It's been over a year since I have dined here. I came in to a completely different menu. The focaccia was still amazing and fluffy. The drinks from the bar were crafted well and presented nicely. We ordered quite a bit of food to try off the menu. The pork and fish skewers were flavorful! I do wish the pork was cooked a bit longer to give it a crispy outside. The Farrotto had a nice crunch with each taste and was a little cheesy. The pappardelle with rabbit was very good as well, it had a rich flavor. The trout was a bit fishy for my liking. The short ribs were cooked very well, but I was not a huge fan of the sauce it came with. The lamb ribs had a nice flavor, but I thought was a little overcooked. I think my favorite had to have been the pasta/grain dishes. I do like that they rotate the menu so there is always something new. Great ambiance and decorated well inside! read more

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So much I liked and some I didn't. Let's go with the likes: Great ambiance Chef (and owner?) came to the table, talked and even shook our hands with an intro The pork dinner and hummus/mushroom app were spot on Let's go with the dislikes: Value for the price Cocktails - not a fan of the mixology The seafood based pasta was so fishy it was almost inedible Service was a bit inconsistent. (Interesting to note that the servers recommended dishes were in huge misalignment with the chefs) Overall, I just don't think I'd frequent this place though I would probably give it one more shot. read more

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Walking in is certainly underwhelming, no ambiance. However, our waitress was fantastic, her name was Lauren, ask for her. Our first dish was so good, but the next couple were just meh. For our main, we ordered the strip steak and potatoes. The steak was delicious, but the potatoes were like frozen fried potatoes you would buy at Kroger. Nothing special at all. Assuming the menu changes here and there, who knows we might even try it again. Very much appreciated all of the staff, as they were all really great. But especially Lauren! read more

This place is very elegant. Staff was quick, polite, and attentive. The food was excellent but keep in mind their portions are tapas size. So go to have a food tasting experience and not to pack yourself with food. You'll get plenty to eat but this is not a trip to Ruby's for a steak. Enjoy the variety and adventure in finely prepared food and elegant atmosphere. Parking on street and a lot nearby. read more

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On food: No notes. Very good. The vibe was a little office-y; I loved my drink and the service was impeccable. I will return for sure. read more

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We were so confused. We went for lunch but realized it was a carry out BBQ place (they did have 2 tables to eat at). Due to our timing we decided to go ahead and grab some bbq. The menu was not very intuitive w/ clear descriptions. My food came with my choice of bbq sauce which clearly had just been removed from the fridge because it was jelled and very cold. The baked beans were something totally else. I feel the entire business model in that space is very confusing. It's BBQ on Wed-Fri during lunch, Greek in the evenings during week and a Steak House on weekends. I feel the About Page could describe their business model better. The service was good. I am just so confused. Sorry read more

I've waited a couple days to post review. We dined this past Thursday. I have been thinking about how to get back the moment our meal ended. Excellent , friendly service. Every detail was considered. The bread was warm, crusty and soft. We ordered more after first bite. The arugula salad was not like anything we could have imagined. A warm salad, that seemed to give a different flavor profile with each bite. I had the short rib dish, my dining mate had fish. My short rib was gone so fast, it was tender, in a sauce with curry but not like any curry I know. There was also a slightly sweet taste to. My friend's eye roll when she tasted her fish let me know she was having the same experience. We split the olive oil cake and yes, it was the perfect ending. It was a savory cake, not overly sweet. It's a beautiful space. I have been dying to go but never had anyone willing to try with me. I'm sad they are leaving us but I'm here the next chapter. read more

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Had dinner tonight at The Aperture, Walnut Hills' newest restaurant. The vibe, service, and food was A-1! The menu is planned as small plates thus great for sharing. We opted for the hummus/pita, hamachi tartare, fried mushrooms, and cod tempura. The hummus was creamy and served with charred corn and mushrooms with the fluffiest pita. Next up was the hamachi tartare topped with coconut foam which had a slight kick. Perfection The fried mushrooms were delicious but the accompanying labne felt like it was missing something. Smoked red pepper or even za'taar would kick this up a notch. The cod tempura was another highlight of our evening as the breading for the batter was delectable. For dessert we shared the coconut/olive oil and coffee/cardamon ice creams. Both were delicious but the coffee cardamon with cacao nibs was the clear winner. Overall, this was a wonderful meal and the service was excellent. Their restrooms are spectacular as well which is always a plus in my book. I see The Aperture receiving all the awards in the future. read more

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This place popped up on the NYT top 50 list in the US, so we really wanted to check it out! Went on a Wednesday night with a reservation. The service was fantastic. Our server was super nice, attentive, and helpful! Would give her 10 stars if I could! The ambiance was a little different than we expected. It's quite modern and bright on the inside. Nothing wrong with it, just not what we expected. The food started out superbly. We got the pita and trio dip as an app and it was awesome. All the dips were great, though our favorite was the eggplant and black garlic. Next we had the spaghetti as well fried mushroom dishes. The fried mushroom was by far our favorite part of the meal. You must check this dish out! Last we got the hamachi collar and lamb shoulder. I wanted to love these, but the lamb shoulder was a smidge dried out. Ultimately, if I could do 4.5 stars I would, but the dryness of the lamb is the only reason for the 4 stars over 5. read more

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Really well done. I was very pleased with our experience from the food to the service. What a way to celebrate Valentine's Day. A beautiful location with a very clean, modern vibe. The service was fabulous with a lot of attention to the details. The food was delicious and filing. I appreciated the work they did to provide me a wonderful vegan meal with several options. I will definitely return! I highly recommend. read more

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It was an okay experience. My favorite part was the charred carrot. The other dishes were okay. Not very flavorful and some of the flavors were a little weird. Fun to try, but won't be place I would go back for. read more

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The Aperture in Walnut Hills felt like a haven from the winter chill--warm lighting, an open kitchen, and a sense that you're stepping into someone's stylish living room rather than a typical restaurant. We were celebrating a friend's 50th, a milestone that deserved all the indulgence we could manage. And indulge we did, sampling just about everything the chef had in store. From the menu, the scallops special stole the show: tender, perfectly seared, and plated with a number of tasty components. While the cocktails weren't quite on the same level, a bottle of orange wine saved the evening's beverage lineup, adding a bright, unexpected twist that complemented the food beautifully. Our server struck a balance between being helpful and giving us space to enjoy the night. Aperture pulled off a dining experience that felt polished yet comfortably intimate, the kind of place where a big birthday feels both special and relaxed at the same time. If you go, keep an eye out for those rotating specials--and maybe a bottle of orange wine. It's worth the detour. read more

Delicious, delightful, decadent. These are just a few of the happy adjectives I would use to describe my visit to The Aperture. I brought my research team for dinner, one of whom was a vegetarian. The staff personally wrote on her menu which dishes were available to her. With this care, I'd highly recommend this restaurant for anyone with dietary restrictions or allergies. We ordered a number of dishes to share: - Focaccia 5/5 fluffy and delicious - Charred carrots 5/5 a standout! so much flavor - Fried Mushrooms 5/5 smoky with a great sauce - Pommes Darphin 3/5 good, but greasy - Mafaldine and 'ndjuda 3/5 just ok. Subtle flavor - Falafel 4/5 wonderful pickled vegetables on top - Farro 5/5 a standout! Tastes like a cozy hug - Almond cake 4/5 tender crumb, nice cherry flavor Our server provided lovely recommendations throughout and the meal was well paced. I will certainly return! read more

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I wish there were more than five stars. This place had a great ambiance and all of the staff were so kind (which is sometimes, unfortunately, a hard combo to find!). The food and wine were absolutely delicious--the flavor of everything was top tier. My server was knowledgeable, attentive, and presented everything to us in courses. The chef brought out our final course and was just so kind and clearly passionate about his work. I can't wait to go back. read more

The Aperture - Swordfish Skewers and Fried Mushrooms - Greek Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Had a dope dinner at the aperture on Friday night. The space is super fresh with a nice minimalist touch. Sleek tables and chairs. Loved being able to see into the open kitchen and watch the chef work. Once I saw the wood fired open flame going back there I knew we were in business. Highly recommend getting smoked dishes. We started with the focaccia. It was so light and airy but still crispy. The whipped butter went crazy. The carrot dish was crazy, loved the sauce and char on the carrot. Falafel also great with the eggplant hummus being a highlight. Pasta dish was also good, reminded me a of light and classy alfredo. Service was a bit slow, but hey they just opened. Give this place a chance. Super excited to see what they can do and try new menu items. read more

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The food was amazing, especially the pastas! We started with charred carrots and scallop crudo. The carrots were good, but the scallops were great. Scallops with buttermilk and peaches--so different, but so good! The Saffron Rigatoni was the standout dish of the night. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the lamb ragu with the cheese was superb! Our server was also terrific. She was attentive, friendly and courteous. On the other hand, I thought the restaurant's interior was disappointing after seeing the beautiful exterior of the art deco building. Nonetheless, we'll be back for the pasta! read more

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We attended their NYE tasting menu event. As someone who loves Mediterranean cuisine I found the menu to be a bit lacking in that area - two pasta dishes. The staff was very attentive however we mentioned (when asked) that we are very sensitive to spicy food & red chili pepper. Two of the dishes we eat had it on them even after being assured it wouldn't be issue by the waitress. The dessert was FABULOUS and I really enjoyed the salad with tuna!! I think the space has a lot of potential! I will definitely be back to try their regular menu however I would caution that the pricing was a bit on the high end for the amount of food we got. read more

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The food is the star here, it's a diverse menu with some interesting combos. Rely on your server to guide you. We sampled a little bit of everything besides the main entrees, the favorite was the smoked mackerel, least favorite was the charred carrots. The dining room is sleek, but like others have said, it was really loud once it was full. Dinner for three was over $500, without fancy drinks or wine, so definitely a splurge. read more

The food was all very delicious, I tried one drink and it was really yummy too. The table especially loved the charred carrots but we all really liked the option to do the trio of dips - it came with plenty pita for the table. We were scared the portions were going to be too small. However, we did have to wait 40 minutes at the bar for our table reservation - for the scale of this restaurant we were not expecting it. The menu was also slightly hard to pick and decide with a group (was it all shareable/should we each get an entree). It was hard to decide without knowing the portion sizes or the type of plates. The scallops on the menu were a tiny plate but the sweet potato was a great size to share as an app - for perspective. The staff was great at recognizing the wait and added an extra plate for us to try and coveted the first round of drinks! I'd like to come back and try more plates in the future for a special occasion - as this spot is $$$$. read more

The Aperture - Hummus Trio - Greek Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We knew The Aperture would be good from reading all the positive reviews, but had no idea we were walking into one of our favorite new Cincinnati restaurants! The decor was minimalistic and the staff were laid back (both in a good way), but the service and food were were top-notch upscale! Our server was very attentive and helpful, as were all the other staff we saw throughout the evening. We started with drinks. Hubby had red wine and I had a deliciously refreshing First & Fifteen Cocktail. We then ordered 4 small plates to share. I appreciate that our server asked if we'd like the first two to come together or separately. We wanted a slow-paced meal, so were happy to have them come out one at a time. First came the wood-fired pita and eggplant & black garlic hummus-my favorite dish of the evening. I could have just made a meal out of that bread! That was followed up by the charred carrots and then the hamachi tartare-both were pretty spicy but very good. Lastly, we had my hubby's favorite of the night, the house-made short rib pastrami. It came with a side of lettuce, pickles and daikon so you could make lettuce wraps, if you wished. One side note on their bathrooms. Like many restaurants, they are forgoing mens & women's restrooms and just had two nice unisex. I appreciate the inclusiveness of that for all of their patrons. read more

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Had an outstanding meal at this chic Walnut Hills restaurant. We got the roasted carrots which were one of the best dishes I've ever had. I'd love if they'd add chicken and make it an entree - the flavor is off the charts. I had the Branzino which was great. I also loved my tequila based cocktail! I wish I'd saved room for dessert because everything sounded amazing. I'll have to try one next time. read more

The Aperture - Drinks - Greek Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Very impressed with this place. We were loved the clean simple lines of the interior. They have a nice size open kitchen, I was surprised they did not have seating to maximize the view. Open fire cooking is always interesting to watch. We started with the eggplant and black garlic hummus. The pita cooked over fire was very tasty and the hummus was very tasty. Next we had the roasted carrots that brought the heat. The Hamachi tartar was great and the habanero brought a nice level of spice. The star of the dinner was the pastrami short rib that was served as a build your own lettuce wrap. So interesting and one of the best things I have eaten in a long time. The service was very attentive and and paced very well. I can't wait to come back again read more

The Aperture - Pastrami short rib, served as a make your own lettuce wrap, house made pickles and the spicy mustard made a delicious and fun entree - Greek Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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One of the best meals I have had in recent memory. The flavors in each dish were amazing. If you have not tried this place you should. I can't believe there are only 75 reviews posted. We started with the Eggplant Hummus. I considered licking the dish clean. The pita that came with it was fluffy and flavorful. We had the Hamachi Collar which was amazing. The Lumache pasta was good, but not in the same rarefied are as the Hummus, Hamachi Collar and the Lamb Shoulder. We were stuffed but decided to top it off with the Maritozzo which was delicious. Service was great. Sam was very helpful and the whole team flowed to the work well. We look forward to coming back. Check this place out! read more

We came here with friends for a birthday and had the chance to try almost half the menu. Every bite was delicious and met or exceeded or expectations(with exception to the lamb shoulder which was good, but not wowing). The server was attentive and knowledgeable and helped to steer us in the right direction both with food and drinks. The front of house closest to the door gets a little chilly on cold days and very crowded during dinner service. We felt a little bit like we were being glared at by waiting guests for not giving up our table sooner, but we were there for a special evening and not in a hurry. read more

One of my favorite meals of all time. You know that you are in for something good if your mind has already been blown and you haven't even gotten past the pita and hummus course. Hands down the best pita dips I've ever had. The black garlic hummus and the chicken liver mousse were bananas. The veggies were tremendous as well and I'm a carnivore through and through. The fried mushrooms and the golden bears were highlights. As for the larger plates, I loved the hamachi. The wait staff was also great, offering specialized menus for those in our party that had dietary restrictions. You couldn't do any better than this place if you are looking for a meal in Cincinnati. read more

The Aperture - Menu - Greek Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Second review: We were on our way back home from downtown on a Thursday night and took a chance that they would still serve dinner at 9:30pm when they close at 10. We sat at the bar in the comfy seats there. We apologized for being so late but Will was not phased at all and was happy to serve us. He seemed genuinely glad to do so. We had the new iteration of the chef's chicken liver mousse and it was so good we asked to take an order home to enjoy the next day. We also enjoyed the seasonal ramp pasta, the fried local mushrooms, and Chef's unique spin on Hamachi Crudo. Everything was excellent. read more

The Aperture - Duck Malfadine 11.9.24 - Greek Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Great food experience. The people were all so friendly and attentive. We were at a private event and it was very special. Including hem salad, duroc pork belly, wax man with white truffle. read more

The Aperture - Brunch menu from the special event we attended. - Greek Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The food was amazing. Flavor, seasoning, texture....perfect. Every detail of each dish was so good. The service was impeccable. It's nice to have table wiped and napkins refolded through dinner. We loved this place. read more

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Came with friends for Valentine's Day meal and it was lovely! We ordered six dishes and one dessert to share - Black Garlic/Eggplant Hummus, Gravlax, Hamachi Collar, Black Maitake, Mafaldine pasta, and Lamb Shoulder. The hummus was lovely with great flavors and the fresh pita was soft and warm. Gravlax was fine, very refreshing cold dish, not our favorite but good. Hamachi Collar was delightful - surprisingly a lot of meat on the big collar, with crunchy potato crumbles and an amazing sauce - highly recommend! Black Maitake was such an interesting unexpected dish - the charred mushroom had a very smoky flavor with delicious pickles and a creamy sour-cream like sauce to break up the slight kick. Mafaldine pasta was such a lovely creamy celebration of duck, truffles, and al dente pasta - highly recommend. Lamb Shoulder was very tender with nice flavors but feels a bit pricey given what it is - think Cava mediterranean bowl. The group also ordered some drinks. The non-alcoholic Peter Rabbit cocktail was the resounding favorite! I enjoyed a nice glass of Cab with my meal. We ended with the Maritozzo for dessert, which is a traditional Roman dessert involving a brioche bun filled with whipped cream. The cream and dressing tasted great, but the bread seemed like just an ordinary wheat dinner roll - felt a little mismatched. Overall great dinner with good service and relaxing ambience! Our total for the four of us was around $400 after tips. Pricey meal for sure, so suggest giving it a try for special occasions. There's also free parking in the back of the building! read more

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Clearly didn't have the experience other folks did with Aperture. We were accommodated very kindly with a reschedule of our reservation due to a mistake on our end. Very kind of the staff to make an exception for us. We came in and were warmly welcomed. High ceiling atmosphere, modern, and loud. No in wall speakers, fixed by JBL speakers set to party mode. I thought this was a smart way to cut down on a rather expensive investment of a sound system. We were promptly seated. Our wait staff arrived and warmly greeted us, offered water, a cocktail menu, let us know bread was on the way, and left. Prior to his departure, I reminded him of a major allergy. Odd enough, all other interactions with our wait staff were quite awkward. We felt unwelcome, judged, and wanted to leave. Our observations of our wait staff with other tables seemed to suggest that he just didn't like us for unclear reasons. Need a better poker face if you're going to be in service. The food was just not for us. The flavor profile is relatively wide in that it borrows from several mediterranean and middle eastern cuisines. In our case, while many things were well cooked with meaningful textures, our crab pasta and cod were inappropriately cooked. This led to dry pasta and under temperature fish. Since this was the last course and we just wanted to leave, we opted not to feedback. Finally, the check arrives. The bread was casually and automatically sent to us comes with a charge; an unusual and uncommon practice. Maybe wait staff should let their patrons know, or, write it on your menu. If you're going to charge me, give me an option, and don't assume, please. Our experience unfortunately did not add up to those who have otherwise rated this restaurant. Of course there are some highlights I mentioned, however, this is not enough for us to return. read more

I have been told by many people to check this place out. I don't think any of them have actually went here. They read one of the wonderful write up about it. I was so underwhelmed. Ambience: coming in I dug the design and feel of the place. It was not that crowded but there were a fare amount of people there and it was not too loud. Service: then everything went downhill from there. As I approached the hosting station somebody there said I could sit at the bar and for the first of three times asked me if I had any allergies (after the third time it felt that either there was little organization or this had burned them). While the first person at hosting was grabbing my menus, someone came up and stared me down and said, "yes?" While I was talking to the other person. Just an uncomfortable. Exchange. Drink: so seating at the bar looking at the menu, I started to get a bit excited. I ordered a boulevardier. It was served in a glass not much bigger than the giant ice cube in it and it was maybe 2/3 full. I tried to nurse it but it was done in a couple sips and sat on the bar empty for the rest of the night (as the bartender clear my place at the end he even asked if I was done with it, I almost laughed out loud) Food: I just ordered an app the shrimp toast and a pasta the lumache. I was told the shrimp toast was new and a staff favorite and was getting last one and it was just 86ed. I was looking forward to it. When it showed up I was confused. It was a butterflied shrimp on a stack of brown items sitting on top of a stew like kimchi. There was bread and shrimp. But other than that this did not remind me of shrimp toast and it was just busy. When food is present in a stack you should be able to go through it with a knife. Each layer required a knife and fork. The shrimp was just touch and rubbery. The was fine, but it ate like stew with stuff sitting on top. The Lumache was not any better. Overly salted, and I am ok with dried pasta if it is cooked properly, but the pasta crumbled when bitten, not pleasant. On the menu it says "white bolognese, duck". I thought that would be a sauce with some duck. The duck was ground and used for the sauce and was indistinguishable from ground turkey. The one time I was asked about anything I was having was during the Lunache, I basically told him what I thought and because I was hungry and do not like getting things comped, I told the bartender I'd finish it. It was comped any way. All in all, it really seems the service and the food is for their benefit to make them feel like a nice restaurant, and not for the benefit of the customer. I'd rather have a well executed simple dish like real shrimp toast served by rushed but caring server, then get asked 3 times about food allergies and get served a poorly executed vision of shrimp toast without being asked if it was being enjoyed. Needless to say, I won't be back. read more

What can I say... I have trained my God Daughter right! She knows a great restaurant! Open only 8 weeks and you'd never know it! The flavors, the presentation, the wine all on point! read more

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Really enjoyed our second trip here. Everything we got was great again and we felt good with the amount of food. The black garlic + eggplant hummus was unique and delicious, the charred carrots w/ lamb ragu very tasty and filling, and the black maitake was unique and tasty too. If I could get the mushroom dish from the first time, I would opt for that though, it was incredible. The ambiance is lacking, they could give it more of a cozy or welcoming feeling in my opinion but that's second to the food in my mind. We're so lucky to have a place like this in Cincinnati with creative, delicious dishes. read more

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A great addition to Walnut Hills! Lots of shareable entrees as delicious cocktails. The flavors were definitely on the earthier side which was a great addition to the warm fluffy pita bread. Service was great and our waitress was very attentive to the dining floor. A very clean feeling resident. Almost a bit sterile but beautiful lighting. read more

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Truly, I would give a 4.5 if it were possible. This place intrigued since I read that it was the only restaurant in Ohio listed in the New York Times best places to eat. You can't get much higher praise than that. The wait staff was tremendous! Love that they have shareable smaller plates so that you can try more of the interesting food. We tried hamachi tartare, fried mushrooms, chicken liver mousse, bone-in ribeye, Dalalle sparkling wine from France, and ended with an autumn tart alongside cardamom coffee ice cream. So many interesting flavors. I'm also excited that they will start having after dinner coffees soon. Definitely going back. read more

I first visited Aperture with my wife during its opening week. We didn't have a reservation, so we tried to grab a seat at the bar. Unfortunately, as African Americans, we immediately picked up on some uncomfortable, racist vibes from certain guests in attendance. Every seat seemed mysteriously "unavailable." What could have been a terrible experience turned around completely thanks to one of the managers--a clean-cut, heavy-set gentleman. He witnessed the situation, immediately stepped in, and apologized for the behavior of those guests. Not only did he seat us at a table right away, but he also comped us drinks and an appetizer. His professionalism and empathy left a lasting impression on us. The food was phenomenal, and the service that night--and every visit since--has been outstanding. We've made it a tradition to celebrate every special occasion at Aperture and bring out-of-town guests here. Although I never caught the manager's name, I want to extend a huge thank-you to him for turning what could have been a bad experience into one that made us loyal customers. Aperture is a gem, and we highly recommend it! -- A Grateful Customer (Steve Lambert) read more

Simplistic at best, And a casual ambiance. The service was great , the staff was very attentive. The food did not let me down , even though I didn't have high expectations . Today was their 1st night so it was a lot of teaching and learning. Service was a bit slow but worth the wait. Walnut hills needs to give this some neighborhood love. I had Branzino , lamb, chicken liver tartare with the carrots. The carrots were the icing on the cake. Drink slow, and talk to strangers. read more

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Great addition to our restaurant community as this was a great foodie experience. Ambiance was casual cool with a hip vibe. Had a few drinks while we waited for our table. Bartender came through as the drinks were spot on. First, this is what I call nice portion size tapas plates that are meant to be shared. We had the Bronzino with mussels and shrimp in a light sauce. Fish had a crispy crust, but light inside with a nice smoked flavor. It was my fav dish of the night. Others dishes include: oyster with hazelnut pesto - outstanding! Chicken liver foie Tartine - very complex and really good. Kennenee Potato - crispy & cheesy and Delicious!!! Mafaldine Pasta - house made pasta ribbons in a creamy tangy cheese blend. Nicely done! Can't forget about the bread and cured butter. Outstanding Service was also great. Overall experience was excellent. Only issue I had was the amount of salt used in some of the dishes. read more

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So glad to finally dine here after watching the place come together over the last couple years. The building is a cool Art Deco historic building and the interior is warm and inviting. We had great service - our server was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. The food was amazing. Can't wait to come back and try other things. Being one of the NYT's recent top 50 picks is very well-deserved. And the fact that it's 1/2 a mile from our house is a huge plus! read more

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Good, but perhaps we came in with higher expectations given the press on the restaurant. Service was okay - but we had to flag down a server to order a drink. Agree with a prior reviewer; mixology was not great. Can't say we didnt anything we ordered, but can't say anything knocked our socks off. read more