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.

My husband and I just visited here for the first time three weeks ago and have already returned…read moretwice. It is the best value for a sit down restaurant we have found in the area recently. The service is really good. Seated promptly, waters come out promptly, minor order modifications handled easily. We have really enjoyed the variety of food. My husband loves the salads and the bowls and pizzas are also good. Probably the favorite entree we have had is the fish and chips. We find the drinks particularly reasonably priced and the cocktails are good. We really like the blueberry one. The space is sunny and open. We have been with our kids and see lots of friendly groups dining there. Free parking in the garage is another plus.

Nice looking modern aesthetic. Very loud inside from pop music, open kitchen, and chatter. We could…read morenot really hear each other. Service was very friendly. I forget our servers name, but the manager also came by to check on us and even got my food boxed. We got a burger and the chicken katsu and of course the famous biscuits to start. The biscuits were very good but also a bit buttery greasy for our taste. One was enough (we split it). I did take the rest home and add some eggs to it for breakfast which was good! The burger was pretty good. Nice and salty. Not dripping with grease. Soft bun! The fries were decent but not my preferred style. I like fresh cut and these were kind of a shoestring fry. The chicken was decent but a pretty small portion that left my fiancé hungry. He said the side with it was just ok. We got cocktails that I can't recall but they were pretty good. We would go back and try some other things. Probably on a less busy day earlier in the week.

From out of town and looking for somewhere to eat and we were SO happy to come across The Eagle…read more The server was real nice and said "I don't say this just because I work here, but this chicken is REAL good". And he was SO RIGHT! They make their chicken different and it shows! There was amazing flavor in all of our food. Chicken, fries, Mac & cheese, and the spicy honey on the side?? The spicy chicken dip was insane also! Amazing portions on everything we ordered as well. We were stuffed and still had leftovers. I see it's a chain & I wish there was one by me!

First time visiting Cincinnati -- came here to The Eagle OTR as Pepp & Dolores nearby was full,…read morewith a waitlist. Found free street parking nearby, thankfully. I ordered immediately as I was late at 9 PM for dinner. I got the three piece dark with sides of Mac and cheese which came with biscuit, and green beans. Everything tasty enough, and the fried chicken was juicy and honestly fine without the honey. The spicy honey which was in a glass ramekin, was pretty good. As oft said, "I put that sh*t on everything -- so I tried it with the Mac and cheese and it was noticeably better. All in all, pretty good experience here and will rate it 3.5/5 overall.

We celebrated my son's 26th birthday at Nolia and came ready for great food and exceptional…read moreservice. We got both! Henry was incredible. Fun, attentive, engaging, and gave us great recommendations throughout the evening. We started with the oysters, Skillet Cornbread, Pork Belly Skewer, and H20 Melon. The cornbread was, without a doubt, the best we've ever had. Subtly sweet, pillowy without being cakey, with this amazing sweet-savory depth. The whipped Steen's butter was the perfect complement. WOW! The pork belly was another standout. The coconut Alabama BBQ was rich and flavorful without being heavy. The melon was beautifully plated, and the country ham added the perfect salty contrast. The oysters were the only miss for me. They had a little more of that "fishy" quality than I prefer, but I'm admittedly particular about oysters. For dinner, the Jollof was flavorful and beautifully prepared. The Lamb Neck was a little gamier than I personally prefer, but my son clearly disagreed because he devoured it down to the bone. Then came the IBÉRICO. When I tell you how good this was...we finished it and ordered a SECOND one! The pork with corn maque choux, chimichurri, and lime was incredible. Rich, bright, savory, and beautifully balanced. Easily the star of the evening. We finished with the Key Lime semifreddo, which was light and airy. I also had a Paper Plane, a simple cocktail that many places surprisingly don't get right. Nolia nailed it. Fresh citrus, quality ingredients, and perfectly balanced. I also loved the hospitality. The chef greeting guests as they arrive is such a small thing, but it immediately makes the experience feel warm and personal. Between the food, Henry's service, the cocktails, and the hospitality, this was such a lovely place to celebrate my son. If you haven't been to Nolia, GO. And order the Ibérico. Honestly, you may as well order two. We did!

This visit was such a treat! I made a reservation and got a front row seat of the kitchen by…read moresitting at the bar. Both my server and manager were so engaging and friendly, it didn't feel like I was dining alone. The space itself definitely doesn't make it feel like you're in Cincy- very warm and inviting. I settled on the cornbread, which is a menu staple. The butter on top felt so decadent and the cornbread itself was very savory. For my entree, I chose the jollof and the veggie selection for the evening which was grilled okra with a banana gastrique. That alone felt so cool, I had to order it. The jollof was so good, so filling, perfectly spiced and Chef actually broke it down for me all the spices he used to capture that flavor. I wish I had room for dessert, but I didn't want to go too crazy! Between the service (which they make it a point to open the door for everyone), the open kitchen, the food and then since I was a tourist they gave me recs for so many places to go in the city, I'm happy to rate this place 5 stars.

Southern, Grace is by far the best soul food restaurant in Cincinnati, Ohio. I love the food, and…read morethe team that help make this restaurant what it is. The quality and portion size of the food is outstanding!! My favorite is the fried catfish, you have your choice of 2 sides I always get an extra side because everything is so well seasoned and absolutely delicious. I love that the quality of the food has been constant for the length of time Southern, Grace has been in operation. Keep up the good cooking Southern, Grace!! I shall continue to be a customer as long as you keep that consistency, my taste buds and my tummy have come to love and look forward to every time I visit.

Great food and amazing staff. Very attentive with suggestions from menu, refills, etc.read more

I'm not sure what makes this place the most amazing spot - the staff, or the food! Both are out of…read morethis world! I visited twice this weekend, and both times, the staff accommodated my weird asks! I almost never order an entree except to split, and for brunch Saturday, the bartender allowed me to order a single waffle and some of the most amazing cream on the side (on the menu with the dessert waffle). Perfect portion and I swooned! All my beverages were fresh and tasty, but my favorite snack of the trip was their chips And guacamole. I took the extra chips (made fresh) and they were still crispy the next day. MAGIC!

Nothing like a restaurant that makes good food and drinks. Cedar was no exception as they executed…read moreboth. Ivy was the server who provided some great recommendations. The Goetta is a regional dish popular to the area comprised of sausage and potato fried like a smash burger. It was packed full of flavor and was nice and crispy. A must get was the biscuit and gravy. Unlike the southern style which is usually thick and creamy, this has amazing seasoning, plenty of the sausage crumble, and rich texture. The biscuit underneath was soft and savory and paired very well in this dish. The filet and eggs were perfectly cooked and had good flavor. There were a lot of diced potatoes on the plate to enjoy which was also well seasoned and crispy. Lastly the big easy omelette was very good. I do like the fact it was plated on top of a piece of toast. The biscuit and gravy along with the omelette gave a very strong New Orleans feeling. The cocktails also hit their mark. Local distillery Riff was the maker of the bourbon for the mule. I'm not sure of their lineup but it compared to Bulleit Bourbon. Very stable in the cocktail without being overpowering. The hard truth was a coffee with a punch and a great way to start a vacation morning. The restaurant was deceptively large from its outward appearance. There is lots of seating available and the tables moved swiftly. The large garage style doors allowed for full fresh air circulation and opens the brightness from the natural lighting. Being a corner location they were able to maximize on the opened interior dining experience. Overall 4.7 out of 5

Great atmosphere! Nice staff! I'll be back if I'm ever in Cincy again! The coquettes are a first…read moretime experience; they are delicious!

Love. If I can use…read moreone word to describe my experience at Soul Secret, that's it. Love Amore Besotted Take great people (Melinda was our server and the chef came out to check on us...more about Melinda later)... Combine it with great food and great ambiance, and you get this restaurant! The first thing that you notice when you walk in is that it feels like home. Some restaurants focus heavily on decor and leave a lot to be desired in terms of ambiance, the people, and the food. And in other restaurants, you walk in and feel as if you can stay there forever. This is one of those places. We stayed there for a while. Imagine being in Grandmom's living room with pictures on the wall and positive music playing in the background. That's Soul Secrets. The menu is big enough to make sure that everyone can find something to eat, but not so big that you will struggle to make a decision. From fried catfish and grits to French toast to salmon croquettes and the largest pancake on Earth, there is something for everyone. My niece ordered the French toast, and my sister ordered a special breakfast that came with a pancake, grits, eggs, potatoes, and sausage. I was still hungry from last night's meal, (and you can read about it in another review) so I just nibbled off of my sister's meal. The French toast came out first, and I could tell immediately that the chef knew what she was doing. The rest of the food came out, and again, they brought the largest pancake I've ever seen. My sister was treating us today, and I was glad that the menu prices were very reasonable. My niece said that the French toast was delicious, and she ate as much as she could. She has a dance performance tonight and made sure that she didn't put her show at risk. It was difficult for her because the food was so good, but she managed and took a box home to eat it later. Yes. My sister nibbled on everything else and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the grits and some of the pancake, and I have to say that it was very difficult for me to stop eating because it tasted so good. The pancake was perfectly cooked and fluffy with crispy bits on the edge. The grits were creamy and flavorful, even without cheese. The coffee was great. I had several cups. All in all, it was arguably better than any breakfast I've had at any restaurant that serves it. Now let's get back to Melinda. So often, the dining experience can be directly related to the person that greets you when you take a seat. Thank goodness we were greeted by Melinda. She has one of those energies and personalities that makes you feel as if she has been in your family for years. Funny and friendly, but at the same time, dedicated to making sure that you have a good experience. Again, I felt like I was at someone's home rather than in a restaurant. She called me a "troublemaker," which means that somehow she was seeing the 20-year-old version of me instead of the person that I am today. lol So here's the summary. If you are in Cincinnati and you want a great meal, there are many restaurants to choose from. It appears to be a pretty decent restaurant town. But if you want to FEEL Cincinnati, while feeling right at home and having one of the best meals ever- Soul Secrets is one for the ages.

second time in and the food has been solid both times. Had the rueben sandwich and fries this time…read more Was able to get a table inside right at lunch time on a week day, and the food came out pretty quickly. Sandwich was solid, and the fries were even better. Seemed like a twice fried situation as they were extra crispy. We enjoyed the retro cartoons playing on the TV at the bar too. Street parking right out front and along the road. Outdoor and indoor seating available.

Really exceptional place. The vibe was chill. The space was nicely presented. The menu had a wide…read morerange of options, including a series of vegetable-forward options. The staff were extremely friendly and seemed willing to actively engage with customers. It was a nice neighborhood spot. I ordered Mo's Rice Bowl, and it was generally well executed. Maybe a little bit more rice than it needed, but it presented a nice combination of flavors and textures. The pickled onions were well done. There was a relish type offering that rounded it out. The fried egg was a nice protein addition. Overall, the dish came together. I'm not from Cincinnati, but they apparently have a regional goetta dish. I ordered the vegan version, and it was really well done. Good on the restaurant for thinking to offer a vegan version. All told, this was an exception place. It's a little small, but there was essentially no wait to get a seat at the bar. Highly recommended.

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.

We ate there as a result of receiving a gift certificate from our son who raved about the place…read more We totally agree with his impression. Every aspect was wonderful, the service, our server Kelly, and food and exceptional. My husband had the crab cake. He commented it was the best he had ever eaten. I had the special of the day which was brisket with shrimp in a peach sauce, delicious and not real heavy, the veggies were really good. Unlike most patrons who exited with "doggie bags" (portions were generous), we ate all of our meals. Bread served was also delicious. The atmosphere was delightful, with the New Orleans vibe. Highly recommend. Can't wait to return. Make reservations!!!

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.