As the countdown to our final day in Cincinnati continues, I can’t help but reflect on some of the things I’m going to miss most about living here. There are the people, of course, who I will miss first and foremost, but beyond that there are so many places that have become part of my day to day life here.
It’s so easy to take them for granted when you’ve lived in a place for nearly 10 years, but now that I’ll soon be without them, I find myself scrambling to experience them all one last time.
As I do so, I wanted to pause and give love to some of my favorite Cincinnati establishments. This post will be about my favorite places to eat and drink. By no means is this an exhaustive list of the best restaurants in the city. It’s more a reflection of places I feel a special connection to, both for their food and for the memories they conjure. They may not have the most awards or acclaim, but they’re places I hold near and dear and that have helped make this city feel like home. So, without further ado, here are a few of my favorite Cincinnati restaurants…
Betta’s Italian Oven (Norwood)
This place still seems to be a bit of a hidden treasure, despite the fact that it’s been around for over 10 years. Located just down the road from Xavier University, I began my love affair with Bettas when I was playing volleyball for Xavier. It made a perfect post game stop when my parents were in town to watch me play, and I ate many a margarita pizza with ice bags taped to my knees and shoulder.
Since opening in 2003, they’ve secured a liquor license and opened a full service bar. They also offer a great variety of wines, but do your self a favor and grab a carafe of Will’s red to go with your meal. You can’t go wrong with any of their pizza’s or calzones, and if you’re in the mood for pasta, there are lots of great options from homemade lasagna to eggplant parmesan. Oh, and don’t get me started on the bruschetta. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten here without starting my meal with an order of it.
Not only is the food phenomenal (at amazingly affordable), but I love the story behind this place. It’s family owned and operated. On any given night you can find owner Will De Luca manning the wood fired oven, and ensuring that all the restaurants staples (dough, sauces, salad dressings), which are made fresh daily, are up to par. His mother and the restaurant’s namesake, Betta, still lends a hand by making delicious desserts (be sure to check the case up front to see what she and Wills wife have made for the day). You can check out the restaurant’s hours, and read more about it’s history at http://bettasitalianoven.com/. If you haven’t been before, just go. You won’t regret it.
Pho Lang Thang (OTR – Findlay Market)
I was first introduced to Pho, a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup*, shortly after the opening of Pho Lang Thang in 2010. I was 22, and it was billed to me as the “ultimate hangover cure”. I was skeptical, but not disappointed. After just one experience slurping down a bowl of the savory broth & rice noodles, I was a convert and felt compelled to tell everyone I knew of it’s magical powers.
Thus began a Sunday ritual with me any my girl friends. For years, we faithfully made our way to Findlay Market (another one of my favorite things about Cincinnati) each week for our version of Sunday brunch. In recent years, our patronage has become less consistent, but it’s still a place that’s close to my heart, and that I’ll miss dearly when I’m gone.
*Describing Pho as “Vietnamese noodle soup” is like describing the Beatles as “a British band”. It’s true, but it’s an enormous injustice. Seriously, don’t try to understand it, just try it.
Dojo Gelato (OTR – Findlay Market)
Many a Sunday morning during my time with Cincinnati started with Pho and ended with Dojo Gelato. Just across the way from Pho Lang Thang in, at the end of a long corridor of vendors inside the walls of Findlay Market, is a little slice of gelato heaven. At the risk of being blasphemous, I’d take Dojo over Graeters any day of the week. And that’s not a knock on Greaters. I love me some Black Raspberry Chip ice cream. But Dojo just takes things to another level for me.
Dojo was born out of a vision to create an ice cream shop where freshness and quality came first, and this focus is apparent from the first bite. The gelato is made from scratch, in small batches, using a traditional process. With 12 flavors that rotate on a weekly basis, there’s always a variety of classic and adventurous flavors to choose from, and you can rest assured that only the highest quality ingredients make their way into Dojo’s products. From gelato, to sorbetti to a variety of delicious coffee drinks you can’t go wrong at Dojo.
Carls Deli (Hyde Park)
By far the oldest of the restaurants on my list, Carls has been serving patrons in the Hyde Park area since 1938. Charming and unpretentious, Carls offers a variety of sandwiches, soups, salads and sides all made fresh in house, many inspired by family recipes. The staff is always welcoming, and ready to make any sandwich or wrap your heart desires. Their menu, written on 2 large chalk boards behind the counter can be a bit overwhelming at first glance. It boasts 31 different sandwiches, with the option to create your own on a variety of breads or wraps.
Personally, I tend to opt for the Turkey through the Garden, Curried Chicken Salad or the Jo Mama wrap (an off menu choice that features turkey, avocado and herb cream cheese). Don’t forget to look in the deli case as well, for a variety of freshly made salads, house made hummus, quiche & other delicious goodies. No trip to Carls is complete for me without a side of their broccoli salad. Whether you choose to dine-in, or grab and go, Carls is a great, quick option for lunch or dinner. They also offer a great selection of beer and wine, and are open later than many of the other “fast” food restaurants in the area.
The Coffee Emporium (Hyde Park – OTR – Xavier)
My addiction to the Coffee Emporium started while I was at Xavier. As a student-athlete, we got a certain amount of “X-Cash” to spend on food on campus as part of our room and board. There exactly 4 places in our student center where the cash could be spent, one of which was the Coffee Emporium. My roommates and I always preferred to buy our own groceries over eating out at the 3 on campus restaurants, and so we were left with an abundance of $ to spend of fancy coffee drinks. By then end of Senior year, I was hooked on lattes, a hard habit to break once I entered the real world.
Lucky for me, about 3 years ago I moved just half a mile down the street from the original Coffee Emporium in East Hyde Park. Not only do they have amazing coffee and an assortment of other delicious goodies, but the place itself could not be more cosy. Built into an old house, the coffee bar itself is located on the first floor, with the second floor converted to a seating area full of tables. The exterior is what I really love though. They have an patio in front with tables wrapping all around the side yard and into the back where this is a large veranda full of more tables. It’s a popular meetings spot, and a place where I love to work or read on sunny afternoons.
Honorable Mentions:
Eli’s BBQ (Columbia Tusculum) – The line is always down the block for this amazing BBQ, but bring a 6-pack and a few friends and you won’t regret it.
Mazunte (Madisonville) – No frills, authentic tacos and mexican food
Abigail Street (OTR)– A wonderful variety of high quality tapas and wine
Arthurs (Hyde Park) – A neighborhood favorite with great burgers. While I was in college, my dad would try to plan visits for Sunday-Tuesday so we could take advantage of Burger Madness (any burger with unlimited toppings for $8.99)
Holtmans Donuts (OTR – Loveland – Williamsburg) – We had Holtmans donuts at our wedding reception instead of wedding cake. I think that says it all right there.
Taste of Belgium (Hyde Park – OTR – Clifton) – Taste of Belgium was born when Jean-François Flechet brough back a waffle iron from Belgium and started making waffles in the back of a shop in Findlay market. One bite of his waffles and it’s not hard to understand why demand skyrocketed, leading to the launch of multiple restaurants across the city. Try the Chicken & Waffles.
Sugar N’ Spice (Norwood) – This Norwood eatery has been serving up their signature Wispy Thin Pancakes and huge fluffy omelets since 1941. While you chow down, the waitstaff is quick to refill your coffee, and offer you samples of a variety of baked goods in the kitchen (fudgy brownies, fried mac n’ cheese).
Blue Oven Bakery (multiple) – Their breads are made with fresh ingredients from their family farm and distributed to a variety of farmers markets throughout the week. My personal favorite is the Apricot Walnut Cranberry bread and you can’t beat a breakfast sandwich on their english muffins. Check out their market schedule here.
In memorium: Indigo