Came to Cincinnati for a concert, initially planned to go elsewhere to eat but couldn't find…read moreparking anywhere. We stumbled upon Libby's and we're so glad we did! They had parking, and although they were full on reservations, 2 spots at the bar opened up and we grabbed them happily! First, the food was FANTASTIC! I had the Willy Burger and my husband had the fried bologna sandwich and we both loved what we ordered and vice versa. The sauce on the burger was phenomenal! The drink menu was extensive and looked so good but we were in a bit of a hurry and I'm 6 months pregnant so we settled for waters. Second, the service was excellent. Everyone was so kind and helpful. The ambience was great, I loved the big open garage door and patio seating they offered. The decor was so cute! We are bummed that brunch reservations for tomorrow are full, but we will absolutely be back!

We visited Libby's Southern Comfort on Tuesday. We had reservations for 12:00, but they weren't…read moreneeded. The restaurant is nicely decorated and is thin. They have a nice outdoor area, which we avoided due to the current heatwave. We ordered two apps - FRIED GREEN TOMATOES - Topped with Libby's pimento cheese, pork belly lardons, bourbon onion jam, and herb oil and FRIED CHICKEN SKINS - Hand breaded and served with hot honey dipping sauce. The fried green tomatoes were nicely plated, though the pork belly lardons and bourbon onion jam did not have the most pleasant color. They were good, but not as great as the description. Fried chicken skin is the thing! I first had it when we lived in California. An Asian market served them up thinly breaded and fried perfectly crispy. I just about jumped out of my skin when I saw it on the menu at Libby's. The breading at Libby's is thick. It's tasty for sure, but it's quite thick. A quick glance at the chicken skins and it looks like full-on chicken. Anyway, they were very good and I would definitely order them again. I had a taste of the hot honey dipping sauce because it spilled. It was good, but for me it detracted from the flavor I'm looking for. I had to have the FRIED BOLOGNA BLT - House smoked bologna, pimento cheese, fried egg, house made BBQ sauce, spring mix lettuce, & sliced green tomato on grilled 16 Bricks sourdough. First, it was huge! I could only eat half. It was very good. All the different flavors mixed together well. It was messy!! It was so obviously messy the server brought over extra napkins without us having to ask! Top Notch! Oh, the mac and cheese side was just okay. I barely touched it. The second half of the sandwich was delicious cold. It was also not messy at all. The leftover mac and cheese had turned inedible in the fridge. I did not mind throwing it out. My friend had the CLASSIC TURKEY CLUB. It was also huge and she only ate half. The fries were crispy and delicious. Mark had THE DOC HOLLADAY. He said it was okay. He also only ate half. I think he enjoyed the cold leftover more. I like the menu; lots of options. The place is cute. The staff is great. We'd definitely come back.

We visited Knotty Pine On the Bayou on a Thursday. The restaurant is pretty good size. I didn't…read morerealize this until it was time for a restroom break. It was a long walk. The wicker chairs in the section to the left of the bar as you face the bar were unusually deep and low. Over time I think we all adjusted, but sitting in them definitely felt unusual. There are other chairs throughout the restaurant. I recommend finding a table with different chairs. Our waiter was knowledgeable and very efficient. We hadn't checked on the website, but found out Thursday is oyster day, with $1 oysters and fried oysters and $1.50 for Oyster Bienville. The fried oysters were delicious. The raw oysters were good, though I had one that was gritty. We are going again in two weeks and will try the Oyster Bienville along with other assorted oysters. Two of us had the special Pan Seared Sea Bass. It came highly recommended and did not disappoint. The crisp on the top was delicious and the fish itself was delicate and moist. It did indeed melt in my mouth. The potatoes were very good, though I didn't finish all of them. The greens were good. Mark had a ribeye and is still raving about it today. He ordered the preparation version made with just salt and pepper. He also had a cup of gumbo. He said it had an amazing depth of flavor. We wrapped up with dessert. Three folks had Key Lime Pie. I opted for Karma's Opera Crème Cake. Oh my goodness, it was huge, sweet and delicious. I tried a bit of key lime and it just didn't compare. That said, those who had the Key Lime Pie loved it. Not only would we return, but we have the date already scheduled. I'm looking forward to trying something different.

So first of the ambiance is kinda confusing, like it feels like they want to be a fine dining…read morerestaurant, while also kinda being a sports bar. Not to mention the fact that you HAVE TO HAVE A RESERVATION, was mind boggling for the place. Like the server was very nice and all, that is a plus. Though sadly the food, we had the gumbo and etu fay, it was honestly pretty sad. Like it's up there with the top 5 most sad restaurants I've ever eaten at. The food was pretty bland, and lacked any form of spice. Not to mention it was hard to tell what was actually in it, like a lot of the ingredients tasted over cooked. So yeah it's going to be a no for me.

PUB FOOD DONE RIGHT!…read more If you're looking for a spot that delivers comfort food with big flavor, Bender's Pub Grub needs to be on your radar! Located inside Alexandria Brewing Company, Chef Shawn Weinbender & his managing partner Lora Damron opened Bender's Pub Grub in December 2022 & they've definitely made their mark on NKY! Their team is serving up traditional pub food with a Southern touch that is undeniably delicious! Voted Best Burger in NKY 3 years in a row, I'd say they're definitely doing it right!! The Smashburger was everything you want in a burger--juicy, flavorful, and perfectly smashed with those crispy edges we all love. The Tots were golden, crispy, and impossible to stop eating. And can we talk about the Charcuterie Board?! The perfect mix of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments that made every bite a little adventure. My favorite bites were the Charcuterie Board & the Smashburger! Whether you're grabbing dinner, meeting friends for drinks, or just craving some seriously good pub food, Bender's Pub Grub delivers. What are your must-have pub food orders? Let me know in the comments! Bender's Pub Grub 7926 Alexandria Pike Unit 1a Alexandria, KY 41001 https://benderspubgrub.com/ Instagram & TikTok: @biteswithmissb #biteswithmissb #contentcreator #foodreview #kentucky #smallbusiness

carry out only: I…read morerandomly found them on instagram and started following so I could try the wings. They didn't disappoint! I ordered online at the West Chester location inside the brewery Alexandria I think. It's in a weird spot in the business district. Pick up was easy and it wasn't busy. Service was friendly. I got the double smash burger (regular one) with cheese only. Tots and 12 wings in dry rub. The burger was good. It could use more salt. It did have some seasoning that you could visibly see though. It was a pretty big burger! Not my favorite smash burger but it was good and i'd eat it again. The tots were fine. Much better after being tossed in the air fryer. The wings had great flavor from the dry rub. I would go back for the wings for sure. They were nice and crispy (which i think i may have requested).

We've been here quite a few times. First few times was in the original location…read more Very nice place, great food and good service.

We read about how good the fried chicken is, so we called to make reservations for a Saturday night…read more(you must call). The place is small and had a very weird vibe between fine dining and kitschy. White tablecloths, but then lots of purple and pictures of roosters everywhere (I realize the name, but hmmm). Our server was lovely but would disappear for too long between times when she should have been present. We ordered our drinks at 745pm, and I watched them sit at the end of the bar. Finally, at 805pm, I went to the bartender and said, "those are our drinks that have been sitting there for a while". Our server brought them over like we ordered them 5 minutes prior. But the lovely owner/manager came over and said the "drinks are on me" because we waited so long. We appreciated that! The fried chicken was good, but the breading was very salty. The green beans were almost inedible because they were so salty. The mashed potatoes were average. The biscuits were fantastic. The fried deviled eggs were okay. A regular deviled egg is better. The shrimp and grits had a lot going on. The shrimp was lightly battered and fried (?) and the flavor of the dish was bold. I think sauteed shrimp and a little less gravy would make it perfect.

We definitely continue to love this place. They really do have some great food. Super fresh and…read morecreative and always well made! Great service, always with a smile. Definitely helpful to have a reservation as they are busy every single time we have been there. Ambience is very at home and comfortable. Definitely one of our places to go to for brunch especially when friends and family are in town!

Otto's is a charming spot with a welcoming atmosphere and a lovely patio that's perfect for…read moreenjoying breakfast. The staff was friendly and attentive, and while you'll need to find street parking, it wasn't a hassle. The menu has a wide variety of options, and honestly, everything sounded delicious--it was hard to choose. My breakfast was well-balanced and thoughtfully prepared. While the flavors weren't especially bold, the dish was fresh, satisfying, and came together nicely. Overall, Otto's is a great place for a relaxed breakfast with excellent service and plenty of tempting menu choices.

This restaurant is so good its being featured in a Super Bowl commercial…read more Their food is awesome. Always moist and tender brisket. Support your local restaurants.

I had the opportunity to try Sweets and Meats for the first time at the Xavier game. They are a new…read morevendor this year in Duff's Food Hall in the banquet room at Cintas for basketball games. We arrived right as the game was starting and they were out of the pulled pork sandwiches, so we chose the pulled chicken instead! I think this was the best shredded chicken sandwich I have ever had! The chicken was SO flavorful, even without barbecue sauce. The buns were also super sweet and fluffy, and perfectly soaked up the juices from the sandwich to round out the flavor. We will certainly be back for future games too!

Wow, I don't know how I've made it this far in life without going to a Cracker Barrel. What an…read moreexperience, from the rocking chairs that you can buy, to the store with just about everything, to the open fireplace radiating heat within the restaurant. Our server Caroline was delightful, so sweet to help and quick with service even though it was the busiest time of the morning. I ordered the bacon n egg hashbrown casserole and I think everybody else was jealous when my food arrived. It was filling and delicious with a variety of flavors. The biscuits were soft and buttery. I split the beignets and they were the perfect sweetness to balance the savory. If you want a home style breakfast at a great price, this is it. A few tips: - the little syrup and jam jars? adorable, take them home and use them creatively as you wish - they now have mimosas which my friends say is new for them to have alcohol - you can get a coffee to-go cup before you leave

Don't like that they done away with the free biscuits & cornbread. One of the things they are…read moreknown for. I've been to other Cracker Barrel's recently & they still offer it. This one says you have to pay for them but, they're not in the menu

This is such a hidden gem- I considered "gate keeping"-…read more We went on a Thursday evening and despite a small crowd it took a "hot honey minute" to get a cold drink. - They had live entertainment, but we left before the music- This place is very skillfully designed. The decor is dark and rich. Perfect for a "bourbon bar." They have curated the most comprehensive bourbon collection I've seen in a long time- Debbie recommended the Nashville Outlaw Hot honey Sandwich- it was smoking and paired well w/pepper jack cheese- I consider myself a coleslaw aficionado and theirs was some of the creamiest-I could tell it was made fresh daily- Fries were lukewarm-but still okay-

Ordered the Smoked Meat Plate (double) with Pulled Chicken and Turkey. It's served with cornbread…read moreand two sides. I selected Mac & Cheese and a side salad. The food wasn't bad, it just didn't leave a lasting impression. The meat was dry. I'm not sure what I expected to taste, but I was under impressed. Mac & Cheese was bland. Our server at the bar was fantastic! *Sidenote: my travel partner suggested the restaurant and LOVES it. We just have different taste buds. Parking: Street parking is hard to find. Spaces are extremely close to each other. Price: $20 - $30

Good menu of homemade staples. Friendly & fast service and a choice to eat in by the fireplace or…read moredine on the terrace. Very affordable, great for families with small children or just a couple looking to enjoy a cold beer & a snack.

Excellent Cincinnati burger with a fried egg and goetta!!! the all American burger was very good…read moretoo! Ribs? Awesome! Sauce is better than any city barbecue sauce they offer! Enjoyed a quiet evening here with a little history! I have t been since I was eleven! Not much has changed but clean place , friendly people and relaxing atmosphere! Check them out!