A month ago I took a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio with one of my dear friends, and y’all asked for a travel guide recap of all the places we ate while we were there! Here’s a list of my favs (complete with photos) of my favorite places and best restaurants to eat at in downtown Cincy! Have you visited any of these eateries or do you have another favorite local spot to recommend? Let me know in the comments! Happy traveling!
xo, Catherine
Goodfellas Pizzeria
Our first stop when we made it to Cincy was Goodfellas Pizzeria. This was my second time visiting this restaurant and oh. my. goodness. it was just as good as I remembered. New York style pizza is sold by the slice and they also serve the BEST breadsticks that I swear to you are as long as my arm. Brittany and I both agreed that we could’ve just eaten a breadstick for dinner and been totally happy, and we ended up taking some of our pizza home, which made for a great snack the next day.
The restaurant itself is tucked into the Over-the-Rhine district of Cincy, and the ground floor is where they make the pizzas (watching them throw the dough was incredible!) and where you can order your food. The upper two levels feature a bar called Wiseguy Lounge and various seating areas, featuring traditional table and bar seating, as well as many couches and chairs. The staff are incredibly friendly and fun, the atmosphere is engaging yet has a very casual vibe, and is definitely a fun place for a date night or girls night out. This one will be staying on my go-to list of Cincinnati restaurants.
Food: ⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒
Atmosphere: ⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒
Price: $
Rooted Juicery + Kitchen
Rooted Juicery + Kitchen fits the bill for your standard juice and smoothie bar. I think I was expecting a little more when I walked into this restaurant in the heart of historic downtown Cincinnati, but the service and the atmosphere both left me a little disappointed.
Nonetheless, their menu features a wide variety of house-made juices, smoothies, acai bowls, and other health sandwiches and foods. We tried the “Dr. Dragonfruit” smoothie bowl, which was a blend of apple, orange, pitaya, banana, strawberry topped with mango, kiwi, granola and coconut flakes. The smoothie bowl was amazing, and while I’m not sure this would be a restaurant I would make an effort to go back to again, it is definitely worth a visit if you need a quick juice option or a healthy alternative. Also a great post-workout option!
Food: ⋒⋒⋒
Atmosphere: ⋒⋒⋒
Price: $$
Jean Robert’s Table
Our dinner at Jean Robert’s Table was more than just a meal – it was a culinary experience. We had the BEST time. From their menu selections to their evening specials, from their hostesses and waiters to the other guests at the restaurant, every element combined into the most perfect evening.
We were feeling adventurous, so instead of ordering off of the standard dinnner menu, we ordered their three appetizer evening specials to share. Oh. My. Goodness. Y’all, I can’t even begin to explain to you how wonderful this meal was. We had the most wonderful lobster salad, balanced with raddishes, red onion, red pepper, and a savory mayonaise dressing. Then, they brought out fresh baked bread and escargot in a garlic butter sauce. I was nervous to try escargot for the first time, but this is definitely the way to eat it if you want a delicious and memorable first experience eating snail. We finished our dinner with a duck confit (or duck mac and cheese).
We couldn’t skip dessert, so we had the yummiest dark chocolate mousse to round out our meal. BUT THEN the sweetest guest sitting next to our table, offered to share his birthday cake with us! The food was absolutely unbelieveable, but truly my favorite part of the whole experience was the atmostphere. All the guests were interracting with each other and with the staff, and everyone in the restaurant was having a wonderful time and laughing together.
Hands down, a must-visit for your next time in southern Ohio.
Food: ⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒
Atmosphere: ⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒
Price: $$$
Maplewood Kitchen + Bar
The yummiest brunch award DEFINITELY goes to Maplewood Kitchen and Bar. Not only was the atmosphere adorable and welcoming, the food was also incredible! We tried the avocado benedict (two cage free poached eggs, lemon and herb emulsion on toast and topped with asparagus) and the lemon ricotta pancakes (served with the yummiest berry compote, fresh seasonal fruit, local syrup, and grass-fed butter). They also had wonderful coffee, which was a must-have on the final day of our trip. This local eatery is definitely worth a stop if you’re ever in the area!
Food: ⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒
Atmosphere: ⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒
Price: $
Urbana Cafe
Last, but not least, Urbana Cafe. They have multiple locations (and they even have a traveling coffee vespa – how freakin cute is that??!) but we visited their Pendleton location at 1206 Broadway Street. They serve the BEST lattes I’ve ever had – I truly don’t know what they do differently, but it makes all the difference in the world. This time I got a honey latte and an almond croissant filled with almond paste and y’alllllll it was too dang good.
Absolutely worth the trip. Every single time.
Food: ⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒
Atmosphere: ⋒⋒⋒⋒⋒
Price: $$
add a comment
1