1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Pepp & Dolores is the latest from Thunderdome Restaurant Group — the team behind The Eagle, Bakersfield, Currito and Maplewood Kitchen and Bar. The Italian eatery is inspired by Sunday dinners at Thunderdome co-founders Joe and John Lanni’s grandparents’ house. “We designed the space to have a timeless look and feel with elements of a classic cafe or bistro from the early to mid-20th century on the first level and a lower level that is darker, cozier and reminiscent of a New York City supper club,” says John Lanni. The menu features housemade pastas — like spaghetti and meatballs dubbed “The Sunday Sauce”, a butternut and mascarpone pasta and a lobster and squid ink pasta — along with a focus on shareable dishes, salads and bread.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Pepp & Dolores
1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Pepp & Dolores is the latest from Thunderdome Restaurant Group — the team behind The Eagle, Bakersfield, Currito and Maplewood Kitchen and Bar. The Italian eatery is inspired by Sunday dinners at Thunderdome co-founders Joe and John Lanni’s grandparents’ house. “We designed the space to have a timeless look and feel with elements of a classic cafe or bistro from the early to mid-20th century on the first level and a lower level that is darker, cozier and reminiscent of a New York City supper club,” says John Lanni. The menu features housemade pastas — like spaghetti and meatballs dubbed “The Sunday Sauce”, a butternut and mascarpone pasta and a lobster and squid ink pasta — along with a focus on shareable dishes, salads and bread.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Mesa Loca
2645 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
Stepping into a spot left vacant by Cock & Bull Hyde Park, Mesa Loca is a standout new addition to Hyde Park Square. Serving expertly prepared Mexican fare in a cool, contemporary setting, the eatery offers a menu of shareable bites and an excellent cocktail list with fresh-squeezed juices.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Mesa Loca
2645 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
Stepping into a spot left vacant by Cock & Bull Hyde Park, Mesa Loca is a standout new addition to Hyde Park Square. Serving expertly prepared Mexican fare in a cool, contemporary setting, the eatery offers a menu of shareable bites and an excellent cocktail list with fresh-squeezed juices.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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e+o New Asian
645 Walnut St., Downtown
e+o Kitchen opened its New Asian eatery downtown at 645 Walnut St. in February. The concept continues the theme of the original Chicago location with “The Food Buddha,” aka chef Rodelio Aglibot, overseeing the new restaurant. He is also the executive chef of both Cincinnati e+o locations (the first is in Hyde Park). The menu features a New Asian concept that blends the cuisine of the Philippines, Korea, Vietnam and more with “contemporary techniques and inventive ingredients.”
Photo: Tony Frank
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e+o New Asian
645 Walnut St., Downtown
e+o Kitchen opened its New Asian eatery downtown at 645 Walnut St. in February. The concept continues the theme of the original Chicago location with ::The Food Buddha,:: aka chef Rodelio Aglibot, overseeing the new restaurant. He is also the executive chef of both Cincinnati e+o locations (the first is in Hyde Park). The menu features a New Asian concept that blends the cuisine of the Philippines, Korea, Vietnam and more with ::contemporary techniques and inventive ingredients.::
Photo: Tony Frank
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La Ofrenda
30 Findlay St., Over-the-Rhine
Gorilla Cinema Presents, the group that created Tokyo Kitty and the Video Archive (among others), opened a retro Mexican cinema bar concept near Findlay Market in December. Inspired by the owner’s grandparents and his time growing up in Texas, the bar serves up tequila, mezcal and sotol in its small indoor space. There’s also an outdoor patio.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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La Ofrenda
30 Findlay St., Over-the-Rhine
Gorilla Cinema Presents, the group that created Tokyo Kitty and the Video Archive (among others), opened a retro Mexican cinema bar concept near Findlay Market in December. Inspired by the owner’s grandparents and his time growing up in Texas, the bar serves up tequila, mezcal and sotol in its small indoor space. There’s also an outdoor patio.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Ghost Baby
1314 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine
This subterranean nightclub/music venue opened beneath the streets of Over-the-Rhine this winter. The venue holds 160 guests and is located several stories below Vine Street in a 170-year-old lagering tunnel formerly used by Champion Brewing (beer was aged and cooled in lagering tunnels before the advent of refrigeration). The historic, dimly-lit space, which has been vacant since the 1850s, features soaring ceilings with stone archways and decor that is adorned with “crushed velvet and unpredictability,” according to a release. Guests can expect an immersive experience with art, design, cocktails and music, plus cheeseboards and cannoli.
Photo via Instagram/heymichelle1” data-title=”
Ghost Baby
1314 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine
This subterranean nightclub/music venue opened beneath the streets of Over-the-Rhine this winter. The venue holds 160 guests and is located several stories below Vine Street in a 170-year-old lagering tunnel formerly used by Champion Brewing (beer was aged and cooled in lagering tunnels before the advent of refrigeration). The historic, dimly-lit space, which has been vacant since the 1850s, features soaring ceilings with stone archways and decor that is adorned with ::crushed velvet and unpredictability,:: according to a release. Guests can expect an immersive experience with art, design, cocktails and music, plus cheeseboards and cannoli.
Photo via Instagram/heymichelle1″ itemprop=”image” />Enoteca Emilia
110 S. Second St., Loveland
Enoteca Emilia reopened in Loveland in late November after closing its O’Bryonville location in 2016. The Italian eatery offers several gourmet pastas including the black pepper pappardelle, artisanal pizza like the veal sausage pizza, a variety of salads, entrees, elevated bar snacks and desserts.
Photo via Facebook/EnotecaEmilia
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Enoteca Emilia
110 S. Second St., Loveland
Enoteca Emilia reopened in Loveland in late November after closing its O’Bryonville location in 2016. The Italian eatery offers several gourmet pastas including the black pepper pappardelle, artisanal pizza like the veal sausage pizza, a variety of salads, entrees, elevated bar snacks and desserts.
Photo via Facebook/EnotecaEmilia
” itemprop=”image” />EMMA
3227 Riverside Drive, Columbia Tusculum
EMMA: Wine With Friends is an approachable new wine bar and shop located in Cincinnati’s East End. The bar opened in December and features over 40 different wines on tap that are available via a self-service platform so that visitors can explore and taste at their own pace. In addition to wine, guests can enjoy a cocktail at the bar or grab a bottle or six-pack of beer to go.
Photo: Provided
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EMMA
3227 Riverside Drive, Columbia Tusculum
EMMA: Wine With Friends is an approachable new wine bar and shop located in Cincinnati’s East End. The bar opened in December and features over 40 different wines on tap that are available via a self-service platform so that visitors can explore and taste at their own pace. In addition to wine, guests can enjoy a cocktail at the bar or grab a bottle or six-pack of beer to go.
Photo: Provided
” itemprop=”image” />The Kitchen by Butler’s Pantry
50 E. RiverCenter Blvd., Covington
The Kitchen by Butler’s Pantry is the first new concept from Covington chefs Mitch Arens (formerly of Hotel Covington) and Stephen Williams (of Bouquet). The concept uses locally sourced ingredients to create Southern classics. Menu items include: The Kitchen “Benedict” (toast, braised greens, cottage ham, poached eggs), stuffed French toast (Sixteen Bricks challah bread, butternut squash cream cheese, brown sugar tuile) and the Southern Sink (cheddar grits, corned beef, poblano relish, herb salad, over-easy egg) among others, including goetta balls with chow chow sloppy sauce.
Photo: Provided
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The Kitchen by Butler’s Pantry
50 E. RiverCenter Blvd., Covington
The Kitchen by Butler’s Pantry is the first new concept from Covington chefs Mitch Arens (formerly of Hotel Covington) and Stephen Williams (of Bouquet). The concept uses locally sourced ingredients to create Southern classics. Menu items include: The Kitchen “Benedict” (toast, braised greens, cottage ham, poached eggs), stuffed French toast (Sixteen Bricks challah bread, butternut squash cream cheese, brown sugar tuile) and the Southern Sink (cheddar grits, corned beef, poblano relish, herb salad, over-easy egg) among others, including goetta balls with chow chow sloppy sauce.
Photo: Provided
” itemprop=”image” />Ruby’s Chocolates
3923 Isabella Ave., Oakley
Ruby’s Chocolates is a sweet-lovers wonderland. They offer made-from-scratch (and with lots of love) desserts ranging from their decadent truffles — with flavors like turtle truffle, cookies and cream and key lime pie — to extravagant “Joy Sticks,” which are pretzels enrobed with caramel, chocolate, peanut butter, and other toppings, plus brittle, buckeyes and more.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Ruby’s Chocolates
3923 Isabella Ave., Oakley
Ruby’s Chocolates is a sweet-lovers wonderland. They offer made-from-scratch (and with lots of love) desserts ranging from their decadent truffles — with flavors like turtle truffle, cookies and cream and key lime pie — to extravagant “Joy Sticks,” which are pretzels enrobed with caramel, chocolate, peanut butter, and other toppings, plus brittle, buckeyes and more.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
” itemprop=”image” />Twenties
2733 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills
Twenties, a 1920s-themed cocktail bar, officially opened to the public in January. The bar explores the evolution of bar cocktail culture over the past century and offers a variety of both classic and new cocktails that cater to both generations of drinkers. In addition to cocktails, Twenties also offers 16 beers on draft as well as spirits, with a strong focus on local breweries and distilleries. Twenties takes over the space formerly occupied by Cincinnati bar owner and mixologist Molly Wellmann’s Myrtle’s Punch House, which closed in early 2019.
Photo: Google Maps
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Twenties
2733 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills
Twenties, a 1920s-themed cocktail bar, officially opened to the public in January. The bar explores the evolution of bar cocktail culture over the past century and offers a variety of both classic and new cocktails that cater to both generations of drinkers. In addition to cocktails, Twenties also offers 16 beers on draft as well as spirits, with a strong focus on local breweries and distilleries. Twenties takes over the space formerly occupied by Cincinnati bar owner and mixologist Molly Wellmann’s Myrtle’s Punch House, which closed in early 2019.
Photo: Google Maps
” itemprop=”image” />The Fix Coffeehouse & Bar
648 E. Mcmillan St., Walnut Hills
The Fix Coffeehouse & Bar takes over the space formerly occupied by Landlocked Social House. The shop offers locally roasted direct-trade coffee, a variety of craft and draft beer, cocktails and bites like charcuterie boards and pastries.
Photo via Facebook/TheFixcoffeebar
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The Fix Coffeehouse & Bar
648 E. Mcmillan St., Walnut Hills
The Fix Coffeehouse & Bar takes over the space formerly occupied by Landlocked Social House. The shop offers locally roasted direct-trade coffee, a variety of craft and draft beer, cocktails and bites like charcuterie boards and pastries.
Photo via Facebook/TheFixcoffeebar
” itemprop=”image” />Gyros on Main
607 Main St., Covington
This casual Covington eatery opened on MainStrasse in December. The eatery offers a variety of Mediterannean dishes like chicken shawarma, falafel, baklava and, of course, gyros, plus traditional bites like burgers, wings and Philly cheesesteaks.
Photo: Kaitlyn Handel
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Gyros on Main
607 Main St., Covington
This casual Covington eatery opened on MainStrasse in December. The eatery offers a variety of Mediterannean dishes like chicken shawarma, falafel, baklava and, of course, gyros, plus traditional bites like burgers, wings and Philly cheesesteaks.
Photo: Kaitlyn Handel
” itemprop=”image” />Square Mile Coffee Shop
740 Hamilton Ave., Mount Healthy
Housed in a historic 1915 Mount Healthy garage/service station, owners Trish and Tom Gulyas and their daughter Kim Rollins opened the shop in mid-January as a place where folks from the neighborhood can gather and enjoy quality coffee beverages, light bites and conversation. The shop serves coffee from Cincinnati roasters La Terza and offers breakfast and lunch sandwiches as well as pastries, espresso and tea.
Photo: Provided
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Square Mile Coffee Shop
740 Hamilton Ave., Mount Healthy
Housed in a historic 1915 Mount Healthy garage/service station, owners Trish and Tom Gulyas and their daughter Kim Rollins opened the shop in mid-January as a place where folks from the neighborhood can gather and enjoy quality coffee beverages, light bites and conversation. The shop serves coffee from Cincinnati roasters La Terza and offers breakfast and lunch sandwiches as well as pastries, espresso and tea.
Photo: Provided
” itemprop=”image” />Galactic Fried Chicken
624 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Kentucky
A new chicken joint has spread its wings in Dayton, Kentucky. Former food truck Galactic Fried Chicken recently opened a brick-and-mortar at 624 Sixth Ave., next door to Unataza Coffee. The restaurant, owned by Shane Coffey and his wife Kathy McDonald, serves fried chicken, chicken tenders and sandwiches, along with a variety of sides ranging from mac and cheese to deviled eggs, fries and salads. They also offer a vegetarian option of fried jackfruit nuggets.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Galactic Fried Chicken
624 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Kentucky
A new chicken joint has spread its wings in Dayton, Kentucky. Former food truck Galactic Fried Chicken recently opened a brick-and-mortar at 624 Sixth Ave., next door to Unataza Coffee. The restaurant, owned by Shane Coffey and his wife Kathy McDonald, serves fried chicken, chicken tenders and sandwiches, along with a variety of sides ranging from mac and cheese to deviled eggs, fries and salads. They also offer a vegetarian option of fried jackfruit nuggets.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
” itemprop=”image” />Kabobske
2904 Short Vine, Corryville
Florence, Kentucky-based casual Mediterranean eatery Kabobske has opened up a second location in the Queen City. Their new spot is situated on Corryville’s Short Vine next to the University of Cincinnati’s campus. Like the original location, the Corryville eatery offers a casual dining experience and “build-your-own” meals including bowls, wraps, salads and melts with toppings like babaganoush or tzatziki and proteins like falafel, shawarma and grape leaves.
Photo via Facebook/Kabobske
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Kabobske
2904 Short Vine, Corryville
Florence, Kentucky-based casual Mediterranean eatery Kabobske has opened up a second location in the Queen City. Their new spot is situated on Corryville’s Short Vine next to the University of Cincinnati’s campus. Like the original location, the Corryville eatery offers a casual dining experience and ::build-your-own:: meals including bowls, wraps, salads and melts with toppings like babaganoush or tzatziki and proteins like falafel, shawarma and grape leaves.
Photo via Facebook/Kabobske
” itemprop=”image” />Wing Champ
2343 E. Sharon Road, Sharonville
Former owner of Mahogony’s at The Banks, Liz Rogers, has opened up a new restaurant in Sharonville. As the restaurant name suggests, the menu offers a variety of Hickory-smoked and grilled wings, which can be ordered in 31 different wet or dry sauces or seasonings. But don’t let the name fool you, the eatery’s food offerings don’t stop at wings. Wing Champ’s bountiful menu ranges from Philly brisket cheesesteaks and tacos to 600+ different combinations of build-your-own pastas, salads, smoked ribs and a meatloaf burger — plus Southern-inspired desserts.
Photo via Facebook/OriginalWingChamp
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Wing Champ
2343 E. Sharon Road, Sharonville
Former owner of Mahogony’s at The Banks, Liz Rogers, has opened up a new restaurant in Sharonville. As the restaurant name suggests, the menu offers a variety of Hickory-smoked and grilled wings, which can be ordered in 31 different wet or dry sauces or seasonings. But don’t let the name fool you, the eatery’s food offerings don’t stop at wings. Wing Champ’s bountiful menu ranges from Philly brisket cheesesteaks and tacos to 600+ different combinations of build-your-own pastas, salads, smoked ribs and a meatloaf burger — plus Southern-inspired desserts.
Photo via Facebook/OriginalWingChamp
” itemprop=”image” />Waggle
3440 Burnet Ave., Suite 100, Avondale
From the team behind Sleepy Bee Cafe, Waggle mirrors the restaurant’s focus on community, quality and health but offers an experience more catered to “busy, buzzy lifestyles.” The menu offers a variety of breakfast and lunch dishes, ranging from pancakes (both buttermilk or gluten-free) and egg scrambles to made-to-order lunch bowls. They also offer locally roasted coffee and teas.
Photo via Facebook/WaggleBreakfastandBowls
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Waggle
3440 Burnet Ave., Suite 100, Avondale
From the team behind Sleepy Bee Cafe, Waggle mirrors the restaurant’s focus on community, quality and health but offers an experience more catered to ::busy, buzzy lifestyles.:: The menu offers a variety of breakfast and lunch dishes, ranging from pancakes (both buttermilk or gluten-free) and egg scrambles to made-to-order lunch bowls. They also offer locally roasted coffee and teas.
Photo via Facebook/WaggleBreakfastandBowls
” itemprop=”image” />Rise-N-Shine
102 Main St., Hamilton
The breakfast and brunch spot serves traditional dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. Menu items include steak and eggs, eggs Benedict, buttermilk pancakes and bourbon cream waffles — waffles topped with bourbon-infused whipped cream and powdered sugar. And like any local breakfast joint, they didn’t forget the goetta: the Cincinnatian omelet features the oat-and-meat mixture and cheddar cheese.
Photo: Provided
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Rise-N-Shine
102 Main St., Hamilton
The breakfast and brunch spot serves traditional dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. Menu items include steak and eggs, eggs Benedict, buttermilk pancakes and bourbon cream waffles — waffles topped with bourbon-infused whipped cream and powdered sugar. And like any local breakfast joint, they didn’t forget the goetta: the Cincinnatian omelet features the oat-and-meat mixture and cheddar cheese.
Photo: Provided
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