Hey Cincy peeps, where can I eat that's in walking distance of the Hilton Netherland Plaza that is a local/non-chain with good and reasonably priced food.  Casual preferred.

sushi on the square would be swell

Hey Cincy peeps, where can I eat that's in walking distance of the Hilton Netherland Plaza that is a local/non-chain with good and reasonably priced food.  Casual preferred.

 

Arnolds at Main and 8th, not too far.

It inexplicably became Mexican Fresh or something shortly before closing.

 

Southwest Fresh.  When they made this change, they removed all of my favorite sandwiches.  :(

Hey Cincy peeps, where can I eat that's in walking distance of the Hilton Netherland Plaza that is a local/non-chain with good and reasonably priced food.  Casual preferred.

 

Jeanro Bistro-French

Via Vite, Scotti's, Campenello's, or Tratoria Roma-Italian

Nada- Mexican

Nicholson's- Scotish

Arnold's- American

lavomatic cafe, close to 12th and vine is wonderful.  a bit further walk but worth it. 

What are everyone's top 5 Cincinnati restaurants (excluding national chains)?  I'm looking to expand my horizons a bit more and am open to any and all suggestions.  Well, except steakhouses.  I'm a vegetarian.  But other than that, what would you guys say are your favorite places to eat?

jean ro

nada

honey

slims

melt

High end:

Boca

Pigall's

Nicola's

The Phoenix

 

Less high end:

Lavamatic

Nada

JeanRo

Tink's (Clifton)

NuVo (Newport)

Riverside Korean (Covington)/Sung Korean Bistro

So many more...

forgot about lavo and sung

jean ro

nada

honey

slims

melt

 

I've heard good things about Honey, but haven't been there yet.  Slims and Melt are both delicious, though.  Oh God, the vegetarian Philly Cheese Steak from Melt.  Oh, I'm so hungry now.  :(

 

High end:

Boca

Pigall's

Nicola's

The Phoenix

 

Less high end:

Lavamatic

Nada

JeanRo

Tink's (Clifton)

NuVo (Newport)

Riverside Korean (Covington)/Sung Korean Bistro

So many more...

 

I've been to the Riverside a total of once, and I loved it.  I really, really need to go back.  I've been hearing good things about Lavomatic.  I haven't been able to find a menu online, though.  There's not one listed on Jean's website, or if there is, I haven't been able to find it.  What's the food like?

What are everyone's top 5 Cincinnati restaurants (excluding national chains)?  I'm looking to expand my horizons a bit more and am open to any and all suggestions.  Well, except steakhouses.  I'm a vegetarian.  But other than that, what would you guys say are your favorite places to eat?

 

My top 5, based on places-that-make-me-smile-just-to-think-of-them, would be Nicola's, Prima Vista, Nada, Boca and Daveed's.  But I don't really think of any of them as really vegetarian-friendly - you could certainly avoid meat there, but I don't think they really cook with you in mind.

 

However, a place like Maribelle's Tavern, just down the hill from you - they have a lot of fish and plenty of meat, but a number of vegetarian wraps and sandwiches and appetizers that looked quite good.  NuVo is definitely meaty, but they also seem to put out a really well-considered vegetarian dish that doesn't just seem like an afterthought.  Andy's Mediterranean Grill is right in the neighborhood, and while they're more expensive than it seems like they should be, there's definitely veggie love to be had there.

 

Hmm...what other vegetarian-friendly stuff is out there?  Where you don't have to content yourself with just a pasta or french fries?  And what places would YOU recommend, Moonlight?

 

I haven't been able to find a menu online, though.  There's not one listed on Jean's website, or if there is, I haven't been able to find it.  What's the food like?

 

You can find some good information at the following...

 

BuyCincy:

http://www.buycincy.com/flavor/2008/02/jeanroberts-lavomatic.html (information)

 

wine me, dine me:

http://winemedinemecincinnati.com/?p=80 (review)

http://winemedinemecincinnati.com/?p=84 (brunch review)

http://winemedinemecincinnati.com/?p=39 (review)

 

UrbanCincy:

http://www.urbancincy.com/2008/07/great-urban-scene.html (rooftop terrace)

http://www.urbancincy.com/2008/02/otr-food-drinks.html (information)

What are everyone's top 5 Cincinnati restaurants (excluding national chains)? I'm looking to expand my horizons a bit more and am open to any and all suggestions. Well, except steakhouses. I'm a vegetarian. But other than that, what would you guys say are your favorite places to eat?

 

Nada (Downtown), Jeanro (Downtown), Quarter Bistro (Mariemont), Teak (Mt. Adams), and Nicolas (OTR).

The critics are on point with Pigall's & Boca.  I ate at both this year and they were both off the charts.

 

for vegetarian food you can't beat Korean Riverside.

Lavamatic is the bomb.  So is NuVo in Newport (5th at York) - really inventive food.

Has anyone been to Orchids lately?

I was just unimpressed with the food at Lavamatic.  Like pretty much everything else about it though.

 

I agree that Maribelle's Tavern is one of our favorite casual places to go.

 

My favorite (and I'll admit I have not been to all the high end places) is Nicola's.

I was just unimpressed with the food at Lavamatic.  Like pretty much everything else about it though.

 

 

What did you get/how many times have you been?  Please don't tell me you got the Lavo Burger.  For me, it is getting better and better.  Definitely wonderful imo. 

Twice.  Once in a group of 6 and once in a group of two.  I specifically remember a root vegetable side dish on one visit that was unedible in my opinion. I haven't been back since.  That was summer time.

gotcha.  they update their menu pretty regularly. 

I agree that Maribelle's Tavern is one of our favorite casual places to go.

 

Could you tell me a bit about Maribelle's Tavern?  I rode past it on my bike, a couple months ago, and it's really on its own.  I can imagine that it'd be really nice to sit by the front windows and watch the sunset.

 

 

 

---

 

Oh, and I'd recommend Terry's Turf Club in Linwood on Eastern Ave.  BEST burgers in the region.  Incredible beer selection.  Wonderful neon everywhere.

New Palace executive chef ready to fortify his kingdom

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/11/17/story5.html

 

A native of Queens is out to make his mark in the Queen City with an appointment at the kitchen of the Palace.

 

The nationally recognized restaurant at the Cincinnatian Hotel downtown has attracted born-and-bred New Yorker Jose Salazar as executive chef. And he brings with him many of the finer trappings of his city: Salazar’s résumé includes the names of such well-known institutions as Per Se, Bouchon Bakery and Jean Georges.

 

See link for article.

Mythos was open till 9 p.m. tonight, I don't know if this is permanent or not.

Mythos was open till 9 p.m. tonight, I don't know if this is permanent or not.

 

Who knows...they seem to modify their hours every few months.  At one point they were open until 9 PM on Thursday and Friday nights.  My husband and I walked down to have dinner on one of those nights to find out that they were closed.  We don't really bother trying to go there for dinner because we're afraid that the same thing will happen again.

Thanks for the suggestions, those who posted them.  It was too late and I was too tired to leave the hotel so I just ate at Orchids.  Incidentally, Jean-Robert, whose Pigall restaurant I ate at last time I was in town (agree, it was divine) does the catering for where we had our offsite dinner during the meeting (the Aquarium) and the food was very well received.  Catering food usually leaves a lot to be desired but this was really good.

Why were you in Cincy, and how did you enjoy your stay? I love hearing out of town views of Cincy.

I'm looking forward to going to the Palace now.

Why were you in Cincy, and how did you enjoy your stay? I love hearing out of town views of Cincy.

 

I am a meeting planner and I organized a large meeting at the Hilton Netherland.  It was only my 2nd visit to cincy, the first was to select the hotel (which is when I ate at Pigall's).  I literally did not get outside of the hotel at all during my visit except for our offsite dinner at the aquarium, so I don't really have any general Cincinnati impressions.  However, I will say that the Hilton did an EXCELLENT job with the meeting and all the staff there were really top-notch.  Having held a similar event like this in Cleveland, it's night and day in terms of service excellence and hotel staff, unfortunately.

Why were you in Cincy, and how did you enjoy your stay? I love hearing out of town views of Cincy.

 

I am a meeting planner and I organized a large meeting at the Hilton Netherland. It was only my 2nd visit to cincy, the first was to select the hotel (which is when I ate at Pigall's). I literally did not get outside of the hotel at all during my visit except for our offsite dinner at the aquarium, so I don't really have any general Cincinnati impressions. However, I will say that the Hilton did an EXCELLENT job with the meeting and all the staff there were really top-notch. Having held a similar event like this in Cleveland, it's night and day in terms of service excellence and hotel staff, unfortunately.

 

People didn't want to believe me a few days ago in another thread when I said Cincinnati has the premiere dining scene but you gotta give Cincy credit where credit is due!

 

Glad everything went well and you had a great time.

I believed you, David!

Why were you in Cincy, and how did you enjoy your stay? I love hearing out of town views of Cincy.

 

I am a meeting planner and I organized a large meeting at the Hilton Netherland. It was only my 2nd visit to cincy, the first was to select the hotel (which is when I ate at Pigall's). I literally did not get outside of the hotel at all during my visit except for our offsite dinner at the aquarium, so I don't really have any general Cincinnati impressions. However, I will say that the Hilton did an EXCELLENT job with the meeting and all the staff there were really top-notch. Having held a similar event like this in Cleveland, it's night and day in terms of service excellence and hotel staff, unfortunately.

 

People didn't want to believe me a few days ago in another thread when I said Cincinnati has the premiere dining scene but you gotta give Cincy credit where credit is due!

 

Glad everything went well and you had a great time.

 

Actually most people I talked at my meeting to think Cincy is a great city, and that includes people that live there and people that don't.  It was a much more positive vibe than what you hear about Cleveland, especially from Clevelanders.

Chipolte  Fountain Square has their signs up!!!

 

I'm pumped about this for a few reasons:

 

One, it's another casual, in-expensive place to eat with late hours.

 

Two, as silly as it is ... Chipolte opening up sends vibes to other potential restaurants that it's a smart move.

^Any word on a grand opening?  I believe that Chipotle offers free burritos at their openings...

^^Oh, and the Chipotle that will open across from University Hospital has a Soooooon sign up.

December 5 is downtown opening date.

^Thanks!

Where is the Chipotle across from UH, corner of Highland and MLK?

Where is the Chipotle across from UH, corner of Highland and MLK?

 

Yes, it is in the new office building that was part of the Stetson Square development.  SW corner of Highland and MLK.

^I still have no idea where people will park at that location.  I guess the Stetson Square residents will see vagrants appearing in their neighborhood.

That Chipotle is going to be PACKED.

 

Companies downtown will love this thing opening up. You can make large orders on Chipotle's website.

Chipotle - Fountain Square

1 Fountain Square Plaza #

Cincinnati, OH 45202

 

Open M-F, 11A-8P Weekends

 

Not sure if this means that M-F hours are forthcoming or if it's 11A-8P daily.  Still, pretty great hours for downtown.  I hope they're open until 10P on weekdays though.

I think the Corryville Chipotle will catch the hospital worker demo almost entirely. Those folks are already parked. They fill up the campus Chipotle with their silly fax orders.

^I still have no idea where people will park at that location.  I guess the Stetson Square residents will see vagrants appearing in their neighborhood.

 

There's plenty of on-street parking around there and a garage under the building that might offer some sort of short-term parking for retail tenants' customers (something like 1hr free parking).

Perhaps they should incorporate a pedestrian bridge with the widening of MLK, so that the hospital workers can safely cross over to the Chipotle.

 

[Kidding.]

^To the best of my knowledge, MLK is not being widened along that stretch.

All right, well my bracketed sarcasm still stands for a new pedestrian bridge.

Perhaps they should incorporate a pedestrian bridge with the widening of MLK, so that the hospital workers can safely cross over to the Chipotle.

 

[Kidding.]

 

There's no way this is going to happen.

It looks like "Mainstay" will be opening soon (the old "Poison Room", on fifth).  They have the sign up outside...new paint job...they are finishing up on work inside and were hanging up plasma tv's today.  Looks like it could be a cool rock bar. 

Does anyone know if they are going to be using the upstairs???  That could be the part that would make it a great bar!

There's no way this is going to happen.

 

Perhaps I should re-emphasize. 

[Kidding.]