The Dish: Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Openings You May Have Missed | Food and Beverage Features | Cincinnati
Photo: Catie Viox
Chef Jose Salazar and his restaurant group JPS and Deeper Roots Coffee have teamed up to open Daylily Deli, a New York-inspired bodega, deli and coffeeshop in Columbia Tusculum.
It’s been a mild summer season for Cincinnati’s food scene with the recent openings of several bakeries and ice cream parlours. But it’s not just sugar, there are also spices. The Queen City also welcomed an Italian comfort food spot, a New York-style deli and a new location for a favorite brunch.
Rosie’s Italian
Crown Restaurant Group (Crown Republic Gastropub, Losanti, La Cantina) has refreshed and reopened one of its downtown restaurants. The former Rosie’s Pies & Pints - which temporarily closed in August – has been transformed into Rosie’s Italian. Led by chef and owner Anthony Sitek, the menu emphasizes family recipes and traditions. Diners can expect house-made pastas, Italian-style main courses and the same New Jersey-style pizzas that Rosie’s was once known for. The menu is divided into antipasti, to share, primi (pasta), secondi (starters) and pizza. There are options like stromboli, Apulian orecchiette with sausage and broccolini, chicken piccata, and a tie-dye pizza with vodka sauce, tomato sauce, and pesto. The goal is to embody the feeling of an Italian Sunday dinner. 300 E. Seventh Street, Downtown, rosiesitaliankitchen.com.
Cold cuts with daylilies
Two Cincinnati food and coffee favorites have come together to bring a bit of the Big Apple to Queen City. Chef Jose Salazar and his restaurant group JPS and Deeper Roots Coffee have teamed up to open Daylily Deli, a New York-inspired bodega, deli and coffeeshop in Columbia Tusculum. The menu features everything from egg and New York cheese on a roll to a ground cheese sandwich (with ground beef, cheese, banana peppers, sautéed onions, lettuce, tomatoes and gravy special on a hoagie) and even an egg cream coffee soda. In addition to a selection of basic groceries and local artisan products, Daylily also serves wine and beer, as well as Deeper Roots’ full coffee menu. 3751 East Ave, Columbia Tusculum, daylilydeli.com.
Dairy
Run by the team behind Revolution Rotisserie, Milkman recently opened in the former roast chicken plaza on Race Street. The restaurant offers nostalgic vibes, burgers and a long list of soft drinks, sundaes and shakes – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. With a unique take on classic diner cuisine, dishes include burgers topped with everything from jalapeno cream cheese to Cincinnati chili, fried chicken sandwiches, and “not a burger” options like hot dogs, salads and Italian beef sandwiches. There’s also plenty for non-meat eaters, including tofu nuggets and fried tofu substitutions from local CinSoy. 1106 Race St., On the Rhine, milkmanbar.com.
El Camino Co Bakery.
College Hill is now home to El Camino Baking Co., owned by Ryan Morgan, who gained national attention as the owner and head baker of Sixteen Bricks, and pastry chef Megan Ketover, who established a high reputation in the industry as Executive Pastry Chef for Boca. and, more recently, Khora and Hart & Cru. From the opening date at the end of August, the bakery offers an assortment of pastries – think seasonal fruit tarts, croissants and other fine dishes – and for bread, there is cardamom and lemon bread. apricot made with khorason ancient grain flour, country bread, schiacciata made with Yocora Rojo flour, “Super Seed” whole wheat breads and spelled baguettes and pretzels. The menu rotates because, as Morgan says, El Camino gives him the chance to bake any bread he wants to bake. The bakery serves coffee with all of its carb-centric offerings and is expected to add pizza to the menu in the near future – once Morgan has built the rest of the building, which will include a dining room. 5915 Hamilton Ave, College Hill, instagram.com/el_caminobakingco.
Good Creamery Spoon
Gold Spoon Creamery, a handmade ice cream shop, opened its first location at Summit Park in Blue Ash. Previously it operated as a pop-up shop within the Proud Hound Coffee in Silverton. Owned and operated by husband and wife duo Emily and Nate Henderson and their business partner Erin Fay, Good Spoon serves unique, all-natural flavors. After the Hendersons got married in 2020, they dreamed of opening a small business together. Both passionate about ice cream, they decided to go to “ice cream school” in Idaho in an effort to bring their skills back to Cincinnati. Customers can choose from 16 different homemade flavors ranging from traditional flavors, like Cream Cookies and Pistachio, to signature flavors like St. Looey Gooey – a cream cheese based ice cream with a swirl of caramel and a vanilla cake. 10235 Summit Parkway, Blue Ash, goldspooncreamery.com.
College Hill of Sleeping Bees
Popular Cincinnati brunch spot Sleepy Bee Cafe has officially opened a location in College Hill. Sleepy Bee, which offers brunch and lunch options focused on fresh local ingredients, opened its new location Aug. 21 as part of the $9.5 million project that aims to revitalize College Hill, the development of KeyMark . The Sleepy Bee location is located inside what was a vacant “furniture store building” on Hamilton Avenue. This new spot will serve up all the favorites, from buttermilk pancakes to avocado toast to breakfast sandwiches, plus plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. 5920 Hamilton Ave, College Hill, sleepybeecafe.com.
Maya’s pastries
As of August 31, the woman-owned Maya’s Bakes has opened on Elm Street at Findlay Market for a limited time. Owner Kemaya Molden will serve her sweet treats that she has perfected over her 20 years of baking experience. Maya’s Bakes was previously an outdoor market vendor and is part of Findlay Kitchen, a non-profit organization that focuses on supporting local food entrepreneurs. Molden bakes delicious homemade treats that anyone can enjoy at the pop-up, as well as through DoorDash and local restaurants Embers and Trio Bistro. Maya’s Bakes will be open at this location until the end of the year. 1811 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, mayasbakes.com.
Green Quarter Blue Ash
Louisville-based fast food chain Green District opened a second location in Cincinnati on August 30. The menu features seven signature chopped salads. There are standard choices like a Hide & Go Greek or What About Cobb, as well as quicker creations like the Thai One On, with Sriracha prawns, red cabbage, edamame, carrot, cucumber, green onion, dry roasted peanuts, crispy wontons and Thai peanut dressing. Green District will also open two other locations in Cincinnati by early 2023, according to a statement from the restaurant. 11255 Reed Hartman Highway., Blue Ash, gdsalades.com.
Barleycorn Brewery
Northern Kentucky chain Barleycorn’s recently opened its first brewery. Barleycorn’s Brewhouse officially opened on August 15 in Wilder, Kentucky. The location, which was previously a fire station, is described as a “new take on a classic hometown brand.” The brewery focuses on local craft beer and food, as well as its own home-brewed beers and dishes in the test kitchen. There’s also a small selection of signature cocktails that range from Bloody Marys to Old Fashioned. The menu is filled with bar food classics with appetizers like fried cheese sticks and fries and queso, as well as sandwiches like Dijon turkey club, fried fish and cheeseburger. 402 Licking Pike, Wilder, barleycornsbrewhouse.com.
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