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Originally Posted by Reds/Flyers Fan
Not sure I understand the criticism. Holy Grail has been open two years now and is packed almost every night - game or no game. It's easily become one of the destination spots in the city. Tin Roof is also proving highly popular on non-game nights with its live music every night. It's definitely got the post-college Banks residential crowd locked down. Moerlein Lager House speaks for itself - it's a gem for this city.
I've eaten at Crave twice and it was outstanding. As was Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Calling either of those "mediocre" is a stretch and borderline snobbish.
Toby Keith's isn't at all my style, but judging from the long lines to get in on weekends, it looks to be doing fine.
Frankly, The Banks will continue to be chain-heavy because of the crowds it attracts, and that's fine. Cities do have more tourist-friendly destinations that are popular with the chains. Look at Times Square in NYC, 16th Street Mall in Denver, Universal City in Orlando, etc.
There is literally no shortage of unique, local restaurants all throughout downtown and OTR for you to go to if that interests you more. Heck, in OTR alone, you have Kaze, Bakersfield, Senate, Pho Lang Thang, Nicola's, A Tavola, Abigail Street, Taste of Belgium, Anchor, Park + Vine, Quan Hapa, etc., with more on the way ... And there are endless local restaurants in downtown and Mount Adams also. So there is room for the type of places that are flocking to The Banks. Let it be.
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Great post. In Louisville we have "4th Street Live", a block of mostly chain restaurants and bars, it does remarkably well. It is crowded at lunch and dinner daily and the nightlife is hopping, yet a lot of locals complain about "downtown is scary and inconvenient", "no local flavor", "corporate blah blah blah". I don't go there often, but I do make it down a couple of times a year. I also enjoy eating at our many local establishments. In a downtown, near the hotels and convention centers a city needs a place that feels exciting and touristy, but is familiar enough for American sheeple to go to, and The Banks fits that perfectly. All it is missing is a Hard Rock Cafe and Bubba Gumps and it could be Beale Street, Bourbon Street, Duvall Street or downtown Nashville. As it grows it will get better, and maybe more local. Right now is a destination downtown and it is keeping money inside Cincinnati, and by extension Ohio, instead of Covington or Newport.
After reading that, as a Kentuckian I feel the need to say "The Banks sucks, go to Newport on the Levy. It Rocks!"