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The Davidson

4.4 (189 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
Updated a few days ago

The Davidson Photos

THE DAVIDSON ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Trendy
Upscale
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - The Davidson

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Pork chop with kale and squash
Carolynne P.

Had dinner downtown before a jazz performance and I am so glad we did! The GM was right up front to greet us, and very welcoming. Our waitress was wonderful and very attentive and the meal was fantastic! One of the best pork chops I have ever tasted. Drinks, sides and everything was delicious. Thank you!

Molly L.

Food was decent... came in to get the brick pressed chicken but they no longer had it on menu . Was going to settle for the chargrilled chicken but they wouldn't let me substitute the fingerling potatoes with olives and capers for mashed potatoes so I decided to get the chicken sandwich; which had great flavor, but I feel like the arugula that was on it threw the flavor of the sandwich off. Also wasn't a fan of the Bernaise sauce with the fries would've done like a garlic aïoli instead. I tried the pork chop, which was really good and the Panna cotta was decent. Might come back if they put the brick press chicken back on the menu. In my opinion, the sides that were paired to a certain proteins didn't really mesh well and the menu is kind of limited. Food arrived fast and the service was great.

Grilled Chicken sandwich
Jason S.

Stopped into The Davidson after checking out of my hotel and had some time to kill before a flight. Luckily, it was Sunday and they were running happy hour huge win. Started with the tuna tartare cones and an espresso martini. The cones were phenomenallight, flavorful, and perfect as an appetizer. Kept the espresso martinis coming since they were so good. For my main, I went with the grilled chicken sandwich (also on the happy hour menu for only $15), and it was excellent. Juicy, well-seasoned, and way better than I'd expect at that price point. The vibe is upscale but still relaxed feels like you can enjoy a nice dinner without it being too formal. I was there in a baseball jersey. Bartenders and servers were super chill and made the whole experience easygoing. I hung out for a couple hours, and even with multiple drinks and a full meal, my bill wasn't bad at all. For an upscale spot right in downtown Cincy, The Davidson's happy hour is a fantastic deal. Definitely a place I'd go back to next time I'm in town.

Kim S.

We stopped by here on a whim when we were downtown looking at Christmas lights. It was freezing outside but inside The Davidson was warm and inviting. We just wanted a cocktail and a light bite so we decided to sit at a two top in the bar. The bartender, who was also our server, was very friendly and checked back on us several times. I got the espresso martini, which was disappointing unfortunately. It was very pretty, with a fleur-de-lis sprinkled on top, but it just tasted like strong coffee, not like a typical espresso martini. However, we loved the bread service with 3 butters: shallot compound butter, cacio e pepe butter, grass-fed Irish butter! The cacio e pepe was especially good. We hope to come back to dinner sometime to try some of their other dishes as well.

Vodka rigatoni and their house wine
Tayler S.

Davidson was my bartender for the afternoon and provided an excellent happy hour experience. His knowledge on the restaurant and food selection was superb as well as his honest recommendations. I had the vodka rigatoni and a glass of red wine and it was everything I could have asked for. Even the fresh parmigiana on top was a nice personal touch. This location could be great for a quick lunch get away or a romantic evening located conveniently on the corner of 5th and Vine in downtown Cincinnati walking distance from the convention center.

Chicken
Amy J.

Service was really great! The vibe is nice and restaurant is clean and organized. For my birthday the server gave the four of us some champagne. It was a really nice gesture. The peach burrata was interesting. The sourdough was butter grilled. I enjoyed the addition of tomato. My bff got the pesto pasta and added grilled chicken. The chicken was served separately. She did say the pasta was really good, and her bf said it was the best pesto he's ever had. My bf got the chicken dinner. It was small and not enough food for him. It was also overwhelmingly lemon. But overall, ok. My steak frites was good but I've had better at Losanti and Collette. The sauce was very peppery which was fine but just a heads up. My filet was good - more medium well than medium but it was edible. The fries were just ok. Not fresh cut, and mostly cold. The cocktails were good, but the old fashioned and Bellini were very sweet. The cosmo was on point though. Overall it was a nice experience, but we've had much better at this price point so would probably not return.

Side scallop
Ika I.

Great location, wonderful hospitality, but average food! On my business trip to Cincinnati, I dined in The Davidson one evening. Located within steps to the Fountain Square, this restaurant is in an excellent location for many hotels and businesses. When I walked in, I was greeted immediately and brought to a table. Service was prompt and friendly. For my dinner, I ordered the aracinni appetizer, the house made pesto pasta as entree, and a sude of scallop. The aracinni tasted good, but would benefit with some corns and peas added. My pesto pasta entree was highly recommended by my server, but the pasta was too hard and the sauce was too salty. The side of seared scallop was excellent and was done perfectly. My dinner came to $72 with tips included, which was a bit disappointing as my entree was too salty.

Scallops
Doug K.

Came here with my wife for dinner on a weekday evening. We were sat quickly at our reservation time. I really, really wanted to love this place but it just did not do it for me. We got two cocktails, an app, a salad, and two entrees. We got the tuna crudo for an app, the Italian salad, the Davidson Burger for an entree and the scallops for the other entree. The food came out quickly but was just overall uninspiring. The tuna crudo was in a citrus-based sauce but was quite soggy and somewhat bland. The salad was good, but nothing special. The burger was also fine and cooked well, but nothing out of the ordinary. The scallops were quite delicious, definitely the best part of the meal. On top of the food being mediocre, our service felt rushed and our server kept trying to take plates before we were done. Overall, for a restaurant on the more expensive side of the spectrum, I was unimpressed.

Pesto pasta
Paige S.

Delicious food, Al dente pasta, with lots of bite and flavor. It was hand made too! The staff were SO kind and helpful. And the inside was very clean and lovely.

Hamachi
Betsy B.

My first experience at The Davidson was only ok. We had a party of 10 for a birthday and they sat us out on the enclosed patio. This was January in Cincinnati and the weather was not ideal for this seating arrangement. There were heaters but when they were on they were very intense and when they were off the temperature was uncomfortable. My toes were nearly numb by the time we left. The Hamachi was worth the entire trip, the balance between the citrus and the basil is a nice accompaniment to the hamachi. I ordered the scallops and was slightly disappointed in the quantity. The photos I had seen of the entree online that inspired me to order the dish had more scallops than I received, so that was a disappointment. I would give this restaurant another shot as long as I could sit inside, but I wouldn't order scallops again

French Onion Dip
Annie C.

The Davidson came as a recco from a friend turned Cincy local - and the review came through! This is the sister restaurant to Pepp and Dolores, which was an incredible meal and I had to check this one out as well. Brought a group of 10 here and everyone loved their meals and were well taken care of by our server. While their menu isn't especially extensive, their options are all quality choices. We tried a little of everything - standout apps were the Moroccan Roasted Eggplant (a different spin on eggplant!) and tuna tartare cones. Both were eaten so fast I couldn't even snap a pic! For entrees, the crowd favorite were the scallops. Wonderfully seared and served on a house crouton (a giant toast square!) that worked so well with the sauce. We sat on the patio and even on a chilly spring evening, the heaters kept the space comfortable.

Chris B.

If you want the atmosphere of an upscale place with very good food( try the chicken sandwich and the grilled veg salad) and a great view of Fountain Square .... This is your place. Try the happy hour 11a-6 p from Friday to Sunday and 4-6p. Come in and see Calvin at the bar for a drink and some fun conversation . In fact the whole crew is fun to talk to. Park over in the Fountain Square garage

Roasted Vegetable Salad
Kim S.

A stellar dining experience not to be missed in the city. The ambiance is warm with cozy luxurious seating, yet bright with big windows. The servers are incredibly well-versed with the menu and happy to answer any questions or give recommendations. I was incredibly impressed at how quickly the food came out, yet seemed like it took hours of love to cook. The plating was exquisite and food even more marvelous. The French Onion Dip is a fun way to start your meal with those familiar snack flavors, but in an upscale environment. The Roasted Vegetable Salad is a great bright salad full of winter vegetables, ideal for those who want to venture beyond the standard lettuce. My favorite was the Canneloni, with a creamy tomato sauce spinach and ricotta filling, and breadcrumbs topping for texture. Worth the reservation, but bar seating is available too for a walk-in, especially for their happy hour

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6 days ago

I believe in second chances- so gave the burger another stab !! It was delicious- they might make the list after all !!

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Ask the Community - The Davidson

Where r they?

right by fountain square across from the fountain

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The Davidson - french - Updated May 2026

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