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Never been but am eager to try it. Is it new? The reason I ask is that I've been under the impression for over a decade that the premier Italian in Cincinnati is Baressi's in the Silverton/Deer Park area. I'll put it this way, I've not had better Italian in my lifetime.
I will corroborate that just about any Jeff Ruby's restaurant is sure to please. I have friends who are from Cincinnati and now live in New York. When I visit them we often frequent what they say are the finest steak houses in NYC. I always leave unimpressed simply because I feel that I have tasted better from any one of Ruby's establishments. For the atmosphere I would recommend The Precinct. For convenience and perhaps a less aristocratic feel try Carlo & Johnny.
By the way, both of the above are going to be well over $50 per plate and significantly more if you want cocktails or wine. If you want to slum it up a little and still taste Cincinnati cuisine might I suggest Lenhardt's/Christy's across from the University of Cincinnati. They have some of the best potato pancakes in the city (be sure to ask them for both sour cream and apple sauce and have them keep them in the fryer a touch longer than usual to get added crispiness). Another favorite of mine is their Goetta grilledcheese. It's far from healthy but if heaven isn't a Goetta grilledcheese and a beer then heaven can wait.
I also believe Barresi's is one of the best, if not the best Italian restaurants in the area. One of the best, period. I didn't suggest it for these visitors because it would be more out of the way, and there's nothing special about the ambience. Yes, Primavista can seem a little dated in some ways, but I was recommending it based on the total experience including food quality I've always been happy with.
I've only been to the downtown Jeff Ruby's. Fine steakhouse food, but I personally object to spending that kind of money to have a TV tuned to a sports station blaring off to one side of a very crowded dining room. Obviously many patrons think that's just fine, though.
I don't like going to Ruby's places because the owner is such a classless loudmouth. Which is a shame, because they have great steak and good prices for what you get.
I also believe Barresi's is one of the best, if not the best Italian restaurants in the area.
I've only been to the downtown Jeff Ruby's. Fine steakhouse food, but I personally object to spending that kind of money to have a TV tuned to a sports station blaring off to one side of a very crowded dining room. Obviously many patrons think that's just fine, though.
I just remember when Barresi's was a pony keg across from a coal yard when I was a kid. Yes I have been there a few times and felt I paid plenty for what I received.
If you have only been to Jeff Ruby's downtown, trust me his other restaurants like the Precinct are all different. The Precinct will not seem like a sports bar. But it is expensive. I find it hard to justify that much for a meal. Carlo and Johnny in Montgomery is even more so.
I have not been to Scotti's for years. As I remember it is much more traditional tomato based fare than Barresi's which is what I like. I know years ago it was a cash only establishment which once embarrassed me significantly.
No, years ago (I don't know about today) Scotti's would not take any cards. My boss was in town and we took out 8-10 people. When told about no cards, none of us had enough cash between us to cover drink and food bill. No problem, just bring money in tomorrow.
Reminds me of a place in Rockford Illinois which was in a seedy western part of the city. The name was Maria's and on the ouside it looked like the typical neighborhood pizza joint, both carryout and dine-in. We had asked some of the local's for a reference to a good dinner restaurant, steak preferred. They said Maria's but warned us when we arrived to ignore the front and simply state we were there for dinner.
So we did and were escorted to a rear, good sized, dining room. Our first visit we had a group of 10-12 people, which they readily accommodated. Then we found out the local custom. It was simply called the Grand Dinner, the only variation being which style of steak, ribeye, sirloin, strip, porterhouse, filet you ordered. Everything else was served family style and you took what you wanted. It started off with an anti-pasto salad where I could have just stopped there. But the food just kept coming.
Again, those who recommended it failed to amphasize it was a cash only place and we failed to take notice of the sign over the door. We are all traveling on business and very used to living on credit cards.
When informed it was cash only - OOPS! The guy who was our project manager asked what we could do and they simply said do you have a business card? He whipped it out and they said we will send you a bill. A bunch of people from Cincinnati they do not know from the man in the moon and they will send him a bill? They did, he paid and turned it in for reimbursement and everything was fine.
We left there the first night with bags of food which looked like we had gone to the grocery. Fortunately we were staying in a Ramada Inn where we had negotiated mini-fridges and microwaves in all of the rooms. So the food was used up.
Needless to say, over the next year and a half the project dragged out, Maria's was our favorite haunt. Where else can you dine and just say send me a bill? The food was great, the atmosphere was great, and us who where there absolutely loved it.
So tell me how many outfits today will let you off the hook with a simple send you a bill? I will venture zero! I distinctly recognize the pre-global induistries were a different era. It was an era I enjoyed and am 100% glad I matured in. So if a Scotti's would grant you an extra day to pay the bill? Don't know about today, but if they will Viva Scotti's.
Several years ago my daughter and son-in-law were leaving for a tour-of-duty in Germany, he is regular army. The wife decided to give them a going away party. She rented a large party tent and the outfit also supplied folding tables and chairs. We have a large flat back yard which was just ideal. She asked the kids what they wanted to eat and they said what we cannot get since we are no longer in Cincinnati - Montgomery Inn and Skyline. She asked which and they said both. So she ordered both. On the afternoon of the part the Montgomery Inn guy shows up first with his traveling unit. I showed him where to drive around the side yard to where he had good access to the tent. Some minutes later here comes the Skyline guy with his unit, same ritual. I can tell they are both looking at each other kind of puzzled. I said no mistake we have ordered from both of you for this shindig.
We had about 150 people total. Plenty of beer and wine plus the Montgomery Inn Ribs and Skyline Ways and Coneys. I know nobody went hungry. Wanting to have a military feel we had invited members of our youngest daughter's Army Reserve unit who are local to attend. Realizing it was probably going to get a little loud, we also invited most of the surrounding neighbors.
The people from Montgomery Inn and Skyline were fantastic. When they realized it was a deployment party they really got into it. Montgomery had brought a couple tubs full of Graeter's ice cream cups for desert. The Skyline guy would say go over and get some of those saratoga chips and I will make chili fries out of them for you. One of the Montgomery servers came up to me and asked if it would be OK if they got a 3-way to eat. We had a small combo for music. My youngest daughter had her drum set and her husband his sax so they joined it.
It was a great time. Just the idea of Montgomery Inn Ribs and Skyline Ways threw people for a loop. Whether it was the party atmosphere or whatever that food just tasted fabulous, warming tables or not. I finally inquired of the servers they were free to go. They replied you ordered the food and our services come with it. Do you mind after we pack up if we just kind of hang around for awhile, these army stories are quite interesting?
As you might anticipate a rented tent, tables, and chairs for 150 people itself was not cheap. Then throw in Montgomery Inn Ribs and Skyline for the same. My wife did not attempt to break it down as she said she didn't know who would want what so she told each of them for 150. We had more damn food left over. Skyline surprised me and had some tubs they could mix the chili and spaghetti in and freeze it. Montgomery Inn just did it the simple way - gave us the stainless steel warming trays struffed full of ribs which we covered with foil and froze. We had a whole lot of both over the following days/weeks. Had to spread some of it around town at my son's and brother's just to get enough freezer space.
So we have had our fling at having two of Cincinnati's icons served at home, both at the same time. People can say what they want about both, but don't say too much negative in front of the military or they may pop you in the mouth.
The same daughter and son-in-law are now on assignment in Hawaii. She says Dad there is some very good food over here, but send me several packets of Cincinnnati Style Chili mix as here is nothing remotely close to it here. And while you are at it, see if you can smuggle a couple of sacks of Dorsel's pin outs. It is getting close to Christmas and if I can make a couple batches of our family goetta recipe for the unit's holliday breakfast I can guarantee instant acceptance for Josh and I.
Several years ago my daughter and son-in-law were leaving for a tour-of-duty in Germany, he is regular army. The wife decided to give them a going away party. She rented a large party tent and the outfit also supplied folding tables and chairs. We have a large flat back yard which was just ideal. She asked the kids what they wanted to eat and they said what we cannot get since we are no longer in Cincinnati - Montgomery Inn and Skyline. She asked which and they said both. So she ordered both. On the afternoon of the part the Montgomery Inn guy shows up first with his traveling unit. I showed him where to drive around the side yard to where he had good access to the tent. Some minutes later here comes the Skyline guy with his unit, same ritual. I can tell they are both looking at each other kind of puzzled. I said no mistake we have ordered from both of you for this shindig.
We had about 150 people total. Plenty of beer and wine plus the Montgomery Inn Ribs and Skyline Ways and Coneys. I know nobody went hungry. Wanting to have a military feel we had invited members of our youngest daughter's Army Reserve unit who are local to attend. Realizing it was probably going to get a little loud, we also invited most of the surrounding neighbors.
The people from Montgomery Inn and Skyline were fantastic. When they realized it was a deployment party they really got into it. Montgomery had brought a couple tubs full of Graeter's ice cream cups for desert. The Skyline guy would say go over and get some of those saratoga chips and I will make chili fries out of them for you. One of the Montgomery servers came up to me and asked if it would be OK if they got a 3-way to eat. We had a small combo for music. My youngest daughter had her drum set and her husband his sax so they joined it.
It was a great time. Just the idea of Montgomery Inn Ribs and Skyline Ways threw people for a loop. Whether it was the party atmosphere or whatever that food just tasted fabulous, warming tables or not. I finally inquired of the servers they were free to go. They replied you ordered the food and our services come with it. Do you mind after we pack up if we just kind of hang around for awhile, these army stories are quite interesting?
As you might anticipate a rented tent, tables, and chairs for 150 people itself was not cheap. Then throw in Montgomery Inn Ribs and Skyline for the same. My wife did not attempt to break it down as she said she didn't know who would want what so she told each of them for 150. We had more damn food left over. Skyline surprised me and had some tubs they could mix the chili and spaghetti in and freeze it. Montgomery Inn just did it the simple way - gave us the stainless steel warming trays struffed full of ribs which we covered with foil and froze. We had a whole lot of both over the following days/weeks. Had to spread some of it around town at my son's and brother's just to get enough freezer space.
So we have had our fling at having two of Cincinnati's icons served at home, both at the same time. People can say what they want about both, but don't say too much negative in front of the military or they may pop you in the mouth.
The same daughter and son-in-law are now on assignment in Hawaii. She says Dad there is some very good food over here, but send me several packets of Cincinnnati Style Chili mix as here is nothing remotely close to it here. And while you are at it, see if you can smuggle a couple of sacks of Dorsel's pin outs. It is getting close to Christmas and if I can make a couple batches of our family goetta recipe for the unit's holliday breakfast I can guarantee instant acceptance for Josh and I.
Great story! My brother is also stationed in Hawaii. A nice stationed point after spending hell in Afghanistan. Luckily, his next deployment takes him to Okinawa. Big thanks to your family for serving as well.
So I am very interested in Cincinnati's chili history. Cincy certainly surprised me on the food front. Being from Cleveland and growing up in Italian and Puerto Rican families, you have high expectations for food. At our Giant Eagle's (NE Ohio's version of Kroger) I see skyline chili packets. What other types of famous chili joints are in Cincinnati? I was half tempted to buy myself a packet, but I figured I would have the real deal when I am back in Cincy. I recently heard Cincy chili is an acquired taste...
Cincinnati Chili is defintely an acquired taste. Virtually all of it was started by Greek immigrants to Cincinnati, the earliest (Empress) dating back to 1922. Compared to western style, home-on-the-range chili it is not chili but rather a meat sauce served on spaghetti. But don't try and convince any of us in Cincinnati it is not chili, as we may consume molre gallons of it per year than any single variation in Texas.
I like my Ways at least 5. Spaghetti, chili, beans, onions and piled high with grated cheese. That's a 5-way. Now if the chili is the right watery consistency you must add oyster crackers. So are we up to a 6-way? Then don't forget a liberal sprinkling of Louisiana style hot pepper sauce. And recently we have some diced jalapeno mixed in with the cheese. So what is this, a 7-way?
However many Ways you like, it grows on you.
Another definitely Cincinnati food is goetta. Hang around here long enough and you will be besieged with goetta recipes, mine included. There are always arguments concerning where it originated, but I will give you a clue, not in England.
Great story! My brother is also stationed in Hawaii. A nice stationed point after spending hell in Afghanistan. Luckily, his next deployment takes him to Okinawa. Big thanks to your family for serving as well.
So I am very interested in Cincinnati's chili history. Cincy certainly surprised me on the food front. Being from Cleveland and growing up in Italian and Puerto Rican families, you have high expectations for food. At our Giant Eagle's (NE Ohio's version of Kroger) I see skyline chili packets. What other types of famous chili joints are in Cincinnati? I was half tempted to buy myself a packet, but I figured I would have the real deal when I am back in Cincy. I recently heard Cincy chili is an acquired taste...
Great story, KJ, with the Montgomery Inn and Skyline doing their thing! I usually go with the 5-way, too, and almost always some cheese coneys. Last time I was in Cincinnati, I had to pick-up a bottle of the Skyline hot sauce. There's something a little unique about the Skyline sauce. It tastes a little more of "vinegar" and something else, as compared to something such as Tabasco, at least to me.
WRosado, besides Skyline, I enjoy Camp Washington Chili and Blue Ash, too. Camp Washington is just off I-75 at the Hopple exit. They've been around forever but relocated to a new building, several years back. I really love the Clifton Skyline. It's in an older building, in the Clifton Gaslight area, right across from Burnett Park. It has a lot of memories for me since it was a favorite haunt during my college days at UC. It seems to still pack in the UC students.
I love the threads from visitors asking for restaurant suggestions. I always discover a new place that I have not tried. I am definitely adding Pine Club and Barresi's to my list. I keep forgetting to add Christy' and Lenhardt's to the list - I definitely want to try this.
WRosado, check out this thread for a pretty thorough list of chili parlors in Cincinnati:
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I want some barbecue from the City View sooooooo bad right now ...
