There were several high-profile restaurant closures across the country in April. Here in Cincinnati, a small barbecue empire that ran food trucks, a catering biz and one brick-and-mortar store closed after 12 years. The last vestige of a once famous Covington jazz club announced it will play its final note next month. And one of my favorite Italian chain restaurants said “arrivederci” in Fairfield.
On a brighter note, we saw the opening of a good Jamaican spot at Findlay Market, a creamy whip location in Price Hill and the arrival of a beloved Indianapolis-based restaurant chain that was once listed among Bon Appetite magazine’s best breakfast spots in America.
Here’s a look at the big openings and closings during a roller coaster of a month for the Cincinnati restaurant scene.
Jay’s Nyam and Jam, Findlay Market
This Jamaican restaurant took over the former Juniper Seed location at 1809 Elm St., at Findlay Market. The focus of the Jay’s Nyam and Jam menu is everything jerk: jerk chicken, jerk quesadillas and a jerk-seasoned burger. But there are other specialties as well, including a pan-seared snapper, curry vegetables and lemon-pepper wings. If the jerk chicken I tried during last year’s Taste of Cincinnati is any indication, these folks know what they’re doing.
1809 Elm St., Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine, thejnjs.com. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
Brewd Coffee Shop & Taphouse, Downtown
Located on Court Street, Brewd wears many hats. It’s a breakfast spot serving breakfast burritos, pastries and egg sandwiches; a coffee shop with espresso drinks; a lunch spot with BLTs, melts and carne asada fries, and, finally, a bar serving craft cocktails and beers from local breweries such as Mellotone, Bocce, Brink, Northern Row and Sonder, among others. No matter how you choose to use it, Brewd is a nice addition to Court Street’s growing restaurant scene, which also includes Mid-City, Sudova, Daruma, Court Street Kitchen and, of course, Skyline Chili, among others.
34 E. Court St., Downtown, 513-241-1908, brewdcincy.com. Hours: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 6-11 a.m. Tuesday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
Herbistro, Norwood
This self-proclaimed “modern culinary bistro” brings plant-forward dishes to Factory 52 with a focus on “colorful plates, bold flavors, fresh herbs, grains and thoughtfully crafted plant proteins – all layered together in ways that are anything but ordinary,” according to the restaurant’s Instagram page. Herbistro replaces the former Melt Revival space, which closed earlier this year (its Northside location remains open).
2750 Park Ave., Factory 52, Norwood. Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. seven days a week.
VV The Italian Experience, CVG
As reported by The Enquirer’s Jolene Almendarez: Italian food lovers (and frequent travelers) can now grab their favorite pasta and pastries at a newly opened restaurant at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. VV the Italian Experience, which opened in Cincinnati’s Mount Lookout neighborhood in 2023, recently launched a second location at Concourse B near Gate 17.
VV Italian is located at the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport at Concourse B near Gate 17.
The Lil Goodie Shoppe, Price Hill
Good news for Price Hill. Lil Goodie’s, in Colerain Township, opened a second location in the neighborhood’s Incline District. Menu items include turtle sundaes, soft serve ice cream, flurries and cheese coneys.
201 Mount Hope Ave., Price Hill, lilgoodiesshop.com.
Cafe Patachou, Deerfield Township
This popular Indianapolis cafe opened in Deerfield Township, offering breakfast and lunch. Since its launch in 1989, Cafe Patachou has garnered local, regional and national accolades. In 2002, Bon Appétit magazine included it on a list of its “10 favorite places for breakfast.” Specialties include French omelets, grilled cheese made with cheddar and Swiss on “waffled” sourdough and served with a cup of house-made tomato artichoke soup.
5200 District Park Drive, Mason, 513-370-5764, cafepatachou.com. Hours: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
Dovetail Bakery, Hyde Park
This new bakery opened just off Hyde Park Square. Owner Laura Houston told me that Dovetale Bakery is offering laminated pastries and fresh breads that are baked in-house every day, as well as coffee and espresso.
3441 Edwards Road, Hyde Park. Hours: 7 a.m.-2 p.m Wednesday-Friday., 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.
Pelican’s Reef, Anderson Township
After a fire in 2023, Pelican’s Reef, a popular seafood restaurant on Beechmont Avenue, has reopened for business. Originally owned by Patti and John Broshar, the couple sold the business to Kam Kiu, owner of Decibel Chicken and Dope Asian Street Fare, in 2021. A year later, Siu sold it to the Enson Group. The restaurant was able to stay open after the fire by relocating to its second-floor bar, The Reef Top, which had a small kitchen. While the downstairs had to be completely remodeled, Abel Melesse, managing partner for the owners of Pelican’s Reef, told me the menu is exactly the same. Melesse also told me that most of the Pelican Reef staff will return.
7261 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township, 513-231-0272, thepelicansreef.com. Hours: 4-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The restaurant will announce its new lunch hours in the coming weeks.
Cincinnati restaurants that closed in April
Sweets & Meats, multiple locations
After operating the mom-and-pop barbecue shop for 12 years, Sweets & Meats owners made the decision to close its restaurant, food trucks and catering operations. Sweets & Meats BBQ co-founders Kristen Bailey and Anton Gaffney shared in an April 26 social media post that the decision to close “was not made lightly.” They said issues such as rising food costs, tariffs and a recent health diagnosis led to their decision to close. The Enquirer reached out to Bailey more information regarding the closure but has not heard back.
Roney’s, Cleves
Roney’s, a chain that was known for its burgers, chicken sandwiches and roast beef, closed last month. It was located in a former Roy Rogers restaurant and was owned by One Holland Group, which says it will soon reopen as a Dunkin’. The Roney’s Milford location will remain open.
Smokey Bones, West Chester
As reported by The Enquirer’s Kaycee Sloan and Haadiza Ogwude, Smokey Bones, a once-popular barbecue chain, shuttered its lone Greater Cincinnati restaurant. The closure comes after Twin Peaks Hospitality, the owner of Smokey Bones and Twin Peaks restaurants, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Texas. USA TODAY reported that All Smokey Bones restaurants across the United States shut down permanently on April 28, following sudden notices to customers and staff. The future of the Twin Peaks in the same plaza is unclear, though Fox 4 in Texas reported in January the plan was for those to remain open.
The Old Spaghetti Factory, Fairfield
A restaurant with a nearly 50-year presence in Cincinnati – first on the riverfront and then for the last 24 years in Fairfield – closed its doors May 3. Kim Davidson, marketing director for The Old Spaghetti Factory, told Journal-News newspaper that the restaurant’s lease on Gilmore Road near the site of the former Forest Fair Mall will not be renewed. It is the chain’s only remaining location in Ohio. The casual Italian eatery, known for its antiques-laden decor and the restored trolley car in the middle of the dining room, opened in 1978 in a warehouse along the Cincinnati riverfront. It relocated to Fairfield in 1998 when the historic building was razed – along with Caddy’s and Flannagan’s Landing – to make way for what is now Paycor Stadium.
With nearly 50 locations remaining in the United States, Cincinnati-area fans can travel to Louisville or Indianapolis for their fix of Old Spaghetti Factory dishes, including the chain’s signature menu item, spaghetti with mizithra cheese and browned butter.
Dee Felice Market, Covington
While it isn’t closed yet, the owners of Dee Felice Market announced it will shutter on Sunday, May 31. As reported by The Enquirer’s Haadiza Ogwude, Dee Felice Market opened in 2021 as a way for the family to keep working together after the COVID-19 pandemic closed the original Dee Felice Cafe in March 2020. Owner Shelly DeFelice-Nelson closed the decades-old restaurant and jazz club after the ownership team, including her mother and husband, decided they did not want to “jeopardize their health or the health of their staff,” according to a previous Enquirer report.
Saturday Morning Vibes, Avondale
Arielle Nelson, owner of Saturday Morning Vibes, announced via Instagram on April 17 that she is closing this Avondale cereal bar after nearly six years while taking a moment to “reimagine, rebuild, and create something even sweeter.”
“It’s been an ongoing thought for a while now, and I just felt like this was the perfect time to transition, and I’m excited about next steps,” Nelson said. The local eatery will continue to fulfill current and future catering orders, host pop-ups and attend birthday celebrations and community events through the summer.
6 ‘n the Mornin’, East Walnut Hills
This Southern-style breakfast and brunch spot announced it was closing its East Walnut Hills restaurant and relocating to 50 E. Rivercenter Blvd., in Covington. The Covington space was formerly occupied by Honey Uninhibited, a Southern restaurant owned by Cincinnati Bengal Carlos Dunlap, which closed in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 8 restaurants opened here last month, but 7 closures were April showers
Reporting by Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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