Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Cincinnati / Dayton

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Cincinnati / Dayton? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Court Street Kitchen

4.9

4.9 (281)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Central Business District

About the restaurant

Alluring, Vibrant, and Undeniably Trendy, Court Street Kitchen serves up a sincere, luxe, and upbeat dining experience in the heart of Downtown Cincinnati. By combining old-world inspiration and training with a new-found take on the freshest ingredients and contemporary vibes, "CSK" serves all of their offerings with a flare that both the casual and seasoned diner are sure to love. Whether you're in the mood for the Perfect Power Lunch, an Opulent Wine and Dinner experience, a Vibey Bar Scene, or a Buzzing Sunday Brunch, CSK is the place for all Cincinnati revelers in search of great food, exceptional service, and a restaurant culture rooted in celebrating the good life. Further, Court Street Kitchen also offers one of the city's best happy hour specials, along with a sultry DJ-backed night-time party experience at their connected speakeasy on Friday and Saturday nights. And, ladies... don't forget about the No Boy Boys Allowed Brunch every Sunday at 11am.

Top review

Molly

Dined 3 days ago

A wonderful place to celebrate an anniversary! Great service, delicious food, wonderful atmosphere.

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Experience

"No Boys Allowed" Sunday Brunch!

Experience

Happy Hour

Experience

Monday $ Wine Club at CSK

TRIO

4.8

4.8 (6140)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

Trio, one of Cincinnati's favorite restaurants for over 25 years, is known for serving fresh seafood daily, along with great steaks, extraordinary pasta dishes, generous portions of specialty salads, California style pizzas, & a wide range of sandwiches. Trio has become the hot spot of Cincinnati for its extensive wine list. Trio currently serves over 20 different wines by the glass, offering the best California wines by the glass or bottle. During the spring, summer & fall Trio diners may prefer to dine in the Veranda. Trio can accommodate private parties from 24 to 70 guests in one of the private dining rooms.

Top review

JamesVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Great meal. Highly recommend Salmon Flatbread. Awesome waitress

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Popular dish

Wedge

The Quarter Bistro

4.8

4.8 (2140)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Mariemont

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Quarter Bistro, located in the heart of historic Mariemont Square, only minutes from Montgomery, Maderia, Indian Hill and Downtown.
The award-winning combination of seasonal cuisine and sophisticated ambiance are just the beginning of an unforgettable experience.
As Cincinnati's premier "contemporary" bistro, the menu presents all things classic and creative in balance. Fresh fish and game daily? Of course. Outstanding wines at a great value? No Question. Whether it's a beautiful summer evening on the patio, a romantic wine and dine for two, or a down-to-business dinner for ten, The Quarter Bistro has it covered.

Top review

PhyllisVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Always nice to eat here, good food, great service and nice ambience

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Popular dish

PEI Mussels

Coach House

4.8

4.8 (431)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Hamilton

About the restaurant

Bringing creative flare and community-driven roots to the growing Hamilton food landscape, the Coach House’s focus on hand-crafted cuisine is distinctive. With seasonal, locally sourced fare, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, mocktails and wines, and an atmosphere that marries fun with sophistication – a seat at our table is an experience you don’t want to miss.

Reservations hold tables for an amount of time based upon the size of your group. Groups sizes 2-5= 1.5 hours, groups 6+ 2.0 hours. Tables sized over 6 people may be seated at separate tables located next to each other.

To offer you the very best dining experience, reservations are recommended for lunch and dinner service. Groups of 6 or more should call for availability.

Top review

Darren

Dined 6 days ago

Great food. Very comfortable. Will return soon.

Alara

4.7

4.7 (480)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Oakley

About the restaurant

Located at Madison Square in Madisonville, Alara invites you to an immersive dining experience that encourages exploring and tasting your way through innovative dishes that are expertly prepared and exquisitely presented. With an open kitchen that fosters a social atmosphere, Alara redefines fine dining by stripping away the conventional formalities to focus on what truly matters: exceptional food, genuine hospitality, and a lively yet elegant setting. Our seasonal menu features contemporary American cuisine, highlighting prime meats and fresh seafood. Drawing from global influences, Chef Jacob Lillicrap and our culinary team utilize fresh luxury ingredients to create fun and unique dishes that appeal to every diner.

Top review

LauraVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Jinxii was friendly, enthusiastic and very informative, and the manager was kind when he came over to discuss one of our guest's food allergies. The meal was superbly presented and delicious as always! We would highly recommend Alara to anyone interested in fine dining!

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Meritage - Cincinnati

4.7

4.7 (2474)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Glendale

About the restaurant

Looking for a reservation? Call us at (513) 376-8134 and we will do our best to accommodate you. Looking for private dining? We can accommodate groups of 10-100. Call us for more information.

Meritage Restaurant is located in the quaint historic Glendale Square, creating a unique ambiance for any occasion. The eclectic menu features fresh seafood, hand cut steaks, specialty sandwiches, and an impressive variety of salads. Each menu item from the salad dressings to the desserts is made in house using only the freshest ingredients. The wine list features wines from around the world that have been personally selected to compliment the menu. The perfect blend of professionalism and warmth provided by the service staff combined with the food and atmosphere makes Meritage a premier dining destination.

Top review

KimberlyVIP

Dined 6 days ago

We had another wonderful experience at Meritage. Mia was awesome as usual. Thank you for always making us feel so special!

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Popular dish

Wedge Salad

Coco's Bistro

4.6

4.6 (2241)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Dayton

About the restaurant

You'll always feel welcome at Coco's.

We're a Dayton Original, an independent restaurant where you can have your power lunch, a rehearsal dinner, a fun night, or a place to propose. You'll enjoy contemporary American food, always with amazing service, and reasonable prices for wine and spirits. Thank you Dayton - we love you as much as you love us.

Top review

amanda

Dined 6 days ago

Would love if they bring back the grasshopper but otherwise coco’s is consistently lovely!

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Tano Bistro - Hamilton

4.4

4.4 (985)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Hamilton

About the restaurant

Inspired by Hamilton’s new energy and old history, our Tano Bistro-Hamilton location offers a fresh dining experience in a contemporary dining space located directly across from the beautiful Marcum Park. Chef Tano and team offer a seasonally changing menu prepared with the very best ingredients focused on local sourcing, sustainability and simplicity.

Top review

GillVIP

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Had dinner last night with colleagues from work at Tano Bistro. The overall experience was great. Our server was excellent. Friendly and knowledgeable. The food was incredible. Freshly prepared. It was obvious! I’ll definitely go back when in town for business next time.

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Popular dish

Stuffed Salmon

Cincinnati Distilling

4.6

4.6 (550)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Milford

About the restaurant

Nestled in the charming town of Milford, Ohio, Cincinnati Distilling has been dedicated to crafting exceptional spirits since 2017. Our commitment to quality and passion for innovation drive us to produce a diverse range of craft spirits, including bourbon, rum, vodka, gin, and more.

Our on-site restaurant offers an inviting atmosphere where guests can enjoy elevated American cuisine. Whether you’re seeking a cozy dinner with family, a casual meal with friends, or a memorable dining experience for a special occasion, our menu is designed to delight.

One of the highlights of Cincinnati Distilling is our stunning rooftop bar. Here, guests can unwind with a cocktail while taking in panoramic views of the surrounding area.

Please note that for parties greater than 8 people, we ask that you call us to make arrangements. Additionally, we do not reserve tables for the roof bar or patio. The kitchen closes one hour before the bar. Food service begins at 3:00 on Mondays.

Top review

Charles

Dined 4 days ago

Great food. Waiter was extremely kind and brought out for different drinks for my six year old who couldn't find something he liked. Location was beautiful.

Tano Bistro - Loveland

4.6

4.6 (2073)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Loveland

About the restaurant

Welcome to our three story restaurant located in the heart of historic Downtown Loveland, where we serve seasonal cuisine created by Chef Tano, complete with signature cocktails, local craft beer, and a carefully curated wine selection. Now open 7 days a week for dinner, we offer outdoor seating on the rooftop patio, Sunday brunch, private dining experiences on our spacious second floor, as well as catering packages and a la carte menus for any special occasion. Our purpose is to cultivate meaningful relationships within our community by extending the simple things- quality food sourced from sustainable and local vendors, sincere hospitality from a smiling face, and the ability to commemorate special moments by raising a glass. We look forward to serving you soon!

Top review

FrederickVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Tano never ever fails to serve well thought out farm fresh healthy good. Brunch was awesome today, we all tried something new. Try it for yourself, at the bar for happy hour, lunch or dinner, the dining room with friends or upstairs on the deck for a pleasant experience with great food and drink. My faves are spinach dip, all the salads, and the entrees with unusual ingredients and spices. I love Eggplant parm and the burger! They always check for food allergies! C&F Thomas

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