Anthony’s Bar & Grille
Flavor: Formerly a cigar bar, Anthony’s still features a walk-in humidor and you are welcome to enjoy your cigar on the patio. But good food and drink is available, too. An extensive menu of sandwiches, steaks and seafood accompanies a good selection of scotches, bourbons and wines.
Flair: Classy yet casual enough to stop by and watch the game with friends and knock back a few cold ones. Space available for private events.
7641 Voice of America Center Drive, West Chester, 513-779-3455. Open 7 days. $10-$30.
Boi Na Braza
Flavor: Here’s how the dining process works at Boi Na Braza: Each patron is given a card. When the green side is turned up, the passadors (meat servers) stop at your table with any of 15 cuts of delicious grilled beef, lamb, pork, chicken or sausage, which they carry on long skewers. Using a dangerous-looking cuchillo (a machete-sized knife), they slice as much meat as you like, and you use tiny tongs to move the meat onto your plate. When you’ve had enough (or choose to take a breather), turn the cards to red. And note that while meat is the main attraction, the salad bar at Boi Na Braza is truly exceptional.
Flair: Set in a large, airy space in Carew Tower, this high-end churrascaria is lavishly appointed in dark wood with gilded trim, wrought iron and painted stone, white tablecloths and gleaming silverware. Fires crackle in several hearths even in the middle of July.
441 Vine St., Downtown, 513-421-7111. Open 7 days. $10-$45.
Carlo and Johnny
Flavor: This is a Jeff Ruby restaurant, so you know the emphasis is on big dry-aged steaks and red meat. But you’ll also find a respectable raw bar and some tasty sushi, as well as wood-grilled Atlantic salmon and more. Leave room for dessert: The choices are as decadent as everything else in this place and range from a signature homemade cheesecake to a rich, dense Chocolate Tower.
Flair: This highly stylized “1930s gangster steakhouse” has three separate dining rooms — the Emerald, the Ivory and the Grill. They’re all great places to see and be seen, so keep an eye peeled for local celebs and Cincinnati movers and shakers in a carnivorous mood.
9769 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, 513-936-8600. Open Monday-Saturday. $21-$70.
The Celestial
Flavor: The Celestial Steakhouse is a respite for fine-dining patrons, with a diverse menu featuring hand-cut steak entrées. Whet your appetite on Perigord Foie Gras, Baked Virginia Oysters with leek cream sauce or delectable crab cake sliders. Whether you choose The Baseball Steak crowned with shrimp scampi or the exquisite Chateaubriande, you will not be disappointed. Lamb, sea bass and pasta selections are also delightful, as well as gourmet side accompaniments such as lobster potatoes with black truffle butter.
Flair: For many, dining at the Celestial is an event reserved for a special of occasion. Dress nicely and prepare to settle in and relish the experience of truly elegant service, while enjoying a breathtaking view of the Cincinnati skyline.
1071 Celestial St., Mount Adams, 513-241-4455. Open 7 days. $19-$54.
Fuji Steak House
Flavor: Fuji prides itself on offering guests an authentic Japanese sushi and hibachi experience. Tempura, Teriyaki and Bento Box are just a few of the options. Like to participate in your meal? Have the Hibachi and enjoy not just a show, but strip steak, shrimp, lobster or fresh veggies.
Flair: Fuji has expanded to many new locations. The décor seeks to capture the cultural character of Japan. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
7687 Mall Road, Florence, 859-746-8180; 4389 East Gate Square Drive, Eastgate, 513-752-9222; 3373 Princeton Road, Fairfield, 513-844-2600; 3836 Paxton Road, Hyde Park, 513-871-0500. Open 7 days. $12-$32.
Jag’s Steak and Seafood
Flavor: The 8-ounce Kobe filet, served with au gratin potatoes and sautéed spinach, is the culinary equivalent of velvet. Two other filet favorites are the Black Truffle Filet and the 10-ounce Big Oscar topped with shrimp, lobster and king crab and finished with a lobster Hollandaise sauce. Jag’s also offers a raw bar and entrées such as Chilean Seabass and Alaskan King Crab Legs as well as several vegetarian choices.
Flair: With six individualized dining rooms, you’re likely to find one that fits your mood du jour. Try the Library Room when you’re feeling all masculine — you’ll fit right in with the floor-to-ceiling mahogany paneling, built-in bookcases and burgundy chairs. Or check out a variety of live music in the restaurant’s swanky lounge.
5980 West Chester Blvd., West Chester, 513-860-5353. Open Monday-Saturday. $10-$60.
Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
Flavor: If you love steak you have about a zero percent chance of being let down with one of Ruby’s — they dry-age their own. There are several non-steak options on the menu, including good seafood dishes, but the cow is king (queen?) at Ruby’s.
Flair: Don’t be surprised if a yellow Lamborghini pulls up on the sidewalk during your dinner or you see Charlie Luken or some other local hotshot chatting on the patio any day of the week. It’s definitely a place to see and be seen. Winner of “Best Waitstaff/Service.”
700 Walnut St., Downtown, 513-784-1200. Open Monday-Saturday. $24-$72.
Maury’s Tiny Cove
Flavor: Maury’s is a casual steakhouse, offering traditional steakhouse fare such as the filet or ribs. The seafood menu ranges from salmon, shrimp and lobster to wonderful fried fish entrées like the Icelandic cod. In case you can’t decide, try the surf and turf options. Maury’s has been packed full of flavor and West Side tradition since 1949.
Flair: Get your Mad Men on, Cincinnati style, at Maury’s Bar, the recently re-opened retro cocktail lounge that’s the coolest in Cheviot. Maury’s classic martinis and manhattans taste great with the West Side Cincinnati Sampler: goetta balls, mini-reubens, and hanky pankies.
3908 Harrison Ave., Cheviot, 513-662-2683. Open Monday-Saturday, Sundays seasonally. $18-$37.
Morton’s — The Steakhouse
Flavor: Known for its high-quality beef, elegant service and oversized martinis, Morton’s is widely regarded as steakhouse dining at its finest. Where else can you experience a drive-by cart laden with cuts of raw meat, seafood and vegetables so you can view your meal-to-be in the raw? There are also excellent salads, seafood and a nice selection of vegetable side dishes for two (or more). The happy-hour food specials in the new bar area are the draw for those of us on a budget.
Flair: The Carew Tower location is steakhouse deluxe, with lots of dark woods and tuxedo-clad waiters. In addition to your appetite, better bring your wallet.
441 Vine St., Downtown, 513-621-3111. Open 7 days. $23-$45.
The Precinct
Flavor: You can always rely on a Jeff Ruby restaurant for a big, rare steak and platters of seafood. The Precinct, the first in a long line of Ruby steakhouses, has been doing it since 1981. You can’t go wrong with a sirloin or a porterhouse, but there are options — like pan-roasted grouper, or something from “Hussey’s Table, in homage to Jimmy Hussey, the king of tableside cooks,” which includes Cajun Shrimp, Shrimp and Crab Saute or Hussey’s Famous Fettuccine for Two.
Flair: Well-dressed guests and sparkling china. The Precinct is a great place to people watch. Play spot the local celebrity over drinks in the bar before dinner. Winner of “Best Steaks.”
311 Delta Ave., Columbia-Tusculum, 513-321-5454. Open 7 days. $26-$46.
