Hello all,
I am traveling for work and would like to get recommendations. I will be here until end of April or May.
Places we have eaten at so far:
Abigail Street
Senate
Jeff Rubys
Nada
John Robert’s The Table - Salty French Food
Any place with good wine lists
Wine Stores:
suggestions please
Thanks.
Vamsi,
I can’t help ini Cincinnati proper, but there’s a pretty good wine store across the river in Kentucky, The Party Source
In fact, they’ve had some bottles there I wished I could get my hands on, I may be in touch 
For wine stores, head across the river for the best deals - Party Source in Bellevue, Cork and Bottle in Covington, and Deps (the one on 3rd, IIRC). In Ohio, Jungle Jim’s on the north end of 275 (in Fairfield on Dixie Hwy.) should be experienced if you’ve never been there. It’s a huge international market with a very large wine and beer department (prices are better in Kentucky though).
Agree with Jeff, though I like Deps even over Party Source but both are better price wise than anything in Ohio. Regarding restaurants, if you like Italian Enoteca Emilia in Hyde Park is a good stop although Nicola’s is suppose to be THE place for Italian food but haven’t been there yet. I’ve read some excellent reviews on Boca and its a current hot spot, you may want to check it out.
+1 on Jungle Jim’s. Truly awesome place, worth the trip. Some nice wine, but don’t recall whether prices are good.
I ate there a couple months back on a business trip and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I’ve had some pleasant evenings at Primavista, overlooking downtown. It’s not a destination point for food (decent Italian but nothing special) or wine, but the view is spectacular.
Welcome! Party Source is now the largest liquor store in the country and has a huge wine selection. Boca and Nicolas are our favorite restaurants. La Poste and Red Feather also have good food and wine at a lower price point, the latter with a big wine menu and a very good somm.
I generally don’t shop wine stores in Ohio at all, however I have been to Nicola’s twice and it has been excellent both times. I enjoyed Vajra Rosso with both meals, an excellent and affordable wine, I believe their list would accommodate most drinkers at what passes for reasonable pricing in this state.
Two slightly off-beat ideas:
It looks like they just finished a big trade tasting, called the “Cincinnati International Wine Festival”, on March 18th.
You could go for a weekend and watch some horse races and some horse auctions and do the bourbon distillery tours:
http://www.keeneland.com/calendar
And of course there is the Derby, on May 3rd, although Louisville is a rough, rough town [you might not want to venture in there without a concealed carry “CCW” permit]:
Lexington is vastly more civilized in that regard - the folks who show up for the auctions are big, big money.
Like “Sultan of Brunei” money.
They fly into the airport [across the street from Keeneland] in their own personal Boeing jets.
As a Kentucky native, I strongly disagree with your characterizations of Louisville or Lexington. You based your opinion of Louisville on an O’Reilly segment? Lexington is more civilized because there is more old money? Have you ever been to either place, let alone Southern Ohio?
Rough, rough town indeed: Stories - Lonely Planet
LOL’ed.
Lemme guess who you’ll be rooting for on Friday.
But you venture into downtown Louisville at your own risk.
Before you go, be sure to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s on your final will and testament.
Bit of a thread drift here, but since we’re talking Cincinnati I’ve been wondering if any local Berserkers are interested in doing a tasting(s) or maybe sharing allocations on some west coast wines. PM me if interested.
BTW - You should definitely check out the growing local beer scene.
Brewery tap rooms
We’ve been to Jungle Jim’s a few times. Fairly good selection (although not in Burgs or Spanish), but overpriced. There are two of them. Nearby the one in Eastgate, is one of the best Thai restaurants I’ve ever patronized…damn good food. I think it’s called Ban Thai, but check that out before you go, in case my memory is faulty.
I think that store in Bellevue KY would be your best bet. I’ haven’t been to it yet, but I’ve looked at their stuff online, and it seems that they have a better selection than Jungle Jim’s.
I have a nephew who is a waiter at Taste of Belgium, and I hear good things about that place. My bro-in-law and sis-in-law go up to Cinci to see him pretty often and eat out a lot. I’ll quiz them about where to go up there and post up here later.
If you are going to be in the area for a while, a trip down to the Lexington area might be in order. You should check out the Holly Hill Inn in Midway, KY. Our wine guild meets there and we have monthly tastings. Great food and atmosphere; pretty decent wine selection although pricey (3X retail).
One of the best restaurants in this part of the U.S. is the Jean Farris Winery, just outside of Lexington. Wine there is drinkable though overpriced, but the food is fabulous, and in good weather you can sit outdoors and overlook Bluegrass farmland.
If you decide to make it down this way, PM me, and we’ll see if we can join you, and show you around if you wish.