Our lovely Cin Twin, aka Amber, is leaving town for Denmark in just a couple of days. She chose her last meal in Cincinnati: Via Vite.
So I’m wondering… what’s YOUR ideal last meal in Cincinnati? If you were to leave and never go back (or were on death row, or whatever), what would you eat?
I’ll reveal my choice in a bit– I have a feeling you’d guess, though.
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{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
this is an excellent question. my mom and i have been debating this for 15 minutes now. she originally said pigall’s, cause she would want to go somewhere she’s never been and experience something unique. i, on the other hand, went with mecklenburg gardens. especially if i was on death row. that’s comfort food. that’s heritage. that’s a wealth of fond memories. by the end of the discussion, my mom agreed that weinerschnitzel and a bavarian cream puff trumped any fancy pants meal jean-robert could concoct. but we also both said, if it was dessert only, we would say the zip dip.
Has to be Skyline….unless I was coming back to Cincy…then it’s still Skyline.
Skyline.
skyline!!!
Although it is not Cincinnati, I would have to say Riverside korean cafe.
Anything but Skyline.
Rock Bottom Brewery comes to mind.
If I REALLY had to leave and not come back it would be Hofbrauhaus (unless I’m moving to Munich).
Pigall’s, no question. It’s been almost a year since I ate there last and I can remember the entire meal exactly. The wild boar entree was unreal.
Skyline, really? Runny brown sweet chili, boiled hot dogs, overcooked noodles and cheese-food product, seems like punishment.
Ooh this is a good one.
If someone else was paying, I’d go for Pigall’s, Jag’s, or one of the Jean Robert’s.
But honestly… my last meal would probably be an everyday favorite. Wild Ginger, Zip’s, O’Bryon’s and Arthur’s would probably make the list. I think I need a last week of meals!
Definitely Montgomery Inn.. and if we couldn't get a table – Carlo & Johnny's.
I too would need a "last week" of meals. I'm a major foodie.
such a good question! i would say daveed’s, with wine pairings for every course and warm cookies for dessert. nothing beats it.
zips. cmon.
I would say slims. The meal there is so thoughtful and spectacular, it is a perfect way to go out with a bang, whether you are heading to death row or heading across the pond. The food is phenomenal, but slims also offers a great place to enjoy your friends. There, I’d savor the flavors, the spectacular conversation, the endless bottles of BYOB and the flickering candlelight that bathes the table perfectly.
Really? The Anchor Grille. Just to say I’ve done it. One of my Bucket goals.
riverside korean! and graeters afterwards.
Glad I’m not alone in picking Skyline (in Oakley) so I could hit Aglamesis before heading out.
I’d go somewhere with a signature chef – Mesh, Jag’s or Seny to name a few. But I’d also need a full week to try all the restaurants I haven’t yet visited!!
ok. first i have to bitch about other people’s choices. come on, rock bottom is A CHAIN. i feel that no chains should be allowed since you can eat this in other places. skyline = also a chain which can be eaten in other OH or KY locations so therefore i cannot choose it, although i love it.
riverside korean = good but there are many other good korean restaurants in many other places. same idea for zip’s… it’s good, but you will find a good burger wherever you are moving.
i don’t have a lot of money and therefore have not been to most of the expensive places, and would not want to risk having my last meal somewhere that would end up disappointing me.
slim’s = excellent choice and is probably where i would go if not for honey, which i always like just a little better than slim’s. so i pick honey.
If I were leaving Cincinnati and not coming back, my last meal in town would be at Ambar as it is my favorite Indian restaurant. I miss being near enough to eat there for lunch and I never go to Clifton for dinner. Even though there are other similar restaurants in other locations, I would choose Ambar, because it was the first place I ate Indian food and for all the old memories that go with it.
Hummm, tough call I don’t have a clear pick although Pigall’s would be my quick pick. I would add the window table at Prima Vista to the list because of the view.
This question could be more prophetic than I like to imagine. Based on conversations with folks in the food biz this economic mess may force some marginal places to close so go while you can and support your local fave place.
Toddy O, Anchor Grill, no points unless you go between 2 am and 5 am, double points if you go after the Rat Derby or major Mainstrasse event.
This is a great question and definitely made me think for a minute. My last meal probably wouldn’t even be a real meal. I would choose to eat Greaters Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip ice cream and their Chess Pie in Hyde Park Square. Then I would go to Oceanaire for cocktails, becuase their bar rocks my world! Got to go there for drinks sometime. (I know it’s a chain)
Vudutu…it’s gotta be after the bars close AND on an extended holiday day off. Like 3:30am
Thanks for the shoutout Julie!
We actually changed our minds last minute and went to City BBQ! I am reaady for Get in Ma Belly to yell at me for going to a chain….We figured that we would not find any Southern style BBQ in Denmark. For dessert my hubby got Graeter’s and I got Busken cookies. We wanted to go to Slims because we had a bottle of wine that the movers wouldn’t pack but they weren’t open last night.
Even though I will be half a world away, don’t worry I will still be offering comments and opinions on the Cincy blogs.
Dee Felice. I would start with a Cosmo and an order of Ricardo’s Ravioli. For my entree I’d have Dee’s Filet with the potato. After dinner I’d order dessert – that chocolate whipped cream thing and a cup of coffee.
It’s my favorite meal.
Wow that is a hard one. I love Riverside, but also love Daveeds and Pigalls. I think I would probably try to go for Riverside. I love that place and can always go for some great ethnic food.
CinTwin1, I’ll miss you! Thanks for all the great comments on the Foodie Report. Funny, I was about to ask Polly for your contact info a couple of weeks back, before the last Cincinnati EATS!
Good luck in Denmark!
Stepf
stepfanieromine@yahoo.com
Hmmm…it would have to be either Montgomery Ribs or The Precinct. Hard choice, though!
tuckers – hands down.
followed by a followup snack at gold star, and then dessert at graeters.
NADA!!!!!
i can’t believe no one has mentioned one of the best steak places EVER, Jeff Ruby’s downtown! wonderful wine selection, excellent service, fabulous food! if i had one last meal to choose in the ‘nati, it would be at Jeff Ruby’s downtown.
As a relative newcomer to Cincy (only about a year) I like seeing what everyone would pick because now I know what places to check out if I haven’t already!
This would be a tough call for me…
I really like Jean Ro Bistro, but I’ve never been to Pigall’s… Also love Doodles (simple but delicious) and Ambar… But definitely Graeter’s for dessert! (Or would I want UDF since I can have Graeter’s shipped??!?)
Too many choices to narrow it to one. If you held a gun to my head, however, I’d probably choose the Quarter Bistro…good food (I always have the steak frites), warm decor, wonderful ambience, and always (always) the best company (Julie).
Interesting choices, everyone (and isn’t The Boyfriend sweet? I think so).
My choice for last meal in Cincinnati? Anywhere Terry’s going. Seriously.. the Precinct. You can get steaks elsewhere, but damn if it’s not the best steak I’ve had. My second choice would be Honey, which I haven’t reviewed (yet) but love.
Tink’s. On Tuesday night when the Faux Frenchman are playing.
But then, I haven’t been to Honey yet and I fell in love with Tink’s when the chef at Honey was the chef at Tink’s.
But I’d be allowed to get skyline and graeter’s on the internet, right?
The Grandview Tavern in NKY. Seriously, amazing food and fun atmosphere. Cross the river and give it a try! I’ve never commented on your blog before but am always stopping by to read. Thanks for being a fun a informative blogger here in Cincy!
Allyns! Mr Blue and I used to be uber-regulars, not so much anymore. Good food, great people
South Beach at the Waterfront. (A) Because it’s a Jeff Ruby restaurant and (B) The ambience can be over-the-top good in the back room, facing the city view. The service is amazing. The food is crazy-good!
Boca. Gotta have that scallop and those caramelized brussel sprouts. BTW-Any one got a good recipe for them?
If I had to pick one last meal before leaving Cincinnati… It would be Mountain Jacks in sharonville their food is the bomb… digitty.. And well worth the money you spend…. And to all you chain haters … Happy to admit it’s not a Chain ( at least as far as i know)
It would have to be the Precinct!
Having been away for the past 20 years and still living in Florida, I would absolutely have to say Frisch’s. Skyline we can get in FL but there’s nothing like an authentic Big Boy sandwich with extra tartar sauce…. simple, yes… cheap, yes…. but oh so good!
I wouldn’t do fancy. But I would also claim a week’s worth of meals. I would do the everyday, down home, not expensive, stuff. You can get a good expensive meal anywhere. (One of my choices is even kind of yucky – but I still love it. You can guess which.) I’m naming specific meals, but really anything on the menu at most of these spots.
Myra’s Dionysus for a PC Burger, Melt for a Rachel made with tofu, Ambar for saag paneer and paneer makhanni and aloo gobi, Adriatico’s for a plain cheese pizza, Pomodori’s for a pizza with onions and black olives and then I’d wrap up the week with a Taco Salad (no meat, refried beans, extra dressing) from Taco Casa!