WhereToEat: Cincinnati and N.Ky (open chat)

Wife and I went to Spicy Pickle in Clifton for dinner tonight. It's the first Ohio location for the Denver-based chain. We were the only dine-in patrons, although we did arrive 30 minutes before closing. The menu is in the vein of Panera's lunch menu, with hot and cold sandwiches, soups, and salads. Like Panera, they also offer "pick two" combos and catering. Pizzas are also on the menu, with 11" pies fetching around $7.

I was pleased with my meal, a soup and sandwich combo with a side of chips (Lay's regular are the only kind they offer) and the "almost world famous" spicy pickle, a slice of dill pickle that apparently marinates in a spicy juice with red pepper flakes. It's a nice addition. The corn and green chili bisque is very good, and is available in a bread bowl for an additional charge. My half sandwich was on the smaller side, but had a good amount of stuff piled on it: two kinds of Italian ham, salami, cheese, onions, lettuce, chopped red peppers and pepperoncini, and a mayonnaise of some sort. I will opt to build my own sandwich next time, as you get to add unlimited vegetables and spreads at no additional cost. My wife also got the bisque, as well as a spinach salad with mushrooms, onions, sun-dried tomatoes, and roasted hazelnuts. I am happy to report that none of their salads are iceberg-based.

The place is nothing groundbreaking by any stretch, but it was quite enjoyable.

The Iron Horse Inn in Glendale has closed down for regular dining hours in January and February, but according to their phone message, is still available for events,.

The Glendale Pub next door seems to be toughing it out this winter as well, with sparse crowds the two evenings I've stopped in this month.

With the nearby Don Pablos closing, I wonder if Springdale/Glendale/Tri-County can support anything but lunch business with the union Center juggernaut just to the north.

Wife's b-day this weekend and having hard time deciding where to go. The only preference she is expressing is that she wants a nice piece of chocolate cake for dessert. (I like Pam Sturkey's desserts, but don't like atmosphere of the new place.) Any reco's for some really good chocolate cake - not BonBonnerie cake, but made in-house. Not Frisch's hot fudge Cake either, though that is a great drive-through chocolate fix.

Damn, TJ, 44 pages on eating around Cincinnati? Who would ever have thought there'd be that much hunger where pigs fly?

SteveB: I'm not big on desserts, but most especially not on cakes, so I rarely take note of any such offerings in any restaurant. Maybe one of the other readers can help. That said, I've always heard the desserts are very good at Grand Finale, tho I cannot speak from personal experience. It's certainly a special occasion kinda place

MH: Since the local pigs fly, they are very hard to catch, taking a lot of work to do so....and hard work increases one's appetite. The big minus of course....well......you know how you sometimes have to deal with bird droppings on your car? Pigs are bigger than birds. TONS of window washer fluid is sold in this town. Anyway.....with 30 pages about tenderloin sandwiches and 40 more about jersey hot dogs, I think all of Cincinnati can stand 44 pages or more :-) Now let's get that Gahanna thread started....

quote:

Originally posted by SteveB

Wife's b-day this weekend and having hard time deciding where to go. The only preference she is expressing is that she wants a nice piece of chocolate cake for dessert. (I like Pam Sturkey's desserts, but don't like atmosphere of the new place.) Any reco's for some really good chocolate cake - not BonBonnerie cake, but made in-house. Not Frisch's hot fudge Cake either, though that is a great drive-through chocolate fix.

I don't know if this will do for a special occasion, but Pompilio's has a Chocolate Suicide Cake. I haven't had it {I'm not a chocolate cake person}, but they make their cannolis and tiramisu, and they are GREAT!!

Grand Finale's website lists a flourless chocolate cake. I've never had it, but their other desserts are wonderful. My husband had a great chocolate brownie (big enough to be a piece of cake), nearly like a flourless chocolate cake at Maribelle's Tavern, but I don't know if this is a constant on their menu.

Janet and I worked out a babysitter last night and (entertainment coupon book in hand) decided to check out the Forum Grille at the Vernon Manor

Food was pretty good - steak with wine reduction sauce, asparagus, and very good scalloped potatoes for me, pork chops with andouille breading and mashed taters for the wife. Seemed odd that in our mid-forties, we were the youngest folks there. Usually, when I see a dining room where the majority of the diners are venerable, the food is rather bland but not so in this case.

Desserts could be improved immensely - when I saw the dessert menu was 90% after dinner drinks and a small section with 2-3 dessert descriptions, I expected mediocrity and this time was right.

So if you head there for dinner, just skip the desserts, and you'll enjoy it.

We ended up going to Ferrari's in Madeira on Saturday night. Had a very nice italian meal. This is a great alternative to chain-Italian. It is a lttle more formal and expensive than typical neighborhood pasta joints but not as formal or expensive as Germano's/Baressi's/Prima Vista. Food is quite good. Lots of traditional pasta dishes, chicken and veal dishes and some fancy pizzas. Also, some more sophisticated seafood and other entrees are featured. All the dishes were very good and the marinari sauce is outstanding. the calamari appetizer was especialy good - tender and lightly fried (as opposed to the chewy frozen calamari in most restaraunts. Bread is made in-house. The chocolate cake dessert was rich but not outstanding. The Tiramasu was some of the best I havw had in Cincinnati and the Spamoni was outstanding - and so large that my daughter ended up taking almost a pint home in a container.

A belated note on a closing. It looks like Fusion Martini Bar and Bistro in Hebron, KY closed approximately three or four weeks ago and just this past Monday a banner announcing the auction of their restaurant equipment has appeared on the outside of the building.

Anyone tried Pit To Plate BBQ? There's one in Ross we're going to check out tonight on our way to Oxford. I was wondering what to expect.

Pretty much all BBQ is good, so I'm sure I'll like it.

The Pit to Plate in Mt Healthy is outstanding.

http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/dining/reviews/031904_pittoplate_yum.html

I did not know they had opened a second location

Couple of items

First, the Rise and Shine Cafe on 6th is closed once again, with a sign in the window indicating there is a water main break (again, same as last time). There are no signs of anyone working on any plumbing inside, so once again this looks like a "we're closed indefinitely" notice.

Second, I have now visited the All Rise Cafe (no relation between the two) on the corner of Court and Sycamore over a dozen times now, and I always get the same thing because it is very good, a great value, and of consistent quality. I speak of the simple quarter pound cheeseburger and fries for 3.75 (3.25 w/o cheese) Doesn't sound like a big deal, right? Think again! The cheeseburger doesn't hit the grill til you place your order, and it rests on a better-than-average quality bun which has been buttered and toasted. The toppings (including real leaf lettuce) has always been top notch and crispy fresh. Grilled onions are available on request - AT NO CHARGE. Add 50 cents for cheese. This isn't the biggest burger, but it is one of the best you can get locally of the "small burger" variety. The fries are even better, skin-on fresh-cut beauties, just outstanding. I find they are best when ordered well done. I will argue here and now that they are the very best in Greater Cincinnati, I kid you not. They have a half pound burger as well, and it's a great value at 5 bucks with two sides on Wednesday, but it's not nearly as good.

first time we went to pit to plate.. we thought it was among the best... 2nd time was like it was a totally different place.. the meat was tasteless... brisket and bbq... our thought was the steam tables they used (the 2nd time the meat had not been cooked that day... couldn't smell the "cookin" when wepulled up) somehow stole the flavor... so.. we dn't go there anymore...
the bbq place in Ross was pretty good.. although I don't remember it's being called pit to plate... what i remember mostly was the waitress was excited about going to Texas to find her fortune.. make her fortune... hope she foiund/made it

lunchbunch to Roc-a-fella's in Centerville yesterday.. two of us liked it okay... the loaded fries were tastey... New York Salad was fresh... the italian cream cake was dreamy... and the pizza was okay... EXCEPT in the view of our resident expert.. NY transplate Bob who wrote the whole thing off with a sickening grimace at the first bite of his cheese pizza... crust was awful he said... crust was awful and Bob says.. as do more than one New Yorker I've run across.. the worth of a pizza lies in its crust... failing marks from bob... of course.. i ate my ffirst pizza in a pizza / barbership combo in Paris tn way back when and the other member of our group also doesn't order plain cheese pizza... the centerville roco=a-fellas is in a new location on Main street... they have two or three other locations.. one in sharonville, i believe.. would be interested in hearing other judgements...

Thanks guys.

Yeah, we saw Pit to Plate on one of the blue road signs for the Ross exit off U.S. 27. I'll let you know how it was.

I'll bet they took over for Boston Butz

There's an old fast food restaurant on Hamilton Avenue a few miles north of the Cross County Highway with a Pit To Plate sign that said it was opening in mid-January.

quote:

Originally posted by Ghaz

an old fast food restaurant on Hamilton Avenue a few miles north of the Cross County Highway

I have to wonder if this merely means they are changing locations to one more visible than their original location on Compton just off Hamilton Ave. The location you describe is maybe 2-3 miles from where they are now.

TJ

I just read in the Living Out Loud blog {City Beat http://blogs.citybeat.com/livingoutloud/ } that Dink's closed on Feb. 8th. I ate there a couple of times, and really enjoyed it.

This is what Larry Gross reported:
"My sources tell me that Dink’s business was doing “all right,” but apparently a fast-food chain — a bit higher scale — wants the spot and is willing to pay higher rent there to obtain it."

A "higher scale fast food chain" ?

Sad news about Dink's. I wonder if Chipotle qualifies as a "higher scale" fast food chain? It baffles me that they have no downtown presence, considering how well they do at lunch hour everywhere else. Then again, if there were rumors of Chipotle coming downtown, I doubt Burrito Joe's would be opening a second location.

If you ever out near Milford. Go to DeMeos on main street.

Some of the tastest food I have had in a long time. Kind of an italian grill type place. The portions are massive. Once you see the chef you know why.

When I went several months ago. He came out and talked along with his wife. His passion is cooking and you taste it in each bite. I wouldnt go if you're on a diet tho.

prices are great for the portions you get.


a review of the place

http://www.eastsidevibe.com/DeMeosPastaAndGrill.html

Without intending to offend, does the eastsidevibes guy have anything bad to say about any of the places he reviews?

LOL I was thinking the samething after I started reading about other places. I was trying to find a review done by the city beat, but that review kept poping up. So I linked it.

The food is great tho.

The Cinci Burger guys say the burgers are pretty good also. Even those are huge 1/2 pnders. If I remember there review right.

I check it out on your say-so....I'll take your opinion over the other two any day. :-)

(The CVG Burger guys don't rate a burger highly unless it has tons of salt and pepper on it.....I think this is a travesty but hey, it ain't MY blog.)

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FAIR WARNING: Please don't read beyond here while eating
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Also - as mentioned in the CVG Burger guys blog, the owner originally opened a place in a strip mall on the other side of I-275 near Perkins, called "The Lighthouse". This was 5 or more years ago, by my reckoning. Anyway, the wife and I ate there, and there were two very serious problems. First, a long black hair in my wife's pasta. Second, when the owner (who was clearly also the chief cook) came over to apologize, he smelled like he hadn't showered in days. Awful. The whole experience was almost like something out of a bad sitcom, with how comically bad it was. That said, my lunch was very good up to the point when the hair was discovered - no hair in mine. And I've heard nothing but good things since then from others, so it may be time to give it a second chance, if I can talk the wife into it.

(The CVG Burger guys don't rate a burger highly unless it has tons of salt and pepper on it.....I think this is a travesty but hey, it ain't MY blog.

I don't think the CVG Burger guys are alive, one toooo many burgers perhaps? They haven't posted since late last summer, still have not made it to Terry Turf, heck it will be gone before they get there.

Also anyone been to Pit to Plate recently, franklee said it had gone downhill, or was that just a bump.

I had heard that he owned the lighthouse.

Well he is a rather huge man. So being in a kitchen all day. I could understand prob not smelling to good.

A much-depleted lunchbunch yesterday explored "Scott's Homestyle Cooking and Barbecue" at 637a Northland Blvd down the road from Lulu's Noodles & New Orleans to Go. Friendly service. I later learned our waitperson was the owner's wife. The best peach cobbler I've had in a long time, better even than Aunt Flora's and that's saying a lot. Catfish is excellent for pond-raised... still had some catfish flavor.. light and crispy crust which, when covered with their decent coleslaw was as good as I've ever had in the north (anyplace north of kentucky)... greens were as good as Aunt Flora's and very similar... potato salad... too much mustard.. too tart for my taste... and their cornbread muffins are sweet, a fact Bob likes and I loathe. Rib tips were okay. About like Mr Pig's were when Bob and I first tried them out 7 or 8 years ago. Needed more salt, pepper and garlic rubbed in... Still they were good... a good time was had by all... and they sell a big pan of peach cobbler for $40.. 1/2 for $25... an excellentway to impress picnickers... or reunion attendees... a good fine

has anyone tried the Indonesian restaurant .. can't remember what street it's on.. in cincinnati?

quote:

Originally posted by franklee

has anyone tried the Indonesian restaurant .. can't remember what street it's on.. in cincinnati?

i was going to ask the same thing. i've seen the ads and read about it. we like indonesian food, but have only eaten it in d.c. and the netherlands. we'd be willing to give this place a try once the weather gets a bit warmer, but wouldn't mind hearing some comments either. it's called gajah wong and it's on spring grove ave. in northside. GajahWongWest.com

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

I'll bet they took over for Boston Butz

You know, I would've sworn on a stack of recipe books that the sign at the Ross exit said Pit to Plate. Maybe I'm getting delusional in my old age, but it wasn't there.

I'd never seen or heard of the Boston Butz place, but we went there (since we weren't going to get back on the highway northbound then turn around just to prove my right or wrong).

Anyway, we liked the place. Fried pickle appetizers were a little saltier than I'm used to, but they were quite good. I had a pork tenderloin sandwich that was enormous and only cost $5.75. Gf had the smokehouse burger and said it rocked. Two patties with cheese and pulled pork. About the same price as mine.

Only two people in there at 5:30 on a Friday though. It is Lent though, and barbeque is not a Lent-friendly food. We'd go back.

Re: Boston Butz - glad to hear you liked it. They once had a location on Springfield Pike in Woodlawn, maybe 15 years ago Never been there, is on my rather long list of places I need to get to

Re: Bob's on Northland - that's Big Bob's BBQ, the one my brother Shawn has been trying to find for years, as denoted earlier in this thread. He raves about those ribs....

Re: Pit to Plate - based on the recent interest in the place in this thread, and their recent move, I stopped in for a combo plate (brisket and pulled pork) with mac-n-cheese and green beans as sides, and added two ribs (a buck a rib) Overall, this place remains my number one 'cue spot in Cincinnati, if perhaps not the best value, as it is a tad pricier than most others, in my experience. The brisket and pulled pork were both outstanding, with the brisket just a tad on the dry side but not overtly so. The rib was flavorful but very chewy, just shy of jerky, but they've been a lot better on previous trips. The mac n cheese was average, and the beans were very, very good. The menu choices seem to have expanded with some non-bbq entrees available, but all the old faves were still there. Service was SUPER friendly, with a very lively and engaging crew. They had a live musician there - not sure if this will be an ongoing feature - and the place was rockin. The interior retained all the "rustic" charm of the old one, with many new pieces added. Table service is now available. The new location is very close to the Hilltop Plaza, on the other side of the street, and has lots more parking than the old spot. For those of you who know how to get to the old location, to get to the new -- left out of the old parking lot, then a quick right onto Hamilton Avenue, then go 2-3 blocks, watch for the big Pit to Plate sign on your left.

Re: Gajah Wong - perhaps one of our many ethnic-eats specialists (I am not one of them, but am learning) will chime in.

re: Bib Bob's bbq
Big Bob's bbq is now Scott's HomeCooking and BBQ... still the same folks who used to sell their Big Bob's bbq sauce around the area, including Kroger.... but not at the moment... the owner says he's in processing of restarting the bbq sauce business.. but if you're lookng for Big Bob's you won't find it.... in a strip mall.. first tenant facing Northland Blvd on eastern edge of the mall...

Understood - I meant rather that this is the Big Bob's BBQ I was looking for, as mentioned earlier in this thread and as described at the Scott's website http://www.scottsbbq.org/about.html

For reference, see
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6637&whichpage=17
(post by me dated 9/9/2006)

and then

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2375

We were going to try the new BD's in Mason Saturday, but it was so crowded that we took a pass. But on the way back, I saw there's a Fox & Hound on Mason-Montgomery.

I haven't had the food there, but there's one near where I grew up in Chicago, and I've been to that one for beer when I've gone home.

If this one is anything like that, the beer selection is outstanding, and everyone I've talked to has said the food is excellent. Typical American fare. I look forward to giving this one a try sometime soon.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Re: Gajah Wong - perhaps one of our many ethnic-eats specialists (I am not one of them, but am learning) will chime in.

I am going to do my best to get over there soon. It is the only Northside restaurant (except for White Castle ) I have yet to visit. I may wait until it warms up for good, however, as I hear their backyard patio is nice.

Fusions in Hebron didn't stay empty for long. There's already a sign up for Buffalo Bob's Family Restaurant coming in May.

http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/c2/20080221/NEWS01/802210367/

Cincinnati Restaurant Week is March 3-9.

http://www.gcindependents.com/

On this list of restaurants, the RW to left of some of the restaurants will link you to their menu.

http://www.cincinnatioriginals.com/restaurants.php

quote:

Originally posted by soozycue520

Cincinnati Restaurant Week is March 3-9.

http://www.gcindependents.com/

On this list of restaurants, the RW to left of some of the restaurants will link you to their menu.

http://www.cincinnatioriginals.com/restaurants.php

Hmmm. Looks like they have done a lot to keep it local. Unlike "Taste of Chain Restaurants in Cincinnati."

I see so many places I'd like to try some day.

I noticed that the number of restaurants with a Restaraunt Week menu has doubled since the list was first published

The one for Red in Hyde Park is messed up. That's where I hope to visit, so I hope they fix it soon!

I am definitely interested in Mesh and Red, and I would encourage anyone curious about Tink's to take advantage of this. I highly recommend the Shrimp & Grits Appetizer, which occasionally shows up in an entree portion.

My wife and I again went to brunch at Olives yesterday. Her omelet was improved over our last visit, when it was a bit dry and overcooked. I went with a new menu addition, a "man-sized" biscuits and gravy. I was a bit disappointed in it, as the sausage was simply chopped breakfast links and patties, not the fresh crumbled Kroeger Bros. sausage that Honey used (before they unfortunately discontinued it). I also could have done without the shredded cheddar cheese on top, but the gravy and biscuits were not bad, and the portion was definitely "man-sized." Frankly, I make a better gravy at home using only fresh sausage, milk, flour, and fresh ground pepper. I won't be ordering that at Olives again, but I am extremely curious about the toasted coconut and almond french toast, which just didn't sound filling enough yesterday morning.

Lived in Cincy for a long time....Best lunch on the west side J & J's double deckers that take three hands. Good Chili. And enough fries for two.

Partial to Scotties Italian Rest. 909 Vine St. Downtown. Oldest Italian Rest. In Cincy.

SCOTTI'S

919 Vine St., downtown, 513-721-9484

For an authentic Italian meal in a classic Italian restaurant, there's no better place to unapologetically slurp up your spaghetti than Scotti's. The restaurant, named after an Italian opera singer, opened in 1912. The extensive menu, which has changed little in character over the years, includes your choice of spaghetti or linguine with tomato sauce and meatballs ($12-$13.50).

My Favorite Lasgana Don Pasquel....Ask For Marco the owner and tell him Big Joe B. Sent you

bad catfish alert! FISH EXPRESS on Harrison Avenue at McHenry has apparently outlived its life as a decent catfish takeout joint. Whatever they gave me yesterday tasted nothing like catfish and the okra ($1 extra to substitute for french fries) could have been anything. The previous 5 or 6 times I'd gotten catfish there, I'd been satisfied, to the extent that a tennessee boy can be satisfied with pet catfish. I telephoned my complaint; they stonewalled.

quote:

Originally posted by franklee

bad catfish alert! FISH EXPRESS on Harrison Avenue at McHenry has apparently outlived its life as a decent catfish takeout joint.

Not surprising, seems like everything in the vicinity of Harrison and McHenry has gone to hell in a hand basket. Have you ever tried Lake Nina? If memory serves me, Pippin Rd and Banning in the Grosbeck Mt Airy area....used to be well known for good fish, years ago...mid 80's/ Last time I was in town, people said it was still around.

Come on, now....Putz's is right in that area.....

quote:

Originally posted by QFan

TJ, Mrs QFan is from Cincinnati originally. She says she fondly remembers going to Sugar and Spice when she was younger. Only one location, either on Paddock or Reading she thinks. Wants to know if it's still in operation.

QFan
Bonita Springs, FL

We went to Lake Nina back in 97. It was embarrassing. We walked in with fishing rods(pay lake), Turns out they closed the lake years before. We were on there on the special fish tail sabdwich day. It was ok. It was haddock at the time. I guess for a fish sandwich it was pretty decent, but not worth gusging about.
britt

Sugar & Spice restuarant has been out of business for quite some time.That part of Reading Rd has become drug and crime invested. Stay clear!!!

Sugar N Spice is DEFINITELY still in operation, I called just now to confirm. I don't believe it has ever closed for any length of time. I wish it were more conveniently located for and had more seating space.

It is on Reading

http://cincinnati.citysearch.com/profile/8172796/cincinnati_oh/sugar_n_spice_restaurant.html

Great place.

quote:

Originally posted by lennonlover2005

I was in Cinncinati years ago with some of my family and we stopped somewhere downtown and had their "Cinncinati Chili" made with chocolate in it...I had a bowl of it but I have heard you can get it on a dog...true? Any natives have some restaurant names for us Michigander travelers? This chili was amazing....

That would be Skyline chili.

Sugar & Spice is run by Eliot Jablonsky, who runs Tink's, and started Cactus Pear. It IS open and has good food. That part of Reading Rd. is not a residential neighborhood, and is right down the street from District 4 police station.

Chef it ~ You may be thinking of another restaurant further up Reading Rd., which has become bad.

Sugar & Spice is between Paddock & Tennessee.
4381 Reading Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45229
(513) 242-3521

Chef, some of the posts you are answering were posted a few years back - the users in question are probably not looking for the answers to their questions anymore

For example, your answer to lennonlover2005 about chocolate in Chili was for a question posted over two years ago (1/1/2006), appearing on page 7 of this thread

Wow, you learn something new every day. I don't recall hearing or seeing mention of Sugar N Spice in the entire time I've lived here. We'll have to check it out the next time we're awake that early on a weekend.

dlawson: it's been mentioned a time or two in this thread, not sure if you read the whole thing through.

see the first post of http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6632 as well, I had always intended to do a full review, but after I lost my photo posting priveleges, I kinda gave up on it

TJ, thanks for the link. It has been many, many months since I read through the entire thread, and I must have missed it...although I admit that the "Sugar N Spice" name itself may have had something to do with that, at least subconsciously. I am not much on cutesy restaurant names, although Honey is definitely an exception.

an image of Sugar N Spice from Cincinnati.com~~

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

dlawson: it's been mentioned a time or two in this thread, not sure if you read the whole thing through.

see the first post of http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6632 as well, I had always intended to do a full review, but after I lost my photo posting priveleges, I kinda gave up on it

Why did you lose photo priveleges???

He didn't re-up his Roadfood Insider account. Non Insider members can post pics, but we have to link them from a hosting site like Photobucket. Insider members can post them directly to the site, which is a lot less hassle.

Here's a pic from part of my last season's grape harvest as example of linking in a pic: