11 new restaurants opened in Cincinnati last month, but 6 closures crash the party

Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer
·7 min read

By my count, there were 11 new restaurants that opened in (or around) the month of August, including a new hibachi spot in Roselawn, a California taco joint in Terrace Park and a new brewery with plenty of good food options on Fountain Square.

On a less positive note, six restaurants closed, including a Downtown Korean mainstay and a (personally beloved) Puerto Rican-themed restaurant in College Hill (though it will live on at a popular food hall in Madisonville).

Read on to learn more.

Cincinnati restaurants that opened in August 2023

Inside Southern Grace, a new comfort food restaurant that opened in Norwood this month.
Inside Southern Grace, a new comfort food restaurant that opened in Norwood this month.

Southern Grace Cincy, Norwood

After graduating from Findlay Market's Findlay Kitchen Incubator program, chef Nicole Stevens has opened a brick-and-mortar location of her Southern-themed restaurant in Norwood, right next door to the Xavier University All For One Shop. Stevens, who grew up in North Carolina, serves soul food classics such as fried chicken, smothered turkey, fried fish, collard greens and cornbread. Lighter fare includes wraps and salads. Be sure to try Stevens' mac and cheese, which won best side dish at this year's Taste of Cincinnati Best of Taste Awards.

3751 Montgomery Road, Norwood, 818-8182, southerngracecincy.com.

Yakitori Hibachi, Roselawn

Kenneth Bibb and Jason Chapman opened this Japanese hibachi restaurant and lounge "with a little urban flare" in their childhood neighborhood of Roselawn. Yakitori specializes in hibachi with your choice of chicken, steak, shrimp, veggies, salmon or filet mignon combined with either rice or Japanese noodles. Other options include fried chicken wings tossed in house-made sauce, tempura and eggrolls. In a video posted to Instagram, the owners referred to the restaurant as "Benihana without the theatrics."

 7505 Reading Road, Roselawn, yakitorihibachilounge.com.

Alive & Well, Clifton

This new neighborhood-y cocktail lounge opened in the former site of Gaslight Cafe and offers classic cocktails such as vespers, Sazeracs and Pimm's cups as well as a lovingly curated wine and beer selection. Small bites include charcuterie, olives and truffle popcorn.

3410 Telford St., Clifton, 513-221-0068, aliveandwellbar.com.

Golden State Tacos, Terrace Park

Daniel and Lana Wright opened their long-awaited California taco shop in Terrace Park. The Wrights, who also own Senate, in Blue Ash, and Abigail Street and Forty Thieves, in Over-the-Rhine, serve California-style tacos inside a 1950s auto repair shop. There's more seating on the outdoor patio. Golden State also specializes in margaritas (frozen or not) and shaved ice, which is served out of a retro-style trailer in the parking lot.

704 Wooster Pike, Terrace Park. 513-831-8226.

Kawa Revolving Sushi, Symmes Township

Whether you see it as a dystopian nightmare or a model of 21st-century efficiency, conveyor belt sushi has arrived in Cincinnati. As the name of the restaurant implies, Kawa's sushi, sashimi and other dishes are delivered on a revolving conveyor belt (or, in some cases, by an actual robot). Just place your order via an iPad at your table and give into our brave new world.

11381 Montgomery Road, Symmes Township, 513-818-8338.

The Park Diner, Northside

I missed this one last month, but The Park Diner, located in the old Park Chili spot in Northside, opened its doors in July. Along with burgers and shoestring fries, the diner offers vegetarian options, including beer-braised tofu with peppers and onions, and a veggie sloppy joe. There's also a Cincy cheesesteak, with beer-braised pork loin, American cheese, peppers and onions, and a "flight" of sides (your choice of coleslaw, fries, mac and cheese, pickles or baked beans.

4160 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-541-0159.

March First Brewing, Downtown

Fountain Square's rebirth seems to be well underway. Along with a revamped Jeff Ruby's and a new concept from the Thunderdome Restaurant Group coming to the old Royce space, this past month saw the opening of March First, a brewpub and restaurant, located in what was once Rock Bottom Brewery. Along with beers from Sycamore Township-based March First, the brewery also has brews from FigLeaf and Woodburn Brewing on tap, along with cocktails and wine. The menu includes twists on classic pub fare, including shareable dishes such as Korean corn dogs and smoked pork nachos, along with pizzas, salads, sandwiches, burgers and bowls.

10 Fountain Square Plaza, Downtown, 513-718-9173, marchfirstbrewing.com.

Laveau, Downtown

Just behind March First is a new New Orleans-style restaurant named after the voodoo priestess, Marie Laveau. I'm interested in checking this place out since it offers some of my favorite Louisiana dishes, including crawfish-stuffed boudin balls, shrimp remoulade, gumbo, jambalaya and ettouffe. There's also a fascinating list of New Orleans-inspired cocktails.

27 E. Sixth St., Downtown, 513-815-1238, laveaucincy.com.

The Flock, Over-the-Rhine

This low-key LGBTQ+ bar and lounge was formerly home to the Birdcage, which relocated to Downtown in June. Like its predecessor, the bar is owned by Ignite Entertainment, which also operates the Argentinian restaurants Butcher & Barrel, Pampas and Che. Along with cocktails, beer and wine, the Flock also offers trivia nights, karaoke and live entertainment.

927 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, theflockcincinnati.com.

Two Seven Two Bakery, Clifton

After making a name for herself at Brown Bear Bakery in Over-the-Rhine, owner Blair Fornshell has decided to bring her talents to Clifton's Gaslight District. (Don't worry, Brown Bear fans, the OTR bakery is alive and well.) Two Seven Two highlights seasonal produce in both sweet and savory pastries, and also serves coffee and espresso drinks.

272 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, instagram.com/two.seven.two.

Wandering Monsters, Anderson Township

Here's another spot I missed last month, though our beer writer Matt Koesters did pen a nice piece about them just after they opened. Wandering Monsters is a new restaurant and brewery that offers a family-friendly atmosphere with plenty of activities, including duckpin bowling, for kids and parents alike. Owner Jason Brewer, formerly a general manager at Listermann Brewing Company in Norwood, and head brewer Zac Boehnke, formerly of Braxton Brewing Company in Covington, offer New England IPAs, American ambers and easy-drinking ales. Food-wise, there's plenty to be had, with a menu of sandwiches, smash burgers, barbecue, soups and salads.

8251 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township, 513-417-8805, wanderingmonstersbeer.com.

Wandering Monsters Brewery opened in Anderson Township. The brewery features beer, a kitchen, outdoor patio and duckpin bowling. Pictured here is the wedge salad.
Wandering Monsters Brewery opened in Anderson Township. The brewery features beer, a kitchen, outdoor patio and duckpin bowling. Pictured here is the wedge salad.

Cincinnati restaurants that closed in August 2023

Chimaek, Covington

The Korean-style pub announced its permanent closure via Facebook on Aug. 11, less than a year after opening in January 2023. Chimaek specialized in Korean fried chicken and craft beer ("chi" was meant to be an abbreviation of chicken, while "maek" was short for the Korean word for beer). The Facebook post said the owners were searching for a new concept for the space.

Haru, Downtown

The Korean restaurant, which opened in 2017, announced its closure via a sign on its window in late August. Opened in 2017, it was known for dishes such as bibimbap, ban chan and kimchi fried rice.

13th Street Alley, Over-the-Rhine

The walk-up window at 126 13th St. was known for its creative takes on Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks. Opened in 2018, its closure was announced in late August with nothing more than a sign posted on its doors.

Keystone Bar & Grill, Covington

While Keystone Bar & Grill closed its Covington locations, you can still find several of its menu items at The Mac Shack, at 2612 Short Vine St.
While Keystone Bar & Grill closed its Covington locations, you can still find several of its menu items at The Mac Shack, at 2612 Short Vine St.

After 16 years, the Covington restaurant shuttered its Roebling Point District location on Sept. 1. “As one of the original establishments in the Roebling Point District, we have felt the love in ‘the Cov’ since our early days in 2007,” said Dan Cronican, a managing partner of 4EG, which owned the spot. "This change will open doors for the continued expansion of our 4EG bar locations across Cincinnati, Columbus, Chicago, and beyond.” Cronican said customers can still find their skillet mac and cheese nearby at Keystone’s Mac Shack in Clifton.

Copper & Flame, Over-the-Rhine

Copper and Flame in Over-the-Rhine featured 68 taps of self serve beer, wine and cocktails along with food.
Copper and Flame in Over-the-Rhine featured 68 taps of self serve beer, wine and cocktails along with food.

The self-serve beer bar that opened in 2021 specializing in international street fare closed its doors forever on Sept. 3. According to a post on the bar's Facebook page, the reasons for the closure were financial. "Sadly, the losses piled up too high," the post read. "My pocket is empty. My CCs maxed long ago. I had to tap out."

MashRoots, College Hill

I was sad to see this one go. The College Hill eatery specialized in mofongo − plantains that are fried then mashed with garlic, oil, chicken stock and salt and served with chicken, pork or seafood with toppings and sauces. It also served what many told me was a heck of a burger, though I've never tried it. Luckily, MashRoots (and its burger) will continue to operate at a food stall inside Element Eatery in Madisonville.

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