Cincinnati’s Best Restaurants 2026
This Best Restaurants list highlights the places that keep us on our culinary toes and the people who satisfy our hunger for top-notch cuisine.
By M. Leigh Hood
Photographs by Catherine Grace
1.Boca
With such exquisitely and creatively crafted dishes on the menu, it’s no wonder why Boca is the top destination for fine dining in the city.
2.Wildweed
Fresh pasta crafted with local and seasonal ingredients paints a delicious culinary portrait of the Midwest.
3.Sotto
This rustic Italian kitchen known for lovingly handmade pasta may be underground, but it’s no secret to Cincinnati foodies.
4.Nolia Kitchen
Chef Jeffery Harris’s restaurant may have multiple James Beard nominations, but his homey Bayou dishes are as delicious and welcoming as ever.
5.Sudova
Chef Sarah Dworak’s elevated Eastern European dishes are giving Cincinnatians a delicious modern twist on Old World cuisine.
6.Abigail Street
Top-notch Mediterranean small plates have made this wine bar an OTR mainstay for 15 years.
7.Mita's
Chef Jose Salazar’s beloved tapas joint takes you on a flavorful journey through Spain and Latin America.
8.Colette
Chef Danny Combs is serving up fresh French-ish delicacies with beautiful parkside views.
9.Phoenician Taverna
You’re part of the family at this authentic Lebanese taverna and grill in Mason.
10.Salazar
The beloved restaurant from Chef Jose Salazar is back and better than ever with a menu focused on innovation, detail, and seasonality.
Best Dishes
After sampling many a dish at many a Cincinnati restaurant, here are a few favorites.
Q&A:Jackson Rouse
The former Bauer Farm Kitchen chef takes the helm at Hamilton’s Carmagnola Trattoria.
Q&A:Heather Brady
The co-owner of Etxe talks about the Spanish steakhouse culinary residency’s impact on the local dining scene.
Q&A:Fabio Viviani
The "Top Chef" alum opens his Italian restaurant concept in Madisonville this spring.
Q&A:Alfio Gulisano
The Noche chef zeroes in on pasta, cocktails, and a more intimate dining experience.
Check Out Our Chefs Issue from 2025
Knives Out
Brian Young shows us some of his antique butchery tools.
Your Favorite Chefs’ Favorite Restaurants
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Susanna Wong Burgess and Caitlin Young Talk Legacy
The female restauranteurs have family ties to thank for their friendship.
Recognizing Culinary Excellence With James Beard Semifinalists Jeffery Harris and Elaine Uykimpang Bentz
Navigating—and appreciating—being in the spotlight.
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