Wow! What a way to spend our 1 year wedding anniversary! I loved this place…read more It has been a few months since eating here but I still find myself thinking about it. Our next trip to Cincinnati; It will be extremely difficult to stay away from here. We spent the day in Newport and around Cincinnati and wanted somewhere nice for the occasion. I was iffy on this place at first... you can throw a rock all over America and hit a place with 'Barrel' in the name these days. The Yelp reviews swing both ways here but I'm here to tell you my take... because it swings so far towards the 5 stars that it's very much a 6 or 7 star place(maybe more). We gauged our arrival time based on other activities that day. We wanted ample time at the nearby Lego exhibit so when we arrived there, we made a reservation for 4:30-5. Eating early and making our way back to Louisville was a great idea. The entire time we were there, no one else came in so we had the entire place to ourselves(It was a Friday). The atmosphere is homey but during busy times, I could see it being noisy. The booths could easily fit 6 people comfortably... probably 8 in some cases depending on how wide some of you are. Special Note: This place highlights The Parrillada Experience for Two on their menu and we wanted it! We didn't order it because at a price tag of 130-and pictures online, we didn't want it to be a failed outing. After our first trip, The Parrillada Exp will be on the agenda next time. It's a mixture of different steaks, sausages, shrimp, sides, and salads. Definitely worth the cost. On to the food: Sausage App - Argentine Chorizo. Farmhouse Sausage. Grilled Ciabatta. Hearts of Palm. Green/Red chimichurri. Pepper Relish. I don't like ordering this type of dish when I go places because you never know if it's going to be delicious or very bad. It ended up being super delicious. We couldn't make up our mind which sauce we liked the best and which meat we liked the best. App PERFECTION! Land and Sea - This is what my wife went with. Asada Skirt Steak. Jumbo Shrimp. Asparagus. Red chimichurri butter. I had bites of the shrimp and it was good. I had to save room for my dish. Wagyu Denver Cut - I went back and forth. Lobster ravioli being on the menu almost made my decision instant but I was going back and forth between ravioli, steak, and a few other things. I asked the server which he recommended of the 4 Chef's cuts. He recommended two... one of which was the Wagyu so I went with it. I wasn't disappointed AT ALL. He mentioned that the Wagyu Denver Cut was a new addition to the menu... I'm not sure but you could definitely tell it was cooked, arranged, and presented with care. I savored every angle of every bite. We also ordered a side of brussels because of course! Originally we were going to dessert somewhere else but went ahead and ordered the Hazelnut Vanilla Creme Brulee here. Perfect ending to the meal. This brulee was light and had the right amount of crunch. It was also larger than expected. We had no complaints with this place. Easily one of the better restaurants I've had in Cincinnati. If you're doubting visiting this place, take the dive! Other notes: They have beer and a small cocktail variety but they primarily seem focused on wine(plenty of options to choose from).

I love this place!! The atmosphere is so comfortable and cozy and the service is top notch…read more So lets talk about food My hubby got a steak which he loved I got the salmon with a avocado chimichurri and potatoes It was the best I have eaten They also made the best dirty martini I have ever had What a wonderful dining experience

Had a great dinner with friends!! Our server vinny was a delight and we were on a time constraint…read moreand he was on it Food was delicious I ordered the salmon with a tuscan sauce It was cooked perfectly Others ordered steaks and chicken parm Also on order of fries for the table They were fantastic Some of the best fries I have eaten

Came here for a late Valentine's Day dinner. We had bar seat reservations. The service was awesome…read morefrom start to finish. Everyone was attentive without being annoying. We had some recommendations from the person sitting next to us which we were happy to get. The cocktail menu had classics but also some interesting new choices too. The food was awesome, one of the best steaks I've ever had. The shrimp scampi was also delicious. The butter cake, which was highly recommended by all, was awesome. Make sure you save room!

Thank you Maggie and Rubys Steak House for such an amazing night. There was 10 of us and the…read moreservice was amazing. The food was loved by all of us. Great steaks, lobster and sides all cooked perfectly. We also enjoyed the Cincinnati Reds baseball cap cake. i would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone.

The ambiance in the bar area is the reason to go to Jeff Ruby's. It's beautiful, particularly in…read morethe winter months. For us, having Cole Thompson as part of the team caring for us was an even bigger highlight. Cole is one of the kindest and most skilled servers we have had in Cincinnati. He has an instinct for exactly when and how to serve the table so as not to interrupt the meal. He takes quiet initiative to make sure everything at the table is as it should be. He is relatively new, and his hiring tells me new managers, like Daniel, are steering the restaurant in the right direction. Friends, I have been avoiding Ruby's ever since I took my out-of-town relatives there last year, and was completely embarrassed by the obsequious service we received. It was truly awful. It was cringe. The server enquired of, and kept calling my guests by, their first names. All the server had to do was see the looks on their faces and how they recoiled every time the server approached the table to see this was not appreciated. The meal was all about them, the servers. Their constant dialogue about themselves was disturbing and jarring. It was obvious to me that this patter was being taught. These servers were being formally trained to run the table as if it were dinner theatre. Gruesome. Therefore, I made this week's reservation with some trepidation. However, having Cole Thompson serve us changed all of that. We will be back again this month. Foodwise, the Freddie Salad is delicious. The king crab legs and jumbo prawn cocktail are exactly as they should be. I would appreciate a few simply prepared green vegetable offerings to pair with the steak. And for the menu items at Ruby's, the more simply prepared are the best. (By the way, "rare" really does mean rare for steaks at Ruby's! All other steakhouses in the area serve medium rare when rare is ordered.) I think Ruby's needs to bring in a young, innovative but classically trained chef to address how meals are plated and served, and to tweak the menu a bit. I think they need more flair and care at this price point. The organization showed this kind of intelligence when creating the new space, which feels fresh while still delivering the coziness imparted by tradition. The same constructive approach to the food would be intelligent.

Kelly is a great server and Clint knows how to run a busy business. We came to try it out after a…read morebad experience but that was an exception. Great staff and the food was amazing. Will be back

David was our server and treated us great for a Graduation celebration…read more The crab cake was a hit between our group and amazing. Sea bass was brain chemistry altering. And then the steak was cooked great, I would recommend the filet version of the Australian Wagyu instead of the strip. And the burrow style is unreal! You won't get that anywhere else. The atmosphere is very romantic.

Took a chance on getting into Sotto tonight. Drove down there and put ourselves on the waitlist for…read morethe bar. Love walking down those steps, waiting for your eyes to adjust, while knowing you're somewhere special. Luckily, after not too long of a wait we were seated!! We had the most amazing bartenders, Trevor was fantastic! They all were. We had another absolutely out of this world meal. Love their oil packed tuna, their bistecca fiorentina and the pappardelle al cinghiale!! Unfortunately, we had no room for dessert so we're going to have to go back again to eat more. Haha Oh and we actually tried their Blue Oven bread for the first time and it was incredible. What a fabulous restaurant! So lucky to have it here in Cincinnati! We don't even miss La Normandie anymore!

First time in Cincinnati -- dined at Sotto the evening after the Flying Pig Half…read more I went solo and sat at the bar. The ambiance is intimate and very dim, mostly candlelit. It's a nice vibe, though definitely on the darker side. I ordered the black kale salad, cappellacci (short rib, shallot, thyme), and the branzino. * The kale salad was solid, but a bit heavy on the pecorino. * The cappellacci was decent, though the accompanying elements didn't quite work for me. * The branzino was cooked well, but overall the dish didn't stand out in flavor. In general, the food felt underwhelming for the price. My bill was around $100, and I didn't feel the quality or flavor justified it. Some dishes came across a bit muted -- not sure if that's the intended style, but it didn't land for me. Parking in the area was also a bit inconvenient. Overall: great ambiance, but the food didn't meet expectations for the cost. I probably wouldn't return.

I've been to Blinkers Tavern many times, and it never disappoints. The atmosphere is incredibly…read morerelaxing, with a nostalgic, throwback vibe that takes you back to a simpler time. The food is outstanding across the board--from the steaks to the cheese sticks--but the real star is their bread pudding. It's absolutely worth the trip from anywhere in the tri-state area. Parking is also easy and convenient, with a garage right across the street, as well as their own lot and additional street parking. Highly recommend if you're looking for a great meal and an even better experience.

First time visit to Blinkers Tavern at lunch time on a week day. The interior has a cool vibe-…read morerelatively small space, but quite a few tables outside (warm weather on an early March day) that were all occupied. They have a charming patio at the back of the interior space as well. I didn't realize they have their own lot, but in case it's full, there is plenty of street parking nearby. The service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and kept drink refills flowing. We ordered the pretzel and beer cheese and the poutine for starters. The pretzel was huge and tasty. I didn't care for the beer cheese, probably because I was expecting a more solid cheese product. I would describe this more as a cream sauce. It didn't seem to have much cheese in it and was very 'liquidy'. Also the ramekin was only half full. If it had tasted better, I would have asked for more, but as it was not, we didn't even finish what was given. I thought it was a bit pricey at $12.95 for one large pretzel. On the other hand, the poutine was fantastic! A very unique take on the dish with a mix of cheese curds (although they reminded me more of pieces of mozzarella sticks), french fries and Andouille cream gravy. I ordered the fish tacos which consisted of Blackened Salmon, Thai Chili Sauce, Black Bean Corn Salsa, Pico de Gallo. My order came with two and they were fantastic! Since Blinkers is known for steaks, I will have to give them another try at dinner time.

Alara is a fairly new steakhouse in the Cincinnati area. What stood out to us was the outstanding…read moreservice we received. We were greeted upon entering my the host and manager Seated immediately at a pristine table. Our waitress, Devon explained several items on the menu and made recommendations based on customer likes. We started with the focaccia bread. Lightly toasted. With our choice of herb butter or olive oil. Perfect, we ate every bite. Then we had the beet salad Red & Golden beets thinly sliced with fresh herbs and goat cheese. A lot of thought went into making this dish perfect thank you chef My lady ordered the filet and I had the 14oz Choice Strip Steak. Both incredibly tender and served with a variety of sauces. Bone broth, chimichurri, and herb butter. All the sauces were fabulous with me, preferring the bone broth. Our side dish of roasted herbs brussels sprouts, and cauliflower in balsamic glaze, very tasty. We did the big finish with a large slice of delicious carrot cake. The host and the manager Mark came by and checked out on us to make sure everything was perfect, our server Devon made sure everything was perfect & treated us like royalty. Definitely a five star experience

Phenomenal experience this time around; I went by myself - I made a reservation expecting to be…read moreseated at the bar however the host informed me I would be kept company at the chefs table. (I will be booking this option from now on.) I ordered the surf and turf seasonal option with lobster and filet mignon cooked medium. I was surprised when a sea scallop I didn't order and a small glass of wine spritzer popped up but this is part of the chefs table experience - it was a sea scallop grilled with a chimichurri sauce and some crispy prosciutto. I would have never ordered this on my own so it was nice to try. I am a not a huge seafood person - the minute I cut into it I smelled the sea which was a turn off and I wasn't a fan of the texture but once I cut into tiny pieces and mixed with the sauce and the proscuitto I was able to actually find myself enjoying the dish plus boy did it look pretty coming out! The chefs table is nice because you get to watch everything be cooked - the mac and cheese looks amazing every single time - omg I must try it sometime. My waitress was phenomenal with purple and blue hair and the glittery eye shadow. She was so attentive and helpful. The steak was so juicy and cooked perfectly - I think next time I would get a larger steak or the grilled shrimp option as I wasn't the biggest fan of the lobster tail but still finished it. The salad was okay - I wish it had ranch instead. I also got the orange cream cloud for dessert to go which was shockingly light, airy and delicious - the citrus flavors with the passion fruit are so refreshing. I can't wait to come back and try something new . The place is beautifully decorated and they offer free parking options - the music is very low so you can have a conversation and even the chefs table wasn't too loud even though it was right next to the kitchen.

They give you champagne when you walk inside. The bone marrow spread for bread is a must try…read moreappetizer. I think a server mentioned it to us once, and now we do it every time but we take a mezcal or bourbon shot out of the bone as a "shot luge". Cool spot, small venue, great staff, and small menu too because it's all locally sourced.

Popped in for a bar seating reservation on a Saturday night and enjoyed the Chef salad, the cowboy…read morebone in ribeye for 2, and some wine. The atmosphere was cozy and the food and service were great!

So many delicious items. Pasta is very tasty. Dessert is amazing! Always great service here. This…read moreis my go-to place for business lunches and dinners with the girlfriends.

Cozy spot on a rainy night in downtown after an evening at the museum…read more The food highlights were the seasonal tagliatelle dish and the bread. I was driving so I ordered a "fauxjito," which was refreshing and tasty. Everyone from the hosts to our server provided excellent service. Would absolutely go back!

We celebrated my parents' anniversary tonight. The staff was so gracious with changes we needed to…read moremake to our reservation. We had great service at the bar and at our table. They allowed us to bring our own cake. They brought it out on a cake stand for pictures and then took it in the back to cut and serve it to us. They also had a card on the table for my parents. It was a wonderful celebration. Dishes that we tried tonight that were new to us: Mushroom Bisque - 8/10 Bread and Butter - 7/10 Burger - 6/10 Scallops - 7/10 Cannelloni - 8/10 Coffee - 5/10 Our favorites remain the fries with the delicious sauce 10/10 and the vodka rigatoni 10/10. Best smelling bathrooms in the city. Love the house wine, the bar, the patio, and the service!

The Davidson is a elegant spot across from Fountain Square. I've been here twice with my family to…read morecelebrate Mother's Day and they have made each occasion feel special with their kindness. The first time we went they gave flowers to all the women for Mother's Day. This time though they're weren't flowers, they were very accommodating. My grandmother had an issue with her food, they remade the entire meal though it did take a while they gave her a treat for the long wait. The server and manager were very friendly and apologetic for the inconvenience. The food is 7-8/10. It always comes out fresh and plated nicely. I ordered their chicken sandwich and that was good! My family shared a lot of our entrees, I feel their poultry and seafood are their best. The pork chop though tender, wasn't incredibly tasty. I have not tried a beef dish. The dessert was delicious! The manager recommended eating the pan a cotta and pan de crème together and that was soooo good! It was a nice, light dessert but very tasty! I would definitely recommend trying it