Cincinnati Restaurants

  1. Chez Nora

    Its tables sprawl throughout a quaint multistory building, while its menu sprawls from chicken-and-goetta spring rolls to chilled mussels to walleye sandwiches to vegetarian pesto pasta. The rooftop bar provides views of Cincinnati's skyline (especially nice on Tuesdays with half-price bottles of wine).

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  2. Graeter's Ice Cream

    A local delicacy, Graeter's is the place for dessert. The flavors that mix in chocolate chips (which are gargantuan chunks) top the list. Other branches are located around the city.

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  3. Greenup Café

    Greenup's French chef has imported the flavors of his homeland to this cheerfully colored bistro located in an old brick warehouse. Get your croissants, brie, baguettes, crepes, pastries and killer coffee in the bohemian inner rooms, or chow in the outdoor garden when weather permits. Dinner mains focus on chicken and seafood dishes.

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  4. Hathaway's

    Hathaway's hasn't changed its retro dinette tables, or apron-wearing waitresses, since it started feeding hungry businesspeople 30-plus years ago. It does great burgers, melts, malts and shakes and if you're in at breakfast try the goetta. The latter is a Cincy specialty, made with pork, oats, onions and herbs, cooked in loaves and enjoyed with syrup or ketchup.

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  5. Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse

    Almost as renowned and addictive as Cincinnati chili are Montgomery Inn's barbecued ribs. There are a couple of outlets, but this riverside one is the best, taming carnivores with 13.5 tons of meat weekly.

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  6. Skyline Chili

    Skyline has a cult-like following devoted to its version of the local speciality 'five-way chili' - ie meat sauce (spiced with chocolate and cinnamon) with spaghetti and beans, garnished with cheese and onions. You can get it three-way (minus onions and beans) or four-way (minus onions or beans), but why not go the whole way; life's an adventure.

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  7. Slims

    This bright, simple Northside restaurant serves organic and seasonal dishes - maybe a Chilean vegetarian stew or citrus-braised pork belly - at long communal tables from 'until the food runs out.' Credit cards not accepted; bring your own vino.

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