Foodie News You Can Use

Wildweed named to two national “best restaurants” lists, St. Francis Apizza opens second location, Taste of Belgium closes OTR bistro, and more.

Wildweed Named to Two National “Best Restaurants” Lists
Wildweed continues to rack up accolades thanks to its stellar fine dining fare. This month, the restaurant, located at 1301 Walnut St. in Over-the-Rhine, was named to not one but two national “best restaurants” lists. The first came on September 8 when The New York Times included the eatery on its “The Restaurant List 2025,” which explores “the 50 best places in America right now” and the second came last week when Bon Appetit selected it for its “The 20 Best New Restaurants of 2025.”  “Dinner at Cincinnati’s Wildweed is a snapshot of a Midwest few know as well as David Jackman, “ writer Kate Kassin says. “Everything Jackman cooks is an invitation to see this region in its most delicious light.”

St. Francis Apizza Opens Second Location
This week, St. Francis Apizza’s dine-in-only location opened in Oakley. The restaurant, which focuses on New Haven–style pizza, is located at 3200 Madison Road in the old Red Feather Kitchen space. The pizzeria will be open for dinner Wednesdays through Fridays and for lunch and dinner Saturdays and Sundays.

Taste of Belgium Closes OTR Bistro
After 14 years in business, Taste of Belgium closed its first full-service bistro earlier this month, citing “GE’s departure, the lasting shift to remote work, and a decline in overall downtown office density” as reasons that made it difficult to continue operating both its Over-the-Rhine location and its location at The Banks. “Closing our Over-the-Rhine bistro is heartbreaking,” said Jean-François Flechet, the restaurant’s founder, in a press release. “It holds a special place in our history and Cincinnati’s history as a gathering place that contributed to the energy and revitalization of OTR.” The Banks location, the stall inside of Findlay Market, and the Rookwood location all remain open.

Lonely Pine Steakhouse to Close Next Month
After nearly seven years, Pleasant Ridge restaurant Lonely Pine Steakhouse is shutting its doors on October 4. Executive Chef Madeline Sheblessy—who competed in the Guy’s Grocery Games episode “Dinner for Dollars” last fall—is leaving town for another opportunity, which puts the eatery at a “culinary crossroads,” according to owner Jacob Treviño. “We’re going to wrap this chapter on the highest note possible,” he explained in a Facebook post. “In the restaurant industry, it’s a rarity to be able to write your own ending…This is a goodbye to Lonely Pine, but it’s not the end of the story.” Treviño also mentioned that the Gorilla Cinema team would be introducing a new concept to the neighborhood soon.

Etxe Steakhouse Culinary Residency at The Aperture
Starting next month, two Boca vets will begin a “culinary residency” at The Aperture in Walnut Hills. David Matern and Heather Brady are launching Etxe—pronounced “et-chay,” which means “home” in Basque—on October 5. The two will pair tapas with Spanish wines, among other dishes, with the hopes of recreating the cuisine they experience during their travels to the Basque region of Spain. “From a gin and tonic cart to a bone marrow luge to steak presentations and more, we’re fired up to bring Cincinnati a whole new steakhouse experience,” the owners posted on Instagram. “Community support has been incredible, and for that, we’re grateful and even more excited to start firing up the grill!” The residency runs Sundays and Mondays through December.

Ghost Baby Owner to Open New Venue
Josh Heuser, owner of underground bar Ghost Baby, will open a new venue at The Foundry development downtown this fall. Billed as “living room entertainment for a new era,” Prim revolves around music, cocktails, and entertainment, including vinyl sets and live performances. “Prim is an invitation to lean in—to create, to connect, to celebrate what makes Cincinnati vibrant,” Heuser said in a press release. “As the core thrives, so does the city…and we’re proud to be part of that momentum. We have a clear vision to help redefine what’s possible here—and we’re building it, one experience at a time.” The Foundry is located at 70 West Fifth Street, adjacent to Fountain Square in the Fountain Square District.