Spent 24hours in Cincinnati for date night and decided to try the Davidson for lunch as it was in walking distance from our hotel. We opted for bar seating as the restaurant was just opening. Ricolette was the bartender of the afternoon; extremely pleasant. Upon sitting we were informed they offer a weekend happy hour menu which we decided to order from. We had the Yellowfin crudo, green side salad, french onion dip with homemade chips and the Davidson burger. Again, the service was impeccable, the food came out quickly and was well prepared. The bar seating area had a great view of the city area and also had framed TVs playing sports; aesthetically pleasing. read more

See all

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; we tried great flavor, but I feel like the arugula that was on it through 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 much well and the menu is kind of limited. Food arrived fast and the service was great. read more

See all

Had wonderful lunch today downtown Cincinnati! Very nice, elegant interior with friendly staff. Service was fast & food was delicious. We split the burger & a grilled chicken sandwich to try each others sandwiches & decided both were excellent. The aoli was fabulous!! Fries perfect. Nothing to complain about! read more

See all

We decided to do an early dinner at 5pm. What a beautiful atmosphere. Maybe mid century. We sat in a 2 person booth in the bar, the seats were amazingly comfortable! Alecia was our server and she was wonderful, attentive and knowledgeable. We had the Margarita and the Distrito. The margarita was fine, but my man loved the Distrito. We had the Hamachi which was amazing, the flavors with the basil were so fresh. The killer app was the eggplant that they prepare table side. I will be trying to copy this. We shared the rigatoni and the veal Milanese. Both were sooo good and so much left overs to take home. Where they lack is no dessert menu, we did manage to have an espresso martini that did the trick for the end of meal sweetness. The place is great and we cannot wait to go back to try other menu items we missed. Specially the scallops. read more

See all

I loved the atmosphere inside. Our waitress went through the whole menu with us and made recommendations which was great. I thought the food was good. I liked the presentation of our appetizer (the eggplant) but I felt the bread was a little too grilled tasting. Our salad was excellent and my boyfriend's burger and fries were delicious. My pasta was a little underwhelming but it was still a good meal. read more

See all

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 read more

See all

We celebrated our engagement with friends at Davidson's and they made it so special! To start, they gave the whole group a free round of bubbly to start, which started everything on such a happy note! We proceeded to order everything: - Arancini 4/5 - Crispy and tasty, the red sauce had the perfect amount of acidity - Bread & 3 Butters 5/5 - The cacio pepe butter is supreme! - Moroccan Roasted Eggplant 5/5 - They prepare this tableside and it is deliciously smoky and excellent. - Scallops Grenobloise 5/5 - WOW! So tasty and so many scallops - Brick Pressed Chicken Au Vin 4.5/5 - Was wishing for crispy skin but the dish itself was very flavorful. To end the night, our waiter brought another free round of bubbly, which was such a great way to end the night. Great food, great ambiance, and excellent service. Davidson knows what they're doing! read more

See all

The Davidson is the perfect spot for an after work happy hour! I went yesterday and was so happy with my experience. The staff was very friendly and attentive. They have cocktails for $10 and house wine for $5. My favorite was their french onion dip and vodka rigatoni. The restaurant its self was super cute and they have a great patio. Just a reminder that the happy hour is only at the bar! I need to go back and try their regular menu as well! read more

The Davidson - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

It was my first time here and it's so good The atmosphere by the bar gives off the speakeasy feel and the bar is beautiful Our food and service was phenomenal We started with the bread and butters The cracked pepper was my favorite My daughter ordered the pasta with pesto and I ordered the scallops with harvicot verts and butternut purée So delicious and so many scallops The prices are reasonable for fine dining read more

See all

Food was phenomenal, the steak for 2 was amazing. The chimichurri was to die for. Our server Ryan was fantastic and super attentive. Definitely recommend visiting the Davidson if you get the chance! read more

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

The appetizers here are the star of the show. Sat outside on a Monday evening with some coworkers. Service was great. Very attentive. For apps we ordered the eggplant which was a fun little show as he cut it up for us at the table and was super tasty, probably my favorite. Fried risotto balls were a close second. Also enjoyed the onion dip and burrata. For entree I went with the yellowtail salad since I'm pescatarian. It was good, nothing special but I felt satisfied from the apps and 2 glasses of wine. Others very much enjoyed the rigatoni, chicken and steak dishes. read more

I can not say enough wonderful things about our meal last night - our last night in Cincinatti Our waiter Natalie was such a joy with helpful suggestions about the wine choices and menu items. Having food allergies she was great in helping me pick out the perfect entree aka GET the chicken. When we decided to pass on desert to go next store to Graeters she gracious suggested her favorite flavor. Her energy was infectious and we felt at home immediately. When the bill came we noticed there was an error and no questions asked she handled it promptly with the manager who came over himself to offer his apologies and make sure we were good. Which we were. He then came back and shyly asked us if we woudl wait a few minutes before we left - we had our suspicions why ans we're thrilled when they came true. While we were chatting the other manger had ran across the street and picked up a pint of Graeters famous raspberry chocolate ice cream. Frankly it was one of the sweetest things we have experienced. What a delicious amd gracious and beyond the call of duty surprise. Made our day. Walked back to our hotel with a huge smile made our trip to cincinatti and can't wait to go back the next time we are in town. read more

The Davidson - Graeters surprise - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Stopped in for a cocktail while waiting for Jeff Ruby's to open up. Service was great, the bartender who helped us was very friendly and made a great recommendation. She promptly made our drinks and was engaging. The venue is nicely decorated with an art deco vibe. Great place to stop for drinks! read more

The Davidson - Special Margarita - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Beautiful upscale restaurant with affordable pricing and fair portions. I'm a huge Thunderdome restaurant group fan anyway. If you are trying to decide between here and somewhere else, go ahead and book here! The brick pressed chicken was the best dish I've had this year, 10/10. Enjoyed the olive oil martini. The espresso martini was a disappointment. The pasta was the least favorite at the table, very al dente and very little sausage. However, the flavor of the sauce was good. Complimentary birthday toast was the icing on the cake. I will definitely be back! read more

See all

Great location, amazing service, bar is really good, food is not good! I understand burgers and fries, but steaks, seafood, etc. with only casual options. You're upscale!!!! Chicken was terrible, bordelaise terrible, no baked, mashed, or options for potatoes or vegetables to go with any meal! We've been here before, food was good at first, but tried a couple times after that, and just no reason to go back. Too many great options out there! read more

Great service and atmosphere! Cocktails were delicious. We ordered the pork chop and vodka rigatoni. Both were good, not great. Reasonably priced. Due to the downtown location, arrive early to find parking. read more

The Davidson - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Perhaps the most frustrating experiences are those that are good but not great. With some slight nudges, The Davidson can be great. But right now, it's only good. Because of that, I will not be in a rush to go back. I much prefer Pep & Delores. The decor is beautiful. The bar is inviting. The interior lighting is a bit odd, I don't think they get great light inside. We started with cocktails and sat at the bar. The martini had a slightly odd taste, might be the olive oil? The margarita was delightfully refreshing and salty. The fondue was just okay, the bread a bit over grilled for my taste. The apples that we were served were not crisp, but quite mealy. Overall, the cheese flavor could have been more strong. The tuna cones are nice. The cone is a cool design but doesn't impart much flavor. I would have preferred a cracker. The roasted vegetable salad was probably my favorite dish we had. The quinoa was so crunchy and perfectly cooked. Good beets and goat cheese. It wasn't anything revolutionary, but classic flavors that work every time. The French fries were good, but couldn't been crispier. Really liked the aioli. Service was attentive. The bartender was excellent and super friendly. The prices here are steep, making it a special occasion restaurant. For the price I think there are better options in Cincy. read more

See all

The food was the star here for sure! Service was decent and the decor was nice. Unfortunately it was really hot inside! We were inside, but they had the doors open to the patio and it was steamy outside, which made it uncomfortable inside. I'd suggest closing those off when it is that hot. In addition, our table was way too small. We had to put our bread basket on the bench when sharing the eggplant. Consider making the tables for 2 bigger. The bellini spritz was refreshing and delicious. The eggplant appetizer lived up to the hype! We especially loved the table side presentation. Then we split the vodka pasta and scallops. Both were very good! I plan to come back with more friends and try more of the menu because it was great quality food and didn't break the bank. Would love to see desserts added. read more

See all

We had a good experience at the Davidson. It's lively without being crazy loud. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable on the menu but it did take her a while to get over to us to take our drink order. Speaking of drinks, they have a good cocktail and wine menu and my husband said their old fashioned was the best he'd ever had - strong praise! For apps we had burrata and peaches and tuna tartar in cute little waffle cones and both were delicious. At the waitress suggestion I ordered the scallops and they were good but a bit salty. We ordered desserts to share and both were just ok, I wish they had more variety (there are only two) and something more special than panna cotta and chocolate mousse given the unusual choices on their cocktail and food menus. All in all though we really enjoyed it! read more

I took my daughter to The Davidson before a show at The Aronoff. We arrived at 5:30 on a Tuesday to an empty dining room, only to watch two hosts fumble with the reservation system until a manager stepped in. Once seated, the course of our meal was a study in lost timing: appetizers arrived well before our drinks, and other plates seemed to follow no discernible order. The unremarkable burger took a turn for the worse with an au poivre sauce that proved inedible, though at least they removed it from the check. The service needs a serious tune-up for the prices and ambiance they're aiming for. If you're heading to The Aronoff and want a solid meal, you can find a better spot. read more

We fell in love with this place during our visit to Cincinnati, so much so that we stopped by twice. Initially we dropped in for cocktails and found them well-crafted by friendly staff who went out of their way to make us feel welcome and at home. This convinced us to stop by a second time and dine there. The centerpiece of the restaurant is a long marble-topped bar. There are also dining areas including a covered "indoor". patio. The restaurant has a great retro-classic design. It may appear quite formal at first, but business casual attire is quite appropriate for guests. Aside from our cocktails, we had the Hamachi and the Tuna Tartare Cones - both were delicious. Again, I can't say enough good things about the serving staff. They were professional, knowledgeable and clearly working hard to make everyone who was there feel comfortable. I highly recommend The Davidson. read more

The Davidson - Hamachi and Tuna Tartare Cones. Both were wonderful dishes! - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

Nicely appointed establishment, busy and efficient service. Hamachi app was delicious and balanced acidity, mushroom soup a banger, really! Pork chop w/subtle bbq sauce and agrodolce simpatico. Only hiccup was way too lemony sauce for the chicken, better with olives but overwhelmed. Nice wine selections! read more

Most of you know me for my brunch reviews but last night was a birthday dinner. Truly a great experience!! First time for all three of us and an excellent choice, as we discovered. Celebrating a friend's birthday and he chose the location. I had noted that on the reservation. Mario, our waiter, was excellent. Very personable and friendly. He noted that we were there for a birthday and brought us flutes of champagne. There was also a card which is a nice touch. Pacing of the meal was good and he was very attentive. The birthday diner chose the scallops which looked great. He said they were very good! "T" saw them on the menu and had also seen reviews touting them. Definitely a good choice and he thoroughly enjoyed them. My other friend and I had the pesto-yum. Had to check out the dessert menu and settled on the pot de crème; talk about presentation. We were seated by the window which was fun for people-watching. And even though there was a larger party across the aisle from us we barely heard them. read more

The Davidson - Pot de crème - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

This restaurant is owned by the thunderdome company that owns local Cincinnati favorites such as Bakersfield, the eagle, and pepp & delores. They source their chefs from pepp & delores and the hard rock cafe. We came on a Sunday for dinner service and were greeted by two servers opening the doors to the entrance of the restaurant. It was tastefully decorated and made good use of subtle amber lighting all throughout the restaurant. We noticed lively music playing overhead and was immediately enveloped in such a exquisite ambiance. The service was top notch. Water was always topped off. The server checked up on us regularly, and answered questions about the establishment and the chefs cooking our food. We got the clam casino and the tuna tartare cones. Each item's presentation was so distinct and intriguing. The tartare came out on a set of 5 cones, each cone had the top stuffed with tuna and bottom with creme friache. The flavor blended beautifully and I felt like I was eating the end of an actual ice cream cone. The clams came out as a set of 8 and the calabrian chili carried the flavor of the clams and the breadcrumbs provided a contrast to the soft texture of the clams. The entrees were the brick pressed chicken and the vodka rigatoni. The chicken portions were very generous and came garnished with mushroom, bacon, carrot, mashed potato all surrounded with a Bordeaux jus. Each individual garnish added and balanced out the dish. The chicken was moist, juicy and filled with so much flavor. It was perfectly cooked even the chicken's skin had its own distinct flavor. The vodka rigatoni was cooked to al denti and was amazing in itself but could not compare to the chicken. We also got to try out their Moroccan roasted eggplant completely free of charge and it was prepared in the kitchen and the final touches were done at table side. The server explained each step and provided us with the bread to try it. It was a rich blend of herbs, tahini and harissa oil all smeared on a sourdough bread and was unexpectedly delicious. The davidson is going into its 3 week after opening and has become my favorite restaurant in Cincinnati at the time of publishing this review. I will be back to try every menu item. I expect this restaurant to rise to the very top among the fine dining establishments and have long months wait-list in the near future. The level service, cleanliness, ambiance, food and experience make The Davidson a must try for all those living in Cincinnati. read more

See all

What a wonderful location. Great ambiance, lively atmosphere and wonderful service. The whole team was on point t and made me feel cared for. The bar menu is fantastic with wonderful tuna and chicken salad. Don't miss the fries read more

Went on a crowded Saturday evening. We had reservations and were seated in a timely manner. The cocktails were good- Especially their house old fashioned. The food is moderately priced and very good. We really enjoyed sharing the fondue appetizer. Their house-named cocktail- The Davidson Old Fashioned was excellent. The pork chop was huge (Think leftovers). The only downside was the seating was rather cramped. read more

See all

I enjoy The Davidson, however, it quickly became lack luster. It started off strong from the gates. Excellent location, lively, and an enjoyable menu. A bit loud. We found after the first few months, getting a reservation has become easier. The menu, while delicious, is static. Same options, and, therefore, repeat visits fail to have any more of a sense of novelty. Gotta have a special, or, change with the seasons. In addition to the static menu is a completely absent dessert menu. I do not think I need to explain the failure with this, or, point out how easy it is to make a delicious ice cream Sunday. I hope these folks keep on the strong work but modify as neccessary. read more

They Moroccan eggplant is out of this world. The service is perfect. I gave a 4 stars for the lack of variety read more

The Davidson - Moroccan eggplant - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Was hyped to try this place and had a great time! We sat at the bar and had a couple cocktails, the fondue, and the vodka pasta. Everything was great! The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu even though it was brand new. I definitely want to come back and try more! This is a nice space that's a great addition to the Fountain Square area. Looking forward to warmer weather with patio dining too! read more

See all

Hands down one of THE BEST restaurants downtown. I cannot stand this enough. We had such a great experience and can't wait to go back. We were running late because my now fiancé had proposed and they not only were super accommodating they had champagne ready for us when we arrived. But let's talk about the service. Everyone was so friendly from the moment we walked in the door. You will see people rave about this in other reviews and it is absolutely memorable. This is how you should feel when you dine at a restaurant like this. Splendid job truly. Ok what you are actually here for: the food reviews We had been told to get the scallops. Let me say this as loudly as possible. GET THE SCALLOPS. Oh my wow. There are no words to describe how incredible this dish is. It absolutely blew me away. It was phenomenal. I don't know that I could go back and not get this dish again. It was so good. We also got the moroccan roasted eggplant. This was also very good. A twist to how pepp & d does theirs and different flavors so we had to try it. The mushroom bisque. not enough raves for this show stopper. It was delicious. Another top recommendation when you dine here. I also loved the vibe of the restaurant. It was stunning inside. Great lighting and decor. Very comfortable. Just overall. 11/10. Go here. Do it. You will be happy you did. We can't wait to come back! read more

See all

We had an amazing meal at the Davidson this afternoon before the Bengals game. First, we really enjoyed the atmosphere with the open-air bistro on such a beautiful day. And then everything we ordered was fantastic - the hamachi with the citrus was an explosive bite, and the peach burrata with prosciutto was a perfect combination over the warm bread. For mains, we had the burger with Gruyère and the vodka rigatoni. Both were delicious (and the rigatoni was truly iconic!!). But above all, we appreciated the staff and chefs who made our experience feel extra special, checking in to ensure everything was perfect and paced to our liking while balancing the hustle of a game day crowd with warmth and hospitality. We'll be back! read more

The Davidson - Hamachi, Arancini, Peach Burrata, Carpaccio; Burger, Vodka Rigatoni - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

the davidson is starting to become one of my absolute favorite restaurants in cincinnati-- the food NEVER misses & you're guaranteed great service as soon as you walk through the double doors! bathrooms are always pristine, music is fitting for the space & never too loud (albeit the crosswalk next to the patio can be a bit obnoxious at times LOL), and the aesthetics of the restaurant make you feel as though you're in a city like chicago or nyc. gorgeous! gorgeous! gorgeous! will continue returning here & recommending it to anyone who will let me ramble on about it! read more

See all

I didn't know much about the Davidson but when my fiancé brought me here for a surprise birthday dinner I was blown away! It's a beautiful decorated, sleek but approachable space. Waiting on the table was a birthday card from their team with a handwritten message, a truly personal touch! We were with another couple and the atmosphere was perfect for an evening of catching up with friends, it never felt too loud inside (neither from music nor other diners) but we also never felt like we were too loud. Now for the food! We started with French onion dip and the fondue, both highly recommended and perfect sized to share them both among 4. For my main, I ordered the scallops which I can't recommend enough! Perfectly cooked, and the butter sauce was amazing. I've never had anything like the giant "croutons" that soaked up the sauce. I didn't want it to end! The service was perfect all night and a complimentary champagne toast was brought out which was a very nice touch. The prices were very fair, definitely a good value for the quality of food, service and the space. One thing to note is there isn't much street parking in this area since it's on Fountain square, so be prepared to use the Fountain Square Garage. Everyone left full, happy, and looking forward to another visit to the Davidson. read more

See all

We managed to get a Saturday night reservation at The Davidson in downtown Cincinnati. It's a busy night and we were quickly seated near the "Cooks serving window " but were very surprised to find it peaceful even though servers were picking up meals right behind us. We enjoyed cocktails and on the servers advice tried the Roasted Eggplant appetizer. Designed for four, the freshly roasted eggplant was served table side, seasoned and prepared served with slightly charred bakery bread. It was a big hit. Three of us had the in house made pasta, (sausage on the side) per our request, and a vodka pasta. We were hoping for the pasta with clams but they had pulled it from the menu. It's hard to get clams in the winter. The Pork Chop was a Two boned, cooked to perfection with a great sauce on it. The Kale veggie was tasty. The place is pleasant, Noise level low enough that we could talk at the table. Service was first rate. Very attentive We felt the prices were reasonable. A good experience. read more

See all

The char-grilled chicken and the bread and butter were wonderful, but lunch service took over an hour to get our food. It makes it difficult for a business lunch. read more

My husband and I had a great time dining at the bar. The courses were delicious (particularly the mushroom bisque), and our server Mel treated us wonderfully. Following a discussion about our mutual love for mezcal, Mel made me a delicious off-menu Naked & Famous. read more

Amazing service, food and wine here! I came here with some coworkers and we shared an app and wine and all got entrees that we loved. I love pesto everything and this plate was a tad spicy for my liking, but I still enjoyed it and you can probably ask for no red pepper flakes if you don't like spicy either! Our server was knowledgeable and attentive which made the experience that much better read more

The Davidson - Pesto pasta - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Simple menu but exquisite. Excellent option for lunch or dinning in the middle of Downtown. The place is cozy; the menu is simple but delicious dishes. The home made pasta and the menu were tasty. The appetizer most popular was eggplant in the way never tasted. Very good. Our waitress Mason provided a very good table service. A good option to think! read more

See all

Stumbled in not too long before closing... friendly waitstaff. Our meals were well prepared. I'll need to come back to try the drink selection. Oddly, only two dessert offerings. No biggie for me. I really enjoyed the ambiance. Returning and definitely for the bread & butter service. Two of the three butters were unlike many I've had elsewhere. read more