The Best of Cincinnati

snar

Hello,

My husband and I are moving to Cincinnati on Saturday and would like some recommendations.  Neither of us have spent much time in Cincy so we need to know where to go and what to do. We will be living in Oakley, but are open to exploring . Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Best Mexican Food: 

Best Chinese Food: 

Best Indian Food:

Best Sushi: 

Best Pizza: 

Best Place to See Live Bands: 

Best Hidden/Unknown Gem of Cincy: 

Best Place for a Leisure Date: 

And anything else you guys can think of that we need to do/try. Thanks everyone!

Oh, and does anyone know if Oakley has a farmers market? 

 

baboox

Hi, and welcome!  I live one community away from Oakley.  It is a fun part of town!  Not sure if they have a farmers market, but Mt. Lookout and Hyde Park both do, and they are the next door communities.
Places that are fun:
Contemporary Arts Center, Krohn Conservatory(flowers, free), Southgate House (live music venue in funky old mansion), Final Friday at the Pendleton Art Center (free, open to public last Friday of month, largest collection of artists under one roof in the country, stroll their studios and sip free wine and cheese), picnic and sunning in nearby Ault Park, bars and restaurants and the view from Mt. Adams, walking dogs around Eden Park's Mirror Lake, live music (all kinds) and dancing on Fountain Square, eating Graeter's ice cream and playing one of the new public pianos in Hyde Park Square, half price wine nights all over town.

afloggie

Best Mexican Food:  Nada downtown Cincinnati

Best Chinese Food: 

Best Indian Food:

Best Sushi: Dancing Wasabi in Mt Lookout

Best Pizza:  Deweys at Newport on the Levee or any other locations

Best Place to See Live Bands:  ??

Best Hidden/Unknown Gem of Cincy: Findlay Market is fun.

Best Place for a Leisure Date: Dinner anywhere downtown is fun.
(PS I live downtown so I love downtown) Lol

clearheavens

Best Mexican Food: El Rancho Grande is one of the chains that's good and they have good coupons. But if you don't mind a hole-in-the-wall, yet very authentic place, try Taqueria Mercado (off of Dixie Hwy near Jungle Jim's)Best Chinese Food: Grand Oriental (near Kingsgate Mall) has great Dim Sum and Uncle Yip's (on Dixie Hwy) has amazing seafoodBest Indian Food: Amol India (on Ludlow Ave near Univ of Cinci).  They also constantly have coupons.Best Sushi: Not too many high end places around here except for Beluga (in Hyde Park), which imo, is only worth going when there's Happy Hour for half off sushiBest Pizza: LaRosa's is a great Cincinnati tradition hereBest Place to See Live Bands: ??Best Hidden/Unknown Gem of Cincy: Can't think of anything right nowBest Place for a Leisure Date: I like Hyde Park Square, and for a European feel, Mariemont

mahoganieyes

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-cincinnati_of-cincinnati?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:108Discussion:66cae009-33fa-4376-99e8-d8ba539bdbe1Post:c18b82ef-85ce-4281-86b4-78d78ed0693f">The Best of Cincinnati</a>:
[QUOTE]Hello, My husband and I are moving to Cincinnati on Saturday and would like some recommendations.  Neither of us have spent much time in Cincy so we need to know where to go and what to do. We will be living in Oakley, but are open to exploring :). Any help will be greatly appreciated! Best Mexican Food:  Best Chinese Food:  Best Indian Food: Best Sushi:  Best Pizza:  Best Place to See Live Bands:  Best Hidden/Unknown Gem of Cincy:  Best Place for a Leisure Date:  And anything else you guys can think of that we need to do/try. Thanks everyone! Oh, and does anyone know if Oakley has a farmers market?   
Posted by snar[/QUOTE]


<strong>Best Pizza</strong>: Adriatico's in Clifton(only delivers or takeout). Yes, Larosas's might be hometown but Adricatico's spicy flavors and pepperoni size of your fist is delish.

<strong>Best Indian:</strong> I agree with Amol! I live in Clifton and on Ludlow Ave is about 4 Indian Restaurants but Amol is my favorite. I love the Saag Paneer!

You might want to check out this link. It has alot of food reviews, recommendations and more.<a href="http://365cincinnati.com/category/food-stuff" rel="nofollow">http://365cincinnati.com/category/food-stuff</a>

Welcome to Cincinnati!

kelklump

You will get all sorts of answers but opinions are great to have...

Best Mexican Food: I live in Newport and the most authentic I have had is at La Mexicana in Newport. Not too far from you and YUMMY.

Best Chinese Food: I really dont do a lot of chinese food but I do love Shanghai Mamas

Best Indian Food: I love Ambar - Baba and Guru India - depends on the area of town I am in - for quick carryout - I choose Krishna in Clifton. They are yummy.

Best Sushi: I love Dancing Wasabi but others are also good - Mr. Sushi, Aroma, Ru Thai

Best Pizza: Ilove Newport Pizza Co and Deweys

Best Place to See Live Bands:  Southgate House, any of the bars (in the summer Party in the Park on Wednesdays and Newport on the Levee)

Best Hidden/Unknown Gem of Cincy: I love places like Eden Park, Findley Market, Alms Park, and all of the little hole in the wall bars.

Best Place for a Leisure Date:  Ball games, fountain square events, church festivals, movie at Newport on the Levee - PLENTY of restaurants that are great fun and Mt. Adams is also a fun time.

caseyandlizzie

Best Mexican Food: Rio Grande in Newport

Best Chinese Food:  Blue Gibbon and ditto Shanghai Mama's

Best Indian Food: Baba India (in oakley)

Best Sushi: Wild Ginger Thai in Hyde Park

Best Pizza: ditto Dewey's (also a location in Oakley Square)

Best Place to See Live Bands: Northside Tavern, The Comet (in Northside), Southgate House (in Newport)

Best Hidden/Unknown Gem of Cincy: Melt restaurant in Northside...it is super yummy!

Best Place for a Leisure Date: Newport on the Levee or Ludlow Ave. in Clifton. There are a lot of bars/restaurants and a movie theater at both places.

 

Cincinnati has quite a few farmer's markets. Oakley does not have one, but Hyde Park does (which is the next neighborhood over). Its on Sundays from 10-2 at the US Bank parking lot on Smith between Erie and  Observatory and runs through October. Findlay Market is open all year round though and for anyone else who is interested in finding the farmer's market in their area, I found this website : http://www.cincinnatifarmersmarkets.com/

caseyandlizzie

Also, if you like ice cream, Aglamesis Bros. in Oakley Square is really good as is Graeters Ice Cream which has locations all over the city.  And you should go to Habits Bar in Oakley Square and try their potato rags.They are delish!

cincy2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_ohio-cincinnati_of-cincinnati?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:108Discussion:66cae009-33fa-4376-99e8-d8ba539bdbe1Post:657a45b2-398e-46f0-9b09-45ebbc797550">Re: The Best of Cincinnati</a>:
[QUOTE]Best Mexican Food:  Nada downtown Cincinnati Best Chinese Food:  Best Indian Food: Best Sushi: Dancing Wasabi in Mt Lookout Best Pizza:  Deweys at Newport on the Levee or any other locations Best Place to See Live Bands:  ?? Best Hidden/Unknown Gem of Cincy: Findlay Market is fun. Best Place for a Leisure Date: Dinner anywhere downtown is fun. (PS I live downtown so I love downtown) Lol
Posted by afloggie[/QUOTE]

I agree with all of this (except I can't recommend any pizza places b/c I haven't had any good pizza here yet!)

I'd also say Fountain Square in the evenings is a great place to see live bands and an unknown gem is the park in Covington off Garrard Rd.  It faces the river and is gorgeous, peaceful and private. 

I also live downtown! 

cincyjessie

I'm from Cincinnati, but have moved around and am currently living in St. Louis.  Reading the responses makes me homesick, but I have to add my own two cents:

Hidden Gems:

The Cabanna on Hwy 50 (west of Downtown). You don't go there just for the food, but for the atmosphere.  Get there early on a Friday or Saturday night to score a river front seat on the deck. 

Arthur's (in Hyde Park) for burger madness on Sunday through Tuesday night.  Get a seat in the enclosed patio area, order the mushrooms and a burger- delicious! 

Jungle Jim has almost any item you wanted, or didn't know you wanted until you went there. 

The Underground Freedom Center is really neat.  I'm a museum geek, so I've been to my fair share, but this one is really powerful.  It's more of an experience than a museum. 

Shanghai Momma's has the best chinese food! 

Oh, and even though the 2010 Opera Season has just passed, go next year.  It is a must!  Actually, Cincinnati has a very good art scene and I would recommend Enjoy the Arts/Start for some great deals. 

Enjoy Cincinnati.  Remember, I loved her first

jollygreen

Welcome to town!

Best Mexican Food:  I'm not a big chain restaurant gal, so I've gotta go with La Mexicana.   Their burritos are massive and delicious.  Jabanero's would be another of my favorites.

Best Indian Food:  I like Amol the best as well.  Fast, friendly, good food.

Best Sushi:  The most authentic (and best, imo) sushi places in town are Jo An Japanese Restaurant (in Erlanger, KY) and Ando Japanese restaurant (in Montgomery).  They do hot towels and everything.  I've never eaten at either without hearing some of the diners speak Japanese...for me, that's the mark of a good sushi place.

Best Pizza:  If you like specialty pies, Dewey's is the best.  They also have awesome salads.  I also live in Newport, KY, and we hit Newport Pizza Company a lot on Monday nights because the pizzas are only $10 if you eat in.   

Best Place to See Live Bands:  the best local bands play at Northside Tavern.  The Comet is also great.  And, as someone else mentioned, the Southgate House.  They've got an amazing sound guy in the ballroom...everyone sounds brilliant there.

Best Hidden/Unknown Gem of Cincy: I don't know if this could be classified as an unknown, but our parks are awesome.  

Best Place for a Leisure Date:  Our favorite date this summer has been the free Midpoint Indie concerts on Fountain Square.  These happen every Friday night.   There's always stuff going on in Fountain Square.  Riding the Loveland Bike Trail is also a great option if you like to be more active.

lynchaa

Best Mexican Food: Nada downtown

Best Chinese Food: Wild Ginger (maybe Japanese though)

Best Indian Food:

Best Sushi: Wild Ginger

Best Pizza:  Dewey's or ZZ's

Best Place to See Live Bands: 

Best Hidden/Unknown Gem of Cincy: City View in Mt Adams, very much a dive but great views and very laid back

Best Place for a Leisure Date: 

 The farmers met at lunken air field is great!