Cincinnati Nightlife (Cleveland, Washington, Blue Ash: credit, public schools, living)

[fleetiebelle]

Cincinnati chili isn't really "chili", per se. It's more like a spicy beef soup mixture. It's an acquired taste.

It's not chili in the Texas sense, but it is chili. Cincinnati Chili was invented by Greeks--if you've ever had pastisio, it's a similar flavor.

[Ohiogirl81]

Chili, chili, chili ... Don't wanna start a fight here, but the best chili is at the independent chili parlors, including: Price Hill Chili (my favorite), Blue Ash Chili, Camp Washington Chili, Pleasant Ridge Chili (one of the best after-hours scenes in town; killer gravy, cheese and onion fries -- just the thing to start out your hangover with! ). Chili Time in St. Bernard is OK. Some people swear by Dixie Chili in Kentucky. Empress is the original chili parlor, but I dunno if it still has any open.

Originally Posted by stx12499

If there was a 24 hour hookah bar in Cincy that would be great too!

If you'd have asked me 20 years ago, I could have helped you with that! LOL

Originally Posted by cincyUK

Don't TRASH the nati!

Only if you don't repeat stupid advertising slogans.

[fleetiebelle]

Blue Ash Chili

Funny thing is, I grew up in Blue Ash and we ate at Blue Ash Chili all the time, but no one in my family ever ate anything there other than their huge double decker sandwiches. Maybe next time I'm home I'll actually try their chili.

[Pathwalker]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

It's not chili in the Texas sense, but it is chili. Cincinnati Chili was invented by Greeks--if you've ever had pastisio, it's a similar flavor.

They drain the fat when they make the meat filling for that. In Cincinnati chili, they don't - which is one of the things that contributes to its taste, I think. (Of course, try to get a cardiologist to agree with that! ) But you're right - it is still "chili", kinda. It just doesn't have the chunks of veggies in it. You can get bean and onions, of course, but they aren't in the chili itself.

[stx12499]

Best eats so far....Campanello's! Oh, and Pho Paris across the river! I love that place...I still have not found an active nightlife in town, as least as far as the concentrated districts I am used to....Fountain Square area is trying. The Pavillion is not bad on Friday it seems, but again, Mt Adams seems so clicky...people look at you crazy when you try to talk to them! The lady friend came in and we enjoyed sushi at Aqua...but Mt Lookout does not have quite the pedestrian activity or "vibe" I like to see.

I am impressed with the overall friendliness of the city. The architecture makes me drool. Hopefully they will save some of the run down areas. I was actually reading about the Banks project...it sounds awesome but the tone of the article is so negative! Why the bickering between minorities, city, county, and business leaders? And why would the city want to cut down on building heights, when just down river Louisville breaks ground tomorrow on a building 15 stories and 150 feet taller than anything in Cincinnati?

[Ohiogirl81]

I think the reason to cut the building height for the Banks was primarily so the fat cats in their corner offices at the Scripps Center, Enquirer, and Fifth Third Bank can still have their panoramic views.

OK, enough saracasm.

I dunno why. Maybe to keep from creating another downtown building canyon (my vote, LOL)? To preserve the look of the skyline? Beats me ...

One more thing ... There is always bickering. Over any type of project, no matter how small. The list of small businesses that have either left or been kicked out of downtown because of municipal ineptitude is staggering. Everyone wants their cut, the city doesn't want to **** anyone off lest they be accused of this "ism" or that "ism." One of the reasons the city can seem so stagnant.

stx12499, you liked Campanello's! I went there a lot when I worked at the Textile Building at Fourth and Elm. Another fun place to try in that neighborhood is Tina's, at Fourth and Central. Good bar food.

[cincyUK]

no one has mentioned pleasant ridge chili get... chili chees fries are probably the most unhealthy thing I have ever eaten, but amazing. Aside from the fact that you have to risk life and limb to get there, its pretty good.

At the end of the day, Skyline is Cincinnati's favorite chili, no matter what anyone tells your, or if someone says its not "real" chili. It's ours, none the less, and its the best. People who visit always seem to hate it though... oh well, more for me.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by cincyUK

Aside from the fact that you have to risk life and limb to get there, its pretty good.

Do you mean when the parking lot is under construction, or crossing lanes of traffic to turn in ...

I did mention PRC upthread. However, I prefer the gravy cheese fries.

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by cincyUK

no one has mentioned pleasant ridge chili get... chili chees fries are probably the most unhealthy thing I have ever eaten, but amazing. Aside from the fact that you have to risk life and limb to get there, its pretty good.

At the end of the day, Skyline is Cincinnati's favorite chili, no matter what anyone tells your, or if someone says its not "real" chili. It's ours, none the less, and its the best. People who visit always seem to hate it though... oh well, more for me.

So I tried Gold's....it is killing Skyline any day of the week! Again, I don't get the draw to Skyline. What's funny, is that I have visitors to Louisville and they see the Skylines there, notably the one near the Baxter entertainment district and they always want to try it. I was like no, you don't want that place lol! I guess it is kind of unique for this region, and it is kind of a Cincinnati "cultural" thing.

[UncleRando]

Originally Posted by dramamama6685

Nope sorry, but Northside has come a long way in the nightlife department..I would rather be there than downtown.

I have to agree with the comment about downtown really coming around. There is lots of new activity down there, plus the best part is all of the new residents moving downtown and to Over-the-Rhine.

Lots of new restaurants, bars/clubs, stores and residents. The crime levels downtown are quite low and the area is actually very safe (when compared to other downtowns). Panhandling in Cincinnati is nothing compared to most other cities and overall it is just a comfortable place for a pedestrian.

I really don't understand all the negativity about Cincinnati and downtown in particular. Aside from that, I'll offer up some suggestions.

Northside is nice, Mt. Adams offers the best bar hopping in Cincy, Newport couldn't be more overrated, Mt. Lookout/Hyde Park Square/Ludlow Ave all offer decent neighborhood districts. There are a bunch of little neighborhood districts that all offer unique/local flavor and have a very "everybody knows your name" feel. That is what's great about Cincinnati...we don't have one large bar/club district for the entire city, but rather we have a bunch of smaller more intimate districts that offer a wide variety of things to do (dining, galleries, shopping, theatre, bars/clubs).

Overall the best nightlife is probably in Mt. Adams, but like I said...you have to get familiar with the area if you wish to enjoy what it has to offer off the beaten path. Downtown is great and getting better. I just don't know how you wouldn't be able to enjoy yourself with all the offerings downtown:

Bang Nightclub, Cadillac Ranch, Lodge Bar, Sully's, McFadden's, Ensemble Theatre, Know Theatre, Blue Wisp Jazz Club, Havana Martini Lounge, Below Zero, Mr. Pitifuls, Kaldi's, the slew of restaurants, Taft Theatre, Aronoff Theatre...do I really need to go on (because I can)?