OHIO
These Cincinnati Restaurants Should be in the Michelin Guide
If inspectors hit this corner of Ohio, here are 15 that deserve recognition.
By Jamie Dutton | Aug. 21, 2025
Mita’s
AUTHOR BIO: With family spread across the Midwest and a job that has her in airports almost daily, Jamie Dutton finds herself across the center of the U.S. regularly. She’s partial to BPTs a Bell's.
Picture this: Michelin swoops in, all cloaked in, well, nobody knows exactly if they go in costume. But let’s assume they arrive in Cincinnati, make reservations around town in their best nom-de-plume, and get cracking with something that should have been done years ago: the Michelin Guide to Cincinnati.
What restaurants would they end up including in their esteemed guide? We combed the city, searching not only for the best fine-dining restaurants but also the affordable spots still putting out the kind of dishes that earn Bib Gourmands and Michelin Recommended status.
Finally, we settled on these 15 places. If it were up to us, each one should be displaying Michelin trophies behind their bars.
The Aperture
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Chef-owner Jordan Anthony-Brown serves a tiny, mezze-style menu through an open-fire kitchen—minimalist, focused Mediterranean riffs. The New York Times named it one of the Best Restaurants in 2024, and USA Today crowned it a 2025 Restaurant of the Year. Anthony-Brown was also nominated for a 2025 James Beard Best Emerging Chef.
What it deserves: Michelin Star
Boca
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Chef David Falk runs this polished room in the old Maisonette space with a discreet mastery—rustic Italian meets fine-dining polish. Dishes like diver scallops and tagliatelle with white truffle are executed with obsessive precision. It’s the kind of place that makes even jaded diners sit up straighter.
What it deserves: Two Michelin Stars
Bouquet
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Across the river in Covington, Bouquet thrives on a seasonal menu that leans farm-to-table before the phrase was overused. The plates are thoughtful, and the room feels like an extension of someone’s home. It’s the kind of place that makes repeat visits inevitable. Best of all, the reasonably priced $70 tasting menu lets you pick the dishes, with an optional $40 wine pairing that enhances the whole thing, just as it should.
What it deserves: Michelin Star
Brown Bear Bakery
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This tiny Over-the-Rhine bakery from Blair Fornshell has built a cult following for pastries that look like art projects but taste even better. Her kouign-amann, morning buns, and seasonal fruit tarts sell out so fast that lines form before the doors open. It’s pastry as theater, with zero pretense.
What it deserves: Bib Gourmand
Cafe Mochiko
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Co-owned by pastry whiz Elaine Uykimpang Bentz and chef Erik Bentz, this East Walnut Hills café has become a cult favorite. Their chili-ramen has earned national press, and the bakery turns out pastries worthy of a Parisian boulangerie. It’s playful, inventive, and already a local classic.
What it deserves: Bib Gourmand
Le Bar a Boeuf
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Jean-Robert de Cavel protégé Jordan Brauninger now runs the French bistro, and it still carries the late chef’s legacy in dishes that are approachable yet refined. Expect steak frites, classic sauces, and a dining room that feels European without trying too hard. It’s a reminder of what French dining can be when it’s done right.
What it deserves: Michelin Recommended
Losanti
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A stylish spot in Over-the-Rhine, Losanti is part steakhouse, part pasta joint, all swagger. Handmade tagliatelle with lamb ragù sits comfortably next to a ribeye cooked to perfection. It’s not trying to be fussy—it’s trying to be good, and it succeeds.
What it deserves: Michelin Recommended
Mita’s
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Chef José Salazar brings bold Latin and Spanish flavors downtown with tapas that feel both approachable and polished. Dishes like carne asada with chimichurri and silky flan showcase why he’s one of the city’s most respected chefs. The energy in the room is as lively as the food.
What it deserves: Michelin Recommended
Nicola’s Ristorante
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Even after moving locations for the first time this year after a 30-year-run, this stalwart Italian dining room remains a go-to for birthdays, anniversaries, and nights that deserve a bottle of Barolo. Chef Cristian Pietoso’s handmade pastas and slow-braised meats anchor the menu, while the service makes regulars feel like family. It’s old-school elegance done without a trace of stiffness.
What it deserves: Michelin Star
Orchids at Palm Court
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Now led by Chef Maxime Kien, this art-deco dining room in the Hilton has long been the city’s fine-dining crown jewel. Dishes like lobster with corn relish and flawless soufflés remind you why it consistently earns national accolades. It’s equal parts spectacle and restraint, and it still delivers.
What it deserves: Michelin Recommended
Pepp & Dolores
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This Over-the-Rhine trattoria leans into Italian-American comfort with just enough refinement to make you notice. Fresh pastas arrive in generous bowls, and the room hums with energy from families, dates, and groups of friends. It’s not tweezer-built plates—it’s just exactly what people want to eat.
What it deserves: Michelin Recommended
Sotto
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David Falk’s subterranean Italian restaurant is as moody as it is satisfying. Handmade pastas like tonnarelli cacio e pepe and gnocchi with short rib ragu have earned loyal devotees. The atmosphere—dim light, brick walls, close tables—makes the whole thing feel like you’ve been let in on a secret.
What it deserves: Michelin Star
The Cleveland Michelin Guide: 12 Restaurants That Deserve Recognition
The Michelin inspectors haven't made it to Cleveland, so we combed the city for the restaurants that deserve a place in the storied guide.
