March 27, 20205 yr 2 hours ago, jmecklenborg said: L is the first well-known local restaurant to announce that they won't reopen; more will follow: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/dining/2020/03/27/jean-robert-de-cavels-restaurant-l-not-reopen-after-order-lifted/2925627001/ Stuff isn't going to return to normal immediately. So all restaurants are facing 2-3 bad months after having been completely closed for 2-3 months. Not surprising. He said it struggled in 2019 too, so they've been having issues for awhile. The location is horrible. There's no street life there in the evenings. It would've done a lot better if it was closer to the Aronoff or on Vine Street in OTR.
March 27, 20205 yr 48 minutes ago, DEPACincy said: Not surprising. He said it struggled in 2019 too, so they've been having issues for awhile. The location is horrible. There's no street life there in the evenings. It would've done a lot better if it was closer to the Aronoff or on Vine Street in OTR. Agree the location was terrible. You had to unload guest at Fourth Street and then you walked through a dead lobby in the evenings. The views weren't great either, if this was at the top of the tower i think he would have had more pull in order to make the journey to the restaurant.
March 28, 20205 yr No idea how someone with his experience looked at this location and thought any type of restaurant would work. "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
March 30, 20205 yr Jean Robert probably thinks that his name is a big enough draw and people will go out of their way to eat at his restaurants no matter where they are located. That may have been the case 10 years ago, but with the thriving restaurant scene that Cincinnati has today, it's not true anymore.
March 30, 20205 yr People set themselves up for losing huge sums of money when they think of a restaurant as being some sort of art project. It is a business, period. Unfortunately most restaurants don't own their buildings and their startup costs are financed by some cockamamie combination of investors, family money, and loans, loans, and more loans. It's stressful during good times and life-destroying when things turn south. Many owners who were yelling at their employees last month will be working along side them for somebody else by the end of the year.
April 15, 20205 yr https://www.citybeat.com/food-drink/the-dish/blog/21125360/eo-kitchen-and-eo-new-asian-chef-rodelio-aglibot-dies-after-cardiac-episode. Just saw this tonight was really looking forward to his new restaurant.
April 23, 20205 yr Holtman's Donuts' newest location opens amid coronavirus crisis The newest location for Holtman's Donuts was scheduled to open in early April until the coronavirus crisis derailed the planned festivities. But that hasn't stopped it from going into business. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/04/23/holtmans-donuts-newest-location-opens-amid.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 23, 20205 yr Northern Kentucky restaurateur opening new concept despite coronavirus The owner of Agave & Rye, which was born in Covington before spreading to three other locations, is opening a new concept that will start with carryout service, in spite of Covid-19 pummeling the restaurant industry. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/04/23/northern-kentucky-restaurateur-opening-new-concept.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 28, 20205 yr Developers launch renovation of downtown Covington office building, adding rooftop bar, restaurant A local development team is starting on a complete renovation of a historical building in downtown Covington. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/04/28/developers-launch-renovation-of-downtown-covington.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 29, 20205 yr "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 29, 20205 yr Craft brewery Fifty West opens new restaurant amid pandemic Cincinnati's Fifty West Brewing Co. is opening a new eatery serving up roadside Americana in the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/04/29/craft-brewery-fifty-west-opens-new-restaurant-amid.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 30, 20205 yr 27 minutes ago, GCrites80s said: Well, atchualy, that's a Buffalo Wings and Rings Partners with Waffle & Steak.
April 30, 20205 yr Don't be dissin' Waffle & Steak! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 30, 20205 yr 9 hours ago, ColDayMan said: Don't be dissin' Waffle & Steak! Oh yes, I went there. It's on!
May 13, 20205 yr City plans to close or partially close streets at 25 locations in Downtown and Over The Rhine so restaurants can expand outdoor seating. https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/cincinnati/live-mayor-cranleys-friday-update-on-covid-19-in-cincinnati https://www.fox19.com/2020/05/08/city-closing-some-streets-sidewalks-downtown-restaurants-create-patio-seating/ Edited May 13, 20205 yr by Coseau
May 14, 20205 yr That's actually a really good idea (assuming the restaurants have to open that is). Hopefully Freedom Way and some of these other closures remind people that woonerfs are a good idea and they just remain pedestrian only forever.
May 14, 20205 yr Longtime riverfront restaurant permanently closes due to coronavirus A longtime seafood restaurant that overlooked the banks of the Ohio River is permanently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Joe's Crab Shack at 25 Fairfield Ave. in Bellevue is permanently closed. A person who answered the phone at the restaurant said the closure was effective May 14. Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves told me he was informed of the closure through a letter delivered by certified mail. The city of Bellevue is the landlord to the restaurant space that Joe's Crab Shack has called home since 2002. Cleves said the restaurant paid the city of Bellevue $120,000 a year in rent, and he estimated another $30,000 in income tax from its workers. Cont (subscription required) "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
May 14, 20205 yr 53 minutes ago, Cygnus said: Longtime riverfront restaurant permanently closes due to coronavirus A longtime seafood restaurant that overlooked the banks of the Ohio River is permanently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Joe's Crab Shack at 25 Fairfield Ave. in Bellevue is permanently closed. A person who answered the phone at the restaurant said the closure was effective May 14. Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves told me he was informed of the closure through a letter delivered by certified mail. The city of Bellevue is the landlord to the restaurant space that Joe's Crab Shack has called home since 2002. Cleves said the restaurant paid the city of Bellevue $120,000 a year in rent, and he estimated another $30,000 in income tax from its workers. Cont (subscription required) This is going to slightly impact Bellevue's revenue stream since they own the land under Joe's and Buckhead, but long-term this was going to happen and I'm happy it finally is. It has been pegged as a redevelopment site for years. Hopefully they are working towards that. “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
May 14, 20205 yr 2 hours ago, ucgrady said: That's actually a really good idea (assuming the restaurants have to open that is). Hopefully Freedom Way and some of these other closures remind people that woonerfs are a good idea and they just remain pedestrian only forever. Looks like the Banks is not part of this (for at least this weekend). I can't believe they are concerned about crowding when this weekend's forecast calls for thunderstorms and rain. It's not going to be a great weekend to do much outside. The Banks will not offer street seating for restaurants this weekend Quote Restaurants at the Banks development on the Ohio River will not offer seating on closed streets the first weekend it is allowed by the city of Cincinnati. While the city of Cincinnati is closing some streets downtown and in Over-the-Rhine to accommodate outdoor restaurant seating, which will be permitted by the state of Ohio on May 15, the Banks will not be taking advantage of that, at least initially. “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
May 17, 20205 yr So, are people grabbing food to go and sitting down to eat in these spaces? Or are these areas "full service"?
May 19, 20205 yr Over-the-Rhine gets its first new chili parlor in nearly 40 years Over-the-Rhine's first new chili parlor since the 1980s is set to host its grand opening this week. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/05/19/otr-gets-its-first-new-chili-parlo-since-1980s.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 20, 20205 yr I've not had their chili yet but their burgers and fries are quite good; including the Impossible Burger. "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
May 20, 20205 yr 18 hours ago, ColDayMan said: Over-the-Rhine gets its first new chili parlor in nearly 40 years Over-the-Rhine's first new chili parlor since the 1980s is set to host its grand opening this week. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/05/19/otr-gets-its-first-new-chili-parlo-since-1980s.html The Gold Star Chili at Race and Elder was open at least until 1998: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2019/08/27/food-and-wine-gold-star-ohio-best-fast-food-cincinnati-chili/2131249001/ There seems to be more of this type of false history promotion lately, the new jazz bar on Vine St is claiming it is bringing back jazz to Over-the-Rhine when Schwartz's Point has been here for decades.
May 20, 20205 yr ^ They have updated the article to read: Quote Over-the-Rhine's first new chili parlor since the 1990s is set to host its grand opening this week.
May 20, 20205 yr 41 minutes ago, mcmicken said: The Gold Star Chili at Race and Elder was open at least until 1998: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2019/08/27/food-and-wine-gold-star-ohio-best-fast-food-cincinnati-chili/2131249001/ There seems to be more of this type of false history promotion lately, the new jazz bar on Vine St is claiming it is bringing back jazz to Over-the-Rhine when Schwartz's Point has been here for decades. To be fair, it may have been the first NEW chili parlor to open in 40 years. That doesn't mean there wasn't a chili parlor in operation for 20 of those years. EDIT: There was also a place called The Royal that primarily served coneys and sandwiches at the corner of Main and 12th where Wodka Bar is now. Would you call it a chili parlor? Maybe not. But that's debatable.
May 20, 20205 yr 1 hour ago, ryanlammi said: To be fair, it may have been the first NEW chili parlor to open in 40 years. That doesn't mean there wasn't a chili parlor in operation for 20 of those years. EDIT: There was also a place called The Royal that primarily served coneys and sandwiches at the corner of Main and 12th where Wodka Bar is now. Would you call it a chili parlor? Maybe not. But that's debatable. I got sandwiches from The Royal a few times... it never crossed my mind that it would be considered a chili parlor. I don't mean that as a criticism (I liked their food!)... just didn't seem like chili was ever their focus.
May 20, 20205 yr IIRC, The Royal had a dual concept. They were open for lunch on weekdays with a menu mostly consisting of sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls (I don't remember seeing chili or coneys on that menu). On Friday and Saturday nights they would open as a late night drunk food spot with a different menu featuring Cincinnati chili.
May 20, 20205 yr Thunderdome opens newest restaurant on the East Side The Thunderdome Restaurant Group is unveiling its newest restaurant location in Anderson Township. Thunderdome, the group behind restaurants like the Eagle, Krueger's Tavern, Pepp & Dolores and Currito, opened the newest location of its fast-casual chicken concept CityBird in Anderson Township at 7893 Beechmont Ave. on May 20. It marks the fourth location of that concept, which was born as an outgrowth of the Eagle, which specializes in fried chicken. While the original Over-the-Rhine CityBird served primarily as a carryout location even prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the Anderson Township location is the first with a drive-thru to serve customers. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/05/20/heres-when-thunderdomes-newest-restaurant-opens.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 31, 20205 yr A Russian bot is spreading discord...somebody threw a rock through one Adriatico's window. Nobody got inside. Same with Mr. Tuxedo...flesh wound but no penetration.
June 7, 20205 yr Somebody who works at Salazar alerted the Twitter mob of Cranley's presence. The crowd came over and harassed the mayor. Somebody at the mayor's table got up and hit the cameraman:
June 8, 20205 yr The staff at Adriatico's walked out and the GM resigned this morning over how the CARES Act funding was applied to payroll. It's possible that the restaurant won't be open for a few days.
June 10, 20205 yr On 6/8/2020 at 10:51 AM, jmecklenborg said: The staff at Adriatico's walked out and the GM resigned this morning over how the CARES Act funding was applied to payroll. It's possible that the restaurant won't be open for a few days. I wonder what went on. Some businesses had a tendency to spend a ton of money early on with it not realizing that the "spend it in only 2 months" rule would go out the window.
June 15, 20205 yr Taste of Belgium opening first NKY location, now hiring Taste of Belgium is set to open its first Northern Kentucky location and is now hiring. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/06/13/taste-of-belgium-now-hiring-for-first-nky-location.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 16, 20204 yr This was shared in the OTR thread a week or two ago, but it's now official, A Tavola is done (for now, at least): Quote "After nine years, it is with a heavy heart we have decided to temporarily close our doors at this location," the restaurant wrote on Facebook. "Over the past three months we have worked hard to keep our doors open for both our team and for the neighborhood, however, after continued hard work and dedication from our team, we needed some time to reset. We do not have a time frame for reopening."
June 16, 20204 yr Goodfellas preps for Pleasant Ridge opening; here's what to expect Goodfellas is set to open its second Cincinnati pizzeria, but it will hold some new surprises for people familiar only with the Over-the-Rhine location. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/06/16/what-to-expect-when-goodfellas-opens.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 17, 20204 yr Upscale West Side restaurant adds chef as it prepares to open A forthcoming upscale West Side restaurant has a new team in charge of the kitchen as it gears up to open next month. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/06/17/upscale-west-side-restaurant-adds-chef-as-it-prepa.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 17, 20204 yr 1 hour ago, ColDayMan said: Upscale West Side restaurant adds chef as it prepares to open A forthcoming upscale West Side restaurant has a new team in charge of the kitchen as it gears up to open next month. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/06/17/upscale-west-side-restaurant-adds-chef-as-it-prepa.html Westside!
June 18, 20204 yr Business serving alcohol-filled slushies to open in Greater Cincinnati A new business specializing in craft slushies for adults and children is opening soon at a mixed-use complex in Greater Cincinnati. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/06/18/frost-factory-to-offer-alcoholic-slushies.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 18, 20204 yr Does anybody have good examples of restaurants, bars, breweries, etc. that are doing an exceptionally good job with social distancing and hygiene practices? Here are a few that I have seen: 50 West (brewery + burgers) -- Very good outdoor setup, tons of space between tables. Customers must go up to the bar to order food and drinks. Arnolds (bar + restaurant) -- Only doing outdoor seating on the street and in their courtyard. Lots of space between tables. Big Ash (brewery) -- I haven't been myself, but based on pictures I've seen, they have turned a large section of their parking lot into a biergarten with tons of space to spread out. They did have an employee test positive for Covid-19 and temporarily closed the place, but have now reopened. Rosedale OTR (bar) -- After getting bad publicity when they first reopened, they changed their practices and are doing a really good job now. They switched to a table service model for now, with guests asked to remain seated except to go to the bathroom. Queen City Radio (bar) -- I haven't been since reopening, but they have a very large outdoor seating area. Any others?
June 19, 20204 yr Nine Giant has done very good, IMO. For awhile they had online pick up only. They would text you when it was ready and you would walk and your to go bag would be on a table with your name on it. Now, they make you wait before being seated and have a huge thing of hand sanitizer where you wait. They spread out the tables inside and added a back patio and all the employees are wearing masks.
June 19, 20204 yr I think that we could see the restaurant tents on the east/west streets in OTR become a seasonal feature in future years (i.e. from Memorial Day to Labor Day). The opposition, I suspect, would come from restaurants on Vine or other north/south streets that wouldn't be able to do the same, at least not on the same scale. Also, the north/south streets are in a harsh sunlight for much of the day, whereas the east/west streets tend to be in a complete shadow. Yes, a tent or umbrella puts you in the shade, but it's not the same.
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