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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  • Michael

    I don’t live in Cincinnati anymore, but living in NYC I have acquired a taste for Caribbean food. You all are missing out. There is a great place in the West Village called Negril. I think adding such a restaurant would diversify Cincinnati’s restaurant mix beyond the standard Thai/Chinese/Spanish/French/Italian fare…

  • Muzak

    Local, local, local.

    I’m a sucker for some good, authentic Northern Italian food. Also, as mentioned previously, a Tapas restaurant would be great. As well as a nice Vegetarian restaurant.

  • DigitalBob

    It would be wonderful to have the Maisonette back.

  • Shaboomer

    I would love to see a Friday’s or Applebee’s.

  • Cmon

    Final thoughts: Vegetarian place would be good, but must it be all vegetarian? How about offering some flesh in addition to mainly veggie options. Also, I would love to see a Christian Moerlein brewpub but it would fit better in the OTR brewery district. I also would like to retract the PF Changs, I kinda think their food is garbage and the Cheesecake factory I have honestly never been to but I know that it does well and heard that it is acceptable. I also would like point out that rock bottom is mediocre at best. I think a good place to start is to look at many of the great food cities and take inventory of what’s doing well. You all have really good ideas and I’m so glad that Cincinnati is returning to its once great stature. By the way, Andy’s should open a location downtown, Ethiopian sounds great and is quite an experience and stay away from seafood unless it is fresh from the Ohio. Peace and Love. One.

    • CincyCapell

      Moerlein is biulding a brewpub at The Banks FYI

  • Amy

    I would love to see:
    - sit in coffee shop with lots of table space inside and out, preferably an extension of a local chain like Coffee Emporium or Mt. Lookout Joe’s
    - Mediterranean casual dining open for lunch/dinner with al fresco dining: there could be a variety of different restaurant concepts like authentic Spanish tapas, Lebanese (like old Mejana with Shisha), Greek, Turkish (like old Cafe Istanbul), French (casual style like the old Le Cezanne in Hyde Park square or a bit more fancy like Chicago’s Bistro Zinc or Avec), fresh Italian with real Napoli style pizza etc, Basque etc etc
    - late night food for those leaving bars i.e. kebab, weiner circle, tacos etc
    - Healthy farm to table fusion-y food (ideally would offer organic, veggie, vegan etc to capture growing ‘green’ following)…Local 127 has the right concept but is a bit pricey for lunch or non special occasion dining
    - Gastro-pub…Cincinnatians like sports and beer and bar food…having a classier option than one that involves a bull and has great burgers downtown might be a nice change
    - Wine bar…sorely lacking in downtown – could combine with a mediterranean rest. too but a nice wine bar with charcuterie would be a great add
    - Someplace with a great weekend brunch…actually having a brunch that’s open on weekends would be a great start :) …this could be Echo diner style or something more inventive like Anabelle’s
    - A mini grocery with some ready-made/take away options…downtown lacks groceries, especially staples like produce and dairy (unless you go to findley)…it would be great take a Goddess & Grocer Chicago model and fit it for a Cinci market
    - maybe leverage Findlay vendors and bring something downtown

    I would stay away from:
    - more Sushi/Thai options. I love both but we have SO MANY good options already (arguably mostly on the east side)
    - too much fast food…this has been said already: I don’t eat it and think its generally an eye-sore HOWEVER people do eat it and it does draw crowds AND they are more easily funded to expand.
    - higher price points…i’m happy to spend cash on good food- love Ruby’s, Via Vite, Jean-Ro etc but having places where you can get dinner for $25 or less like Nada, Senate, Green Papaya etc would be lovely

  • Cmon

    Sorry, one last thing. GO REDS!

  • http://eightytwenty.tumblr.com/ mikeD

    I would love to see a pizza place, either dewey’s or (preferably) an authentic wood-fired pizzeria napoletana, like paulie gee’s (http://www.pauliegee.com/) in NYC or pizzeria delfina (http://www.pizzeriadelfina.com/) in SF. not enough good pizza in this town.

    I also would love one of those pre-made to-go sandwich shops like Pret a Manger (http://www.pret.com/us/) or EAT (http://www.eat.co.uk). Those things are all over London and NYC and they’re great tasting, fresh and easy for busy people. Tazza Mia and Ingredients are similar, but there’s nothing like them here. I don’t see how the concept couldnt work here.
    .-= mikeD´s last blog ..Home Burger #4 – Blue Mountainjerk spice-rubbed patty, chipotle… =-.

    • Andrea

      I hear ya on opening up a Pret. Should’ve read the comments before I posted and repeated :)

  • Rafael de Acha

    * Which Cincinnati chef would you like to see open a restaurant on the proposed Restaurant Row? A new kid on the block, possibly a recent grad of the Culinary
    institute.
    * Which cuisines do you feel need to be represented? Authentic Latino, a great Austrian or French pastry shop , authentic Russian, Turkish, North African, a real-deal Italian with AUTHENTIC regional cuisine.
    * What DON’T you want to see there? Not ANOTHER Pan-Asian, not ANOTHER middle-brow Italian, please.

  • Zeke

    A good burger place. And I second the gastropub.

    We have great dive/sports bars, but nothing between Brothers, and Tinas. Just a happy medium would be nice…

  • Verdant Sage

    A vegetarian/vegan/RAW place which doesn’t serve flesh at all is necessary – there are a lot of veg* people who would eat at a restaurant they know isn’t contaminated – and it would be unique! The growing area Cincy is situated in, Findlay market, the community gardens, CSAs all feed into this idea being right for Porkopolis – the juxtaposition is begging to be expolited!

    One that could make this pledge:
    To make healthy food taste great
    To never use microwaves
    To support our local organic farmers
    To use organic, unsprayed and hormone free products
    To make you healthier!

  • Verdant Sage

    A vegetarian/vegan/RAW place which doesn’t serve flesh at all is necessary – there are a lot of veg* people who would eat at a restaurant they know isn’t contaminated – and it would be unique! The growing area Cincy is situated in, Findlay market, the community gardens, CSAs all feed into this idea being right for Porkopolis – the juxtaposition is begging to be exploited!

    One that could make this pledge:
    To make healthy food taste great
    To never use microwaves
    To support our local organic farmers
    To use organic, unsprayed and hormone free products
    To make you healthier!

  • Brian

    I would love NOT to see a Friday’s or Applebee’s.

  • cincyhudey

    It would be awesome if we had a Weber Grill like the one in Indy. Open kitchen with the Chef’s cooking on Weber’s. Chef Zach Leinen at the Cincinnati Museum Center get’s very little credit, neither does Chef Chris Prince at Primavista.

  • Mark

    Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro

    http://www.matchboxdc.com/

  • Becca

    We need something that the working class can afford to go to lunch at, i.e., Frisch’s. Also local fair – LaRosas, Skyline, mini Montgomery Inn.

    • Mark

      I agree that Larosa’s needs a downtown eat in location and a Frisch’s needs to return. But we already have 3 Skylines downtown.

      • http://explorecincinnati.com/ Travis

        One of the Skyline stores needs to open super late, like the Clifton location is.
        .-= Travis´s last blog ..Now Available: “Explore Cincinnati” for May 6, 2010 =-.

        • Mark

          Now that I agree with!

          • Eve

            It would definitely be nice to see LaRosa’s downtown and Yes to bringing Frish’s back and yes at least one of the Skylines needs to be open late.

  • Shawn

    Please, NO Margaritavilles, or Hard Rock Cafe, or any touristy chain places, leave the chains in the suburbs, We need some of what we had years ago, one of a kind cafes like Rusconis, or remember Incahoots in Clifton ? both of those had really really good food, those type of places, not these huge fad places that everyone crowds into so only one or two places can make it . Cincinnati is quaint and compact, so we shouldnt try to have all of what alot of bigger cities have , just be more unique . Have smaller unique food venues rather than giant ‘trendy’ places with huge menus and armys of staffs, slinging the huge plates filled with whatever .

    • Mark

      Why would Hard Rock Cafe build in the suburbs??

      Actually, with it’s proximity to the Backstage District, this would be a great location for a Hard Rock Cafe.

  • Janac

    Cuban. And the independents have to be well-run. I’m so tired of patronizing locally-owned places that don’t know how to seat people and make diners wait far too long to order and even longer to get their food. If you’re going to open your own restaurant, please make damned sure your servers and cooks know how to do their jobs!

  • Kevin

    How about a normal bar, that serves normal bar food, and has normal drinks all for a reasonable price. Why not put in businesses that cater to the the everyman. There are thousands of people pouring into downtown during the summer for Reds games and they are all looking for good locations to gather before and after the games that are a short walk from the stadium.

  • Robert

    I know this may sound stupid, but I would seriously love a Penn Station and/or a McDonald’s downtown, in this area. I totally love and support the local, original restaurants too, but I would love to be able to walk to a PS and McD’s. Ha ha! Go ahead and attack me. :)

    Thai and French restaurants are also my favorite.

    • Andrea

      There are a couple of Penn Stations within a few blocks of this area. Although, I’ll back you up on McDonald’s in at least the food court at Carew Tower.

  • Adam Hopkins

    I think the idea of a good burger place would be great. Maybe a 5 guys or a Fatburger. I think people would be suprised by how busy places like that would be downtown.
    Also I would love to see a Cajun place downtown. I do think it is important for the places survival to be able to get the lunch crowd in. I live in OTR and the places downtown are dinner spots for me. However lunch should be the target market for Restaurant Row to be successful. I hope MR. Shushi is doing a good lunch I was impressed with the food prices and service and would love to see it survive for a long time.

  • Carrie

    Cajun, Louisiana style!

  • http://cincinnati.com charles

    I think any burger joint should be something like 5Guys,Caribbean does sound good and a PF Changs,also one of the better steak restaurants.

  • Jeff

    A low-budget Mexican restaurant, or an Uno Pizzaria (Chicago style please).

    • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

      There’s a low-budget Mexican restaurant about two blocks away…

  • Bridgette

    Uno’s, Fridays. Some good Carribean cuisine, Italian Cuisine, Specialty pizza place. No skyline or Montgomery Inn.

    • http://explorecincinnati.com/ Travis

      How about getting ChiNati’s Pizza to move Downtown?
      .-= Travis´s last blog ..Now Available: “Explore Cincinnati” for May 6, 2010 =-.

      • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

        They sunk more than a million dollars into the renovation of their Kenwood location. I have a feeling that a move won’t be happening…

  • Bridgette

    YES YES YES to Cajun and 5guys

  • Ben

    Thank god the FDA 2009 food code 6-501.115 prohibits dogs in restaurants!

    • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

      Inside, I get. But outdoor dining? I’m fairly sure that’s something that’s overlooked.

  • Stretch2c

    Since I’ve been “traveling” area restaurants since 1983, I would like to see something that is NOT in northern the Kentucky Ohio river strip from Covington to Newport yet in their price range. Also, if real estate charges 40 to 60 dollars a square foot do not even open the doors because overhead costs will close them. Currently, I stop in OH for ribs and KY for seafood, steak, German brew, and music for the “value” (meaning $$$ versus enjoyment with quality). Is there an Oriental brew house available to open there?…just a thought! Thanks.05.18.10.

  • Tricia

    With all these comments requesting international fare I think a “theme” of an international food village is very intriguing. Having one place where you could choose from Italian, French, German, a British pub, Moroccan, Japanese, Greek, Thai, etc. would be really entertaining for locals and visitors alike. As for an “American” experience I also think the Weber Grill would be great.

    Also liking the idea of a regional specialities area with LaRosa’s, Graeter’s, Montgomery Inn, Skyline/Goldstar, Frisch’s if the goal was to have a more modest price point.

  • ?????

    Honest to goodness, real (and I mean real) AUTHENTIC Mexican fare/street food. Homemade tortillas, mole, carne seca, albondigas, flautas, tamales, rellenos…you get the idea. With the talent in the local kitchens mostly coming from immigrant cooks, I am sure that finding an authentic mexican nationalist with strong family recipes can’t be that hard to find.

    I also am a HUGE proponent of the Farm to Table movement and would love to see someone do a rustic Napa Valley-esque farmhouse restaurant with huge emphasis on crediting local farms and dairies.

    Molecular gastronomy could be fun, too but doubt Cincinnati could sustain that!

    • Andrea

      Um Javier’s at Walnut and 8th?

      • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

        Javier’s is closed, reopened as Taqueria Mercado, owned by the same folks who run the location in Fairfield and Taqueria maya. Pretty authentic, but not a very broad menu.

        • Andrea

          What! No… so sad.

      • ?????

        Closed…isn’t it?

  • Don

    Dewey’s. Cuban. Panera.

  • http://eightytwenty.tumblr.com/ mikeD

    it really cracks me up with how little people know about what actually is downtown as far as food goes. plenty of high end steak places, theres a penn station not 2 blocks from where the restaurant row is being planned and taqueria mercado serves inexpensive authentic mexican on 8th and walnut.

    also, please stop with the hard rock cafe and the usual skyline, montgomery inn, frisch’s stuff. to create something special you have to go beyond expected and create something unique. there’s a reason the frisch’s downtown closed and all the other ones are in terrible shape, theres already 3 skyline chili’s, and the boathouse is right down the street.

    tourists go to HRC’s, locals may go once, but rarely return. this should be about making a place that people want to go to again and again so that it’ll grow and thrive. and when tourists come to visit, they’ll return home with stories about how Cincinnati has his really cool dining district with places you can’t find anywhere else, rather than “theres nothing to do in cincinnati, its a dump. all they have downtown is a friday’s”
    .-= mikeD´s last blog ..Home Burger #4 – Blue Mountainjerk spice-rubbed patty, chipotle… =-.

  • Jason

    I would love to see a really good frozen yogurt place like 16 Handles in NYC or similar! I think it would do really well downtown.
    Also, I think Melt from Northside would be really smart to open a second location downtown or in OTR.

  • Jeff

    -Please no chain restaurants. Unless it is Ruth Chris Steakhouse!
    -I hate to take any idea from Pittsburg, but a place that has the sandwich, slaw and fries on it would be a great late night treat
    -A wine bar would be great

  • kyle

    Local. & please no more wannabe upscale places trying to seduce “YP’s” young professionals with trendy smoke & mirrors.

    Get some businesses with original flavor & not just trying to bank off the latest trends. Let’s give Cincinnati a face lift containing adaptable personality, diversity, and history. Not another rock bar booking the same old glorified local indie hipster bands and not another upscale douche joint with top 40 djs.

    • CincyCapell

      What establishments Downtown match your description?

  • ——->

    no chains. no local chains. unique gems only and with affordable prices.

  • Andrea

    - LaRosa’s
    - Pret a Manger – esque place (quality grab a sandwich and go place)
    - Deli 720
    - A second location for a Maribelle’s or 20 Brix etc.
    - Somewhere high end with class… a place that really is special when you go (ala The Maisonette)

  • Mr. Tasty Phlegm

    Bring back the Samuri Restaurant!

    • CincyCapell

      Benihana is right across the street.

  • Susan

    I know everyone would like to keep it local. However, there is a great Lebanese Mediterranean restaurant called Aladdin’s Eatery that has quickly been expanding out of Lakewood, Ohio. In fact, some might already be familiar with the one that opened up in West Chester. What’s great about it is the reasonably priced menu of healthy options, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. I have gone there for years, and make special trips to Union Centre to dine.

    http://www.aladdinseatery.com/

    Either that or a really authentic Vietnamese place. I notice a lot of Chinese and Thai places that include things like pho soup on their menu, but I have never had anything like the Pho Saigon at Mihn Ahn in Cleveland, Oh. The entree menu is great too.

    http://www.minh-anh.com/

    As anyone may have guessed, I am a native of the Cleveland area, but have been relocated here for 7 years now. The food scene up there is great. I like to share my faves with others.

  • Sara

    Mon Ami Gabi

  • http://www.paulaner.de/home.html Pipingman392

    A Paulaner Bewpub, of course!

    Anything else would only be disappointing . . .

  • http://www.paulaner.de/home.html Pipingman392
    • CincyCapell

      FYI-Paulaner is no longer doing international brewpubs.

      • http://www.paulaner.de/home.html Pipingman392

        Yes, I know . . . shame – it would be nice to have one here.

        Oh well – all the more reason for me to be leaving Cincinnati, and heading for Munich, I suppose.

  • Eric

    Mcdonald’s! We don’t have one downtown! and Taco Bell!

  • Andrea

    (Follow-up post) I’d also like to see a Corner Bakery. I find it far superior to Panera, and a good option for casual lunch meetings. When I worked Downtown that was always a struggle. While Coffee Emporium was my preferred choice, it’d be nice to have another option.

    • CincyCapell

      Like Servatii’s perhaps? Which already has two locations Downtown.

      • Andrea

        Yeah, I guess… if Servatii was any good aside from their cakes. While superficially the sandwich/bakery concept makes Corner Bakery seem similar to Servatii, Corner Bakery serves higher quality food. Plus, Servatii on Court Street isn’t setup well for the type of casual lunch meeting environment I was referencing. Poor layout and design.

        Silverglades’ lunch fare is better than Servatii if we’re making comparisons. And Deli 720 is far superior to both food-wise. However, Corner Bakery has more mainstream appeal and a broader menu than them all, which is why it’d be a good fit.

      • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

        I have to agree with Andrea– Servatii’s is disappointing.

  • Steve

    I like the idea of an international marketplace. Perhaps we should think about blocking off 5th St from Vine to at least Walnut and making it a walking mall. I’d like to see something with entertainment like they have in Memphis at B.B. King’s. If we create a district that has potential for a lot of foot traffic, there will be some innovative restaurateurs that will come out of the woodwork.

  • Marc

    Cuban, Cajun, and a late night cafe. Please no more steakhouses! Please please please.

    Unfortunately Ms. Brandt wont have the luxury of picking and choosing in this economy. My guess is a Payday lender and “Sell Your Gold Here” store will show up instead. I hate those places.

    • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

      Doubtful– payday lenders are outre and “sell your gold” doesn’t fit the tenants above the storefronts.

  • http://quimbob.blogspot.com/ Quimbob

    Cassano’s Pizza King
    A taste of The Gem City.
    .-= Quimbob´s last blog .. =-.

  • WTF

    100+ comments and no one has said the patently obvious: In & Out.

    • CincyCapell

      Don’t hold your breath

    • http://winemedinemecincinnati.com julie

      In-n-Out doesn’t franchise outside the West Coast. They only go as far east as Vegas.

      • Andrea

        I was thinking hard about In-N-Out. So good… they should really start contemplating expansion this way. They could just bring in one of their trucks that you can rent for events. I’m not picky :)

  • steve

    Don’t laugh, but I was watching The Food Network Sunday, and they showed all these great hotdog places across the country. I don’t really like hot dogs, but we ended up looking around Louisville trying to find a hot dog place as a result (We were unsuccessful).

    The Varsity in Atlanta caught my attention. An institution.

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