What do you want to see at Cincinnati’s Restaurant Row?

by julie on May 17, 2010

Have you heard about Cincinnati’s Restaurant Row? This is the area on 6th and Walnut– think the old Oceanaire location, Mr. Sushi– on the ground floor of the 580 Building. The building has several spots open for restaurants (see the artist’s rendering to the left). I spoke with Kathleen Norris from Brandt Retail Group, who is trying to get an idea of what the community would like to see in that space.  I said– hey– we have some dedicated restaurant goers here at wine me, dine me– so why not ask them?  So tell me:

  • Which Cincinnati chef would you like to see open a restaurant on the proposed Restaurant Row?
  • Which cuisines do you feel need to be represented?
  • What DON’T you want to see there?

And no– I’m not getting anything out of this.  That area of 6th street has been sadly vacant for too long.  Remember when it was lined with Barleycorn’s, the Maisonette, La Normandie, Frisch’s– something for everyone.  I think it’s great that the folks at the Brandt Retail Group really want to hear what the people want.  Leave your ideas here– I know Kathleen will be reading!

Tagged as: cincinnati's restaurant row

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  • JR

    I wanna see a Burger King. cant get enough of da King!
    AppleBees? hell no, that’s way too fancy for downtown.

    • Marc

      You’re an idiot.

    • http://explorecincinnati.com/ Travis

      I really hope you are joking by saying that Applebees is too “fancy” for Downtown. More like Downtown is too fancy for Applebees.
      .-= Travis´s last blog ..Now Available: “Explore Cincinnati” for May 6, 2010 =-.

  • Aaron Burgess

    A variety of types of restaurants. I live downtown and sometimes I just want a fast-food restaurant that is open past 6pm. Sometimes you want a chain restaurant with a predictable, affordable menu. A LaRosa’s would be a good idea.

  • SB

    Are you kidding me? A Friday’s or Applebee’s? You must not get out much!
    Please NOOOOO Fridays or Applebees!!!
    … and NO fast food

    • CincyCapell

      AMEN!

  • Irishone

    Neely’s BBQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • steve

    Oh, I forgot – besides Varsity in Atlanta for great hot dogs, I’d like to have a midwest version of the Pink’s, the famous hotdog place in Hollywood.

  • steve

    Pink’s – an LA institution.

  • Adam Hopkins

    I’m sure this has been said but a BD’s Mongolian BBQ would be perfect in this location. It’s reasonable prized for lunch and dinner. It would bring people downtown for dinner all nights of the week.

  • rbutaitis

    I would to see something that speaks to the theatrical flavor of the surrounding area…perhaps something like a piano/cabaret style/supper club dining experience??? Maybe some of the out-of-town touring companies could stop by for some impromptu performances? One can dream. Might even get Cincinnati into the national conversation regarding performance dining…

  • haha

    These suggestions are some of the funniest things that I have read all day.
    Like a vegetarian/vegan restaurant will make it in Cincinnati, or any of these other buzzwordy type places. Yes- everyone would rather go to a locally owned/sourced establishment, but the landlord- a large institutional investor is not going to lease space to some small fledgling start up that cannot afford to pay its rent. People need to be realistic. I hope that no one that matters is reading this mindless garbage. Sure, cool places are fun, but these places- in high profile real estate, need to have enough broad appeal to pay the rent.

  • http://www.Dougcooperspencer.Com Doug Cooper Spencer

    I agree with the guy who’s now living in NYC. We need some unique restaurants downtown. In most large cities I go to I eat at great gourmet soul food/southern/fusion restaurants (i.e. B. Smith’s in NYC and D.C. – - elegant! and excellent food), as well as Carribean and Brazilian fare.

  • carolincincy

    No more: sushi, mexican, chili, chinese, steak houses.

    We need bistro with small plate options and great wine by the glass.

    No more pastel fruity drinks masquerading as martini’s either. If its pink…its not a martini.

    • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

      You should make sure to check in here on Fridays– I do a feature called Cocktail Hour, and if they’re pink I definitely don’t call them martinis– though the Martini and the Martinez will be featured some Friday soon!

      • carolincincy

        glad to see we are on the same (web) page with this. I will definitely check in on Friday. Do you know when that huge “martini” bar in the old oceanaire location is opening? IMO: martini’s belong in a small initmate place with a piano and good-listening bartender.

        • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

          Not sure when it’s opening– and agreed!

          Dale DeGroff (a top bartender) and others will refer to things that are not vermouth and gin as martinis, but at least they have high quality ingredients. The mix-based swill at most places is embarrassing.

          • http://www.tea-guy.com Chris Giddings

            Julie… I <3 you! ;-)
            .-= Chris Giddings´s last blog ..News: Lexington Sees New Tea House! =-.

          • Beerguy

            You should try The Rookwood, nary a fruity cocktail to be found. And they don’t use any pre-made mixes, Rom even makes his own bitters.

  • http://www.tea-guy.com Chris Giddings

    If a chain moves in, maybe a Ted Turner’s Montana Grill?

    A nice but affordable “locavore” restaurant would be nice. As someone else said 127 is great, but a bit pricy.

    Due to its proximity to the Back Stage district, it would be very nice to have a late night place to hit. Perhaps and all-night Tazza Mia?

    How about a third local Habeneros location?

    Maybe a place like Fox & Obel they have in downtown Chicago for groceries?
    .-= Chris Giddings´s last blog ..News: Lexington Sees New Tea House! =-.

  • whybemean

    I agree with a little from all of you. NO MORE STEAK HOUSES, NO MORE SUSHI etc… we do need a few fast food places just for the sheer fun of it. If I could pick one it would be In and Out burger for sure, but Larosas would be great too. I do believe we need more vegetarian options if not its own restaurant which I agree would fail. We need more indi bistro’s that are quaint and cool like Melaines used to be. Even a greasy spoon like Echo in hyde park would be nice. The last thing we need is any more Jon Robert restaurants. He has spread himself so thin now that his food has lost its luster, and for the money I can find better.

    • Redneck Woman

      Honey, even *I* know that Jean Robert doesn’t have a single restaurant in town.

      Where do you live? West Chester? He left all of those restaurants (Jean Ro Bistro, Lavomatic, Greenup Cafe, etc.) well over a year ago. None of that food is his. Do you really think Cincinnati’s best chef would be dishin’ up tater tots slathered with marinara and bacon bits? Please. Right now, the only thing that guy’s got cookin’ is his gig with the Midwest Culinary Institute… and he’s snagged up the old Buddakhan space, but nary a plate’s been served. Hopefully by this summer.

      Really. Y’all should head on down to downtown a bit more often.

      Oh, wait. You MUST be joking.

      • Kate

        Oh, and, that was me :)

      • CincyCapell

        PWNED!

    • haha

      seriously, In and Out Burger, they aren’t going to enter a metro market with one location, this is so silly.

  • Tom

    Something like the Quarter Bistro in Mariemont would be great. A variety in the menu both in price and style as well as an indoor/outdoor presence would really click on the river.
    It is the kind of place you can stop by for an appetizer and a drink or have a romantic dinner. How about the Downown Quarter?

    • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

      On the river, or on 6th street?

      • Tom

        By “on the river” I mean the riverfront area. An outdoor bistro on 6th street would be just as effective adding to the general levity of the scene (like in Mariemont square). A choice of a corner booth for a date or in an outdoor area with good food and drink would make for a dining destination not just a carryout joint, foil wrapped burrito or suffocating pretentiousness.

  • http://hardprodj.com Adam

    If we could finally get a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, I just might do a dance. Or if anyone cares to reserect Funky Blackstones that would be great also.

  • Cara

    No more sushi places! How about an italian tapas restaurant similar to Quartino in downtown Chicago! Small italian dishes to share and cheap table wine!

  • Lane

    Please.
    Let’s not do more chains. Let’s not make this “Anytown, USA”. Can we please have some originality? You go to any thriving urban environment – where they are doing things right – and you’ll find restaurants there that are unlike anywhere else. You go to Soho, Chicago, etc. – and you find places with character – with appeal. And yes, I agree – let’s not have all high end food. Let’s have good quick food. No Wendy’s or McDonalds, but rather an amazing burger joint, diner, wraps, sandwiches, etc. Let’s do something interesting. Let’s make it good. Let’s make it memorable. Let’s make a difference.
    Wow … I actually really care about this.

  • kyle

    dude is right about bd’s Mongolian Grill. This chain is one I might make an exception for. It seems successful in Ann Arbor.

  • kyle

    My challenge is to create a place that is uniquely and truely cincinnati that doesn’t come off as posh, too conservative or like a german sports bar.

  • downtowner

    Panera would be Great!

  • Chris

    Here would be my picks:

    Dewey’s Pizza -Best Pizza in Cincy needs a downtown presence. LaRosa’s =Yuck!
    Five Guys Burgers or IN-N-Out!
    A Tapia Bar
    Al’s Beef -Chicago’s best Italian Beef!
    Cajun Food -something similar to Yat’s in Indianapolis
    Walt’s BBQ

  • Mark

    An Indian restaurant would be AWESOME as we don’t have enough of that delicious food!
    Pause, pause, wait….and I’m kidding. I do love me some Indian food but I think there’s enough downtown already.

  • James

    I fully agree on the Tapas small plate idea. As this area is also a hotspot for 20 / 30 somethings that go out and if you look at Nada it is always packed on the weekends. I would think something fun where a small to medium group could dine and get pitchers of sangria along with comfort (non-authentic) tapas would be great. I went to a chain once in Chicago although I forget the name that had this exact experience. Granted I’m all for local owned non-chain type restaurants I think a few exceptions are ok. I like the In and Out burger idea as well as there are plenty of late night people now downtown.

  • Stefanie

    Ramundo’s Pizza!!!

  • Trey

    I would like to see a RainForest Cafe – sure it probably does not have the best food in the world and they are going out of business wherever else they are, but it is a neat experience. Also I’d love to see a restaurant called Nando’s Peri Peri. I visited one in London and they have the best chicen served affordably, cooked with the legendary Portugese recipe. The franchise started in South Africa . There are only two American locations in DC. http://www.nandosperiperi.com/. I’d love to see Forest View Gardens emerge from the ashes. Obviously I go more for the experience than the cuisine. Also we need a great affordable steakhouse not owned by Jeff Ruby. Can someone bring back Ted Kluzewski’s

  • Kathie Norris

    Hello, Kathleen. I have the same name as Kathleen in this article. I absolutely agree with you about no restaurants on 6th St. I moved back to Tri-Sate recently and when I was working for a couple months downtown, I walked up to 6th St. to find out if Frishs’s, or even McDonald’s was still there. Nope. So I walked around the corner and found that Izzy’s was still there.

  • Kathie Norris

    Hello, Kathleen. I have the same name as Kathleen in this article. I absolutely agree with you about no restaurants on 6th St. I moved back to Tri-Sate recently and when I was working for a couple months downtown, I walked up to 6th St. to find out if Frishes’s, or even McDonald’s was still there. Nope. So I walked around the corner and found that Izzy’s was still there.

  • Angela

    I wouldn’t mind seeing the boys from Mayberry make a run at one of those spaces. I think Chef Josh is chomping at the bit right now to open something up. Im amazed with what they do in the space they have now. But more importantly the last thing we need is more chain restaurants to go in downtown.

  • Turd_Ferguson

    How about the worlds largest White Castle? Just kidding….just put a fancy place there that will close down after 2 years. Maybe after the street cars are put in………haha..I almost said that with a straight face.

    • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

      Oh, how negative.

  • Sara

    how about a grocery store like trader joes or whole foods?

    • whybemean

      there isn’t even a bookstore downtown. In my dreams could we get a whole foods store.

    • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

      as a resident, I would wholly applaud that.

  • WannaBeFoodie

    I believe places mentioned below could be a hit. Philly is a secret gem of great places to eat/drink, back in the 80′s it was dead, then I believe it was Stephen Starr that began what is now a foodie city. I think a variety in food, portions, and scene are important. I think a late night option other than shanghai mamas is a good idea, but not in this location.

    http://www.starr-restaurant.com/
    (variety of concepts)

    http://grg-mgmt.com/
    (more international variety)

    http://sonsieboston.com/flash/
    (boston concept that would be great for ground level that opens up to outside)

    • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

      I ate at Sonsie when I was in Boston– it was fantastic, and yes– the opening up to the outside is a larger version of what Senate is doing. Great, sidewalk dining.

  • Sharon

    I think everyone is missing the point here. Everything that has been down there is gone…….for a reason. Too expensive. The only ‘life’ downtown is during the day Monday-Friday. We, the people, who work down here everyday are tired of all the sandwhich shops (ie: Subway, Potbelly, JJ’, Roly oly) and the restraurants offering $10 lunches. Who can afford those anymore ? How about wings ? I agree with Burger King, we have Wendys – HELLO, LaRosa’s — sit down w/lunch specials. Someone who offers combo offers etc. JGumbos rocks !! and a great addition to downtown……because they’re different.

    • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

      I don’t mean to sound combative, but do you ever go downtown on the weekends or stay after work? It’s actually pretty darn vibrant. Fountain Square on a Friday night, for example, with MPMF… or Saturday or Sunday night with movies and family events. Branch out from there and you can see people walking downtown– right past Restaurant Row– into the late hours.

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