23 Cincinnati Restaurants That Are Totally Worth the Wait

The Baker’s Table

1004 Monmouth St., Newport
Located just across the bridge from downtown Cincinnati, The Baker’s Table serves seasonally changing prix-fixe meals Thursday to Sunday. Their menu includes locally sourced produce and proteins, with a focus on sustainability. They also have a variety of desserts including must-try ricotta donuts. And, as the name suggests, don't skip the bread. Make a reservation online in advance.

Sugar n’ Spice

4381 Reading Road, Paddock Hills; 1203 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine
Open since 1941, Sugar n' Spice's original pink Paddock Hills diner is known for its fun atmosphere and being a comfortable and family-friendly place to eat (ask for a free rubber duck with your meal). Favorite menu items include "wispy thin" pancakes and giant omelets. Lines at the petite original can be long, but there is also a second, larger location in Over-the-Rhine.

Two Cities Pizza Company

202 W. Main St., Mason
If you’re looking for some damn good pizza, this Mason eatery is absolutely worth the trek — and wait for a seat. Two Cities Pizza Company, a dining destination housed in Mason’s former city hall, closes the chasm between the dueling pizza metropolises of New York City and Chicago, offering both styles of pie.

Pepp & Dolores

1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Pepp & Dolores is inspired by Sunday dinners at Thunderdome co-founders Joe and John Lanni's grandparents' house.The menu features housemade pastas — like spaghetti limone, a butternut and mascarpone pasta and a lobster and squid ink pasta — along with a focus on shareable dishes, salads and bread.

Incline Public House

2601 W. Eighth St., Price Hill
Named after the Cincinnati incline that traveled to Price Hill, Incline Public House features a gorgeous view of the city as well as New American eats for brunch, lunch and dinner. The menu includes pizzas, burgers, salads and even cheesesteak, plus a great bloody mary at brunch. It's a popular and busy restaurant, so be prepared for wait.

Goodfellas Pizzeria

1211 Main St., Over-the-Rhine; 6099 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge; 603 Main St., Covingvton
Goodfellas Pizzeria features New York-style pizza in a 1920s-inspired setting. The wait in a literal line to try their popular pizza can be long, especially on the weekends, but it's worth it. Alongside their giant slices and pies, other menu items include calzones, salads and their signature meatball sub. For an extra dose of carbs, grab a breadstick the size of your arm. Plus a side of their housemade ranch dressing.

Brown Bear Bakery

116 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine
Brown Bear Bakery first started in 2012 and has become increasingly popular every year. It grew from just a table with some pastries to a full retail bakery, featuring a variety of pastries and desserts. Lines can be long, sometimes out the door, but getting to try popular items like the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Twist or the Coffee Cake is worth any wait. Online ordering starts at 9 a.m. each day they are open.

Sotto

118 E. Sixth St., Cincinnati
Sotto is the perfect place for a romantic Italian meal or a night out with friends. The basement trattoria is one of hottest places in town to grab homemade pasta and a classic cocktail. Be sure to reserve a table in advance, or snag a seat at their bar. Ask for a table with a view of the kitchen to get a front row seat to all of the behind-the-scenes action.

The Echo

3510 Edwards Road, Hyde Park
Opened in 1945 and located in Hyde Park, The Echo has been a popular and busy restaurant for breakfast and lunch for many years. Try one of their many breakfast combos early in the morning, or stop in for lunch and have a cheeseburger or club sandwich, which are all served by a friendly and welcoming staff. There's typically a line out the door weekend mornings.

Otto's

521 Main St., Covington
This Covington classic has been serving Southern-style cuisine right on MainStrasse since 2003. They are open for brunch on weekends and reopen in the evening for a luxurious dinner service. They have a small dining room that's always packed for brunch, plus a few tables outside.

Delwood

3204 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout
Nestled at the intersection of Delta and Linwood avenues in Mount Lookout Square, Delwood is a family and dog-friendly neighborhood eatery. Inspired by Latin American cuisine, the small space turns out dishes with flair like the El Jefe Double Burger with salsa criolla, avocado and Peruvian huancaina sauce. There are also fries, tostones and chicken tenders with spicy aji amarillo Peruvian pepper sauce. Keep an eye on the drink menu for an equally transportive experience with options running the gamut from a caipirinha and pisco sour to a paloma. The dining room is small so you may have to wait for a table ,but it is absolutely worth it.

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Senate

1100 Summit Place Drive, Blue Ash
Now that Senate has closed its flagship Over-the-Rhine eatery, there's only one place to grab your gourmet hot dog: Blue Ash. The Summit Park location is bigger than the original, but caters to a large crowd of fans in the suburbs. The Trailer Park (applewood bacon, American cheese, coleslaw and crushed Grippo's) and Lindsay Lohan (goat cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, arugula, balsamic and "tons of drama") dogs are favorites.

Boca

114 E. Sixth St., Cincinnati
Showcasing both Italian and French flavors, Boca has been featured on many top restaurant lists as one of the best French restaurants in the United States. Some of Boca’s menu items include the short rib tartare, beet mezzaluna and Amish chicken. There is also a variety of desserts and wine available. Reserve your table advance to ensure you can enjoy this European-style restaurant.

Nada

600 Walnut St., Cincinnati
Nada is a Mexican restaurant that serves large and small plates and a variety of cocktails. Start with items like the chips and salsa trio, or the O.G. guacamole, and then move on to cumin-roasted beets and Peruvian chicken. Nada also hosts private events and takes reservations.

Bakersfield

1213 Vine St., Cincinnati
If you are looking for tasty Mexican food at a place with a great atmosphere and service, look no further. Try a wide assortment of tacos, with fillings ranging from short rib to huitlacoche, or try their many salads and taquitos. Bakersfield also features over 100 tequilas and American whiskey. Owners Thunderdome Restaurant Group recently expanded Bakersfield into the next-door Krueger's Tavern space to make more room.

The Eagle

1342 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
The Eagle has become a popular place to dine in Cincinnati thanks to their great fried-chicken, beer and Southern comfort food. Inside the welcoming and rustic interior of The Eagle are 16 taps that pour local, craft, and domestic beer. Try their natural and antibiotic-free chicken, and their many sides like mac and cheese, white cheddar grits, homemade biscuits and coleslaw.

Mi Cozumel

3100 Vandercar Way, Oakley; 11700 Princeton Pike, Springdale
If you can brave the long wait on the weekends, Mi Cozumel is an amazing place to enjoy a night. Their menu features massive imaginative margaritas (one even comes in a Patron bottle), street tacos and their popular flaming fajitas.

Sleepy Bee Cafe

3098 Madison Road, Oakley; 9514 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash; 8 E. Fourth St., Downtwon
Serving locally sourced food for breakfast, brunch and lunch, Sleepy Bee Cafe offers both dine-in and carry-out options. Popular items include the Queen City Bee, which is a breakfast sandwich with goetta, apple, arugula, broken yolk egg and “nectar” sauce on a milk bun, and The Worker Bee, which is two eggs of any style, your choice of bacon, sausage and goetta or vegan goetta. Other items include different salads, sandwiches and soups. If you plan on stopping here for weekend brunch, plan on a wait.

Zip’s Cafe

1036 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout
Zip’s Cafe has been open since 1926 and is known for its Zip Burger, named the best in Ohio by Food & Wine. They also have other menu items, including “famous chili” and a classic grilled cheese. With worn wood flooring and dark wood paneling, the small space is separated into a dining area and a bar by a saloon-style door with a model train circling above. Head to the back bar for a local beer on draft while you wait for space at a booth or a seat at one of the shared family-style tables.

Maplewood Kitchen and Bar

525 Race St., Downtown
Maplewood Kitchen and Bar is a West Coast-style restaurant serving breakfast and brunch. Walk up to the counter to order omelets, benedicts, burgers, bowls and fresh-pressed juice. There's also a bloody mary with housemade mix and bulletproof coffee.