Anyone from Cincinnati will be familiar with the “East Side versus West Side” phenomena. To those not from the area, let us explain a little deeper:
Downtown Cincinnati is seated between Interstate 75 on its western border and Interstate 71 on its eastern border. Cincinnatians who reside on the eastern side are “East Siders” and those who reside on the western side are “West Siders”. Very few who are born and raised on one side end up moving to the other; there is a tendency for people to stay in their own neighborhood. They shop there, eat there, and reside there, becoming loyalists of their particular part of the city.
Unfortunately, this phenomenon leads to many Cincinnatians missing out on what the other side of their city has to offer – not just in real estate opportunities for private and commercial buyers, but also for quaint little restaurants, craft breweries, county and city parks, and more.
To give our East Siders (and beyond) a little peek into the beauty of West Side neighborhoods, we’ve put together a list of our favorite spots to visit to expand their experience of this wonderful city called Cincinnati:
The West Side’s premier hibachi grill, Sakura Steakhouse, features both Japanese hibachi-style seating and entertainment as well as a sushi bar (if that’s more your style). They have everything from hibachi steak, to chicken to shrimp served with soup or salad and a complete cocktail menu including hot and cold sake.
If you’re looking for authentic Mexican fare, look no further than Valle Escondido. The lunch menu features quesadillas, fajitas, and even American food like steak and chicken strips. The dinner menu is expansive and includes dinner salads, dinner nachos, tacos, chimichangas and seafood.
One of the coolest features of this Dent park is the retired army tank that sits out front by the road. It also has a memorial clock tower with flags from each of the armed forces branches. Veteran’s Park features a half-mile paved trail as well as a wooded nature trail. It also includes soccer fields, a baseball field, a basketball court, handball courts, a playground, and a shelter.
Located in downtown Cheviot, Maury’s Tiny Cove Steakhouse was founded in 1949 and has been a West Side staple ever since. Its decór follows a 1950’s steakhouse theme and features hand-cut steaks, BBQ chicken, surf and turf, and more. The 2015 movie Carol, starring Cate Blanchette, even filmed a scene at Maury’s Tiny Cove, forever capturing the essence of the place on film.
Located on Harrison Avenue right in the heart of downtown Cheviot, you will find Legends Bar & Venue – a great spot to see live music. In addition to their stage, Legends also features a large outdoor patio with games to play in between sets and has a well-stocked bar to meet all your drink needs for the evening.
Harvest Home Park is the site of the annual Harvest Home Fair, a prized Cheviot tradition complete with a huge parade ending at the park itself to kick off the festival. The park offers playground equipment, picnic facilities, three shelters, a lodge/meeting hall with kitchen facilities and attached picnic shelter, a dance barn, baseball and softball diamonds, horseshoe pits, and a walking path with 12 fitness stations. Not only this, but Cheviot’s Municipal Swimming Pool is also located at Harvest Home Park and features a splash playground for its littlest patrons. Throughout the summer months, numerous churches and organizations use Harvest Home Park for their festivals and picnics.
When craft breweries started becoming the hangout staple in Cincinnati, it was quite a while until the West Side got its own piece of the keg. West Side Brewing is who we have to thank for bringing craft beer to those who craved it on Cincinnati’s West Side. West Side Brewing opened its doors in May 2017 thanks to the help of a 2016 KickStarter campaign. With 400 backers including organizations like Westwood Works and the Westwood Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, West Side Brewing’s owners were able to get everything they needed to launch the very first craft brewing taproom on Cincinnati’s West Side.
Not only will you find a wide variety of beers to test your palate, but you also will find indoor cornhole and food trucks outside to meet your entertainment and rumbling tummy needs.
Yes: fine dining exists and belongs on Cincinnati’s West Side. One visit to the Ivory House is all that’s needed to cement this statement. Nestled in the historic Westwood Town Hall District, the Ivory House sets a new standard for the modern steakhouse experience. Japanese A5 Wagyu headlines a variety of premium, hand-selected steaks. Inventive seafood features are prepared to perfection while an exciting range of entrees, salads and small plates brings offerings full circle. Ivory House is open for dinner and the best Sunday brunch in town, and offers outdoor seating during warmer months.
Sebastian’s gyros are known throughout the West Side as the best gyro in town. The quaint little restaurant on Glenway Avenue has been in the news as a “Best of Cincinnati” nominee and recipient for countless years. Sebastian’s was started in 1976 by Alex Vassiliou, a Greek immigrant from a small village near Kastoria, Greece. Alex spent time in Sweden and Germany before he decided to come to America. Together with his family, Alex has worked hard to be one of the first people to introduce Greek cuisine into Cincinnati’s culture. If you’re looking for a gyro, this is the place to go – whatever side of town you’re on.
Price Hill Chili has been a West Side staple since 1962. Yes, the menu features the traditional Cincinnati-style chili and the iconic three-way, but it also is filled with all-day breakfast favorites such as the “Mailman Breakfast Sandwich” (fried egg and cheese on toast with bacon, sausage or goetta and lettuce and mayonnaise) as well as meat-packed double decker sandwiches. Price Hill Chili is definitely a must-stop on the West Side.
At just under 50 acres, Rapid Run Park in Price Hill has rolling hills, paved walkways, a playground, and several picnic areas. This is a favorite sledding spot for kids once the snow hits the ground in the winter! The park has a stone shelter and features a shallow lake, one of the best spots around to launch your toy boat. Additionally, there are baseball diamonds that are kept available for impromptu games, and woods for lots of shady picnics underneath 45 species of trees.
Once the temperatures warm up and the sun starts shining, there’s no better place to have lunch or dinner than by the Ohio River at Cabana on the River. Featuring a full bar and a menu focused on large salads, signature sandwiches, and large-portioned appetizers, the Cabana is the perfect place to hear live music on weekend evenings and to watch a wonderful summer sunset.
Stretching over a mile along the riverfront, Fernbank Park offers a 1.2 mile paved trail, a large playground, several reservable shelters, a reservable lodge, and a 1 mile hikeable nature trail. The riverside scenery at this park can’t be beat for enjoying a day outdoors.
Miami Whitewater is a 4670acre Hamilton County Park located off St. Rt. 128 on Cincinnati’s far West Side. It has everything a family needs for a wonderful time outdoors. Miami Whitewater features a lake with paddle boat, fishing boat, pontoon boat, kayak and canoe rentals. It also features a 7.8 mile outer loop paved bike trail and a 1.8 mile inner loop bike/fitness trail, complete with bike rental if you need it. If hiking is more your style, Miami Whitewater offers the 1.7 mile Badlands, 0.8 mile Oakleaf, 0.6 mile Tallgrass Prairie, and 2.1 mile Timberlakes nature trails, plus two horseback riding trails. There’s also a large playground for the kids, a covered picnic area complete with a concession stand, a fishing area, a 9 hole golf course, and even a campground. If you haven’t ventured out to Miami Whitewater Forest yet and you’re looking for a wonderful day outdoors…this park should definitely be your next stop.
We hope you can make it to some of these unforgettable West Side Cincinnati spots and experience some of the wonderful food, atmosphere, and park beauty that the West Side has to offer. If you’re looking for real estate on Cincinnati’s West Side, or just have any general real estate questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us: (513) 307-3599 or varun@varmarealtygroup.com.
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