Taryn was our waitress! The food was great. The atmosphere was pleasant. It was a little loud but…read morebright and lively.

The Alcove by MadTree absolutely knocked it out of the park. I ordered the smash burger, and it was…read moreone of the best I've had in the Cincinnati area. The beef was perfectly seasoned with a great crust, the toppings were fresh, and everything came together on a soft, toasted bun. You can tell they care about quality. I also tried the Seeing Colors, and it was just as impressive--fresh, flavorful, and a perfect complement to the burger. Every bite was packed with flavor. The atmosphere is welcoming, the staff was friendly, and the whole experience felt relaxed without sacrificing great service. It's obvious that a lot of thought has gone into both the food and the overall experience. If you're looking for an outstanding burger and great food in a fun setting, The Alcove by MadTree is absolutely worth a visit. I'll definitely be back!

My husband brought me to Baker's Table for my birthday dinner. I first became aware of this place…read morewhen I started getting ads for the chef's sourdough book on social media--got the book for Christmas, and apparently talked about that enough that he decided I needed to experience the restaurant! What's striking about the restaurant itself is how quiet and calm it feels. With limited nightly seatings and every dinner table doing the tasting menu there's a sort of orchestrated flow that permeates the space. Not to say energy is low or it's so quiet you feel self-conscious talking; it's just that nothing about the experience feels rushed or accidental. As expected, the bread course was phenomenal as was all the food we enjoyed! We opted for the wine pairing along with dinner, which results in about 1.5 or 2 full glasses over the course of the meal. The sommelier did an excellent job introducing and explaining each wine, as well as why it was selected to pair with each course. All told, a lovely experience and one worth repeating--and not just because the menu changes every season.

Wow! We went with a group of seven of us and were treated like royalty. Chef personally delivered…read moreour bread service and talked about what it was and how it was made. Each course was like a piece of art on the plate! This is one of those special 'splurge' places that leaves you wanting it again. The space is small and cozy seating only around 20 people.

Came to Cincinnati for a concert, initially planned to go elsewhere to eat but couldn't find…read moreparking anywhere. We stumbled upon Libby's and we're so glad we did! They had parking, and although they were full on reservations, 2 spots at the bar opened up and we grabbed them happily! First, the food was FANTASTIC! I had the Willy Burger and my husband had the fried bologna sandwich and we both loved what we ordered and vice versa. The sauce on the burger was phenomenal! The drink menu was extensive and looked so good but we were in a bit of a hurry and I'm 6 months pregnant so we settled for waters. Second, the service was excellent. Everyone was so kind and helpful. The ambience was great, I loved the big open garage door and patio seating they offered. The decor was so cute! We are bummed that brunch reservations for tomorrow are full, but we will absolutely be back!

We visited Libby's Southern Comfort on Tuesday. We had reservations for 12:00, but they weren't…read moreneeded. The restaurant is nicely decorated and is thin. They have a nice outdoor area, which we avoided due to the current heatwave. We ordered two apps - FRIED GREEN TOMATOES - Topped with Libby's pimento cheese, pork belly lardons, bourbon onion jam, and herb oil and FRIED CHICKEN SKINS - Hand breaded and served with hot honey dipping sauce. The fried green tomatoes were nicely plated, though the pork belly lardons and bourbon onion jam did not have the most pleasant color. They were good, but not as great as the description. Fried chicken skin is the thing! I first had it when we lived in California. An Asian market served them up thinly breaded and fried perfectly crispy. I just about jumped out of my skin when I saw it on the menu at Libby's. The breading at Libby's is thick. It's tasty for sure, but it's quite thick. A quick glance at the chicken skins and it looks like full-on chicken. Anyway, they were very good and I would definitely order them again. I had a taste of the hot honey dipping sauce because it spilled. It was good, but for me it detracted from the flavor I'm looking for. I had to have the FRIED BOLOGNA BLT - House smoked bologna, pimento cheese, fried egg, house made BBQ sauce, spring mix lettuce, & sliced green tomato on grilled 16 Bricks sourdough. First, it was huge! I could only eat half. It was very good. All the different flavors mixed together well. It was messy!! It was so obviously messy the server brought over extra napkins without us having to ask! Top Notch! Oh, the mac and cheese side was just okay. I barely touched it. The second half of the sandwich was delicious cold. It was also not messy at all. The leftover mac and cheese had turned inedible in the fridge. I did not mind throwing it out. My friend had the CLASSIC TURKEY CLUB. It was also huge and she only ate half. The fries were crispy and delicious. Mark had THE DOC HOLLADAY. He said it was okay. He also only ate half. I think he enjoyed the cold leftover more. I like the menu; lots of options. The place is cute. The staff is great. We'd definitely come back.

Tonight we had the...best...meal...EVER! We sat at the bar and it was nice and quiet. The seats are…read morecomfortable and Greg took excellent care of us. If you prefer a quieter setting, then eating in the bar is your best bet because the dining rooms do get loud. We started with the east/west coast oysters and they were so fresh. The passion fruit mignonette was the perfect compliment. I kept scooping out tiny spoonfuls and drinking it after we finished the oysters. The Fluke Crudo was fantastic. The combo of flavors and textures was a delight for the palate. The scallops over the miso leek risotto was one of the best scallop dishes we have ever eaten. The scallops were huge and cooked perfectly and there were plenty of pieces of leek in a lovely, smooth risotto. We're not a fan of hijiki, so the chef prepared the risotto without it - Thanks Chef Jose! And you would think chicken schnitzel would be basic, but not this dish. The chicken was so moist, perfectly seasoned, and pan fried in butter. We asked for the sauce on the side because we knew we wouldn't finish the big piece and wanted to heat it up later and still be crispy (which we did). We were amazed that eating the chicken, almond, asparagus, and some sauce in one bite, was SO good. The best two meals we have had in Cincinnati so far in 2026 have been here, and Mita's. Chef Jose is a real talent.

First time trying this spot after the old Salazar closed - used to be one of my favorite places…read more Overall had a great experience, most of the food was fantastic. Loved seeing some menu throwbacks to the previous restaurant. The rigatoni, beets, bread service, squash & fish were all delicious. We only had two sour notes all night - celebrating a birthday (directly told our server when she asked), and no birthday dessert was offered. Normally wouldn't expect that, but TWO tables next to us got a cake slice with a candle. It felt a bit rude to have our special night missed when others were acknowledged. Our table ended up ordering the chocolate cremeux which had the worst, over-smoked ice cream flavor any of us ever experienced -- mother of god. Not sure why that exists.

I'm not sure what makes this place the most amazing spot - the staff, or the food! Both are out of…read morethis world! I visited twice this weekend, and both times, the staff accommodated my weird asks! I almost never order an entree except to split, and for brunch Saturday, the bartender allowed me to order a single waffle and some of the most amazing cream on the side (on the menu with the dessert waffle). Perfect portion and I swooned! All my beverages were fresh and tasty, but my favorite snack of the trip was their chips And guacamole. I took the extra chips (made fresh) and they were still crispy the next day. MAGIC!

Nothing like a restaurant that makes good food and drinks. Cedar was no exception as they executed…read moreboth. Ivy was the server who provided some great recommendations. The Goetta is a regional dish popular to the area comprised of sausage and potato fried like a smash burger. It was packed full of flavor and was nice and crispy. A must get was the biscuit and gravy. Unlike the southern style which is usually thick and creamy, this has amazing seasoning, plenty of the sausage crumble, and rich texture. The biscuit underneath was soft and savory and paired very well in this dish. The filet and eggs were perfectly cooked and had good flavor. There were a lot of diced potatoes on the plate to enjoy which was also well seasoned and crispy. Lastly the big easy omelette was very good. I do like the fact it was plated on top of a piece of toast. The biscuit and gravy along with the omelette gave a very strong New Orleans feeling. The cocktails also hit their mark. Local distillery Riff was the maker of the bourbon for the mule. I'm not sure of their lineup but it compared to Bulleit Bourbon. Very stable in the cocktail without being overpowering. The hard truth was a coffee with a punch and a great way to start a vacation morning. The restaurant was deceptively large from its outward appearance. There is lots of seating available and the tables moved swiftly. The large garage style doors allowed for full fresh air circulation and opens the brightness from the natural lighting. Being a corner location they were able to maximize on the opened interior dining experience. Overall 4.7 out of 5

Absolutely wonderful dinner and time at Mid City. We visited for my mother's birthday and were able…read moreto book a table for nine of us. This was my first time visiting and the place is really cozy and nice. We enjoyed all the food we got particularly the tofu, croquette, petite filet and the baked Alaska dessert. I'm excited to come back with friends for another meal.

Came here last week and would certainly come back. The ambiance is nice and the setting is…read moreintimate. Get the sweet potato fries for sure! They have brown sugar on them which was unique. The steak was excellent but very small. We did not care much for the baked Alaska because it had mint chocolate chip ice cream in it. Was not what the online menu advertised. The bok choy salad was also nice. It's served cold but you can taste that it was grilled. We thought the fried sandwich was okay as well, not our favorite but comes covered in manchego cheese. Get a glass of the orange wine! It was an experience as they will bring each plate out individually! For 5 plates plus dessert the bill came out to be 100$. We were pretty full after but it is a small plates restaurant. Best for sharing.

Dependable, delicious, and De "Shires" is another great restaurant pre-concert and pre-events at…read morePaycor Stadium. The view is amazing and the decor is warm and refreshing. I've never been on the outdoor deck, but the views look amazing! The servers are attentive and support one another. There's a seat for any taste, from couches to tables. You have options. The bartender is fantastic. The cherry garnish on beverages is limited, but that's not a game changer. Love the crab cake and the spinach dip is tasty! The jumbo shrimp and scallops with polenta is really flavorful. Loved this entree!! When in Cincinnati, this is another stop for me! Thank you

After our happy hour drinks at Bar 901, we were trekking over to a different restaurant for dinner;…read morehowever, only bar seating was available so we went to plan B (which was this place in the AADVANTAGE dining program). Located on the 10th floor of an apartment bldg., this is a beautifully upscale and library quiet restaurant perfect for dining out on special occasions. We ended up ordering the meal for 2 @ 120.00 which incl 2 Caesar salads, big bite size pieces (2/ea) of salmon, filet mignon, sirloin, chicken, & 4 shrimp. You also get two sides of your choice in which we chose the broccolini and the mac n cheese. The food was good but a little too rich for my tastes as I felt like they cooked everything in butter. The broccolini was crisp but also felt heavily cooked in butter and cheese. We ended the meal with the berry creme brulee which was also very good. Views are spectacular and the patio is open; however, no dining service is available (you have to place your order with the bartender and pick it up yourself to dine al fresco). Overall, a very elegant and either casual/formal dining for special occasions. Food is good but didn't "wow" me either.

Sacred Beast delivers an experience that feels both vibrant and thoughtfully composed. The ambiance…read morestrikes a beautiful balance between relaxed and energetic, with a music selection that creates an atmosphere you can settle into while still feeling inspired by the space around you. From the moment we arrived, the hostesses were warm and accommodating, and the service throughout the meal was attentive without ever feeling intrusive. As someone with gluten allergies, I felt genuinely cared for. The team listened closely and offered recommendations that never felt like a compromise on flavor or creativity. We began with a dirty chai latte, aromatic and comforting, though I personally would have enjoyed a touch more sweetness. The dirty French, customized gluten free, was rich, decadent and deeply satisfying. It felt indulgent in the best way and showcased the kitchen's ability to balance comfort with culinary intention. To go, we ordered the crunchy chicken nuggets, fries and lemon ricotta pancakes. The fries were outstanding, perfectly crisp and addictive. My husband loved the pancakes, light and flavorful with a bright citrus note. The gluten free nuggets were enjoyable, though they did not quite reach the level I expected compared to the rest of the menu. Overall, Sacred Beast offers a dining experience where hospitality and thoughtful cooking meet effortlessly. It is a place that respects dietary needs without sacrificing taste or creativity, and one I would gladly return to.

Service was very good for out outside table. Quick drinks and when food was brought, it was hot and…read morecorrect as ordered. But unfortunately, my Lemon Ricotta pancakes - part of Diner Breakfast - were waaaaaay undercooked - totally gooey inside. I brought them home to cook them more in my toaster oven - but even after that they had a weird, gummy texture and were too sweet. Disappointing.