Cincinnati: Restaurant News & Info

[ColDayMan]

3CDC completes retail lease-up of $52M Eighth and Sycamore development

 

The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) is bringing two new restaurants and a fitness concept to the $52 million development at Eighth and Sycamore streets downtown.

 

The Encore Urban Living development, formerly known and Eighth and Sycamore, includes 133 apartments and three retail spaces. It was a collaboration between NorthPointe Group and North American Properties with 3CDC handling the commercial leasing of the retail spaces below.

 

*Crown Republic, a rustic American gastropub from New Jersey native chef Anthony Sitek and chef Mike Casari with a pastry window by Benjamin Arington.

 

*A yet-unnamed fine-casual chicken concept from Joanna Argus and Daniel Souder, owners of the Pleasantry in Over-the-Rhine.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/09/exclusive-3cdc-completes-retail-lease-up-of-52m.html

[jwulsin]

Apparently the new restaurant Sacred Beast opened today, ahead of the ribbon cutting on April 12th for 3CDC's new building at 15th + Vine:

 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/dining/2018/01/22/coming-soon-otr-serious-simple-food-jeremy-and-bridget-liebs-sacred-beast/1049695001/

[ColDayMan]

Owners of OTR's Pleasantry opening fast-casual chicken restaurant

 

 

The owners of Over-the-Rhine's Pleasantry are opening a new chef-driven fast-casual concept downtown based on one of their first restaurant's most popular items.

 

Joanna Kirkendall and Daniel Souder are planning a yet-unnamed fast-casual chicken concept in a ground-floor space in the Eighth and Sycamore development downtown at Eighth and Sycamore streets. The duo are working working with Chef Evan Hartman, who they opened Pleasantry with in summer 2016. They hope for it to be open by late summer or early fall.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/10/exclusive-owners-of-otrs-pleasantry-opening-fast.html

[ColDayMan]

Gastropub with bakery window opening downtown

 

 

A gastropub with an attached bakery window is being opened downtown by a New Jersey native chef who has worked with some of the biggest names in the culinary industry.

 

Chef Anthony Sitek is partnering with Chef Mike Casari to open Crown Republic on the ground floor of the Eighth and Sycamore development with the goal of opening its doors by June 11. Local pastry chef Ben Arington is moving his Fat Ben's Bakery into the restaurant and operating a bakery window.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/10/exclusive-gastropub-with-bakery-window-opening.html

[ColDayMan]

Look inside Gold Star 2.0: Cincinnati classic rolls out new branding, menu

 

When Roger David came on to head up Gold Star Chili, the company founded by his father, he wanted to reimagine the chili experience. Now, nearly three years later, he's rolling out what he's calling Gold Star 2.0.

 

Roger David is the son of Beshara David, who founded Gold Star Chili with his three brothers in 1965. When he came on as CEO in 2015, he saw his role as redefining what the Gold Star experience would be for the next 50 years. That's starting to roll out beginning with the Liberty Center Gold Star location on April 10. Flip through the photos for a look inside.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/11/look-inside-gold-star-2-0-cincinnati-classic-rolls.html

[ColDayMan]

First standalone Keystone’s Mac Shack to open on the West Side

 

 

Four Entertainment Group is opening its first standalone Keystone’s Mac Shack on the West Side.

 

The Over-the-Rhine-based restaurant and bar operator plans to open a Keystone’s Mac Shack location in Green Township at the Harrison Greene development. The company has signed a long-term lease for the space that was most recently home to a Tom + Chee restaurant.

 

Dan Cronican, managing partner with 4EG who oversees Keystone Bar & Grill operations, said Mac Shack will be built on the brand 4EG has created with Keystone with a focus on mac and cheese and craft beer. The fast-casual restaurant will be 4EG’s first location on the West Side.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/11/exclusive-first-standalone-keystone-s-mac-shack-to.html

[taestell]

Look inside Gold Star 2.0: Cincinnati classic rolls out new branding, menu

 

When Roger David came on to head up Gold Star Chili, the company founded by his father, he wanted to reimagine the chili experience. Now, nearly three years later, he's rolling out what he's calling Gold Star 2.0.

 

Roger David is the son of Beshara David, who founded Gold Star Chili with his three brothers in 1965. When he came on as CEO in 2015, he saw his role as redefining what the Gold Star experience would be for the next 50 years. That's starting to roll out beginning with the Liberty Center Gold Star location on April 10. Flip through the photos for a look inside.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/11/look-inside-gold-star-2-0-cincinnati-classic-rolls.html

 

I had completely forgotten that Gold Star acquired Tom + Chee at the end of last year. Has anything happened with that?

[ColDayMan]

Sacred Beast, OTR’s new bar and diner, is now open

 

 

Sacred Beast is the latest restaurant to open in Over-the-Rhine, the historic neighborhood just north of Cincinnati’s Central Business District.

 

Jeremy and Bridget Lieb are the husband-and-wife duo who opened the restaurant. Both have an extensive background in the restaurant industry. Jeremy Lieb is the former executive chef of Boca Restaurant Group, while Bridget Lieb worked at the London Club, Mariposa and Gastronomy Management Group. They met at the Maisonette in 1994, where they both were working at the time.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/16/sacred-beast-otr-s-new-bar-and-diner-is-now-open.html

[jwulsin]

^I am very wary of the "subwoofers located directly under the seats". I can't imagine anything more annoying than having a low bass rumbling under my seat while trying to have a conversation.

[GCrites]

That had to add a lot to the build-out costs as well.

[ColDayMan]

Another chicken fingers chain lands in Southwest Ohio

 

An Alabama-based chicken chain has opened its first restaurant in Southwest Ohio and its second in the Buckeye State.

 

Guthrie's Chicken Fingers recently opened a location at 6775 Dixie Highway in Fairfield, part of Stockton Station, the Journal-News reports.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/17/another-chicken-fingers-chain-lands-in-southwest.html

[ColDayMan]

Here's when the Banks' newest restaurant opens

 

The Banks' newest restaurant, a Columbus-based tacos and tequila joint that is taking up the first floor of the new AC Hotel by Mariott, is opening its doors next week.

 

Condado Tacos is opening to the public on April 26. The restaurant occupies 4,850 square feet of the hotel at 135 Joe Nuxhall Way. The restaurant, the sixth for owner Joe Kahn, boasts to be Sauza tequila's largest account in the Midwest.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/17/heres-when-the-banks-newest-restaurant-opens.html

[ColDayMan]

OTR's Please hosting 'bake sale' featuring renowned female pastry chefs

 

Upscale Over-the-Rhine restaurant Please is hosting what it's calling a "bake sale" from May to September featuring some of the country's most renowned pastry chefs.

 

Please, at 1405 Clay St. in Over-the-Rhine, is hosting its bake sale on select Sundays with one occurring each month.

 

The bake sales will feature Stella Parks of Bravetart in Lexington, Ky.; Sasha Piligian of sqirl in Los Angeles; Zoe Taylor of milktooth in Indianapolis; Anna Posey of Elske in Chicago, and May Erickson of Lan Baan in Portland, Ore.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/18/otrs-please-hosting-bake-sale-featuring-renowned.html

[ColDayMan]

Former Cincinnati food truck opening second brick-and-mortar location

 

A Montgomery restaurant that started life as a food truck is opening its second brick-and-mortar location in the Maribelle's Eat + Drink space in Oakley.

 

Bones' Burgers plans to open at 3235 Madison Road in Oakley in the middle of June. Maribelle's is closing on May 6 after owner Leigh Enderle decided to sell it to pursue a new career path.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/18/former-cincinnati-food-truck-opening-second-brick.html

[ColDayMan]

Taco Tuesday: Peek inside the Banks' newest restaurant opening this week

 

Condado Tacos, a taco and tequila restaurant specializing in build-your-own and double-decker tacos, is preparing to open to the public this week, and we've got your first look inside just in time for Taco Tuesday.

 

Condado Tacos is opening on April 26. The restaurant occupies 4,850 square feet of the AC Hotel by Marriott at 135 Joe Nuxhall Way and is the sixth for owner Joe Kahn, who boasts to be Sauza tequila's largest account in the Midwest.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/24/taco-tuesday-peek-inside-the-banks-newest.html

[ColDayMan]

:-[

 

Downtown Irish pub with Tex-Mex menu now open

 

An Indianapolis-based Irish pub has opened its first Cincinnati location in the AT580 building downtown.

 

O'Reilly's Irish Bar & Restaurant in the former Trattoria Roma Ristorante & Bar space at 580 Walnut St. downtown is now open, according to signage in front of the bar. A call for comment was not returned.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/24/downtown-irish-pub-with-tex-mex-menu-now-open.html

[jwulsin]

:-[

 

Downtown Irish pub with Tex-Mex menu now open

 

An Indianapolis-based Irish pub has opened its first Cincinnati location in the AT580 building downtown.

 

O'Reilly's Irish Bar & Restaurant in the former Trattoria Roma Ristorante & Bar space at 580 Walnut St. downtown is now open, according to signage in front of the bar. A call for comment was not returned.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/24/downtown-irish-pub-with-tex-mex-menu-now-open.html

 

Yikes.

[taestell]

If they serve corned beef and cabbage tacos, I'm there.

[BigDipper 80]

I'm looking at the menu for the Indianapolis location and the only Tex-Mex thing on the menu is some weird "Tex Mex Roll" appetizer. Not a single taco to be had!

[Ram23]

^ Yeah, the Business Courier's choice of headline is bizarre. That's a pretty standard Irish Pub menu, I certainly wouldn't consider it to be Tex-Mex, and the restaurant doesn't seem to be marketing it as such.

[Guest jmecklenborg]

I bet there is money to be made opening Mexican restaurants in Ireland. 

[GCrites]

Imagine if '90s green neon, mirror and fake marble bars never went away while Irish pubs only lasted two years instead.

[Guest jmecklenborg]

Imagine if '90s green neon, mirror and fake marble bars never went away while Irish pubs only lasted two years instead.

 

Maybe in 2035 we'll look back fondly on circa-2015 hookah lounges. 

[ColDayMan]

Look inside Mason's new steampunk restaurant

 

A Victorian-era themed restaurant looking to bring the feel of urban dining to the suburbs is now open in Mason.

 

S.W. Clyborne Provision & Spirits is open at 5948 Snider Road in Mason. Flip through the photos for a look inside.

 

The restaurant is the latest project by Scott Schmidt's Looking Glass Hospitality Group, which opened Tahona Kitchen and Bar in Blue Ash's Summit Park.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/26/look-inside-masons-new-steampunk-restaurant.html

 

[ColDayMan]

Rolled ice cream shop coming to Over-the-Rhine

 

 

A new ice cream shop specializing in Thai-inspired rolled ice cream that's made right in front of you is coming to Over-the-Rhine near Washington Park this summer.

 

Simply Rolled Ice Cream is coming to 32 W. 12th St. between Race and Vine streets in Over-the-Rhine, but an official opening date has not yet been set.

 

Simply Rolled is being opened by husband and wife Eric and Katie Shaw. The ice cream shop is an extension of a brand started in Columbus by their cousins.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/27/exclusive-rolled-ice-cream-shop-coming-to-over-the.html

[ColDayMan]

Collective Espresso owners open bakery in Findlay Market

 

 

The owners of Collective Espresso, which started serving coffee in Over-the-Rhine in 2012 and expanded to Northside in 2014, opened a pastry shop in a historic bakery location at Findlay Market.

 

Dustin Miller and Dave Hart opened Mainwood Pastry quietly at 113 W. Elder St. on April 4. They plan to host a grand opening – with free cake – over Mother's Day weekend May 11 through 13.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/27/collective-espresso-owners-open-bakery-in-findlay.html

[Robuu]

So many ice cream places in OTR now. Dojo, Graeter's, Buzzed Bull, and soon the Simply Rolled. Hope there are a lot of people with a sweet tooth.

 

Speaking of Buzzed Bull, does anyone have an idea of how they are doing? I was there once and it didn't really excite me enough to go back.

[JYP]

So many ice cream places in OTR now. Dojo, Graeter's, Buzzed Bull, and soon the Simply Rolled. Hope there are a lot of people with a sweet tooth.

 

Speaking of Buzzed Bull, does anyone have an idea of how they are doing? I was there once and it didn't really excite me enough to go back.

 

Don't forget the Parlour Creamy Whip in Pendleton!

 

My wife and I go to Buzzed Bull about once a week. We never get the buzzed ice cream and get custom orders. As regular ice cream its great, as alcoholic ice cream, I've never really liked it.

 

Graeters always looks like its doing well in warm weather and Dojo has the Findlay Market crowd which sustains it.

[taestell]

Even though there will soon be 5 ice cream places in OTR+Pendleton, each one is quite different and will attract a different crowd. There's one name brand premium ice cream place, one gelato place with funky flavors, one liquid nitrogen (optionally alcoholic) ice cream place, one Thai rolled ice cream place, and one creamy whip. Now if there was a Jeni's or a UDF opening next to the Graeter's, or a second gelato place opening at Findlay Market, I would be worried about their ability to all succeed.

[Robuu]

^ Fair enough. It's actually pretty cool that there are 5 which are so different from each other.

[jwulsin]

I've got a lot of problems, but "too many ice cream shops" ain't one of them.

[ColDayMan]

Here's what's coming to the massive, shuttered Crave space at the Banks

 

The owners of a downtown restaurant and nightclub are taking over the former Crave space at the Banks, which has been shuttered since 2016.

 

Peerless Culinary & Nightlife Management Group, which operates Jekyll on Fountain Square, is taking over the 8,371-square-foot space at 175 Joe Nuxhall Way that used to be occupied by Crave. Crave closed its doors in September 2016.

 

Peerless is planning a restaurant and entertainment concept over two floors and an outdoor patio that it's calling Galla Park.

 

"Galla Park stems from the word 'gala,' where everything is an event and you get dressed up and get nicer drinks and nicer food and you expect an elevated and fun atmosphere," Peerless partner Michael Mercer told me.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/04/30/exclusive-heres-whats-coming-to-the-massive.html

[ColDayMan]

A Tavola owners expand new concept with full bar, dining room

 

 

The owners of A Tavola expanded their fast-casual pizza concept, Taglio, in Columbia Tusculum into the adjoining space next to their pizzeria, allowing them to expand their menu and capabilities.

 

Taglio, at 3531 Columbia Parkway, expanded into the former Sidekix Saucy Asian Grill space next door in mid-April. The move more than doubles the amount of space the restaurant – which up until now had primarily been a delivery and carry-out concept – has devoted to seating and allowed it to expand its menu and services.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/03/exclusive-a-tavola-owners-expand-new-concept-with.html

[ColDayMan]

New-to-Cincinnati taco restaurant opening near UC

 

A new-to-Cincinnati taco restaurant is scheduled to open later this year near the University of Cincinnati.

 

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, a Fort Worth-based restaurant that serves taco, burritos and quesadillas, has signed a long-term lease for a 4,400-square-foot space at 165 W. McMillan St. The restaurant will be part of the Verge, a 178-apartment student housing community that Gilbane Development Co. completed in August 2016.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/10/exclusive-new-to-cincinnati-taco-restaurant.html

 

[BigDipper 80]

That's kitty-corner to Drunken Tacos, which itself is next to Chipotle. I guess it's at least not another Asian/sushi place.

[JYP]

Is this the first thing to go into that development since it was built a few years ago?

[Ram23]

^ It's the second - there's an Asian/sushi place at the other end of the building.

[Guest jmecklenborg]

That's kitty-corner to Drunken Tacos, which itself is next to Chipotle. I guess it's at least not another Asian/sushi place.

 

And about 300 feet from Currito. 

[ucgrady]

Here's what's coming to the massive, shuttered Crave space at the Banks

 

This was interesting timing with the news that Jekyll is closing it's doors after only a year after it's new name. It seems like the owners are basically moving the concept to a bigger Crave space, which doesn't give me much hope that this new Galla Park has much staying power unless the Banks is really that different of an audience than fountain square.

[ColDayMan]

Cincinnati chef plans to take over Montgomery’s Cinque space

 

Cincinnati chef Cristian Pietoso is adding a new location of one of his restaurants in the former Cinque space in Montgomery, the Enquirer reports.

 

Nicola Pietoso, Cristian’s father, has run Cinque since 2015 and has spent the past two years battling cancer. Now that he’s cancer free, he’s planning to cut back on his restaurant duties but will continue to operate Nicola’s, his original restaurant in Over-the-Rhine.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/14/cincinnati-chef-plans-to-take-over-montgomery-s.html

[ColDayMan]

Vietnamese fusion restaurant coming to former Sung space downtown

 

An upscale Vietnamese fusion restaurant is coming to the former Sung Korean Bistro space in downtown Cincinnati this summer.

 

Ước Lễ is coming to 700 Elm St., with the goal of opening by the end of July. That restaurant space used to house Sung Korean Bistro, which closed after 10 years in business on June 3, 2017.

 

General manager David Redmond told me the menu has not been finalized yet, but the restaurant will specialize in cuisine based on and inspired by Vietnamese tradition and techniques.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/14/vietnamese-fusion-restaurant-coming-to-former-sung.html

[ucgrady]

While I love Vietnamese, can someone explain why we will now have 4 good Vietnamese restaurants in downtown / OTR (this new one plus pho lang thang, le's and Saigon) but zero good Chinese restaurants? For a midwestern city this seems like a very strange ratio, are there more Vietnamese immigrants than I realize?

[DEPACincy]

Vietnamese fusion restaurant coming to former Sung space downtown

 

An upscale Vietnamese fusion restaurant is coming to the former Sung Korean Bistro space in downtown Cincinnati this summer.

 

Ước Lễ is coming to 700 Elm St., with the goal of opening by the end of July. That restaurant space used to house Sung Korean Bistro, which closed after 10 years in business on June 3, 2017.

 

General manager David Redmond told me the menu has not been finalized yet, but the restaurant will specialize in cuisine based on and inspired by Vietnamese tradition and techniques.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2018/05/14/vietnamese-fusion-restaurant-coming-to-former-sung.html

 

Anybody know how to pronounce this?

[jim uber]

While I love Vietnamese, can someone explain why we will now have 4 good Vietnamese restaurants in downtown / OTR (this new one plus pho lang thang, le's and Saigon) but zero good Chinese restaurants? For a midwestern city this seems like a very strange ratio, are there more Vietnamese immigrants than I realize?

Hmm. I usually expect to have a very hard time finding a good Chinese restaurant. I mean, the distance between eating at one of the better places in San Francisco or Chicago, and your typical Midwestern city, is huge. No?

 

I think what I'm saying, much more bluntly, is that a typical Midwest city Chinese restaurant that I've experienced will

a) Fry almost everything

b) encase almost everything in either a brown glue sauce, or a white glue sauce.

c) Serve rice that is the equivalent of wonder bread - almost tasteless.

 

But I might be looking in the wrong places?

[joshknut]

Fortune Noodle House! Hand pulled noodles if you are looking for Chinese. In other parts of the Midwest, like Minnesota, you will find way more Vietnamese since the Hmong immigrated there.

[JohnClevesSymmes]

^I second Fortune Noodle. Incredibly good. Sichuan Bistro in Mason is pretty good, as is Sichuan Chili in Evendale.

[ryanlammi]

I think currently Vietnamese restaurants are just trendier, which is why you see a lot in downtown/OTR and not many Chinese restaurants.

[Ram23]

Cincinnati's only semblance of a Chinatown is in Sharonville/Evendale. Sichuan Chili mentioned above, Imperial Inn, House of Sun, and 99 Restaurant are my favorites.

 

There are also a lot of the typical take-out places that have "other menus." We go to China Food in CUF quite a bit and order off the authentic menu and it's good. I like their Fuqi Feipian.

 

Also, so far as downtown goes, check out Yum Yum some time. The dining room reminds me of something out of a David Lynch movie.

[edale]

Cincinnati's only semblance of a Chinatown is in Sharonville/Evendale. Sichuan Chili mentioned above, Imperial Inn, House of Sun, and 99 Restaurant are my favorites.

 

There are also a lot of the typical take-out places that have "other menus." We go to China Food in CUF quite a bit and order off the authentic menu and it's good. I like their Fuqi Feipian.

 

Also, so far as downtown goes, check out Yum Yum some time. The dining room reminds me of something out of a David Lynch movie.

 

Yeah, in addition to the Chinese restaurants you already noted, there is also the CAM Asian supermarket in Evendale too, and a Chinese bakery in the same strip mall. There’s also Uncle Yips restaurant, which has a decent Dim Sum brunch. Hope they’re still around!

 

If you broaden the scope from strictly Chinese to include all Asian businesses, this area further solidifies itself as the Asian hub of the region. There is a small Japanese grocery called Tokyo Foods, a couple Indian restaurants, an Indian bakery, two small Indian grocers and a large Patel Brothers store. Across the street from Patel Bros, that strip mall is mostly Asian businesses. There’s a good Vietnamese place, a Halal butcher, and a few other Chinese businesses that I can’t temember. Definitely an interesting and unexpected cluster in the burbs!

[Guest jmecklenborg]

Across the street from Patel Bros, that strip mall is mostly Asian businesses. Theres a good Vietnamese place, a Halal butcher, and a few other Chinese businesses that I cant temember. Definitely an interesting and unexpected cluster in the burbs!

 

There is also a bus to NYC's Chinatown that leaves from that strip mall, next to a Chipotle.