic Gastropub
720 Sycamore St., Downtown
“I am happy to pay well for a complete dining experience. This is complete: amazing food, service and ambiance. We started with General Tso cauliflower, then my husband had the Spaghetti with Losanti prime meatballs, I had the wild mushroom capellini. We [took] some of each home so we’d have room for the s’more brownie. Good wine and beer options. Most of all, charming service. Can’t wait to return.” -Peg M.
No. 15: Safi
1401 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine
“I have been to Morocco and eaten some of the best food there. The food at Safi is pretty close and excellent. The chicken pastels are very similar to what you get there. My favorites include lamb tagine, chicken pastels, fish, and carrot salads. The lamb is perfectly cooked and not too gamey. The servers are great there. The wine selection is excellent, too, and it is a lovely, cozy little place.” -R M.
No. 14: Allez Café
1201 Main St., Over-the-Rhine (Café); 1208 Main St., Over-the-Rhine (Bakery); 6012 Madison Road, Madisonville
“I was recommended this cafe and at first I was worried about the small menu. However, everything we tried was delicious! Friendly counter service and we opted to sit at the bar. I had the turkey sandwich, which is delicious in house made focaccia. My husband had the ham and bean soup with extra bread. The bread is incredible and worth it to stop just down the block at their bakery to take home a loaf. No crumbs were left behind! The cafe is lively and bright with their windows and the service was so friendly. I will have to come back to try the other items.” -Laurel S.
No. 13: Carmelo’s
434 Madison Ave., Covington
“We had an incredible time eating at Carmelo’s. The vibe was warm, cozy, and intimate. Our waiter did an excellent job describing the menu to us, and after hearing about the oxtail ragu, I decided to try it. I was so glad that I did! The meat was tender, the noodles of the pasta were the perfect consistency, and the sauce pulled everything together. We also tried the cauliflower appetizer, which I would definitely order again. If you like chocolate, then you should try the budino for dessert. It was decadent and topped off our meal perfectly!” -Michelle G.
No. 12: Salazar
101 W. Fifth St., Downtown
“We waited a few months before visiting to give the staff time to get their feet under them, since it’s a new restaurant. We are glad we did. All cylinders were firing last night.
The staff were all super friendly. We were seated in the middle dining room and got to watch the kitchen in action. It looked like chaos to us, having never worked in a kitchen before, but it was obviously a well-oiled machine. Everyone knew what they were doing. Chef Salazar was steering the ship with no doubt.
The food was all awesome. We had the sunchokes and grilled bread as “nibblers”. We heard several other tables around us raving about the sunchokes as well. Don’t miss them! For entrees, we had the gemelli pasta and hamburger as our entrees. Both were great. The pasta is all made in-house. The gemelli had a really light broth, shredded pork, some greens. Super tasty. The burger and fries were awesome as well. For dessert, we had the butter cake and Meyer lemon tart. Amazing. Don’t miss them. We will go back. Can’t wait to try new things and see how the menu evolves. I would recommend getting reservations unless you want to sit in the bar.” -Jim S.
No. 11: Noche
701 Madison Ave., Covington
“Worth the wait (almost 1 month out for a dinner reservation for us)! Our table started with a burrata to share and my friends ordered cocktails to enjoy with their meal. The burrata was filled with short rib and a great starter. I really enjoyed the braised short rib pasta, the lasagna and cacio; each pasta was great in [their] own way. We were able to try the bread pudding for dessert and it hit the spot. Excited to come back in the future!” -Melanie U.
No. 10: Otto’s
521 Main St., Covington
“I can’t believe I’ve never been here until now. Tucked away in Covington, this hidden gem has delicious food and atmosphere. We sat outside as it was a gorgeous night. Everything on the menu sounded amazing, so I had a hard time choosing but went with the scallops. I have to [say] my plate was licked clean. Every bite of the scallop was tender and melted in your mouth. The risotto was unlike any risotto I’ve had. I wish I had more because every single bit I tried to savor and have it last. I’ve had many mushroom risottos but this had asparagus and the creaminess was perfection. The smoked tomato aioli added so much flavor to the scallops and risotto. I could have rated another one of these dishes because it was such an experience. However, I left room for dessert. They were not joking when they said a generous portion of carrot cake. This 3-tier cake was exactly what I needed to end the night. Rich and creamy and moist in every bite.” -Sonam P.
No. 9: Losanti
1401 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
“Once again they hit a home run – oysters from New Brunswick were delicious, a hearty Gem salad, the burrata and pear over the grilled bread was wonderful, the espresso martini was as good as everyone says it is (!), the filet mignon needed NO accompaniment of sauce because THAT’S the mark of a great steak well-prepared, and the service from entering to exiting and everything in between was top notch. A very comfortable environment in which to enjoy all that great food. For a great meal, I don’t think you can do any better. 5 stars again for you, Losanti!” -Karl K.
No. 8: Colette
1400 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
“The sauces at this spot are out of this world!! This quaint Cincinnati spot brings France to OH.
Our 4 person group shared the bread service (yes the butter is THAT GOOD,) beets, carrot salad (we preferred the beets,) and the cod and tagliatelle pasta dishes.
Both entrees were great but the Cod blew everything away. The buttery bread “crumb” topping is crunchy and flaky and melts in your mouth. The sauce on the Cod was the star of the night.” -Jennifer S.
No. 7: Wildweed
1301 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine
“One of the most unique restaurants I’ve ever been to. Every dish showcased an incredible combination of flavors that came together to create an unforgettable meal. The balance of sweet and salty was perfectly executed, making each bite exciting and satisfying.
Our waiter provided excellent recommendations and truly enhanced the experience with his knowledge and attentiveness. You can immediately tell the difference with the homemade pasta–it was fresh, tender, and far superior to anything store-bought. The care and creativity put into the food really stood out and made the entire meal feel special.
This is the kind of place that leaves a lasting impression and makes you want to come back to try everything on the menu.” – Kelli R.
No. 6: Maplewood Kitchen and Bar
525 Race St., Downtown
“Maplewood Kitchen and Bar has become a favorite of ours in Cincinnati. I can get crowded, but a skilled and polite staff keep things moving in a setting where you’ll stand in line to order and food will be delivered to your table. The menu is smaller but hits all the right spots. The food is great and the coffee is excellent. Even the decor is clean and sharp. One note, if you go in a Bengals home Sunday, be prepared to wait, but, trust, even a long line moves quickly and is definitely worth waiting in. Just plan ahead!!” -Tod C.
No. 5: Sotto
118 E. Sixth St., Downtown
“On a visit to Cincinnati on a December weekend, my wife and I were surprised (shocked, actually) by the excellent food scene. Sotto is a case in point. The ambiance is perfect for an underground restaurant: dimly-lit, romantic, yet buzzing on a Sunday night. The food did not disappoint either. If in doubt, get the cappellacci. The breaded pork loin was appropriately delicious for a city once known as Porkopolis and the branzino was nicely done.
We had recently celebrated our anniversary at one of the best Italian restaurants in Washington state – it was three times as expensive and ALMOST as good as Sotto.
Service was good – a nice change from Seattle where service is usually an afterthought.
Sotto is clearly very popular. We tried to make a last minute reservation, but they were booked even on a Sunday. But we walked in and ate at the bar with no wait.
Sotto is the kind d of place that makes you – somewhat irrationally – look for an excuse to go to Cincinnati. Locals are lucky to have it.” -Benjamin H.
No. 4: Pepp & Dolores
1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
“Stunning, gorgeous, delicious!!!! My first time in the great state of Ohio, and the food here really sealed the deal for me. So many vegetarian options, lovely ambiance, incredibly friendly staff, and obviously amazing food! I got the Dunk (bread app) and the Pomodoro pasta. No notes– I need to come back and eat both again, and then inhale everything else on the menu!” -Paayal J.
No. 3: The Eagle
1342 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
“The Eagle is one of my favorite restaurants in the city for fried chicken. The mac and cheese are phenomenal, and the spoonbread is always moist and delicious! The service there is always on point, the staff is always so nice and accommodating. The Eagle is one of those restaurants that’s always busy because of its popularity, but there’s never really ever a long wait. The place is pretty cozy and family friendly, so you’ll enjoy it whether you are dining alone, having a seat at the bar, or with a group of friends or family. They have daily drink specials, and my favorite is when they have Bulleit for $5. The sweet potato crock has just the right amount of sweetness, and the chicken speaks for itself. The grilled cheese is different, but in a good way. It has apple slices and apricot preserves on it and is the BOMB with an added piece of fried chicken breast on it. If you’re looking for some southern comfort, this is definitely worth trying.” -Tamieka G.
No. 2: The Davidson
501 Vine St., Downtown
“This was one of the best meals I’ve had anywhere. The Moroccan roasted eggplant is prepared tableside and is a unique, delicious dish that provided ample portions for our party of four.
The vodka rigatoni was perfect, with the sauce, sausage, and peas all in excellent proportion to the pasta. The service was wonderful, and the drink menu offered a great variety.” -Ben M.
No. 1: Nolia
1405 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine
Always an amazing menu. Looking forward to the winter menu next time I am in town. Servers are always knowledgeable of the menu and ingredients. Chef always checks in and makes sure you are enjoying your meal.” -Jasmine H.