The food is pretty good but the service sucks. Our waiter spent more time talking to people than tending to our empty glasses and plates. I recommend the grilled Brussels and fish and chips. read more

Great place for dinner when you are traveling through Cincinnati. The food is great and the bartenders are friendly. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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It's your local irish bar with extensive list of whiskey, scotch, and beers. It's always a good time here for post work drinks read more

Ultimately this restaurant is just another bar even though it frames itself as a little bit hipper/nicer. The bar food and appetizer items were great though! The restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived at 8:00pm on a Tuesday night. We ordered the brie cheese appetizer which was cooked really well and included apples which was a great touch. My friend ordered a salad and added grilled chicken while I ordered the side trio. I love sides so I'm so glad the restaurant had sides with bread as an option. It made it socially acceptable to get sides and allowed you to try multiple. For my sides I got the brussel sprouts, asparagus, and roasted potatoes. All were cooked really well and were tasty. Overall the service was pretty decent but it took a while for our check to come which was a little frustrating since the restaurant was so empty and we were sitting right next to the kitchen. There are some better food options on the same street but if you are looking for a pub vibe this is a great spot for you. read more

Great friendly service at the bar. The Bloody Mary's are great. They have some Guinness in the mix and are spicy. They are served with a Stella back. The duck fat fries are good too. They have a buttery taste to them. The house made ketchup is good too; it has a marinara flavor and is thinner in consistency than real ketchup. read more

Good food and service. You must try the truffle fries! A very nice atmosphere too. Great place to grab a bite or a drink read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Cosmo and jack and coke - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We were not sure about this choice for Thanksgiving Dinner, but we couldn't get reservations anywhere else. Boy were we lucky. Although the food is all Scottish, they did have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner as a special. Nicholson's has an extensive collection of single-malt whiskeys. My son began with a Dalwhinnie 15 yr old. My wife ordered a Glenmorangre flight: Lasanta, Quinta Ruban, and Necter D'Or. She split the flight with Mom and I. Three of us had the Thanksgiving special. It was giblet gravy on top of moist turkey on top of mash potatoes, cornbread stuffing casserole on top of cranberries, and a fresh onion ring on top of fresh green beans with a butter-cream sauce. My wife had fish and chips. They were hand breaded fresh fish fillets. For desert my wife had sticky pudding. Mom and Son had warm pecan pie with vanilla ice cream on the side. And I had sweet potato pie. It was an entire 6" pie! They have 5 Scottish beers on tap, and somehow we managed to fit in two pints of Bresser lager. read more

I had a great time while at Nicholson's the other night! Great service, delicious food, and a perfect location for pre-Aronoff show dining! My husband and I started off our meal with the duck fat fries, and they are some of the best fries we have ever had! For my main course, I chose the lamb shank and substituted in the mashed potatoes for the grits. My meal was just okay (did not enjoy the tomato sauce on top of the lamb), but my husband's chicken was literally the best chicken I've ever tasted. For dessert, we shared the Apple Cobbler and OH MY GOSH it was so good. I can't wait to go back, I think when I do, I'll have to try a burger. read more

we made this the first stop on our pub crawl of cinn and covington. The keg conditioned beer was 5 star. the server nice and attentive not pushy. we had beer and a chocolate martiini, plus the curry wrap and pub salad. I have had better curry chicken but the salad was good. the line up of Scotches made me wish i liked scotch. nice variety and a comfortable place to spend time. a great stop on our tour of bars and eateries that nice. read more

This is a fun bar. I've only been there for drinks. They have an extensive selection of beers and mixed drinks making it a place you can spend all night at if you wanted. The staff all wear kilts because its a Scottish place, not unique but always a nice touch read more

Wow, I was amazed! The place is fancy inside, the wait staff is friendly and knowledgeable, the drink list is long, and the food is actually fantastic. I had the pork loin, but the salmon also looked really good. I would come back. read more

Great happy hour. Good atmosphere. Plenty of seating. Servers and bartenders were very attentive and the prices were very fair. read more

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Went there for a birthday dinner for a friend. Food was ok, the birthday boys steak was really overcooked if I recall correctly. The weirdest thing about the evening was the extremely cold temp. I think they had a door open in the back or something because we were right in the middle of the place and should have been warm. I am never cold in a restaurant but that night it was a meat locker. The dessert (peanut butter cheesecake I think) was awesome. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Great beer selection, but closes so early during the week! First, the beer. Some good rare drafts and bottles, served up by knowledgeable kilt-wearing bartenders. Domestic craft offerings and cider were available on draft last I was there. Feels like a traditional British pub, but much better as it is better lit, has cold beer, and, well, isn't in England. I can't speak to the food, but for me if I'm looking for a good place to drink, this is the spot. Major note is that they close at 10pm on Thursdays - so early for such a major night for going out! read more

Nicholson's lucks out with their stellar location right across from the Aronoff and right in the heart of downtown and Fountain Square. Also, one of the only Gastro Pubs in downtown. They usually have a greeter in full Scottish attire standing outside the front door which adds to their Celtic feel. The space is cavernous and the ceilings too high to be charming and intimate, but their out door patio and bar area do have their charms. They have an awesome selection of draught beer and they always let you sample the different brews to find the right one. Always friendly bartenders too! But the highlight of my trip to Nicholson's is their Scotch selection, presentation, and delivery. I love their varying selection of liquid gold and how they serve it! It is always served to you neat, but with a highball of ice and a highball of water. You can drink your scotch just how you like it ! Or try a new experience if you've never had a scotch neat or with water or on the rocks. You will notice the flavors changing in the scotch depending on what you mix it with! Okay, I can get a little too excited talking about Scotch! But if you are interested in trying it for your first time, Nicholson's is the place to go. I have never eaten there before, but my husband loves their lobster mac n chz. They have the typical fish and chips, bangers and mash, and shepards pie pub grub. The space is just too large to really be 5 stars, but if you are downtown and are looking for a stellar beer or scotch, stop by Nicholson's and enjoy their authentic atmosphere and great patio! read more

Nice pub atmosphere. Bartender was very personable but professionally distant. Made great recommendations with local brews. Heads up--closes at 11 and NO ONE was served after 10:30. Make bartender was not overly welcoming. read more

All in all, this is a great place to go when in the mood for a pub. A great selection of beer and scotch, higher end pub style food, and a nice relaxed atmosphere. The salmon salad is a great choice, and I hear the fish and chips is divine. The service is fine, but not super great - nothing to complain about by any means, but can't rave. The bar would only offer my colleague his scotch neat - he wanted it on the rocks, a pain, but they are attempting to be "authentic" - the server was happy to bring a glass of ice. When I'm next in town next, this is where I'll go. read more

I haven't been here for a meal but I have had some beers, scotches and saratoga chips... all of which were excellent. Its pretty similar to "The Pub" in Rookwood or Crestview Hills that are around in decor and drink selection at the bar. The service was ok, nothing to brag about but nothing to complain about either. If you are looking to DRINK, there are cheaper, more bumpin' places around the corner on 7th street. I would say if you are looking to enjoy a drink and the company of your friends with some excellent scotches or beers, check this place out. According to my (6'6" basketball player dude) friend they make a killer Godiva Chocolate & Banana Liqueur Martini... lol read more

Wow, what a wonderful experience at Nicholson's. We braved a packed house just for dessert and coffee before seeing Jersey Boys at the Aronoff. The hostess was wonderful, bringing out a table and setting us up at the King chairs next to the hostess station. We enjoyed two scrumptious desserts with coffee before heading across the street for a really fun show. Dessert was great and the staff was amazing! read more

Scotch flight?! Yes please. Once again another business trip culinary adventure. This place was a little close to home though, still Ohio. I haven't been to Cincy in a long time and saw this little place when we walked by for a meeting. I love Scotch, not so much Scottish food but figured why not?! It is more American-ized than not, but they did have some authentic style food. I was presently surprised with the Scotch eggs. The real draw here was the Scotch flights. Not cheap but a great way to sample many brands quickly. Nothing feels worse than buying a bottle and realizing you don't like it. Solution?! Go get Scotch flights at this place and try them all! Cool decor and bar area too. It was fun, Ill be back! read more

Scotch Eggs, Fish and Chips, Shepard's Pie, AND seven pages of Single Malts!! We had a great time. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - The front door - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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First time visiting this place and it is fantastic! My husband and I went here before a show on our anniversary and were seated in the hearth room with the fireplace. It was cozy and intimate. We ordered the fried chicken and the BLT&E burger. The food was fabulous! The burger was high quality beef, the fried chicken was tender, juicy and delicious, Mac n cheese delicious and the mashed potatoes scrumptious! This place is a must for a nice enjoyable evening. Also they don't rush you here. It's a great place to dine. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - BLT&E Burger - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I love this place. It has Guinness and shepherds pie and THAT is fantastic. It's a classy pub with a beautiful wooden bar and other attractive Scottish furnishings, complete with plaid kilt-wearing staff. Everyone is super nice here and they take care of your order quickly and without issues. They have a good selection of beer, their food is legitimately delicious, and their outside patio area is perfect for the summer months when you want to sit outside and enjoy the air. I've never had a bad time at Nicholson's. I'd recommend it to everyone. read more

Can you put 0 stars down? My wife is 32 weeks pregnant and waited for an hour to not even get to eat or sit down. 6 tables outside where we wanted to sit because she's pregnant and doesn't need to be around a bunch of people because of Covid. Could have added a table of 2 outside as well there was plenty of room. Pretty sad when you can have a pregnant lady too priority over people that have been sitting drinking outside and not even eating when they could have easily been placed inside. Not a place I will be recommending because we never got a chance to eat and their management didn't even bother to help my pregnant wife. read more

The food and service here is AMAZING! Some girlfriends and I met for dinner at Nicholsons - it was planned ahead of time and we were in the fireplace room. The serving staff was awesome. They took drink orders and promptly brought them. The food was so good! I ordered the baked Brie appetizer to split between all of us - it was so good! For dinner I had the steak & fries with a half mixed greens salad. My steak was perfectly cooked and the mixed greens salad is one of my favorite things. I also ordered the sticky toffee pudding for dessert. It is a piece of heaven on earth. I can't give this place enough stars! I highly recommend Nicholson's! read more

Scotch, scotch and more scotch!!! As a huge scotch lover, I could not be more in LOVE with this tavern. The atmosphere is wonderful, the food is amazing (I highly recommend the appetizers, especially for a night of drink taste-testing...), and the authentic drinks and imports are great! One of my favorite scotch tasting bars - they complete MY drink with fresh spring water and my must - a piece of chocolate cake. Located off of Walnut in downtown and conveniently across the street from the Aronoff, this pub completes my night of a show and a cocktail. read more

You can't go wrong with Nicholson's scotch selection. They also have great menu items; never been disappointed with what I've ordered. It can get cold in the back dining area if you're looking for some 1:1 time with whoever you're with, and then too loud towards the front. Just stay away from the doorway and order Bangers n' Mash. That is all. read more

Ate here for the first time on Friday evening, with a group of 5 other women friends. Our server Tony was very nice & did a great job providing drink & food service & the correct food orders. He even put up with some classic comments about the kilt from one of our group. We appreciated being seated at a round table in the corner that was quiet for talking. Most of us got Fish & Chips. It was good, but nothing special. It was served attractively, with a very small side of slaw & a lemon enrobed in a cloth. We looked at the dessert menu - I was hoping for something very chocolatey BUT NOT with scotch in it - so I didn't get anything. How about a double chocolate brownie or something? Actually none of us were tempted enough to order a dessert. The back porch area looked very pretty with all the flowers in bloom, but it had just rained and was humid so I don't think it was open. read more

This is a very charming "foodie" pub tucked in the heart of downtown. It's owned by the same people who own "The Pub at Rookwood" and "deSha's". When you walk in, the first this you notice is the beautiful tile and plethora of dark wood. The front end of the restaurant is a classic "pub style" with a large central bar and lots of little niche tables around the edge. The hostess station is actually past the bar and marks the line between the bar and the restaurant, which I think is a nice touch. The restaurant area is divided up into little spaces and has an intimate feel. The service is friendly and competent. The prices are very reasonable ($7-12 appetizers; $15-25 entrees). We started with the scotch egg, which is awesome. If you've never had one, it's a hardboiled egg wrapped in sausage, breaded and fried. It'll change your life. It comes with a mustard sauce. I ask for that on the side. Abby got the BBQ burger, which came with duck-fat fries, which tasted like we were actually eating duck; they melted in your mouth and were perfect. I got the fried chicken, which felt ridiculous at a pub, but I was feeling "comfort food". The fried chicken was perfectly done, juicy and delicious. It came with the gouda mac n' cheese, which I devoured. It was simple and mouth watering. They have a great selection of scotches and a full bar. They also have a great draft beer selection. The wine list seemed reasonably priced and with a decent selection. Overall, this is a great place to grab a drink or good food downtown if you're catching a show or just want a nice dinner out. read more

Eaten here many times. Always a solid meal... Waiting on the artichoke dip and my pan seared Scottish salmon. The Belhaven Scottish is for real kind good as well. I get it every time. Enjoy... read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

As a Downtowner, it is hard to find the equivalent of a good neighborhood bar around here. This place fits every criteria for my favorite bar, amazing beer selection, friendly and attentive bartenders and wait staff with a delicious food selection, and open late. I love that they are open on Sundays, read more

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This is a decent little pub with an old country feel. My wife and I stopped in for a drink and the service was quick and friendly. They have a good beer and wine selection. We didn't try any of the food, but they appear to have a wide variety of options. I would recommend that others give this place a try. read more

I've been to Nicholson's plenty of times for happy hour, dinner & late-night drinks but just went here today for lunch for the first time. My impression was as positive as always and now I can honestly say that Nicholson's is great at any time of the day or night. The authentic atmosphere & menu is awesome, which kind of goes without saying as soon as you step in the door, so I won't dwell on that. I will talk about what I always talk about, the beer selection. It's very solid, not the largest list you've ever seen but definitely enough depth on it to satisfy just about anyone. My favorite feature though is that they have 2 beer engines and almost always have them both running for delicious cask ales, something not seen too often in Cincinnati. More impressive is that the staff knows what cask ale is and always knows what is featured on cask along with a description about those beers. This is what I really love about Nicholson's, along with the awesome rotating selection they get on those engines. If you've never had a real ale before, do yourself a favor and learn about them, then go try some first hand. read more

This place has great drinks! Located directly downtown, they also have live music and a great english pub atmosphere. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Relaxing :) - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Have been going there for past 6 years, good food great atmosphere. However, 2 years ago they got a new head chief. Not as good as previous one. Quality difference was very noticeable. or would have given more stars read more

Nicholson's is a huge place that's very nice, but there were a few things that disappoint. Though they seem to have a thousand employees working at any time, the service is never great. Than one bartender will pour a great drink, but the next will short you. The food is better than your average bar fare, but not great. A very yuppie/sophisticated crowd. A large square bar right when you walk in, surrounded by tall tables & booths. Past the bar is the restaurant seating area. Many other options in the area to try, but I would go back. The location is great. read more

Had a party of 10 last Saturday night. The Waite staff, while very nice, was overwhelmed and could not keep up with our needs. Drinks came slow and the waiter would disappear for 20 minutes at a time. When we paid our bill, it seemed like an eternity to come back with our credit cards. what made it most unpleasant, we were in one of the semi closed off rooms and the air conditioner wasn't working properly. No drinks and no air made for a miserable experience. Not sure I will be back. read more

Came here last week after months and months of hearing people talk about Nicholson's scotch eggs. I grew up in Perth and have had trouble finding scotch eggs in Cincinnati. I had the scotch egg, bangers and mash and a cocktail. My wife had the scallops. The Scallops were good! The mashed was good, the bangers were cold but flavorful. The scotch egg however? Not authentic! I was not very impressed, though I will say the service was helpful and quick. I would just say don't say you are an authentic Scottish themed bar unless you are serious!!!!! We take it seriously. read more

I have eaten at Nicholson's several times over the past few years and each time the experience (food, beverage, atmosphere) has been overwhelmingly Positive. I can only think of 1 experience where a food item was NOT to what I would consider Up To Par with what I expected and I spoke with the Manager who willingly listened to and accepted my thoughts and opinion. Over all the food is wonderful, the atmosphere is GREAT, (I choose to sit at the bar and eat and drink), and I would recommend Nicholson's to any downtown Cincinnati Visitor. read more

Had a great meal here while in town for work. The service was very friendly and full of great tips about other good restaurants in the area, etc. My food wad delicious and the beer was even better. I would have returned, but my schedule did not allow. They had fried pickles on the menu and these are always a favorite of mine, though these aren't served the way I used to it..... but they were still pretty darn good. For dinner I had the beef stew -- awesome. The Scotch selection is pretty impressive, though I didn't enjoy any. read more