Cincinnati food recs

[dizzydee]

We are going to Cinci this weekend for a football clinic. Staying at the Hilton Netherland. Any good restaurant recommendations for the area?

[cuddlyevil]

What are you in the mood for and what is your budget?

There are great places in over the rhine (taste of Belgium, Kruegers, Nicolas, Gomez salsa).

There are places right on the square (palomino, via vite, chipotle).

[compassrose]

Oh, in Over the Rhine, Abigail Street and Bakersfield (lots of tiny tacos! Taco tapas!) are great.

A little further out (so if you have a car), my favorite restaurant in the world (and I've eaten at several of the top 25) is this place: Boca

The entire cook staff goes to Italy for 3 weeks to be re-inspired and learn more about food. I haven't eaten there in a couple of years because it's expensive, but it's SO GOOD.  The seared diver scallops might be the actual best thing I've ever eaten, and the grilled romaine salad was a turning point in my culinary life.

[wambam]

Bakersfield changed my life a few weeks ago

[calle28]

Casual dining - White Castle and Gold Star Chili!

[DotAndBuzz]

Dewey's Pizza
Graeter's Ice cream

Baba/Ambar for Indian food (Baba is in Oakley, Ambar is in Clifton, same family owns them)

Elmo's Diner
Arthur's
-Both in Hyde Park, both excellent. Arthur's especially for burgers.

Palomino is excellent for downtown dining
Nicholson's is also a favorite of ours downtown.

Don't waste one of your meals on Cincinnati Chili. Just don't. It's ok, but if you're only in town for a short while, there are WAY better places to eat.

[DotAndBuzz]

Feb 18, 2015 18:07:43 GMT -5 calle28 said:

Casual dining - White Castle and Gold Star Chili!

Pay no attention to this.  NONE.  Sorry calle!

There is MUCH better food in Cincinnati!

[compassrose]

Feb 18, 2015 18:11:36 GMT -5 DotAndBuzz said:

Feb 18, 2015 18:07:43 GMT -5 calle28 said:

Casual dining - White Castle and Gold Star Chili!

Pay no attention to this.  NONE.  Sorry calle!

There is MUCH better food in Cincinnati!

But if you are in the mood for cincinnati chili, Skyline all the way!

Also, graeter's ice cream.

[chloesilverado]

Taste of Belgium, Bakersfield, the Senate, and the Eagle are some personal favorites.  Try Graeters if you can too.

[DotAndBuzz]

Feb 18, 2015 18:14:43 GMT -5 compassrose said:

Feb 18, 2015 18:11:36 GMT -5 DotAndBuzz said:

Pay no attention to this.  NONE.  Sorry calle!

There is MUCH better food in Cincinnati!

But if you are in the mood for cincinnati chili, Skyline all the way!

Also, graeter's ice cream.

Well yes, Skyline is FAR superior to Gold star.  I just wouldn't make it a point to eat either one if i was only there for a short while.

And Graeter's Ice Cream is the unity horse here.  Do NOT leave Cincinnati before going to Graeter's.

[sarahswim]

Nada is downtown & makes incredible tableside guac.
Ditto Bakersfield and Palomino

[compassrose]

Feb 18, 2015 18:23:19 GMT -5 sarahswim said:

Nada is downtown & makes incredible tableside guac.
Ditto Bakersfield and Palomino

Nada and Boca are owned by the same chef!

[marshmallow]

Senate is near the hotel (walking distance) and has amazing hot dogs. I also love Mayday for bar-style hot dogs and drinks.

Findlay Market has a great pho place, Pho Lang Thang. You can also get the gaufres and crepes from Taste of Belgium.

Ambar is great. Cincinnati has an endless number of amazing Indian food places.

Cincinnati has terrible pizza.

[nls0412]

On another board, but I saw this on the app.
I highly recommend Nada. Their guac and vegetarian tacos are amazing!
Bakersfield taco are pretty spectacular as well.
The Eagle is awesome, as is Kaze, though the majority of places in OTR are nearly impossible to get into on the weekends unless you can get in early.
Yard house down at the Banks has a great variety of food and a ton of great beers on tap as well.

[Una]

I personally do think Skyline is a must. I love Cincinnati chili. I'm always sending some to family around the country and everyone always asks to go when they come to town.

Ambar and Deep India for Indian food.

Graeter's has pretty good ice cream, but I love UDF malts and shakes.

Eli's BBQ.

And find somewhere to get some goetta!

[notzoewell]

I mostly lurk but have to say I think that Graeters is over hyped. Look for a cute tiny local place called Hello Honey. The most amazing ice cream ever! It's really close to the hotel you mentioned.

[Una]

Feb 18, 2015 18:40:28 GMT -5 notzoewell said:

I mostly lurk but have to say I think that Graeters is over hyped. Look for a cute tiny local place called Hello Honey. The most amazing ice cream ever! It's really close to the hotel you mentioned.

I have to agree with you. Don't get me wrong, I think it's good but not amazing.

If you do get Graeter's get something with chocolate chips. They're more like big melty, chewy chunks of chocolate. Good stuff.

[NothingWrongwithOhio]

Lol, I work downtown and I'm taking notes. I've been wanting to try Palomino, but I haven't gotten there yet.

Also, I tried Skyline for the first time about two months ago and it was not at all what I was expecting. I admit I may be a Cincinnati chili convert.

[sarahswim]

Feb 18, 2015 18:44:18 GMT -5 NothingWrongwithOhio said:

Lol, I work downtown and I'm taking notes. I've been wanting to try Palomino, but I haven't gotten there yet.

Also, I tried Skyline for the first time about two months ago and it was not at all what I was expecting. I admit I may be a Cincinnati chili convert.

Palomino has a great happy hour!

[wambam]

Graeter's fo' sho'.

[sarahswim]

Feb 18, 2015 18:27:17 GMT -5 compassrose said:

Feb 18, 2015 18:23:19 GMT -5 sarahswim said:

Nada is downtown & makes incredible tableside guac.
Ditto Bakersfield and Palomino

Nada and Boca are owned by the same chef!

And Sotto as well, right?  I've not eaten there yet, though. 

[shoeless]

I haven't been to Cincinnati since I graduated 10ish years ago (holy shit). Seeing these recommendations make me think a lot of things have changed since I was a student.

[marshmallow]

Goetta is totally worth trying--I like it best in a grilled cheese or with breakfast. Sounds terrible, is awesome, and you can't really get it outside of town!

[cuddlyevil]

Swad is far superior to Ambar and Baba India in terms of Indian.

Yardhouse and Morlein have great food and beer.

[dukesilver]

Downtown: Nada, Via Vite, Palomino, Jean-Robert's Table, Tom + Chee, Skyline

Over-the-Rhine: Bakersfield, Senate, Abigail Street

Clifton: Ambar

Northside: Django Western Taco, Mayday, Melt

[wambam]

Feb 18, 2015 19:40:41 GMT -5 shoeless said:

I haven't been to Cincinnati since I graduated 10ish years ago (holy shit). Seeing these recommendations make me think a lot of things have changed since I was a student.

Definitely! There is so much good food now.

[moolarkey]

Skyline for the chili. Get a 5 way. If you think you don't like it, finish your plate. Wait a few days, you'll crave it.

Graeter's for ice cream. I love the Raspberry Chocolate - think they call it chip now, used to be chunk. They make all their ice cream, it is very high fat and very good.

We do not go there any more, the last 3 times we went we did not like our ribs, but a local favorite is Montgomery Inn, several locations.

If you want to try local pizza, probably the best known local chain is LaRosa's.

[Una]

Red Sesame Korean BBQ food truck

Brezel

Cilantro Vietnamese Bistro (try the fried pork rolls, OMG)

[mich1]

I went to The Pricinct many moons ago and just googled to see if it still exists. It does, but I don't remember paying that much or dinner!

It was very good.....but not sure THAT good!

[knx9211]

Uh my ILs live just across the Kentucky border and when we come visit the only thing we ever eat is ribs. Montgomery inn. I am FINE with this.