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Dining

Food is one thing that all Cincinnatians can agree on. Chili, ribs, ice cream, and other foods are just some of the hometown favorites.

Cincinnati is famous for its own unique kind of chili, based on a Greek recipe. It contains finely-ground meat, no beans or onions, and usually contains spices such as cinnamon or cocoa powder, and not as much tomato as traditional recipes. It is served over spaghetti with finely-shredded Cheddar cheese on top, known as a "three-way"; add onions to make it a "four-way," and beans for a "five-way." It's also served over hotdogs with shredded Cheddar cheese on top, known as a "cheese coney." Cincinnati has more chili restaurants per capita than any city in the United States. It's almost a religious war as to which Cincinnati chili is the best. Two major chili-parlor chains are dominant, but individual parlors and other smaller chains have their fans as well.

Chili
 • Camp Washington Chili 3005 Colerain Ave., Tel: (513) 541-0061. Considered by most locals to be the original home of Cincinnati-style chili.
 • Skyline Chili. The top chili chain, but with locations in numerous other Midwest and Florida cities. Their chili is sold in supermarkets throughout the eastern United States in frozen packages or cans.
 • Gold Star Chili. The other major chili chain. Also has locations elsewhere in the region.
 • Dixie Chili. A local chili chain based in Northern Kentucky.

Fine dining
 • Brown Dog Cafe, 5893 Pfeiffer Rd., Blue Ash, (513) 794-1610. Lunch Mon-Fri 11-2, Dinner Mon-Thurs 5-9, Fri-Sat 5-10. Voted one of Cincinnati's "Top 25" restaurants by Cincinnati Magazine.
 • Jean-Robert at Pigalls. 127 West Fourth St., Ph: (513) 721-1345, Fax: (513) 352-6010. Owned by former five star Maisonette chef Jean-Robert de Cavel who opened his own restaurant in 2002 at the site of closed 5 star restaurant Pigall's. In October 2005 Mobil Travel Guide rated de Cavel's restaurant 4 stars.
 • Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse.

Other restaurants
 • Campus Coffee, [Mount Washington] Located on Campus Lane between Beechmont Avenue and Sutton Avenue, this full service coffee house offers drinks a place to relax with all kinds.
 • Cumin [East Hyde Park] 3514 Erie Ave. 513-871-8714
 • Encore Cafe,  . Owned by Paul and Pam (renowned pastry chef) Sturkey. 2 locations.
 • Nicola's Ristorante,[Pendleton] 1420 Sycamore St, Ph: (513) 721-6200. Italian fine Dining in downtown Cincinnati. Wine list is so-so, but atmosphere and food are excellent.
 • Nicholson's Tavern & Pub, [Central Business District] 625 Walnut Street (across from Aronoff Center), 564-9111. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F 11AM-11PM, Sa 4PM-11PM, Su 4PM-9PM. $20-$50 (per person).
 • Ramundos Pizza. [Mount Lookout] Located in Mount Lookout (an eastern neighborhood, between Historic Linwood and Hyde Park) and offering a great pizza option if you're sick of the chains.
 • Indigo's. [Hyde Park] (Across the street from Graeter's Ice cream) and small, but chic place to eat. The atmosphere is relaxed and offers a great outdoor patio. Menu consists of pastas, pizzas, and salads. Highly recommended.
 • Graeter's Ice Cream, [Hyde Park, Westwood, Green Township, Mariemont, Clifton, Finneytown, Anderson Township]  . Quite possibly Cincinnati's greatest gift to humanity. No drive through Cincinnati is complete without Graeter's ice cream or another one of their delicious desserts.
 • Montgomery Inn Ribs, [Riverfront, Montgomery]  . With three restaurants, one of Cincinnati's most famous eateries. Renowned as the place to go for great baby-back ribs. Was a favorite of comedy legend Bob Hope. The flagship location is located in the village of Montgomery, in the northeast suburbs.
 • Zips, [Mount Lookout] Home of the famous Zip burger, this 70 year old Mount Lookout restaurant and bar has been consistently voted best burger in town. 1036 Delta Ave.
 • The Echo, [Hyde Park] Great diner located just off of Hyde Park Square. Try the fish special on Fridays (closed after lunch except for Thursday-Saturday). Located at 3510 Edwards Road.

Groceries
 • Kroger, The Kroger chain is based in Cincinnati and has at least one store in every town in the area.
 • Jungle Jim's. Simply put, it's one of the largest and most diverse groceries in the world. This store carries a mind-boggling array of food and beverages not commonly found at your local grocery, as well as what you'd normally find. Their selection of seafood, much of it sold alive from huge tanks, matches anything outside of a seaside locale. The store has expanded over the years and is still growing, now featuring a Starbuck's Coffee, garden center, cooking academy and much more. A must-see for "foodies." 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield (north of downtown Cincinnati); take I-275 to Ohio State Route 4 and go north 3 miles toward Fairfield. You can't miss the sign and the building, on the right.

Drink

The Main Street Entertainment District (located on Main Street north of 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine) is a popular area featuring many clubs and bars. The area is always busy on weekends, especially with many young professionals.

Across the Ohio River in Kentucky, many restaurants and nightspots are located along the riverbank in Covington and Newport. The Newport on the Levee area is quite popular.
 • BarrelHouse Brewing Company, 22 East 12th Street, 421-2337. Tu-F 11AM-2:30PM, Sa 12PM-2:30PM. Bruw pub and restaurant.
 • Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant,  .
 • Hofbrauhaus, is located in Newport (Kentucky)
 • The Blue Wisp Jazz Club, 318 East Eighth Street.
 • Cincinnati Wine Events, Website dedicated to wine events in the Cincinnati area.