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The beer flight was worthwhile but uneven.
The seven-sample lineup began with a Third Eye Brewing Company collaboration, a Belgian-Style Witbier brewed with orange peel and coriander. It was pale, hazy, pleasant, and easy to drink. The clear standout was the Cincinnati Lager House Light Lager Helles Lager, which was smooth, lightly creamy, and more complex than expected. Other samples were more modest, including the Crusader Dunkel Lager, Raspberry Hefeweizen, and Traditional Amber Ale. The Tiger Stripe IPA was the weakest pour, tasting thin and lacking the hop presence suggested by its menu description. Overall, the flight had bright spots.
The food made one of the strongest impressions.
Both meals were well prepared, flavorful, and satisfying, helping carry the overall experience beyond the uneven beer flight. The Lager House Cheese-Steak stood out with shaved sirloin, black pepper aioli, sautéed onion, banana peppers, mushrooms, house-made white queso, and an artisan hoagie roll. It was rich without feeling careless, with enough texture and seasoning to make it memorable. The Hamburger was also solid, made with premium ground beef, lettuce, tomato, and red onion on a potato bun. Simple, well executed, and satisfying, it delivered exactly what was promised.
The atmosphere remains one of The Cincinnati Lager House’s greatest strengths.
Set along the riverfront near Smale Riverfront Park, The Banks, and Great American Ball Park, the brewery-restaurant offers wide views and a lively downtown setting. The location makes the city itself part of the visit, especially on game days, concert nights, or summer evenings near the river. Inside, displays in the lobby and hallways point to Cincinnati’s brewing history, giving the restaurant a stronger sense of place. The space feels energetic without losing comfort, and the option to continue the evening outdoors adds to its riverfront appeal.
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Northern Row’s beer selection showed a clear respect for traditional German styles.
Hustler Helles poured pale straw and delivered light, crisp drinkability with a subtle malt presence. Brewer, a light-amber Märzen, added toasted malt, gentle nuttiness, and smooth caramel sweetness before finishing clean and crisp. Cooper, brewed in honor of Cincinnati’s Bockfest, brought spicier notes, light citrus, rich malt depth, and restrained hop bitterness. Although flights were unavailable during the crowded Precipitation Retaliation event, the three individual samples still gave a balanced view of Northern Row’s range. Each beer was well made and stylistically sound.
The Chicken Wrap was a generous taproom option,
made with roasted chicken, LK’s pepper bacon, tomato, red onion, mixed greens, and ranch dressing. The portion was substantial, and the bacon, vegetables, and dressing gave the wrap enough flavor and texture to accompany the beer. The chicken itself, however, was somewhat chewy, keeping the food from making as strong an impression as the beer or the building. As a casual meal, it was serviceable and filling, but not the most memorable part of the Northern Row experience.
Northern Row’s strongest impression comes from the building and the history it carries.
The faded Apex Furniture Manufacturing Company sign points to Israel and Florence Seibert, Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives in Cincinnati and established a business that contributed to the city’s Jewish and economic life. Today, the brewery preserves that layered past through warm wood floors, a grand antique bar, copper-toned lighting, old brewery memorabilia, and industrial details. During the crowded Bockfest tradition of Precipitation Retaliation, the room carried energy and spectacle, while the sheltered patio offered a quieter retreat. Northern Row gives new life to old walls.
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During our visit, Mt. Carmel Brewing’s beer flight gave a clear sense of the brewery’s range.
Bob, Bop & Bill’s Pils was light, clear, crisp, and refreshing, while the Blonde Ale offered golden color, subtle hop aroma, smooth body, and a clean finish. The Kölsch brought easy-drinking balance with gentle haze, light citrus, and a soft finish, and the Hefeweizen carried the cloudy, unfiltered, grain-forward character expected from the style. Amber Ale and Nut Brown Ale added richer malt character, with fresh-hop aroma, roasted hazelnut notes, maple hints, and a clean malty finish. A Fresh Hop American West Coast IPA rounded out the flight with a brighter, hop-forward close.
The food at Mt. Carmel Brewing fits the relaxed brewery setting, offering familiar choices prepared with care.
The Bavarian deep-fried pretzel sticks made a strong start: warm, crisp, and especially good with MCBC’s Amber Ale Beer Cheese, which added creamy richness and a natural connection to the brewery’s own craft beer. For lunch, the smash-style burgers were satisfying and straightforward, topped with American cheese and served with fries cooked just right. The meal was casual, hearty, and well matched to an afternoon on the patio, giving the visit the easy comfort of classic brewery food.
Mt. Carmel Brewing has the comfortable feel of a place that has grown naturally over time.
The historic farmhouse gives the brewery warmth and character, while the updated carriage house adds a polished microbrewery feel without losing the charm of the original property. Inside, the atmosphere is cozy and easygoing, with attentive service and bartenders willing to talk knowledgeably about the beers. Outside, the lower patio and upper deck make the setting especially inviting during warmer months, with views of the landscaping, pond, and fountain. The result is relaxed and family-friendly, a brewery that feels both established and personal.
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Fretboard Brewing’s beer lineup is built around approachable, music-themed craft beer.
Fretboard Light, a Select Premium Lager, is the most direct example: brewed as a domestic light lager with 4% alcohol, 99 calories, and 4.5 carbs, it is clean, easy-drinking, and suited to a relaxed visit. Vlad, Fretboard’s award-winning International-Style Pilsner, brings a medium-bodied European-style lager option, while Improv, the flagship West Coast Style IPA, adds a more assertive hop character with pine, floral, and grapefruit aroma and flavor. Together, the lineup gives casual drinkers plenty of easy entry points while still offering enough variety for those who want a more distinctive pour.
The food adds to the visit, especially at the Blue Ash location,
where Fretboard pairs its beer with BBQ, smash burgers, wings, sandwiches, salads, and familiar brewery sides. We chose the smash burgers, which were juicy, flavorful, and filling without being heavy. They also worked well with a pint of Fretboard Light, giving the meal enough substance while still keeping it casual. It is the kind of food that fits a brewery visit: familiar, satisfying, and easy to enjoy with a beer or a flight.
Fretboard’s atmosphere is shaped by the same idea that gives the brewery its name: craft beer and music sharing the same room.
The Blue Ash taproom feels energetic without losing its neighborhood-brewery ease, with a full kitchen, regular events, and live music every Friday and Saturday night. The brewery’s “drink local and rock local” personality comes through naturally, giving the space a distinct identity beyond beer alone. With its taproom, patio, BBQ kitchen, and stage-driven calendar, Fretboard Blue Ash builds the visit around beer, food, and sound.
Sacred Beast Serves Serious Food—and Food for Thought
Sacred Beast makes a strong first impression.
Located at 1437 Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine, the modern diner combines inventive food, attentive service and a lively atmosphere that remains polished without becoming formal.
Latin jazz, carrying a modern sound with echoes of the 1960s, accompanied our Saturday evening visit. The music suited the restaurant’s distinctive personality without interfering with conversation.
The dining room filled quickly. Comfortable tables and booths provide indoor seating, while an outdoor dining area offers another option during pleasant weather. Reservations are recommended on Saturday evenings, particularly for diners planning to arrive at a specific time.
Sacred Beast’s interior balances industrial elements with deliberate decorative choices. Exposed concrete floors and walls preserve the building’s urban character, while warm lighting and comfortable furnishings make the space inviting. Overhead, mirrored ceiling panels marked by crisscrossing lines add movement and visual interest.
Dress ranged from jeans to evening dresses, making the restaurant suitable for either a casual meal or a celebratory night out. Parking is conveniently available across the street—an appreciable advantage in Over-the-Rhine.
My husband and I placed identical orders.
Each of us chose a root vegetable hash and the Dirty French burger.
The hash combined potatoes, carrots and parsnips in a well-composed dish that demonstrated how much flavor can be developed from familiar ingredients. Substantial enough to stand on its own, it paired especially well with the richness of the burger.
The Dirty French was the standout. Topped with Gruyère and caramelized onion, the burger arrived surrounded by au poivre and Mornay sauces. The preparation recalled some of the deep, comforting qualities of French onion soup while remaining distinctly its own creation. Rich and flavorful, it retained the uncomplicated satisfaction expected from a good burger.
The portions were generous, and both dishes were excellent. The total for two Dirty French burgers, two root vegetable hashes and two iced teas was $88.17, including tax and tip.
Sacred Beast operates under the motto “Simple food. Taken seriously.” The kitchen fulfills that promise by treating familiar diner fare as a starting point for careful preparation and unexpected French influences.
The restaurant’s unusual name, however, invites a different kind of consideration.
Co-owner Bridget Lieb has explained that “Sacred Beast” emerged during a professional naming process.
“It’s edgy and cool,” she told Cincinnati Magazine, “but doing this is what we cherish.” Her explanation suggests affection for the restaurant and the work invested in it, not an intention to slight religious belief.
The name nevertheless illustrates a broader cultural loss. Modern language frequently uses sacred to mean cherished, deeply personal or protected from interference. In the Hebrew Bible, however, holiness originates with G-d. People, places, times and objects are made holy through His presence, designation or command and are thereby set apart for His purposes.
G-d sanctified the Sabbath. Ground became holy because of His presence. The tabernacle, its vessels and the priesthood were consecrated according to His command. Israel was called to be a holy nation because G-d set the people apart for covenantal service. What was holy could no longer be treated as common—not because people assigned it emotional importance, but because it belonged to Him.
The pairing of sacred with beast gives the restaurant a provocative and memorable identity. Yet it also demonstrates how readily contemporary culture borrows the force of sacred language while forgetting the divine authority that gave the word its meaning.
Sacred Beast succeeds as a restaurant. Its name leaves a more complicated impression—memorable as branding, but also a reminder that words can retain meanings deeper than the uses modern culture assigns them.
Stone Creek Delivers an Elegant, Carefully Prepared Meal
Stone Creek Dining Company on Montgomery Road offers a polished setting with an inviting atmosphere.
Attractive stonework greets arriving guests and establishes an expectation of understated elegance. Inside, the tastefully appointed dining room fulfills that promise while remaining comfortable rather than overly formal.
Our Friday evening visit found a light to moderate crowd, allowing the restaurant to maintain an easy pace. Pleasant background music added to the relaxed environment, while moderate lighting worked well with the large exterior windows.
The interior rewards a closer look. Large windows separating the dining room from the bar area are artfully divided by black horizontal and vertical lines, visually connecting the spaces and enhancing the interior’s open, expansive feel. Warm, sculptural woodwork across the ceiling draws the eye through the room. Comfortable booths and tables paired with upholstered chairs complete a setting suited to business dinners, family meals or an evening out.
A grand indoor-outdoor fireplace provides another handsome focal point, while a dedicated room displaying a vast wine collection adds to the sense of depth and discovery. Together, these features enhance the character of the sprawling layout, giving each area a distinct identity while preserving the restaurant’s visual continuity.
The design extends outside to a dedicated dining patio available in favorable weather.
The indoor-outdoor fireplace connects the patio visually with the interior, carrying the restaurant’s polished but comfortable atmosphere beyond the main dining rooms. Convenient parking makes arrival equally easy.
Friendly staff members seated us promptly, and attentive service continued throughout the meal. A round loaf of warm, fluffy bread arrived first. Its crisp crust contrasted pleasantly with the soft interior, while a richly flavored dipping oil provided an appealing beginning.
We ordered the 6-ounce Filet Mignon and the Filet Medallions with Lobster Risotto. The Filet Mignon, currently listed at $48, was served with creamy garlic mashed potatoes, tender-crisp asparagus and herb butter. The filet was exceptionally tender and cooked precisely as ordered. The familiar accompaniments received enough attention to become part of the entrée rather than merely filling out the plate.
The $38 Filet Medallions paired equally tender beef with asparagus-lobster risotto, Parmesan and tomato jam. The risotto was creamy and rich, with the tomato jam contributing another layer of flavor. Sampling from both plates, we agreed that the sides matched the quality of the steaks. Both entrées were satisfying in portion as well as preparation.
The Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake, currently priced at $12, was an excellent choice for dessert.
The warm, moist cake was drizzled with hot fudge sauce and finished with chocolate shavings. Whipped cream and vanilla ice cream added cool contrasts to the dense chocolate, providing an indulgent ending well suited to sharing.
Stone Creek is part of Cunningham Restaurant Group, which supports charitable work in several community-focused areas. The company also operates CRG Grow, a greenhouse that uses purified water, organic pest treatments and no harsh chemicals to supply produce to its restaurants, including Stone Creek.
Our dinner totaled $153.84, including the tip. That places Stone Creek beyond the cost of a casual dinner, but the quality of the food, comfortable setting and attentive service supported the expense for a special evening. From the handsome stone exterior to the carefully prepared steaks and memorable dessert, attention to detail remained high throughout the experience.
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Krohn Conservatory Butterfly Show
Krohn Conservatory’s seasonal butterfly show, Destination Monarch, brings color, movement, and wonder back to Cincinnati through August 9, 2026. The exhibit invites visitors into a warm, immersive butterfly room where children and adults slow down to observe delicate living creatures up close. Thoughtful details, including timed entry, cardboard landing guides, scavenger hunts, species charts, and careful exit checks, help balance excitement with respect for the butterflies’ fragility. Beyond the butterfly room, Krohn’s gardens, koi streams, waterfall, and sculptural details enrich the visit. The show offers a quiet lesson in attentiveness, vulnerability, beauty, and creation’s ability to teach gently.
Yom HaShoah
The Yom HaShoah Community Commemoration on April 12 at Cincinnati’s Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center honored the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust while calling the community to active remembrance. Through testimony, music, prayer, candlelighting, and generational participation, the program preserved survivor voices and emphasized the responsibility of descendants to carry memory forward. Speakers and performers connected Holocaust remembrance with present-day moral responsibility, including the need to confront antisemitism and resist silence in the face of injustice. By acknowledging both Nazi atrocities and the failures of bystanders, the commemoration urged honesty, courage, and a continuing commitment to speak.
SummerFair
Summerfair returned for its 59th year in a smaller footprint as the former Coney Island grounds undergo transformation into the $160 million Farmer Music Center. Though construction changed the familiar landscape, the event retained its creative spirit with strong organization, good attendance, shaded walkways, food trucks, and an easy-to-navigate booth layout. Artists from across the country displayed work in glass, ceramics, fiber, metal, mixed media, and other disciplines, highlighting both craftsmanship and imagination. Memorable exhibitors included glass artist David W. Bordine (pictured) and textile artist Mehmet Kesimli. The 2026 fair showed that Summerfair can adapt while preserving its welcoming, artist-centered character.