In a historic town like Cincinnati, we’ve always been lucky to have a great array of delicious local restaurants. In recent years, the dining scene has exploded with trendy eateries, breweries, riverside restaurants, and rooftop gathering spots. There’s no shortage of excellent dining destinations in the Queen City, but there are a few spots that have remained favorites through all of the changes. Even with the onslaught of hip new eateries in town, these seven hometown restaurants in Cincinnati have always been cool and still have plenty to offer hungry diners.
- Quatman Cafe
Quatman Cafe Website
Google/Kendra Meadows Quatman Cafe is a longstanding tradition in Cincinnati for one of the best burgers in the city. This cool dining spot first opened in 1966 and has been pleasing hungry customers ever since. Visit the Norwood or Mason location and chow down on a mouthwatering burger and fries. Learn more about this local gem here.
Norwood Address: 2434 Quatman Avenue, Norwood, OH 45212
Mason Address: 224 West Main Street, Mason, OH 45040
- Tucker’s Restaurant
Facebook/Tucker’s Restaurant (Vine Street)
Facebook/Tucker’s Restaurant (Vine Street) Tucker’s is a classic diner in Cincinnati that’s been around for decades. It was a cool dining spot in the city long before this area was filled with trendy restaurants. Tucker’s continues to serve up the best greasy spoon options, as well as some fresh new takes and specials. Read more about this mom & pop restaurant in our previous article here.
Address: 1637 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- Mecklenburg Gardens
Facebook/Mecklenburg Gardens
Facebook/Mecklenburg Gardens A restaurant deserves a “cool” status when it can claim the title of Cincinnati’s oldest restaurant, and that place would be Mecklenburg Gardens. Dating back to 1865, this German eatery is authentic, unique, and a must-try dining experience in the Queen City. See more of this local, historic gem here.
Address: 302 East University Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219
- Echo
Facebook/The Echo
Facebook/The Echo The Echo is another diner in Cincinnati that has been feeding the locals for generations. Even with a fairly unchanged interior, this breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot remains cool for everyone from young families to college students to those who have been visiting The Echo for decades. Find out more about this Hyde Park favorite on its Facebook page here.
Address: 3510 Edwards Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208
- Anchor Grill
TripAdvisor/Psy_ghoul
Google/D Lewis Cross the river for this cool, classic dining spot in Covington. Anchor Grill is open 24 hours, has barely changed over the years, and serves up a tasty menu filled with all of your favorites. Try the Cincinnati-style chili, a classic breakfast with goetta, or a burger at all hours of the day. Learn more about Anchor Grill and other Covington restaurants in our previous article here.
Address: 438 Pike Street, Covington, KY, 41011
- Ron’s Roost
Google/Douglas Striker
Facebook/Ron’s Roost Restaurant & Bar What’s cooler than a big rooster on top of a restaurant? If you ask Ron’s Roost on the west side, they’d say their rooster-topped car is even cooler, and it’s tough to argue. Ron’s Roost has been cooking up its famous fried chicken, sides, and other delicious menu items for almost 60 years and remains a favorite dining destination that’s hard to miss. Read more about it here.
Address: 3853 Race Road, Cincinnati, OH 45211
- The Hitching Post
Google/Tod Bowen
Google/Yi Mon Long before fried chicken from places like The Eagle in OTR was cool, The Hitching Post was frying up what many consider to be the best of the best. With locations on Kellogg Avenue and on Madison, this longtime favorite eatery will hopefully remain a cool spot for hot and tasty food for years to come. Learn more about The Hitching Post here.
Kellogg Address: 4535 Kellogg Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45226
Madison Address: 2715 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45209
These seven hometown favorite restaurants in Cincinnati have been filling bellies for decades and have remained relevant, even with so many new places arriving to the dining scene. You don’t need fancy decor or a trendy menu to be cool; you just need a great selection of delicious food and an atmosphere that keeps diners coming back for more.
Quatman Cafe Website
Google/Kendra Meadows
Quatman Cafe is a longstanding tradition in Cincinnati for one of the best burgers in the city. This cool dining spot first opened in 1966 and has been pleasing hungry customers ever since. Visit the Norwood or Mason location and chow down on a mouthwatering burger and fries. Learn more about this local gem here.
Norwood Address: 2434 Quatman Avenue, Norwood, OH 45212
Mason Address: 224 West Main Street, Mason, OH 45040
Facebook/Tucker’s Restaurant (Vine Street)
Tucker’s is a classic diner in Cincinnati that’s been around for decades. It was a cool dining spot in the city long before this area was filled with trendy restaurants. Tucker’s continues to serve up the best greasy spoon options, as well as some fresh new takes and specials. Read more about this mom & pop restaurant in our previous article here.
Address: 1637 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Facebook/Mecklenburg Gardens
A restaurant deserves a “cool” status when it can claim the title of Cincinnati’s oldest restaurant, and that place would be Mecklenburg Gardens. Dating back to 1865, this German eatery is authentic, unique, and a must-try dining experience in the Queen City. See more of this local, historic gem here.
Address: 302 East University Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219
Facebook/The Echo
The Echo is another diner in Cincinnati that has been feeding the locals for generations. Even with a fairly unchanged interior, this breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot remains cool for everyone from young families to college students to those who have been visiting The Echo for decades. Find out more about this Hyde Park favorite on its Facebook page here.
Address: 3510 Edwards Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208
TripAdvisor/Psy_ghoul
Google/D Lewis
Cross the river for this cool, classic dining spot in Covington. Anchor Grill is open 24 hours, has barely changed over the years, and serves up a tasty menu filled with all of your favorites. Try the Cincinnati-style chili, a classic breakfast with goetta, or a burger at all hours of the day. Learn more about Anchor Grill and other Covington restaurants in our previous article here.
Address: 438 Pike Street, Covington, KY, 41011
Google/Douglas Striker
Facebook/Ron’s Roost Restaurant & Bar
What’s cooler than a big rooster on top of a restaurant? If you ask Ron’s Roost on the west side, they’d say their rooster-topped car is even cooler, and it’s tough to argue. Ron’s Roost has been cooking up its famous fried chicken, sides, and other delicious menu items for almost 60 years and remains a favorite dining destination that’s hard to miss. Read more about it here.
Address: 3853 Race Road, Cincinnati, OH 45211
Google/Tod Bowen
Google/Yi Mon
Long before fried chicken from places like The Eagle in OTR was cool, The Hitching Post was frying up what many consider to be the best of the best. With locations on Kellogg Avenue and on Madison, this longtime favorite eatery will hopefully remain a cool spot for hot and tasty food for years to come. Learn more about The Hitching Post here.
Kellogg Address: 4535 Kellogg Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45226
Madison Address: 2715 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45209
Have you tried all of these cool restaurants in Cincinnati that have withstood the test of time? Any others we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments!
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