Cincinnati One Plate and Pint at a Time

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There has been a culinary explosion in Cincinnati, OH, in recent years. This sleepy little city on the north bank of the Ohio River is undergoing a restaurant, pub and brewery renaissance that is truly remarkable and impressive. From fine dining to mom-and-pop restaurants, Cincinnati really seems to have it all. And to say there is something for everyone is an incredible understatement. In addition, Cincinnati is becoming quite a beer town, with dozens of breweries producing some of the most interesting and unique versions of our favorite beverage. You can visit them during the day to sample their fares, and then take notes and use them during a Cincinnati pub-crawl.

At Zimmer CDJR, just across the Ohio River in Florence, Kentucky, we love and support our city of Cincinnati. We’ve been selling great cars to people all over the Kentucky and Ohio regions since we first opened in 1929 and have been amazed by Cincinnati’s development throughout the years. So if you come to visit us, you will have a whole day of Cincinnati food in front of you. Here are a few places we think you should check out.

Start the Day Out Right

Dietitians and nutritionists aren’t joking when they say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So if you want to start the day out right, Cincinnati has a number of great places to get a breakfast that you won’t soon forget.

The Sleepy Bee Cafe at 3098 Madison Road offers some of the best omelets and pancakes in town, including a Vegan Ember Avocado Toast that is so delicious, you’ll be shocked that it was made without any animal products.

The Sugar n’ Spice Restaurant is housed in an adorable pink farmhouse out on 4381 Reading Road. If you want to try something out of this world, go for the Cincy Omelet that is so big, you’ll probably have to share it with a friend. Best of all, if it’s your first visit, they’ll give you a free ducky.

If waffles are your thing, then you won’t want to miss Taste of Belgium at 1135 Vine Street. They serve so many different waffle combinations that you are sure to have a tough time deciding, from the old standby Waffle & Chicken to a Belgian Cuban with pork belly, ham, Havarti cheese, and pickles. One of our favorites is the Goetta Sandwich with waffles, Eckerlin goetta, Havarti, arugula, aioli, and a fried egg.

If you want breakfast, one of those places will serve you right.

Local Cincinnati Specialties

There are so many great places to go for lunch in Cincinnati. Kenning’s Circle K Restaurant at 6166 Bridgetown Road is a great place to check out the Kentucky Hot Brown. This starts with Texas toast that is then piled high with tender, delicious Kentucky turkey. It is then topped with mushrooms, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and bacon. This is a recipe that has been featured by celebrity chef Bobby Flay, but if you want the real deal, you should order one at Kenning’s Circle K. Just make sure to leave room for their homemade desserts, including frozen peanut butter pie, chocolate mousse, and cheesecake.

Another great local place is the Incline Public House at 2601 W. 8th Street. In addition to having a great view of the city from its outdoor patio, the Incline serves some of the most delicious food in town, including the best poutine outside of Quebec. The Incline also serves some of the most innovative vegetarian and vegan plates in town, perfect for a light lunch or for those of us who are health conscious.

With choices like those, you are sure to be wanting lunch by noon!

Brewing up a Storm!

The craft breweries in Cincinnati have exploded, giving you the ability to learn all about how they make their beers and ales. In addition, many have tasting rooms, making for a great way to spend an afternoon in town. Housed in a church gymnasium, Urban Artifact brews up some incredibly tasty beers, many of which feature local fruits and sour tasting notes, not unlike a Belgian Lambic. In addition to a taproom, beer garden, and restaurant, Urban Artifact has its own radio station and hosts free music events for fans of all ages. The brewery is located in the Northside area of Cincinnati at 1660 Blue Rock Street.

Fibonacci Brewing Company at 1445 Compton Road in Mt. Healthy is a self-described nano-brewery offering a great run of specialty beers, including Oberhausen Kolsch style ale, Dummy Tripel Belgian-style ale, Earth Daisy Double IPA, and The Tollhouse American Stout. Their taproom is open for sampling.

On the opposite side of the spectrum is Rhinegeist, which has quickly become the second-largest brewery in Ohio since it opened just seven years ago. Rhinegeist is located at 1910 Elm Street in Over-the-Rhine. It has a delightful rooftop that is the perfect spot to sample their craft beers, including Truth IPA, Cheetah lager, and Knowledge Imperial IPA.

One of the coolest breweries is Bircus Brewing Company, housed in the Ludlow Theater at 322 Elm Street in Ludlow. KY. Bircus was started two years ago by former Ringling Bros. circus clown Paul Miller to support the Circus Mojo performing troupe. Not only do they offer a great brew, but also where else can you get a beer served by someone juggling clubs, swinging on a trapeze, walking on kegs, or breathing fire?

These breweries offer much more than beer; they offer an experience!

Fine Dining

If you want to give yourself a real treat, you should check out the various fine dining options around town. Four of our favorites are The Melting Pot, Meritage, and Orchids at Palm Court. The Melting Pot is located at 11023 Montgomery Road and features a three-course fondue night that is a cheese lover’s dream. Meritage at 40 Village Square consistently wins top prizes, and if you dine here, you will see why. From incredible ambiance to some of the finest steak, seafood, and lamb chops you will ever eat, Meritage truly merits its top ratings.

The Orchids at Palm Court is not your typical restaurant located in a hotel. Set inside a gorgeous space at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, The Orchids at Palm Court is ideal for that special occasion dinner. For those who can’t make up their minds, the Orchids at Palm Court offers a tasting menu to sample some of the finest food in town.

Ending With Dessert

The best way to end your culinary visit to Cincinnati is stopping by the Maverick Chocolate Company at the Findlay Market on 129 W. Elder Street is a chocoholics paradise. Maverick some of the most exquisite truffles, frozen hot chocolate to cool you off on a hot day, and the most decadent hot chocolate to warm you up as well. No matter how you want to end your day in Cincinnati, Maverick has something for you.

Visit Cincinnati!

Cincinnati has it all for the fans of food and drinks from fine dining and diverse options to cool craft breweries. With so much to choose from, you can literally eat yourself from one side of town to another. And don’t worry, the diet can wait until you come home.