top dining choices in Cinncy?

I wonder if anyone who travels up and back to Cincinnati would like to weigh in on this? With the demise of the late, great (*really* great!) Maisonette, what would be the top dining choices currently in Cinncy?
many thanks

I'm not too familiar with the dining scene, but Senate is always great. I've heard good things about A Tavola and Local 127 as well.

Willie,
Do a search on the "Travel dining " section- there have been several good threads on dining recommendations in Cincy.

If you are there during the day too, try to work in a trip to Findlay Market. A great foodie trip!
Deb

Check out a place downtown called Nada. We go everytime we make it up there.

http://www.eatdrinknada.com/main.html

The Celestial is very good.

We took a little weekend trip to Cincy last weekend, so I thought I'd update this thread.

Boca: By far the highlight of the trip, and one of the better meals I've had in some time. The Hamachi Crudo and Mediterranean Loup de Mer were outstanding.

Metropole at 21C Cincinnati: Michael Paley's new home after departing Proof to open Metropole. I had some concerns that Metropole would just be Proof Cincinnati, but was pleasantly surprised. The food and decor is quite different, in a good way. We enjoyed all of our meal, but the Burnt Carrot Salad is sort of their signature dish, and it lived up to the hype. Breakfast was also solid.

As an aside, we stayed at 21C Cincinnati, and enjoyed it a lot. I think 21C has done a great job of not making it a mirror image of 21C Louisville, while incorporating some positive trademarks. In warmer weather, hit the rooftop cocktail terrace.

Senate: We popped in for a late lunch. This place is the real deal, with some really crazy but excellent hot dogs. I had the the special Dennis Rodman (hot smoked mett topped with spicy beer cheese, bourbon BBQ sauce, duck fat fries and chicharrónes). The lobster mac and cheese was also solid, and reminded me a bit of the late Avalon's version. It's in the hip Over-the-Rhine neighborhood and gets very crowded, so expect to wait. We arrived around 2:00 and got the last available seats.

Oops - thought I was in the travel section. . .

What no trip to Izzy's on Elm? Man. I'm hungry for one of their reubens and a couple of potato pancakes.

When I worked in downtown Cinti. (does anyone from Cinti. refer to it as Cincy?) original Izzy's up near the Y was a favorite lunch time haunt. Part of the charm was trading good natured insults with the staff. The gave good, or better, than they got.

We took a trip a couple weeks ago to check out the new Jungle Jims, 21c, and casino.

Really enjoyed this place. Neat building, great food and cocktails, and a very nice beer selection.

http://therookwood.com/

We also had a snack at Nada and late night bites at 21c, both were very good.

I wouldn't call it fine dining but Sichuan Chili is the best Szechuan place I've been to that wasn't near a coastline.
http://www.sichuanchili.com/

Brij Mohan Indian Sweets and Restaurant has got great street food -- really enjoyed their Chana Batura.
http://brijmohansweets.com/

There's a spot in Florence called Molca Salsa that has good huitlacoche and squash flower quesadillas I like a lot, too. Right off exit 180.

Oh yeah, the Rookwood is a really cool old building with a great view. Nice place to go after visiting the art museum or botanical garden. I believe some of the pottery on display in the art museum was made in that building. I got a goetta sandwich -- not bad at all.

[Robin Garr]

Oops - thought I was in the travel section. . .

I think this is good, Brad. Why not post a copy in Travel, too, under its own header for permanent reference, but leave this discussion here. And thanks for posting it!

I ate at Sotto a few weekends ago and it was one of the better meals I've had in quite some time. Trying to get a few of my chef buddies to go there with me again sometime soon. Stellar.

I haven't ate at all these (with what time working in a restaurant myself?), but having just recently lived in Cincinnati, these are generally top choices... Ranging from fine dining to casual.

Quan Hapa
Kaze
Metropole
Boca
Bouquet (Covington)
Salazar
Senate
Nada
Vie Vite
A Tavola
Orchid's
Jean Robert's Table
Abigail Street
Dutch's Larder
Eli's Barbecue
French Crust Cafe
La Poste
Local 127
Zula


and find bread from Blue Oven Bakery, they have spaces at Findley Market and the new Jungle Jim's.

I second Rookwood. We had lunch grilled cheese special with tomato soup. Yum!