Joe Flacco is 15 years my junior, but in some ways we’re kindred spirits. That hit home yesterday when I saw the press conference where he addressed the benefits of dining alone while living in Cincinnati without his family. The question came after our QB1 was spotted solo dining at Cantina, in Pendleton, and Allez, in Over-the-Rhine.
“I think there’s always a challenge in sitting in a room by yourself and being lonely,” Flacco said. “So for me it’s trying to find ways to maybe stay over here a little bit longer and then, you know, just kind of take myself out of that mindset. Call home. Go sit at a restaurant by myself and realize that, man, that’s pretty enjoyable to do. … I tell people all the time, I used to see guys sitting at a bar by themselves, or just sitting by themselves eating, and grabbing a little meal. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel so bad for that guy.’ You always want to go join them. And now I realize that dude was in heaven.”
I’ve spent a lot of time in heaven, Joe. As the food and dining writer for The Enquirer, most of my meals are eaten in the company of myself, along with my thoughts, my memories, my fears and, best of all, my observations of the human condition as seen through the lens of restaurants and bars.
I’ve read that you’re a fan of craft beer and good diners and that, like me, you’re an Italian American. Based on the Cincinnati restaurants you’ve already visited, I can also tell you have great taste in food.
Taking those things into account, here are 11 places I recommend for dining alone.
Mid-City Restaurant, Downtown
Mid-City is one of the friendliest and most understated restaurant/bars in town. The staff is professional, courteous and cool. The food has a variety of influences, from German-style meat platters to Japanese street food. I recommend the bok choy salad, the agedahsi tofu, the meat skewers and the petit filet (just an FYI that it’s very petit). While they don’t carry craft beers, they do have some excellent ones from Europe (as well as some cheap American cans, too). Ask if the owner, Mike Stankovich, is in. He’s one of the coolest cats in town and will gladly keep you company.
The Echo, Hyde Park
I read that you were a big fan of the Double T Diner while playing in Baltimore, so if you’re in the mood for some good diner food in Cincinnati, head over to Hyde Park to the Echo Restaurant. It’s an old-school Cincinnati diner that opened in 1945 and it’s perfect for a solitary breakfast. Be sure to sit at the counter and order the Glier’s German Greats breakfast that comes with two eggs, any style, Gliers goetta (you’ve gotta try goetta), baked apples, potato pancakes and toast. Grab a print copy of the newspaper or a good sports magazine and drink a few cheap cups of coffee while you’re reading.
The National Exemplar, Mariemont
If you’re craving comfort food, book a booth in the front dining room of the National Exemplar. I’ve eaten at the bar here, too, but the booths are more comfortable. The restaurant feels like an old English inn, complete with a working fireplace. Start with a glass of stout and the Hungarian mushroom soup before moving on to either the pork shank, prime rib (the best in town) or Amish chicken for an entree. Afterward, head to the hotel’s clubby lobby, find a sofa or an armchair to sit in and call home to check on the family. This is also one of Ted Karras’ favorite restaurants, so if you’re looking for a dining companion, he’s your man.
Sudova, Downtown
If you’re longing for some of that Eastern European food you might’ve had in Cleveland, head to Sudova. It’s owned by Sarah Dworak, who grew up in Youngstown, and features a menu of borscht, pelmeni, stuffed cabbage rolls and lamb shank paprikash. It’s a nice-looking restaurant, too, with an elegant bar serving great cocktails, beer and wine. If you’re craving some Cleveland-style pierogis, be sure to check out Dworak’s other eatery, Babushka Pierogi, at Findlay Market.
Colette, Over-the-Rhine
There are a lot of nice restaurants where I prefer sitting at the bar to booking a table. Colette is one of them. You can also grab a stool by the window for some good people watching. Start with the laminated bread. I know it doesn’t sound that exciting, but it’s about 60% butter, specifically French butter from Normandy, and tastes that way. Also try the herbed cavatelli in lamb ragout − one of my favorite pasta dishes in town − or the duck confit served on a bed of creamy cassoulet beans cooked low and slow in a stock of ham scraps and leeks.
Arnold’s, Downtown
The wood screen door, the battered bar and the timeless atmosphere make this one of my favorite watering holes in town. It’s the kind of bar that lets you live out your saddest thoughts and favorite memories. They have great local beers and some hefty burgers on the menu, but I always order the classic Greek pasta with bacon, garlic, parm, olives and lots of chopped vegetables. They also pour a perfect Guinness if you’re into that sort of thing. I’ve never seen a player from the Reds or Bengals hanging out here, but if you’d like to be among the first, I’m sure they’d be honored to have you.
Maury’s Tiny Cove, Cheviot
When word got out that I was writing this piece, our sports editor quickly replied with the following: “If Maury’s Tiny Cove isn’t on the list, we’re doing a disservice to our community.” He is right. I love Maury’s, and given your Italian American roots, I think you might, too. As I wrote a few years ago, it’s place that reminds me of all the things we’ve lost in this world: A sharp-tongued spinster aunt who loved her martinis. The pleasures of a simple red sauce dish and a basket of bread. It’s the kind of place that feels like a million movies and novels you’ve seen or read before. And, while, yes, it has appeared in a few movies, there’s nothing fictional about it. It’s real, and it’s fantastic. Sure, it’s a bit of a drive from Paycor Stadium, but once you sit down at the bar or a booth with a good old fashioned, you’ll realize it’s worth it.
Wayfarer Tavern, Dayton, Kentucky
This is a great neighborhood tavern with some of my favorite pizzas, salads and appetizers in town. Dayton is only 15 or so minutes from Downtown, so it’s not out too of the way, either. Yes, the pizza (a tavern-style pie with Detroit-style caramelized crust) is spectacular, but they also have oysters, beef carpaccio, farm-cheese-stuffed peppadew peppers and the best Caesar salad in Greater Cincinnati. The owner, Mike Dew, is nice as can be, and it’s a great place to watch a game or enjoy a leisurly lunch or dinner.
The Code Room bar in the back of Zip’s, Mount Lookout
For some of Cincinnati’s best burgers and fries, head to Zip’s, in Mount Lookout. If you’re alone, bypass the main dining area and head toward the old-time saloon doors. Behind them you’ll find a tiny bar that’s one of my favorite places to dine alone. Think of it as more of a battered but beautiful old dive bar than a burger joint. Zip’s turned 100 this year, so it’s a great place to absorb some Cincinnati history, too. Be sure to try the special anniversary pilsner, brewed in collaboration with MadTree Brewing, which is also a great place to drink and dine alone.
The Pickled Pig, Walnut Hills
I can’t think of many times I’ve not dined alone at this unique lunch spot in Walnut Hills. Owner Gary Leybman offers unique deli sandwiches and sides inspired by his childhood in Belarus, with a heavy dose of Cincinnati influences. Start with the pork burger topped with kimchee and gouda or the smoked turkey with sauerkraut and Russian dressing. Gary has lots of excellent sides, most of them involving some sort of pickling or fermenting. I especially like his pickled carrot salad. You can also order barbecue meats to go. Oh, this place was also recently featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
Carmelo’s, Covington
This Northern Kentucky Italian restaurant is named after co-owner Billy Grise’s great grandfather, Carmelo “Charles” Caserta, a Sicilian immigrant who once owned a popular restaurant and catering company in Piqua, Ohio. It’s an ideal place to sit at the bar alone and order a big bowl of pasta and a glass or two of wine or beer. Along the periphery of the bar are raised banquettes, making the room look like an old supper club waiting for Bobby Darin to take the stage. Along with the pastas (the oxtail ragu is my favorite), try the garlic soup, the fried cauliflower tossed with anchovies and almonds, or the grilled eggplant coated with white bean puree and agrodolce.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Dear Joe Flacco, these 11 restaurants are great places to eat alone
Reporting by Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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