We did the tasting menu and it was absolutely fantastic. The service, ambience, and food were all to notch. Our server Cam was next level. One of my top two favorite restaurants in the city. read more

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We celebrated my sweet daughters birthday. What a wonderful restaurant. Everything is so fresh and delicious. Our waiter was a delight and I am mad at myself for not getting his name I ordered the duo ravioli short rib and wild mushroom. It was so delicious and rich and I was so full but so happy. Everyone loved their meal even my 92 year old mother who got the strawberry and fried goat cheese salad read more

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Still the best "fancy" place in the neighborhood. We popped in on a Tuesday without a reservation and luckily they had a cancellation and we got a high top in the bar. Sully was our server and he was fantastic. He basically ordered for us and everything was so good. We had two empanadas, bread, the scallop appetizer and the duo pastas. I'd order it all again, just fantastic. They have the best, most unique beer choices in the city. Not a big offering, but a diverse one. We'll be back for sure! read more

This is my new favorite restaurant in Cincy! Better than all the ones that you've heard of. It maintains that personal feel. Alfio is the chef/owner and really cares about his food and customers experience. It was hubs bday. We ordered the 6-course chef tasting menu. At $180 for 2, it's is an insane deal. We also did the wine pairing which is 6 wines to go w the 6 courses. We were told the tasting menu changes weekly. Alfio himself came out at the end of dinner and it was so fun to meet him and ask some q's about his inspo. Our server and the som were both very timely, friendly and knowledgeable. My fave course was a lamb chop & duck breast combo paired with Gorgonzola potatoes. The carrot spiced soup has originally sounded like the least appealing course, but it was amazing - thick, creamy, and just the right amount of spice. There was a lobster in puff pastry dish w a little bisque-like sauce on that was out of this world and the lobster was cooked perfectly. Decor was casual enough to make you comfortable. Noise level was medium. Could have a convo fairly easily. And the stemware for the wine was v nice. I hate when a good wine is served in stemware where the rim is too thick. So that's always an important touch. Cant wait to go back and get the tasting menu again. read more

This was our first visit and to celebrate our 51st wedding anniversary. The place is cozy yet not too small. We were seated right away and our server, Ally, was a delight. She was prompt and attentive as well as very well informed of the menu items. Ally asked if we were celebrating a special occasion and brought 2 flutes of champagne, compliments of the house. Considering we were there on a Saturday and the restaurant was quite busy our food came out in a reasonable time. My wife's house made cream of mushroom soup, the soup of the day, was delicious. She also had the pasta duo of veal short rib and wild mushroom. Again she said it was delicious. My flame grilled Caesar salad was an interesting presentation as well as quite enjoyable. The 10 ounce skirt steak was cooked to my preference, rare rare, and was superb. I enjoyed the grilled asparagus and the steak fries were cooked perfectly. Ally checked with us several times but not to the annoyance level. All brought a small chocolate bundt cake to share for dessert as a freebie. We shared the tiramisu and that was also delicious. All of the food is prepared in-house except their limited baking space means they buy their breads. I can say nothing negative about the food or service and the atmosphere is great as well. Ally was a wonderful server. Certainly worth the 1/2 hour drive from our home. read more

TLDR: We got played. I will start this review off by saying that as a former frequent patron, Alfio's has great food and great atmosphere. The 1-star, however, is for lack of professionalism and extremely poor customer service. Alfio's held a Valentine's Day giveaway contest (screen shot attached) to which I worked really hard to make my entry (a reel featuring date night at Alfio's). In short, they never followed up, never did what they said they'd do. I sent them a very polite, private DM asking if I'd maybe missed the announcement (which I know I didn't because I'd been checking back frequently to see who won). Next thing I know, their IG post has been deleted. It doesn't even matter to me that I did not win, it's the fact that they didn't even follow up on it which makes it seem like they just wanted free marketing AND to boost their sales during Valentine's Day week since one of the criteria of the giveaway was that you had to visit. There are multiple layers to this but those are the biggest. To not even acknowledge my message and then delete your giveaway post on Instagram because I messaged you? (it's still on their Facebook, by the way, which it looks like they forgot to delete). Screen shot attached. That's really scummy and unprofessional, bad business. We've been loyal, frequent patrons of Alfio's for quite some time now but this honestly really rubs us the wrong way. We will be taking our date nights elsewhere. read more

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As usual the food was very good. Unfortunately two issues compromised the experience. Our table was at the front of the restaurant and it was very cold and drafty plus the drapes could not control the glare from the sun. I would never sit there again. While our waiter was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, the time between courses and the wait for the check were excessive. We will return, hopefully without the issues we experienced this time. read more

We, a party of four, dropped in at Alfio's Buon Cibo: Italian Argentine Cuisine for a marvelous dinner. Alfio's is set on Hyde Park Square where the Cincinnati elite and young urban professionals congregate. Because it is right on the popular square parking can be an issue. We of course had made reservation at this high end restaurant well in advance. We found the restaurant to be comfortable and attractive. Despite it's upscale nature and higher than average prices we did not find it stuffy or pretentious in any way. Everyone was very respectful and pleasant. The service was quite outstanding in every respect. Our particular waiter had an amazing acquaintance with the menu and made many helpful suggestions. I notice that at least one reviewer complained about the noise level. We had no problem with noise. I will say that the inside is pretty dark and it was a bit difficult to read the menu. Our excellent waiter noticed this and brought a small light to our table to help us in this regard. Alfio's menu is well rounded, pricey, and in some ways exotic. While this is a top notch restaurant I will say that it is not a "perfect" restaurant: where would we find this? Here is how I will break the evening down. Ambiance....comfortable and attractive. Wine and cocktails very good. Service...outstanding, among the best. Atmosphere...pleasant. Food, let's talk about the food...pro's and con's. We started our meal with the Empanadas Cuatro and some special croquettes with multiple dipping sauces. These were all really great! Delicious. Rate them an "A+." The main course of Lamb Chops with white truffle mashed potatoes with caramelized Brussel sprouts and mint chimichurri was excellent. Rate it an "A." I ordered a salad ala carte which was a stalk of romaine lettuce supposedly lightly grilled with shaved parmesan cheese over it. Not only was this not worth the additional cost but it was a failure of design. I was so disappointed in this so-called salad, especially with the thick shavings of parmesan cheese which made it seem as if I were chewing pieces of tasteless plastic. Alfio's really needs to rethink this. Rate it a "D" for poor, certainly not something you want to pay for. The Veal Short Rib Stuffed Ravioli with a creamy white truffle marsala sauce was good but not great. Rate it a "B." The Gnocchi Bolognese also had the shaved parmesan cheese that tastes like plastic, otherwise it was fairly good with a tasty sauce. Rate it a "B+." The Smoked Chilean Sea Bass over a tasty, spicy risotto was very good. Rate it a "B+." The member of our party who had the Seafood Zucchini Pasta with sauteed shrimp and pan seared scallops said it was very good and rated it an "A-." For dessert the Apple Bread Pudding with apple butter sauce and a praline crumble was heavenly. Rate it an "A+." All in all, Alfio's is a nice, yet fairly expensive restaurant, with a very creative menu and generally delicious food. The service is outstanding but they need to revisit a few food items. The food is not uniformly outstanding. But, rate the overall dining experience Five Stars. We had a most enjoyable evening. read more

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Went last night for the first time and was not disappointed. Meal and service were amazing. Great wine selection. Fun atmosphere. Our server Peyton was super. read more

As a birthday gift, my son treated me to dinner at Alfio's Buon Cibo. What an incredible experience! Our server, Sully, was so personable and helpful. We started with the best darn scallops I have ever had! Delicious. After salads, I had the sea bass "Catch of the Day" which was phenomenal. I am a big sea bass fan and this may be the best sea bass I have ever had. The piece was so thick but so juicy...mouthwatering. My son enjoyed the lamb chops with mashed potatoes. We each enjoyed a dessert- the chocolate tort was my favorite. The dining experience here was second to none. I can't wait to return. read more

Incredible food, wonderful service, and relaxing environment. You cannot go wrong with any food choice here. We have been several times and the server always makes us feel welcome and comfortable. This is our favorite anniversary and birthday celebration spot. read more

Have eaten here a couple of times now and have to say it can't get much better than this. Dined here tonight for my girlfriend and my anniversary and had a wonderful experience. Tyler was our server and he did an impeccable job. He guided us through every menu and made excellent recommendations. The food and drinks were amazing as always. We will definitely be back for more!!! read more

Alfio's is incredible! It's the perfect place to go for a birthday, anniversary, or other celebratory dinner. The wait staff was so helpful and knowledgeable, especially Sarah! You HAVE to try the empanadas-- they're divine. Great atmosphere, great food, definitely worth the price. read more

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Absolutely amazing! This was probably the best dining experience I've had in Cincinnati. We went for a birthday and it couldn't have been better. The host heard us talking about the espresso martinis and had one made for right when we sat down (which was amazing). The restaurant was cozy but vibrant with energy. Our table tried several dishes but every was phenomenal. A must get is the empanadas and the braised shot rib, but I'm positive anything on the menu is outstanding. 10/10 must try in Cincinnati. read more

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I've lived in the Cincinnati area for my whole life and was shocked I had never heard of this place! I went last night for my birthday with some friends and it was phenomenal. Parking -- always somewhat difficult in Hyde Park square, but can't beat this location overall. Ambiance -- classy, yet not uncomfortable/overly formal. Nice enough for an upscale experience yet casual enough for a quick happy hour or big group dinner. Drinks -- the entire drink menu was so appetizing. I got the Nantucket Green per the waitress' recommendation, and it was incredible. Usually Gin is a bit too floral for me, but the cucumber made it very balanced and refreshing. I also had a Chardonnay -- the oakiest and most buttery of the options -- and it was marvelous. Food -- The entire menu was appetizing. It was so hard to choose, and I ended up being so excited about my entré I forgot to take a photo until it was too late (sorry, Yelp, but a good problem to have, I suppose!). All three appetizers we got were spot on (the empanadas were especially delicious), and our entrees were melt-in-your-mouth incredible. My husband and I split 2 (both Taste of Cincinnati winners!) -- the short rib ravioli and braised beef short ribs -- and they were phenomenal. I want to come back here again and again -- we've found our new favorite spot! 10/10 on all parts! read more

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Great service from Justin at the bar for dinner. So excited that they had great mocktails with NA spirits like this NA Aperol Spritz. Seafood risotto special was so good too. read more

Alfio's Buon Cibo - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

A great evening at Alfio's! We had a large party and our server was extremely attentive and knew the menu very well. He made great recommendations, pairings, and was very personable. The food was good. I had the chicken Parmesan which was a large portion that was easily shareable. The short rib gnocchi was a favorite at the table and the empanadas were a must-try. Finally - one of the best espresso martinis I've ever had! Definitely another must try at Alfio's. read more

I highly recommend Alfio's for a fabulous meal. It was a totally wonderful dining experience! I was celebrating my birthday. The evening started with a printed special menu with a "Happy Birthday to me" on the top. The chef, Alfio, signed my menu after we ordered. We had a lovely Prosecco recommended by our server Sully. The goat cheese and fig bruschetta was a perfect starter. Our main courses were outstanding. I had a stuffed pasta served over their amazing short ribs as recommended by Sully. Both my adult children had a perfectly done salmon dish. For the final highlight of the meal, the staff brought me the decadent chocolate caramel tiramisu with a candle. We will be back soon! read more

OMG went here for our anniversary because we always have excellent food. Service by Nicole and team were over the top amazing bruchetta, goat cheese salad zucchini seafood pasta and mushroom and lobster crab ravioli simply absolutely delicious. Espresso martini ended our meal made with fresh espresso. I cannot recommend this place enough. Always amazing! read more

Alfio's Buon Cibo - French 75 - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Food and service was great! Listening to the way the manager talks to her staff made me lose my appetite.

Alfio's is probably my favorite restaurant in Hyde Park. I've probably been 5 times and I've always had great service and food. The pictured short rib is a half order. read more

Alfio's Buon Cibo - Martini - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Food was good, but way over priced! We have come there many times before and it was not as expensive as our last visit. No prices on menu and bottled water (2types) were put on our table, served and charged for. Waitress opened 2 bottles without asking and we were charged for them. Total of 4 bottles. We never drank two of them fyi. Extremely loud! Patrons at bar were very well served and it showed. This use to be our favorite place, but something has changed. Between prices and noise level, it will be a long time before we come back. read more

The room was a little chilly. See The plates look beautiful. So much flavor in the fig salad. The duck fettuccine had little duck taste, but great fettuccine. The sauce was tasty. The chicken parmigiana was good. The wild mushroom ravioli thought it would have a white sauce, but the red sauce was good. The braised short rib ravioli was not as good as the reviews to my wife. My daughter loved it. The desserts are fresh. They don't start baking them until you order. Gelato was good. read more

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I've gone here three times and had a pretty consistent set of experiences every time. First and foremost - the fact that the "tasting menu" options are no longer there is a HUGE disservice because that allowed both a great price point, and an excellent showcase of their skills and delicious options. Second, the food - it's always pretty damn great. The only exception to this is that I've twice had bad empanadas (overfried or cold), and each time I was treated as if I was making it up, but they still replaced them (and each time the replacement empanadas were fantastic, so no points off there). The Argentine steak is ALWAYS delicious, and large enough for two good dinners on it's own. The raviolis are similarly sized, if you order two raviolis you'll have at least one to take home The salad selection is robust and full of tasty options, though the portions there are a little more reasonable. Lastly - The service is always fantastic, attentive, and genuinely helpful. The more I think about it - Alfio's is best enjoyed with a group, and a lot of share plates. read more

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Alfio's a very nice upscale Italian and Argentine restaurant. This is a great place to have celebratory dinner or an exquisite date night. Service was amazing and has a family owned feel to it and we felt very comfortable there and welcomed. The food came out fairly quickly but we were given sufficient time between courses to settle. The food was great portion size for Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week and we were pleased with the flavoring. I was surprised to see other reviews remark on the flavor as being basic when I found the dishes to be savory and seasoned very well but taste can be subjective. We felt the ambiance service and food was all what you expect from an upscale establishment. Tips to make your visit a success: 1) Make a reservation or eat at the bar. This place books up quickly so make a reservation in advance or you can come and try to find seating at the bar where you can enjoy your full meal. 2) Get the best of both worlds. The menu mixes Italian and Argentine flavorings together and while it may not be what you are used to I recommend delving into the finer side of things. Even their drink menu offers beers commonly found in Italy and Argentina, definitely worth a try. Take someone out or celebrate with Alfio's Buon Cibo!! read more

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Alfios is an amazing combination of Argentinian and Italian food. Outstanding service , awesome ambiance . Make sure to try the empanadas they are amazing. read more

Best meal our group has had in awhile! The empanadas were delicious in all four flavors and my pistachio crusted salmon with mashed butternut squash, broccolini, and balsamic drizzle was as yummy as it looks. Service was great and they even doubled my salmon portion because we had "such a long wait" (their words- we didn't think it had been too long at all). Best part was the apple bread pudding that tasted so good we finished it all even after our huge meal!! read more

Alfio's Buon Cibo - Pistachio Crusted Salmon - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I received an award at my work and wanted to celebrate somewhere nice. I saw the reviews on Yelp on Alfios Buon Cibo and was truly impressed. It is Argentinian meets Italian. Located in Hyde Park Square. We didn't have reservations but we got there pretty early and was seated right away. Our server was Amy. She's very detailed, friendly and attentive. They have an amazing of selection wine, cocktail and food. Simple but it was hard to choose. I felt like eating fish but the pasta looked delish. So my Mr and I got both so we can try. Tonight's menu: -Empanadas cuatro: spiced beef, spinach & cheese, hot Italian, and Korean BBQ -Henry Lagarde 2018 Malbec -Pistachio crusted salmon -Ravioli duo: short rib ravioli, angus & five cheese ravioli -Gelato: chocolate peanut butter cup and Argentinian caramel chocolate chip If you are dining in an Argentinian restaurant, you have to get their empanadas. Their Korean BBQ won and award and their short rib ravioli is also their staple. The empanadas had great flavor, their ravioli melts in my mouth. All homemade. But my fave was the pistachio crusted salmon. The pistachios were fresh and the butternut squash compliment well with the salmon. All perfect!!! We were still full but wanted the whole experience and order dessert. If you check in on Yelp, you get a free scoop of gelato. It was hard to choose so got two scoops. Wow! The Argentinian was perfection. Very rich and flavorful. Overall, I have to say everything was epic. Good thing we parked a street away because I needed to walk off the food I ate. I definitely I can see us returning. I have to rank this place along the same lines as Sotto. If I want quality pasta or grilled Argentinian steak, I can come here. Plus it's closer to home. read more

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Ravioli, skirt steak, scallop shrimp pasta, everything is good here. Especially the bread and that compound butter...yum!! The service could be a bit speedier. We waited quite a while for our drinks, and the bread (which was the best part) came out after our entrees were finished. Dessert is also good here, and staff is friendly. Cocktails are also amazing. Perfect for a double date night. Would return read more

Alfio's Buon Cibo - Five Cheese Angus Ravioli Crab and lobster ravioli - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I really enjoyed my experience here!! The service was amazing, he was very accommodating to my tree nut allergy with the chef. I really appreciated that. We ordered a delicious Spanish Red Blend to start us off and it was so amazing! We also got the Goat Cheese Bruschetta, it was good. I thought it was very very rich, almost overly rich. It was a lot to eat, in my opinion. Next, we got the ravioli duo with the Short Rib Ravioli and Wild Mushroom Ravioli. The Short Rib Ravioli came with a delicious Marsala sauce and it was so amazingly creamy. The Wild Mushroom came with a spicier tomato sauce that I really enjoyed as well. Great entrees! For dessert, we got the peanut butter gelato and it was amazing! The Goat Cheese Cheesecake was also extremely delicious. A really great place and ambience inside. The service was wonderful. Good drinks and good food! read more

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The service is excellent at this Argentinian-Italian restsurant. A major drawback is how noisy it becomes when full. Attention to softening hard surfaces would allow diners to have a conversation where they could hear each other. The food is good, but very rich. read more

My go-to spot for a top tier meal. Alfios menu is a unique variety and that's why it's perfect. Whether it's date night, I have family in town, or just want a final stop for dessert on a night out, Alfios is my restaurant of choice. I always recommend it to friends and those new to the city. Things to try: -The empanadas -Gnocchi -Chicken Parm -The Raviolis -Short Rib Everything on the menu is amazing... once you try it, you'll be booking your next visit to try something more. Helpful to know: save room for the desserts, they are homemade. They have the BEST ESPRESSO MARTINIS in the city. The wine list is expansive. Chef Owned. read more

Great spot. Waitstaff was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and the food was amazing. Menu had a lot of options and they do change the menu for the seasons read more

Alfio's Buon Cibo - Short rib and gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Celebrated my birthday here, excellent food, service and atmosphere. Had the Caramelized Brussels and Fig w/goat cheese bruschetta to start. Sooo good! Then couldn't decide which ravioli to order so went with the duo. Great choice! We sat at the bar rather than a table, bartenders Brian and Amy were outstanding! Will be back soon read more

Alfio's Buon Cibo - Ravioli Duo - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Food was outstanding! Waiter was very knowledgeable! Atmosphere lovely. Highly recommend and plan to return! read more

Alfio's Buon Cibo - Waugh short rib over polenta. - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Italian AND Argentinian cuisine?? Those two together made alone made Alfio's a mandatory must try for my lady and I recently. And was it as good as it sounded? Even more so! Honestly, if I could give this place SIX stars, I would do so. We stopped by on a Friday evening, partly to celebrate my lady receiving a special award from her work, and it wasn't too busy at all, so we were seated right away by a very friendly hostess. The food menu isn't huge but has a great variety. The wine menu is VERY extensive with a plethora of options and price ranges. They also have a nice beer and mixed drink selection. Our server, Amy, was very friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to assist in any way. She told us all about the menu, gave some suggestions of her favorite dishes, and helped suggest a good red wine to pair with our meal. We started with a bottle of Henry Lagarde 2018 malbec and the quatro empenadas. The empenadas looked great and tasted even better. Plus they all went very well with the wine. I think our favorite of the four (spinach & cheese, hot Italian, spicy beef, and Korean BBQ) was the Korean BBQ. It was so unique and the yum-yum sauce really kicked the flavor up a notch. As for our entrees, my lady ordered the pistachio crusted salmon, and I ordered the ravioli duo (short rib ravioli and angus beef & five cheese ravioli). I love that they give you the option of trying two raviolis just in case you can't decide on only one. Of course, my lady and I shared our dishes, so we could both have the full experience. Every bite was phenomenal! All the elements of her salmon dish were expertly balanced from flavors to texture combinations. My ravioli was amazing! Hard to choose which was my absolute favorite because both were immensely delicious. After all that goodness, you'd think we might not have any room for dessert, but the homemade gelato sounded too good to pass up, so we ordered a scoop of chocolate peanut butter cup and a scoop of Argentinian caramel & chocolate chip. You couldn't pick a better dessert to finish off a great dinner! Both gelatos were rich and super creamy. The Argentinian caramel tasted like a decadent dulce de leche which I LOVE! Chocolate and peanut butter are usually my Achilles' heel, but I have to admit, I liked the caramel better, though both were VERY tasty. This was one of the absolute best dining experiences my lady and I have had in a while. Everything about it was totally enjoyable and exquisite. And though it's a pretty fancy restaurant, they didn't mind me rockin' a tank top and flip-flops. They still gave grade A+ service. No doubt my lady and I will be going back again. read more

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Argentine food plus Italian made me very intrigued. First heard of this gem at The Taste of Cincinnati. I was sold at the taste when I tried the Korean empanada. The ambiance was romantic with burnt orange paint, some exposed brick and dim lights. Tyler was our server and he was great from start to finish. He took the time to explain about the restaurant and the menu which we appreciated. The short rib gnocchi was good, it didn't knock my socks off but it was good. I think the dish needed a tad bit of salt. The short rib ravioli was flavorful with a hint of sweet once it really hits your taste buds. Everything was fresh and you can tell they take a lot of time to perfect their dishes. I would definitely go back, especially for empanadas and short rib ravioli. Oh and the mussel broth was amazing. read more

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I cannot recommend this restaurant enough! I am traveling for work and I decided to take myself on a little date as I've never been to Cinncinati and this place was perfect. Amazing atmosphere, the sweetest and most knowledgeable staff, and FANTASTIC food & wine. Eric (I believe that was his name) was incredible. He knew everything about the wine and dishes he was serving, and by the end I just kept telling him to surprise me with his suggestions and he did not disappoint. It has a very classy but comforting feel to it. Very very clean, and everything was brought to me very quickly even though they were busy. I cannot recommend it enough, it's perfect. I am hoping I get to return to Cinncinati because I will come back to Alfio's anytime I can. I had a lot more than the photos, and Eric brought me a DELICIOUS desert wine. This place is next level! read more

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First time here, delighted with ambiance, food and service were all excellent Service was superb never rushed Apple & fried goat cheese salad Braised short ribs (melt in your mouth) read more

We will 100% be returning here sometime. This place is delicious. We came for a delayed valentines dinner. Anything you get on the menu is delicious. Our server was a lovely and personable woman who made us feel right at home. The ambiance was a bit on the loud side but you could tell everyone was having a great time at their tables. It's such a cozy, romantic feel!! read more