Convince Your Family to Come to Cincinnati: Food

It took a fetus to convince me to come to Cincinnati in 1996. But I don't think you need to resort to such drastic measures (and perhaps painful surgery) to get your family in the car and on the road to Cincinnati next weekend for the Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event on June 4-5.

When most people think of Cincinnati, they think of the television show "WKRP," or perhaps they think of the Reds and maybe even the odd stuff we call chili here. (Side note: This is the only town in America where you can tell a waitress you want a "three-way" and not get slapped.)

But there's a lot more here. Enough, in fact, to make it a nice Spring getaway for the whole family. They can do fun stuff while you hang out with us at our offices at 4700 East Galbraith Road.

As long-time readers of my blog might know, I live for good food. So here (grudgingly) are the best places to eat in the city. If you have a spouse who is a foodie, here is how to make that person happy.

Boca: This is the the best restaurant in the city. Period. It is high-end American food, but it really defies categorization. Perfect service. Bold flavors. A beautiful restored space. It's a bit expensive, but I never regret spending it there. It's about 10 minutes from our offices.

Nada: This is the other restaurant owned by the chef who runs Boca. It's a downtown Mexican restaurant, but it's unlike any Mexican restaurant I've ever been to. Say it with me: Crispy pork belly tacos. Look over the menu and make a reservation immediately. It can be tough to get in.

Local 127: Another downtown restaurant, this one is focused on local ingredients. I think of it as down-home food with some upscale touches. Everything on the menu seems to have some pork in it (my highest compliment). Prices are reasonable for a downtown restaurant.

JoAn: This is a Japanese restaurant located in Toyota's North American headquarters near the airport. It is great sushi, with authentic seasonal specials. And lots and lots of Japanese. Because of Toyota, we have an embarrassment of good Japanese restaurants. A close second (in Newport, Ky., on the river) is Aoi.

Tucker's: I hate to tell you about this one. It's in a crummy neighborhood. It has been open since the 1940s and has never been remodeled. But it is a fantastic place for breakfast. The best goetta in town. Awesome pancakes. Home fries. And the people are just as good. It has been called the most integrated restaurant in our fair city. You'll eat with city councilmen and drug dealers, and they all get along at Tucker's.

Gordo's: Another place I give up grudgingly. This is the best place for craft beer and high-end burgers. Get there early to be sure you get a table. Don't be put off by the drab exterior, which screams "livers killed here." It's also about 10 minutes from our office.

Hugo: I am addicted to Lowcountry cusine – grits, shellfish, fried green tomatoes, fish. South Carolina stuff. This restaurant is the closest you'll get to Charleston, S.C., in the Midwest. It's a nice space. Good wine list. Close to our office.

Dewey's: I have a pizza problem. This is the best pizza in town (at this point -- more on that later). It's a small chain, and they have an outlet around the corner from our office. All the pizzas are great (each member of the staff has a favorite). Good beer. Good wine. Excellent house salad. I would eat there every week if I could.

Frieda's: This little bakery near our office is run by a German master baker. Everything I've tried there is incredible. The almond croissants. Macaroons. Butter cookies. This is the best bakery in a town filled with great bakeries.

I could go on for many more pages, but here is one last one.

Ambar: We have a lot of good Indian restaurants here in town, but this is the one that stands above the rest. A good choice for vegetarians (and meat lovers). This one is by the University of Cincinnati in a funky college neighborhood filled with art cinema, coffee houses and bookstores. It's a fun place to hang out.

I know I've skipped the usual suspects (Skyline Chili, Graeter's Ice Cream, LaRosa's), but you can find those anywhere.

— Christopher Schwarz

You can find lots of good information on wood lathe tools here.