Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Cincinnati

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Cincinnati? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Frankie's Sips & Savories

4.9

4.9 (176)

$30 and under

Mediterranean

Central Business District

About the restaurant

Ahlan wa Sahlan (WELCOME), We’re so happy you’re considering dining with us. Nestled in between OTR and the Financial District, tucked away in Cincinnati’s historic Garfield Park. Frankie’s Sips & Savories serves up Mediterranean inspired Craft Cocktails and Small Plates from a cozy dining room and beautiful alley with a view to the park.
Must Try – Our Award Winning (Cincinnati Business Courier June 21) - Crispy Arancini / Risotto / Braised Lamb & Whipped Feta.
In addition, we offer a unique array of Wines from around the world and local Craft Beers on tap.
Be it, date night, a business gathering or if you just want to feel appreciated and welcomed, join us at Frankie’s for a comfortable, relaxing restaurant atmosphere. Looking to Celebrate Life a little more, stay for the fun until we close with great sounds and weekly special events, (Dancing is Highly Recommended).
Lead by Chef Riston and the Family, Let’s share the joy and savor the moments together at Frankie’s Place !

Top review

OpenTable DinerVIP

Dined 3 days ago

The food was fantastic. The ambience was beautiful. The employees were awesome and very polite. We definitely will go back again.

LaLo Chino-Latino

4.8

4.8 (455)

$30 and under

Latin American

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

LaLo is where Latin and Asian food collide. LaLo offers you a unique experience with fusion dishes full of flavor, asian and latin inspired drinks, and lively exciting latin music.

Top review

Todd

Dined on Dec 6, 2024

I have never had a bad meal here. I try something new each time I go. Amazing food. I recommend the mix n match tacos . But everything is great.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Cincinnati, OH | The Kenwood Collection

4.7

4.7 (485)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Shannon

Dined on Jan 2, 2025

The food was fantastic and the experience phenomenal! Great place to celebrate a birthday!

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Experience

Prix-Fixe BBQ Courses for Everyone: Starting at...

SOB Steakhouse

4.7

4.7 (2218)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Liberty Township

About the restaurant

The era of a stuffy steakhouse has now evolved into something magical.  From the founders of award-winning Agave & Rye, who have been cited with accolades such as “Top 5 Hottest Brands 2021” from NRN, as well as “Top 20 NEXT-GEN Brands 2021” from FSR, S.O.B (Son of a Butcher) offers everything desirable in a top steakhouse, without the white tablecloths, pretentious service, and boring atmosphere. The steakhouse has something for everyone, including USDA Prime cuts, Wagyu, Caviar, Shaved Truffles and Gold Leaf options, plus Fresh Seafood, Scratch Pasta, and memorable desserts. Our service focuses on true hospitality with the mission to leave our guests wanting for nothing. With every detail, design and inspiration revolving around our Core Values, our guests will enjoy a fun, elevated environment, innovative menu, craft cocktails, and simply a damn good time. 

Top review

Corey

Dined 3 days ago

Great service went above and beyond for my wife’s birthday. Food was fantastic as well and we always appreciate the abstract artwork throughout the restaurant.

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Wagyu Filet Mignon Flight

Nolia Kitchen - OTR

4.7

4.7 (792)

$31 to $50

American

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

Chef Jeff Harris is serving classic southern flavors at Nolia Kitchen, as well as imaginative and unconventional twists to familiar staples.

Top review

KevinP

Dined 4 days ago

Innovative menu. Quality execution We will return.

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Experience

1405 Tasting

Baru

4.6

4.6 (295)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Central Business District

About the restaurant

An elevated dining experience with an atmosphere to match.
Cincinnati’s prime spot for cocktails and sushi. Lit up in red and purple, Baru’s atmosphere submerges patrons into a nightlife experience awash in Tokyo aesthetics.

Top review

JonVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Food was great! We sat at the bar and had a great time.

The Aperture

4.5

4.5 (157)

$50 and over

Mediterranean

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

The Aperture, the first full-scale restaurant project from Chef Jordan Anthony-Brown. The menu reflects the concept of Mediterranean mezze style dining, consisting of many small plates, rustic in nature and reflective of seasonality and creates a natural progression and flow for the dining experience. The Aperture’s menu reflects three fundamental tenets: intention, balance, and focus. The menu - and its individual dishes - are approached with the objective of putting critical thought into every component, eliminating the extraneous, and ensuring a natural flow across the menu. The culinary program is heavily influenced by the cuisine of the broader Mediterranean region and the simple, seasonal cooking of Southern France, Italy, Greece, and the Levant.

Our menu changes often and with the seasons. You can always find our current menu on our website www.theaperturecinci.com.

Top review

DavidVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Everything we had was excellent. Service from all was also perfect. We will definitely go back.

Rusk Kitchen + Bar

4.4

4.4 (187)

$30 and under

American

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

A full-service restaurant and bar offering eclectic American cuisine, beer, elevated house-made cocktails, and wine. Rusk is the perfect place to catch your favorite teams, brunch on the Sunday's, lunch with coworkers, wine and dine for date night, grab dinner with the family, and enjoy cocktails with your friends on the 2nd-floor rooftop patio. Our vision is to be a favorite neighborhood spot for everyone to gather.

Top review

BeckyVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Food was delicious and portion size was very good. Our waiter, Chris took great care of us and everyone was very friendly. We took friends for their birthday and they were both very happy with Rusk. We will definitely go back again.

Mellotone Beer Project

4.4

4.4 (31)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Over the Rhine

About the restaurant

Timelessly Cool. A modern take on the American brewery experience in Over-the-Rhine.

Top review

BrettGVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Beer and food phenomenal. Enough said. Definitely check them out.

Rosewood by Teak

4.3

4.3 (789)

$31 to $50

Pan-Asian

Oakley

About the restaurant

Rosewood provides a unique dining experience in the heart of Oakley Square, featuring favorite dishes inspired by our past while offering a wide variety of delicious seafood, steak, chicken and vegetarian dishes. Rosewood's beverage program shares the same inspiration and values of our culinary program, offering selections that are locally influenced and ingredient driven. Our cocktails are influenced by the classics and driven by the change of the seasons with a wine program curated to enhance the flavors of our food and invites our guests to share with us in new experiences. When the patio is available we do not take requests or reservations for the patio. The patio is first come first served.

Top review

Julie

Dined on Jan 4, 2025

Great Service and Great Food. Got the Hot Pot Soup. Had enough left over for 2 more meals!!!

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