Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Cincinnati / Dayton

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Cincinnati / Dayton? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Jag's Steak & Seafood

4.9

4.9 (7807)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

West Chester

About the restaurant

Innovative menu and seamless service creates an unmatched fine dining experience. Jag's offers a diverse list of menu items that have been expertly crafted by Proprietor Chef Michelle Brown and her outstanding Executive Team. Featuring Certified Angus Beef steaks, fresh seafood, Chilean Sea Bass, Diver Scallops, Shrimp Cocktail. Pastas, Poultry, Salads, Soups, Appetizers and Handcrafted Desserts and cocktails round out a menu sure to please the most discriminating palate. Our award-winning wine list has been rated the Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator since 2006.
Jag's Steak & Seafood is centrally located between Cincinnati and Dayton making it a perfect meeting destination for client entertainment or special occasion celebrations. A perfect way to begin and end any evening.

Top review

BeverlyVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Perfect service with minimal interruptions. Amazing food from the Prix Fixe menu for both of us. A wonderful evening from beginning to end.

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Frankie's Sips & Savories

4.9

4.9 (207)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Central Business District

About the restaurant

Ahlan wa Sahlan (WELCOME), We’re so happy you’re considering dining with us. Nestled in between OTR and the Financial District, tucked away in Cincinnati’s historic Garfield Park. Frankie’s Sips & Savories serves up Mediterranean inspired Craft Cocktails and Small Plates from a cozy dining room and beautiful alley with a view to the park.
Must Try – Our Award Winning (Cincinnati Business Courier June 21) - Crispy Arancini / Risotto / Braised Lamb & Whipped Feta.
In addition, we offer a unique array of Wines from around the world and local Craft Beers on tap.
Be it, date night, a business gathering or if you just want to feel appreciated and welcomed, join us at Frankie’s for a comfortable, relaxing restaurant atmosphere. Looking to Celebrate Life a little more, stay for the fun until we close with great sounds and weekly special events, (Dancing is Highly Recommended).
Lead by Chef Riston and the Family, Let’s share the joy and savor the moments together at Frankie’s Place !

Top review

DanielleVIP

Dined 3 days ago

New fave spot in Cincinnati- everything was great!

Arnold's Bar and Grill

4.8

4.8 (743)

$30 and under

American

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

Always eager to show of it's 150 plus years of history, Arnold's Bar and Grill is Cincinnati's oldest continuously operated Tavern. Here are a few of Arnold's more recent awards and Accolades... Citybeat 2016: Best Live Music While You Eat, Thrillist 2015: The Most Iconic Bar in Ohio, The Daily Meal 2015: The 150 Best Bars in America, Cincinnati Magazine 2015: Top 45 Burgers in Cincinnati, Cityvoter 2015: Top 5 Beer Selection, Citybeat 2014: Best Outdoor Dining, Esquire Magazine 2013: Best Bars in America, Buzzfeed 2013: List of America's Oldest and Coolest Bars

Top review

Heather

Dined 2 days ago

Always love a visit to Arnold’s. It was packed with live music that evening, but staff were well prepared for a busy crowd, extremely attentive and courteous.

Ghost Baby

4.8

4.8 (1483)

$31 to $50

Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service

Over the Rhine

About the restaurant

Our Rattle Room welcomes you when joining us 4 floors below Vine street. The Rattle Room does not require reservations and is seated on a first come first serve basis.
Reservations are recommended and prioritized for our Den. If you have a reservation, please check in with the host at the front door before waiting in line. Reservations in our Den will be held for 15 minutes and are a total of 2 hours long (Excluding Saturday reservations before 6:30 which are an hour and a half).

We do not serve food, nor allow outside food.

Ghost Baby exists to rattle the extraordinary. Our cocktail lounge and music venue claims a 170-year-old space that once served as a lagering tunnel for a brewing company. Come as you are and enjoy an inventive cocktail, a stiff drink, your favorite canned beer, or a glass of our hand-selected wine. Reserve your spot for an intimate, unique performance in the Den or join us in the Rattle Room (front bar) on a walk-in basis.

21+ | Dress Code Enforced

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 5 days ago

Service was great! Drinks were quick and delicious!! The singer Reilly was absolutely amazing!

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Cincinnati, OH | The Kenwood Collection

4.7

4.7 (526)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Don and Gay

Dined 2 days ago

first time there….great dinner….we had a wonderful time enjoying the food ….. we WILL be back …😃👍✅‼️

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Experience

Prix-Fixe BBQ Courses for Everyone: Starting at...

Baru

4.5

4.5 (336)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Central Business District

About the restaurant

An elevated dining experience with an atmosphere to match.
Cincinnati’s prime spot for cocktails and sushi. Lit up in red and purple, Baru’s atmosphere submerges patrons into a nightlife experience awash in Tokyo aesthetics.

Top review

Guvenc

Dined on Apr 8, 2025

The cocktails are awesome. Waygu was delicious. We went there during restaurant week so we got a good deal.

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BrewRiver Creole Kitchen

4.4

4.4 (1160)

$30 and under

Creole / Cajun / Southern

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

Our vision combines New Orleans inspired recipes with handpicked top-notch local ingredients. We are Cincinnati's only New Orleans inspired gastro pub and we are passionate about staying true to those roots. Our mid-19th century building beckons our guests to come in for one of 18 all craft beers and wine on draft, a house made craft cocktail or one of our lovely small production wines. However, the food is the star at BrewRiver.

Our outdoor patio is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a drink and an amazing meal! You may be lucky enough to wander in on a night where a blues, folk or jazz musician is playing! Our goal is to give you a little bit of The Big Easy right here in The Queen City! We hope you will come join us and Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Top review

Heather

Dined on Apr 13, 2025

Food was great and the portions were huge! We went for an early dinner after a show and there weren't many patrons, which was great for us.

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Experience

Happiest Hour!

Experience

Live New Orleans Music!

Mode X Tequila Bistro

4.4

4.4 (90)

$30 and under

Mexican

Beavercreek

About the restaurant

A sophisticated twist on the Tequila bistro style of informal eating and drinking.........Welcome to Mode X Tequila Bistro, a place that praises the vibrancy of Mexico. Here you will find a fun and casual dining experience. At Mode X, we emphasize on using quality ingredients, from fresh-pressed tortillas to housemade sauce.

Top review

JohannaVIP

Dined on Apr 5, 2025

We came for the Brunch. It was fabulous! So many options to choose from, it was hard to decide. My husband and I both went with an option that included steak, which was a risk because often steaks offered for breakfast is not the best quality, but happily that was not the case! Our waiter was Alex, and he is awesome! I always ask to sit in his area if he is working. He makes the best recommendations. You can tell he really knows the menu, and has actually tried the food and drinks .

6 'N The Mornin'

4.2

4.2 (119)

$30 and under

Breakfast

East Walnut Hills

About the restaurant

“At 6 ‘N The Mornin', we value the fact that breakfast
is the most important meal of the day. So it’s our goal to ensure you get the biggest meal
for your hard-earned dollar.”

Top review

Karen

Dined on Apr 12, 2025

The whole environment is top notch from walking into the restaurant with a beautiful layout to the host who starts out the enjoyable experience. our food and drinks were superb. I love how the owner engages and recognizes returning patrons and addresses issues that customers may have which appear to be miniscule. Just an amazing restaurant with superb food. What I love about the food and drinks are the consistency of presentation, taste and textures. It's food that has a home soulful feel, but with a nice clean favorable taste. If I could, I would give a higher rating of ten out ten stars.

Kona Grill - Cincinnati

3.9

3.9 (2644)

$30 and under

American

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

Welcome to Kona Grill Cincinnati at Liberty Center, in between The Square and rooftop garden.
Kona Grill is a classic American Grill with great steak and seafood - complemented by the best choice of sushi and margaritas at any grill in America. Kona Grill features a global menu of contemporary American favorites, award-winning sushi, and specialty craft cocktails in a polished, casual atmosphere. From brunch & lunch to dinner & happy hour, the restaurant offers a range of freshly prepared dishes from the grill, seasonal menu items and fan-favorite dishes across all dayparts. Kona Grill offers both indoor and outdoor patio dining at all its locations, $3, $6, $9 happy hour offered weekdays & NEW weekend brunch, guided by a passion for quality food and exceptional service.

Top review

Judy

Dined 1 day ago

This Easter Brunch was fabulous. Innovative idea. Absolutely loved it. Fixed menu , served family style. So much fun! Delicious. Extraordinary server.

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Taste of Kona: 3-Course Prix Fixe Menu

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