Foodies all love fancy and expensive food but delicious food doesn’t have to be super pricey. Fine dining isn’t our only option. There are some excellent budget-friendly places in the Cincy Tri-State area and 8 of them are listed here. Chef says: Here are some nice mid-tier eateries.
- Annabel’s
- French inspired breakfast, brunch, and lunch place.
- Mt. Lookout; East side.
- Good: Food is sooooo phenomenal. Croissants and muffins are worth the trip.
- Bad: Parking, place is small and they don’t take reservations, hours are limited.
- Chef says: Bakery products are amazing. Eggs and crepes are delicate – the way they are supposed to be enjoyed. Excellent food in a slightly hippy atmosphere.
- A Tavola
- Italian
- Two locations – Madeira; East side, and Cincy OTR.
- Good: Very fresh ingredients. Wagyu (aka American Kobe beef) meatballs with goat cheese are soooo good. The house tomato sauce is worth paying for extra. Bacon-wrapped dates keep me coming back.
- Bad: The only pizza is thin crust and thinner crust. Not much on the menu for kids. No pasta.
- Chef says: Variety of unusual beers and cocktails. Food is excellent but servings are small.
- A Tavola Website
- La Petite Pierre
- French bistro with American influences.
- Madeira; East side.
- Good: Food quality is excellent. Tartes are good (they are really high-quality flatbread pizzas). Burgers and croque madame in the same place – yea! The have a takeout option called “Fill the Pot” – my favorite.
- Bad: While they change the menu often, the choices feel repetitive.
- Chef says: Excellent wine options and pairings with an ever changing selection. Menu is limited but everything is made using traditional French techniques.
- La Petite Pierre Website
- Taste of Belgium
- Belgian waffles and chicken
- Downtown Cincy OTR on Vine St.; in the cool restaurant section.
- Good: Waffle & Chicken dish is a must-have. Maple syrup and hot sauce together, yum. Chicken is super good. Salads are way yummy. Kid friendly.
- Bad: No parking. No valet. No reservations. Wait is long for weekend brunch.
- Chef says: Strong vibrant flavors. Both spicy and sweet dishes. Full bar. You can watch them make the waffles in-house. Waffles and other bakery items are available to-go.
- Taste of Belgium Website
- Maribelle’s
- Contemporary American
- Oakley; East side
- Good: Appetizers, sides, and cocktails are worth the trip. Chicken wings, fried brussel sprouts, and mac & cheese are excellent. Kid friendly.
- Bad: Specials are the only entrees, which are hit-or-miss.
- Chef says: Creative cocktails. Kitchen is actually in the same room with the dining area, which makes for easy viewing. Appetizers and sides are Awesome! Main dishes are hit or miss.
- Maribelle’s Website
- Relish Modern Tapas
- Mediterranean
- Mason, Northeast
- Good: Chorizo in medjool dates is crave-worthy. Full bar.
- Bad: Empanadas (spanish calzones/ravioli) were mediocre.
- Chef says: All drinks, including beer and wine, are served in water cups – weird. Prices are appropriate for the small/tapa sized portions.
- Relish Modern Tapas Website
- Quan Hapa
- Asian street food (aka finger and simple foods)
- Downtown Cincy OTR on Vine St.; in the cool restaurant section.
- Good: Ramen soup bowls were tasty. Japanese pancake appetizer was great (like a potato pancake with your choice of onions, bacon, mushrooms, and eggs).
- Bad: No parking. No valet. Picnic style seating. The flavor of the wings appetizer was odd.
- Chef says: Flavorful without being overly spicy. Fresh ingredients and the meats are higher quality than the typical Asian fare. Across the street from donut place — for dessert afterwards.
- Quan Hapa Website
- Saigon Cafe
- Vietnamese
- Hyde Park, East side
- Good: Pho (noodle soup). Chicken curry stir fry is the chef’s choice. Full bar. Specialty drink menu is good. Kid friendly.
- Bad: Parking is limited, but parking across the street is available.
- Chef says: Doesn’t feel like a Vietnamese place because there is a melding of Pacific Rim cuisines. They have sushi alongside curry and Chinese-style dishes. Higher grade ingredients make any dish a good choice.
- Saigon Cafe Website