10 new restaurants opened in Cincinnati in July, but 1 major casualty

It was a big month for restaurant openings in Greater Cincinnati, with 10 new spots opening their doors to diners (there also seemed to be a lot of new coffee shops this month). We also welcomed a new ice cream parlor in Norwood, an all-you-can-eat buffet in Mason and a poolside taco joint in Over-the-Rhine.

There was one major casualty, though, the loss of one of the area's best cafes and jazz clubs. Read on to learn more.

Cincinnati restaurants that opened in July

Tokyo Grill, Mason

All-you-can-eat sushi? Yes, please. Tokyo Grill offers it up along with countless other Japanese specialties. You can get everything your heart and belly desire for $31.99, including a hibachi counter where you choose your ingredients and they fire them up for you. This is the second Tokyo Grill location in Ohio, the first of which opened in Miamisburg in 2019. According to a press release, owner Tony Huang will soon open two more locations in Beavercreek and Columbus by the end of 2023.

5456 Kings Center Road, Mason, 513-466-8164.

Luminary by La Terza, College Hill

La Terza, a coffee roaster that supplies coffee to popular local restaurants such as Maplewood, Sleepy Bee and others, opened its first brick-and-mortar coffee shop, dubbed Luminary by La Terza, inside the old College Hill Coffee Co., which La Terza purchased earlier this year.

6128 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, 513-542-2739, luminarybylaterza.com.

Yoli's, Over-the-Rhine

The latest restaurant from Garth Lieb and Tom Stephen, owners of Liberty’s Bar & Bottle and The Pony, is a taco bar located smack-dab next to the newly renovated Ziegler Park. The new spot is part of Cincinnati Center City Development Corp.'s Willkommen project and will feature a 15-seat horseshoe bar, table seating, outdoor patios, shuffleboard and other outdoor activities.

“The menu will focus on customizable tacos, burritos and salads with a rotating selection of proteins,” Lieb said in a press release. “We’ll also have some permanent menu items, based on fan favorites, and grab-and-go options to make it convenient for those who want to head to the park or pool.”

213 Woodward St., Over-the-Rhine.

Fable Cafe, Westwood

Brandie Potzick and Austin Kolaczko hope to bring a special "third place" to the West Side by making visitors to their new coffee shop, located in Westwood's historic town hall district, "feel like they're a guest in our own home." As reported by The Enquirer's Annasofia Scheve, Fable serves Cincinnati-based Yield Coffee as well as loose-leaf tea, Sixteen Bricks pastries and baked goods made in-house. On the weekends, breakfast sandwiches are made to order. According to Scheve, Fable got one heck of a reception when it opened for dinner, so much so that they ran out of food.

3117 Harrison Ave., Westwood, fablecafecincy.com.

Parkside, Hyde Park

Parkside, a new Latin American-inspired restaurant concept opened in the former Cork & Cap space on Hyde Park Square. As reported by The Enquirer's Haadiza Ogwude, owner Trevor Snowden wants Parkside to be an extension to his first restaurant, Delwood, in Mount Lookout. Menu offerings include hot honey and pepperoni pizza with fresh basil and chili flakes, Peruvian-style empanadas with house-seasoned ground beef, Modelo beer-battered cod tacos with aji verde slaw and salsa criolla, and a Peruvian grilled chicken sandwich with roasted garlic aioli, white cheddar, lettuce, tomato and onion.

2637 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 513-800-6420, parksidecincy.com.

Fulton Yards Coffeehouse and Spirits

This quirky East End coffee and cocktail shop opened its second location at a food stall inside the new Gatherall Food Hall. Owners Greg and Katie Dorr and Gregg and Linda Berry, who founded Fulton Yards in 2022, will serve coffee from Cincinnati's Urbana Cafe, cappuccinos, lattes, wine and signature cocktails.

2750 Park Ave., Norwood, 513-975-0175, fulton-yards.com/locations.

Teak, Loveland

Teak, the popular Thai and sushi restaurant that opened in Mount Adams in 1999, has now expanded to downtown Loveland. It joins sister restaurants Teak OTR and Rosewood, in Oakley.

Teak Loveland is located near the Loveland Bike Trail. According to a press release, the menu will be identical to Teak OTR and Rosewood and includes 10 appetizers, 11 house specialties, four fried rice options, three noodle dishes and 10 different curry dishes. Teak will also offer more than seven dozen different sushi choices.

110 S. Second St., Loveland, 513-583-8325, teakloveland.com.

Fat Al's, Oakley

This veteran-owned food stall serves decadent burgers and chicken tenders. If you can't decide which one to order, go with the Fat Al, which is composed of a quarter-pound beef patty (or one made with Beyond Beef, if you prefer) topped with two chicken tenders. The stall, located in the Oakley Kitchen Food Hall, also offers fries, poutine and milkshakes.

3715 Madison Road, Oakley, 513-318-7711, oakley-kitchen.com.

El Vaquero, Corryville

As reported by The Enquirer's Victoria Moorwood, El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant has opened at 2845 Short Vine St. It's the chain's fourth Greater Cincinnati location and 20th overall.

"We are thrilled to expand in the Cincinnati region and provide guests with authentic Mexican cuisine in a lively atmosphere," general manager Gustavo Ornelas said in a press release. "We are committed to serving our guests using only the freshest ingredients, and we can’t wait to share our passion for quality and authentic Mexican cuisine with the Clifton community.”

The restaurant offers daily happy hours and weekly specials on tacos, as well as seafood, steak, desserts and vegetarian options.

2845 Short Vine St., Corryville, 513-221-0516, mexicanrestaurantcincinnati.com.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream, Norwood

The first Greater Cincinnati location for Columbus-based Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams opened in Norwood's Factory 52. Jeni's was founded in 2002 by Jeni Britton and now has parlors in 14 states and Washington D.C. As reported by The Enquirer's Erin Couch, Jeni's is known for its 25 flavors, which its website says are inspired by curiosities, art, history and pop culture. The company touts a "uniquely smooth texture and buttercream body, with bright flavor and clean finish" in its ice creams, many of which are based on baked goods and other confections.

2755 Park Ave., Norwood, 513-822-2770, jenis.com.

Cincinnati restaurants that closed in July

Dee Felice, Covington

The iconic 39-year-old restaurant and jazz club quietly shuttered in July. Owner Shelly DeFelice-Nelson, who leased the restaurant to Another Round LLC two and a half years ago, said staffing issues and a customer shift away from fine dining were among the restaurant's biggest challenges. She also cited Dee Felice's reputation as a place for special occasions as an issue, since many of its customers only came back once or twice a year. Dee Felice Market, which DeFelice-Nelson and her husband, Patrick Nelson, opened as a way to stay in business during the pandemic, will remain open, selling the restaurant's famous bread, andouille sausage and lobster butter.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati restaurants that opened or closed in July 2023