Cincinnati Date ideas?

[SunDeck]

Originally Posted by paintmered

Biaggio's on Ludlow. It's close to campus, has the hole-in-the-wall feel, and doesn't come across as pretentious or overly showy (like Jeff Ruby's would). At UC, it was my go to date restaurant and it never let me down. Lady Paint and I still make it a point to eat there every few months.

On Fridays and Saturdays, the small wine shop across the street (Ludlow Wine and Gifts) does beer and wine tasting for $5. It's a great little shop and you get more than your money's worth out of it. Start there then grab dinner afterwards.

Depending on what you're up to after dinner, there's the Esquire (indie movie theater), Sitwells for coffee and Graeters within a block. And you don't have to leave Clifton. Public parking is on Howell next to the IGA entrance for cheap (any of the businesses on Ludlow will validate your parking).

I really miss my days living in Clifton.

[paintmered]

Originally Posted by Brutus_the_Red

The only problem there is that those are all our normal spots for a typical date night. We've spent many-a-night at Sitwells, Olives, Biaggio's, etc.

I'm looking to take her somewhere a little classier, so dress codes and whatnot aren't going to be a problem.

Got it. I didn't read your follow-up post.

Celestial at Mt. Adams then over to the Blind Lemon? Primavista is also a nice place if you want to brave Price Hill.

[LoganBuck]

Gotta say that unless you are stepping up your game for some reason, that any of the Ruby's places are on the top end of the Cincy scene. I save places like that for special occasions. For example, My wife and I are celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary this year, and I am starting to think about this. If our society wasn't so casual, a place like the Fish Market at Newport on the Levee would be a good choice. Nothing worse than wanting to be a little more formal, and sitting next to some family in jeans, with kids. There just aren't that many choices for this kind of dining any more.

I will probably head to Columbus because I think the adult specific dining is better there.

[medford]

Originally Posted by SunDeck

That's the place. I'm disappointed to know it's burgers, the appeal of which I understand, but not to the degree that I'd stand in line for one.

Well its more than just burgers. The burger actually only occupies 1 line on their 2 sided menu. If you weren't specifically going in to grab a burger, you may not even spot it on the menu.

[reds1869]

Originally Posted by LoganBuck

I will probably head to Columbus because I think the adult specific dining is better there.

Having lived in both cities I will have to respectfully disagree.

[Caveat Emperor]

Originally Posted by LoganBuck

Gotta say that unless you are stepping up your game for some reason, that any of the Ruby's places are on the top end of the Cincy scene. I save places like that for special occasions. For example, My wife and I are celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary this year, and I am starting to think about this. If our society wasn't so casual, a place like the Fish Market at Newport on the Levee would be a good choice. Nothing worse than wanting to be a little more formal, and sitting next to some family in jeans, with kids. There just aren't that many choices for this kind of dining any more.

I will probably head to Columbus because I think the adult specific dining is better there.

Even at one of Ruby's places, you'll still find people in jeans -- if that bothers you, I don't really know what to suggest. It's just a reality of the current trend towards "all casual, all the time" that our society has been steadily moving towards.

As for the Cincinnati / Columbus "adult dining" thing, I think the choices in Cincinnati are fantastic. There are names that haven't even ben touched in this thread:

- Jean Robert's Table
- Boi na Braza
- Tony's (up near Fields Ertel & Montgomerey)
- Nichola's
- Trattoria Roma
- Ichiban
- Morton's
- China Gormet (Hyde Park)
- Beluga

All of which are fantastic "non-family dinner" type establishments. That's just off the top of my head too.

[Roy Tucker]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

- Tony's (up near Fields Ertel & Montgomerey)

This.

We went there this past week. it gets a double thumb's up from Roy.

It rivals Jeff Ruby's palces.

[Sea Ray]

Originally Posted by SunDeck

Good call! Not over the top like a Ruby place, yet food prepared well in a very professionally run shop.

Thanks. I thought so but after bringing this up with my wife last night she didn't agree. She said that Palomino was a much better bet for college kids 'cause it was more "hip" and had a nice view. To each his own...

[pedro]

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

Thanks. I thought so but after bringing this up with my wife last night she didn't agree. She said that Palomino was a much better bet for college kids 'cause it was more "hip" and had a nice view. To each his own...

My friend Kevin is the sous chef at Palamino. I thought the food was good but that it had a definite corporate feel to it IMO.

[SunDeck]

Originally Posted by Sea Ray

Thanks. I thought so but after bringing this up with my wife last night she didn't agree. She said that Palomino was a much better bet for college kids 'cause it was more "hip" and had a nice view. To each his own...

I have not been impressed with Palomino- seemed like formula food to me.

[Cedric]

Playhouse in the park in MT Adams is amazing.. IMO.

[Hoosier Red]

Not sure what's playing right now, but my plug has alwasy been for Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. It will make you look all high brow and stuff.

[Puffy]

The Gas & Sip is always a hit with the ladies.

[bucksfan2]

Originally Posted by Cedric

Playhouse in the park in MT Adams is amazing.. IMO.

It is a neat place to go and watch a play. IMO its much more intimate setting than other places in the area. And the acting is top notch.