CINCINNATI — Keith Pandolfi said he found it difficult to write a column recommending 10 places to eat and drink in the Queen City for dining website Serious Eats.
The Cincinnati native said the challenge was not coming up with enough places for “Serious Eats 10,” a new feature that asks experts to “pick out 10 downright delicious eating and drinking experiences in their favorite cities or towns.”
For Pandolfi, the senior features editor for the site, the issue was whittling down his number of recommendations.
“Whenever someone tells me they’ll be in Cincinnati for one reason or another, I have about 20 places I want to send them,” he wrote in the introduction of his list.
That made us wonder: What other places would he recommend to visitors? What almost made his list?
So we emailed him to ask. And Pandolfi, who currently lives in New York, did not hesitate to answer.
He said he wished he could have included Via Vite, Rhinegeist Brewing, Maribelle’s, Japp’s, Aglamesis Brothers, Eli’s BBQ, the Comet, National Exemplar, Kaze, Myrtle’s Punch House, Gas Light Cafe, Wunderbar and Northside Tavern on his list.
He said he also would recommend Graeter’s for its ice cream and rolls. Tucker’s missed his Serious Eats list simply because it is currently closed.
“Oh, and Highland Coffee House. I know that place is ancient, but it was the best coffee house in town when I was growing up, and I still love it,” Pandolfi added.
The number of new restaurants opening in the Queen City has only added to his challenge “mainly because it seems like a new restaurant is opening every week down there, and there are so many places I haven’t tried yet,” he said.
The next time he’s in Cincinnati, Pandolfi said he hopes to visit Mazunte Taqueria, Nation Kitchen and Bar, the Anchor, Red Feather Kitchen, Mita’s, Dutch’s Larder, Metropole and Jean-Robert's Table.
“Believe it or not, I still haven’t been to Jean-Robert’s Table, though I’ve enjoyed Jean-Robert’s food at Pigall’s, and know the Cincinnati dining scene, as it exists today, wouldn’t be possible without him,” he said.
