My fiancée's boss decided to have our annual Christmas dinner here. I looked at the menu and was excited to try it! Tapas style and made by the awesome chef Jose Salazar. Described Moroccan inspired style. Their drink menu is very impressive! Nice wine and cocktail selection. All would pair well with your meals. We ordered: Drinks: -L'archetipi Litrotto Rosso (bottle/red wine) Dinner: -Crispy fried chickpeas w/ cumin salt -Warm marinated olives -Moroccan almonds -Medjool dates and cabra al vino cheese -Lamb tagine -Steamed little neck clams -Grilled Spanish octopus -Beausoleil oysters -Roasted beets and squash Our meals came out one at a time. It was hard to choose my favorite. The oysters were fresh and shucked to perfection. The chickpeas were light and airy. The clams were amazing. Loved the sauce l! The octopus was also delish. Was not rubbery and melts in your mouth. Everyone raved about the lamb! I loved cous cous that came with it. Overall all the meals were unique and had great flavor. We had such a great experience. The service was really good and I can't wait to tell my friends. I can see us coming back. read more

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Ambiance is great. The place is super intimate and beautifully designed. Food was okay. There were six of us. Those who got the octopus had great reviews. Two in my party got the cheeseburgers and they were still mooing when they came out. Both asked to send them back to be cooked longer. Fries were amazing. I got the Beef Kafta and while, good, it just wasn't worth the price. I think my salad was literally 4 pieces of lettuce. Drinks were delectable though, so if you just want nice ambience and a drink, I think the bar would be fun. Service was odd. We asked 4 times for enough menus for the 6 of us, and we ended up with 1 menu to share? Then we got hit with a tip service fee of 30% for a large party. I left feeling I had an appetizer for dinner. read more

My boss had been to this place before and thought it would be a great spot for a holiday dinner for all the work crew. He's definitely a foodie so I trust his word when it comes to restaurants. It was he, his wife, my two coworkers, and my fiancée, and we all absolutely enjoyed everything. The place itself is a little small so reservations are recommended on weekends especially. The food menu is tapas style small plates made for sharing. Their drink menu is very nice with a plethora of wine options by glass and by bottle. The service was amazing and all the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. Here's everything we had: -L'archetipi Litrotto Rosso (very versatile Italian red wine) -Crispy fried chickpeas w/ cumin salt -Warm marinated olives -Moroccan almonds -Medjool dates and cabra al vino cheese -Lamb tagine -Steamed little neck clams -Grilled Spanish octopus -Beausoleil oysters -Roasted beets and squash They brought everything out one at a time so we could enjoy it at our own pace which was great. The rosso went amazing well with everything too. One if my coworker ordered a Portuguese wine flight and loved it too. Hard to pick a top favorite dish but the oysters, clams, and lamb were certainly in my top three. I think we'll be going back again sometime. read more

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A dear friend/fellow Yelp Elite and I headed to Safi for some late night bites. We parked a few streets away and walked over. We didn't love a few stretches of the walk in the dark, but we did OK. We were absolutely wowed as soon as we walked into Safi. The decor and ambience truly transport you to another country. We found a cozy spot in the corner and settled in among the pillows and cushions on the bench. The food menu is really limited, but what they offer is excellent. There is great variety and there are options for Snacks and a few options if you are a little hungrier and need more of a meal. We got the burger, which was amazing! I don't eat beef, but I couldn't help but take a big bite to try it and it exceeded expectations. We also got fries with sauce and the dipping sauce is some of my favorite in the city! I would buy it in containers if I could. We also got a charcuterie platter and super enjoyed everything on it, especially the roasted eggplant. Staff were friendly. Safi would make an absolutely perfect date night, but was also great for catching up with a friend. 6/5 stars. Highly recommend! read more

I reviewed this place before and gave it 5 stars. Unfortunately, my recent experience has dropped it to 2 stars. Safi, you need to tell your people you are charging them 8.00 per bottle for Sparkling water when you offer it. Also, you need to.tell people what your large party/30% tip rpolicy is....last time it was 8, now it's 7? Our waitress was great, but the overall experience was super negative. Disclosure is important. The service we got did not warrant a 30% tip. read more

We arrived at 4:15pm on a Sunday after a Pops concert. This is a great spot to enjoy on a Sunday. There is half price wine, including bottles to buy to take home (which we have done). And the oysters are $2 a piece. We ordered a dozen oysters, the dates and cheese, and the fried chickpeas. With the comfy seating and pillows, it was like having charcuterie in your own living room. Our server, Eleanor, was lovely and attentive and did not rush us at all. We ended our time by ordering the most excellent scallop dish. The scallops were cooked expertly with sauces that not only looked beautiful, but complimented the scallops perfectly. read more

My partner and I ate here the other month and am just now getting to writing the review. The wine was great, and I had the burger and he the duck. The food and service were definitely something to write home about, and the restaurant is cozy. read more

Safi has quickly became one of my favorite spots! Their cozy atmosphere is so welcoming and their servers always have a great wine recommendation if I'm not sure what I want that day. I love their weekend happy hour deal with half off wine pours and bottles from 12-4. They also have an oyster deal then. Great small bites here too and they have some entree options I need to try as well. read more

Safi - Red wine - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Really enjoyed this small plate restaurant. Service was good. Wine was good. Small plates were excellent. Three of us shared 4 dishes and it was more than enough. It was a little on the pricy side. Though if looking to treat yourself to wine and apps- this is top notch! read more

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I have wanted to try this place for awhile and it did not disappoint. The ambiance is so cool! You really feel like you've entered a Turkish den. Everything we tried was tasty, but I loved the Zalouk. Very comprehensive wine list with options by the glass and bottle. Parking was a bit difficult, but there are a couple of lots close. Christina was an excellent server, very knowledgeable and friendly. read more

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I was a bit annoyed when they closed Salazar but this exceeded my expectations. The vibes, food and service remind me why the previous restaurant and this restaurant will last. Definitely not my last time here, I really really enjoyed myself. P.S. Don't skip the chicken cigars! read more

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Cocktails were phenomenal - would totally recommend the strait of Gibraltar and Marrakech Mirage cocktails. Food was great, though a bit salty. Perfectly cooked octopus and branzino. Service was really good with our waitress checking in on us several times and making recommendations based on our interests. Ambiance has vibes and is cozy, with booth-like seating adorned with pillows. read more

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We were looking for a lunch place in OTR and chose Safi based on wine and small bites. Fried oysters were good but not anything to draw you there, with not much flavor overpowered by the heavy breading, later to discover that is where the couscous was. Our server was not very attentive, took forever to get the wine bottle, then just poured my glass with no tasting to ensure it was ok. When I asked why not, he said because we tasted the other bottle and they are the same...Salazar would not be happy with that. We also never heard of specials, until we saw table of fresh oysters next to us. Octopus Al Plancha was probably best dish, yet burnt piece which my husband liked the smokiness. Not sure we would return other than to be served drinks by bartender. read more

Safi - Fried Oysters - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The food was very good, the service excellent. We will go back even though it is expensive.

Intimate wine bar, always packed for good reason! Wine is superb and servers always have a good recommendation. Bar seating, outdoor, and indoor cozy nook seating. read more

Safi - Olives, wine - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Great night tonight catching up with friends at new Safi Wine bar. We had a wonderful time, it felt like you were in a wine & tapas bar in Spain. We enjoyed a bottle of white wine, refreshing on a hot summer night And enjoyed the small plates the chicken cigars & eggplant (we enjoyed so much didn't capture a photo) and the Beef Kefta -wow was delicious we ordered two servings. All of the flavors & sauces were really good Stop by and enjoy a wonderful oasis in OTR read more

Safi - Chicken Pastilla Cigars - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I like the space and vibe, but I think they need to work on their food. Not many vegetarian options (no mains), spices were a bit off or too aggressive for the Cincinnati population. Didn't eat much but felt incredibly full by the end of the meal. Overpriced too (5 dates and 5 pieces of cheese for $15). Great service! read more

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Love the food and ambiance of Safi! The wait staff is always attentive. The carrot harissa salad and kefta are must orders! read more

Safi - Lamb Tagine - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Delicious food, as expected! :) Do yourself a favor and order the beef kafta!!! YUM. We also ordered the warm olives, shaved duck (very thin but I thought it had a good taste), zalouk, and an order of briwat (was hoping for more of an almond or marzipan taste and texture but was a very simple pastry). Ambience and decor was fun, we came in a Friday around 6/6:30 and were seated right away in a cozy, pillow-y nook. read more

Love this new restaurant. The dinner room is cozy and the staff beyond helpful explaining the different dishes. The small plate style allows you to have the opportunity to try multiple dishes in one setting. And Safi has the BEST sangria I have ever had - a must try!! read more

Safi - Sangria - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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As others have stated, small and cozy with limited menu but romantic and cozy. We sat at the bar and enjoyed our cocktails, wine and food, service was very slow but I feel like it's somewhat intentional as the vibe is relaxed and meant to be savored. My only note is that the food was a bit overly salted, maybe backing off a bit on flavors and salt would be better. read more

This place is amazing and the chef truly impressed me knowing that he is not Moroccan. Amazing place

I do miss the old restaurant, however it will be soon forgotten. This Moroccan fare new restaurant is a vibe. It's a great new art added to OTR. It's dark , moody and inviting. The service was pretty good. They were pretty busy for a Thursday evening but they had plenty of seating. They have outdoor and indoor but open seating. This chef always delivers when it comes to food. This is tapas and small plates. Try a few things or try one thing. You will not be let down. This is in my top 3 for 2024. This place is worth looking for the parking! read more

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This is in the former Salazar space which was one of my favorite restaurants in Cincy. Safi feels like a completely different space - I love what they've done with it! A cozy wine bar that makes you want to stay a while. We got the lamb & couscous. The flavors were great and this restaurant definitely brings something different to the city. Cocktails and wine were great also! Looking forward to trying the tea service next time. read more

Safi - Lamb & couscous served in a clay pot! - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Safi is at the top of my list for favorite restaurants now. The food is absolutely mindblowing and the cocktails are the same! Don't miss out on the preserved lemon honey in the cocktails or the preserved lemon sauce with the beef kafta. The chicken pastillas were divine and the eggplant dip with fresh bread was INCREDIBLE. 10000/10 I cannot wait to return! read more

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I adored Salazar, so I couldn't wait to try Safi! Very different but equally amazing. I went on a whim with two friends and we were seated at the bar right away. After perusing the beautifully curated list of cocktails, including zero proof, we turned to the food. The Zalouk dip was so savory with strong flavors of cumin and perfectly cooked eggplant. The accompanying bread was the perfect complement not just for this dish, but for our meal. Next up was the beef kafta. This was probably my favorite. The char on the beef was lovely as was the sauce that came with it. Finally, the chicken pastilla. My friend described it as a combination of chicken and funnel cake. If you love the sweet and meat combination like I do, you will be very happy. I was "full" walking into the restaurant, but yet I finished every bite. Safi is simply irresistible. read more

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Stopped in for a bottle of wine on a Saturday evening. We awkwardly stood inside the front door for a full five minutes while customers stared and no one from behind the bar noticed us. A sweet customer nearby told us we could choose our own seats and order at the bar. I proceeded to stand at the bar for another few minutes waiting to order. It was not busy enough for this type of service, in my opinion. In general I felt like a nuisance to the staff - not ideal. I ordered our bottle of wine and went to sit down. From there we had a lovely time, good wine and cute atmosphere. I was surprised no one ever brought water or asked if we wanted to order food. If this is a seat yourself, bar service only concert, it would help first-timers to make that clear with signage or friendly staff. It has great potential to be a cozy, welcoming wine bar but could use some work educating the customer and making them feel welcomed. read more

I have been to Morocco and eaten some of the best food there. The food at Safi is pretty close and excellent. The chicken pastels are very similar to what you get there. My favorites include lamb tagine, chicken pastels, fish, and carrot salads. The lamb is perfectly cooked and not too gamey. The servers are great there. The wine selection is excellent, too, and it is a lovely, cozy little place. read more

Safi - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We were so excited to go here based on our love for ethnic food the great reviews Safi has received. To be succinct, the service was slow and the food was good, not great. The restaurant is really small, however, we viewed that as a plus as it gave it character and had a very quaint ambience. Not sure we would go back but still think it is worth a try if you have not been. read more

Cute ambiance for girls night or date night! Game here on a Friday evening for after dinner drinks. They have such cute decor and dim lighting to set a mood. Waiter was super friendly. I wanted a saffron drink but not tequila so I asked him to see if the bartender could make something similar to the STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR but w/o tequila and they did an amazing job. It was refreshing but a bit sweet, however perfect with some sparkling water. We also got the ZALOUK and BRIWAT to snack on. The bread was so soft and flaky. It's a house made Moroccan bread and I could have just eaten 5 loaves of this :) The eggplant was very flavorful but felt it was a bit too salty. I don't like that much salt in my savory dishes but the flavors were on point. The dessert reminded me of baklava! It was just the right amount of sweet, crispy/flaky and light flavored. I will definitely get this again! You also got 4 pieces for $10 which was a great option. Overall, enjoyed our drinks and light bites and will be back to try some more things! read more

Safi - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Horrible customer service here. No flexibility with reservations and will charge you $25 a person. Have frequented this in the past for drinks and will never return. Not only that but the manager is incredibly rude read more

Safi is a small intimate beautiful place that offers amazing small dishes of middle eastern and Moroccan dishes. The wine is amazing and creates a great pairing. Service was wonderful and very attentive. This place is a little pricy but the food is worth it. read more

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Atmosphere and staff are warm and cozy. Food was delicious! This is a place to spend time slowly. Tapas and wine. It was a great experience!

Safi is a cute addition to OTR. I Went with 5 people mid afternoon and tried the cheese and dates and the eggplant and enjoyed both. We also all got different drinks including 1 NA drink. I got the sangria and it was light but flavorful. As a vegetarian there were 3 or 4 things options. I definitely see using this as a meeting place with friends when looking for a snack and friendly atmosphere. read more

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Safi exceeded expectations- we started with the warm olives and duck cured meat. Then we made our way to the entrees and enjoyed the beef kafta! Wonderful flavors!! The zalouk was great- a tad cumin heavy but still delightful. This has to be our new favorite date spot! The staff was knowledgeable and kind. Overall I think this is the next cincy hot spot. - E+J read more

Safi - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Lovely little place, with a delicious selection of small plates, and excellent attentive staff.

Amazing canned beer selection. I had the Anti Hero and the Pilsner from Istanbul. We are love warm olives and these definitely hit the spot.

We miss Salazar but this is a fun new spot. Menu is limited but we were just there for a drink. I got the STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR and it was really good. We shared the BEEF KAFTA and that was very tasty too, and salty. read more