Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Cincinnati / Dayton

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Cincinnati / Dayton? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Mita's

4.9

4.9 (3277)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

Mita's is the second restaurant from James Beard Finalist Chef Jose Salazar and is named after his Colombian grandmother - his "Mita." The beautiful 130 seat restaurant designed by MSA Architects is located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati at the corner of Fifth and Race Streets on the ground floor of the 84.51 Building. Mita's eclectic, farm inspired tapas menu focuses on both the traditional and modern foods and beverages of Spain and Latin America, with charcuterie, ceviches, and paella.

Top review

LouisVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Just fantastic food and a drinks The Pulpo has got to be one of the best dishes in town Always a great meal for a reasonable price

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Popular dish

Pulpo

Popular dish

Pastel de Tres Leches

Popular dish

Tostones y Guacamole

The Baker's Table

4.9

4.9 (143)

$50 and over

Farm-to-table

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

An EATER Best New Restaurant in America 2019, Baker's Table offers a fine dining farm-to-table experience in historic Newport, Kentucky.

Our monthly-changing Six Course tasting menu is inspired by a love of timeless traditions and a passion for real ingredients. We offer a Four Course Wine or Spirit-Free pairing to perfectly compliment your meal.

-Effortless options available for guests with dietary restrictions including vegetarian, gluten free, and dairy free
-Perfectly crafted portion sizes leave you feeling nourished and light
-Complimentary replacement if a dish doesn’t meet your expectations
-Reservations suggested in the dining room. Walk-ins welcomed at the bar
-A la carte dining available at the bar
-Ample free parking near the restaurant
-Only twenty tables available each night

Top review

Scott

Dined 2 days ago

Everything was so fresh and tasted amazing. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend and can't wait to go back to try the next iteration of the menu.

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Experience

The Baker's Table Semi Private

Safi Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (78)

$30 and under

Moroccan

Over the Rhine

About the restaurant

Safi is an exciting new concept from the renowned Chef Jose Salazar and his wife, Ann Salazar. Inspired by their travels in Morocco, Safi features a diverse selection of small plates, an extensive wine list, unique cocktails, beers, tea, and coffee. We welcome walk-in guests in our cozy lounge with ample seating at our bar and on our inviting 14th Street Patio. We look forward to welcoming you to Safi!

Top review

David

Dined 3 days ago

Such a nice place to eat and a great surprise because we thought it was only a wine bar. They have a wonderful tapas and small plates that are outstanding. The service is impeccable to boot!!

Nolia Kitchen - OTR

4.8

4.8 (879)

$31 to $50

American

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

Chef Jeff Harris is serving classic southern flavors at Nolia Kitchen, as well as imaginative and unconventional twists to familiar staples.

Top review

Angel

Dined 6 days ago

Nolia Kitchen was a great experience! Food and service were excellent. Highly recommend!

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Mode X Tequila Bistro

4.8

4.8 (99)

$30 and under

Mexican

Beavercreek

About the restaurant

A sophisticated twist on the Tequila bistro style of informal eating and drinking.........Welcome to Mode X Tequila Bistro, a place that praises the vibrancy of Mexico. Here you will find a fun and casual dining experience. At Mode X, we emphasize on using quality ingredients, from fresh-pressed tortillas to housemade sauce.

Top review

JohannaVIP

Dined on Jun 14, 2025

If you are someone who cares about the details Mode X fits the bill. We have been coming since they opened and it is consistently excellent. The food is delicious! The service is excellent. The restaurant is beautiful and clean. Highly recommend this place.

Livery - Montgomery

4.7

4.7 (405)

$31 to $50

Latin American

Montgomery

About the restaurant

Livery is a neighborhood gathering place with a Latin influenced menu.

Top review

Sue

Dined 1 day ago

Sunday luncheon for 10 of us was amazing. I’ll continue to enjoy Livery Restaurant because of great food, ambiance, value and service

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4.7

4.7 (479)

$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

Samantha

Dined 3 days ago

We celebrated our anniversary here and was treated the chef’s table experience! The food was incredible, the service was outstanding, and the ambiance was intimate! Highly recommend!

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4.7

4.7 (340)

$50 and over

Market Cuisine

Cincinnati

About the restaurant

The Aperture, the first full-scale restaurant project from Chef Jordan Anthony-Brown. The menu reflects the concept of Mediterranean mezze style dining, consisting of many small plates, rustic in nature and reflective of seasonality and creates a natural progression and flow for the dining experience. The Aperture’s menu reflects three fundamental tenets: intention, balance, and focus. The menu - and its individual dishes - are approached with the objective of putting critical thought into every component, eliminating the extraneous, and ensuring a natural flow across the menu. The culinary program is heavily influenced by the cuisine of the broader Mediterranean region and the simple, seasonal cooking of Southern France, Italy, Greece, and the Levant.

Our menu changes often and with the seasons. You can always find our current menu on our website www.theaperturecinci.com.

Top review

CindyVIP

Dined 2 days ago

What a new gem we have in Cincinnati! An exceptionally creative menu and perfectly executed preparation of delicious food and cocktails! The staff was knowledgeable, attentive and enthusiastic. We will look forward to going back!

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Experience

The Aperture BBQ Week

Marigold

4.6

4.6 (182)

$50 and over

Contemporary British

Central Business District

About the restaurant

Crown Restaurant Group’s Newest Culinary Gem, Marigold, is about to Bloom!
~Located in Cincinnati’s Fountain District~

Top review

Theresa

Dined 3 days ago

The servers and manager were wonderful! So helpful. Excellent service and they helped me find items that I could enjoy even with my food allergies. Food was nice, drinks were great. Sticky toffee pudding was excellent!

Metropole @ 21c Museum Hotel

4.5

4.5 (2911)

$31 to $50

American

Central Business District

About the restaurant

The culinary team at Metropole brings a menu that focuses on the joy of nourishing food with a contemporary take on old-world techniques. Metropole highlights a diverse offering that utilizes global techniques mixed with the culinary traditions found throughout the Ohio Valley. Metropole’s ever-changing menu showcases the area’s sustainable farmers and producers while paying homage to the full potential of often undervalued ingredients. The bar and lounge are inviting places to explore the rotating selection of craft beers on tap, house-made cocktails, Bourbons and a smart selection of old and new world wines.

Top review

Amber

Dined 1 day ago

The service was outstanding! Matt was very attentive and helped make a birthday celebration fun. The food was phenomenal! Dining with a penguin and ending the meal with in-house made cotton candy was an experience we'll never forget!!

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