A friend and I are heading to Cincinnati to see a show at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park on Friday, April 7. We're only planning on staying the one night. I'm looking for suggestions on lodging and where to eat dinner that night. Any thoughts?

There aren't many hotels in Mt Adams (where the Playhouse is located) so you probably want to stay downtown or on the river. You could stay at The Cincinnatian or Omni downtown - they are the two nicest if price isn't an issue. Or you could stay on the river on the KY side (a little more exciting than downtown Cincy on weekends) - there is a Marriott & Embassy Suites which are both nice.

Restaurants - I could go on forever - we actually have some great dining in Cincinnati. What kind of food do you like? Do you prefer casual or a real foodie experience?

We have Marriott Reward points, so KY might be a real possibility.

We're pretty open to food experiences. We just don't like to wind up in chain restaurants we could always go to at home (metro-Detroit). Something local or special. Good ethnic (Italian, Greek, French, Brazilian, Lebanese...but not Indian, Thai or Ethiopian) for dinner Friday? Somewhere locally cool for Saturday's Breakfast?

Most of our real "local" restaurants are more casual - Skyline Chili is big. Montgomery Inn/Boathouse is a popular ribs place, but not true BBQ and not the BEST food (and I used to work there). Based on your interest in ethnic cuisine, I'm going to recommend a place I've never been to though I've been dying to try it. It is run by the city's most prominent chef, Jean Robert, (I've been to his other restaurant). It is called Pho Paris and is Vietnamese/French fusion. Another spot that is actually my absolute favorite is Boca, which is just across the street from Pho Paris (both in Oakley within city limits). I believe it is considered contemporary Italian though it seems pretty much contemporary to me. Great service, awesome food, chef owned (he grew up locally but trained abroad and came back to open this place).

I don't know if you have First Watch for breakfast in Detroit - it is a chain but they aren't all over the place. Really good food and some options other than your standard breakfast fare (I love the turkey dill crepe egg). There is one in Hyde Park which is just down the street from the other restaurants I mentioned. If you can fit it in, be sure to try Graeters ice cream (anything w/chips) - there is one in Hyde Park Square.

Hope this helps - enjoy your visit and please post a report when you return. Any other questions, let me know!!

If you stay at the Marriott Rivercenter in Covington, Ky., there is a First Watch right next door.

We're going to Pho Paris Wednesday for the first time. I would suggest if you want to go there or to Boca (which I also like), is to make reservations ahead of time, especially for a Friday night. Here's a link for Pho Paris, I couldn't find one for Boca.

http://www.phoparis.com/

Check www.biddingfortravel.com.

Here is a link for Boca . . .

http://www.boca-restaurant.com/

Thanks for mentioning the First Watch in KY, maj - I was wondering if there might be one closer - it seems they are popping up all over the place!!

Here are a couple of other thoughts. Mt Adams Fish House has awesome seafood and sushi.
www.mtadamsfishhouse.com/

Also Cafe Istanbul at Newport on the Levee (across the river in Newport, Kentucky). Wonderful Turkish food.

www.newportonthelevee.com

http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/d...eistanbul.html

Zips Cafe in Mt Lookout consistantly gets voted best burger in Cincinnati every year. Its a cramped little restaurant and bar, but you just can't beat the zipburger
http://cincinnati.citysearch.com/profile/8159807

Cafe' Istanbul is REALLY good!! Personally, I find Zips burgers a bit overrated. For best burger in Cincinnati, I like Quatman's in Norwood.

Has any one been to DaVeed's in Mt. Adams? It has always looked interesting, but I don't know anyone who has actually eaten there.

http://www.cincinnati.com/dining/daveeds/

So far, so okay.

Thanks to enjoylife's suggestion, we checked out biddingfortravel and wound up with a room at the Hilton for $55!

We're still a bit up in the air on the restaurants. Breakfast Saturday will definitely be at a First Watch. (We don't have them here.) For dinner Friday, we've decided we're leaning toward Italian or American. We don't mind $15-$24 for an entree, but would rather not go above that. I got a suggestion of Primavista from somewhere else. Any thoughts on that? Or, is there anything near the Cincinnati Playhouse that would be worthwhile?

Thanks again!

Are you staying at the Hilton downtown?

I like Primavista very much, but it is not really near the Playhouse. There are quite a few restaurants in the downtown area -- Jack Ruby's Steakhouse (his restaurants are the best) and Nicholson's Pub for example are very popular.

In Mt. Adams, along with the Fish House is the Celestial Steakhouse (http://www.thecelestial.com/pages/1/index.htm) or for lighter fare is what used to be called Rookwood Pottery, now Porkopolis. Here is a review to give you an idea of what they serve. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...NT01/601200302

Like Snowrooster said -- we could go on forever with restaurants. Cincinnati isn't the easiest city to get around in if you are not familiar with it, so you probably would be better off eating somewhere close to where you are staying, or in the Mt. Adams (playhouse) area.

Maj - I haven't been to Daveed's but obviously it is well thought of around here. My parents went once and they liked it but haven't returned (they prefer Pigalls, Boca or Pho Paris if they are going to spend the $$).

I really like Primavista - great view - it is definitely more traditional than a lot of the other restaurants mentioned. However it isn't in the best part of the city and is pretty hard to find, even for a local who has been there several times.

Following up...

We got to Cincinnati just in time to hear the tornado sirens go off late Friday afternoon. We missed the Fifth Street exit and had to turn around in Kentucky and try again. And all the streets downtown are one-way, the opposite direction of the way we wanted to go. It was, however, a great trip.

The Hilton downtown was wonderful.

We ended up having dinner at JeanRo Bistro, since we couldn't get our ducks in a row in time to get reservations elsewhere. My steak was excellent, as was the Pot de Creme we had for dessert.

We made it to the Playhouse fine, though parking was a nightmare, especially since it was pouring down rain. We got lost on the way back to the hotel and managed to drive through a lot of Mount Adams.

First Watch was an excellent suggestion for breaks, since, no, we don't have them here in metro-Detroit.

After that we stopped by Graeter's (open at 6:30 a.m.!) and picked up some ice cream to stick in the cooler and bring home.

All in all, we were gone 28 hours, 11 of that spent in transit, but it was a great trip. We've decided to try again for a full weekend when the new Playhouse in the Park season starts.

Thanks to all those who made suggestions. I appreciate your willingness to assist us.

Thanks for writing a report -- what a night to be here!

Jean Robert (who Snowrooster mentioned) is the owner of JeanRo Bistro -- an excellent choice.

Cincinnati isn't the easiest town to navigate around in. In fact, most people who live here get lost trying to get around in Mt. Adams (let alone in the dark and rain). Glad you enjoyed your trip enough to want to come back (even with the bad weather).