If it has a buffet...I'm buying it!!!

 

Market Buffet

™

at Belterra Park

is where good

times meet giant portions for a

spectacular feast from seven live

-

action cooking stations ranging from Italian, Asian and

American with regional favorites like Goetta; and an international station featuring

multiple ethnic cuisines. Enjoy roasted meats and

naan bread from the Tandoori oven;

cooked to order favorites, hand crafted charcuterie and grilled sandwiches from the

rotating grill as well as skewered meats from our enormous Churassco grills.

Go for

seconds. Try for thirds. But make sure to save room

for something amazing from the

abundant selection of homemade desserts. Open every day

http://www.ameristar.com/Files/Fact_Sheet_Belterra_Park.pdf

*CRIES*

And Lavomatic is debuting yet another new menu. At this point, they should just close up, change the name and reopen.

I mean, their theme is a washing machine. I could get behind it if they regularly changed up the menu and chef on purpose.  You know, "gave it a "spin cycle."  Could be a cool concept.  But with the way they turn them over now it just comes across like bad management.

Josh Campbell -- who was chef/owner of Mayberry, before that closed and he became head chef at Lavomatic -- has left Lavomatic and is now working at Belterra Park Racino. Campbell is quoted as saying, "It’s my dream gig." Anyone buying it?

 

http://winemedinemecincinnati.com/2014/02/lavomatic-adds-new-executive-chef-josh-campbell-moves-to-fine-dining/

 

I spoke to him during Cincy Beer Week and he honestly seemed excited. Will be sent to New Orleans to train for the next several months. However, I do find it hard to believe he'll be happy in Anderson Township.

I did like the menu at his original Mayberry location, but I was not a big fan of the menu at the Mayberry and during the time he was at Lavomatic. I'm thinking that maybe he was ousted from Lavo and is trying to spin this Belterra job as his "dream gig".

 

Mayberry and Lavo are/were very similar in one respect--there is never a line, and you can often get in easily when there are long waits at other OTR restaurants. But it is almost always the last restaurant we check anytime I'm out with people in OTR.

 

Lavo (even before Campbell) always seemed like they had a hard time competing with all of the other great new restaurants that have opened up around them.

I know what you mean.  Lavo was the first OTR restaurant me and my fiance went to right when all of the momentum on Vine was starting to pick up.  We loved it, but haven't taken the chance to go back for almost 3 yrs now.

So TB's Restaurant & Lounge opened last week in the former Black Dog Kitchen, in the City Club Building, 850 Euclid Ave.

^Huh?  Where?  :-D

I didn't realize Euclid Avenue extended all the way to Fountain Square.

I didn't realize Euclid Avenue extended all the way to Fountain Square.

 

It took me a minute to realize that this restaurant wasn't on Cincinnati's 5 block long, mostly student housing lined Euclid Avenue.

Ha!  Good point.

Great article in this week's Business Courier about the burgeoning Cincinnati foodie scene.  (I assume it's online somewhere, too.) 

^Huh?  Where?  :-D

 

Whoops. That's what I get for not enlarging the page on my phone before clicking on the thread with my fat thumb.

 

Mahoganys owner Liz Rogers wishes her -haters- arent able to have kids and die ASAP in response to City Beat article.

 

http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-29665-mahoganys_in_the_dark.html

 

Liz Rogers

 

As usual here we go again with the irresponsible journalism .... People reporting things that are inaccurate information and hearsay .....now I'm the wrong black one! What's next hate to see what I'm called next....... I would like to address a few things first that party that came in to see her daughters reality show now here I go being nice letting people come to my small establishment FOR FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE THEY DID NOT RENT OUT OUR SPACE OR PAY OR OFFER ME A DIME FREE FREE FREE STOP REPORTING LIES with large groups for events and ME not charging any rental fees. Of course when I get the call I want to be supportive of anyone that supports me. First of all we opened that day at 11am so to the alledge reporter because at this point I could be one myself these days.. Customers who came could not have waited in the car for us to open if they were scheduled to arrive at 8-9pm at night....please check your facts. The satellite went out for about 15 min due to weather conditions out of my control on our screens that we so graciously allowed the group to watch and turned off all of our music to accommodate this group and not the other customers ... Special people deserve special treatment right! This was a special occasion I felt it was and the mother was one of the nicest most beautiful people I have ever met...I'm hoping she wasn't the one to have given this mis information to this irrelevant reporter who likes to print hearsay and not check his or her facts. So I get a call about 10:30 from server who is in tears that over 50 people showed up and that 98% of them wasn't tipping their reason was the satellite went out for a few miniutes and they felt that they spent enough. I proceeded from my home to call the woman that booked the event explained to her my disappointment wanted her to understand how important it was her party tipped reminded her that we close at 10pm and I had graciously agreed to stay open 2 hrs later to accommodate her free event and that I would appreciate this being resolved. She stated that she didn't know this was going on that her party Always tip, that some of the people there were young and maybe they didn't know any better and I should come and educate them.....so check your facts before you print.

Let's talk about entitlement .....wouldn't know anything about that you see at the end of the day I have worked for everything I have. I already had a successful business that I built from the ground up by myself with no bank loans or investors. You people write about things you have no idea about you want to paint this picture of me for the people who never even met me. I realize what you people don't know you make up. I get that I sale papers people are intrigued with this story it's really not news to say the least it's life.

So here we are reporting that a resturaunt in a multi-million dollar development has debt....minimum debt at that ! Do you realize that most business here on the banks opened with no less than 3million dollars worth of debt ... Let me educate you for a minute, a restaurant of this magnitude normally opens with no less than 2million dollars worth of debt and here we opening owing only 300k. so yes let's talk about this because I speak about factual information and THIS IS PUBLIC RECORD!!!!!!!! So I don't mind sharing anything to save certain people from looking even more stupid.

What are the sales of your newspaper are you reporting on your vendors or what your paper owes or are they debt free? even the major newspapers have had lay offs ,down sized ,you name it. was it because they were doing great I don't think so. Now what I don't understand how is it that I am held to a higher standard. Unrealistic expectations. These people really expect me to be debt free! Wow!

My staff and I have had some great people working for me past and present. I've had some people that didn't do my company any good. I call these growing pains I don't regret giving people an opportunity even if they couldn't rise to the occasion but I never will give up on them as I appreciate my staff hang in there with me during the attacks and long days. I don't know anyone that could have pulled this off at this time but me it was my time and I was chosen to do this God anointed me not the city ....recognize. The city didn't GIVE ME ANYTHING they offered me a loan of 300k and I took it any smart business person would. they ask me to do this project they sought me out. I was already successful before the banks I have nothing to prove to anyone not even the worst most desperate attempt to sale papers I've ever seen. it has been a brutal winter for all the business owners in the city I pray for their success everyday I hate that they survive through all the slow seasons and beyond.

This is what I think about people that spew hate... Even the Cincinnati Enquirer had enough sense to call and ask questions and interview me first befor they printed their story. FYI I would have gladly spoken her/him to give them the opportunity to participate in responsible journalism.

Here we are judging me a small business that my company has debts that is reported to have payment arrangements with their vendors trying to meet their finacial obligations. There are options to business owners bankruptcy, shut down, you name it. Then we attach this too an individual not the business. The revenues dictate the buisness. The weather other unforeseen circumstances that isn't a reflection of the owners.

People are not understanding the big picture.... Mahognays is a historical venu we are breaking barriers ... This alledge reporter says basically I am a token selected to fill a deficient ! How stupid is that I don't have to name all of my accomplishments or defend myself. Who would have been the right candidate ? I'm not a candidate but another person is that files bankruptcy on 50million and then the city goes on knowingly to give that buisness another 10million. That's not neccessarily a bad thing it just buisness. Who says this is a bad buisness deal you!

Here is what I'm thinking since I'm getting the opportunity to write my own column. People are being judgmental they don't own their own buisness they don't deserve life , walking the earth taking the very oxygen someone else can breathe and benefit from. People like this would be a better benefit giving their organs to someone who could live a prolonged life that deserves it. I would make a suggestion that they end their pathetic lives immediately. I have said that digging a hole under me will not make you taller... I wonder if these people can predict the death of my company and let me know what the lottery numbers are! Now that is talent not this irresponsible journalism. People really are sitting around waiting for someone to fail. You really feel good about that....What a sad community how miserable you must be if I were you I would end it NOW!

Here is what I'm proud of most I am a great mother and wife my son is playing football for the University of Cincinnati and was offered a full scholarship to West Point Academy. He is happy had a great childhood not a worry or care in the world I raised him to work for everything in life not to ever give up fight for his life because there are people that are there waiting to take it from you at anytime. Nothing is owed to him and work hard! so despite your pathetic attempts to attack me My son loves and adores me I am his hero and it doesn't change his love for me ....do you have children ? Will you ever know what it is like to be a mother and raise a child ? I hope not because we would run the risk of dealing with another person like you.

I've changed lives, made a difference. Helped people feed their families. If I leave this earth tommorrow I can honestly say job well done. To all my haters what God has for me is for me no one in this world can take that from Me not even a reporter who can't report on facts. Who actually reported second third hand information.

You've even made mention to give people that we are always out of items. You want people who haven't even been to my restaurant to have a negative opinion before they even come here then when they do come down they give us problems their mind is already made up we don't stand a chance. There are alot of customers that come in at midnight on a busy night expecting us to have everything sometimes we are out .... It's late but we still try to accommodate everyone. I've been to red lobster and the were out of cheddar bay biscuits IHop was out of pancakes KFC ran out of chicken before ! Do you see a blog about that ,reports in the paper no it's not a big deal.

To all the small business keep up the good fight there is absolutely nothing wrong with struggling, fighting or failing. I would hope any small business would appreciate my position and understand my plight. They want you to believe that struggling is a crime because you owe a bill that's wild. Here we are reporting such nominal monies owe and payment plans and all of a sudden thats makes me a bad business person. I have struggled with something my whole life And its ok! I believe that my struggles have gotten me where I am today. On the brink of greatness! You won't ever be able to stop it what GOD HAS FOR ME IS FOR ME.

ITS OK TO STRUGGLE IT'S OK TO FAIL.

May God Bless you haters may he forgive you and remove you from this earth quickly so that it is a better place for our children to live.

Finacial woes.....not shocking or new then why report on it!! Give us something new something relevant something with substance something that the entire word isn't going through . can we speak of the violence, the homicide, the real crimes!! Report on that ...... In closing off with your head and I am asking the community to think further about the papers they read. We may elect to not purchase these papers and cause the same financial attack that you are trying to cause my restaurant. Then you will know how it feels ... By the way isn't this the same person was fired and rehired I wonder why

Stay classy, Ms Rogers.

WTF was the -off with your head- comment?

that rant would take 2 red pens

She did herself no favors posting that psycho freakout.

 

I'm not passionate enough about my business to write rants of that magnitude.

 

She's right about the "I've been to red lobster and the were out of cheddar bay biscuits IHop was out of pancakes KFC ran out of chicken before ! Do you see a blog about that ,reports in the paper no it's not a big deal." stuff though.

 

If a small business screws up even once or twice it's broadcast over the internet hilltops as far as the eye can see and people will rip you to pieces in their social circle. Yet each McDonalds screws up 20 times an hour but nobody says anything. McD's locations get hundreds of thousands of visits each year and might have one internet review. Somebody could get a bloody finger in their Big Mac with national news coverage and people would be beating down the door the entire time the health inspector was inside investigating with the place shut down.

 

but one condom in your Big Mac....

Two Cincinnati restaurants among OpenTable’s Top 100 Hot Spots in America

Tom Demeropolis Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Two of Cincinnati’s hottest restaurants are among the top hot spots in the nation.

 

Sotto in downtown Cincinnati and Kaze in Over-the-Rhine were ranked among OpenTable Inc.’s 2014 Diners’ Choice Award winners for the Top 100 Hot Spot Restaurants in America.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/03/12/two-cincinnati-restaurants-among-opentable-s-top.html

Camp Washington got on some list, too.

 

This isn't technically in Cincinnati, but I'm not aware of anything similar in the area so I figured that I'd share it anyway.  Katharina’s Café-Konditorei opened in Newport recently.  If you appreciate a traditional German breakfast, check this place out.  I've only been once, but it was very good and most of the restaurant (customers and staff) were conversing fluently in German.  Very authentic.

 

http://www.katharinascafe.com/

Jan 31, 2013, 10:47am EST

Tom Demeropolis Digital Producer- Business Courier

El Coyote opening downtown Cincinnati restaurant: EXCLUSIVE

 

Just over a year later...

 

Bullseye Bar & Fire Grill opening Downtown

 

The owners of the El Coyote restaurants are opening a new concept in place of the Downtown location, 41 E. Sixth St.

 

Bullseye Bar & Fire Grill, a more casual restaurant and night spot, has its soft opening today (Tuesday).

 

"Sometimes your strengths are your weaknesses," Mario Nocero, director of operations, said of the philosophy behind the re-branding.

 

Cont

Taste of Belgium will open in Rookwood Exchange

 

Taste of Belgium will open its third full-service Cincinnati location in Rookwood Exchange in Norwood in the first quarter of 2015.

 

Owner Jean-Francois Flechet has signed a lease with Jeffrey Anderson Real Estate, the developer of the lifestyle center, for 4,000 square feet in a building that is still being constructed.

Mahogany’s: Trouble from the start

Sharon Coolidge, CIN 11:34 p.m. EDT March 23, 2014

 

 

Most days Liz Rogers arrives at Mahogany’s at 6 a.m., before any other restaurant owner at The Banks, she said.

 

She has to, she said: Without support from partners or national chains, she must work harder.

 

Now the controversial restaurateur finds herself facing eviction within the next month, behind on her $300,000 taxpayer loan and in the media glare. She hears the bashing on talk radio and the Internet.

 

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2014/03/23/mahoganys-trouble-start/6813267/

Just noticed this place the other day... apparently they opened back in October. Same owners as Omalley's In The Alley. Weird that they appear to only be open two hours before & after all Bengals games.

 

http://omalleyslockerroom.com

^ Looks more like a place you rent for private tailgates than a bar. There's a pretty weird subculture that exists on Third Street only during Bengals home games. There's a few bars that I imagine do close to 50% of their business during the 10 days a year (11 if we're lucky) the Bengals are at home.

 

Mahogany’s makes second payment, avoids eviction

Tom Demeropolis Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

Mahogany’s avoided eviction from the Banks, making the second payment required to get the troubled Southern cuisine restaurant current on its lease.

 

NIC Riverbank One LLC, the landlord of the Banks, notified the city of Cincinnati that Mahogany’s made the required payment, according to an email from Brian O’Connell, an attorney with Strauss Troy Co. LPA. O’Connell represents the landlord.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/04/11/mahogany-s-makes-second-payment-avoids-eviction.html

It's amazing what the Mahogany's owner was able to do when she knew she had to.  Some people just can't pay the bills on time unless they're threatened.

Pi Pizzeria to Open Downtown in AT580

 

“We’ve been admiring the Cincinnati market for a few years now, but just started our search about a year ago,” Pi Co-owner Chris Sommers told nextSTL. “We are amazed at the resurgence of Downtown and OTR, and had to be a part of it.” Sommers has had his eye on Cincinnati for some time before finally signing a lease. Chris’s wife Anne Schuermann Sommers is from Cincinnati and the couple visits frequently.

 

In addition to serving award-winning thin crust and deep dish pizzas with a signature corn meal crust, the restaurant focuses on local brews and plans to serve only St. Louis and Cincinnati beers. “We are also very excited to partner with our hometown St. Louis’ largest local brewer Schlafly, featuring their beers for the first time ever in Ohio,” Sommers shared. The St. Louis Brewery, maker of Schlafly beers, is the largest craft brewer in St. Louis at 60,000 barrels per year. Schlafly produces Pi Common, a take on the Anchor Steam beer that started the craft brewing revolution. [...]

 

Sommers waited out the streetcar debate before committing to a Cincinnati location. “We choose our locations based on major transit lines, and feel the streetcar will be game-changing for Cincinnati,” Sommers told nextSTL. Pi’s original St. Louis location is located in the transit-rich Delmar Loop, the downtown St. Louis Pi sits atop a MetroLink station, and the D.C. restaurant is near both Metro Center and Chinatown Stations.

Paradox21 and I tried that place once out in St. Louis' Central West End.  We were not pleased.  At all.

^ So why was that?

We weren't fans of the cornmeal crust.

Craft beer tavern chain World of Beer coming here

 

World of Beer, a chain of craft beer taverns with 57 locations in 17 states, is expanding to the Cincinnati area.

 

A spokesperson for the company said that an opening is scheduled for late in the fourth quarter of this year, but other details, including the location, have not yet been released.

 

World of Beer (WOB) was founded in 2007 in Tampa by Scott Zepp and Matt LaFon, best friends who loved craft beer, and expanded from there. Tavern locations now include three in Ohio: in the Brewery District and at Easton in Columbus, and in Lakewood, near Cleveland.

 

Cont

This seems like a similar product to The Brass Tap which just opened on Calhoun at U Square.

 

I really like The Brass Tap. They have 80 craft beers on tap and a bunch of bottles/cans. Maybe not quite as large of a selection of bottles/cans, but they have more taps than WOB.

I've yet to stop by The Brass Tap. Went to the WOB in Columbus on a Saturday afternoon (non-game day). Good selection and service. Really curious where they set-up shop. With a Q4 opening, it'll be in an existing structure.

Pittsburgh has a pretty cool place called The Beer Market that is a very similar idea to WOB. Lots and lots of bottles/cans there and it was fun looking through the menu. I haven't really liked the atmosphere of Yard House as a place to drink. It just seems too dark and dreary to drink in.

Pittsburgh has a pretty cool place called The Beer Market that is a very similar idea to WOB. Lots and lots of bottles/cans there and it was fun looking through the menu. I haven't really liked the atmosphere of Yard House as a place to drink. It just seems too dark and dreary to drink in.

 

WOB is from out west I think. When we went to the one in Phoenix the dark atmosphere was cooling and comfortable in the hot sun.

Who wants to bet that World of Beer will locate on the other restaurant pad next to Yard House?

Who wants to bet that World of Beer will locate on the other restaurant pad next to Yard House?

 

Didnt they say that they would be open before year end?  I would have to think they would not be constructing a new building if that is the goal.  Does World of Beer typically locate in urban areas or is it more of a Kenwood/Blue Ash type of place?

Who wants to bet that World of Beer will locate on the other restaurant pad next to Yard House?

 

Didnt they say that they would be open before year end?  I would have to think they would not be constructing a new building if that is the goal.  Does World of Beer typically locate in urban areas or is it more of a Kenwood/Blue Ash type of place?

 

I have seen them in both, but more in walkable areas.

I can't see World of Beer opening opposite Yard House.  Their locations tend to be a little more subdued.  I could see them in the remaining space at the Banks, Mt Adams (somewhere), that last space at U Square, or somewhere downtown.  I think there's a good chance they'll go in OTR, but I don't really think it's an OTR kind of place.

I can't see World of Beer opening opposite Yard House.  Their locations tend to be a little more subdued.  I could see them in the remaining space at the Banks, Mt Adams (somewhere), that last space at U Square, or somewhere downtown.  I think there's a good chance they'll go in OTR, but I don't really think it's an OTR kind of place.

 

I think OTR will fall to (non-Cincinnati) chains at some point, but I don't think World of Beer will be the first one. Though I have no idea where they would fit, as at this point they'll have to lease an existing space if they're really going to open this year. If you look at their new/opening soon locations it's really a mix of suburban malls and urban spaces: http://wobusa.com/locations/new-locations

 

Maybe one of the new spaces around UC? As mentioned earlier, Brass Tap is there already - it could be a Lowe's/Home Depot Walgreens/CVS location concept.

Josh Campbell -- who was chef/owner of Mayberry, before that closed and he became head chef at Lavomatic -- has left Lavomatic and is now working at Belterra Park Racino. Campbell is quoted as saying, "It’s my dream gig." Anyone buying it?

 

http://winemedinemecincinnati.com/2014/02/lavomatic-adds-new-executive-chef-josh-campbell-moves-to-fine-dining/

 

I spoke to him during Cincy Beer Week and he honestly seemed excited. Will be sent to New Orleans to train for the next several months. However, I do find it hard to believe he'll be happy in Anderson Township.

 

Well, Josh Campbell has already left Belterra and is now working at Virgil's Cafe in Bellevue. He is a long-time friend of the chef at Virgil's, Matt Buschle. I guess his statement about Belterra being his "dream gig" was, in fact, BS.

Mayberry, Lavomatic, Belterra, and now Virgil's?  That's a lot of jobs in one year.

‘Barcade’ concept to open downtown

Staff Cincinnati Business Courier

 

The space that housed FB’s, a bar on Sixth Street in downtown Cincinnati, is going to house a new concept set to open next week, the Enquirer reports.

 

Rusconi Pizza Pub and Barcade will open at 4 p.m. May 25. It will serve pizzas, hoagies, sandwiches, calzones and pastas for lunch, dinner and late-night guests. It will also include a full bar with cocktails created by Chicago mixologist Benjamin Newby, who also created specialty drinks for Obscura. Carry-out and delivery is expected to be added in the future.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2014/05/barcade-concept-to-open-downtown.html

not exactly a restaurant but Grayscale is looking at Northside's St Patrick Church

http://www.brewing-arts.com/

Maybe it has been said somewhere, but I heard rumblings that Grayscale's renovations of the Jackson Brewery are put on indefinite hold due to financial issues. Is this accurate? That site mentions that it's a long process and they're dedicated but I can't figure out if they're just saying it's going to take a long time to meet their goals at that site or if they're very politely saying "we got way in over our heads and going somewhere else" essentially.

Also looks like something might be happening in a building next to Eli's BBQ on Eastern. 

Maybe it has been said somewhere, but I heard rumblings that Grayscale's renovations of the Jackson Brewery are put on indefinite hold due to financial issues. Is this accurate? That site mentions that it's a long process and they're dedicated but I can't figure out if they're just saying it's going to take a long time to meet their goals at that site or if they're very politely saying "we got way in over our heads and going somewhere else" essentially.

My first thought was that I hope they aren't spreading themselves too thin. Heck, the Jackson brewery renovations started years ago.

I hope it works but we'll see.