The Tastiest Gastropubs in Cincinnati

L'Burg Drinks & More

★★★★☆ 3.7 (46)

"Have been here twice, both for dart tournaments. It's not near our house, as we live in Mason, but it's a nice place to trek to for occasional darts and food. Drink prices are great, staff are really friendly, and great bar for soft tip darts and pool. I'm a gluten free/vegan, so not many options available (like pretty much every bar everywhere), but I did get a nice big house salad. It was enough to fill me up for the time I was there. My hubs did have the Cincy chili and really enjoyed it. They have a huge menu and our friends have always enjoyed the food. Maybe consider carrying a 'vegan' burger option, like Beyond or Impossible?"

Timmy Two Time's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (13)

"Absolutely DELICIOUS! If you haven't been, gooooo!! I want to try the other burgers, but.... The Carleone Burger is too difficult to pass up! Hand pattied burger, provolone, sandwich sized grilled pepperoni on a grilled bun.... Get out of here! So good! This was maybe my fourth or fifth time and I'm going to make it a more regular habit! Thanks Timmy Two Time's, I'll see you soon! Excellent service, friendly atmosphere, and insanely good!"

Taxman Brewery

★★★★☆ 4 (430) • $$

"On our way south we decided to take advantage of the Sunday brunch at Taxman. There is a lot of free parking around the venue which was great for a busy Sunday.The space has outdoor seating as well, but too cold for us. Once you enter there is a hostess stand and lots of varying heights of tables (tall and regular height). The space feels open and airy with the bar going along two sides of the space. Given the fullness we decided to sit at the bar where they provide full service as well. Menu is great with both brunch and lunch options. They had vegan and vegetarian as well as classics plus some great lunch options. It was pretty packed so we expected a wait even when seated, but the staff was quick and prompt which was much appreciated. The bartender got us some drinks quickly and never 'forgot us' when we decided to drink only water. I would love to see an on tap cider (as allergic to something they put in the bottled versions), but they have a lot of options obviously made in house!Our food was amazing and the right flavors and warmth. There were a few mixups with the kitchen staff (a side order turned into an appetizer size, forgotten home fries, a bit of burning in the side) but overall the taste was great and I would go back again. I had their brunch salmon eggs Benedict with asparagus which was quite lovely. My husband's house made veggie Patty was robust and tasty. We devoured both meals and were very happy we had stopped in. A great spot and definitely something to try again for other options."

Four Pegs

★★★★☆ 3.9 (512) • $$

"Came to Four Pegs and was able to just walk in and pick our seats.Started off with an old fashioned smoked and my wife had a mimosa. Our waiter is awesome! Great energy and knows the menu!We both ordered the grippo wings and we had the Mac and greens for our sides.The Old fashioned is strong and good!!!So the food came out and it was Fire!!! The wings were cooked to a crispy perfection and had the smoked flavor along with the grippo taste. The sides were great!!! Didn't have enough room for desert. Overall it's a great restaurant, the vibe was great and I look forward to a return visit. When you come here ask for Charlie he's amazing!"

Tolly's Gastropub

★★★★☆ 3.6 (71) • $$

"Food, service, and atmosphere is great. Jessica is a top tier waitress. High energy and very kind. Going to make this a regular spot."

Quán Hapa

★★★★☆ 4 (496) • $$

"I love this spot! The service is always so incredibly nice and well paced. The introduction is always clean and the vibe is perfect for a night out at dinner or a lunch spot to try out. I love that there is anime playing on the tvs because it fits the theme at all time. When it comes to the delicious food that is served, i have yet to have something that i dislike. The KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) was delicious and I will keep coming back for the pancake that I received. This place is somewhere you need to check out and will keep coming back for more! My full walkthrough :https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cs9ey36p9_p/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA=="

The Foundry Rooftop

★★★★☆ 4.2 (150) • $$

"My wife and I recently attended a birthday dinner at Dayton's only rooftop restaurant downtown, and was overall pleased with the experience. I ordered the cherry pork belly dish, served with perfectly cooked plantains, flavorful rice, and beans. The sweet and savory cherry glaze worked well with the tender pork belly, making each bite a delightful blend of textures and flavors. Only knock is there was way too much fat on the cut of porkThe span-seared salmon was just ok, that had a rich chipotle cherry glaze that gave the dish a bit of sweetness. The garlic mashed potatoes were creamy but a tad dry, while the grilled asparagus added a nice crunch. The drizzle of lemon herb butter, added a citrus note that balanced the mealFor those who prefer chicken, one friend let us try their brined & roasted chicken breast was impressive. Very tender that came with a mushroom risotto and the classic combination of peas and carrots, the dish was elevated with a chicken caramel sauce that tied everything togetherI forgot to mention we started off with a curated charcuterie board, filled with a variety of quality meats, cheeses, and accompaniments that made for a perfect appetizerThe combination of a stunning rooftop view, attentive service, and solid dishes like these made for a memorable dining experience. Highly recommended!"

OBC Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.5 (696) • $$

"I recently visited OBC Kitchen for the first time, having enjoyed other BHG establishments in the past, so I had high expectations. I'm happy to say that OBC did not disappoint! The ambiance of the restaurant was fantastic, with so many little details that added to the overall experience.For appetizers, we ordered the Thai calamari and Wagyu meatballs. While the Thai calamari was delicious, I wish I hadn't ordered the Wagyu meatballs. They didn't wow me, didn't come out super hot, and the baguette on the bottom was super soggy.For our entrees, we had the prime ribeye with potatoes, truffle mac and cheese, and a kale quinoa salad with grilled salmon. Everything was cooked to perfection and full of flavor. We also got a bourbon flight to try which our server was super helpful in describing and helping come up with a list of bourbons to try. We heard that if you want to get into bourbon or are very into it OBC is the place to go.Overall, I loved my visit to OBC Kitchen and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great dining experience."

BrewRiver Creole Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.8 (575) • $$

"10/13/2024. Visited Brew River for the first time. Service , ambiance, and food were all good. I was a bit disappointed that the cheese spread appetizer came with crackers instead of the 16 Brixx Crostini advertised on the menu, but maybe that's a Cajun thing.This place is a good choice for a nice evening out."

Lincoln & Main

★★★★☆ 4.1 (84) • $$

"Omgosh! Lucas was an incredible server with knowledge about the entire menu plus some. We loved everything we ordered. The naked wings were phenomenal, best we've ever had. Chicken fajita bowl was flavorful and a little spicy. Lemon blueberry cake was light and melted in your mouth. We will definitely be back!"

SENATE

★★★★☆ 4 (463) • $$

"Coming home from shopping in Cincinnati and we found this gem. It seemed unique so we wanted to try it. Very quiet late on a Saturday night. Inside is spacious. Casual yet classy. To start, we ordered the fried dumplings. They have a pork filling with a sweet chili and cream cheese drizzle. They were very good. Think crab rangoon but with pork. I ordered the Lindsay Lohan hot dog with goat cheese and onions based on the servers recommendation. It was very good. Very different from any toppings I've had on a hot dog. They do cut the hot dog in half to cook. I do wish they left them whole so you get the "snap" of a good hot dog. My husband ordered the chicken tikka hot wings. There are 6 to an order and they are a good size. The sauce was good but lacked a punch of flavor. As our side, we ordered the cheese curds. They were very good with a cheese pull that is very satisfying. Server was great. Kept our drinks filled and was happy to give recommendations. Overall, recommend giving them a try. The menu is very unique and has something for everyone."

Ralston's Drafthouse

★★★★☆ 3.8 (539) • $$

"Posting this review to include the new weekly happy hours menu! Always one of my fav places to go and they have a great outdoor patio!"

Tuba Baking

★★★★★ 4.9 (55) • $$

"German food is one of my favorites, and being in Cincinnati, I'm surprised it took us this long to find a restaurant that serves some great German food. We visited at the suggestion of my cousin, who said it was exemplary.We arrived around 5:30, and were surprised at the size of the shop (only about 16 chairs), but luckily were able to get a couple seats at the bar right away. Within 30 minutes, the whole restaurant was full, and there was constantly a couple people waiting for a table (this was exacerbated by cold weather, which meant they didn't have outdoor seating available).The whole menu looked very tasty, and we absolutely had to try a pretzel in addition to our entrees. I'm not a big Goetta fan, but my wife wanted to go for the Goettabrezel, which came with cheese. I wanted to try a couple of the sauces they had, so we ordered a side of the spundekas and spicy mustard.For my entree, I couldn't say no to the classic Schnitzel Sandwich. It was made with chicken, coleslaw, and a potato bun. The schnitzel was crispy, flavorful, and juicy. The bun was fluffy, but firm enough to hold the sandwich together. It was absolutely delicious.My wife ordered a flatbread covered in potato, cheese, and speck--can't remember what it was called. It was quite tasty, though a little underseasoned.As for the Goettabrezel, this was probably the best pretzel I've ever had. It was hot, a bit chewy, well-seasoned, and went perfectly with both the mustard and spundekas. Still didn't love the goetta, but the pretzel itself was delicious.We don't usually opt for dessert, but decided to get some on this occasion. I think it was like an apple cranberry cake of some sort, with a cream sauce and little cookies sprinkled on top. It was super tasty.Overall, the food was delicious, the best German food I've had in Cincinnati, and we will definitely be back!"

S W Clyborne Provision & Spirits

★★★★★ 4.5 (401) • $$$

"Really excellent menu! The vibe is very cozy, and I sat at the counter facing the open kitchen, which was super cool. Tried the excellent cheddar scallion biscuits with honey butter (trust me on this), the vegetable biryiani, and the apple beet salad with salmon added for protein. All were very tasty, especially the salmon which was perfectly seasoned and cooked. My only quibble at all was that the beets were cut really finely, and I wanted more of them! But I'm not holding that against them, I'm just a big beet fan! Also tried the yummy buckeye pot de creme, big fan! The service was very nice and quick considering how packed the place was. I recommend getting reservations if you can! Parking is a little tight, so keep that in mind as well."

Bear & the Butcher

★★★★☆ 3.9 (245) • $$

"We ate here on a Friday at 5:00, and it wasn't very crowded at the time. I had the B&B Margarita and asked the sever if she could make it more tart/less sweet. The drink she brought me may be the best on-the-rocks Marg I've had in a restaurant! The food was piping hot, delicious, and arrived quickly. We were on a time crunch to get to an event afterwards, and our server was amazing at helping us get in and out quicker than normal. I can't wait to go back!"

Nicholson's

★★★★☆ 3.9 (584) • $$

"My first time dining here! The food and service were absolutely incredible. To begin, the salad was so fresh and crispy. The bread seems freshly baked and toasted.The marvelous plate included a portion of delectable salmon. The chicken breast was so tender with the most amazing sage gravy. The Brussels spouts were delectable.Service was impeccable, especially those smiling faces!"

Delwood

★★★★★ 4.7 (403) • $$

"SO good. Great spot if you're looking for a classic girl dinner - fries, a salad, and a diet coke. Definitely try out the different dipping sauces here!"

Wunderbar

★★★★★ 4.5 (478) • $$

"Wow, what an experience and I'm so glad I said yes when my daughter asked me to meet her out. It's not often that we meet up for a pub crawl. We tried the pretzel, braised cabbage, potato wedges, cucumbers salad and the Pierogies. So glad that we did. Look forward to coming back again!"

The Exchange Pub + Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (620) • $$

"Stopped at The Exchange for lunch and everything from the food to the service was top notch. The burgers were great as was the beer. Kelsey was fantastic and she took excellent care of us. We will absolutely come back."

Crown Republic Gastropub

★★★★★ 4.5 (523) • $$

"Service was fantastic. It was clean, organized and everything we ordered was excellent. Definitely a level above for Bistro! Can't wait to go back"

East End Tap and Table

★★★★★ 4.5 (203) • $$

"OMG!! My salmon was cooked to perfection. It did not have that fishy smell. The ambiance was cute. Nice crowd. Service was ok. But my Salmon was the highlight of my day!!"

Mudlick Tap House

★★★★☆ 3.9 (352) • $$

"Dove in here for an early dinner. Nice selection of gastro pub quality food and the the old fashioned was absolutely on point"

City Pub

★★★★☆ 3.8 (6) • $$

"Since it was a Friday, I was really craving fish and chips.I went into the parking lot and it was so packed that I had to park in the last row. I was wondering how long it would take to get my food, but there were a ton of people bowling but only five in the City pub. The server was fast, friendly and very knowledgeable. The place was clean and had lots of monitors for sports. As I was ordering, the other patrons highly suggested I try the half chicken dinner. Man! It was delicious."

Kiki College Hill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (137) • $$

"Made a last minute reservation on a Thursday evening and we were seated quickly.We ordered the oysters first which were from Nova Scotia and so petite and delicious. Next we split the tamaki hand roll which was $28. Generous amount of fish and so flavorful. Two people can get several hand rolls each with fish, rice, kimchi.We then ordered two types of ramen, the shio ramen and the kimchi ramen. The kimchi ramen was very good but a little saltier than I prefer but the shio ramen was outstanding. Overall, the service was extremely fast, the food was fresh and delicious and the experience was super positive. I will absolutely be returning to try there branzino with chimichurri."

Bargos Grill & Tap

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (51) • $

"Usually, I try to scope out the highest rated spots. This one wasn't highly rated, so I thought it might've been a fluke. Nope. It is actually mediocre.We ordered a few drinks at the bar. The beer selection is on point. The Bloody Mary was horrible, they use the Mr. & Mrs. T's mix, which is the most acidic mix there is and with the load of Tabasco... yuck! The Purple Rain specialty drink was great though, it's basically a purple Long Island iced tea.My husband and I ordered a 12 piece order of wings, and for an extra $2 they made them all drum sticks. My half was the BBQ version and they were slammin'! The crunch under the sauce was just how I like it. Five stars for the drum sticks! My husband's half was the Cajun dry rub, he said that they weren't spicy. We also ordered loaded cheese fries, but those didn't arrive until awhile after the chicken. And they didn't come with the diced jalapeños on the side. I'm slightly allergic, so I only had a few. The fries were shoe string cut and the beer cheese was tasty. The service was ok, even with the fry mishaps, but the weird thing was the employees gossiping about the owner and complaining about other things. The entire business seemed to be run by rebellious adolescents. It was strange and not my cup of tea."

Three Spirits Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.3 (21)

"OK neighborhood bar. The service was fine but there was something a bit "off" during our visit. They were not that busy but it did seem like there was only one person for an above average number of patrons. The drinks we ordered were simple, beers. (Citra Ass Down - great craft IPA) Our food order came within a reasonable time but was simple and nothing memorable, not fresh... frozen. The back area where I sat with my group felt odd, as in generic and nothing memorable. There were no decorations or anything visually stimulating. I would be happy to provide framed or floating prints. Owner, please contact me. Would I return; sure, but only for drinks. Skip the food unless it improves.I will add that prices were above average so you might want to stick to basic domestics or a happy hour special, if available."

The Red Yeti

★★★★☆ 4.1 (588) • $$

"4 stars.Service here was amazing!! Jessica took great care of us during our visit.We arrived too late for brunch - the cutoff is 1:45. So, we ate off the "transition menu" which is an abbreviated menu that allows them to flip over to the dinner menu.We enjoyed the truffle fries. The brisket sandwich was fantastic. The fried chicken was tasty, too. As for the sides... The grits were very savory. The braised kale was surprisingly good. It's almost like collard greens, but with the texture of turnips - very soft. The Mac n cheese was mushy and lacked flavor - I wouldn't order that again. It's a small spot, so I would call ahead to check the wait. There are only a few tables... and then there are even less when the buffet is out.There's a bar in the other side, but we didn't check it out. Maybe next time!"

Goetz Gastro Pub

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (6)

"Great prices. Good liquor selection. Proprietor occasionally falls asleep. Parking is not ideal."

Tela Bar and Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (359) • $$

"Yes yes yes! The perfect lunch spot, especially for a larger party in the area for bridal shopping Everything is made from scratch, locally sourced or grown. The waitress we had was very knowledgeable about the menu and had such great energy! Everyone was so pleased with their meal. All food came out hot & fresh!"

Nine Giant Brewing

★★★★☆ 4.4 (389) • $$

"Fun place and cool vibe, nice and helpful staff. Food was good. Got the Caesar salad, fries and smash burger. Sangria is really yummy!"

Northside Yacht Club

★★★★☆ 4.3 (285) • $$

"VEGAN REVIEW what a find! Awesome vegan options, I had a hard time deciding. Ended up doing the monthly special- a churrasco tofu sandwich with vegan Caesar instead of fried. SO GOOD! Love the cocktails, as well. Great service & fun vibe. Lots of events here. A diverse crowd.Ladies-- if you go to the restroom press the "press for assistance" button, I promise you won't regret it!!!"

Lock 27 Brewing Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (327) • $$

"Tried Lock 27 tonight. YUM I coerced R to try the fried cauliflower...and he liked it! He wanted more I had the Beet Salad with the most amazing garlicky Parmesan dressing I've ever had in my life. We definitely recommend!"

The Last Queen

★★★★★ 4.7 (193) • $$

"After having all the standard restaurants and a long day of video game hunting, we stumbled across this place. As a fan of English food, we had to try it. This was a nice quiet little spot with welcoming staff. I had to try the staple fish and chips. I am glad that I ordered one filet because the serving was huge! It was super tasty. The tartar sauce with it was amazing. I had to get another side of it. We ate our hearts out. Can't wait to come back to this spot. Loved the environment and the staff!"