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  • Sotto

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Reserve at Sotto

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Sotto
Sotto

Sotto Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Dining
  • Website: http://www.sottocincinnati.com
  • Phone: (513) 977-6886
  • Hours of Operation: Dinner

    Sunday-Thursday: 5:00pm-10:00pm
    Friday-Saturday: 5:00pm-11:00pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Executive Chef: Executive Chef : Jeremy Lieb, Chef de Cuisine : Danny Combs
  • Dress Code: Casual Dress
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Counter Seating, Farm to Table, Fireplace, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Late Night, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Smoking Area, Wine

Getting there

  • Cross Street: Walnut Street
  • Parking: Valet
  • Parking Details: We offer valet parking directly in front of the restaurant beginning at 6pm daily.
A word from Sotto
It is a concept of casual intimacy and communal romance. Sotto is the art of simplicity, a steward of restraint. It’s undressed, gutsy and human. It is fire, meat, wheat, and laughter. Above all, Sotto is Italian.
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Overall
  • Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food
  • Diners' Choice WinnerItalian
Diner Reviews
  • "Excellent food and our waitress, Mercedes, gave excellent recommendations and was very friendly and approachable. Although the restaurant was busy, Mercedes took time with us and made us feel like we were welcome. Thx!!"
    Dined on 7/19/2014
  • "Everything was excellent. The melon salad and lamb were both spectacular!"
    Dined on 7/19/2014
  • "Pasta so good. You want to swim around in it eating and smiling."
    Dined on 7/18/2014
  • "From appetizer to dessert, we had a special and incredibly delicious meal at Sotto! The service was excellent and the atmosphere vibrant."
    Dined on 7/18/2014
  • "We recently went to Sotto for our son's birthday. Our waitress was awesome - very knowledgeable about the menu and answered all of our questions. The food was outstanding and we will definitely be going back!"
    Dined on 7/17/2014
  • "our first visit to Sotto and certainly not our last. Our server, Pat, was very knowledgeable and helped promote our fun mood. Had to leave for a show and he moved our dinner along to give us time for coffee and a relaxing moment. Just a nice evening before the show."
    Dined on 7/17/2014
  • "Everything was superb! Well done! Thanks for taking such good care of us."
    Dined on 7/15/2014
  • "I love Sotto for food and service. Only negative, and it's pretty striking, is the noise level. The music is so loud that it is really difficult to have a conversation. I took a work friend from Seattle there on Tuesday evening and we changed tables three times to find one where we could at least hear each other. That said, the beet salad and polenta are two of my favorite dishes in Cincinnati. I'd go much more often if it were more relaxing and I didn't have to work so hard to have conversation."
    Dined on 7/15/2014
  • "I must start by noting our most knowledgable waiter Anthony. He was spot on with his recommendations and descriptions of the food. The chef is most creative in every course from appetizers to main course and dessert. My wife, son and I shared a number of appetizers, first and second plates which were served family style. After an 11 day road trip vacationing in NYC, Baltimore, Charleston SC, Savannah, Ashville NC and Cincinnati, this was by far our best meal! I highly recommend Sotto!! You won't regret this delightful gastronomical experience."
    Dined on 7/14/2014
  • "The food was delicious and interesting. Easy to enjoy with Mercedes providing great descriptions and enthusiasm. The atmosphere was loud (we were there early on a Saturday) and the lighting is historically (you will get a feeling of rooms lit by candles only) dark."
    Dined on 7/12/2014
  • "Sotto is great for a quick bite at the bar or an intimate evening out. The variety of dining spaces lends itself to multiple atmospheres to suit any party. The menu has many stand out dishes and we loved the emphasis on house made pasta, salumi and pickles. The staff was conscientious, kind and sensitive to the mood and tempo of our dining. Highly recommended!"
    Dined on 7/11/2014
  • "We were sorry that we hadn't been here before. Everything was wonderful about it except the loud music. They did turn it down when we complained. The food was delicious and the service was great."
    Dined on 7/10/2014
  • "This was my first trip to Sotto and it did not disappoint in any area. We had a party of 7 and they were very accommodating. Service was great and everyone's food actually arrived at the same time. Very cool atmosphere, great for a romantic dinner. But best of all the food was incredible! They now make almost every pasta fresh in house and you could certainly tell! Tortellini and the pork loin were unreal!! Highly recommend if you haven't been."
    Dined on 7/7/2014
  • "The goat cheese and honey bruschetta and short rib cappellacci were excellent!"
    Dined on 7/6/2014
  • "We've been hearing so much about the place and I finally was able to et a reservation. It was well worth it."
    Dined on 7/5/2014
  • "Four of us visited Sotto early Saturday night. We went with the waitress'(excellent!) recommendation of selecting 2 items from each menu category and sharing the dinning experience family style. This was the way to go! Everything we ate was delicious. We couldn't visit on a regular basis because of price--worthwhile but reserved for "special" occasion for our budget. We loved the seasonal burrata, the steak was incredible, the wine recommendation was good, and the doughnuts were a perfect ending."
    Dined on 7/5/2014
  • "This is our second time in 5 mos. to eat here. We are from Louisville and wish it was here. We specifically revolve a weekend in Cinn. just so we can eat here. Incredible pasta made from scratch. You can even watch them making it. Short rib tortellini is the best! As well as the pasta bolognese."
    Dined on 7/4/2014
  • "Having been fans of Boca for years, finally had the pleasure of dining at Sotto! Five of us could not pick just one favorite of the many courses we shared. Service was excellent. Our server was sincerely engaging and helpful. Timing of delivery was balanced. The atmosphere is charming from the moment you enter. My son in particular has dined in some of the finer restaurants across the globe and was quite impressed with the ability to present simple dishes with such lasting finish. The menu is very comprehensive without being complicated as is the wine list. Additionally Sotto is a wonderfully affordable restaurant. Looking forward yo a visit again soon."
    Dined on 7/3/2014
  • "We could only get a 9pm reservation for a Monday night, and it was sooo worth it!"
    Dined on 6/30/2014
  • "Everything was amazing. The cocktails were great, each course was fantastic."
    Dined on 6/30/2014
  • "Service was excellent. Food was great. Good value too overall."
    Dined on 6/30/2014
  • "The staff was wonderful -- knowledgeable, engaging and very accommodating."
    Dined on 6/29/2014
  • "fun vibe, excellent food, and very attentive staff. Its always a treat when the server can guide you through the menu and pretty much order for your entire table! we were having too much fun to pause over the menu so jessie did it for us. great experience!"
    Dined on 6/28/2014
  • "This was our third visit to Sotto and it was great. We finally had the steak for two entree (make sure you are hungry as it is big) and it did not disappoint. The ricotta doughnuts are one of the best desserts I have ever had. This is really one of my favorite restaurants and I am already planning my next visit!"
    Dined on 6/27/2014
  • "Our waiter was too energetic, using too many"awesomes" and "fantastic". The food wasn't very good. None of the four of us finished any dishes. The noise level was awful."
    Dined on 6/25/2014
  • "I've been a couple times now and the food was as great as it always is! Our server Anthony was spot on! And he made fantastic recommendations!"
    Dined on 6/23/2014
  • "This was a great find. Being a visitor to a conference in Cincinnati, it was walking distance from the convention center and a great experience. Great food and great service (Blaire was great!). I would definitely add this one to the MUST EAT places in Cincinnati."
    Dined on 6/23/2014
  • "Once again, Sotto was amazing! They never disappoint with their made in house pasta and wonderful service! They were kind enough to ale a dish they used to have when they first opened and left the fish off a couple other dishes so my husband and I could share...I'm vegetarian. Our waiter, Seth, was so amazing and so helpful!"
    Dined on 6/21/2014
  • "The food is wonderful! The service very good! To bad they had the music on way to loud for the already too loud restaurant."
    Dined on 6/21/2014
  • "I have lived in Cincinnati all 26 years of my life, have eaten a lot of fine dining restaurants throughout the city and Sotto is by FAR the best dining expereince ive ever had. My Fiance and I went there for his 27th birthday and the service was absolutely top knotch. The candle lit dinner was amazing from the moment we sat down. The server we had (Seth) was truely fantastic, I dont normally remember serves let alone their names. This is also the first review i have ever written about a dining experience because we were that blown away by this place. Being Italian, I am always looking for great authentic ialtian food in the city. Sotto blew it out of the water, we will most definitely be back and probably with my entire Italian family."
    Dined on 6/20/2014
  • "We loved everything about Sotto including the food, service, and atmosphere. We can't wait to go back."
    Dined on 6/20/2014
  • "From the moment we walked in until we left we were served by friendly, intelligent people. The drinks, food, wine, and dessert were perfect."
    Dined on 6/19/2014
  • "This was our first visit to Sotto and we had heard mixed reviews from friends so we were a bit concerned about whether we would like it. But every dish we tried was excellent. We will definitely be going back. We loved the bruschetta with chicken liver/pistachio pate. Also baby kale Caesar salad and polenta with pancetta and egg. And for main courses Bronzino and pasta with short ribs. We felt like we'd be happy to order every one of these dishes again on a future visit. It is dark and noisy but the servers carry flashlights and will light up the menu or tea bag selection for you if needed."
    Dined on 6/18/2014
  • "Between a 30 minute wait for an already-reserved table, unimpressive menu choices at a gourmet price point, and an atmosphere that is an attempt at "smoky and sultry," but comes off as "poorly lit and tacky," there are too many options available for you, the prospective diner, to waste an evening here. Go to BOCA, Nada, or Via Vite instead. Hell, go to Rock Bottom instead. This place sucks. The food won't kill you. That's a plus, I guess."
    Dined on 6/17/2014
  • "We had a nice time while dining for a birthday in the bar side of the restaurant. We had 2 kids and they made a special pasta to accommodate their needs. We peeked Around and saw several private dining areas that looked really nice as well. Great date spot as well with the low light and cozy decor."
    Dined on 6/16/2014
  • "Sotto offered a great dining experience. Great Food, Great Service, Reservation honored and respected on time, would definitely bring family and friends back. The only negative for the night was the music. Not sure they recognize they are an Italian Restaurant, but the music was loud and inappropriate for the experience and the ambiance. Believe it or not, they could take some lessons learned from Maggiano's. It was the only negative part of the experience, and potentially the only reason I would not return."
    Dined on 6/15/2014
  • "Lighting was so dim we had to use flashlight apps to read menu. Very limited menu"
    Dined on 6/15/2014
  • "Our server Seth was AMAZING! He should absolutely be recognized for his fantastic personality and knowledge of food and wine. We loved him and will come back to see him. The food is always impeccable and delicious."
    Dined on 6/14/2014
  • "We dined here for the first time for our anniversary. Our experience matched what other reviewers have said--dark ish, loud, and amazing food. Hilary was a wonderful server, attentive but not intrusive. Took our cue re how much to chat. I'm pretty chatty about things I like :) We had the bur rata bruschetta with bagna cauda. Also ordered the garlic rubbed, which gave us enough bread for the generous portion of cheese. We each had a salad--mine was the baby kale--and shared both the pasta w pepper/cheese, and the roasted branzino. Then also shared the donuts and gelato. Yes, many courses but not over filling since we shared. Every bite was truly amazing. Will definitely return."
    Dined on 6/13/2014
  • "This is an amazing restaurant. Our waiter Anthony absolutely made our night, offering selections in both food and drink, that were prepared perfectly. There was nothing that I could think to change. I am someone that avoids Italian restaurants because the menus are all the same and I cannot wait to go back to sotto.make sure you order the desert donuts. We were suggested to dip in Carmel and pistachio. But the best was doing that then dipping the whole thing in chocolate."
    Dined on 6/13/2014
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Diners' Choice Awards
  • Cincinnati / Dayton Winners
  • Best Food
  • Italian
  • Hot Spot
  • Romantic
  • Most Booked
  • Cincinnati Winners
  • Best Overall
  • Best Food
  • Italian
  • Fit for Foodies
  • Hot Spot
  • Romantic
  • Most Booked
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