Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Cincinnati / Dayton

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2026

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Cincinnati / Dayton? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Wildweed

4.8

4.8 (39)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Over the Rhine

About the restaurant

Fun-dining. Lively restaurant showcasing wildcrafted and quality seasonal ingredients with a heavy emphasis on handmade pasta.

53 seat full service restaurant.
12 seat tasting menu chef's counter experience.

The restaurant offers two distinct experiences – creative, pasta-centric plates in the main dining room alongside seasonal a la carte options, and the 12-seat chef's table, which showcases the area's micro seasons through foraged ingredients and hyper-local produce sourcing through a 16-course tasting menu.

The restaurant has been recognized by Bon Appetit (Best New Restaurants, 2025), Esquire Magazine (25 Best New Restaurants, 2024), New York Times (Best Restaurants, 2025), James Beard Foundation (Finalist, Best Chef Great Lakes, 2025), and North America's 50 Best Restaurants (One to Watch Award, 2026)

Top review

Daniel

Dined 3 days ago

Absolutely loved the experience. The food was delicious and with locally foraged ingredients it was an opportunity to try flavors you can’t buy in store. I worked as a personal chef for a number of years so when I go out to eat I love places that innovate and make dishes that are chef inspired. The artistry of the hand shaped pasta was amazing, the flavors were incredible, and the presentation was perfect. The dish with chestnut mushrooms was my favorite, and the pickled chanterelle mushrooms were an absolute treat. I can’t wait to come back again.

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Experience

Chef's Counter Reservation

Experience

Dining Room Reservation

Experience

Published on Main x Wildweed Dining Room

Court Street Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (722)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Central Business District

About the restaurant

Alluring, Vibrant, and Undeniably Trendy, Court Street Kitchen serves up a sincere, luxe, and upbeat dining experience in the heart of Downtown Cincinnati. By combining old-world inspiration and training with a new-found take on the freshest ingredients and contemporary vibes, "CSK" serves all of their offerings with a flare that both the casual and seasoned diner are sure to love. Whether you're in the mood for the Perfect Power Lunch, an Opulent Wine and Dinner experience, a Vibey Bar Scene, or a Buzzing Sunday Brunch, CSK is the place for all Cincinnati revelers in search of great food, exceptional service, and a restaurant culture rooted in celebrating the good life. Further, Court Street Kitchen also offers one of the city's best happy hour specials, along with a sultry DJ-backed night-time party experience at their connected speakeasy on Friday and Saturday nights. And, ladies... don't forget about the No Boy Boys Allowed Brunch every Sunday at 11am.

Top review

LindseyGold

Dined 7 days ago

One of the best meals I have had in a long time! Such a delicious meal with great service! Highly recommend! Wish I could take the restaurant back home to GA with me! Please go enjoy!!!

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Popular dish

Baked Clams

Popular dish

Sixteen Bricks Bread Service

Popular dish

Bread Service

The Quarter Bistro

4.8

4.8 (2229)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Mariemont

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Quarter Bistro, located in the heart of historic Mariemont Square, only minutes from Montgomery, Maderia, Indian Hill and Downtown.
The award-winning combination of seasonal cuisine and sophisticated ambiance are just the beginning of an unforgettable experience.
As Cincinnati's premier "contemporary" bistro, the menu presents all things classic and creative in balance. Fresh fish and game daily? Of course. Outstanding wines at a great value? No Question. Whether it's a beautiful summer evening on the patio, a romantic wine and dine for two, or a down-to-business dinner for ten, The Quarter Bistro has it covered.

Top review

Megan

Dined 5 days ago

Service was amazing! Ashley was by far one of the best servers.

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4.8

4.8 (562)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Hamilton

About the restaurant

Bringing creative flair and community-driven roots to the growing Hamilton food landscape, the Coach House’s focus on hand-crafted cuisine is distinctive. With seasonal, locally sourced fare, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, mocktails and wines, and an atmosphere that marries fun with sophistication – a seat at our table is an experience you don’t want to miss.

Reservations hold tables for an amount of time based on the size of your group. Group sizes 2-5 = 1.5 hours, groups 6+ = 2.0 hours. Tables sized for over 6 people may be seated at separate tables located next to each other.

To offer you the very best dining experience, reservations are recommended for lunch and dinner service. Groups of 6 or more should call for availability.

Top review

J .Gold

Dined 3 days ago

We had a very nice meal at The Coach House. The food was very good and well prepared. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The dining room is refined and inviting, and we really enjoyed the music. This would be a great venue for a shower or rehearsal dinner.

Meritage - Cincinnati

4.8

4.8 (2640)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Glendale

About the restaurant

Looking for a reservation? Call us at (513) 376-8134 and we will do our best to accommodate you. Looking for private dining? We can accommodate groups of 10-100. Call us for more information.

Meritage Restaurant is located in the quaint historic Glendale Square, creating a unique ambiance for any occasion. The eclectic menu features fresh seafood, hand cut steaks, specialty sandwiches, and an impressive variety of salads. Each menu item from the salad dressings to the desserts is made in house using only the freshest ingredients. The wine list features wines from around the world that have been personally selected to compliment the menu. The perfect blend of professionalism and warmth provided by the service staff combined with the food and atmosphere makes Meritage a premier dining destination.

Top review

Christie

Dined on Oct 30, 2026

Food always awesome…love the ambiance of the bar. Meritage is one of our favorites and never disappoints.

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Tano Bistro - Loveland

4.8

4.8 (2161)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Loveland

About the restaurant

Welcome to our three story restaurant located in the heart of historic Downtown Loveland, where we serve seasonal cuisine created by Chef Tano, complete with signature cocktails, local craft beer, and a carefully curated wine selection. Now open 7 days a week for dinner, we offer outdoor seating on the rooftop patio, Sunday brunch, private dining experiences on our spacious second floor, as well as catering packages and a la carte menus for any special occasion. Our purpose is to cultivate meaningful relationships within our community by extending the simple things- quality food sourced from sustainable and local vendors, sincere hospitality from a smiling face, and the ability to commemorate special moments by raising a glass. We look forward to serving you soon!

Top review

Susan

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent food and service, amazing cocktails and warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Tano Bistro - Hamilton

4.9

4.9 (1028)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Hamilton

About the restaurant

Inspired by Hamilton’s new energy and old history, our Tano Bistro-Hamilton location offers a fresh dining experience in a contemporary dining space located directly across from the beautiful Marcum Park. Chef Tano and team offer a seasonally changing menu prepared with the very best ingredients focused on local sourcing, sustainability and simplicity.

Top review

bobGold

Dined 3 days ago

So glad they reopened, we visit often. Love the seasonal menu. Service is always good.

Coco's Bistro

4.6

4.6 (2268)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Dayton

About the restaurant

You'll always feel welcome at Coco's.

We're a Dayton Original, an independent restaurant where you can have your power lunch, a rehearsal dinner, a fun night, or a place to propose. You'll enjoy contemporary American food, always with amazing service, and reasonable prices for wine and spirits. Thank you Dayton - we love you as much as you love us.

Top review

GeoffGold

Dined 1 day ago

Absolutely 💯 wonderful evening as always! Thank you!

Cincinnati Distilling

4.5

4.5 (634)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Milford

About the restaurant

Nestled in the charming town of Milford, Ohio, Cincinnati Distilling has been dedicated to crafting exceptional spirits since 2017. Our commitment to quality and passion for innovation drive us to produce a diverse range of craft spirits, including bourbon, rum, vodka, gin, and more.

Our on-site restaurant offers an inviting atmosphere where guests can enjoy elevated American cuisine. Whether you’re seeking a cozy dinner with family, a casual meal with friends, or a memorable dining experience for a special occasion, our menu is designed to delight.

One of the highlights of Cincinnati Distilling is our stunning rooftop bar. Here, guests can unwind with a cocktail while taking in panoramic views of the surrounding area.

Top review

MilfordGold

Dined on Oct 23, 2026

Hailey our server was exceptional! We were blessed to have Hailey as our server five times in each time she exceeded our expectations and made our dining experience, great and wonderful! She goes beyond and above to ensure that your food comes out the way you ordered it! Her personality, integrity, tenacity, and hard work are stellar! Thank you so very much Hailey! We appreciate you!

20 Brix

4.5

4.5 (2742)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Milford

About the restaurant

The 20 Brix wine bar and restaurant features over 100 selections by the glass or bottle. Along with an extensive wine list, the restaurant has an impressive assortment of premium liquors and specialty beers.
20 Brix also includes a patio with comfortable seating areas for customers to enjoy. 20 Brix has created an environment that not only provides a unique wine and food experience to patrons, but also a relaxing backdrop to enjoy every last sip and bite.

The knowledgeable staff is ready to offer suggestions and tastes of the available wines at any time. Part of the pleasure of visiting the 20 Brix wine bar and restaurant is pairing your favorite wine with one of the contemporary entrees, salads, or pizzas.

Top review

Barbara

Dined 2 days ago

great food, nice interesting menu, they accommodated our kids requests, we had a lovely server

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