I can not say enough wonderful things about our meal last night - our last night in Cincinatti Our waiter Natalie was such a joy with helpful suggestions about the wine choices and menu items. Having food allergies she was great in helping me pick out the perfect entree aka GET the chicken. When we decided to pass on desert to go next store to Graeters she gracious suggested her favorite flavor. Her energy was infectious and we felt at home immediately. When the bill came we noticed there was an error and no questions asked she handled it promptly with the manager who came over himself to offer his apologies and make sure we were good. Which we were. He then came back and shyly asked us if we woudl wait a few minutes before we left - we had our suspicions why ans we're thrilled when they came true. While we were chatting the other manger had ran across the street and picked up a pint of Graeters famous raspberry chocolate ice cream. Frankly it was one of the sweetest things we have experienced. What a delicious amd gracious and beyond the call of duty surprise. Made our day. Walked back to our hotel with a huge smile made our trip to cincinatti and can't wait to go back the next time we are in town. read more

The Davidson - Graeters surprise - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Stopped in for a cocktail while waiting for Jeff Ruby's to open up. Service was great, the bartender who helped us was very friendly and made a great recommendation. She promptly made our drinks and was engaging. The venue is nicely decorated with an art deco vibe. Great place to stop for drinks! read more

The Davidson - Special Margarita - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

What a wonderful location. Great ambiance, lively atmosphere and wonderful service. The whole team was on point t and made me feel cared for. The bar menu is fantastic with wonderful tuna and chicken salad. Don't miss the fries read more

Beautiful upscale restaurant with affordable pricing and fair portions. I'm a huge Thunderdome restaurant group fan anyway. If you are trying to decide between here and somewhere else, go ahead and book here! The brick pressed chicken was the best dish I've had this year, 10/10. Enjoyed the olive oil martini. The espresso martini was a disappointment. The pasta was the least favorite at the table, very al dente and very little sausage. However, the flavor of the sauce was good. Complimentary birthday toast was the icing on the cake. I will definitely be back! read more

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For our 18th anniversary we chose to go to "The Davidson" . We were not disappointed It was a cold night but inside we were greeted by soft music, lights were shining, and our celebration was filled with delicious food and warm atmosphere. The food was exquisitely yummy, the Moroccan eggplant will be in our memories for a long time The portions of appetizers are shareable. Service was top notch. Can't wait to go back .... read more

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They Moroccan eggplant is out of this world. The service is perfect. I gave a 4 stars for the lack of variety read more

The Davidson - Moroccan eggplant - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Went early to take advantage of their happy hour. One of the first things I judge a restaurant on is their house wines. The Davidson's are very well chosen Italians that were all delicious, nicely priced and perfect with their food. We had the chips with dip, tuna tartare cones, tuna crudo, chicken paillard, a couple burgers (best I've had in ages) and the vodka rigatoni. Everything was beautifully prepared and presented, all very high quality dishes. Then the group ordered the desserts, panda cotta and pot e crème, both excellent. Ambiance and service were pretty much perfect. The Davidson has it all. We will be back. read more

Perhaps the most frustrating experiences are those that are good but not great. With some slight nudges, The Davidson can be great. But right now, it's only good. Because of that, I will not be in a rush to go back. I much prefer Pep & Delores. The decor is beautiful. The bar is inviting. The interior lighting is a bit odd, I don't think they get great light inside. We started with cocktails and sat at the bar. The martini had a slightly odd taste, might be the olive oil? The margarita was delightfully refreshing and salty. The fondue was just okay, the bread a bit over grilled for my taste. The apples that we were served were not crisp, but quite mealy. Overall, the cheese flavor could have been more strong. The tuna cones are nice. The cone is a cool design but doesn't impart much flavor. I would have preferred a cracker. The roasted vegetable salad was probably my favorite dish we had. The quinoa was so crunchy and perfectly cooked. Good beets and goat cheese. It wasn't anything revolutionary, but classic flavors that work every time. The French fries were good, but couldn't been crispier. Really liked the aioli. Service was attentive. The bartender was excellent and super friendly. The prices here are steep, making it a special occasion restaurant. For the price I think there are better options in Cincy. read more

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I took my daughter to The Davidson before a show at The Aronoff. We arrived at 5:30 on a Tuesday to an empty dining room, only to watch two hosts fumble with the reservation system until a manager stepped in. Once seated, the course of our meal was a study in lost timing: appetizers arrived well before our drinks, and other plates seemed to follow no discernible order. The unremarkable burger took a turn for the worse with an au poivre sauce that proved inedible, though at least they removed it from the check. The service needs a serious tune-up for the prices and ambiance they're aiming for. If you're heading to The Aronoff and want a solid meal, you can find a better spot. read more

Most of you know me for my brunch reviews but last night was a birthday dinner. Truly a great experience!! First time for all three of us and an excellent choice, as we discovered. Celebrating a friend's birthday and he chose the location. I had noted that on the reservation. Mario, our waiter, was excellent. Very personable and friendly. He noted that we were there for a birthday and brought us flutes of champagne. There was also a card which is a nice touch. Pacing of the meal was good and he was very attentive. The birthday diner chose the scallops which looked great. He said they were very good! "T" saw them on the menu and had also seen reviews touting them. Definitely a good choice and he thoroughly enjoyed them. My other friend and I had the pesto-yum. Had to check out the dessert menu and settled on the pot de crème; talk about presentation. We were seated by the window which was fun for people-watching. And even though there was a larger party across the aisle from us we barely heard them. read more

The Davidson - Pot de crème - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Went on a crowded Saturday evening. We had reservations and were seated in a timely manner. The cocktails were good- Especially their house old fashioned. The food is moderately priced and very good. We really enjoyed sharing the fondue appetizer. Their house-named cocktail- The Davidson Old Fashioned was excellent. The pork chop was huge (Think leftovers). The only downside was the seating was rather cramped. read more

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The food was the star here for sure! Service was decent and the decor was nice. Unfortunately it was really hot inside! We were inside, but they had the doors open to the patio and it was steamy outside, which made it uncomfortable inside. I'd suggest closing those off when it is that hot. In addition, our table was way too small. We had to put our bread basket on the bench when sharing the eggplant. Consider making the tables for 2 bigger. The bellini spritz was refreshing and delicious. The eggplant appetizer lived up to the hype! We especially loved the table side presentation. Then we split the vodka pasta and scallops. Both were very good! I plan to come back with more friends and try more of the menu because it was great quality food and didn't break the bank. Would love to see desserts added. read more

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I enjoy The Davidson, however, it quickly became lack luster. It started off strong from the gates. Excellent location, lively, and an enjoyable menu. A bit loud. We found after the first few months, getting a reservation has become easier. The menu, while delicious, is static. Same options, and, therefore, repeat visits fail to have any more of a sense of novelty. Gotta have a special, or, change with the seasons. In addition to the static menu is a completely absent dessert menu. I do not think I need to explain the failure with this, or, point out how easy it is to make a delicious ice cream Sunday. I hope these folks keep on the strong work but modify as neccessary. read more

Bartenders great. When seated service started out well but fell off because I don't think they had enough help on a Sunday night. Eggplant excellent and bread delicious. Chopped salad very shareable. Not a fan of the veal. And it looked so good. Very dry and tough. Still a good place to dine. Nice ambiance. read more

Hands down one of THE BEST restaurants downtown. I cannot stand this enough. We had such a great experience and can't wait to go back. We were running late because my now fiancé had proposed and they not only were super accommodating they had champagne ready for us when we arrived. But let's talk about the service. Everyone was so friendly from the moment we walked in the door. You will see people rave about this in other reviews and it is absolutely memorable. This is how you should feel when you dine at a restaurant like this. Splendid job truly. Ok what you are actually here for: the food reviews We had been told to get the scallops. Let me say this as loudly as possible. GET THE SCALLOPS. Oh my wow. There are no words to describe how incredible this dish is. It absolutely blew me away. It was phenomenal. I don't know that I could go back and not get this dish again. It was so good. We also got the moroccan roasted eggplant. This was also very good. A twist to how pepp & d does theirs and different flavors so we had to try it. The mushroom bisque. not enough raves for this show stopper. It was delicious. Another top recommendation when you dine here. I also loved the vibe of the restaurant. It was stunning inside. Great lighting and decor. Very comfortable. Just overall. 11/10. Go here. Do it. You will be happy you did. We can't wait to come back! read more

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the davidson is starting to become one of my absolute favorite restaurants in cincinnati-- the food NEVER misses & you're guaranteed great service as soon as you walk through the double doors! bathrooms are always pristine, music is fitting for the space & never too loud (albeit the crosswalk next to the patio can be a bit obnoxious at times LOL), and the aesthetics of the restaurant make you feel as though you're in a city like chicago or nyc. gorgeous! gorgeous! gorgeous! will continue returning here & recommending it to anyone who will let me ramble on about it! read more

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We had an amazing meal at the Davidson this afternoon before the Bengals game. First, we really enjoyed the atmosphere with the open-air bistro on such a beautiful day. And then everything we ordered was fantastic - the hamachi with the citrus was an explosive bite, and the peach burrata with prosciutto was a perfect combination over the warm bread. For mains, we had the burger with Gruyère and the vodka rigatoni. Both were delicious (and the rigatoni was truly iconic!!). But above all, we appreciated the staff and chefs who made our experience feel extra special, checking in to ensure everything was perfect and paced to our liking while balancing the hustle of a game day crowd with warmth and hospitality. We'll be back! read more

The Davidson - Hamachi, Arancini, Peach Burrata, Carpaccio; Burger, Vodka Rigatoni - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This restaurant is owned by the thunderdome company that owns local Cincinnati favorites such as Bakersfield, the eagle, and pepp & delores. They source their chefs from pepp & delores and the hard rock cafe. We came on a Sunday for dinner service and were greeted by two servers opening the doors to the entrance of the restaurant. It was tastefully decorated and made good use of subtle amber lighting all throughout the restaurant. We noticed lively music playing overhead and was immediately enveloped in such a exquisite ambiance. The service was top notch. Water was always topped off. The server checked up on us regularly, and answered questions about the establishment and the chefs cooking our food. We got the clam casino and the tuna tartare cones. Each item's presentation was so distinct and intriguing. The tartare came out on a set of 5 cones, each cone had the top stuffed with tuna and bottom with creme friache. The flavor blended beautifully and I felt like I was eating the end of an actual ice cream cone. The clams came out as a set of 8 and the calabrian chili carried the flavor of the clams and the breadcrumbs provided a contrast to the soft texture of the clams. The entrees were the brick pressed chicken and the vodka rigatoni. The chicken portions were very generous and came garnished with mushroom, bacon, carrot, mashed potato all surrounded with a Bordeaux jus. Each individual garnish added and balanced out the dish. The chicken was moist, juicy and filled with so much flavor. It was perfectly cooked even the chicken's skin had its own distinct flavor. The vodka rigatoni was cooked to al denti and was amazing in itself but could not compare to the chicken. We also got to try out their Moroccan roasted eggplant completely free of charge and it was prepared in the kitchen and the final touches were done at table side. The server explained each step and provided us with the bread to try it. It was a rich blend of herbs, tahini and harissa oil all smeared on a sourdough bread and was unexpectedly delicious. The davidson is going into its 3 week after opening and has become my favorite restaurant in Cincinnati at the time of publishing this review. I will be back to try every menu item. I expect this restaurant to rise to the very top among the fine dining establishments and have long months wait-list in the near future. The level service, cleanliness, ambiance, food and experience make The Davidson a must try for all those living in Cincinnati. read more

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I didn't know much about the Davidson but when my fiancé brought me here for a surprise birthday dinner I was blown away! It's a beautiful decorated, sleek but approachable space. Waiting on the table was a birthday card from their team with a handwritten message, a truly personal touch! We were with another couple and the atmosphere was perfect for an evening of catching up with friends, it never felt too loud inside (neither from music nor other diners) but we also never felt like we were too loud. Now for the food! We started with French onion dip and the fondue, both highly recommended and perfect sized to share them both among 4. For my main, I ordered the scallops which I can't recommend enough! Perfectly cooked, and the butter sauce was amazing. I've never had anything like the giant "croutons" that soaked up the sauce. I didn't want it to end! The service was perfect all night and a complimentary champagne toast was brought out which was a very nice touch. The prices were very fair, definitely a good value for the quality of food, service and the space. One thing to note is there isn't much street parking in this area since it's on Fountain square, so be prepared to use the Fountain Square Garage. Everyone left full, happy, and looking forward to another visit to the Davidson. read more

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The char-grilled chicken and the bread and butter were wonderful, but lunch service took over an hour to get our food. It makes it difficult for a business lunch. read more

We managed to get a Saturday night reservation at The Davidson in downtown Cincinnati. It's a busy night and we were quickly seated near the "Cooks serving window " but were very surprised to find it peaceful even though servers were picking up meals right behind us. We enjoyed cocktails and on the servers advice tried the Roasted Eggplant appetizer. Designed for four, the freshly roasted eggplant was served table side, seasoned and prepared served with slightly charred bakery bread. It was a big hit. Three of us had the in house made pasta, (sausage on the side) per our request, and a vodka pasta. We were hoping for the pasta with clams but they had pulled it from the menu. It's hard to get clams in the winter. The Pork Chop was a Two boned, cooked to perfection with a great sauce on it. The Kale veggie was tasty. The place is pleasant, Noise level low enough that we could talk at the table. Service was first rate. Very attentive We felt the prices were reasonable. A good experience. read more

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Amazing service, food and wine here! I came here with some coworkers and we shared an app and wine and all got entrees that we loved. I love pesto everything and this plate was a tad spicy for my liking, but I still enjoyed it and you can probably ask for no red pepper flakes if you don't like spicy either! Our server was knowledgeable and attentive which made the experience that much better read more

The Davidson - Pesto pasta - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Was hyped to try this place and had a great time! We sat at the bar and had a couple cocktails, the fondue, and the vodka pasta. Everything was great! The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu even though it was brand new. I definitely want to come back and try more! This is a nice space that's a great addition to the Fountain Square area. Looking forward to warmer weather with patio dining too! read more

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The newest addition to the Thunderdome Restaurant Group lineup, the Davidson stands shoulder to shoulder with the best of them. Our experience from start to finish was impeccable. We arrived as a party of two with no reservation. Mind you, this was only one day since their official opening and today happened to be Valentines Day. They were busy. But even in this context, we were warmly greeted as soon as we walked in. They are able to accommodate us, and got us seated within 5 minutes. This restaurant itself is beautiful. Plenty of seating for diners on the left with a peak into the kitchen. Full bar and covered patio seating on the right, which will be perfect when it converts to open air in the spring/summer. Dim light fixtures, brass table lamps, and contemporary design provide the space for a cozy date night or special occasion. We started the night with the Davidson Old Fashioned and "Faux"-jito Mocktail at the recommendation of our server. Both were refreshing and enjoyable. Levi, our server, was amazing. He was enthusiastic, helpful, and always available with recommendations. He really made our experience here fun and special. For appetizers, we opted for the Hamachi and Baked Alpine Cheese Fondue to start. The Hamachi was fresh with the citrus and basil, the quality of the fish was good. The fondue was on another level. Savory, creamy, nutty. Toasted Allez sourdough bread with this dish was absolute perfection. Apple and endive helped cut the richness. For mains, we got the Spicy Vodka Rigatoni and Brick Pressed Chicken "Au Vin" -- Both were delicious. The rigatoni was perfectly Al dente. The spicy sausage and peas were a welcome addition. The chicken tasted as good as it looked: chicken moist throughout, buttery smooth mashed potatoes, and expertly prepared sauce. You just got to try it, I'd come back just to have this again. The Davidson is a very welcome addition to the already stellar lineup of Thunderdome restaurants. It provides the same level of service and quality you expect from the others, yet provides a menu that is different enough to distinguish itself and stand on its own. Bravo, we look forward to dining here again soon. read more

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This place was the best! The food was delicious. And the service was top notch. I cannot wait to return to Cincinnati and come back for round 2! We had the eggplant for an app (awesome! And they cut it and make it table side), and two different pasta dishes. Both amazing. Our server was Chet who made us feel so welcomed and gave us all the food recommendations. And the manager Brad heard we were having a difficult start to our trip and tried to help. Seriously next level service! read more

Stumbled in not too long before closing... friendly waitstaff. Our meals were well prepared. I'll need to come back to try the drink selection. Oddly, only two dessert offerings. No biggie for me. I really enjoyed the ambiance. Returning and definitely for the bread & butter service. Two of the three butters were unlike many I've had elsewhere. read more

Simple menu but exquisite. Excellent option for lunch or dinning in the middle of Downtown. The place is cozy; the menu is simple but delicious dishes. The home made pasta and the menu were tasty. The appetizer most popular was eggplant in the way never tasted. Very good. Our waitress Mason provided a very good table service. A good option to think! read more

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always love coming to the davidson for dinner! the ambiance, location, and service is always spectacular. the drinks here are great - they have a fun twist on the classics like a spicy marg, G&T, and dirty martini. the vodka rigatoni is a MUST as well as the mashed potatoes, arancini, and italian chopped salad. will be back for sure !! read more

The Davidson - grilled chicken burger and mashed potatoes - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Gorgeous decor and delicious food! The Moroccan Eggplant was the star of the show - they dress it table side. If you also like pesto a little more lemony, the pesto pasta here is a must-try! Overall the prices are also reasonable too considering the fine dining experience FYI the fountain square parking garage is right across the street but parking cost is not validated read more

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It's a really beautiful atmosphere, and the staff are very accommodating. We waited quite a while to order our drinks so they were gracious enough to bring us a free appetizer. The eggplant was decent. The grilled bread it was served with was excellent. For the price point, The food just wasn't anything spectacular. I ended up getting a grilled chicken sandwich, I was going to get a pork chop, but I'm really not a fan of rosemary. I don't ever order "sandwiches "for dinner. And at $20 it was a rather flavorless chicken sandwich. I cut it in half. The waitress went to box it and I never got it back. All in all $20 was a hell of a price for half of a chicken sandwich and some severely over seasoned fries I love a good seasoned fry, but these were just salty to the point of being inedible. With three of us at the table, we couldn't finish one order of fries. They really aren't a lot of gluten-free or vegetarian options for our friend who is with us. Again, it's a beautiful restaurant, and the staff are very pleasant, but the food itself really wasn't fantastic read more

I still dream about the Moroccan roasted eggplant from The Davidson. Possibly the most underrated restaurant in the city!

Scallops were cooked to perfection, and arancini was some of my favorite. Service was top tier- Mario, Ella, and Gerret were wonderful and took such great care of us, we had such a fun time! Perfect addition to our Cincy-cation for a wedding! read more

Food is fine well and the staff gives impeccable service! Nothing new about the decor still looks like the old Royce.

Went here for happy hour on a Saturday night after finding out they do happy hour till 6pm on Saturday's ! How could you beat that? I sat at the bar and it was pretty busy but the bartender was attentive. The food and drinks were great and they had a good but smaller selection for happy hour. Would definitely return. read more

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This place is gorgeous, the ambiance is very fun and fancy. The black and white straws are so cute. Not sure if I ordered well ? Ordered the eggplant and it was unsightly, would not order again. MIL ordered rare burger and it came as medium well. read more

Really continuing to enjoy this place. We recently went and had a great Happy Hour experience. Would recommend everything we had. Bellini Spritz Margherita Mushroom Bisque Roasted Vegetable Salad Yellowfin Tuna Vodka Rigatoni read more

We came for happy hour and had bar bites on a Saturday. Absolutely think it's a great idea that they have Friday through Monday bar bite pricing. The house white red in prosecco were absolutely delicious for $5. A few of their cocktails were $10 and draft beer $5. The mushroom bisque is a very large portion. The fries were tasty The burger was fantastic. The atmosphere and vibe of the restaurant was super classy. The music was a touch too loud. Bartenders and staff were super sweet. read more

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We had a good experience at the Davidson. It's lively without being crazy loud. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable on the menu but it did take her a while to get over to us to take our drink order. Speaking of drinks, they have a good cocktail and wine menu and my husband said their old fashioned was the best he'd ever had - strong praise! For apps we had burrata and peaches and tuna tartar in cute little waffle cones and both were delicious. At the waitress suggestion I ordered the scallops and they were good but a bit salty. We ordered desserts to share and both were just ok, I wish they had more variety (there are only two) and something more special than panna cotta and chocolate mousse given the unusual choices on their cocktail and food menus. All in all though we really enjoyed it! read more

What a delicious and delightful experience! I came with friends on a Thursday night. It was busy in a good way- there was a buzz in the atomosphere without it being too loud to enjoy conversation. We started off enjoying the bread with not one, not two, but three different butters! The shallot butter was delightful and the others were good as well. I moved on to the famed scallops grenobloise for the main course. They deserve their lofty reputation. The way the tangy brown butter sauce soaked the accompanying crouton had me hooked. I cleared my plate! My sweet friend shared some of her frites and they made this potato lover a very happy girl- fluffy inside and crisp exterior, as it should be. The lack of dessert was notable. The flavors are so savory that even a little truffle or cookie with the check felt so needed. I hear this will be rectified soon. Hoping to return for the eggplant or a happy hour burger. read more

The Davidson - Frites - French Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We were out late drinking downtown and because of the Reds game, everything was packed. We were able to secure a reservation here at 9pm on a Saturday night. A bit late, but we just decided to keep drinking until then. Our table was ready on time. Service was great. We started with the clams casino and the roasted eggplant appetizer. The eggplant appetizer is prepared tableside- they slice it open, loosen up all the flesh, dust it with sumac, tahini and fresh parsley and give you a spoon and toasted bread alongside. Very nice! The burger was the best thing we ordered. Huge party, prepared medium, with gooey cheese and a delicious bun. The patty is clearly handmade, fresh. It was so good. The fries and sauce were nothing special. In fact, ranch or ketchup would've been preferred over their sweet remoulade like sauce. The vongole pasta was good. Small portion. Needed salt. The pasta itself was the best part- tasted homemade. The gnocchi were small and delicate, the pesto sauce was ok. My recommendation- get the burger. It's phenomenal. Bathrooms are clean. No parking lot- street parking vs garage parking. Nice date night spot. read more

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