This restaurant is a gem in downtown! They elevate Eastern European food to new heights. Everything we tried was freshly made with quality ingredients. The flavors melded together great. My favorite were the dumplings. They offer several varieties. It was hopping when we visited and It is a rather small restaurant so definitely make reservations. They also have a small outdoor eating area. The menu is primarily composed of small plates. So be sure to try a variety to really enjoy what they have to offer. The prices are very moderate. There is street parking,which maybe hard to get a spot, but there are a couple of parking lots nearby. read more

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Is there higher than 5 stars??? From the host who was an absolute delight to the bartender/waiter (we ate at the bar) Wow!! We called but only reservation was at 9:15 They close at 10pm so we decided to show up and hope for a cancellation Told the host we were from out of town and just hoping to get in We sat outside for maybe 5 minutes when he walked out and said they had a cancellation!! The food is unreal! Simple and fantastic at the same time! Had around 6 dishes The Khachapuri was very good albeit filling so don't load up. Save room for the rest!! Also the Varenyky which are dumplings also rich and filling but sooo good! The Kholodnyk (borscht) was fantastic The Holubtsi (stuffed cabbage) was extraordinary! But by far my favorite was Halushki. Omg! I can live on that for the rest of my life. I took pictures of nothing but the beautiful and quaint restaurant and the menu. Unfortunately we were so eager to try everything that it was inhaled before I could take any pictures But know that the presentation was great and the food incredible!! We will be back!! read more

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Birthday dinner with Babe and little babe did not disappoint. My husband had been hearing about this place from co-workers and made reservations for the three of us. It's such an elegantly cozy little vibe! We ordered the following to split between the three of us and all left satisfied: Appetizers: Forshmak Stuffed Eggs w/ Caviar + Khlib & Sil Small Plates: Halushki Dumplings: Varenyky + Beef Pelmeni Large Plates: Chicken Kyiv + Kulebiaka Our server was attentive and friendly and guided us through the menu and also helped us know how much food was a good amount. We didn't try the dessert despite rave reviews because I'd already made some for home, but next time we for sure will! read more

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The Pelmeni was beef this time and had a great sauce. We loved it. The Chicken Liver Pate was fantastic. We eat pate everywhere it is offered and this preparations was one of the best we have had. The Chicken Kyiv had a super-crunchy exterior and great flavor. The only disappointment was the rolls. For $8, the serving size was very small. read more

A bit late to writing this review but I had a great experience here. The service was stellar and the server was helpful in recommending dishes. The menu has a wide variety which is rare for small plate menus in the city. I will say, our main (chicken Kyiv) was deliciously crispy but very small. We also got the cabbage which we weren't a fan of, but the Ukrainian cheese bread was delicious. The dumplings are a must. Be prepared to order a lot of plates to have your appetite filled, and rack up a bill well over 100$. However, I'd come back here! read more

Food seemed fresh and tasty. Dill was one of their fav ingredients. Was hardly a dish without it so be prepared to have that taste in your mouth for the evening (not complaining!) My friend and I enjoyed the food. Service was super great and they offered thorough recommendations. We basically had our server pick our meal. It was great! My friend and I agreed that everything was great, but we wouldn't crave any of the dishes we got or necessarily get the same ones if we came back. read more

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Sudova is one of the most well known restaurants in Cincinnati and for good reason. The vibe is great and the food is even better. The wait staff is very knowledgeable about the menu as well which enhances the experience. There are plenty of vegetarian options and they all are well crafted, unique, and sport bold, inspired flavors. The dessert was solid as well but a notch below the quality of the dinner itself. Sudova definitely earns its spot amongst the top restaurants in the city. read more

Sudova * Eastern European Kitchen - Modern European Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The food was amazing. Service was great. The vibe is cozy and lively, all about Eastern European comfort food. Came in with a big group, and they were super accommodating. We ordered a bunch of different dishes and did everything family-style, which was the move. Drinks were well-balanced and not too sweet. The pierogi were pillowy, and the Khachapuri is a must-try. Warm, cheesy, and dangerously good. Hearty portions, lots of care in every dish. Definitely recommend. read more

Sudova * Eastern European Kitchen - Front of menu - Modern European Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I came with my friend to celebrate her birthday. We ordered quite a bit of food since we wanted to try a bunch of items. I would say if you are not a fan of dill to let them know. They put dill on every dish that comes out. I am not a fan but was able to take it off. My favorite dish was the rye varenyky dumplings or Halushki. The spaetzle was really good and reminded me of german spaetzle. The Parsnip Katkes were alright but didn't think they had too much flavor. Our main dishes were the Khachapuri, Kotleta, and their special for the night. The special was a kilbasa sausage with mashed potatoes. The kilbasa was sort of a weird texture from what we were used to and the broth was bland. The sausage was more crumbly and soft and not like a "snap" when you bite into it. The fried chicken was good, but they don't give you too much sauce with it and this was the best part. I would reccomend asking for extra. The georgian cheese bread was presented nicely and could be split with multiple people as it is rich and filled with flavor. Overall the two small plates at the beginning were our favorite and none of the meat dishes blew us out of the water. Not sure I would come again but you do get pretty goo portion sizes for the price. read more

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My boyfriend and I came for a special occasion and made a reservation weeks in advance. We arrived about ~10 min earlier and our table was available. Our server was attentive, double checked our order, and had great recommendations. We tried a variety of dishes but the standout was the dumplings. The ambiance was very romantic with mood lighting but lively with how busy it was on a Saturday night. read more

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This restaurant is a 10000/10 experience! We came for my birthday yesterday and All the food was incredible with amazing flavor. The best things were the rye varenyky (potato, apple butter and pancetta dumplings), the eggs (stuffed with a herring - surprised everyone how good these were and didn't taste fishy), the khachapuri, and the sea buckthorn sour cream ice cream, wow! We will definitely be back. Also my three year Old inhaled the green borscht so highly recommend (it's like a chicken soup). read more

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Well that was phenomenal. Standout dishes included: Khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread), Varenyky (Potato) Dumplings, Kotleta (fried chicken cutlet), Kulebiaka (like Beef Wellington, but with salmon), and Halushki (cabbage & spaetzle). Seriously? Every dish was plated wonderfully and tasted even better. read more

When I looked at the menu online, I was unsure of what to order. The waitress did a fantastic job of breaking down the menu for us all of the food that we tried was incredibly flavorful! Some of my favorites were the smoked salmon, dumplings, the salmon, Wellington, and the zucchini fritters. I would highly recommend coming here on a date night or as a girls night out. The ambience was perfect as well. read more

One of the Best Meals in the City I've eaten at tons of great spots, and Sudova blew me away. Every dish was 11/10--creative, flavorful, and perfectly executed. The khachapuri was unreal, the seasonal dumplings were a standout, and the kotleta might be one of the best chicken dishes in town. Truly unforgettable. read more

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long story short: cute restaurant with unique food & good cocktails We went to Sudova for an early dinner on Saturday & were sat at the bar. The restaurant is small, but in a charming way, & the service was good- our server was attentive & had many recommendations to share. We started with drinks & they were fantastic, especially the Balkan Stinger! Next we had the halushki, which was tasty but a little lackluster- the main flavor was butter (which I love) &, in my opinion, it would have benefited from a bit more seasoning. For our mains, we got the khachapuri & the kotleta. The kotleta was wonderfully crisp, but again a bit bland, as the sauce didn't add much flavor; the greens on the side, however, were acidic & fresh. The khachapuri was the star of the show- rich & decadent but also very flavorful. For dessert, we had the seasonal medovik, flavored with apple & cardamom. The cake was light & airy & a delicious way to end the meal. We enjoyed our time at Sudova & look forward to trying some new dishes next time. read more

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I have not stopped thinking about this meal and its been 3 weeks. Please book it and enjoy. read more

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Peyton or Payton was our server she was awesome. Everything was good except the borscht. They took it off our bill. We shared the dumplings the latkes the special with pork ,kielbasa, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes the bread with the egg and cheese and both of desserts. Don't skip the cake its delicious Their Cocktails and wine list were excellent.Make reservations as it's small. So good! read more

Sudova * Eastern European Kitchen - Peppercini martini. - Modern European Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Ambiance was perfect! This place is so cute & welcoming. The cocktails were delicious. The food was top notch! I love that we have Eastern European fine dining in Cincinnati! Unfortunately, our service wasn't the best. We were initially sat at a table that the air conditioning was continuously leaking onto (not just one or two drop, but a constant dribble on the table & our heads!). We asked to move & they wanted to seat us outside or at the bar, even tho we had made reservations for a birthday dinner. We kindly asked if we could just get another table inside. They did make it work, so we appreciate that! From that point on we were feeling better, but our waitress was not attentive. It took her a long while to get back with us, though she'd walk by several times. They incorrectly made my drink & brought it incredibly late (like 20 minutes after we got our dessert- that I was hoping to have alongside the cocktail!). They never once acknowledged the birthday dinner throughout- most restaurants of this caliber would! At least a greeting wishing a happy birthday. Overall, it left us feeling disappointed. We enjoyed everything else, but it's tough when service just is sub par for a celebratory occasion! read more

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4.5-4.75. Group of six of us basically ordered almost everything on menu- 2/4 breads ... get the cheese bread thing with the egg on top. Sweet Baby J that mug by be best thing on menu. Cabbage and spaetzel is a must. Salt cod dumplings delicious and the polish hunters stew was a crowd pleaser. If you like borscht, they have a killer white borscht soup. Would be five stars but they do not offer any decaf after dinner options. Only caffeinated coffee and caffeinated teas. read more

A beautiful spot for a girls night out! My friend and I got seated at the bar where you can see the window of the kitchen. It was definitely a busy night and I understand why it is so popular. The food tasted so fresh and the portions were a perfect size. We shared the dishes we got so that we could try more. It was worth the wait! We got the rye varenyky dumplings, the stroganoff, the khachapuri and the medovik to finish off the night! read more

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Tucked on a quiet stretch of Court Street, it's sophisticated with warm lighting, textured walls, and music that hums just below conversation level. The space is intimate with a curved bar in the back half. Would highly recommend making a reservation. The menu is Eastern European-inspired but presented with a modern twist. The dumplings are the star: pillowy, richly flavored, and plated like small works of art. The roasted chicken cutlet is perfectly crisp outside and tender inside, served with a light dill sauce. The cocktail list is smart and creative with herbal infusions, citrus pairings, and a few unexpected flavors - a nod to Eastern Europe. The wine list leans interesting rather than obvious not just California or France, but bottles from Hungary, Slovenia, and the Balkans. Would recommend for date nights, small groups, and overall foodies. read more

Love this restaurant!! The ambience is lovely and the food even better. We got a taste of almost everything, it was delicious. Don't miss out, their drinks are very creative too read more

I did not have much experience with Polish food before this so I wasn't sure what to expect and this turned out to be one of my best meals in a long time. Our waitress was super helpful talking through the menu because there's a ton of ingredients that are Eastern European that I had never heard of. The halushki was the standout for me but I also really enjoyed the beef dumplings. Excited to go back and try more stuff! read more

First time here but have read.multiple reviews and was intrigued. Did not disappoint in the least, and already planning another dinner. There were three of us and we split the holubtsi (cabbage roll with tomato sauce), the special pelmeni (had a pesto type sauce and slice of radish pretty much for each piece) and the cauliflower schnitzel. Plenty of food for us with 20 pieces of the pelmeni and the two cabbage rolls were ample. Cauliflower was wonderful , and again, an ample portion. Spaetzle was quite tasty. Food was brought promptly and the presentation of the dishes very attractive. And then the dessert. The Carrot Cake Medovik was amazing! All the layers and so tasty! We also had the cheesecake which was good;, fruit compote and apricots gave it pizzaz but just the cake itself was light and flavorful. This is not a New York style and it far surpasses any NY style I've had. The space is interesting. I like the banquettes. It's a smaller space but you're not right on top of each other, and even with the higher ceilings it was not noisy/loud. Nice gem of a restaurant on Court Street. read more

This was my second visit, I'm addicted to the Ax of Perun cocktail. It has all my favorites in it (olive, pepperoncini, and pickle), worth the trip alone. I also am a big fan of the khachapuri, so good. This time we also had the beef stroganoff, super tasty. I'd like to try the Kotleta sometime, but that's about the extent of how daring I am with the food menu. It's a cool spot and last night I noticed the patio, maybe a drink and khachapuri out there are on my summer bucket list. read more

Armed with nothing but a paperback book and my NYT crosswords app, I managed to find one of the best meals I've had in a while. Reservations are available online and I booked for shortly after opening, so I got my bar seat immediately. Even though I was dining alone, the staff made the whole experience warm and inviting. They checked on me just often enough. I felt taken care of and wasn't rushed or bothered too frequently. Presentation was beautiful. I'm thankful for the background music, because I may or may not have been legitimately saying "wow, yum" out loud while nodding my head multiple times. * Dumpling Special - I'm so sorry that this is a special. If you're ever blessed enough to stumble upon it, order these butternut squash dumplings and thank me later. I stopped listening to the description after I heard "butternut squash" but the sauce was divine. The Brussels sprouts were perfectly crisp and the pomegranate seeds added little pops of sweetness. I want to eat this every day. * Kulebiaka - Salmon, Dill Rice, Crimini Mushrooms, Puff Pastry, and Béarnaise. I didn't take a picture of the Béarnaise sauce, but it was served in a gravy boat and was incredibly light while still being flavorful. Everything inside this puff pastry package was complimentary to all the other ingredients. How they were able to get the salmon at the exact temp it needed to be while baking inside the pastry will remain a mystery. My favorite part was the dill rice. Something about it brought everything together. The puff pastry was crispy and airy. Not a single complaint. * Medovik - Apple Cardamom Wildflower Honey Cake and Chantilly Smetana. If the taste of Autumn and a cloud from heaven made a love child, this would be it. Such a cozy way to finish a meal. It was much lighter than I was expecting, which was a pleasant surprise. I wanted to save a few bites of everything to bring home to share with my boyfriend, but this cake almost didn't make it. So good. * Mokteyl N/A - Hibiscus, Rose Petal, Currant, Lemon, Rosemary, Soda. I don't drink alcohol, so I unfortunately couldn't try any of their cocktails. However, I'm always happy to see a mocktail on the menu so that I can also drink something fun. Good balance of flavors and a nice addition to the meal. All in all, I was so incredibly impressed. Thank you to the Sudova Team for helping me have a successful solo dinner on a Friday night. P.S. - Whoever was running expo very obviously knew what he was doing. I felt like I was in an episode of The Bear (in the best way). read more

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This was a 10/10 dining experience...right up to the point where a staff member "politely" told my wife and I we had to leave because the next reservation was waiting. We hadn't even been seated for an hour and there was wine left in my glass. I've NEVER been asked to leave at ANY restaurant. It felt very amateurish. The food, the drinks, the dessert, the service were all great...but the morning after it feels pretty ick. read more

Comfort comfort comfort! This was a cozy little place with really great service. My girlfriend and I stopped in here before heading to the Cincinnati Music Hall for a concert. It was less than 10 minutes from the venue. I would suggest a reservation due to limited seating, I think no more than 15 tables plus bar top seats (we sat comfortably at the bar). We started with a couple cocktails. My friend had the Zelenska, a cranberry vodka drink that was effervescent and light tasting. I ordered the Borschtini which was on the opposite end of the spectrum, a thick hearty cocktail, if you do not like beets then do not order it, very beet and horseradish forward but extremely interesting. We ordered our starters which are listed as small plates on the menu. I ordered the Halushki which was caramelized cabbage with onion, brown butter and spaetzle. I really enjoyed the dish and would order it again. My friend ordered borscht and really enjoyed it as well. This is pure comfort food. We ordered a couple more cocktails after this, mine was called Flat Red and was a take on an espresso martini, it was fine although I could really not taste the pomegranate and orange. For my main, called a large plate on the menu, I had the Khachapuri, this is a Georgian cheese bread with egg yolk and more cheese in the interior. Pretty good dish because how can you go wrong with cheese and bread? My friend ordered the Short Rib Stroganoff, oh my was this delicious! I highly recommend this dish, braised short rib, mushrooms, adjika (spicy condiment), pickled mustard seed and polenta. Lastly we finished with dessert, of course! I had the Medovik which is a cake made up of thin layers with apple and cardamom wildflower honey and Chantilly Smetana (a Chantilly cream). Delicious dessert. My friend ordered the Shokolad & Morozyvo which was a brownie with sea buckthorn sour cream ice cream. Worth getting this dessert just for that ice cream. We are definitely going back again to try other dishes we think we will like on the menu. read more

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Went for first time this weekend. Wasn't initially excited about eastern european food. Have to say that everything we had was amazing. Both in presentation and flavor. Very warm space. Was impressed with the food the staff and the service. Will definitely go back again. Encourage everyone to go try some real authentic Ukrainian cuisine. read more

Sudova * Eastern European Kitchen - Beef dumplings. Excellent - Modern European Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Everything about this restaurant is a perfect balance of authentic and polished. As someone from Ukraine, I often bemoan the sparse number of Slavic restaurants, and doubly so ones that are beyond a dive-ey food court, and this place delivered in force. Every dish is crafted meticulously but still has authentic flavor and feel. Nothing is gimmicky, and everything feels respectful and never falling back on "that's now it is." read more

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Loved every bite. I wish I could eat this once a week but alas I do not live in Cincinnati. However, it was the highlight of my visit there. Do not pass this experience up! read more

My absolute favorite restaurant in Cincinnati! I recommend this place to literally everyone I know. I have nearly tried the entire menu and every single item is phenomenal. Must try items: Khachapuri, Cod Pelmeni, Holubtsi, and Kotleta. read more

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Great next adventure from the proprietor of the Wodka Bar! I admit I do miss the infusions but that isn't reflected in this evaluation. Great intimate location - tables as well as bar seating. We shared a halushki appetizer. Very flavorful. I had the Rye varenyky. Yum!! I wanted a little more of rye kick but it did not deter. We will be back!!! read more

(4.25) ~ Very good Overall food & Service. NOTE: Reservations recommended ~ (see photos) DRINKS: ** Water (tap) = (4.25) Very good, must be filtered;) ** Pinot Noir (Slovenia) = (4) very good & savory ** Coffee = (4) very fresh FOOD: ** Lamb Shank = (4.75) Great! ** Shokolad & Morozyro = (4.35) Very tasty! ** Khlib & Sil = (4.25) Surprisingly very Good when you combine everything together. ** Rye Varenyky = (4.25) Very tasty ** Beef Pelmeni = (4.25) Very light & Tasty ** Medovik (Honey cake) = (4.25) Very good read more

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Incredible ambiance and decor, drink menu was really unique, but good, and food was incredible, fast service, managed to get a table without a reservation. read more

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We had a very nice dinner at Sudova on Saturday night. The food was extremely good. The restaurant is beautiful. Love the design of the place. The tile floor and wall decor is beautiful. The bar is also gorgeous. The service left some to be desired. We were seated quickly upon arrival, but a good amount of time passed before our table was touched again. We ordered a glass of wine which also took a good amount of time. The place was busy but not packed. No one explained the menu or ran through any specials with us. Our order was taken quickly and we felt a bit rushed. We started with the Halushki and the Rye Varenyky. The Halushki was a bit warmer than room temperature. The flavors were fantastic though. The onions were sautéed perfectly and had a light sweetness. The spaetzle had a good chew to it, great texture. The Rye Varenyky was also delicious. The pierogis were filled nicely. The dill sour cream was out of this world. I'd dip anything in that. We also had the Halubsti. I love stuffed cabbage rolls and these were great. The tomato sauce was sweeter than I typically have, and I enjoyed that flare. The Khachapuri is just insanely good. So cheesy. The bread was crispier than I'm used to but I didn't mind that. The dough was a bit sourdoughish, and I also enjoyed that. The Kotleta was fine. The only dish I'd pry skip upon a second visit. Needed more sauce. However the chicken was extremely tender and crispy. Overall, we enjoyed Sudova a lot. Would recommend to anyone. Will be back. Just not five stars, yet... read more

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This place is too good not to do with friends . I went with a open mind because I didn't really know about the menu choices . This is Eastern European so it's a little something for everyone . From the Halushski ( cabbage) to the Kotleta ( friend chicken ) to the rye Varennky (dumplings). Ambiance is dark and moody. They do have outside seating for the warmer months but reservations are highly recommended because it is a quaint space small space . I don't think service was great or bad .. and just don't recall. I had no complaints to notice so that's a good thing !! Here's to trying something new and I'll have to go back soon, the honey strawberry cake is worth a revisit alone ! read more

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Sudova is such a beautiful, bright space and every menu item we tried was full of color and flavor. We followed our server Michael's recommendation and started with the Tvorog, which gave us our bread fix alongside a soft farmer's cheese spread. So good! We also shared the Kartoplya Paprikas because who doesn't love fancy potatoes? The paprika vinegret really made these pop! Then we shared the Kotleta, which wad the tastiest and fanciest fried chicken we've had in a long time and the dill sauce really shined here. If you love dill, this is the your perfect chance to pair it with the Axe of Perun cocktail like my dinner date did. For dessert, we again took Michael's recommendation and ordered his favorite: the Karpatka Tort, which is a beautifully flaky pastry filled with a lightly sweet mousse. I enjoyed the Solodka Trava cocktail to start and the Mavka cocktail at the end, and they also have a great wine list too, plus a couple mocktail options. They also have a tasty take on an espresso martini! Ask for Yuriy the Spy. read more

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Dinner was amazing!!! Our server Michael was attentive and made great suggestions. Started with Tvorog (farmer cheese with walnut spread with grilled bread). Then Halushki (carmelized cabbage and Spatzele) and Kotleta (fried chicken with dill sauce and peas served with arugula salad) Finished with the wildflower honey cake. A definite must! I can't wait to go back and try more items, but will have to finish with the honey cake again, though. Go and enjoy either inside or the lovely outdoor patio. read more

My husband and I went to Sudova for a date night while in town and wow, this place gets a lot of things right. The ambiance is a 10/10, especially on a chilly night. Service was attentive and quick. Drinks were very reasonably priced for the quality. And of course, the food was excellent - the perfect balance of comforting and unique. I can't say I've ever been to anywhere quite like it. I'll be spreading the word to all my Cincy friends! read more

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