WhereToEat: Cincinnati and N.Ky (open chat)

Alco251

Michael Hoffman


If one is absolutely forced to have to partake of anything in the city where pigs fly, is Lucy's still around? Seems to me I recall it had something to do with diamonds.

Wow, that is old-school!  Lucy's in the Sky was the disco in the penthouse of the downtown Holiday Inn (which has changed owners about 6 times since).  I had no idea they served food there, and in any case, they went away with the Bee-Gees.

 A friend of mine named Norm Clarke, with whom I worked for The Associated Press, used to spend his non-working time there, when he wasn't playing in the kitchen of Maisonette, or covering the Reds and Bengals. Poor Norm. Now he's stuck covering nightlife in Las Vegas for the Sun and can't get to Cincinnati.

Michael Hoffman

Alco251

Michael Hoffman


If one is absolutely forced to have to partake of anything in the city where pigs fly, is Lucy's still around? Seems to me I recall it had something to do with diamonds.

Wow, that is old-school!  Lucy's in the Sky was the disco in the penthouse of the downtown Holiday Inn (which has changed owners about 6 times since).  I had no idea they served food there, and in any case, they went away with the Bee-Gees.

 A friend of mine named Norm Clarke, with whom I worked for The Associated Press, used to spend his non-working time there, when he wasn't playing in the kitchen of Maisonette, or covering the Reds and Bengals. Poor Norm. Now he's stuck covering nightlife in Las Vegas for the Sun and can't get to Cincinnati.

Sounds like he's had a tough career.  ;-)

Lucy's was around a lot longer than I thought http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67908361.html 

TJ Jackson


NYP: I think that buffet is closed.  Can you verify it is still open?  

also....will you be checking out Ramundos?  I worry that they are not getting their gasovens hot enough to produce a NY bottom crust char.....

I think you were confusing the two big Chinese buffets that used to operate at Eastgate - the one that closed is becoming a Japanese restaurant - near McDonalds.  The one I mentioned is in a strip center down from Wal-Marts that has been there for many years.

I will have to get by Ramundos but what about that crust?  Are you saying it is not crispy and crunchy and chewy, due to to the gas ovens not running  at high enough temps?  Did they change ovens?

I don't think the average Cincinnatian would appreciate the bottom char as a New Yorker would - hey, this is burned, I want a refund! - ergo I suspect they keep the ovens less hot.  Less hot oven = less char.  Anyway, they are selling to Cincinnatians, not New Yorkers (mostly).  Cant sell in business if you cant satisfy your customers.

Still - it is a savory rather than a sweet sauce, and the crust is very, very thin.  So there is some hope.  I look forward to your review

I am very suprised to hear that a buffet would do dumplings well.....steamed maybe, but fried?  Fried do not do well for long on a steam table.  That, and buffets tend to be about quantity over quality.  But....on your say-so, I'll check it out.  I sure wish we had 5/$1 dumpling joints like they do in NYC

I am not sure if they were steamed or fried - I always put them in wonton broth.  But irregardless they are scrumptious.  If you asked for them panfried especially they might do them for you.  They have an extensive menu aside from the buffet.  One other item they have on the buffet that I find incredibly wonderful is their roast pork in oyster sauce with mushrooms.  I usually make a meal of this item and the dumplings in broth.

Alco251

Michael Hoffman

Alco251

Michael Hoffman


If one is absolutely forced to have to partake of anything in the city where pigs fly, is Lucy's still around? Seems to me I recall it had something to do with diamonds.

Wow, that is old-school!  Lucy's in the Sky was the disco in the penthouse of the downtown Holiday Inn (which has changed owners about 6 times since).  I had no idea they served food there, and in any case, they went away with the Bee-Gees.

 A friend of mine named Norm Clarke, with whom I worked for The Associated Press, used to spend his non-working time there, when he wasn't playing in the kitchen of Maisonette, or covering the Reds and Bengals. Poor Norm. Now he's stuck covering nightlife in Las Vegas for the Sun and can't get to Cincinnati.

Sounds like he's had a tough career.  ;-)

Lucy's was around a lot longer than I thought http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67908361.html

Well, he also had to cover the Bevery Hills Supper Club fire, and to this day he won't go into a Kroger, or Kroger-owned supermarket because of having had to go into the refrigerated Kroger trucks that were used as temporary morgues there.

As a side note I moved from Alabama to Cincinnati the very day the Beverly Hills Supper Club was burning down.  I was driving up by car and that was all you heard on the radio - they next day I reported to work and that was all people talked about, and everyone knew someone who was there - who had perished or survived - quite a surreal welcome to the city.

It was not a pleasant thing. I was involved in the news coverage of the fire -- driving down from Columbus that night and staying on it for four or five days.

there was a picture of jean-robert in the cinci food blog.  he loooked like a serial killer. half bald with stringy hair standing up. 
 
  
 
i couldnt find that picture but here is an older one.
sorry my shift key isnt working and i cant use caps.

Probably a good thing!

We sure can depress ourselves here at times.

For the THAI fans in the tri state area

Thai Seasons has opened in Lawrenceburg, IN just 2 minutes from Argosy Casino

www.thaiseasonsrestaurant.com

I have been there about 10 times and EVERYTHING I have tried is AWESOME.

Tonight was Pad Talay (Seafood Stir Fry with Chili Paste) I went with level 9 out of 10 on the heat scale WOW I was sweating, my nose running and I loved every minute of it.

An article in today's Cincinnati Enquirer says that this thread contributes to positive online "buzz"  about the Greater Cincinnati area.  The quote:

But there are encouraging associations, too: "Cincinnati Flying Pig" is closely associated with Cincinnati in the national online traffic, and so is "Where to Eat," a thread on RoadFood.com that recommends eateries along America's highways.

Here's a link to the article.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090201/BIZ01/902010337/1076/BIZ

The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce should see that you get the Key to the City, T.J. !

Sandy Thruthegarden


An article in today's Cincinnati Enquirer says that this thread contributes to positive online "buzz"  about the Greater Cincinnati area.  The quote:

But there are encouraging associations, too: "Cincinnati Flying Pig" is closely associated with Cincinnati in the national online traffic, and so is "Where to Eat," a thread on RoadFood.com that recommends eateries along America's highways.

Here's a link to the article.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090201/BIZ01/902010337/1076/BIZ

The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce should see that you get the Key to the City, T.J. !

Or at least a concrete flying pig. 

Nice :-)

But no, it's all of us, not me alone, not by a long stretch of the imagination 

All I did was start the darn thing. 

This is definitely a cast of thousands now :-)

 TJ-ever hear what happened to Pizzaville?  I think its clear he is not opening back up anytime soon.

I don't know if you were a fan of Los Portales at the bottom of the hill, but they have been enveloped by El Rancho Grande.  The former owners lived next door to my sister and didnt seem to happy about the whole deal as they were moving out.  apparently moving to mt washington he said.

This is just what someone wrote about The Edgecliff Room, but, if true, is very interesting:

http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/ent2/entity.aspx?e=216759

Quote from CharlesFostrKane at Cincinnati.Com:
Feb 1st 2008-There has been an interesting development with the Edgecliff Room. They have stopped serving their menu effective this weekend. They now are only serving pizza & burgers. The business there had been pretty weak already, and once the stories about Martin Wade kicking Jean-Robert de Cavel to the curb hit the papers, people simply stopped coming in. I think that someone should start a Wade Group Deathwatch Blog, and Edgecliff will definitely be the first entry. It’s going to close within a matter of weeks at this rate. Chalk will be next. Once JR takes his name off of the Bistro and strips it of all of the decor (which is his personal property), and the restaurant gets “The Wade Treatment” it will probably go by the wayside too. Now that the people have learned of Wade’s shabby treatment of JR, and that JR has nothing to do with any of the restaurants, people will stay away from his restaurants en mass. That’s going to make for some delicious schadenfreude when Wade starts to close his food mills, err, restaurants.

Soozy,
 
I'm not surprised about the Edgecliff Room.  When I was there in mid December, I thought the food was mediocre and overpriced.  the menu was pretty boring.  Polly Campbell's review mainly touted the burgers.  I would bet that most of the diners were residents of the Edgecliff.  I don't think Wade was playing to an adventuresome crowd.
 
Soozy, you're just the person I wanted to consult.  My friends and I go out for dinner together on our birthdays.  Mine's coming up.  Over the years, we've eaten at Honey, Kona Bistro, the Napa Grille, Tink's, the York Street Cafe, McCormick and Schmick's, Teller's, AOI, Palomino, Prima Vista, etc.  My birthday seems to be the kiss of death because we've gone to UpStarCrow and Seny on mine...my husband thinks I ought to hit Pigalle's on its way out.  Anyway, is there any place you'd recommend for a festive weeknight dinner?  We'll try anything, although I particularly enjoy seafood.  I have admired your taste in restaurants.  so, any suggestions?
 
Thanks.
 
Sandy

I spoke to the owner of New Orleans To Go last evening.

She had her baby by C-section a couple of days ago and she and her baby girl Ra-Lyn are doing well and she is targeting reopening for the first week of March so be sure and call to be sure they have reopened before planning a meal there.

Mark May 9th, 2009 on your calendars

I was talking with some friends about doing a Cincinnati Style Chili eating tour.

Stops will include

Camp Washington Chili
Price Hill Chili
Blue Ash Chili
Dixie Chili
Emperess Chili
Gold Star Chili
Skyline Chili

with a dessert stop at either aglameiss or Graeters

times and order will be determined closer to the event, but mark your calendars for a great day and an eating adventure

I will post a thread in the misc food related section  with all the details and suggestions

"This message brought to you by.... TUMS"  :-)

Seriously though

5-9-2009 Cincinnati Style Chili Eating Tour

CajunKing


Mark May 9th, 2009 on your calendars

I was talking with some friends about doing a Cincinnati Style Chili eating tour.

Stops will include

Camp Washington Chili
Price Hill Chili
Blue Ash Chili
Dixie Chili
Emperess Chili
Gold Star Chili
Skyline Chili

with a dessert stop at either aglameiss or Graeters

times and order will be determined closer to the event, but mark your calendars for a great day and an eating adventure

I will post a thread in the misc food related section  with all the details and suggestions

"This message brought to you by.... TUMS"  :-)

Seriously though

5-9-2009 Cincinnati Style Chili Eating Tour

Don't forget Pleasant Ridge Chili and Chili Time! 

Sandy Thruthegarden

 
Soozy, you're just the person I wanted to consult.  My friends and I go out for dinner together on our birthdays.  Mine's coming up.  Over the years, we've eaten at Honey, Kona Bistro, the Napa Grille, Tink's, the York Street Cafe, McCormick and Schmick's, Teller's, AOI, Palomino, Prima Vista, etc.  My birthday seems to be the kiss of death because we've gone to UpStarCrow and Seny on mine...my husband thinks I ought to hit Pigalle's on its way out.  Anyway, is there any place you'd recommend for a festive weeknight dinner?  We'll try anything, although I particularly enjoy seafood.  I have admired your taste in restaurants.  so, any suggestions?
 
Thanks.
 
Sandy

 
Sandy~
 
I have been trying to think of some places you haven't already been.  You've hit a lot of good places, but here are some not on your list.
 
I loved Sung Korean Bistro for the bimimbap.  http://www.sungkoreanbistro.com/
 
Otto's in Covington was very good.  I had shrimp & grits. YUM!!  http://www.eatatottos.com/
 
My old stand-by favorite is DeeFelice.  It is great for special occasions, with the band playing above the bar.  http://www.deefelice.com/index.htm
 
There is a new place opening in Bellevue called Virgil's Cafe.  Not sure when they will be opening, but the menu looks good.  http://www.virgilscafe.com/

Of course there are some other places I enjoy.  Chez Nora is nice.  http://www.cheznora.com/ I go to Behle Street alot.  I love their Lobster Penne, which isn't lobster.  It's shrimp in lobster sauce. http://www.behlestreetcafe.com/
 
Since you live in KY, you probably already know these things.
 
A lot of good places I liked have closed.  I would recommend Jean-Ro or Lavomatic, but the chefs have left the employ of the Wades, and I'm not sure they are as good as they once were.  If I think of others that I like I will let you know.

I realize you asked for soozey, but I wanted to add one place to her list, and only because you used the word "festive" - I have not been there, but the only local restaurant I associate the word "festive" with is  Vito's Cafe - due in part to the singing but also due to tableside prep of some of the dishes.

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-16818-vitos-cafeacute-(review).html
http://archive.cinweekly.com/content/2003/12/24/1224vitos.asp

My two daughters (6 and 7) also like Chuck E Cheese for "festive" *shudder*  been there like 5 times in the past 12 months

soozy - Thanks for your helpful esponse.  Otto's looks interesting and there's a lot I like on the menu.   It's in the running for my birthday venue.  I hadn't thought of Dee Felice although I have a co-worker who is in the New Sleepcat Band that plays there regularly.  Again, I liked what I saw on the dinner menu.  My b'day falls on Mardi Gras this year, so Dee Felice may be packed or already booked up.
 
Do you have any idea when Virgil's is set to open?  It looks like a place I would love.  I don't imagine it will be open by the week of 02/23/09, but we should certainly consider it for a later date.
 
I've been to Chez Nora often.  I believe we met there once to celebrate nothing it all.  I love the crabcakes and the mussel appetizer.  I have also enjoyed going upstairs to the little lounge to hear Ricky Nye play boogie woogie piano on Wednesday nights.
 
Behle Street is also a good place to go.  I've been to a number of business lunches (I work in Covington) there.  Love the seared scallop salad.
 
My husband and I are Korean fans, but my GFs, not so much
 
So, I'm definitely considering Otto's and Dee Felice.  My friends are scattered east, north, and west.  Since it's my birthday, I get to choose, and I'd rather be closer to home (after that glass of wine).
 
Thanks for you suggestions!
 
Sandy

TJ - Thanks for the suggestion and the link to Vito's.  The menu looks really good.  The Seafood Diavalo and the Shrimp Puccini appeal to me.  The only concern I would have is the singing.  My GFs are, in my opinion, overly concerned with noise level.  It's true that we use this time to catch up on each other's lives, so we have to be able to talk without interruption, and also be able to hear one another.  It's been my observation, however, that sometimes we've been the loudest talkers in the place (insert embarrassed-faced icon here).  I may call to find out if they ever give the music a night off during the week since the menu is so appealing.
 
Thanks, again.

Ahh - "festive" and "loud" to me go hand in hand :-)

Go to Chuck E Cheese on a weekend afternoon and you'll understand :-)

I know these are out in the "burbs", but anyone try Yellow Cab Pizza off Union Centre in West Chester or Raymonds off 129 in Liberty Township???  Raymonds was opened by the grandson of the founder of Chester's Pizza in Hamilton, which I believe has been mentioned in these forums before.

As a side note, it looks as though El Coyote West Chester is closed.  I always liked their Tex Mex and hate that I will have to once again make the long trip to Anderson to get my fix.

Didn't they close the West Chester El Coyote's the same time they closed the one in Northern Kentucky?  If they did, then it's been closed for quite some time now (almost a year?).

TJ Jackson


Ahh - "festive" and "loud" to me go hand in hand :-)

 
I understand.  At least you didn't try to send me to polka hell.  8-{}

Anybody remember Shullers Wig-Wam?  It was the last place I worked before my health ssssssssstooped me.  I worked there until they closed.  It was very odd.  We only got about 2 weeks notice before they shut down.
It was always clean, with huge portions, great selectionof homemade food and a decent price.  Every diner got either  chopped liver or a seasoned cheese spread with crackers, bagle and pita chips as well as fresh baked hard rolls.
They had an original menu in the lobby.  Hot dogs for a nickel, burgers for a dime.  A quarter for liver and onions up to 75 cents for the t-bone steak.
 

I remember it well!  Thank goodness Goodies BBQ is nearby still to get some wonderful eats.