Diners at Skyline Chili enjoy the restaurant's signature dish, smothered in cheese. The restaurant is just one of many food choices available in Cincinnati and nearby Kentucky just over the Ohio River.

Photo/Courtesy Cincinnati USA

Kathie Brookfield
Cincinnati Promotions Coordinator

Food, and good food, will not be hard to find at the 2009 USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, and the Millennium and Cincinnati Hyatt Regency hotels all have restaurants and room service. Not all restaurants are open seven days a week and some are open for dinner only. Check these links for details covering menu, pricing and hours of operation:

• Hilton Dining
• Orchids at Palm Court
• Millennium Hotel Restaurant
• Hyatt Hotel Dining

There is ample access to fine dining, casual dining, and fast food. Establishments located within walking distance or a short taxi ride from the Duke Energy Center and conference hotels include a wide variety of cuisine and atmosphere. Many restaurants cater to the needs of downtown executives and business workers providing fast service for the pickup breakfast before work and 30 minute lunch break to more leisurely executive lunches and business dinners. Casual upscale dining can be had at the Palomino which serves lunch and dinner with an excellent bar.

Information about Jean Robert at Pigall’s and JeanRo Bistro plus two other restaurants serving French-American cuisine run by Chef Jean Robert is available at www.jeanrobertgroup.com. The Phoenix offers fine dining for dinner Wednesday through Saturday with the city’s best wine list.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the historic Cincinnatian Hotel at the Palace restaurant. The Ocenaire has top notch, and the freshest seafood around. Like seafood? McCormick and Schmicks across from Fountain Square is another excellent choice.

Nicholson’s Tavern & Pub, located directly across the street from the Aronoff Center, serves up a menu of Scottish flair with men in kilts. It is open for lunch and dinner.

Fast food options within the Carew Tower offers the convenience of the “city within a city” hosting a food court on the lower level and, on street level, the “grande dame of luncheonettes,”, the 1930’s vintage lunch counter Hathaway’s Coffee Shop. Also check out the shopping opportunities.

Whatever the choices, decent food and fast service is available in under an hour within a six block radius of the Duke Energy Convention Center.

Some of Cincinnati’s own favorites are Arnold’s Bar and Grill, established in 1861 and featuring live music nightly; Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse on Walnut Street; Montgomery Inn Boathouse on the Ohio River featuring its world famous BBQ sauce; Sky Line and Gold Star Chili with a special twist on flavor; Izzy Kadetz’ world famous Rueben sandwich and barley soup; and French Pot ice cream, chocolates, confections and fresh baked goods at Graeters Ice Cream.

The Convention Center will have food available as well. Near the main entrance is a coffee kiosk, and there will be food stations in the Stage Expo Hall.

For “off campus” possibilities in Mount Adams, try The Rookwood Bar & Restaurant where the famous pottery was made; the Celestial for fine dining with a magnificent view of the city; and, for excellent New American food in a comfortable intimate setting, try Daveeds at 934.

For another view of Cincinnati and the Ohio Riverfront, as well as Northern Kentucky, go to Covington’s revolving restaurant at the Radisson Hotel Riverview or to Riverboat Row from Covington to Newport.

No matter what the “food mood,” it can be satisfied within any budget in Greater Cincinnati.

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