Got their breakfast brunch menu- food was good! Burger was big, and tasty. Been here a couple times and the food never disappoints. Only thing i'd say is our waiter wasn't the greatest. She talked very low, didn't refill our drinks and then didn't bring out any silverware. We had to go find her to ask her about it as we were in the very backroom by ourselves. We didn't let it effect the vibes tho! read more

Allyn's Cafe - Breakfast Brunch Burger w/o sausage - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Friendly service and good food. We went on a slow Sunday afternoon. It was hard to choose but our server directed me well with the blackened chicken with sides of dirty rice and gumbo. He told me gumbo was his favorite menu item and I have to agree it was fabulous. He also let my husband tweak the Allyn's platter to his liking - making the catfish blackened instead of fried and subbing extra shrimp instead of crawfish. We will be back! read more

Allyn's Cafe - Blackened cat fish, shrimp poppers, hush puppies with side of Mac n cheese - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We ate dinner at Allyn's and loved our waiter. He was personal and attentive. Three in our party had the Philly cheesesteak with chicken and they all loved it. I had the dirty rice with grilled shrimp. It came with cornbread, which was moist and had a nice subtle flavor. My shrimp was grilled to perfection. read more

Tried Allyn's for the first time on a Friday night and there was a good crowd but we got seated right away! We ordered some sides to share before our meals and the Cajun fries were soo good. Our server had the answer to any question we asked (a lot) and was really helpful! The dirty rice was amazing - it was like a toned down jambalaya- definitely a must get side dish! The flavor in the mardi gras noodles was amaaazing!!! I was also shocked at how the regular jambalaya and vegan jambalaya tasted so similar - the only difference was the regular one having a bit more spice. This was also my first time trying catfish and this was cooked perfectly - like melt in your mouth with great flavor and it was breaded /fried perfectly. Can't wait to come back! read more

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We enjoyed our dinner at Allyn's where I choose to eat the soup sampler with delicious chili and jambalaya. The corn bread was amazing and the service was fast. The restaurant doesn't have a lot of parking but across from the restaurant there's a big parking lot. The restaurant is pretty big and has a bar to sit at. I really appreciated the gluten free, vegetarian and vegan choices they had on the menu. read more

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finally got around to popping into Allyn's on a monday afternoon & it was SO good. service was great and the food was delicious & filling! my boyfriend was very happy to see bell's two hearted on tap (i guess cincy doesnt have a lot of that around here hahah). happy hour options were good & $1 wing monday special was worth it! read more

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Allyn retired and sold the place to the Fireside Pizza guy, Sam. We love Fireside, so I wasn't worried that Allyn's was going to be in great hands. We confirmed that with a visit Saturday night. I had the blackened swordfish, which came with two sides. I picked the macar and cheese and a side salad. Everything was as yummy as ever. Go support this local business, and visit Andrew behind the bar. read more

First time trying this place, but it won't be the last. I had a really nice burger that was cooked exceptionally well. The Cajun fries were hot, fresh and spicy too. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly. This place has a comfortable vibe as well. Can't wait to come back and try more Cajun cuisine. read more

Allyn's Cafe - Blackened burger with pepper jack cheese and Cajun fries. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Love the Jambalaya at Allyn's Cafe. The rest of the Cajun food is also fantastic. The prices are excellent and the servers are very attentive. The restaurant is cozy and you feel like you are in the bayou a little bit. read more

I, perhaps, didn't order a dish that fits my tastes. The etouffee was bland so I used a couple of the hot sauces I saw at the bar. I then was able to finish my food, I just wouldn't order again. My hurricane cocktail was really delicious. I also liked that the cornbread wasn't super sweet. read more

Excellent food and service! It is a casual place that has a lot of history and has been around more than 30 years. I think it started out as a blues club. There's a bunch of nostalgic memorabilia on the walls. They have a pretty large menu that also includes gator. There's a cute little patio out back. They sell beer and wine. You can buy beer by the 6 pack and wine by the case. The food was good hot and tasty. read more

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This place has so many vegetarian / vegan options! It has a fun dive bar feel and showcases New Orleans style drinks and food. They even have hurricanes on the cocktail menu! We ordered the mozzarella sticks which were great with the tomato sauce. Also ordered the the jackfruit bbq sandwich. It could have been seasoned and sauced a little more but overall good portion and something different. It comes with a small side of coleslaw and your choice of another side, we got the Cajun fries which were delicious!! These were perfectly seasoned and we got bbq and chicago sauce for dipping. Also ordered the vegan hot dog but got it with regular cheese. The chili is so hearty and the vegan dog is flavorful. The side we chose was broccoli which was simple steamed broccoli but tasted great! You can ask for a hot sauce caddy that has 4-5 hot sauces , some made in house! It can be difficult to find street parking so give yourself enough time. Also a minor annoyance...the booths are positioned right up against each other so anytime the person behind me moved around in his booth it would kind of bump me forward so the whole meal was this back and forth booth back war which wasn't very pleasant :/ read more

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Unfortunately, I will no longer be eating here. Been coming here for years and all of a sudden everything has changed. The sides aren't the same quality, the meat is drastically worse and on top of that the prices of everything have gone up so much especially the drinks. The happy hour special with food is also gone. Service was fine. I ordered a "steak quesadilla" that typically was $7 before with actual slices steak. Instead I got a skimpier version with almost no cheese and unseasoned shredded beef that cost $10. read more

Driven past this a million times and finally decided to try it out. We sat outside on a nice patio and got to enjoy the Reds game on TV. Started with the quesadilla rolls and WOW they were so delicious. I got a burger and fries for the entree and it was well seasoned and perfectly cooked medium. I was pleasantly surprised how well this meal turned out and will definitely be back some time. read more

Wish I tried this sooner! Great vegan options and so tasty! I tried their pumfu for the first time and I'm hooked! Hubs got the vegan jambalaya (maybe add a bit more sausage?) and hush puppies. Flavors were kickin'! Only thing I wish they would offer is gluten free/vegan buns or bread (O'Dough's? Little Northern Bakehouse? Or Schar?). I'd love to try the burgers but having 'lettuce wrap' options just isn't the same. Not a complaint by no means, as food is great, just a suggestion for those of us that need gf options:) read more

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Used to be one of our absolute favorite go-to places for dinner, but gone downhill quite a bit since under new management in the last year. They've gotten rid of like half their menu, including favorites like fish of the day, quesadilla entree, vegetable of the day, much of their previously amazing drink selection, and several other things. Also, weirdly, they took down the pergola roof over the deck, which provided a bit of shade on a hot summer eve. And the service has been mediocre at best recently (had to ask several times for things like drink refills, ketchup, etc). Food is decent, but not amazing for price. Still wanna like the place, but please do better!! read more

We ate here for the 1st time and it was delish! The Mardi Gras pasta with gator was super good and the bread pudding... OMG! definitely will be back. The raspberry margarita was also very tasty! read more

Allyn's Cafe - Mardi Gras pasta with - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I hadn't been to Allyn's in many years, but on a whim we decided to go on a Friday night hoping to get a table on the patio, as it was perfect weather to sit outside. As we walked up to the building, we were both relieved and surprised that there were plenty of patio tables available on a Friday at 7:30. We walked inside to see the hostess, which turned out to be our server, and there was only one person seated inside, they were at the bar, but I'm pretty sure it was an employee. Once we were seated we ordered our drinks, I asked for a margarita. As soon as it arrived, I knew it was wrong. Its appearance was that of a pale Mountain Dew, so I feared it was just a pint glass of straight margarita mix. After a few sips my fears were confirmed. Rather than send it back, I waited until the server came back to take our food order, then ordered a draft beer. I was a bit disappointed that the server didn't ask if something was wrong with the "margarita", since there was at least 3/4 left in the glass, but as it turns out, that's how the night was going. She went in to get my beer, then quickly came out and said the keg had just blown. I was thinking that with 20 people (tops) being on the patio, and all the other tables were finishing up their meals, it was very likely that keg was blown long before, and she just didn't know it, but I let it go and ordered a canned beer. When our food came out, I had ordered the jambalaya, which is supposed to include chicken, yet no chicken was in my dish. The only reason I'm giving 2 stars instead of 1 is that the portion sizes were large. My wife and I both took plenty home, and while my food lacked a key ingredient, our dishes were good enough to eat (she had the Mardi Gras Pastas). To say Allyn's has gone downhill from what I remembered it being from years ago is a huge understatement. The lack of a crowd on a beautiful Friday summer evening leads me to believe their issues have been going on for some time. Hopefully they can figure it out and get back to being an above average option for Cajun food. read more

I came here a couple days ago with a group of five for my cousin's birthday. She had driven past the place a few times, wanting to try it, so we finally had an opportunity to give it a try. We ordered an appetizer to share of fried shrimp, gator, and hushpuppies. I'd never had gator before, but it was delicious. Almost like a cross between chicken and fish, with great texture and delicious flavor. The shrimp and hushpuppies were delicious as well. I ordered the etouffee with crawfish. I've heard of the dish before, but haven't had an opportunity to try it, nor have I eaten Crawfish, so this meal was just an entirely new experience for me. Around the table, the rest of the group ordered some other cajun staples; Fried Shrimp Po'Boy, Dirty Rice, and there was a genius mix and match three "soups" which allowed my wife to get a portion of Vegetarian Jambalaya, Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, and Turkey Chili. We all shared, so I got to try just about everything. The Jambalaya--despite being vegetarian--was absolutely delicious. Great spices, vegetables, and even the vegan sausage had great flavor. The Sausage Gumbo was actually the highlight of what I had this evening. Such deep flavors: rich and spicy broth, delicious sausage. I'm not even that big of a soup/stew fan in general, but this just blew me away. My own dish, the etouffee was actually lower in my mind than most everything else I tasted. I needed to add a good amount of salt to bring out the flavor--it was fairly bland before that--and even then it seemed like it was missing something. Still tasty, but with a little room for improvement. And my cousin had ordered the dirty rice entree, which had a great level of spice and flavor, but was a bit dry. Overall, we were very satisfied with our dinner. The prices were quite reasonable--probably $13-20 for most entrees, which makes sense given the seafood and various spices/vegetables in most of the dishes. We had an attentive server, didn't wait too long for food, and had generally really tasty dishes. I'm confident we'll be back. read more

Great service & wonderful food. We tried the gumbo, jambalaya and a burger! Everything was amazing!

Been here several times over many years. Surprised I hadn't done a review. If you are wanting Cajun or Creole food this is 1 option in Cincinnati. The gumbo or Jambalaya was very good. My son had the seafood pasta and it was bad. They ended up taking it off our bill. Fish and chips is good. Steak and cheese hogie is decent. Salads are fine It's also a bar with music. Service has always been good. Has been around for many years. Parking lot is very small. Parking on side street. read more

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Good Cajun style food. Tasty drinks served up quick and cold. Eclectic decor with good service.

I've been going to Allyn's for years and really loved it. Unfortunately, the new owner has really destroyed the entire experience. The menu has changed, an item I have ordered 2-3 times a week (yes, I visited often) - marinated chicken salad - was taken off the menu. Another item I always loved was the turkey chili. It used to be amazing! I don't know what they did to it but it is now horrible and has no taste. I also used to love their chocolate mouse cake - it was outstanding! Not any more. Their deserts used to be made in house - or so I was told. They substituted the rich, flavorful, chocolate cake with something they puchased somewhere and it is awful. Has no taste. It has a non - dairy topping that is inedible to me. It's not the rich dense burst of chocolate you used to get with the amazing cake they USED to have. The gumbo everyone loved is now watered down and difficult to eat. I tasted it after it changed and said to myself - why bother. It seems like Sam, the new owner, cheapened the entire menu to revert to products that would generate more bottom line - defeating the purpose of the small business owner theory of a specialized unique restaurant with quality food. Now it is more like a fast food restaurant. Quick cheap food that gets to the bottom line and a smaller menu that goes with it. Well, unlike Sam's other restaurant, the pizza joint, You can't fool the regulars and long time customers with the smaller menu, the changed and replaced cheap ingredients and overall lower quality of food. Just go ahead and call it a fast food restaurant. Unfortunately the old restaurant we all loved is gone!! When i complained to my server, she told me they were getting a lot of complaints. That speaks volumes to me. read more

Wonderful food & service! Went with family from out of town that are Vegan. Love that there are plenty of vegan options. Definitely recommend! read more

Allyn's Cafe - Blackened chicken with Dirty Rice and Mac & cheese - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We ate at Allyn's today for the first time under the new owners. My catfish was delicious and right out of the fryer. My daughter got the vegan sausage sandwich with onion and peppers and was equally happy. The server did a great job in checking back with us and keeping drinks filled. It was a nice day so we dined on the patio. Sometimes a change in ownership is a bad for business but in this case Allyn's is still a great place to dine. read more

Great spot for Cajun creole cooking! Allyns offers a good environment and great food! We have been going here for years. Service is always fast and friendly. Our favorite this trip was the gumbo, always a good go to. The ahi tuna was just ok, it was very heavily seasoned. Give this place a try if you've never been. read more

Allyn's Cafe - Gator shrimp and hushpuppies - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We tried to eat on the patio last night but the service was so bad we got up and left. We were seated outside and given menus. We were not brought water or any utensils after sitting down. After 29 minutes and not one person approaching the table we got up and left. As we walked off the patio it appeared that another table did the same but at least they had water. We always loved Allyn's in the past and this was the first time stopping by since the new owners. After this experience will most likely never give it another chance. Very disappointing l read more

We live in the neighborhood and really wanted a casual place to eat on a whim and have a couple of beverages. Under new ownership, Allyn's is now that place. It's clean. Service is very attentive. And the food is delicious!!! I'm craving the red beans and rice. Can't wait to go back. If you haven't been to Allyn's in a while, give it another try. read more

First off, I would like to say they have a great vegan selection. I'm not vegan, but I am allergic to milk. I tried multiple items like the vegan quesadilla (I added shrimp), vegan jambalaya, and vegan chili dog. My favorite was the quesadilla. It was crispy on the outside, lots of melted vegan cheese and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. The vegan chili dog was okay. I wish the vegan cheese on too was melted and I wasn't a fan of the chili (too vinegary/sweet). The jambalaya was good and a little spicy, but on the dry and bland side. I will definitely be back to try out more items! Also, they do have a lovely patio for outdoor seating! I ordered take out, but would love to dine in with them soon! read more

It's been a hot min since we've been here. Extremely disappointed with the quality of the food. Wanted to support the locals during covid but shrimp po boy left much to be desired. Shrimp was way over fried and not tender with a rubbery texture. The cod fish sandwich did not have much flavor even with the tartar sauce. Wait staff very nice and personable. Wonderful outdoor seating which has expanded. Disappointed with the food. read more

Allyn's Cafe - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Love this place! Everything I've ever had here is awesome, and I love the variety of vegan dishes that they offer. My best friend is vegan and it's so nice that he doesn't have to "customize" a dish in order to fit his dietary restrictions. Fun, casual ambiance paired with friendly, efficient service make for a really nice meal! read more

The shrimp po-boy was delicious. Everyone was very helpful and quick. The outdoor patio was clean and plenty of space. Will definitely come back to try something else. read more

The menu said best chicken sandwich in the city and I believe it. One of the better chicken sandwiches I've had in my life and I'm a big chicken guy. Cajun fries were also really well seasoned. And the price on that meal was very reasonably for the quality! $13.50 for that! Only complaint is that they apparently cut costs by using some nasty off brand soda fountain supplier. Weird think to skimp on but I guess i'd rather then skimp on that than food ingredients. The sodas were nasty though lol read more

Allyn's Cafe - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Delicious! The food was phenomenal! Top notch from a southern food lover! The vegan cheesecake was a very good dessert. Not to mention they had a very large vegan menu which is always nice to see inclusivity. The waiter and the hostess were so kind to me when I was having an absolutely terrible night. They made my night turn around. The bar was also playing a hockey game which made my friend say that the atmosphere gets a 10/10 because of read more

Allyn's Cafe - Hurricane - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Hands down one of my favorite places in Cincinnati! Just tried this gem for the 1st time & I am in love. The food is fresh & perfectly seasoned, and the service was fantastic! They also have indoor & outdoor seating available for a safe & cozy atmosphere. You have to give it a try! read more

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Good food. Nice ambiance and pleasant servers. Several good vegan dishes. Decent beer list

Amazing vegan options if that is a requirement. But everything is so tasty. And cooked to perfection. Plus the staff is great, just be cool have some beers and\or cocktails and chill. I personally love the turkey chili. read more

Allyn's Cafe - Mix and match - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Cajun cuisine? Not really...it's not special, has no particular strong points...average and lackluster, don't get the attraction...

We went for lunch today on a recommendation. We both had the chicken sausage gumbo and it was so good! It had great flavor and plenty of meat. I had a half chicken quesadilla and my hubby had the chicken wrap. They were both good, chicken was tender. Parking lot across the street. We will be back! read more

Allyn's Cafe - Chicken Sausage Gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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First time here. We will be back. Not a chain! Food was wonderful and service was over the top! Daniel was the best!