Feasting for Foodies in Cincinnati

Ask anyone in Cincinnati which foods and beverages best represent our city and you’ll likely hear: chili, goetta, and beer. Here are a number of Cincinnati-born, hometown favorites, in alphabetical order (by no means biased nor comprehensive):

The 1913 Oakley shop of Aglamesis Brothers’ premium ice creams and chocolates is considered by many to be one of the very last original ice cream parlors from a bygone era. Open daily.  ~7 mi~   3046 Madison Road 45209 <aglamesis.com>

Arnold’s Bar and Grill is the oldest continuously operated bar in the city and one of the oldest in the country. Its reputation is good food served in friendly surroundings at moderate prices. Open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.  
~0.4 mi~   210 East Eighth Street 45202   <arnoldsbarandgrill.com>

In the 1800s, German immigrants began brewing beer, and by 1890 Cincinnati was known as the third largest beer producer in the country, earning the nickname Beer Capital of the World. With close to 80 breweries and taprooms, this website gives you info on all of them:  <thegnarlygnome.com/cincinnati-breweries>.

One of the Top French Restaurants in the U.S., Boca show­cases elevated flavors from Italy and France, offering large and small plates and an upscale vibe. Open daily for dinner.  ~0.2 mi~   114 East Sixth Street 45202 <bocacincinnati.com>

What would you call chocolate-covered balls of peanut butter bliss (my translation for PB, sugar, butter, and vanilla)? We call them Buckeyes. Because the Buckeye tree is our Ohio state tree, and its fruit contains a nut that resembles the eye of a deer, Ohioans (and several sports teams) are nicknamed Buckeyes.

Named by Travel & Leisure as serving one of “America’s Best Chilis,” Camp Washington Chili has been offering chili and casual food since 1940. Open 24 hours Mon through Fri; limited hours Sat.  ~4 mi~   3005 Colerain Avenue 45225 <campwashingtonchili.com>

Speaking of chili… Cincinnati-Style Chili with its meat-based sauce is a specialty of its own here—if you haven’t tried it, you MUST before you leave! Offered in more than 140 chili parlors around the city, one nearest Fountain Square is open Mon through Sat: ~0.2 mi~   Skyline Chili, 643 Vine Street 45202 <skylinechili.com>

✑  Guide to a Cincinnati Chili Menu  Most parlors offer a bowl of chili in five ways, served with oyster crackers and hot sauce on the side:
1-way – Just the chili sauce
2-way – Chili sauce over spaghetti noodles
3-way – Chili sauce over spaghetti noodles with a mound
                  of finely shredded cheddar cheese on top
4-way – A 3-way with diced onions OR chili beans
5-way – A 3-way with diced onions AND chili beans

If you like our local fare and would like to share it at home, check out the Cincy Favorites website. You can order a variety of foods online to be sent to you or as a gift.   <cincyfavorites.com>

Piling Coleslaw ON TOP OF a Barbecue Sandwich is a Cincinnati thing (shared with North Carolina). We’re not naming names (you just might recognize them!), we know locals who won’t eat barbecue any other way. Try it sometime!

Dewey’s is an upscale Cincinnati-based pizza company that specializes in gourmet New York style pizzas. Open daily. Their Covington, Kentucky, shop is closest to downtown: ~2 mi~   43 West Seventh Street, Covington, KY 41011 <deweyspizza.com>

As Ohio’s oldest surviving municipal market house, Findlay Market is home to more than 50 full-time merchants, offering farm fresh foods, a Farmers Market on the weekends, and events throughout the year. Hop on the streetcar to get there from Fountain Square. Free; open Tuesday through Sunday. ~1.6 mi~   1801 Race Street 45202 <findlaymarket.org>

Our area is famous for Goetta (pronounced “get-uh”), a breakfast sausage mixture of ground meats, oats, onions, and spices, made by Covington-based Glier’s Meats, the largest local commercial producer. Sold in groceries.  <goetta.com> and <spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2023/04/18/what-is-goetta>

Graeter’s Ice Cream has been made the same way since 1870… in 2-1/2-gallon batches using French Pot freezers, which results in a dense, high-butterfat ice cream with no added air. Their Fountain Square shop is open until 10 pm on weeknights and until 11 pm on Friday and Saturday. Late night snack, anyone?  ~446 ft~   511 Walnut Street 45202 <graeters.com>

The Hofbräuhaus Newport Brewery & Restaurant is modeled after the original Hofbräuhaus in Munich, Germany (started in 1589). It purports to offer the very best in authentic house-brewed Bavarian bier [beer] and hearty German fare. Open daily for lunch and dinner, with live music on the weekend.  ~1.4 mi~   200 East Third Street, Newport, KY 41071 <hofbrauhausnewport.com>

Consistently ranked as the “Best Deli in Cincinnati,” Izzy’s kosher-style delicatessen has been serving up great reubens, potato cakes, and chicken noodle soup since 1901. Open Mon through Fri, the closest shop to downtown would be Elm Street.  ~0.5 mi~   800 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 <izzys.com>

For more than 40 years, the award-winning and family-owned Jeff Ruby Steakhouses have offered the finest prime steaks and an extensive raw bar. Dinner service daily. Three out of seven JR restaurants call Cincinnati home: The Precinct, Carlo & Johnny, and Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse—the third and largest downtown.  ~364 ft~   505 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202   <jeffruby.com/cincinnati>

LaRosa’s Pizzeria is an Italian restaurant known for its signature thin crust pizza. The closest to downtown would be across the river; open daily. ~1.2 mi~   417 Madison Avenue, Covington, KY 41011 <larosas.com/locations/covington>

Feel like you’ve stepped back in time and crossed the pond when you visit MainStrasse Village, in Covington, Kentucky. Encompassing about five blocks centered on the corner of Sixth and Main Streets, the neighborhood features eclectic shops, galleries, music, pubs, and over 98 nearby restaurants. Free parking. ~1.7 mi~   <kentuckytourism.com/explore/mainstrasse-village-2952> and <visitcincy.com/neighborhoods/northern-kentucky/mainstrasse-village>

Internationally known for its signature barbecue sauce and loin back ribs, family-owned Montgomery Inn is a destination for both locals and celebrities. Their second location, “Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse,” overlooks the Ohio River and is closest to Fountain Square. Open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday.  ~1.1 mi~   925 Riverside Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45202 <montgomeryinn.com>

Nada is a colorful, high-flavored, hip-gourmet, Latin-inspired, contemporary Mexican / Tex-Mex restaurant with multicultural flavors. Open daily for lunch and dinner. ~0.4 mi~   600 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 <eatdrinknada.com/location/cincinnati>

Only one mile north of downtown and undergoing a true comeback, Over-the-Rhine (OTR) is one of the largest and most intact urban historic districts in the country. With revitalization, it has become a foodies’ mecca. Here are two recommendations, with links to numerous restaurants and bars:  <zestcincy.com/otr>  and  <citybeat.com/cincinnati/25-essential-over-the-rhine-restaurants-you-should-have-tried-by-now/Slideshow/12233506>.

For over 60 years, the Servatii family of German Master Bakers at Servatii Pastry Shop and Deli have served their European pastries, pretzels, cakes, desserts, breads, and deli products. Open daily. The store closest to downtown is: ~6.1 mi~   Servatii Bakery, 3824 Paxton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45209 <servatii.com>

Sotto is an elegant, rustic Italian eatery nestled underneath sister restaurant Boca. It offers an authentic seasonal menu. Serving Lunch Mon through Fri. Open daily for dinner.  ~0.3 mi~   118 East Sixth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 <sottocincinnati.com>

The small farm StoneBrook Winery, located in nearby Camp Springs, Kentucky, has been producing award-winning grape and fruit wines since 2005. They offer virtual wine tastings (online videos) as well as an online store. Open Fri through Sun.  ~14.4 mi~   6570 Vineyard Lane, Melbourne, KY 41059 <stonebrookwinery.com>

✑  If you have time to play tourist, might we interest you in taking a food and/or beverage tour? The Visit Cincy website can help you sort through the many tour offerings. Most combine tasting and sightseeing. Sign up online.   <visitcincy.com/things-to-do/tours>

These foods and restaurants are originals—they were born here, they grew up here, and we’re proud to call them our own! Wishing you much culinary delight when you visit the 2025 NAME Convention in a few months! Next time we’ll be covering fun special attractions and more.

Photo Credits:
Camp Washington Chili dish <foodnetwork.com/restaurants/packages/best-food- in-america/photos/most-iconic-food-united-states
in-america/photos/most-iconic-food-united-states>; Camp Washington Chili sign <campwashingtonchili.com/history>.
Buckeye Candy <compassohio.com/cuisine/unwrapping-the-history-of-buckeye-candies-this-holiday-season>; Buckeye Nuts <cincinnati.com/story/news/2021/09/27/ohio-known-the-buckeye-state-first-use-nickname-dr-daniel-drake/5804161001>.
The Pied Piper of Hamlin <visitcincy.com/neighborhoods/northern-kentucky/mainstrasse-village>

Contact: Ingrid Farnam-Koblish,
The Miniature Society of Cincinnati,
cincyminis@gmail.com.                    ◆