Famous restaurants and diners in the Cincinnati

Cincinnati Restaurants

Food energizes, replenishes, and revitalizes the mind, body, and soul.
Here, we provide a list of famous restaurants and diners in the Cincinnati metro area. Use this guide to satisfy your taste buds when either visiting or living in Cincinnati.

Tousey House
5963 N. Jefferson St.
Burlington, KY 41005
859-689-0200

Description: Rich red walls, crisp white linens and contemporary artwork make the setting warm, vibrant and cozy. A $48 prix-fixe menu includes three courses: appetizer, entree and dessert, focusing on contemporary but hearty American cuisine with a Southern touch. Although the menu changes with the seasons, house specialties, such as the shrimp and pan-fried grits, appear year-round. Reservations are necessary since the restaurant is only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

First Watch
700 Walnut St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-721-4744

Description: You just can't talk about breakfast in Cincinnati without mentioning First Watch. Although the place is a franchise (with locations in Ohio, Florida and other places), Cincinnatians have embraced it like a hometown chili parlor…and the wait for a table proves it. Folks will find traditional bacon and eggs, pancakes and waffles, as well as healthy alternatives like the famous Siesta Key Cocktail -- a parfait of granola, fresh fruit and yogurt that resembles a decadent dessert more than a healthy breakfast.

Zip's Café
1036 Delta Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45208
513-871-9876

Description: A neighborhood favorite since the late 1920s, Zip's Cafe is famous for its one-of-a-kind juicy hamburgers. Although Zip's is a bar, the entrees served up with the beers sound like they're straight off a kiddie menu: burgers, fries, grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese. A family-friendly joint, Zip's offers Guinness on tap for the adults and juice boxes for the kids. Don't be intimidated by the communal-style seating -- you'll blend right in.

P F Chang's China Bistro
2633 Edmondson Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45209
513-531-4567

Description: Although "elegant" is rarely a word used to describe chain restaurants, P.F. Chang's hits the bull's-eye. Gracious, inviting and innovative, it offers a mysteriously haunting and glamorous dining setting, accented by pieces from the Ming and T'ang dynasties. Chang's fiery stir-fried spicy chicken is a new take on General Tso's, and VIP Cantonese chicken mimics Peking duck preparation. Honey shrimp are battered and crispy, and stir-fried Cantonese scallops or shrimp are seasoned with garlic and yellow chives.

Wild Oats Natural Marketplace
2693 Edmondson Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45209
513-531-8015

Description: While Wild Oats may look like just a natural foods supermarket, it serves a larger function for the local community. Customers stop in after yoga class for fresh juices from the juice bar or to pick up hot soup, lunch from the salad bar or pre-made hot and cold foods. In addition to the usual items -- organic produce, frozen and canned goods, health bars and sushi -- there's a good selection of artisanal breads and even a pastry and muffin case.

Pompilio's
600 Washington Ave
Newport, KY 41071
859-581-3065

Description: Although briefly famous for its short star turn in the movie 'Rain Man,' Pompilio's has been a Newport staple for years, acquiring a distinguished reputation for providing moderately priced, authentic Italian food in a family-owned and family-friendly atmosphere. The restaurant itself could be mistaken for someone's large house if not for the old-fashioned mahogany bar up front and the 'Rain Man' memorabilia draped all over the walls.

El Coyote Tex-Mex Café
7404 State Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45230
513-232-5757

Description: Mashed potatoes and mac 'n' cheese on a Tex-Mex menu? If you're looking for authentic south-of-the-border cuisine, this isn't it. But if you're looking for good, spicy food, huge portions and loads of starchy carbohydrates, then you've found the right place. Forget about your Atkins' diet and dive right into the basket of warm, salty chips delivered with chunky homemade salsa. Then load up your entree choice of burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, tacos or whatever with a side of the house favorites: mashed potatoes and Tex-Mex macaroni -- both are a mildly spicy, buttery, creamy and filling.

LaRosa's Pizzeria
3785 Shady Lane And other locations
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-347-1111

Description: With over 50 locations scattered throughout the Tristate, you're never very far from a neighborhood Larosa's. And that's a good thing. Chances are that if you're from Cincinnati, Buddy Larosa's sauce was one of the first things to pass your lips after Mommy weaned you. Whether it's topping your pizza or ladled over a huge, steamy dish of manicotti, this is the pinnacle of tomato sauce greatness, and it permeates your pores for days after eating.

Mitchell's Fish Market
1 Levee Way
Newport, KY 41071
859-291-7454

Description: Mitchell's location at Newport on the Levee is the first Greater Cincinnati location, and it's the first out-of-town restaurant for Columbus-based restauranteur Cameron Mitchell. Although the city is different, the formula is the same: fresh, well-prepared seafood in a stylish but casual setting near upscale attractions and malls.

The Precinct
311 Delta Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45226
513-321-5454

Description: The Precinct is set in a former police precinct (surprise, surprise) in East Cincinnati's Columbia-Tusculum district. Inside, tables covered with white linen are packed together tightly, although a few intimate corner tables are available. As at the other restaurants Ruby runs, the Precinct offers huge portions, exceptional service and a hefty price tag. Consistently selected as Cincinnati's best place for steak, this is the place for someone with a big appetite and even bigger credit-card limit.

Other Great Restaurants in Cincinnati

Longhorn Steakhouse
2692 Madison Rd Cincinnati, OH 45208
513-351-4040

The Celestial Steakhouse
1071 Celestial St Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-241-4455

Cabana on the River
7445 Forbes Rd Cincinnati, OH 45233
513-941-7442

Lucy Blue Pizza
3200 Linwood Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45226
513-321-2540

Dave & Buster's
11775 Commons Dr Cincinnati, OH 45246
513-671-5501

Cracker Barrel Old Country Str
4902 Fields Ertel Rd Cincinnati, OH 45249
513-683-5446

Skyline Chili
3714 Warsaw Ave Cincinnati, OH 45205
513-471-2445

Mokka
527 York St. Newport, KY 41071
859-581-3700

Sturkey's Restaurant
400 Wyoming Ave Cincinnati, OH 45215
513-821-9200

Famous Dave's
12183 Springfield Pike Cincinnati, OH 45246
513-671-7427

We do business in accordance with Federal Fair Housing law. (Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988).Some of the content on on this website has been secured from outside sources. We believe it to be reliable, however, we make no representation or warranty, expressed or implied , as to the accurrent Rental information is subject to change with or without prior notification.