10 new restaurants opened in Cincinnati in February, but 3 major casualties

February was a big month for Downtown’s Court Street. As part of the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp.’s $5.5 million redevelopment of the area known as Court Street Plaza, the area saw the opening of a new Japanese grocery store, a taqueria and a higher-end sit-down restaurant serving elevated American fare.

The shortest month of the year (even on leap year) also saw the long-awaited opening of a new American-style bistro on Fountain Square from Thunderdome Restaurant Group and a new sandwich shop from the owners of a popular bakery in Over-the-Rhine.

Cincinnati restaurants that opened in February

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The Davidson, Downtown

This crowd-pleasing American-style bistro from Thunderdome Restaurant Group offers an eclectic menu that includes clams casino, burgers, steaks and coq a vin. A bar facing Fountain Square provides plenty of people-watching opportunities as well as creative cocktails.

501 Vine St., Downtown, 513-263-1060, thedavidson.com.

Daruma, Downtown

Hideki Harada inside Daruma, his new Japanese grocery story and take-out spot, Downtown.

Hideki Harada – a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist for his College Hill Japanese restaurant, Kiki – recently opened this Japanese grocery store on Court Street. Takeout items include sushi, rice balls and other grab-and-go options. The 830-square-foot store also sells items such as Japanese sauces, condiments, snacks, candy, beer, sake and ready-made meals. Daruma also has a hot water dispenser for making tea and instant cup noodles, and outdoor patio seating.

31 E. Court St., Downtown.

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Pata Roja, Downtown

This Mexico City-style taqueria, owned by Derrick Braziel, has already livened up Court Street with its energetic dining room clad in red-and-white tile and Reds memorabilia. But wait until you try the food. The tacos are superb, especially the Campechano (Braziel’s riff on a classic Mexico City street taco, filled with chorizo, pork shoulder and brisket and ground chicharrones. I also liked the loaded torta that’s filled with the protein of your choice, black bean puree, guacamole, pico de gallo, cilantro and cheese.

52 E. Court St., Downtown, 513-547-8226, patarojatacos.com.

Court Street Kitchen, Downtown

Court Street Kitchen opened in February.

Court Street Kitchen, from chef and owner Braheam Shteiwi, offers an “elevated American menu” with dishes that include chili-and-garlic prawns, chicken cassoulet and a classic burger. Shteiwi is the son of restaurateur Rakan Shteiwi. In 2019, he reopened his father’s restaurant, Caruso’s, in Fairfield, but some of the old Caruso’s dishes are available here, including the scampi (with chicken or shrimp), and the aragosta (fettucine, lobster, bay scallops in a roasted tomato cream sauce).

7 E. Court St., Downtown, 513-322-2200, courtstreetkitchen.com.

Milton’s Donuts, Madisonville

This family-run donut shop got its start in Middletown in 1970 but has since expanded southward to Carlyle, Deer Park, West Chester and now Madisonville. In 2014, Jay and Amy Byrne bought the original Middletown location from its owner, Dan Milton. The shop has received national accolades in publications such as Food & Wine magazine. In Bake magazine’s 2017 National Sweetest Bakery Contest, Milton’s was voted the best donut in Ohio and the third-best donut in the United States.

5810 Madison Road, Madisonville, 513-429-2255, miltonsdonuts.com.

Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, Green Township

A tomato and spinach pizza from Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria in Newport.

Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, one of my favorite new finds, opened its sixth location, and its first on the West Side, inside the former Kenning’s Circle K, which closed in 2022.

6166 Birdgetown Road, 513-510-4157, strongsbrickovenpizza.com.

El Nopal, Forest Park

This family-friendly chain of Mexican restaurants recently opened a new location in the old Cancun space in Forest Park (next to the Cracker Barrel). The menu features tacos, carnitas, carne asada and several combination platters and vegetarian options.

11997 Chase Plaza Drive, Forest Park, 513-514-0118, elnopalmex.com.

Buffalo Wild Wings, Green Township

A plate of wings from Buffalo Wild Wings.

A long-awaited Buffalo Wild Wings opened Monday in Green Township.

4801 N. Arbor Woods Court, Green Township. 513- 278-9464, buffalowildwings.com.

Allez Cafe, Over-the-Rhine

The popular Over-the-Rhine bakery opened a new cafe serving sandwiches, soups, salads and coffee. Soon, there will also be wine, beer and cocktails (the cafe is located in the former home of the Columbus-based Platform brewery). It’s just across the street from the current Allez space, which opened in 2017. For now, the cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, but they intend to expand those hours soon.

1201 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, allezbakery.com.

Bubbakoo’s Burritos, Oakley

Serving unique takes on all things burrito, Bubbakoo’s, which is based in New Jersey, now has more than 100 locations in 15 states. The latest is now open in Oakley, right next door to the new Swenson’s burger location on Madison Road (Bubbakoo’s has another location in Eastgate). Specialty burritos include the General T., with chicken tossed in General Tso’s sauce, white rice, sour cream, fresh jalapenos and cheese – and the Nashville, with fried chicken, Nashville hot sauce, white rice, pickles, sour cream or ranch. The restaurants also serves bowls, salads and assorted entrees.

3694 Madison Road, Oakley, bubakooks.com.

Cincinnati restaurants that closed in February

The Littlefield, a popular Northside restaurant, announced its closure in February.

The Littlefield, Northside

As reported by The Enquirer’s Erin Couch, this popular Northside eatery is closing its doors after nearly a decade in operation. In a Facebook post, the owners announced the bourbon bar and restaurant’s final dinner service would be Saturday, March 2. “We are incredibly proud of the space we’ve built together with you,” the post read. “It’s going to be hard not having The Littlefield in our lives.”

Cock and Bull, Glendale

The restaurant, which also has a location in Covington, announced the closing of its Glendale location on Feb. 18 via a Facebook post. The post mentioned that another unnamed restaurant will open in the same location under the same management team.

Hoity Toity Donuts, Walnut Hills

An assortment of doughnuts from Hoity Toity Donuts, in Walnut Hills.

After opening her new business just five months ago, Susan Coach, owner of Hoity Toity Donuts, announced she would close her Walnut Hills donut shop on the corner of Gilbert Avenue and E. McMillan Street. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Hoity Toity Donut will be closing,” Coach posted on Facebook. “It was a wild ride in such a short period of time!” No reason was given for the closure.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 10 new restaurants opened in Cincinnati in February, but 3 major casualties