Ohio · best-of list
The 11 Best Restaurants in Ohio
All 11 restaurants our route editors picked in Ohio, across 6 destinations, gathered in one list. 11 come with an insider tip.
Our curated picks
11 restaurants in Ohio, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
German Village 3 picks
Katzinger's Delicatessen
German Village · On our Columbus New Year's Eve route
New York-style deli open since 1984, with towering corned beef sandwiches and a free pickle barrel.
Tip: Order at the counter and take a sandwich to Schiller Park if the weather allows.
Lindey's
German Village · On our Columbus New Year's Eve route
Bistro in an 1880s building that has been German Village's special-occasion dinner spot since 1981.
Tip: Book it for a Dec 30 dinner or a Jan 1 brunch if it is open; the bar is cozy for a nightcap.
Schmidt's Sausage Haus
German Village · On our Columbus New Year's Eve route
Family-run German restaurant from a meat-packing family dating to 1886, known for bratwurst and jumbo cream puffs.
Tip: Share a cream puff even if you think you are full.
Photo: Another Believer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cleveland 2 picks
Slyman's Restaurant
Cleveland · On our Indiana & Ohio City-Nature Loop route
Family diner since 1964 serving towering corned beef sandwiches.
Tip: Opens early, closes mid-afternoon.
Photo: Tim Stickle · Google
West Side Market
Cleveland · On our Indiana & Ohio City-Nature Loop route
1912 market hall with butchers, bakers and pierogi and gyro stands.
Tip: Closed Mon, Tue and Thu; check hours.
Photo: Cards84664 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Downtown & the Short North 2 picks
North Market
Downtown & the Short North · On our Columbus New Year's Eve route
Public market at the edge of the Short North since 1876, with stalls for Ohio cheese, pierogi, Jeni's ice cream and more.
Tip: Good for a late lunch on Dec 30 or 31; holiday hours are shorter.
Photo: North Market · CC BY-SA 4.0The Refectory
Downtown & the Short North · On our Columbus New Year's Eve route
French restaurant in a 19th-century church building on Bethel Road, open since 1976 and known for its wine cellar.
Tip: It is a 15-minute drive north of downtown; book an early seating and rideshare back for the countdown.
Downtown Cincinnati 2 picks
Camp Washington Chili
Downtown Cincinnati · On our Cincinnati New Year's Eve route
Diner open since 1940 serving Cincinnati chili over spaghetti with a pile of shredded cheddar.
Tip: Order a three-way and check holiday hours before going.
Photo: FunksBrother · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mecklenburg Gardens
Downtown Cincinnati · On our Cincinnati New Year's Eve route
German restaurant and beer garden open since 1865 near the university, serving schnitzel, sausages and local beer.
Tip: Book the Dec 30 dinner; the grape-arbor garden is covered and heated in winter.
Photo: Warren LeMay · CC0
Downtown Cleveland & the Flats 1 pick
Sokolowski's University Inn
Downtown Cleveland & the Flats · On our Cleveland New Year's Eve route
Cafeteria-style Polish restaurant run by the same family since 1923, serving pierogi and stuffed cabbage.
Tip: Go at lunch and check holiday hours; it keeps short days.
Photo: Edsel Little · CC BY-SA 2.0
Ohio City & the Lakefront 1 pick
Great Lakes Brewing Company
Ohio City & the Lakefront · On our Cleveland New Year's Eve route
Ohio's first brewpub, open since 1988 in old Market Avenue buildings, with a long bar and pub food.
Tip: Check Jan 1 hours and try the Christmas Ale while it is still on tap.
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the restaurants in Ohio?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 11 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Ohio has the most restaurants on this list?
German Village has the most (3 of 11), followed by Cleveland (2) and Downtown & the Short North (2).
More lists for Ohio
Best restaurants nearby
Destinations on this list
- German Village 3 on this list
- Cleveland 2 on this list
- Downtown & the Short North 2 on this list
- Downtown Cincinnati 2 on this list
- Downtown Cleveland & the Flats 1 on this list
- Ohio City & the Lakefront 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.