Cincinnati, famed for its potent chili, packs plenty of diversified dining appeal from a vantage point on the Ohio River overlooking northern Kentucky. For the record, Cincinnati-style chili -- heaped atop coneys or spaghetti-filled bowls and sometimes smothered in cheese -- stars on menus at assorted parlors, among them Skyline Chili , home of the signature three-way, and so-named for a view of the skyline from its first location. Dining options for this city settled largely by Germans in the 19th century range from rathskeller and riverboat restaurant fare to French cuisine. Alas, the timeless, dressy atmosphere of the Maisonette (rating an unprecedented 41-year run as a Mobil five-star winner) is now history, with the abrupt closure of the family owned icon in July, 2005. Even so, Cincinnati -- called the "Queen City of the West" by poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow -- has its share of thriving Chinese , Mexican , Italian and other ethnic cuisines both downtown and in neighborhoods like Hyde Park .
Welcome to the DiningGuide Downtown Cincinnati area restaurant directory. Please select one of the links below for a Profile Page SM about a Downtown Cincinnati area dining option. The restaurant listings are grouped by major category. To return to the DiningGuide Cincinnati home page, where you can search for restaurants located in a Cincinnati Restaurants
Leave the kids at home, and take out your date for an evening of fine food and conversation at Cincinnati's most romantic restaurants:
Celestial Steakhouse
A Cincinnati dining tradition has been reincarnated: What once was pricey and stuffy is now affordable and relaxed. While the jacket requirement has changed, the tome-like wine list hasn't, with more than 700 options comprising the restaurant's selection. The Incline Lounge adds a full bar with martinis, single malts, bourbons and cocktails. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Do we have to describe the view? Grand Finale
Best known for its brunch and desserts, Grand Finale is a well-loved Glendale institution, open since 1975. A great spot for families or lovebirds, the restaurant has seasonal outdoor dining and pleasing decor throughout the cozy interior. Jean-Robert at Pgall's
Jean-Robert de Cavel's first restaurant, and Cincinnati's only four-star dining experience, is perfect for special occasions - or whenever you want to be pampered. Palace Restaurant
You'll find a formal and elegant, but relaxed environment at the Palace Restaurant, inside the historic Cincinnatian Hotel downtown. A special occasion destination. Barresi's
Barresi's is a classic, gourmet northern and southern Italian restaurant decked out with white tablecloths and a candlelit romantic atmosphere. It caters to Cincinnati's elite and busy families, but is also perfect for business dinners and private parties. Nicola's Ristorante
Contemporary and spacious, the restaurant was once a car barn for incline trolleys in the 19th century and retains that historic charm. Nicola Pietoso, a native of Italy, first brought the culinary traditions of Tuscany to Cincinnati in 1996. Germano's Restaurant
Germano's serves fine cuisine in a warm and casual atmosphere. The award-winning wines are popular with customers. The restaurant even sells jars of its pasta sauces to go.
Ding and Restaurants in the Cincinnati Ohio Area * Great Cuisine and fine Foods while dining in Cincinnati
American
The Palace Restaurant
601 Vine Street · Cincinnati 513-381-6006 · Expensive The New Dubliner
6111 Montgomery Rd. · Cincinnati 513-531-0700 · Inexpensive Barrister's
913 Sycamore St. · Cincinnati 513-651-5013 · Inexpensive
Skyline Chili
580 Walnut Street · Cincinnati 513-684-9600 · Inexpensive
