New Queen City Eats

New Queen City Eats

Cincinnati continues to gain some great new restaurants. Instead of the same old-same old pizza joint, you've got some new options for upcoming Friday nights - or mornings. Read on for the newest grub in the 513.

Get ready to expand your culinary horizons. A few new businesses are starting in Cincinnati that will allow you to mix it up a bit.

Taste of Belgium
Jean-François Flechet opened his little Belgian Bistro in October, allowing Cincinnatians to enjoy Belgian cuisine more frequently than before. Taste of Belgium operated a bakery at Findlay Market previously, but Flechet says he was looking for a space where the company could get more exposure on a regular basis.

And exposure it's gotten. The most popular dish thus far isn't really a Belgian one, Flechet says. "It's the waffle and chicken," he says. "You make the traditional Belgian waffle, and then marinate the chicken overnight in buttermilk and hot sauce, then bread it lightly."

The Belgian Bistro is open for breakfast and lunch on Monday through Saturday, and it's on the corner of Vine and 12th Streets.

Moerlein Lager House Restaurant and Brewery
Cincinnati's favorite microbrewery is opening a restaurant and full-service brewery in Phyllis W. Smale Riverfront Park on February 6, 2012. The food served will be in the spirit of what was served in Cincinnati's biergartens during the 1800s, according to the park's website. This includes "grain spent breads, hand carved sandwiches and smoked rotisserie meats," according to the website.

And patrons won't just be feasting on the food and Moerlein beers; the views from the Riverfront Park are pretty satisfying, as well. The lager house will look out onto the Ohio River, Great American Ballpark and Roebling Suspension Bridge, according to the park website.

Park + Vine
Cincinnati's green general store just added a food bar to its repertoire. The reasons for the addition are pretty simple, says owner Dan Korman. "We had the makings of food service with our drink bar equipment, and received a lot of interest from people wanting more food options at the store," he adds. "Melissa Cox Howard approached us with the idea of adding a lunch as we were looking at ways to add more energy to the bar."

Korman started food service at Park + Vine on Aug. 12 and he says it's been a popular decision. The most popular menu items on the current menu include:

macaroni and cheese
the rubinator (marinated tempeh on shadeau sourdough rye with special sauce, sauerkraut, daiya mozzarella cheese)
portabella burger
raw! raw! (kale salad)

Alyssa Howard -
	Alyssa Howard is Cincy Chic's editor. Email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Read More >>

More articles by this author

One Tank Trips

One Tank Trips When you don't want to go too far,...