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    Scotti's Italian Restaurant

    3.4 (236 reviews)
    ModerateItalian
    Closed 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

    Scotti's Italian Restaurant Photos

    SCOTTI'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Scotti's Italian Restaurant

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    Rachel H.

    I have been eating at Scotti's for special occasions since I was a child. It's been a while since I've been in since we live out of town. The decor is exactly the same as it has been always, beautiful tile walls, Chianti bottles hanging from the ceiling, drip candles on all of the tables. It's quaint and romantic. The servers are all family of the original owner. The pasta is always spectacular in my opinion, sauces are flavorful. The minestrone soup was great, but the salad was amazing but too much dressing for my taste. The downstairs bathroom is in need of a significant upgrade. It's clean, but it really showing signs of its age. Scotti's Italian Restaurant will always hold a special place in my heart.

    We were there to celebrate our 53rd anniversary!

    So far the best Italian we have had. Service was great. You need reservations which we like. Cute little place.

    Cannelloni Lombardi
    Josh W.

    I planned a big get-together to surprise my lady for her 50th birthday here. I'd heard so many great things about the place so I had a feeling it was gonna be really good. It's amazing how long this restaurant has been around for five generations in the family and still family owned and operated. The place itself definitely isn't huge, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in character and quality. Overall pricing is pretty fair, especially one their bottles of wine, which are around $37 which is FAR less than your usual Italian restaurant. My friends and my lady all enjoyed the nostalgic atmosphere. Their menu was a lot bigger than I'd expected and loaded with authentic Italian goodness. Veal is their specialty but I'm not a fan of veal nor is my lady. She ordered the Spaghetti Pasquale and I ordered the Canneloni Lombardi along with a bottle of Toscano Rossa. Both of our meals came with soup and a salad as well as fresh bread. The soup reminded me of minestrone and it was very good. The salad took me a little off-guard because the lettuce and cabbage were shredded so it looked almost like cole slaw. It was still tasty and very fresh and crisp though. It wasn't too long before our dinners were ready and they did NOT skimp on the portions or the quality. My lady really enjoyed hers and I finished off all of mine (I almost licked the plate of the leftover sauce). This is one Cincinnati staple that I would recommend for any pasta lover.

    garlic bread
    Drew D.

    Hole in the wall italian joint. Scotti's is romantic and you should definitely come with a date. My gf is Italian and loves pasta, we saw Scotti's was recommend on a Instagram video so we drove downtown to check it out. First impressions when you walk in, it's dark. Mostly lit by candlelight, we were promptly greeted by the owner and relative to Scotty himself (we would soon come to find out) They have just recently celebrated 100 years and it shows. From the authentic atmosphere of the wooden mugs hanging from the ceiling, to the atomic smell of diarrhea creeping up from the basement. We were seated at a small table, second group in the restaurant. It's not very big, maybe 15 tables but the dim lighting and atmospheric table setting immerses you. The menu has alot of options. We were craving pasta, red sauce seemed like the move. On the left side of the menu, you can order pasta types, add sauce and toppings for a price. I ordered linguini with spicy meat sauce, it was closer to the bottom of the choices. And my gf ordered the linguini with regular tomato sauce right under it. We also ordered the garlic bread and wine waited patiently. The garlic bread was big, crunchy and tasty. A little too much oil for my liking. I'm sure that's authentic but it was soaked. The soup and salad came complimentary and we didn't have the heart to deny them, salad was soaked in dressing. Flavorful but soaked. And idk what those weird vegetable looking worms on top were lol. The soup was pretty good, but it was a lot and I was mainly hungry for the pasta. I ordered a simple red recommended by the owner, the house red. It was dry tart and fruity, I liked it and felt pretty good after. Gf got the moscato but wasn't as potent as she'd liked it to be. Pasta came out last and man, it was worth the wait. My spicy meat sauce was very good. Noodles were a little tough but nothing to complain about. Sauce was delicious and the perfect level of spice. There is some spice. Decent portion too. Gf - it was very yummy. The garlic bread was eh, but I would get the pasta again. The bathroom was kinda scary. The atmosphere was great and the business is family owned, down to the wait staff. It was nice supporting. I do have to mention the downstairs though. This is where the bathroom is located, and before you even open the door, the stench of sewage tickles your nose. Then you enter what seems like the back rooms, flickering light, creepy long hallway that ends with a very unfinished bathroom. It smells. But you can't smell it in the dining room. At least not where we sat. (Along the right side face the door)

    Minestrone soup.
    Michelle B.

    Scotti's has been around forever and is still as iconic as it was when I went for the first time over 30 years ago. The atmosphere is very uniquely kitchy and reminiscent of an authentic place tucked in the corner of NYC. The menu is extensive, spend a little time upfront researching the choices. I had the Veal Marsala which was fabulously flavored and chuck full of large mushrooms. It came with a cup of minestrone which was excellent, a chopped salad with a sweet vinegary dressing, and a small side of pasta with red sauce .Got an order of garlic bread and some meatballs. Tiramisu for dessert is a MUST have!!! Food was fantastic. Service was excellent. Sorry it took me 30 years to come back.

    Eileen B.

    It was our first time here and was glad we did. The atmosphere is very European with all kinds of wine bottles hanging from the ceiling. Our food was very good and you get a lot for your money. I ordered the eggplant Parmesan and it comes with minestrone and salad. My hubby got the spaghetti with hot sausage The only downfall was one of the staff. Our party was running late and she was not happy.

    Glenn C.

    I can't believe the negative reviews. Scotti's is fantastic! It has been over 20 years since we were last there. I love the atmosphere! 112 years in business not all in same location. Staff was all the family siblings. All the meals came with soup and salad. The minestrone soup was very good. The Salad was not typical but was like slaw. Very good. The choices of veal were many. I got the veal parmigiana. My wife got the Veal Marsala and son got the breaded veal with mushrooms and brown sauce. Each came with pasta and special Scotti sauce. All fantastic! We also ordered a side of garlic bread and side of meatballs. Everything was fantastic! We ordered tiramasu for dessert. It was awesome. We will be back. They do serve steak and chicken but specialize with veal.

    William B.

    This small place shoots above its weight. The food and service is perfect. No complaints. The vibe is everything. Professional, romantic, quaint, reasonable, intimate, wonderful ... just really perfect. This isn't fancy, but it is so wonderful and unique; it is fantastic. I will be back many times.

    Salad - comes with entree
    Meera K.

    Scotti's Italian Restaurant is 110 years old! The authentic pasta dishes are delish While it is located in the heart of downtown, it's still a little hidden gem if you haven't been before! You escape the sunlight into a dimly lit, traditional Italian dining space. They have a large menu with all kinds of available accommodations - music to our ears if you want to opt for a simple pasta and sauce they have tons to choose from! We thoroughly enjoyed : Eggplant Parmigiana - we asked for this with their spicy diavolo sauce and it had a kick! this dish came with a side of spaghetti with tomato sauce each entree also comes with a soup of the day (ours was a creamy minestrone) a salad and bread. *they were so nice to split this entree for us on separate plates! Manicotti side filled with ricotta covered in their tomato sauce - Cheesy, saucy, delicious. Cannoli - perfect crisp filled with luscious cream and chocolate chips topped with rainbow sprinkles. They only take reservations over the phone so call ahead especially on the weekends!

    Libby V.

    Though I reviewed, but Yelp tells me "No" I passed by this restaurant, which looks like a dump many times without going in. Then my son brought me here. I was amazed at the interior. Wine bottles hanging, and just a homey feel. Food was outstanding...with enough left overs for another meal. At a very reasonable price. I will never walk by again. That is my story.

    Linguine con Diavolo

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    6 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Amazing food and atmosphere. Loves the decor. Lovely family setting. The food was amazing.

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    6 months ago

    Overall great selection and service. Interior is dated but super cute, service is good.

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    2 years ago

    Great lunch spot! Food was delicious and fast. Menu is daunting but boils down to shape of pasta and what sauce do you want

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    Pepp & Dolores

    Pepp & Dolores

    4.6(1.2k reviews)
    0.4 miOver-the-Rhine
    $$

    We had an unforgettable experience at Pepp & Dolores last night. It's rare that a restaurant…read moremanages to combine incredible food with such genuine, heartfelt hospitality. My husband and I went to dinner for our 10 year anniversary after a very difficult week for our family, and we were honestly too emotionally drained to make decisions. Our server, Jasmine, kindly took the reins and chose our meal for us -- which turned out to be the best decision we could have made. Every single dish she brought out was phenomenal. We started with the artichokes, arancini, and whipped ricotta -- each one better than the last. Then came the lemon pasta, spicy vodka pasta, shrimp, spaghetti and meatballs, and veal scallopini. Everything was absolutely delicious and clearly made with so much care. By the end we were so full we couldn't even attempt dessert. What made the evening truly special, though, was the kindness of the team. Levi, the GM, went so far out of his way to make us feel cared for and welcomed during a moment when we really needed it. The warmth and compassion we experienced there meant more than I can adequately put into words. Restaurants often talk about hospitality, but the team at Pepp & Dolores truly embodies it. Thanks for an evening we will never forget.

    Our servers Gina and Chloe were amazing! Very tentative and had great recommendations and banter!…read moreWill definitely be asking for them every time we come back! Can't forget how amazing the food always is here as well.

    Photos
    Pepp & Dolores
    Pepp & Dolores
    Pepp & Dolores

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    Sotto - Cappellacci

    Sotto

    4.6(1.8k reviews)
    0.3 miDowntown
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    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.

    Photos
    Sotto - Inside (but better lighted)

    Inside (but better lighted)

    Sotto - Cacio e Pepe

    Cacio e Pepe

    Sotto - Sotto Ricotta Donuts

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    Sotto Ricotta Donuts

    Boca - Beef Wellington

    Boca

    4.5(714 reviews)
    0.3 miDowntown
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    We had an exceptional dinner at Boca! First off, big shout out to Seth, who is really wonderful…read more Secondly, to Katie, and lastly, to every other person who stopped at our table. Everybody, each member of the staff was fantastic. The pomme soufflés are out of this world. They are such a treat. We always love their Hamachi, specially, when they have it with the grapefruit and slivers of jalapeños. Right now they have a truffle Hamachi, which was really fabulous as well. Their foie gras torchon is also exceptional. We cannot wait for them to bring back the cod in buerre Blanc sauce. But last night we opted for the hamburger, which is quite the treat there. If you are a bourbon drinker, you should try their buffalo trace single barrel right now. My husband thought it was more delicious than most other buffalo trace, more of a cherry and vanilla hint. Anyway, we had a perfect night.

    We came as a group on Friday night, we were all excited as this seems to be the place to go in…read moreCincy. After our dinner, none of us get the hype. The location and venue are super cool, beautifully decorated and super interesting. The service is also impeccable, our server Lindsey was very knowledgeable and the rest of the staff seemed to care for patrons to ensure they had a great experience. However, our final bill came to over 900$ and none of us were impressed by the food. I understand fine dining is not going to be large portions, but 1 small scallop and 1 Brussels sprout for 32$ is insane. The rest of the dishes were fine, but in the same way they were very small for insane prices. The pommes soufflés are just French fries. There are so many better places in the city that you're not going to spend this kind of money and get such disappointing food.

    Photos
    Boca
    Boca - Halibut

    Halibut

    Boca - Œufs mayonnaise

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    Œufs mayonnaise

    Via Vite

    Via Vite

    4.0(827 reviews)
    0.3 miDowntown
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Luxury

    We made a reservation for the Chef's Experience, which lets you sit by the open kitchen and watch…read morethe staff prepare the dishes. My 10 year old was really excited about it. Our reservation was at 7:30 and we arrived around 7:25. When we got there I noticed the table near the chef's counter was still occupied, but we weren't too concerned since the party already had their to-go bags on the table. About 15 minutes passed and they ended up ordering dessert (slowly), so it became clear they weren't leaving anytime soon. The manager offered us a different table and apologized, but Lola had been really looking forward to the chef's seating since that's specifically what we reserved. In the end we waited about an hour, which was frustrating, especially since the other party could clearly see we were waiting. Overall it was an awkward situation to be in. That said, the staff handled the situation very kindly. The manager offered Lola a tour of the kitchen and the chance to meet the chef. My daughter was a little nervous and wanted me to go with her, but it seemed like the invitation was meant just for her and they didn't want adults in the kitchen (I get it!). The manager noticed she was scared and took her hand and walked her through the kitchen which made my daughter feel at ease. It was a thoughtful gesture and they were incredibly apologetic the whole time. Again, it was just an awkward situation overall. Plus we were starving. The food, however, was fantastic. The pasta was made from scratch and tasted incredibly fresh. The eggplant parmigiana was excellent, and I especially loved the "Via-misu." Despite the long wait, the staff was so kind and apologetic that it actually made us want to come back and try the experience again.

    After nearly 20 years, Via Vite still delivers. I'm between 4 and 5 stars here. Maybe another…read moregood visit will bump it to the next level. Our table had the short rib pappardelle and the lasagne. Generally agreed that there was a little too much bechamel with the lasagne, but the short rib pappardelle was fantastic. We had the prosciutto service, focaccia and the arancini for starters, and all were excellent. The Caesar salad was a little watery - like the lettuce was washed but not really dried. Our server (I think Beth) was perfect. Attentive, well versed in the menu, and quickly resolved a minor issue with the check very helpfully. The rest of the team was great too. If it was just for service, it would be 5 stars for sure. I look forward to returning!

    Photos
    Via Vite - The view from the chef's table

    The view from the chef's table

    Via Vite - Seafood Risotto

    Seafood Risotto

    Via Vite - Closing time so no patrons, still took great care of us.

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    Closing time so no patrons, still took great care of us.

    The Davidson - Pork chop with kale and squash

    The Davidson

    4.4(191 reviews)
    0.3 miDowntown
    $$$

    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

    Photos
    The Davidson - The Davidson, with a chocolate, olive, paprika, and gold color palette, was quite inviting.

    The Davidson, with a chocolate, olive, paprika, and gold color palette, was quite inviting.

    The Davidson - Scallops

    Scallops

    The Davidson - Espresso Martini (look at the detail)

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    Espresso Martini (look at the detail)

    Scotti's Italian Restaurant - italian - Updated May 2026

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