The Best Restaurants in Cincinnati, According to our Tastemakers

This downtown restaurant is at the top of the list when it comes to the best restaurants in Cincinnati. Crown Republic is the place to go for creative cocktails and excellent rustic-style small plates. Start with the everything knots, crusted garlic knots with whipped vegetable butter. Fried chicken gobbets come with brine malt and honey hot sauce, and Yemeni mussels come with Moroccan curry, coconut, and sweet potato. On the cocktail menu, try the "Tipsy Beet" with vodka and beet shrub or the "Queen's Crown" made with Stoli, Malibu rum, and strawberry champagne.

An upscale eatery from celebrated chef Jose Salazar, this Republic Street hot spot is one of the top places for a relaxed dinner in the Queen City. The seasonal restaurant features farm-inspired dishes with a local flair. A "nibbles" menu boasts Kentucky paddlefish caviar, fried pimento cheese fritters, and local grilled bread with bone marrow butter. The local flair continues in main dishes. Go for the Ohio wagyu sirloin steak with succotash, plums, and chanterelle mushroom butter. Homemade spaghetti comes with Ohio sweet corn and heirloom cherry tomatoes with savory herbs. Try one of the local Cincinnati beers on tap, like the 50West Coffee Please or rotating Streetside draft.

The 21c Museum Hotel is one of the finest destinations for dining in all of Cincinnati. Right in the heart of the city and close to the Aronoff Center of the Arts, the Metropole restaurant is the place to go to for a drink or a meal after a day sightseeing. The Metropole menu is creative and cosmopolitan, with a full range of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Try the diver sea scallops with charred leeks, the grilled chicken with compressed melon, or the strip loin with farmer's cheese. The "sharable" menu features chilled cantaloupe soup, Panzanella, and flank steak tartare.

Cincinnati's historic Finlay Market is the spot for Goose & Elder, one of the best restaurants in Cincinnati. The brainchild of celebrated Cincinnati chef Jose Salazar, Goose & Elder is a modern and engaging spot with a straightforward and engaging menu. The "Elder Greens" menu features a Big Salad with farm greens and seasonal tomatoes along with a grain bowl with seasonal vegetables. For a starter, go for the chicken wings with Calabrian chili rip or roasted bone marrow with sourdough toast. Mains include duck leg confit with grits, peppercorn-crusted sirloin steak, and a fried bologna sandwich made with American cheese.

The Sacred Beast is an Over-The-Rhine spot in Cincinnati with a modern twist on classic diner dishes. A hip and lively place, Sacred Beast delivers plenty of creative cuisine in a refined atmosphere. The "Breakfast All Day" menu is a highlight. Try the lemon ricotta pancakes with Ohio maple syrup or the hearty diner breakfast with soft scrambled eggs, maple-glazed pork belly, and confit tomato. For an entree, go for the "One Big Ass Meatball." It's exactly what it sounds like - an oversized meatball with stuffed rapini alongside spicy garlic tomato sauce. Don't miss the Milwaukee-styled bratwurst with Dusseldorf mustard and griddled potatoes.

This upscale spot in the heart of the city is an elegant spot continually mentioned as one of the best restaurants in Cincinnati. The artful, stylish dishes take full advantage of local ingredients and styles to create a wide range of favorites. Start with the Rockefeller-style oysters, foie gras torchon, or Pommes souflees "1949" style. Seafood includes a bluefin tuna "a la Plancha" with summer beans and brown butter almond and halibut Grenoblise with parsnip puree. BOCA also features one of the best drink menus in Cincinnati. There are an extensive wine list and plenty of local beers from breweries like Jackie O's, Rhinegeist, Urban Artifact, and Fat Head's.

This downtown location in the middle of Cincinnati's Netherland Plaza hotel is a spot for exceptional people-watching in a classic, upscale environment. Grab a glass or a bottle from the superb Orchids wine list and start the meal with blue cheese beignets, smoked salmon "tater tots," or tuna crudo with passion fruit and spiced cashews. Mains include prime New York strip, dry-aged duck breast, and chateaubriand with Mousseline potatoes. This is also a spot to save room for dessert. An in-house bakery produces favorites like pineapple upside-down cake and chocolate velvet cake.

This basement dining spot is one of the best restaurants in Cincinnati. With a homely, rustic feel and a creative Italian menu, Sotto is a great place for dinner with friends and family. Appetizers feature blue oven tortano bread with olive oil and goat cheese with hazelnut honey and grilled bread. For the main course, try the wild mushroom risotto with Amish butter or the breaded pork loin with capers and lemon. A grilled Creekstone porterhouse is the perfect dish for two to six people.

The upscale Bar a Boeuf delivers diners an excellent view of the river alongside some of the best burgers in Cincinnati. The highly-customizable burger menu features beef, bison, lamb, or wagyu burgers with a full selection of toppings. Try a bison burger with goat cheese and roasted portobello, or a lamb burger with bearnaise sauce, brie, and bacon. Another menu highlight? The beef tartare and toast served with an egg mimosa. Don't miss the bechamel macaroni and cheese with lobster or brined beef cheeks.

As diners can guess from the name, the vistas at Shires' Garden deliver some fantastic views for visitors. On the 10th Floor of a historic building, The Shires offers an incredible glimpse of Cincinnati from its rooftop lounge. Kick back with a cocktail or a local beer and some of the elegant, upscale cuisine at Shires. Try the skin-on roasted chicken breast with peach and bourbon glaze, or the nicoise with marinated tuna crudo and olive tapenade. The Viewtop burger comes with caramelized onions, herbed goat cheese, crispy pork belly, and smoked paprika aioli.

The Over-the-Rhine favorite called The Eagle is a prime destination for down-home Southern food in the heart of the city. This spot is a combination of upscale bistro and classic beer hall known for hearty fried chicken. The all-natural, free-range, and in-house brined fried chicken comes in whole, quarter, or half portions and comes with spicy hot honey. Grab sides of spoonbread, white cheddar grits, and ham hock collards alongside the chicken. Pair the meal with one of The Eagles 100+ craft beers or top-shelf craft cocktails.

Trek out to the East Walnut Hills section of the city for one of the best restaurants in Cincinnati. Branch and Night Drop is a creative neighborhood restaurant with a full menu of modern American dishes. Go for the Allen Brothers beef burger with Oaxacan cheese, chicharrones, guacamole, and jalapeno jam. The Korean braised pork shoulder boasts rice wine pickled vegetables and mint chutney. Flank steak comes with charred onion salad and a grilled baguette. Pair the dishes with a local Cincinnati IPA or the Sonder blanc white ale.

Another local standout from master restauranteur Jean-Robert de Cavel, this bistro is a hidden gem in Findley Market. The Cafe & Bistro is the place to go for a relaxing meal and a taste of Paris. Stop in for breakfast with eggs Benedict or a Croque Monsieur with a fried egg. Dinner favorites include French classics. Try snails with zucchini, foie gras mousse, or frog legs with pulette forestiere sauce. Try the burger "au cheval" with bacon, white cheddar, and a fried egg.