Took a chance on getting into Sotto tonight. Drove down there and put ourselves on the waitlist for the 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! read more

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First time in Cincinnati -- dined at Sotto the evening after the Flying Pig Half. 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. read more

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I have been so intimidated by this place but outside of my wallet crying, this was such a gem. I would be here weekly if I could, I can only describe it as fancy chill. Our drinks were: Italian Stallion (an absolutely beautiful drink with great fire and flavor and idk I loved the etched ice cube lol fav of the night but def packs a punch) White Russian because my husband drinks sweet drinks LOL Espresso martini tastiest I have ever had Birbet dessert wine, a little fizz and mildly sweet We ate: fettunta - grilled bread rubbed w/ garlic tartare di fassone - parmigiano, lemon aioli, breadcrumbs (for the adventurous eater because it is raw beef, I was thrilled, it was tasty not gamey at all and the breadcrumbs give it extra texture) asparagus - ricotta salata, black pepper, pine nuts pappardelle al cinghiale - wild boar, tomato, parmigiano (husband is raving about this dish!) cacio e pepe - tonnarelli, black pepper, pecorino (I was hesitant to not have a protein in my pasta but I was insanely impressed how this dish didn't need it!) chocolate panna cotta, it was a special and I don't remember everything that was on it but it tasted SOOOOO much better than it looks. The chocolate was rich without being bitter. ricotta doughnuts with 3 sauces, salted caramel, pistachio and chocolate. I loved all 3 sauces but my husband and the bartenders raved about the salted caramel literally EVERYTHING was phenomenal. We left zero crumbs. Staff was great. Vibes were great. Place was absolutely buzzing and it makes you feel like you've left Cincinnati. The timing of the food was awesome for a date night and even though it was packed with tables constantly being filled, you never felt rushed. Highly recommend for a splurge night! read more

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It has been a minute since we have been to Sotto but again it did not disappoint. Our server was so wonderful and knew the menu forward and back. We took every recommendation he said and it was the right move. Every part of the home made pasta was soft but flavorful. It tasted just like my trip to Italy this past summer. Of course the vibes were on pointe with the underground wine cellar. Can't wait to return read more

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Our first visit in Cincinnati and we searched for the best restaurant in the area. Sotto has a high yelp score so we made a reservation. You must get a reservation because this place is busy! We looked at the reviews and ordered their popular dishes. Starter- black kale caesar salad, oil packed tuna. Main- wild boar pappardelle and wood fired branzino. Dessert- ricotta donut. Everything was right on as others described them- delicious, seasoned just right, rich in flavor, and just the right amount of portion to enjoy. The ricota donut has three sauces and chocolate is my favorite. Candle light on the table which made the setting so romantic. Cole our server was very sweet and engaging. Parking cost was $20 in the paid parking lot. Valet for $15 from what we were told. Overall experience was great! read more

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We had reservations at 6:30p on Saturday night during the beginning of the biggest snow storm in Cincinnati. I thought for sure folks would cancel, but no, they were still being seated when we left. That is a testament to how good this place is. We have dined here before, but this is my first review. The place is dark and lit by real candlelight. The music is upbeat and on the louder side, but not so much as to take away from conversation. Our service from Nevarre was great. He was knowledgeable, attentive, and spaced our food out perfectly. We started with two lovely glasses of wine: a Chianti and a Falanghina. For Antipasti we chose the prosciutto and arugula salad and the tartare di fassone. The salad was perfectly dressed and Italian in all ways. The tartare was fantastic!!! The breadcrumbs add crunch and the flavors were so balanced. I only wish it was served with toast points or bread. For Primi we chose the tagliatelle con porcini and the short rib cappellacci. Both dishes were DIVINE! For Secondi, we chose the branzino this time. The pork loin is fantastic, but we wanted to try the fish. It was cooked with crispy skin, a kiss of smoke from the grill, and on a bed of chippy-chopped broccolini that was a nice compliment to the fish. We took the chocolate budino home for dessert and it was good, but not a must-order. This place deserves every bit of hype it gets on all the social platforms. I highly recommend taking any out-of-town family or friends here to give them a taste of the Cincinnati restaurant scene, and what Chef David Falk is known for (Boca and Nada too). read more

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Un altro pranzo perfetto. Un giorno, sceglierò un altro piatto. Forse. Per ora, sento di aver trovato il Cielo in cibo. Grazie Mille! Ci vedremo dopo! read more

Sotto - Un altro pranzo perfetto. Grazie mille! - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Ambiance - You walk in and are immediately taken into another world it feels like... Night or day, the space is dimly lit by low lighting and taper candles. That was one of my favorite things. Service - From being shown our table, to our hostess, to those who delivered our food, the care for each customer was so intentional. There was never a moment our water glass wasn't being refilled once empty, or a question left unanswered. The menu was thoroughly explained to us, and once ordered, there was never a long wait between meals. At least that is my own personal opinion! They made us aware that between appetizers and the main course, there was a longer wait for the preparation of the dish that was ordered, but it felt like it went by super fast! Food - This was the section I was most excited to talk about... the FOOD. This place, I can confidently say, lives up to the hype that everyone gives it. We started with their bread (not complimentary for a heads up!) that came with olive oil, of which we also ordered a side of butter too. Their butter was even 10/10, topped with a flaky sea salt? YUM! Following that was their goat cheese and honey hazelnut bread, which was also so good. I was quite satisfied enough by the simple bread and butter though! Next came our main dish, the porterhouse. On one side was strip, the other being filet... both of which were cooked perfectly. Our sides, the same thing applies. Their potatoes are SO unique, the only thing I could compare them too was a salt and vinegar chip (very potent in that flavor, which I loved) We also had the broccolini which was simple yet perfect. The grand finale, and really was saved best for last, was their ricotta donuts. If you go to Sotto for one thing, let it be for these donuts. They are quiet literally, one of the best, softest pillowy, things I have ever tasted. They came with a pistachio cream, a chocolate sauce, and an ooey gooey salted caramel. A 100/10 from me all around for this place. Please go! Thank you Sotto for making our evening special & our tummies happy :) read more

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This is probably one of my favorite more upscale dining spots in cincinnati. (although i've only been to a few and I had my first date here with my current partner so it's special) We came back for a date anniversary recently and service and food were just as great as the first time! We sat at the kitchen bar, which i initially did not like but it was actually brighter and warmer there so we settled in nicely. Kitchen staff were also super nice! Bread for the table was a grilled garlic butter bread. Something i'd love to make a grilled cheese with! Tasty. tortellini di zucca - a sweet pasta dish we both enjoyed with some nice crispy breadcrumbs. very fall forward. cappellacci - probably our favorite pasta dish so far. savory and warm, short rib was just right. sauce was delicious. bistecca fiorentina with broccolini and patate - a large steak cooked perfectly and great for sharing. the filet side was a bit tastier but strip side was still good. we usually don't like broccolini but this had really good flavor. the potatoes also surprised us with really interesting flavor and perfect crispiness. ricotta doughnuts - as delicious as everyone else says they are. nice and fluffy balls. we enjoyed all three of the sauces as well. We also ordered cioccolato manhattan, la strega, and capra viola which were all really good. We did not like notte di prugna (NA) - it just had a weird taste, almost like ketchup. the server also brought us some champagne for us to toast to our anniversary! such a lovely gesture that we appreciated. can't wait to go back! read more

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Our service was INSANELY GOOD. Arianna F. was the best. She offered to take our photos and made it the best experience. I have honestly not had a better experience with a waitress. My friends and I were celebrating passing our boards and wanted to celebrate ...she made our meal and time so so special!! HIGHLY recommend her and Sotto. Food was out of this world and our service made it even better!! read more

Sotto - Arugula salad, Goat cheese bread, burrata - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Sooo Delicious! I mean everything was on point. From the speciality drinks to the house made pasta. We have been here on multiple occasions and Sotto never disappoints. The Cesar salad was amazing. The sweat flat bread was to die for. The service was top notch. Thanks Kaitlin! read more

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Walking down from the street into the underground hideaway was a little dark and had speakeasy vibes. The food was great! Fresh pasta, cheese, great service. We started with liver mouse, the pistachios were a nutty, crunchy delight on top of the savory liver mouse and buttery bread. The menu was had a lot of Italian in it. I got the Cappellacci - with a large hat-shaped stuffed pasta similar to ravioli. The short rib was tender, and cheesy sauce was decadent. It paired well with the broccolini for a little veg to break up the carbs. My husband got the cacio e pepe which was good. The GF pasta didn't break down like many do, and still had a good bite to it. read more

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I was in town for one night and Sotto had outstanding reviews. I got a late reservation and was seated very promptly. First of all, the location is cool since it is downstairs off the street. The ambiance is very dim lights and romantic vibes. My server was super friendly and very knowledgeable. She had a recommendation for everything. I chose goat cheese/hazelnut honey, grilled bread, black kale caesar, cappellacci - short rib/shallot/thyme, and affogato (salted-vanilla gelato, espresso, pirouette). There was not one bad part of the meal. My favorite was the cappellacci. It was a perfect portion and every bite was so flavorful and ohhhh so good. My one fault with the experience was that the server kind of got lost toward the middle of the meal. She had other tables and maybe she was just busy. But I kind of felt neglected after she took my order and brought my first glass of wine. But overall, this restaurant was so good. I loved the food! Even the bathroom was pretty cool. I would definitely come back. read more

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Damn it, the cacio e pepe has no business being that good. The cocktails were phenomenal. The oil packed tuna appetizer was amazing read more

Sotto is a favorite of mine! Came here for new years and the foot was incredible as always. Love the ambiance and rustic vibe down there. Some new tries were the boar ragú and the Pork cutlet. Enjoyed the old fashioned as well. Only bit of feedback is our table for two was uncomfortably close in between two other couples. Would be good to space out a bit to not overhear conversations. read more

Sotto - Cacio e Pepe - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I really wanted to love Sotto, mostly because the staff here are literally the best I can recall. This is a tight ship - everyone employed here is well-trained, friendly, and they work hard. Dining here was a masterclass in how a restaurant staff should operate. That said, the positives are few beyond the exceptional staff. The restaurant is a speakeasy-style joint and difficult to find. You descend down steps into the restaurant, which is possibly the darkest restaurant I've ever visited. It took a while for my eyes to adjust. Rather than feeling intimate and charming, the lighting felt off-putting and oppressive. It was too dark; a few more lumens would do the place some good. (I brightened up the photos in my review for you.) They sat me at a bar top right next to the kitchen. On one hand, it was cool to watch the hustle and bustle of the kitchen staff. It's not an unattractive restaurant in general, rustic and woody. Unfortunately, though, my seat was in somewhat close proximity to a live grill and the ambient heat made for an annoyingly toasty dining experience; my shirt stuck to my torso on account of sweating so much. The food didn't impress me given the price point. The cocktail I ordered didn't taste at all like the flavor profile suggested by the description. And this would be ok if the cocktail tasted good - I like a lot of different cocktails, including some pretty adventurous concoctions. This one - pitched as a root beer/banana cocktail - was a bust, though. The chicken liver mousse appetizer - probably the highlight of my meal - was rich and satisfying. I think it would have paired better with a softer bread, which is unusual for me to say. I'm typically a sucker for crunchy bread! I think you'll be happiest with it if your palette skews savory. I think it would be killer if it had a sweet component, like perhaps an accompanying jam. The Cappellacci entree I ordered is apparently Sotto's most-beloved dish. And - as delicious as butter and salt tend to be - it was overbearing. The portion was too small, and there was nothing delicate or interesting about the flavor. I'm a middling cook, so when I feel confident that I could whip up something similar at home with marginal effort, that's a bad sign. The beignets were solid, but Sotto is so proud of them that I expected them to be better. Of the included sauces, I liked the caramel most. Sotto's food wasn't "bad," but any evaluation of an eatery has to consider the quality relative to the price. And Sotto is a little pricey. So if I compare them to other restaurants in the same price range, they frankly get outclassed. I may return to Sotto in the future to give the food another go - I'd love to try something else with some meat and a red sauce. I have a hunch that they'd do a good job with that. The great service and the attentive staff would be my primary reason for coming back. If the food itself elevates here and the lighting perks up a touch, Sotto could be a really great place. read more

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You really do have to book months in advance to get a table here. Unless you show up right when they open and sit at the bar. But I am on my game and I make sure to make reservations the day we are there for 3 months later down the road. My husband and I just love this place! Everything we've had has just been magical. We've gotten hooked on the goat cheese bread with honey and the piccolo cheese board for appetizers. We always get the cappalacci for an entree and usually something else. This recent trip we had the steak which was so tender and juicy and presented so well. As much as I was set against not having dessert, we caved in and got the ricotta donuts with the dipping sauces. Again, can't emphasize just how delicious this place is! It's got a high price point but you are getting some high quality stuff here. Tori was our waitress and she was amazing! One of their best people there. Highly highly highly recommended! read more

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Second visit to Sotto was more amazing than the first. The place is beautiful and the service is excellent. Aside from these perfect consistencies, one more is the noise level, which is higher than I'd prefer. The noise level kept me from giving a five star review after our first visit, but the food this time was so excellent I had to go with a full five-star review. We arrived a bit before our table mates. Our server was very attentive and brought us our drinks. I opted for the Hazy IPA from Best Day Brewing. I consider myself a bit of a NA beer connoisseur, but I'd never tried Best Day Brewing. It was on point. It was deliciously refreshing and tasted very much like a regular brew. I'm going to buy some at our favorite party supply source to enjoy at home. Everyone started with an appetizer. I had the grilled octopus - white bean shishito ragu, breadcrumbs, which was delicious. I'd seen many pictures on Yelp, but they have changed their presentation. The octopus is now sliced and the dish is more like a cassoulet. It was a LOT of food for an appetizer. I made sure I got all the octopus off the plate and left a few of the beans behind. I needed to leave room for dinner and dessert. I opted for tagliatelle con porcini - mushrooms, white wine, parmigiano. The pasta was perfectly cooked. The sauce was smooth with just the right flavors and level of salt. I did want to lick the plate. Mark had the pappardelle al cinghiale - wild boar, tomato, parmigiano and raved about it. I had just a bit and concur it was a taste sensation. We had ricotta doughnuts for dessert. We had them on our first visit and we loved them. I enjoyed them this time, but if we return I'm going to try something different. If I were a betting man, I'd wager that we'll be back... again. read more

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This place's has been hyped up to me for years! And it made the OpenTable top 100 restaurants this year so we decided to go for Holiday Lunch. Glad they had a special menu for this because I wanted to try things from the lunch and dinner menu. The best parts were the cocktails, appetizer, service, and ambience. We had 2 servers and they were friendly and cool, asked good questions and made good suggestions. We got the goat cheese toast app that all my friends raved about, it was so good!! I was skeptical but the goat cheese was cut with ricotta so it wasn't overpowering as you might expect. The entrees were fine. I had been hyped up all week by friends who knew I was going, but honestly I wasn't blown away as I expected to be. Everything was good! But I have had just as good or better pasta at some other high rated Italian spots in town. My only complaint (the server tried to warn me), is how sweet the pumpkin tortellini was. It tasted like a dessert pasta which I did not care for. The eggplant parm was delicious, I wish I could order just a side of pasta to go with it, that would've been my ideal meal. Would return. Ps the soap in the bathroom smell amazing! Wish I knew where to buy them PPS they give you one free ricotta donut for lunch. Get a whole order! Skip the panna cotta read more

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This was a highly rated restaurant that is pretty popular in downtown Cincinnati so we were able to get a late reservation. The place is an old wine cellar so it's in the basement. The service was quick and the ambience is nice but a little dark since it was a late reservation we already had dinner. We came here for some appetizers and they're famous powdered sugar donuts. Unfortunately the appetizers felt short. We ordered the beef tartare, but it was not that great. Definitely not your traditional flavors 3/5. We also tried the chicken moose with olive oil and pistachios. There might've been a hint of honey or something sweet in the mixture. It tasted just okay 2/5. Probably wouldn't order it again. We had high expectations due to the reviews, but we're not impressed at the appetizers. Maybe we will give it another try for their pasta dishes. However, for the price point, this spot might be overrated. Their donuts were overall pretty good since it was freshly made. The dipping sauces of caramel chocolate, and pistachio was just OK. I really wanted to like this spot, but I think it just felt short. read more

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Its been quite a few years since I have been to this restaurant. I have my favorite couple restaurants in the city whenever I'm in town and my 2 favorites were closed that day so I decided to give Sotto a try again. Everything I had was wonderful I just prefer the other 2 restaurants a little better. A hint is that one of them is the same owners as Sotto and right next door. Overall if you are craving Italian food you will be happy with this spot. read more

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After an elegant dinner upstairs at Boca, the perfect way to wind down is to head downstairs, literally, into the warm, dimly lit Sotto. Descending into Sotto is a speakeasy mystique. While the menu is certainly worth a full visit, Sotto also serves as a fantastic post-dinner drinks spot. The bar is small but intentional, and the Old Fashioned here is a favorite. It's smooth, well-balanced, and reliable. It's the kind of drink that never lets you down. The space is intimate and moody with exposed brick, candlelight, and it definitely has that sense of something secretive. It's a perfect way to cap off your night. read more

Sotto - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We really enjoyed our experience at Sotto. Our meal was about 2 hours long, we had 3 courses and shared two bottles of wine. The atmosphere was busy but not too loud which we liked. The seating near the kitchen to watch them cook really added to the experience! The staff were very attentive, friendly and professional. Everyone had recommendations and knowledge of the dishes. It was very clear the ingredients are high quality. The oil packed tuna was good, with layers of different flavors it was fun to try this appetizer. We also tried the blue oven tortano with olive oil. The bread was delicious. The oil on the side could have used some Parmesan or vinegar, it was a little thin for dipping oil. Or butter. They did leave a pepper grinder at the table which was awesome and we added to the dipping oil. The Caesar was good, the Parmesan was the star of the show. The bread crumbs were a unique touch. The sauce was authentic Caesar which I appreciated. I don't typically order clams linguine because it's made easily at home but this was an exception, it did not disappoint and I ate every bite. The clams were fresh! The herbs and oil blended perfectly for a light flavorful bite. One of my favorite dishes and most restaurants do not do it this well. 10! The cappellacci was something to write home about. It was soft, flavorful and filling. They just know how to do noodles here. The pomodoro was yummy, it had a surprising kick that made it exciting to continue to eat. The pasta with black truffle was delicious! Some at the table thought it was over powering but I really enjoyed. The noodles were super thin angel hair. It was a light white sauce and a bunch of fresh truffle shaved on top. YUM. I would order this again, I would not mix all of it up next time. I would just take bites with the noodles and then grab some truffle to the bite. A heavier dish on the menu. The dish with brown butter was like a breakfast item! It was really cool to try that. I recommend getting it for the table to share, it's a lot to have as your whole meal but definitely worth trying and chatting about. The cacio e Pepe is perfectly done. If you like the authentic dish like in Italy, this is where to get it. Don't need much description here, we will get this every visit. Top notch, clean plate club on this one. Of course we ended with the donuts. They were super yummy and reminded me of a funnel cake! We loved the live flame candle on the table and can't wait to come back for more. Thanks Sotto! read more

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Valet was super tonight. Sunday night at the kitchen high top was perfect. So fun watching the kitchen staff do their thing. Best seat in the house. Oil packed tuna was a unique first taste tonight. I thoroughly enjoyed tajarin con tartufo, every last bite! My hubby loved his pappardelle al cinghiale . Wrapped up with bunito for dessert. Enjoyed the night so much we didn't take photos this time. Photos from a previous review of Sotto. read more

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We came to celebrate our eighth anniversary, and we were given several recommendations to try from a frequent visitor. We were told that we should order something from each part of the menu, and then split them. His recommendations were: Antipasti - goat cheese and honey bread / Primi - pappardelle al cinghiale / Secondi - wood fired quail / Contorni - any. We added a black kale caesar and broccolini to the recommendations. After our meal, we topped everything off with panna cotta - a classic Italian custard. Out of everything we ordered, my favorites included the goat cheese and honey bread as well as the pappardelle al cinghiale (wild boar). We had excellent service from Sarah, and the ambiance was phenomenal as well. read more

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10 stars. Amazing food. Amazing service. The ambience is perfect. We came from out of town looking to try a local spot. I stumbled across Sotto with great reviews so we gave it a try. We were able to get a reservation for 9 pm at a communal high bar table, which ended up being a whole lot of fun! We talked to people next to us, asked for recommendations, conversations about Ohio (we're from Texas) we ordered family style - starting off with the goat cheese on bread, kale Caesar salad, and for dinner we had the gnocchi and deconstructed lasagna, broccolini and ended with a cream dessert topped with berries. And end it on a good note, our server was exceptional and she told us many fun facts about Cincinnati (total nerd I love it) and recommended we check out Ghost Baby! If you're looking for a date night with delicious Italian food in a speakeasy like restaurant, this is it! read more

Sotto - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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The food, as expected, was impeccable. Simple, balanced, and exceptionally prepped. The mocktail and list was also top notch and well prepared. Cocktails were delicious. Service was appropriately delayed given how busy it was. What I would take away from my dinner is they Sotto has a bit of an identity crisis between a trendy speakeasy-y bistro and a high end restaurant. They clearly are busy enough to be objectively successful, but it would almost be better be served split into two locations, one mainly high tops serving instagrammable, trendy drinks and bites, and another as a proper, quiet, sit-down high end restaurant. The ambiance (and cocktail menu) was of a speakeasy, which didn't match the high end menu structure. The wine list was awkwardly split between extremely nice, expensive reds and cheap, high-throughput reds (on separate pages), but still all Italian, and without appropriate sommelier service to match. read more

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This place is always on point all the way around with food and service. If you haven't been you have to go and if you know, o you know!!! read more

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Not our first trip to Sotto but tonight was so amazing! We have come to Sotto many times (especially during the week of Thanksgiving when we're in town visiting family) and tonight was so great. We arrived on the night after Thanksgiving with no reservation, assuming they still had their community table or bar seating available. The hostess was so accommodating after she informed us that their community table was now a part of their reservations that she ended up getting us sat within 15 minutes (party of 6!) Not only that but the service and food were phenomenal. We love Sotto and will continue to come back every time we are in cincy. read more

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Sotto always offers consistent delicious food and service. It has been one of our faves for over a decade. We always go before a show at the Aronoff. Some items stay on the menu forever because patrons would protest if they left. There's a reason why reservations are so hard. read more

Sotto - Tuna appetizer so simple but so satisfyingly good - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Sotto consistently delivers amazing food, making it one of the hardest reservations to secure in the city. This visit was for a very special occasion, and while I reached out to the restaurant for help securing a reservation, I didn't receive assistance, but they did respond. Thankfully, I was able to book a spot the day before through the "Notify Me" feature on Open Table, but it was a bit of a stressful process. We started with the chicken liver mousse (mushroom, onion, pistachio), which was salty, spicy, and surprisingly not bitter--quite different from most liver dishes I've tried. The asparagus alla puntarelle (anchovy, garlic, ricotta) was served cold, but it had a wonderful tangy, garlicky flavor. For the main course, we enjoyed the branzino, cacio e pepe, and ended with the ricotta donuts, all of which were fantastic as always. The only downside to the evening came at the end when I tried to use a gift card with $20 remaining. Unfortunately, the management was unhelpful and it turned into a frustrating argument over the card's expiration date, which really soured the experience. While the food was exceptional as usual, the service was a letdown, especially for such a special occasion. read more

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After hearing some really good things about this place from locals I made reservations to stop in for dinner and give it a try. I didn't know what to expect, thus didn't know it was underground (Sotto means "Under" in Italian). It's incredibly cozy, intimate, and dark down there with all tables having long candle sticks on them and various tea lights and candles all over to provide ambient lighting. The menu is filled with shareable items, especially a nice list of starters. Their pastas are all made fresh, in-house and have vibrant flavors, with their short rib filled pasta being incredible. Their fire roasted quail was seasoned nicely and cooker perfectly. Branzino is a nice, shareable size and done well too. Save room for dessert, their ricotta donuts were tender and came with some tasty sauces to dip them in. Service was decent, but could be a little more attentive and friendly. I get the feeling they are very popular and busy and know it, so you get what service they deliver. Would I come back? Definitely! read more

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We love Sotto and want it to stay in Cincinnati forever! The only bad thing we have to say is that it's so popular you have to book a reservation months in advance! This was our third time here, and generally speaking, we don't go out to eat for Italian. If we were independently wealthy and better planners, we'd come here once a month! The ambiance is romantic AF and the staff are just delightful. Food is absolutely incredible and worth the wait and price - hats off to the chef! read more

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The service is excellent - our server, Joey knew the process of everything!! He was helpful and informative The ambiance is dark, but not quiet. It has a speakeasy feel to it The food was delicious. Not huge portions, but everything we had was good. We had the black kale caesar, the goat cheese appetizer, the short rib pasta and the truffle pasta. GET THE DONUTS!!!! read more

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Sotto never disappoints. The pasta is always fabulous -- fresh, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. The goat cheese with hazelnut honey and grilled bread is absolutely unreal, and the oil-packed tuna with caper aioli, hard egg, and chili oil is hands down one of the best starters on the menu. Every bite just hits. And whatever you do, order the donuts and the gelato. The hot-and-cold combo is elite -- dip the donuts into the gelato and mix in the sauces for the perfect sweet finish. The donuts are legendary for a reason. read more

Hubby and I came for date night. It can be difficult to snag a reservation at a 'traditional' dinner time. We split the goat cheese bread and kale salad appetizers. Then for dinner we did the short rib ravioli, lamb chops and broccolini. The food was outstanding. For dessert we had the ricotta donuts and espresso gelato. Not one complaint. Delaney was our server and she was attentive and helpful. The atmosphere is amazing as well. I can't wait to go back. read more

Best lamb chops I have ever had. Not gammy, extremely tender and marble. Taste like steak but less chew. Steak tartare was fresh and fantastic with bread crumbs. Truffle pasta was light and just the right portion to not be overly stuffed. Chicken liver pate was sweet and worked well with the toast. Sat at the bar with attentive staff, Dave and Connor. Wine and water glass always full. First and only meal in Cincinnati. Just passing through and glad we were able to walk in to try this place at 630. By 8pm, there was a line up. read more

This was our third time here, and unfortunately likely last. Everything was ridiculously salty. We ordered 3 pastas, branzino which we had had before, broccolini and every dish was full of salt, pasta too saucy, and not enjoyable. Definitely did not feel anywhere near authentic italian. I'm not sure if the chef changed or what. Really disappointing for what is supposed to be a top restaurant in Cincinnati. read more

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Sotto is a must! The food is excellent and the dessert is phenomenal! Everything we have tried here is ridiculously good! read more

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Wow! Give it a 10 out of 5 for Service, Taste, Options, uniqueness, atmosphere. Atmosphere is high energy, but private/personal and would be a home run for that special date night. Here you are in the middle of Cincy, but you feel like you could be in a wine cellar in Europe. The aesthetics were just unbelievable. Such a cool place and if you want to try it, release the reigns and do it Sotto Style (family-share). The hostesses were so friendly but our server Meg was the best. Gave us the run down, great recommendations, and then made it happen. We tried several dishes (all were amazing), but my favorites and must try are Oil Packed Tuna (w/egg) bread appetizer; Gorgonzola salad, and their Bistecca Florentina (Porterhouse) - perfect share for our party of 5. So worth it. And you cant leave without trying the pasta... Cacio a Pepe (simple but delicious), cappellacci (Pasta scoops with Rib meat), and Tajarin con tartufo (Black Truffle masterpiece). Seriously based on my experience - you couldn't go wrong......Unless of course you leave without trying their Ricotta Doughnuts for dessert. Thanks Meg, the Chef, and the rest of the staff for a great night. Can't wait to come back !!! read more

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