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    The Precinct by Jeff Ruby

    4.4 (767 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSteakhouses, Seafood
    Closed • 4:30 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    The Precinct by Jeff Ruby Photos

    Business Info

    THE PRECINCT BY JEFF RUBY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Upscale
    Moderate noise
    Dressy

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    Australian Wagyu collinsworth
    Sheryar K.

    David was our server and treated us great for a Graduation celebration. The crab cake was a hit between our group and amazing. Sea bass was brain chemistry altering. And then the steak was cooked great, I would recommend the filet version of the Australian Wagyu instead of the strip. And the burrow style is unreal! You won't get that anywhere else. The atmosphere is very romantic.

    Lorinn S.

    We just had dinner at Precinct and had to review it, so we could say what a great job they did tonight! We started off with our waitress Nicole, who was absolutely outstanding. She was so knowledgeable about everything and extremely enjoyable. It was obvious that she takes pride in her job. Everyone who poured water, cleared dishes or anything, was on point. Very impressive. It was very nice of the manager, Rylee, to stop by and check on us. Also, shout out to Onah and Hunter for their hard work and great service!! Thank you to Clint for a great table!

    Manhattan - delicious
    Amy J.

    The ambiance is not what I expected for a seemingly old school steak house. The vibes inside - like hanging out at Draculas. Dim, with red and pink lights all around, and I think I saw some stained glass pieces and large wall mirrors. Loved it. The table bread was from 16 bricks and was so good to me are actually going out to hunt for some this weekend. (I'm a bread head) We ordered a NY strip and petite filet. Steak was cooked to perfection. Crispy outside. Tiny hint of spice and plenty of salt. It came with garlic mashed potatoes and a salad. (Or you could choose a baked potato) We got the Greek salad which was delicious and fresh. The mashed potatoes were basically puréed- very smooth. We also ordered two additional sides. Macaroni and cheese was crispy on top and hot and creamy inside. Very cheesy and rich. The carrots are new to the menu but don't pass on them! So tasty. I love the combination they put together and they are not too mushy or too undercooked, just right. We liked them blistered. Cocktails were good and presented well. The Don't call me pumpkin, pumpkin and the Wood barreled Manhattan both stood out. Great flavor. The It's Britney Spritz was fun and light. We ordered the featured dessert which was a chocolate cake with chai frosting topped with cherries. The cake was good, very different! Service was excellent. Priscilla was attentive and very knowledgeable and made our anniversary dinner special with a candlelit cupcake surprise! Management also stopped by to check on us. We are excited to go back!

    Eileen B.

    What a meal!!! First time here and it was wonderful First of all Brigid our server was fantastic She is funny and made us feel at home Now the food and drinks I had the strawberry field drink one of the best drinks I have had Petite filet perfectly cooked and the seasoning is perfect Freddie salad and garlic mashed potato were perfect side dishes So glad I finally got there to experience the food and atmosphere

    Sea bass
    Rae T.

    This was our first visit. They did not disappoint! We started with two apps, crab cake & arancini. Both were delicious! My family all ordered steak, but I went outside the box and had the sea bass. All was absolutely phenomenal!! The steak was so tender, chewing is optional. The sea bass was the best fish dish I have ever had! Honestly, this was the best meal of my life! The service was just as good. The waitress was very friendly and so helpful. Can't wait to go back!

    NY Strip
    Scott S.

    We celebrated my stepson's 20th birthday at the Precinct last night. I have been to Jeff Ruby's main location as well a Carlos & Johnny. I find the experience to be consistent across. The service and ambiance are great, but the food is sub-par overall. My wife and I both ordered the NY strip with bay scallop scampi. Both steaks were over seasoned and objectionably salty - and my wife likes salt. Over seasoning is not something that I expect at a fine steak house! I have ordered other steaks and see bass as well at Jeff Ruby other locations, and I have never been impressed with their entrees. Credit where it's due: The Freddy salad was very good, and so was the loaded baked potato. Their desserts are always awesome as well.

    Bread service
    Jennifer K.

    AMAZING! The Precinct is amazing. Our server Sue was on point! The food was awesome, just an excellent experience! I started with the oysters which were good. The steak was cooked to perfection and was perfectly seasoned. The Mac and cheese is to die for. Ended the meal with the strawberry champagne cake and a glass of Prosecco which were perfectly paired. The ambiance was relaxed and overall had such an amazing experience.

    NY strip with bay scallops scampi
    John M.

    We celebrated my stepson's 20th birthday at the Precinct last night. I have been to Jeff Ruby's main location as well a Carlos & Johnny. I find the experience to be consistent across. The service and ambiance are great, but the food is sub-par overall. My wife and I both ordered the NY strip with bay scallop scampi. Both steaks were over seasoned and objectionably salty - and my wife likes salt. Over seasoning is not something that I expect at a fine steak house! The Freddy salad was very good, and so was the loaded baked potato. Their desserts are always awesome as well.

    Sandra E.

    So it's been a good 13 years since I've dined at this location. I sure missed it and glad I returned. I regret not coming over the years. They are still and remain a 5 star restaurant. My Mr.'s boss invited us to dine with him and his wife (Christmas dinner treat). We dined on a Wednesday night. Our server was Howie. Excellent server and very detailed with the menu. The inside is gorgeous as always. Love the nostalgia decor and the red lighting that gives it police station vibes but not overwhelming. Looks like the menu changed but not much. They still have a la carte but now with the meals we get a side and salad. Me and My Mr. ordered: Wine: La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva 2017 (Bottle) Appetizer: West coast Oysters Dinner: -Barrel Cut Filet Mignon with a side of garlic mashed potatoes & Freddie Salad (Mr) -Herb Crusted Filet with a side of garlic mashed potatoes & Freddie Salad (Me) Everything was perfect. The oysters were earthy and fresh. The steak was cooked medium rare and was super juicy. The sides and salads were amazing. Loved the wine paired with my meal. I couldn't finish my steak that I had to take it home. We didn't have room for dessert but our server Howie was nice enough to serve us peppermint ice cream and cookie cake. That was awfully nice. What an awesome experience. I'm still thinking about it. This was my Mr's first time dining in and he enjoyed it. Definitely returning and can't wait to try the other items on the menu.

    Chris B.

    If you're in Cincy for the first time this is the finest steakhouse in town, preferably here at the Precinct. Great nostalgic atmosphere in this old police station. Classy serving staff... wonderful service. I haven't even mentioned their menu. Top of the food chain of fine dining as their steaks are legendary. Check out the celebrity pics in the reception. Valet parking or parking across the street. A solid 5+ . Ask for Dallas. He gave us very fine service. Riley, the manager, stopped by to check on things and took time to show us around the old building. She was very charming.

    Pork belly appetizer
    Sabrina M.

    We were only in Cincinnati for one night, so naturally, I had one mission: find the best meal in town. The Precinct came up as the place, so our expectations were sky-high. And let me tell you--they did not come to play. First off, the building is a whole vibe: a renovated old police station now dripping in stained glass, chandeliers, and moody steakhouse glam. It's giving "law and order meets filet mignon," and it works. The hostess was an angel. We rolled in after spending hours on the road, definitely not looking like five-star fine diners--but still got the red carpet treatment. Most folks were dressed up (as they should be--this place is an occasion), but not once were we side-eyed. We were treated like royalty, road dust and all. Upstairs seating was no problem. There's an elevator, and the staff didn't miss a beat helping my brother with it. The service was a flawless team of 3-4 moving like a well-rehearsed crew on opening night. Water glasses stayed full, plates were cleared with perfect timing, like they were reading our minds. The crab cake appetizer = mind blown. I've eaten a lot of crab cakes in my day--this one changed my worldview. The pork belly was delicious, though the sauce leaned a little sweet for me. But the surprise scene-stealer was The Freddie salad. I'm a ride-or-die Caesar girl, but this converted me. I would fly back to Cincinnati just to eat that salad again. Also: the portions are not messing around. After two apps, that bread, and the world's greatest salad, we were feeling full as the steaks arrived like, "Hope you brought a second stomach." My filet was absolute perfection. L and my brother both ordered ribeyes and made sounds that were borderline NSFW. Meanwhile, the table next to us ordered a dessert that looked like a golden sneaker, served in a glass box like it belonged in a museum. We weren't even hungry anymore, but we watched them like sad, jealous food paparazzi. They knew they had the moment--and yes, they gloated. Honestly, I would've too. Bottom line: this place is a whole production, and I mean that in the best way. If we lived closer, we'd be regulars. Celebrating birthdays, breakups, Tuesdays--any excuse. Come for the steak, stay for the salad, and leave questioning every other restaurant you've ever loved.

    Ribeye
    David N.

    Fantastic experience. Great service. Nice decor. Staff was all friendly and helpful. Not overbearing. Made sure to check on us and see if everything was going ok. Food was outstanding. Can be pricey but well worth it. Sat in bar area and was a tad loud but not extremely. Highly recommend and hope to go back soon

    It's Britney, Spritz
    Donne S.

    Came here for Galentine's Day with my friends. The food was superb and the service was PHENOMENAL. Bridgette and Jason were wonderful and went the extra mile to keep the service running and the drinks FLOWING! They were super professional and personable and we will definitely be back. See you soon Jason and Bridgette! You guys were amazing!

    Crab legs, oysters and shrimp. Amazing!

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    5 months ago

    This is my least favorite location out of all of them. The food is mediocre for the price you have to pay, the service is amazing though!

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    Page 1 of 20

    The Precinct by Jeff Ruby Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Precinct by Jeff Ruby

    Reservations for the Precinct list the bar, standard, high top or outdoors. I have a October Saturday night bar reservation for dinner should I have held out for a standard seating or is this bar reservation full dinner service?

    Hi Colleen! Thank you for reaching out. The bar seating is a table or booth in the bar area, and all seats at the restaurant offer full dinner service. Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you in October!

    Will the make accommodations for a vegan? Ive heard no but I'm hoping others have had a different experience. Additionally, I've heard that some of the items you might think are vegetarian have meat or meat products in them. Thank you for your help.

    What is the corkage fee?

    I couldn't find anything online to provide any specifics. All Jeff Ruby's locations have an outstanding wine list. You can go by glass on a large number of their selections so you aren't stuck ordering a bottle every time. To be safe I'd say to… 

    Is the bar first come first serve ? If so what time is the best chance to grab a couple seats?

    Yes it’s first come first served. Got there around 5:30 last night for a reservation and bar was already full.

    View All 5 Questions

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    We have been wanting to try this place for awhile now. Went on a Thursday evening, special was…read moreseafood boils and place was crowded. Told it would be 45 minute wait, but seating at bar was first come first serve. So we sat at the bar. Service was great. Brian bartender was top notch and did a great job of explaining menu, drinks and specials. Was not pushy or didn't try to steer us towards one item or another. Jalapeño poppers for appetizer was good. Wife got the swamp water mahi mahi with side of jambalaya. She loved it and only offered me 1 bite! I got the swamp water pasta. This was also fantastic! Portions are large and filling. We didn't try any desserts as there was no room Cool vibe to this place. Nice ambiance. You could tell there were many regulars and everyone was very friendly. Will definitely go back to try the pork chop and the seafood boils next time!! Cost for 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 draft beers and 2 wines was under $100. That's a great deal!!

    wampwater Grill really gives you that New Orleans feel from the moment you walk in. I ordered the…read morecharbroiled oysters and a cup of gumbo. The oysters had a great charred, Cajun flavor, though they were a little small. The gumbo had that deep dark roux and the smoked chicken and sausage was well seasoned. The staff was personable, engaging, and my server was attentive throughout the meal. Definitely a nice little taste of NOLA in Cincinnati.

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    Alfio's Buon Cibo - Turtle tiramisu

    Alfio's Buon Cibo

    4.5(453 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Hyde Park
    •$$$

    Always an excellent dining experience. Food is outstanding…read moreand service is impeccable, Can be a bit noisy at times, but not too much to keep me from coming back.

    We had reservations for 6:30pm on Saturday night. We were a little early, but they were able to…read moreseat us right away. The atmosphere is dark and rich, and the seating is very comfortable. All tables have the cutest box-light centerpieces, all with fresh flowers, that added to the ambiance. Our server, Kayla, was smiley and fun! She explained all we needed to know about the nightly specials. She knew the menu well. There were also lovely food runners and other staff that kept our night going smoothly. This is what we had for dinner and our thoughts: Mussels - The PEI mussels were so plump and cooked perfectly. We sopped up all the broth we could with the charred bread pieces. I wanted to pick up the bowl and drink the rest. We order mussels at most places that offer them, and these were the best we have had in Cincinnati. Croquetas - These were interesting. The flavors were good, but we thought the consistency was a little pasty. It was like all the ingredients were blended up together in a, well, paste. Pasta Duo - We chose the Wild Mushroom in vodka sauce, and the Gnocchi Bolognese. We thought the vodka sauce overwhelmed the mushroom in the ravioli and that maybe a lighter sauce would complement the mushroom filling better. However, the sauce was excellent. The gnocchi were pillowy and tasty with the sauce, but there was not much beef in the bolognese. Although these weren't the favorites of the night, they were still very good. Skirt Steak with Chimichurri - OMG! I don't usually order steak out, but serving skirt is rare and it is one of my favorite cuts. It was so tender with a fabulous grill flavor and the most delicious chimichurri. Except for about four bites my wife enjoyed, I ate the whole 10oz steak!! It is pricy, but I would gladly spend the money for this excellent preparation again. The potatoes were roasted and seasoned well, but I wish there were more than five pieces of asparagus for the price. Chocolate Caramel Tiramisu - Very light and chocolatey. Yum! We will be back over and over for the mussels and skirt steak.

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    Alara - Seared Bristol Bay Sea Scallops

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    4.5(83 reviews)
    3.6 mi•Madisonville

    Alara is a fairly new steakhouse in the Cincinnati area. What stood out to us was the outstanding…read moreservice we received. We were greeted upon entering my the host and manager Seated immediately at a pristine table. Our waitress, Devon explained several items on the menu and made recommendations based on customer likes. We started with the focaccia bread. Lightly toasted. With our choice of herb butter or olive oil. Perfect, we ate every bite. Then we had the beet salad Red & Golden beets thinly sliced with fresh herbs and goat cheese. A lot of thought went into making this dish perfect thank you chef My lady ordered the filet and I had the 14oz Choice Strip Steak. Both incredibly tender and served with a variety of sauces. Bone broth, chimichurri, and herb butter. All the sauces were fabulous with me, preferring the bone broth. Our side dish of roasted herbs brussels sprouts, and cauliflower in balsamic glaze, very tasty. We did the big finish with a large slice of delicious carrot cake. The host and the manager Mark came by and checked out on us to make sure everything was perfect, our server Devon made sure everything was perfect & treated us like royalty. Definitely a five star experience

    Phenomenal experience this time around; I went by myself - I made a reservation expecting to be…read moreseated at the bar however the host informed me I would be kept company at the chefs table. (I will be booking this option from now on.) I ordered the surf and turf seasonal option with lobster and filet mignon cooked medium. I was surprised when a sea scallop I didn't order and a small glass of wine spritzer popped up but this is part of the chefs table experience - it was a sea scallop grilled with a chimichurri sauce and some crispy prosciutto. I would have never ordered this on my own so it was nice to try. I am a not a huge seafood person - the minute I cut into it I smelled the sea which was a turn off and I wasn't a fan of the texture but once I cut into tiny pieces and mixed with the sauce and the proscuitto I was able to actually find myself enjoying the dish plus boy did it look pretty coming out! The chefs table is nice because you get to watch everything be cooked - the mac and cheese looks amazing every single time - omg I must try it sometime. My waitress was phenomenal with purple and blue hair and the glittery eye shadow. She was so attentive and helpful. The steak was so juicy and cooked perfectly - I think next time I would get a larger steak or the grilled shrimp option as I wasn't the biggest fan of the lobster tail but still finished it. The salad was okay - I wish it had ranch instead. I also got the orange cream cloud for dessert to go which was shockingly light, airy and delicious - the citrus flavors with the passion fruit are so refreshing. I can't wait to come back and try something new . The place is beautifully decorated and they offer free parking options - the music is very low so you can have a conversation and even the chefs table wasn't too loud even though it was right next to the kitchen.

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    Forno Osteria + Bar - Gluten Free Bolognese

    Forno Osteria + Bar

    4.4(420 reviews)
    2.0 mi•Hyde Park
    •$$
    Family-owned & operated
    10 years in business

    We had an excellent dinner at Forno. My only complaint is that parking was ridiculously difficult…read moreto find and it felt a bit crowded at times. It was a Friday night, so probably pretty normal. All of that said, our meal was delicious. We loved the arancini appetizer (the sauce is finished with a lemon zest and was excellent) and the bread with butter was so, so good (do not skip it). We shared a margarita pizza and it was delicious. I recommend waiting a minute for the crust/cheese to firm up but the flavor and crust were amazing. I had the bolognese and it was absolute perfection. It's a large serving and I had leftovers for a couple days. My husband got the cacio e Pepe. He liked it but I found it sort of flavorless and not enough pepper. For dessert, we had the Pope's salame. It's unique and very tasty! We could only eat half because we were so full but I'm glad we tried it.

    We sat outside with our dog, they brought him a water bowl. Service was wonderful, they explained…read morethe menu and gave suggestions. Food was perfectly spaced out. We had the bread and butter and the caprese salad, tomatoes were perfect. I loved the cacio e Pepe it was so good I am still thinking of it. The cavatelli was wonderful as well, great flavor and pasta cooked perfect. I wasn't the biggest fan of the pizza my but my family loved it. The popes chocolate salame was absolutely perfect.

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    The Precinct by Jeff Ruby - steak - Updated September 2026

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