4. Restaurants

Enoteca Emilia

2038 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH, 45208
  • (513) 834-5773
  • Store is closed

Enoteca Emilia Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Cincinnati for healthy meals suggestion.

Kfc ( 7716 Beechmont Ave )
Kfc ( 3006 Reading Rd )
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  • Mark R.

    Upon getting there I dropped off the ladies at the door as it was raining. My friend and I found a space right around the corner. Checked in only to find the ladies were ushered upstairs to a very remote empty area. First of all you should never take the ladies without their spouses. Secondly, then put them in a upstairs corner without anyone around them. The whole downstairs was completely empty. Very very rude!! Regarding the meal itself. Ordered apps; veal meatballs were really tasty!! The creamed polenta really made this app. Also had the Brussels sprouts and the ricotta. Sprouts were good, the ricotta was good and very different, in a good way. Move to the main course: I had the clams and pasta; very good however the clams were way over done and were very chewy. My wife order the margarita pizza which was very good. My friend order the lasagna which was actually burnt. He did eat it so I must not have been to bad, or he was really hungry. I would have sent it back. Overall I was very disappointed after everything I've heard and read about the place.

    (2)

  • Ben D.

    Hadn't eaten here in a while, and scored a last minute reservation before a show. Server was friendly but a little awkward. Table was cozy and out of the way; nice ambiance. We started with a charcuterie plate with two cured meats, a cheese, and breadsticks and olives. It was a great plate and the meats and cheeses were excellent. Abby liked the olives, but we agreed that next time we'd skip the breadsticks and olives (and extra $5) in favor of getting a selection of 5 meats/cheeses. The piece of cheese we got was tiny, but tasty. We split a veal sausage pizza that had garlic, mozarella, ricotta, pecorino, basil, light marinara, and fennel pollen. It was amazing! This was one of the best pizzas we've had in a while. The balance of ingredients was perfect, and the flavors were rich and amazing. We also split a quarto of "Vajra Langhe Rosso '11", which was perfect! It's a delicious expression of the Nebbiolo grape from northern Italy. Food was outstanding, service was above average, wine was great, ambiance was good. We'll definitely hit this place up again!

    (4)

  • Annalisa M.

    I like this restaurant. The atmosphere is nice, the seating is nice. We sat by the fireplace and it is a very good spot. The food is good and it is freshly prepared. So it is real, a real restaurant, not one of those impersonal, anonymous, fake franchising restaurants where the food is just average. Here at Enoteca Emilia the food is delicious (I had garganelli with pine nuts, spinach, mushroom and truffle oil) the ambience is informal and nice and the service is good. The wine list is good, too. Just a bit overpriced but that's like in any restaurant here in America. they will see us again and again and again....

    (5)

  • Clinton H.

    Went here last night for the first time. I sat at the bar and had a great experience. Scot was our bartender and he was awesome. Friendly, genuine, knowledgable about the product he's selling and passionate. The food was on point. The duck liver pate and meatballs were so so good. You can't put a price on having great people on your staff. They found one. Thanks Scot!!

    (5)

  • Joseph P.

    Absolutely Fantastic!!!!! You should definately go.

    (5)

  • Brandon H.

    I've eaten here a number of times over the last year or so. The first few times, I was really impressed by the appetizers and cocktails, but sorta 'meh' on the entrees. I ate here tonight with my wife and in-laws and the kitchen has become a complete mess. The appetizers: -Charcuterie is still nice, but the menu hasn't changed a bit in a year. Still, it's solid. -Caesar salad. Oof. I love anchovies, but the dressing tonight went WAY too far. There's no way on God's green earth that the prep cook followed the recipe on this batch. It tasted like licking a salt brick that had been soaking in week-old fish guts. Just terrible. -Duck liver pate. The pate was delicious. The bread, however, was a different story. They served it with nearly an entire loaf. I suspect this is because half of the bread they brought out was burnt to a crisp. Instead of just chucking it in the garbage, they just made a new batch of bread and brought both out on the plate. Someone should smack whoever made that call. The entrees: -Swordfish (mother-in-law): seemed ok. She liked it. -Lasagna. My wife ordered this, took one bite and swapped me. I've had it before. I like short rib, but it's totally one-note. It would have just been un-memorable had they not left it for way too long under the salamander and burnt the hell out of the top. It's dry to start with and the char didn't help. -Papardelle. Dear lord, if you're going to run an italian restaurant, then you need to learn to cook pasta correctly. This was a gummy, messy sludge. Literally, when it hit the table, I tried to stir it up a bit and it was just one giant brick of stuck-together pasta sludge. The sauce was okay, I suppose, but the dish was just a complete disaster. The service: Damn, that dude was awkward. I don't know if he has a speech impediment, social anxiety or is just an odd bird, but he's chosen the wrong profession. Just. Really. Awkward. We live in the area, and this was definitely our last trip. Good luck, Enoteca.

    (2)

  • Alexandra G.

    Love this restaurant! Amazing food and incredible wine selection. I love bringing people there for a great atmosphere and delicious food. If you haven't been there yet you're missing out.

    (5)

  • Alissa S.

    My husband and I have just returned from my birthday dinner at Enoteca Emilia. I've always wanted to come here, intrigued by their exterior and great logo and from further first impressions upon viewing their menu online. The interior did not disappoint and we had a great vantage point from an upstairs table. We started with two quartini of wine, prosciutto rosso, calabrese salame and Nufenen cheese. The cheeseboard came with deliciously salted and oiled bread, a jam and sage honey. The honey was incredible and I may have even resorted to licking it off the spoon. Afterwards we shared the Black Pepper Papparedelle which came coated in a delicious Bolognese. I could have personally eaten two bowls of it, I loved it that much, but just the one + the meat, cheese and bread was enough for us. Even though we tried a limited selection of items from their menu, the entire meal was great. It fulfilled our desire for simple, delicious and pretty authentic Italian food. I'll definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Cindy G.

    Holy heavens on the highest - GEM! Let me start by saying Enoteca Emilia does not get the recognition that it deserves. It is entirely underrated and forgotten about in the little neighborhood of O'Bryonville. ATMOSPHERE: Contemporary, rustic, classic - all rolled into one. To whomever decorated this space, I may be in love with you. Separated into three spaces: the bar, the dining room, and the upstairs/private dining room each space has its own feel. The bar seemed trendier with a few large group tables, some high tops & of course the sleek & sexy bar. The dining room seemed much more farm house-esque but still maintaining that contemporary feel. I actually preferred the bar area, which is where we ended up. FOOD: (Menu: enotecaemilia.com/Images… ) To start we had the Mussels which were Wild Rhode Island mussels, saffron, spicy tomato, basil & chives for $14. The broth was a nice change of pace from the usual white wine & garlic. The saffron was fragrant and flavorful. It was served with big warm chunks of bread to soak of the broth which was magnificent. Moving on the the main there was an obvious choice glaring at us from the menu -- The Gargenelli. Gargenelli pasta made with mushrooms, fresh oregano, black truffle, parmesan for $16. We also ordered the Pane Formaggio "CHEESY BREAD" garlic-butter, fontina & red sauce for $8. The pasta, ohhhh the pasta! It was cooked al dente with a nice bite to it. The sauce was delicate and perfectly seasoned. The truffle notes sang in my mouth like a choral hymn. My gawwwd this dish was celestial, but how can it not be with black truffle, pasta & cheese? The cheesy bread was the perfect campion for the little bit of truffle sauce left on the plate. It was also served with a house made marinara which was a nice touch. SERVICE: Everything seemed to match up. The atmosphere, the food, the drinks it was all wonderful, but the service was a little off. I'm not sure if the bartender just had a weird personality or bad attitude or what but right from the start it was a little uneasy. Since the restaurant was booked for the night we had to sit at the bar (which I usually love) but looking back I wished we would have sat at a table to get the full experience, service, and knowledge we desired. UNIQUE OFFERINGS: - Take reservations: enotecaemilia.com/reserv… - Tables are reserved for walk-ins every night & you are also welcome to sit at the bar - Have a beautiful private event space - 1/2 price bottles of wine on Monday nights OVERALL: Great Italian made modern while keeping the integrity of the food and that romantic charm we all expect. Perfect for a date night. I cannot wait to come back!

    (4)

  • Lizbeth M.

    Talk about charm and tasty dishes... This place has it all! As soon as you walk in the atmosphere is romantic and intimate, but still has a unique wit , relaxed and casual all at the same time. The restaurant is decorated to perfection! The hostess walked us promptly to our table and an evening of pure #foodporn started... They have an amazing wine selection and really good appetizers. We order the stuff figs... a spoonful of sweet and smoky savory and at the end a bit of spiciness, needless to say I'll be having those again. The history continues with the main course... I ordered the special which was a boneless pork chop with polenta and kale with grilled onions. It was delicious! The pork chops were tender and juicy and the polenta was spectacular, it came with a cherry reduction sauce that complimented the meat very well. At this point who could forget dessert? We ordered the chocolate bread pudding...OMG it had candied hazelnuts and it came warm... Definitely the cherry on top of an amazing meal! Will be coming back!!!

    (5)

  • Erin H.

    If you are like me and look at this place as you drive by day after day and never stop- think again! I have been seeing this place for years but never thought to eat there. I went with my family on Saturday night and it is amazing! The place has a modern feel and we were seated promptly at a comfortable table. My one complaint about this place was our waiter. He seemed to have a few too many tables which was not his fault and he did his best to be prompt. However, I'm not sure if he was having a bad night or if he was just not that friendly. He wasn't overly welcoming or responsive to our questions, but he wasn't enough to ruin a good experience. We ordered a few pizzas and multiple pasta dishes and everything was AMAZING. I highly recommend the pasta- everything is freshly made, piping hot and delicious. We also had the break pudding for dessert which was great. The food here rivals other great Italian places in the city such as Bella Luna and Via Vite. We had no issues getting seated around 6pm and we will be returning when the next craving for Italian hits.

    (4)

  • Tessa X.

    I'm glad I finally got to try Enoteca Emilia in O'bryonville. While it's not my favorite choice for fine dining, I must say they have some really good food. I met someone for dinner here on a Monday night - she chose this spot because her husband had given rave reviews. We shared a bottle of red wine from the 1/2 price wine list (Mondays only). She knows a lot about wine and wasn't super impressed with the one we ordered, but I don't know anything so I was happy! We ordered the mussels, stuffed figs, and duck liver pate for apps. I remember all of them tasted good, but I was in love with the pate especially. It comes with a layer of fat on top which we mostly scraped off. The decadent flavor and creamy texture was incredible served with the sweet red onion marmellata and warm bread. I would come back just for the pate. For entrees, I got the black pepper pappardelle and she chose the buccatini alla vongole dish. Black pepper is like my favorite spice and I didn't think my sauce was that peppery. And I even added fresh ground black pepper! So it was more like a normal bolognese sauce in my opinion. The buccatini was a clam pasta dish - I tried a little bit and it was yummy. The long noodles are actually hollow which I thought was cool. We were too stuffed to order dessert and I took some of my pappardelle home with me (it was really filling). Our server was generally friendly, but a little awkward perhaps. He probably gave us water refills a few more times than he needed to. We were having a serious conversation about a heavy topic and it was a little annoying to be interrupted every time he stopped by to top off our glasses. It definitely didn't ruin our evening, I just like when a server is totally charming and puts you at ease! But other than that he did his job well.

    (4)

  • Taylor B.

    Enoteca Emilia is one of my favorite restaurants in Cincinnati. Every time I have been, we have had excellent service and friendly, helpful waiters. The food is absolutely divine. My sister and I love the bacon wrapped figs! Everything is fresh and the location is great. The building and decor is elegant but casual and as is the atmosphere inside. Luckily I just moved to obryonville so now I am walking distance to Enoteca Emilia. I'm looking forward to frequent visits for some great, fresh food!

    (5)

  • Katherine M.

    They have done a wonderful job with this place. My friend and I came in for a girl's night and sat at the bar. The place is comfortable, busy, but friendly. The staff is sweet and welcoming. It's a warm interior that you can stay at for awhile - which we did, nearly 3 hours, while enjoying some delicious, incredibly well priced wines. Their wine selection is wonderful and perfectly priced for a trendy, cute restaurant like this. We were on a cheese and bread kick. We started with the pane formaggio - a lovely cheese stuffed bread with red sauce on the side. It was to die for. Then we went for the quatro formaggio with roasted cauliflower pizza. Yum! The cheese was delicious, the pizza crisp with a nice olive oil garlic sauce that kept it from being dry, and the cauliflower amazing. Each bite was heaven. We ended with the chocolate bread pudding which was a perfect dessert for splitting. IT was topped with a salted toffee that really made it the deliciousness it was.

    (5)

  • David H.

    Enoteca is tops on our list not only for Italian but for any style of cuisine. Ok, so it doesn't hurt that we're walking distance away, but that's not why we love it. We've yet to have anything off of the Enoteca menu that isn't good. Their cold cuts and cheeses are amazing. Their pastas are great . . . the Garganelli is amazing, forget what it's called. Their osso bucco is equally fantastic. Again, no complaints anywhere on the menu. The ambiance is very nice. The exposed brick walls and rafters lend a very warm feel to the place. The bar is small but very cool. Nice place to finish off an evening with a cocktail and people watch.

    (5)

  • AJ D.

    Definitely not the place to hold a bridal shower or event of any kind. They took our reservation, and told us they would be in touch a week prior to the event. After they were not in touch with us a week prior, we made several phone calls and left messages for them to return over the following days leading up to the shower so it could be set up, with no response. They wouldn't return our phone calls and we had to set up an emergency shower somewhere else. This may be a fine choice for a meal out, but they are extremely deficient in the event hosting agenda. DO NOT put your special event in their hands if you care about the outcome.

    (1)

  • S W.

    Here with a large group, we had a semi private room. Very nice place for a group. The appetizers were great, many plates to choose from. I ordered the garganelli, which was new to me. The dish was excellent. We shared vegetables, o enjoyed a cauliflower side. The service was very good.

    (4)

  • Mike S.

    This spot is a great Italian alternative to downtown/OTR and the crowds and ridiculous 3 hour wait times you run into there, or to staying in the suburbs. There is a downstairs and an upstairs dining area, and tables set off the main bar. Downstairs space is really nice, and has lots of energy when the tables are full. Upstairs I find to be isolated quiet if that's your thing or it's appropriate for the occasion. The bar area is bright, high energy, and a great space for a casual meal with a friend or significant other. The food is always served hot, and most items are delicioso. The veal sausage pizza and the pastas all rock. Desserts are nice though I take issue with anything other than vanilla gelato or ice cream in an affogato. They need to fix that very bad dessert faux pas. You don't mess with certain traditional dishes. A real star here is he wine list. It is small but the price points are excellent.

    (4)

  • Emily S.

    One word: Phenomenal. I'd been meaning to try this place, seeing as I pass it all the time. Finally we found a special occasion and made a point to hit up this little gem in the middle of O'Bryanville. It's got a kind of rustic feel with dark wood tables, and white walls to liven it up. It felt not small, but intimate, though we had plenty of space for the four of us. Our server was very sweet, Caitlin was her name, she was all smiles and was very helpful in repeating the menu suggestions multiple times (some of my family members refuse to listen.. :P ). We decided because it was a family meal to go ahead and do family style. We ordered the "set of 3" meats/cheeses, which was a perfect way to whet the appetite for the 4 of us. We shared their arugula and beet salad, which was quite light and refreshing. It's a small-medium sized salad that I had a couple of bites of, which was honestly just enough for me. Eating a full salad would have been a bit much, so be sure to split this one. Together we ordered two pizzas (sausage, and quattro formaggi, added arugula) and a white lasagna. The pizzas were good, definitely worth trying, but the showstopper was the lasagna. I want to go back and just order that dish! I'm not a fan of traditional lasagna so I was intrigued by the the white, short-rib alternative. Boy was I not disappointed. The meat is flavorful and melts in your mouth, the cheese pairs perfectly and even the pasta noodles compliment the dish well. This is no sloppy, greasy creation, this is a divine slice of heaven. All in all, it was actually a bit cheaper than I was expecting, for all of the apps and dishes (not including drinks, our friends bought those) it ended up being $75 for the 4 of us, and we were stuffed with leftovers to spare. Definitely a worthwhile trip, but you might want it to be a special occasion. Try it "family style" the first time around! It was great to sample a bunch of different dishes and really know what we'd want for next time around :)

    (4)

  • Jennifer B.

    I have always loved this restaurant! I made reservations for for a few friends and I to have dinner to celebrate the holidays - it's a yearly tradition! This time...things went bad....really bad. The waitress we had was a complete b*tch. She was super rude. After finishing a bottle of wine and a few apps, we tried to order another bottle. The one we wanted was sold out and when I asked if she recommended another bottle she said "you have the menu, lady". Typically the waitress will recommend another bottle or offer a pricier bottle for the price of the one that was not available. I told her I would review the menu and when she came back we just asked for our check. She said "seriously - you just want the check?" Even though food has sort of gone down hill, I still really enjoyed this restaurant. But after experiencing this I won't be back. We left and went to Red Feather in Oakley - best decision ever!

    (1)

  • Alex M.

    My wife and I were very excited to try Enoteca Emilia for the first time. We arrived last night around 5:50 PM and were immediately seated. Our server was well spoken and knew the menu like the back of his hand. The barman made a killer Old Fashioned. Also, the whipped ricotta appetizer was fantastic! Why only 3 of 5 stars? When paying in excess of $100 for a meal (and drinks), I would typically expect to be impressed by my experience. Although it had a very nice presentation and was cooked well, the Grilled Pasture Raised Chicken dish (which was recommend by the our server) held less flavor than a rotisserie chicken from Kroger. I would compare the entire dish to a simliar foavor of air-popped popcorn. It was served with rappini (essentially tough/chewy broccoli) that also had zero flavor, as well as, some tangy (and equally mushy) green apples which didn't seem to fit the plate. I was less than amused and mentioned it to the server - to which I recieved no response. On the other side of the table, my wife sincerely enjoyed her Garganelli pasta. Would I recommend Enoteca Emilia? Do you have a $75-$100 burning a hole in your pocket and want to get away with a significant other for a romantic evening? Then yes, I would recommend going. Although, if its food you're after, The Precinct or Eddie Merlot's still have my vote.

    (3)

  • Kaitlyn H.

    My boyfriend drove by here a couple of times and thought it would be a good place to try out. One evening we went and it was hustling and bustling. We didn't mind waiting and grabbing a drink at the bar, but three drinks later we still hadn't been seated. Others had come in and were seated before us and we couldn't figure it out... Eventually we were seated and the server was great, as was the food. We tried some of the parpadelle (one of my favorites) and it was delicious. We also tried the pizza, another hit. With a side of Brussels sprouts our meal was complete. My night was made even better knowing they had good espresso! My favorite way to end a delicious meal! Other than the poor service upfront the evening was delightful!

    (3)

  • Kari W.

    I'm not sure if I love this restaurant because it's the only one I can walk to, or if I just love it. I tend to think I just love it. I'm simple, give me good pizza and pasta and I'm happy! Love the wood fired pizzas that change with the season but are a insistently excellent. Pappardelle bolognese is my favorite pasta. Not a fan of mushrooms, but my husband loves the mushroom pasta. This is not a great place for kids; there really aren't cheap, kids menu type items but I'm sure kids would be welcome. I'm so happy that this wonderful, old building finally has a steward worthy of its character. The previous restaurants in this space just didn't do it justice. The owners are now expanding into the "eat well" space next door. Look forward to what comes next from this group!

    (5)

  • Rachel G.

    Mmm yum! First off I LOVE the venue. The atmosphere fits the decoration and layout of the restaurant. Romantic, intimate, but can be a casual gathering, but not stuffy feel. One thing I was disappointed about was that they were out of the Veal Osso Bucco. Dang! Oh well, I got to show up earlier next time. Instead we ordered Trouvie and added Prosciutto Rosso to it, and also the Quattro Formaggi and added Prosciutto di Parma. We also ordered an appetizer, but I couldn't tell you what it was called for the life of me. It was the special that day. It reminded me of a pate but with pulled pork texture. Probably not the most appetizing description, but it was awesome. Note that the plates are probably smaller then what most people expect. I love the size you receive. Definitely one of the most authentic Italian places I've visited so far in Cincinnati. We initially came on Italia Week where Italian restaurants had a 3 course meal deal. When I asked for it they said they already ended it, even though the deal said till Sunday and it was Sat. Guess it was up to the restaurant. Will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • John B.

    Pricey Italian that is good but not o-mazing. Service was great. Scarlet is an awesome server and was quick with the food, refills and some witty interjections. I had the Lasagna ($18) and it was rather unique in appearance and flavor. I enjoyed it but didn't love it, so take that however you want. I think EE is one of those places that is just a little too fancy for me and would possibly be the perfect place if I was on a date or just wanted a special occasion meal with some foodie friends.

    (3)

  • Rich Z.

    Great pizza! Perfect for a large group which we had. The "Wine Room" upstairs is really cool. Service was awesome and would go back for sure. Overall it was a great experience.

    (4)

  • E C.

    Fantastic place for dinner, drinks and especially events! Compliments on the ease of making a large party reservation, for an Engagement Dinner, and helping the event go off without a hitch! The manager, Emily, was available for any questions and/or concerns leading up to the event and helped create a seamless and unforgettable evening. Both Tara and Monica were exquisite waitresses during our event. We had a large party of 18 and both the Bride and Groom were both impressed by the service and the ease of the evening. Everyone in our party was grateful for the service by these two wonderful employees during the dinner and several guests mentioned that they are looking forward to returning. Gratitude once again to the manager Emily, the staff Tara and Monica and also Margaret, the owner, for hiring great staff!

    (5)

  • Caitlin R.

    I went here for my birthday this year. When I made the reservation over the phone I ordered a meat and cheese platter to be on the table when we arrived. It was not on the table and the server had no knowledge of me ever ordering it. Regardless he got one out to us quickly and he picked the meats and cheeses himself. They were delicious and he did a great job describing each of the varieties he chose. He seemed a little less knowledgeable when taking wine orders and presenting the bottles. Cocktails came slowly from the bar, but beer and wine arrived quickly. There were 10 of us total, so we probably ordered at least half the menu. I was in love with the balsamic roasted brussel sprouts. I also got the quatro fromaggio flatbread, which had roasted cauliflowers and truffle oil on it. It was delicious and something it would be hard for me to not order again the next time I dined there. Overall, the food and wine were great. The service from the host desk was lacking (poor phone etiquette, my requests were not followed through with, no communication to the serving staff, no recognition that we were celebrating). Our server was very polite and efficient considering we were a 10 top on a Friday night. I would definitely go back again, but maybe not if I was celebrating a special event.

    (4)

  • Morgan C.

    The food and ambiance were my two favorite things about this place. The hostess seemed a little irritated that we didn't have a reservation and wanted to sit outside, even though there were plenty of tables open, but once we got past her we really enjoyed ourselves. A little pricier with drinks and an appetizer but well worth the money.

    (4)

  • Dustin M.

    My wife and I went here after work a few weeks ago for wine and a quick dinner. The waiter was really friendly and we ordered the charcuterie plate, gazpacho and bolognese. I was a huge fan of the gazpacho and both my wife and I were blown away by the bolognese. We consider Nicolas to be the benchmark for good bolognese and I think that Enoteca's was as good or possibly better. Definitely worth the trip.

    (5)

  • Karen D.

    Stopped by Enoteca Emilia on Friday night after another event. We were seated in the bar area right away. In looking over the menu wanted something quick so we ordered salad, pizza and wine. The three of us shared and everything was okay, nothing special to write home about. Service was also okay, I think our server was bummed there were three of us and we decided to share our meal, but it was after 9pm and we weren't that hungry just wanted a quick bite to tide us over. One of my friends in the group felt it would be good for a date and purchased a gift card to come back with her boyfriend.

    (3)

  • Donald B.

    We did a drop in. There were a good deal of obvious empty tables, but we were told there was a 1.5 hr wait. We've dined here several times and their food is acceptable, but not worth waiting 1.5 hr. Also we've been through the routine many times of the establishments that want to build your bar bill. Mt. Lookout has a very good alternative that deserves customer support for fine dining without the bar scene, and that's where we went and were graciously welcomed. "Bar-builders" need to balance out their plots with lost business. After we've forgotten this experience we may be back in a year.

    (1)

  • Kristan H.

    Clean, classy, step-up-from-casual-but-not-yet-stuffy atmosphere. The host and waitress were both friendly and attentive. The menu *looked* good, but honestly, nothing we ordered wow-ed us. Now, we didn't get any of the things the waitress recommended, so that might be part of the problem. (Not that we didn't trust her; we just weren't in the mood for the pizzas or sandwiches.) So, food and reactions... - cheese & charcuterie plate: fine but not amazing - butternut squash soup: very good (my fave part of the meal) - bacon-wrapped, stuffed figs: good - creamy polenta: bland and very grits-like in texture (versus the smooth, cheesy polenta I was expecting) We left feeling underwhelmed, especially for the price. That said, because we've heard such good things about EE from other people, and because we didn't try any of the recommended dishes, we *would* come back for another try.

    (3)

  • Red P.

    Don't you love finding a great new spot for dinner and drinks? Seriously, service and style have really gone away and I long for the days where going out was an occasion, worthy of the effort, both for the diner and the staff. I'm embarrassed to say I thought Enoteca Emilia had only been open around 6 months or so, but my bartender informed me they have been there two years. Wow....Red Pearl is slipping! Regardless, glad I finally made my way there and I will certainly go back, again and again. I absolutely loved it. I started the holiday weened and vacation with a movie (Saving Mr. Banks- recommend it) and I was ready for some wine. I had pulled this spot up and wondered why I hadn't been there. O'bryanville is not too far (although I prefer walkable spots) but it was worth it. There was a lot across the street which was great but it was $4.00. When I walked in there were two bars, definitely my kind of place. I chose the second and was greated right away by a bartender that was knowledgeable and fun to be around so I know I'm sticking around regardless. That's half the battle, if you can get good service everything else usually falls into place. The wine was delicious and so was the food. I enjoyed the ravioli with ricotta, oregano, mushrooms and black truffle. I added a side dish of roasted cauliflower with anchovy and lemon. I love cauliflower but wasn't sure about the anchovy. Obviously the chef knows better than me and I devoured it. Can't wait to go back and try something else. Care to join me? Until next time, Bon Appetit Red Pearl

    (4)

  • Lewis W.

    Only been to this modern Italian restaurant once, but I'll be back next time I'm in town (assuming I'm still financially solvent). As the name suggests, this place boasts a large selection of mostly Italian wines. The two I tried were fine if not totally memorable (in fact, I can't remember the names). I showed up late and only had a few appetizers: $9 stuffed figs (covered in red sauce and deliciously smoky thanks to nduja and prosciutto), $7 deviled eggs (three halves, each topped with something different: crispy prosciutto, arugula pesto and smoked fish) and $5 olives with breadsticks (very small portion of so-so mixed olives and thin, crispy breadsticks). Prices seemed on the high side, especially for Cincinnati, but the figs were pretty fantastic. If they offered half-price appetizers during happy hour, it would be a no-brainer. Service was great (I ate at the bar) and the surroundings were pleasant. Next time I'm feeling flush and hungry, I'll try the Florentine-style New York strip steak, which comes in at a hefty $29 but sounds delicious.

    (4)

  • J M.

    Ate there for a second time tonight with my wife. Love their cured meats and cheeses to start. Ended with a pizza and 2 skewers of shrimp and scallops. The pizza was a bit burnt, but otherwise good. The shrimp were a little tough/overcooked, but the scallops were some of the best I've ever eaten. Our server was great tonight, a perfect blend of attentive without being cloying, and very informed about the menu. With 2 glasses of wine and 2 beers, we spent just under a hundred with the tip. The only bummer was the employee at the door when we left (manager/maitre'd?). When we arrived, he was sitting at the bar, right near the door (no greeting), but waved a server from the second level to seat us - during our dinner, he didn't speak with any of the diners - and when we left, we walked right past him, but he was on his cell phone and never looked up or spoke to us! I called from my car and spoke to him to express my displeasure - a simple good night is Restaurant 101, right? He apologized, but it was a bad ending to an otherwise good experience. He should not be in the restaurant business.

    (3)

  • Erica L.

    Wonderful food once it finally arrived. Very very slow service. The brussel sprouts were scrumptious.

    (2)

  • Clare V.

    I just went there with a medium-sized group (6 people) and was blown away. I had previously been about a year ago and didn't remember anything special, but this latest trip was quite incredible. First, the waitress we had was fantastic - gave great advice on wine, apps, and main dishes. With the group we had, we were able to share all of the dishes, which made it more of a tapas feel. I think my favorites were the figs for an app, the lamb bacon pizza, and the roasted cauliflower as a side. Quite the meal and experience!

    (5)

  • Joey Z.

    Have been here twice and both times were great experiences. Great place to go if you want to sip on wine and try a bunch of small plates... stuffed figs, deviled eggs, and meatball sliders were all excellent. Pizza was cooked perfectly! Had the Quattro Formaggi with truffle oil... so good! Pastas are good, but portion sizes are okay considering price. Gnocchi and ravioli are definitely among the best that I have had. If you are a lasagna fan, be aware that their's is not traditional.. lots of flavor but baked in a very shallow dish. Finally, service couldn't have been better! Very knowledgable and attentive! Will be back to this place soon!

    (5)

  • Katie U.

    Let me preface this by saying my friends and I went here with empty stomachs and a desire to try a new restaurant. There were a lot of groups / couples that clearly went intending to spend the evening there - sipping wine and nibbling on some food. It seems like a good place for that crowd. Why we didn't like it: - Wait: We ended up being there for nearly 3 hours! We waited for almost an hour and a half (after being told the wait would be 45 minutes). And then everything took a long time once we sat down - ordering, waiting for the wine and appetizer, waiting for our meal... - Selection: Pretty much pasta and pizza. An extreme lack of vegetables, particularly green: the only option was brussel sprouts which they were out of. A lack of meat entrees - aside from skewers of chicken, the only other meat was cured pork as an appetizer with cheese or pizza topping. They had no soup - which is what I was hoping to get. And don't say it's because it's an Italian restaurant - I've been to Italy and gotten great meat and vegetable entrees. - Price: SO overpriced. Small portions. Nothing included - no sides, and no free bread or anything when you get there. I got $15 ravioli which came with probably 5 raviolis (no meat - basically squash with butter sauce over it). It was good but not amazing. The one exception: the $5 cheesy bread appetizer was fabulous. - Service: With those ridiculous prices, you'd expect amazing service. But we didn't experience that. Several staff members seemed to be texting more than working. The hostess didn't update us on tables even though we were the only ones in the small waiting area and we'd waited much longer than she told us. When a table finally opened up, it remained unbussed until someone in our group said we'd like to sit down - even at a dirty table - just to get off our feet. When our waitress came, we said we'd been waiting for so long and were so hungry and she made no attempt to hurry - we had to track her down several times to order, to ask where our appetizer was (it was at least 15 minutes)... And no apology from anyone. I will not be going back.

    (1)

  • Allison K.

    Excellent small plate restaurant great for a special occasion. It is on the pricier side but the delicious flavors and interesting pairings are worth it.

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    Started the holiday weekend before hitting a couple of parties, and a great way to ease into the weekend. My wife doesn't drink and eats relatively light. She had the creamy polenta with just the right amount of cheese, with braised cauliflower seasoned with anchovies and cream, with a hint of herbs. The mussels were a bit small with the right seasoning and sauce, with crostini. Good cocktails, solid house wines...put it on your list!

    (4)

  • k f.

    I really enjoyed my meal here last night! I took my dad and step-mom from out of town. They love Italy so they were pleased with the authentic, fresh and interesting flavors. Great wine and great food that is reasonably priced for how fresh it is. The best flavors were the Heirloom Tomato soup (cold soup with watermelon and basil) and grilled peach and fennel salad. The peach cobbler was pretty good for desert as well. We went on a Monday evening and it was pretty hoppin'.

    (5)

  • Heather C.

    Enoteca Emilia is always where I bring out of town guests who are skeptics about good food in Cincy. The pizzas are crispy and delicious. The bar snacks / starters are delicious. The pastas are always interesting and unique. We love chatting it up with the servers who are passionate about what they do -- knowledgeable about the wine, enamored with the seasonal specials, and just interesting people. Minus one star for the menu being sneaky expensive and it always being freezing in the restaurant. I do wish the wine list had better/more info, besides just names/prices -- given how interesting and off-the-beaten path the wines are, with a little more background, I'd enjoy ordering/drinking even more.

    (4)

  • Roth M.

    When most people think about going out for an Italian meal, they think, Spaghetti, Meatballs, Lasagna, Veal Marsala, etc. You will not find that here. Instead, they are more the type of aged and cured meats and artisan cheeses. Having gone there with my parents, we all thought that the menu was needlessly complicated. It wasn't that there was a huge variety, but the descriptions were overly sophisticated (we had forgotten our food dictionary at home). For example, three of the meats on the menu were Speck, Guanciale, and Nduja. This is fine, and maybe I'm not high-brow enough, but when you have to ask your server about pretty much every item on the menu to understand what you'd be getting, you end up feeling foolish/stupid/unsophisticated = negative. I got the Margherita Pizza with Buffalo Mozzarella. It was pretty good, but not life changing. Both my parents got the Butternut Squash(I believe) Ravioli. I was given one to sample, and I honestly have no idea how my dad finished his plate. It was soooo rich and sweet. I really thought it was inedible. It was almost like if you were given 6 heaping spoonfuls of peanut butter and asked to eat them all in one sitting. Possible, but difficult, due to richness and flavor constancy. It really needed something to break up that richness, like something sour. I guess everything is a la carte, so we could have ordered a salad to break it up, or possibly our server could have informed us of this?!? I don't know, the place is OK, and now that I know what I'm getting myself into, I'm not saying I wouldn't go back. I just might bring my Foodie Handbook to make sense of the menu, and order more variety. I ended up giving half my pizza to my parents because I felt bad that they'd both ordered the super-rich Ravioli.

    (3)

  • Yvonne H.

    I've been here 3 times and each meal was just ok and drastically overpriced. Dishes to try: black pepper pappardelle, and cheesy bread. Dishes to avoid: bucatini (imagine pasta floating in a bowl full of grease- literally!) I will, however, commend this place on its gluten free pasta options, which were cooked perfectly al dente, and the quartino wine servings. At this point I'd only come back if there were happy hour food and drink specials.

    (3)

  • Doug S.

    We came for the wine tasting and stayed for dinner. What a pleasure to find a great little gem like this. Service has been great on every visit. and the food is excellent. Each visit we want to try new things but the Black pepper parpradell Bolegnase is too good to pass up.

    (5)

  • Jeff J.

    Whipped ricotta and good wine. Short rib lasagna. I mean cmon. Service was excellent. Ambiance is very nice. You have to stop by. Great date spot. Turns out the do a great rehearsal dinner too.

    (5)

  • Alyssa F.

    The food was great. Wine was ok- my dinner partner ordered a Sauvignon Blanc and I ordered a Chardonnay and there was very little difference in the flavors. In my opinion, if they are only going to have one of each type of wine by the glass, they should be pretty different, or at least have an oaked Chard option... Restaurant was LOUD. Very loud. We were seated in the bar at a high top and it wasn't the most comfortable seating/table arrangement, but we were near the wall of wines so that was something fun to look at during the evening. There is an upstairs that might be a little quieter/more intimate. We got there around 7 on a Thursday, and by the time we left, around 8:30, the bar was 2-3 people deep. It seems to be a good place to get a glass of wine after work if you are an attractive 30-40 year old woman. Preferably blonde. We had the bruschetta of the day, and it was very very amazing. White bean puree with kale and crispy pork and cheese, but I forget what kind. Dinner partner had a shrimp and scallop skewer. He said everything was really fresh. I had a pasta dish with mushroom and truffle and oregano that was good, not great. We also tried a side of farro salad with mint, beets and ricotta I think. It was really good and a really decent portion for a "side." Overall, I'd like to go back again, and maybe try one of the pizzas. I know it sounds like I had a lot of complaints, but it was a date night and the noise level really threw everything off, I think.

    (4)

  • Caroline C.

    The atmosphere is just perfect. Gorgeous building and oh my goodness, loved the wall paper. The menu is simple and restrained. Try some bar snacks or go for a full meal. The ricotta fritters were moist, soft and delicious (reminiscent of a funnel cake, but like, actually really good) and the peach & strawberry cobbler (more like a crisp) was ridiculously good. The wine list is all Italy. This is the first time I can remember being at a restaurant and making reservations while I was still there. It's just that great of an environment.

    (5)

  • Mike M.

    i only had drinks and some chz and bread. it was good. i have to admit, visiting ANY place in this seemingly DOOMED lcoation gives me the heeby jeebies. :) but, i shall be back. good service, great price, nice ambience. just try and forget the brickyard and the 8,000 other places this has been!

    (3)

  • Chris H.

    Why do I keep thinking it will be better? I've been lured in a few times by the small plates format and good location - but it always disappoints. The food is underwhelming, but probably deserves 3 stars - but the service takes it down. Somehow the service is a combination of awkward and unwelcoming with a side of forgetfulness. On multiple occasions, the staff has made me feel bad for asking a question about their mistakes (like forgetting to bring items to the table) and then failed to correct it, only to seem annoyed when it comes up later. Sorry that I don't like paying for food you forgot to bring to the table...but it probably wouldn't have been that good anyways.

    (1)

  • Marie E.

    More like a 3.5 but I like to round up when places are new. (Hey Yelp, half stars would be awesome!) Great Space Nice atmosphere- felt relaxing and would be a nice romantic place for a date. They put in benches which made for much more appropriately placed seating. Close but not so close you feel you are dining with your neighbor. Loud enough you didn't hear everyone's conversation. The put a lot of effort into the appearance of the restaurant and it shows. Good food: loved the olives, meats and cheeses, lasagna, and Buscatini. Their pasta was cooked perfectly (More of a rarity than it should be) and the sauce was just the right amount of tomato without tasting like Chef Boyardee like so many other Italian restaurants. Price wasn't bad: $85 per couple for 5/$20 meats and cheeses, a bottle of wine, two other appetizers, an entree each, and two desserts, a soda and a cappuccino. Pacing: Loved that we were able to order and enjoy our starters before being asked for our dinner order. Not sure if this was an accident or not but it really made for a nicely paced meal. Didn't feel rushed. Let us sit and talk and enjoy our wine. Made it feel much more upscale than the order everything at once and get out restaurants that are becoming more and more common. To be Improved: Just little things that could be fixed easily Waitstaff: Our waitress was nice and personable but seemed a little overwhelmed and underprepared for questions (I feel it is the restaurant's job to make sure they have tried all menu items and know how to pronounce and explain what is being served). Meats and Cheeses: The are served up on a pizza pan with no cheese knife (hard cheeses were very difficult to cut and we almost flipped the pan twice which would have been very embarrassing). It would be much better if it had been served on a cutting board down on the table so people didn't have to reach up and over. Also, we had to ask for more bread twice. You should never want for bread at an Italian restaurant. We got about 6 slices of baguette for 4 people with five types of meats and cheeses. Even with the very small serving sizes it was not even close to enough. Cappuccino: My husband ordered a cappuccino which came looking like a coffee with milk added. No foam at all. He was disappointed there was no cinnamon on top or sugar cubes offered. Extras: No fresh pepper, or grated cheese offered for entrees. Some fresh bread would have been nice. Overall, enjoyed the night and will be back without question. This is one of the best new restaurants I have seen in their first couple of weeks. Pretty impressive if you ask me. They are going for more upscale and just need to make a few tweaks to really complete the picture. The food was well done and well timed which is the most important thing. With a little work this restaurant will be a wonderful success and could easily make it in with other greats spots such as Honey, La Poste, and Quarter Bistro. Similar intimate feel without being super expensive. Glad they are here and wish them lots of success.

    (4)

  • Austin F.

    Last visit, the chef switched up on me. The meal was definitely not like the first time. It was okay, but not sure how fast I would be up to go back this time! It's so unfortunate to say

    (3)

  • Ben N.

    If you live in the Cincinnati area, you might sometimes feel like the dining trends that are sweeping the bigger cities are passing you by, unless you travel extensively and/or subscribe to the slick food and dining mags. Count me among those who feel like they're out of the loop too often. So I don't know whether the concept that Enoteca Emilia has latched onto is typical in New York or San Fran or whatever. Or whether it might even be traditional to Emilia-Romagna itself. (Despite having spent three summers in Italy as a kid, I was a bit too young to learn much about Italian food and consider myself an Italian-food dolt to this day. Growing up down south sure didn't help.) Anyway, the concept (or format) at Enoteca Emilia seems to be an Italian version of tapas, as others suggest here. And it is a great one. Went with my wife and visiting-from-out-of-town brother. We started with an antipasti (salumi/formaggi) plate, which I thought was terrific, although I'm no decent judge of this stuff. (Although I do agree with Amber A. that serving this stuff on a raised pizza pan is a dumb idea.) Two additional "small plates"--three deviled eggs (one of each topped with pesto, smoked trout, and breadcrumbs) and bacon-wrapped figs--were also big winners. We shared the caprese and asparagus salads, both of which were super-fresh and bright-tasting. I took a wrong turn with the pizza margherita. It was a resounding dud, with really subpar crust: virtually flavorless, with no distinctive texture and even mushy in the middle. The tomato sauce and mozzarella didn't even help very much. Yuck. The wife and brother had much better luck with pastas. Both the black pepper pappardelle (with a pretty subtle bolognese) and the bucatini (prosciutto, white wine, frisee, and black pepper) were pretty great, especially the latter. I like the decor and atmosphere--think high-end casual--which I think suits almost perfectly what Enoteca Emilia is trying to do. (It's in the former Balboa's location, and it's quite a transformation from that misbegotten place.) Don't agree with the reviewer below who says the crowd is "straight up Hyde Park," at least not on the Saturday night we were there. There weren't that many young people, period, that evening; as somebody who lives near Hyde Park, I was picking up on a Clifton-type demographic as well, a bit less staid and conservative than the HP average. Agree with others that the prices seem a little high, even with the quality of the food, given how casual the experience seems to be and that we are talking about some pretty small plates. I thought our server was pretty patient with us, and informative, as the three of us struggled with putting together a lineup of food for ourselves and ordering an appropriate bottle of wine. Despite the pizza, we came away thinking this is one of the better restaurants to open in the city in the last couple of years, and it's definitely filling a void both cuisine-wise and within the O'Bryonville area, which was previously a culinary Bermuda triangle.

    (4)

  • Jessica A.

    We went in for lunch and didn't want to go back to work. The atmosphere is amazing. The restaurant has a lot of character, they did an excellent job renovating the inside. I can see myself coming here with friends for wine and small plates or for a big dinner. Service was great. The staff was very friendly and attentive. I ordered the Pizza Bianco and my boss got the Lamb flatbread. Both were very good. My favorite part of our meal was the Deviled Eggs for a starter. The dish came with three eggs (all prepared differently) and was the perfect amount to split between the two of us! The wine list looks amazing. I will be back very soon!

    (5)

  • Parker P.

    FOLLOW-UP REVIEW. So, now that the hype has died down, I made another trip back. Armed with the knowledge gained on the first experience, (see it here: yelp.com/biz/enoteca-emi… ) here's how it went: PLUSES: The hostess was both on her toes, and welcoming beyond her job description. My dining companion and I ordered strategically, and both felt we walked away with a much better value than the first time. The pizza crust and toppings were actually even better than on the first visit, putting them in line with their peers this time, This still visually wonderful restaurant almost got bumped to a 5-star rating, until... MINUSES: Our attractive, kind, well-spoken, and friendly server was thoroughly unencumbered by any sense of urgency. Zero. She missed the opportunity to sell at least two more glasses of wine by virtue of her vanishing act after the manager served our meals. Perhaps it was because she only had a total of six people to wait on that she was in her lowest gear...who knows? While I can say that I've never been neglected by a more pleasant server, it was some pretty bold neglect. This was the one black mark that kept Enoteca from upgrading to a 5-star. SUMMARY: I still recommend this restaurant, and will quite likely return. By all means go, but watch out for prices that can sneak up you very quickly, and be prepared for one less-than-perfect aspect at each visit.

    (4)

  • Tara S.

    Noisy, service is slow and maybe a bit under-trained. Our waiter didn't bring serving utensils, brought a frozen bottle of water to the table, and didn't clear empty dishes for longer than seemed reasonable. He was nice enough, but he didn't seem experienced enough to have some of those details down. The food, however, once it arrives, is quite tasty. We had pizza and some kind of cheesy appetizer. It was very good. I'd definitely eat the food again--might take it to go, though. It's important to know that there's a bathroom upstairs. The one by the bar is usually occupied--and not by you!

    (4)

  • Amanda C.

    My expectations for Enoteca Emilia were high. Too high. My Cincinnati Magazine had just arrived, and Enoteca Emilia scores in both the Top 5 Pizza and Top 5 New Restaurants lists. So I enthusiastically bustled my husband and sister off to the place, my mouth watering for a delicious pizza. And the pizzas we got were... pretty good. You know, interesting enough to remember for the next ten minutes. Duck bacon is slightly sweet... who knew? Truffle oil is pretty overwhelming on a pizza. Good to know. I concluded that either the pickings for new restaurants are slim, or the owner knows someone on the Cincinnati Magazine's editorial staff. Here are the good parts, though, and why I would return: If I had gotten the bucatini pasta my husband ordered, this might have been a completely different review. It's an authentic Italian dish, prepared the way Italians made pasta before tomatoes were brought over from North America (and you thought pizza sauce was immemorial?). Delicious food is my favorite way to study history. The atmosphere is incredible. I loved the wallpaper bursting with poppies and the rustic feel of the interior. It's a very chic place to hang out and quiet enough for good conversations. And our server was super nice.

    (3)

  • Paul K.

    It's definitely good stuff. I love it's location and decor inside. It's spacious and trendy. Also I can see that they try to make somewhat Europe-like atmosphere. The food is also very good. I haven't tried a lot of them although I really want to dive into their appetizers. Pasta and ravioli taste great with details they put on. The pizza.. I don't know about that. Maybe it's something I didn't expect, but I wasn't impressed about their pizza. Of course it wasn't bad at all. Their service is great, very friednly and helpful. I don't have much to complaint about this place and will come back frequently. There is one, though - the price or portion. I thought the portion is too small. I admit that I always put quality over quantity, but to me the portion was too small. Maybe because my party and I like to share the foods and taste different dishes. We ended up taking a bite of each or so... It's just a little complaint from a big eater I guess. But overall, I see this place can be great!

    (4)

  • Aaron H.

    Its OK, kinda pricey for what you get, and the 1/2 price bottle of wine is deceiving... only if you sit at the bar. The caprese salad was solid, but the caesar salad was weak. The lettuce was brown. The garganelli was very good, lasagna was OK, but the corn pizza wasn't the best... the truffle was just too overwhelming.

    (3)

  • Kristie S.

    We started with the Pane Formaggio "cheesy bread." This was by far the highlight of my meal. Bread, cheese, garlic - my favorites. I was trying to decide between a pizza and a pasta. Our server told us the pasta dishes were large. That sold me on the eggplant ravioli because I planned to save half for lunch the next day. When the ravioli came out there were only 4 raviolis on the plate. It appears the waiter and I have different definitions of large. I rarely finish my meal at a restaurant, but I had no problem finishing my ravioli. I wish I would have gone with the pizza.

    (3)

  • Sarah R.

    Yum. SO DELICIOUS. My husband and I are starting to go here more often now that the buzz has died down a tiny bit and you can actually get a reservation less than 5 days in advance. :) Things we love: 1. The cheese & meats platters. Perfect portions, well priced. 2. The small plates, including the bacon-wrapped dates. 3. The wine choices. 4. The service - the servers are very friendly, helpful and on the ball. 5. The atmosphere. Casual enough for nice jeans, fancy enough for a special night out. 6. The food in general. Just very delicious! The Thing That We Don't Love 1. Only taking reservations for a few tables. I'm 31, I don't wait 2 hours for a table anymore. (Yes, this causes problems for me downtown, A TAVOLA I'M LOOKING AT YOU) Last week, we called at 6, asked if they had any last minute reservations for the next 15-30 minutes or so, and they said, "No, but we aren't too busy, so you could just walk-in and hope we have a table available." We decided to stop by because we were realllly wanting some bacon wrapped dates!, and what do we know... lots of available tables. So why didn't they just give us a reservation when we called? To me, that isn't the attitude of a restaurant that WANTS their customers to come in. I love everything else about Enoteca Emilia so much that I have a hard time reconciling that. (That's the reason for the star knocked off) I guess I should just be thankful that Enoteca Emilia is NOT downtown and so probably HAS to at least take a few reservations a night.

    (4)

  • Kim B.

    This is a great bistro style Italian restaurant. The atmosphere was so relaxed and inviting, it really had the feel of Italy; no rush, great food, great time with friends. It has so many options. You could go in for a nice glass of wine; wine and cheese&meats; wine and small plates; wine and pizza; or wine with entrees and/or all the above. I went with my husband and another couple, so we each ordered a little of each to share. The wine selection is amazing, and the servers or bartenders will steer you in the right direction. The cheese and meats are so fun, because you have the option to mix and match. We had Prosciutto di Parma, Duck Prosciutto, and Calabrese which was a chili spiked salame. We let the server pick appropriate cheeses to accompany the meats we chose, and it was all like stepping back in Italy. The meatball sliders, stuffed peppers, and lamb skewers were a great selection of small plates. Our friends had a pizza, which they insisted we try at least a bite of; phenomenal, the crust was perfect. The hand rolled pasta was amazing, no matter the shape or accompanying ingredients. We had no room for dessert, we opted for a second bottle of wine instead. It felt so much like Italy, we didn't want to leave, but we will be sure to return.

    (5)

  • Kel A.

    My husband and I have made this our date night go-to. Everything I've had here is phenomenal! The pizza's are great, the cheese platters offer a wide variety, the pasta is not overcooked or over-sauced. They frequently change their menu, which would normally upset me since I'll order the same dish again and again. However, even with the menu changes, I always find something I love the same amount or more than the visit before. The atmosphere is relaxing and laid-back. Great place to sip wine and have casual conversation. This is one of my favorite Cincinnati restaurants.

    (5)

  • Jennifer B.

    LOVED the food, very hip. pizza blanca, mussels, and everything else melts in your nmouth. Service was also very good. love the option for the glass and half of wine. It was very hot on the second floor.

    (4)

  • Julianna R.

    Cute on the inside. Pretty good service. Extensive wine menu. Food was absolutely delicious, unique and perfect portion sizes-on the smaller side, but satisfying (I like leaving the table feeling like I could eat more). Tried the fennel, potato and arugula side dish with lemon dressing (with was light and tasty), mussels (great sauce with unique taste), chicken spiedini (again, delicious sauce), and chocolate mascarpone mousse, which left me literally licking the plate clean, it was so good... and I'm not a big dessert lover! Overall, great place and I'll definitely be back again.

    (4)

  • Jane F.

    Went here this weekend and was highly satisfied with everything. Server was attentive and professional. Ordered house wine (which was actually quite tasty), grilled pear salad, and split 2 entrees - the trofie pasta and the mushroom ravioli. Ravioli was the best I've ever tasted. Can't believe I live so close by but haven't been here yet. I will be back soon to order that ravioli.

    (5)

  • Jennifer D.

    Went here tonight for a Cincinnati Habitat YP event. Great pick, guys. Everything I tried was awesome. The Garganelli is AH-MAZE-ING! AHHH! It has truffle in it, so of course I loved it. That amazing, rich flavor and the pasta was perfectly cooked. It was so. So. good. In fact, I was kinda mad when the server started to take it away. I almost stabbed her a little with my fork, because I was trying to get at a last minute noodle. The Black pepper Pappardelle is also great, reminiscent of a bolognese. It was really delicious. The noodles are a bit weird, but the great taste made up for that. Beet & arugula salad was crazy delicious. Enjoyed the charred asparagus as well. Basically, this is fancy and what I might assume to be authentic italian, had I ever been to Italy, which I haven't. They can even turn water into wine. (Bit of an inside joke, the bartender played a mean trick on our server who came out with a carafe of water instead of the house white which my friend ordered.) We all had a good laugh at that, however, if it had been a stuffier crowd (which I imagine this place probably draws fairly frequently...) it might not have gone over so well. Pretty pricy but you boys should think about taking a lady here on a first date. She will think you're a baller and also very hip for even knowing what this place IS. :) The atmosphere is really nice, and I think I'd have stolen one of the light fixtures at our table if I hadn't downsized my purse. Kidding. Stealing is bad. Know what's not bad though? THIS PLACE!

    (4)

  • Lauren D.

    If first impressions were everything, I would've scored Enoteca Emilia a lot lower. We we escorted to a high-top table in the bar -- all slick floors and uncomfortable seats. (So slick and so uncomfortable, in fact, that one poor man actually lost his balance shifting in his seat and ended up on the floor when the chair slid across the floor.) Enoteca Emilia has a decent wine list, stocked with unique varietals. I tried the Montepulciano at the server's suggestion -- it was good, but definitely NOT as full-bodied as the zinfandel the server compared it to. Thankfully, the dinner improved from there! We started with an appetizer, Pane e Formaggio, aka cheesy bread. It was served as a whole loaf, warm, sliced into single pieces, generously smothered with gooey, flavorful cheese, spices and olive oil. But YOWZA! The cheese was so plentiful it was almost overwhelming. Dinner included a mushroom ravioli and bucatini with white wine sauce. Both were DIVINE -- smooth, buttery, well-seasoned. The only thing I'll say: it's all SUPER RICH. I ate half of my entree and then called it quits. Why the restaurant added parmigiano reggiano to a ravioli dish that already contained a lot of cheese is beyond me... but it was just too much. With a couple of tweaks -- to server training (i.e. knowing how to recommend wines), a lighter touch on the cheese and some more comfortable (and sturdy!) furniture -- this could definitely be the trendy neighborhood hotspot it seems poised to become.

    (3)

  • Bea D.

    We arrived early on the weekend for dinner because we were informed it would become crowded. At 5:30 we were able to walk in and not be put on a waiting list. As time passed it did become very crowded and very loud. We were sitting on the first floor in the bar area. We began with the figs as an appetizer. I was told these are popular, but I however did not care for them. Rubbery bacon wrapped around a fig and smothered in tomato sauce did not cause me to look forward for what was next. I had the shrimp and scallop skewer. It was ok. Nothing bad, but yet nothing great. However, I did very much enjoy the cauliflower and brussel sprouts. There was a fair amount of oil in the vegetables, so undoubtedly that helped with flavor. The brussel sprouts were a bit too sweet with the balsamic glaze. As for wine, they do offer a 6 oz and a 9 oz pour, which I found refreshing. The house red was quite good. As we began our meal, the crowds started closing in upon us. It was difficult to carry on a conversation. I loved the simple and rustic/model decor, but I don't think it damped any sound. All in all, it was on ok experience. If I do go back, I will be trying a pasta.

    (3)

  • Nicholas S.

    Before I get into the review, a caveat: this was the first weekend for Enoteca Emiia, and I fully-intend on revisiting the restaurant and this review in a couple months. I currently would rate our overall experience at 3.5 stars (choosing to round down so I can come back and make forward progress). --The restaurant-- Great location at the end of the main strip of O'Bryonville. The building is gorgeous and the interior is very well-done, with exposed brick, lots of natural light, and a unique bar anchoring the first floor. The atmosphere is nice and balanced, and would be perfect for a first-, or any, date. Those seeking intimate family Italian may be disappointed, though. --The food-- As alluded to above, Enoteca Emilia is more a modern take on Italian cuisine than an authentic, family-style Italian restaurant. The menu is structured to share appetizers, not entrees. If you're a bit skeptical, I encourage you to head down and try it. There are no sacrifices on substance in favor of style... I think there was a very clear vision that was very well-executed for EE. --The lowlights-- As I said before, EE is a very new place. And with that come certain growing pains that I fully expect the place to grow out of. The most glaring instance of that portrayed itself in the staff-- I won't dwell on it, but general disorganization sums it up. Also, I had a Buscatini entree that I would not recommend. --The highlights-- 2 appetizers and 1 of our entrees were pulled off marvelously: a bruschetta of the day, the stuffed figs, and the white pizza (combination of corn, truffle oil, fried egg on top was positively mind-blowing!). We also had a nice Syrah by the glass that I would certainly order again. The EE menu is also priced right. --Conclusion-- EE fills a gap that I, personally, had for the Cincinnati area, which is for great Italian outside of downtown. With the kinks worked out, I think EE will be a favorite date night spot for us for a long time.

    (3)

  • Kevin B.

    We had dinner at Enotecca Emilia last night. Overall a decent experience - nothing too great, no major flaws. They do have a great wine list with mostly Italian offerings. We had 2 appetizers; the polenta balls and the mussels. The polenta balls are a deepfried polenta stuffed with cheese and prosciutto in a tomato sauce. The were fine, the sauce was good, there was a dearth of prosciutto. The mussels were in a nice saffron broth but did not have the spicy tomato as the menu desribed. They were just fine - nothing special. (If I ever have a craving for mussels I would go to The Senate). We also had 2 pasta entrees; a very rich duck liver ravioli and the bucatini. I actually preferred the ravioli. As for the bucatini, the pasta was cooked perfectly and the guanciale was nice but there was about a 1/4 cup of oil left in the bowl after finishing the dish - just a little bit too much oil if you ask me. Service was fine - although we never did receive the bread we requested. I also thought is was sort of odd that the placemat was also the menu and they don't provide a cocktail menu unless you ask for it. They did do a nice job with their renovations (although there was visible water damage above our table in the bar area). I also think they did a great job with noise control - although the tables in the bar area are close together, we didn't feel like we could hear other conversatoins. Also note that In the bar area, the tables along the windows have chairs with backs - the other tables in the bar area have stools with no backs which was not tremendously comfortable. Overall Enoteca Emilia is A-Ok, and a nice place for the O'Bryonville neighborhood. I don't think I would go back for a meal, but with the nice wine list I would return to share a salumi plate or maybe a pizza.

    (3)

  • Sarah L.

    Had high hopes for Enoteca Emilia, but was pretty let down by the food and not impressed by the atmosphere. The decor overall is OK, but with a number of details, they clearly cut corners. The bathroom is one example--it seems they tried to appear hand-crafted with the paint, but it looks cheap and sloppy. Also very strange not to have a mirror in the bathroom. The crowd is straight up Hyde Park, where even the young people seem old. And yet it got really loud, which doesn't bother me in a trendy urban spot, but in an Italian restaurant, it didn't fit the vibe. The wine was fine. In fact, their pinot noir by the glass was quite good. I enjoyed their bruschetta of the day, which featured an asparagus pesto. I thought it was earthy and light. I was excited about the prospect of the Grilled Squid and Shrimp Salad, but the execution was gross. Advertised as grilled, I expected charred, flavorful seafood, probably served hot. On the contrary, it was slimy, cold, and totally devoid of flavor. The vinaigrette was also lackluster. I left food on the plate--a rare occurrence. And we had to ask for bread, which turned out to be average, but with pretty good olive oil and balsamic. Seems like bread (excellent bread) should be standard at an Italian joint. Summary: I'd return for wine, olives, and perhaps try meatballs or cheesy bread, which can be easier to execute.

    (2)

  • Matthew R.

    I've been looking forward to trying Enoteca Emilia for dinner. The space looked beautiful and is in a great location close to our apartment. The space is cool and really well decorated, interesting layout and great lighting. Service was good, although when the restaurant got busy they forgot to bring out one of our salads. We started the meal with bacon wrapped dates and whipped ricotta + bruchetta. Delicious appetizers! The spicy red sauce on the dates was fantastic, especially when combined with the bruchetta. I wanted to try more of their cured meats & cheeses, but alas, only so much my belly can fit. We got an order of cheese bread between appetizers and entrees. It was topped with a generous amount of super stringy & delicious melted cheese, but too garlic buttery for me. Entrees were less impressive. Salads and skewers were voted 'just ok' by the table, beet salad got the highest marks. Squash ravioli was considered too sweet by most at the table. Boar lasagna was cheese / breadcrumb / herb heavy and rather dry. I was expecting more sauce! Finally, the pizza got good marks. Dessert was disappointing - chocolate mousse was firm with a very gritty granulated sugar whipped into it, and the fried ricotta was like a poorly executed ball of funnel cake dough. All up, I'd say this restaurant specializes in small plates and appetizers more than they do entrees & desserts. That's somewhat unimpressive, given the prices. With wine, appetizer, and entree, you'll spend 30+ bucks pp. Easy to go higher. Stick to small plates & pizzas, and I think you'll get the best of the bunch. I'll be going back to try a bit more appetizer variety, especially the cured meats & cheeses. If those rock my rating might improve a star.

    (3)

  • Samia M.

    Always on the hunt for new restaurants in cincy, a friend and I hit up this Italian establishment. For a Sunday night at 7:45 pm, there were plenty of patrons but the place was not full, so we were seated immediately. My friend and I split the pizza bianco and the garganelle. The pizza bianco was delicious - flavorful with a light, crispy crust and the corn topping was crunchy and sweet. The garganelle was less impressive. Not only was it in need of more flavor, but it wasn't even cooked fully! Al dente is one thing, but straight up hard is another. It was still edible, but definitely a lowlight of the meal. In addition, the pasta dish was not nearly as large as what a typical Italian restaurant would serve. After half a pizza and half the pasta dish, I was not very full. My friend and I decided to try dessert but each wanted different things; she the tiramisu and I the ricotta fritters. The logical solution was to order both. That was probably a mistake since neither of us could finish what we ordered. The ricotta fritters essentially were richer donuts that came with an orange marmalade and a dark chocolate dipping sauce. I did not like the orange marmalade at all! I actually removed it from my plate so I didn't have to look at it haha. The chocolate sauce was divine however and I asked for more because without it the fritters were boring. I think this place has the potential to be a great spot in Cincinnati. The pizza was really good and next time I will be trying a different pasta dish that is hopefully more interesting (and cooked).

    (3)

  • Mark O.

    Stopped ay Enoteca Emilia on a Wednesday night, an experience that will be repeated. Enoteca is a new venue in located in the old Balboa's in O'Bryonville, near Roncker's Running Spot and Bon Bonerie, two of my area faves. It caught my attention in Cincy magazine's top pizza list (I think they are #3). I arrived around 7p and quickly found a place at the bar. The bartender was very helpful and knowledgeable. Enoteca, I learned, is the Italian term for wine bar and Emilia is the grand daughter of one of the owners. She went on to describe the partnership which opened Enoteca (Fall 2011) as a local restauranteur and former chef from Boca - good enough for me! I was tempted with an order of Grissini, which is basically a serving of 10-12 thin, crispy breadsticks with a strong, but pleasant cheesy flavor. It wasn't my favorite, but it did go well with the craft beer that I ordered. I was feeling a little risky and tried a pizza with vegetables (usually a faux pas for this beer and wings guy) called the pizza bianco, which is a combination of garlic, ricotta, fontina, caluiflower, parmagiano, and truffle oil. Truffle oil is one of those ingredients that just makes everything better, but I asked the bartender to go half/half on the cauliflower just in case. Less than 10 minutes later, my pie was ready. Thin, crisp crust which seemed to come from a wood fire oven. The ingredients worked well together, but it confirmed my bias against veggie pizzas - just not for me. As for the ambience, think urban cool meets classy chic. Maybe that was redundant as I'm admittedly not a copy writer. The floors are battered hardwood, the walls exposed brick, and a fireplace has a charming, rustic old world look. Modern light fixtures cast a low glow on the interior and pleasant, upbeat music played through speakers in the corners. Chicks would dig this place. I think. Back to the menu, there were four or five other things that looked incredibly edible on the menu, including pan e formaggio (cheesy bread), skewers of lamb or shrimp and combination plates of salumi (cured meat) and formaggi (cheese). It was also pleasant to see that pasta is only a small portion of the menu, much like the restaurants my friends and I hit up during a trip to Rome, Torino and Florence. Delizioso!

    (4)

  • SD L.

    Pretty good little restaurant in O'Bryonville. The wine list was very good, lots of options at price points. We were upstairs in the balcony area which made it a little quieter than it seemed downstairs. Food was quite good. One friend wasn't that hungry and just had the meatball sliders from the bar menu, and they were very good. I had the butternut squash ravioli which was well prepared. I thought there was a little too much cinnamon but I usually do. The other person had the bucatini with guanciale and loved kit. Desserts were good - I had the ricotta fritters which came with dark chocolate sauce (YUM) and blood orange marmalata. I liked that the sauces were in cups on the side so each person could create their own combination. One person had the affugato, which was hazelnut gelato with espresso over it. Oh my. I will get that next time.

    (3)

  • Sam Z.

    Ok so I was bordering on a 3 or 4 here but opted for a 4 with some reservations. Here is the open and honest review. Arrived with no reservation on a Sat. evening around 7. There was about an hour wait so we opted for the first 2 seats at the bar and ate there. We don't mind that so it was fine and we got a chance to mingle a bit. Stuffed figs: amazing. Slightly salty with the cured meat wrap and sweet and spicy on the inside. Red sauce not over loaded with spices which is the way it should be. This one is a winner. There were 5 wrapped figs which was nice for the price and we split the appetizer. 2 glasses of red house wine. For 5 bucks a pop it was worth it. A notch above your typical table wine but very good for the price. The entrees: My wife had the cavatelli with sausage. I would doubt these cavatelli were homemade. The sausage was good and the olive oil mix was very tasty. The pasta was not great and texture and taste screamed dried pasta. The bigger issue is the portion size. Very small for the price. My wide does not have a big appetite and she walked away still hungry. I had the pappardelle bolognese. A truly superb dish. The pasta tasted homemade...light and al dente. The bolognese was perfect with some chunks of meat. I really liked this dish a lot. Again, the issue is the portion size. Very small for the price. After entrees we decided not to order any more food. We were actually contemplating ordering a pizza as we were still hungry but opted to leave and get some yogurt. Their dessert menu did not do it for us. We were happy when we saw the menu online and noticed the pasta dishes in the 17-20 dollar range. A little less than some of the other decent restaurants in this area. The difference...the other places are about double the portion size. They really need to look at their price value equation because the food is good. They don't even give you bread. They charge for that as well. EE...if you read your customer reviews you should see that there are numerous calling out portion size. I could see if these were listed as tapas for maybe 5 bucks cheaper. I guess since you are doing well from the looks of the crowd on a Sat. night you will ignore this post. But, if you care about customer satisfaction, word of mouth and value for your guests you will take this to heart. 4 for food. 3 for value. Go when you can afford another course. Other places you will walk out full with 2 courses. Here you will need 3.

    (4)

  • Kevin K.

    Went for a late dinner with my wife and boss--we needed reservations and that's what was available--but it was definitely worth the wait. We tried a lot of different things and enjoyed everything. The presentation was gorgeous, but paled in comparison to the flavor of the food. Very enjoyable.

    (5)

  • Sarah B.

    As a vegetarian, I don't really get fine dining, because most of it isn't geared toward me. Oh, your steak dinner cost $100 a plate? That's... great for you. I'll take a decent $8 veggie burger, thanks. Now I get it. That being said, Enoteca doesn't have a ton of veg options, but what they do have is amazing - including the best four-cheese pizza I've ever had. Seriously, it was just a cheese pizza and yet it was bursting with flavor and perfectly cooked. (The July 2012 issue of Cincinnati magazine has the recipe, BTW!) We also had a stuffed pepper appetizer that was SO good - there was corn and cream involved, which may not sound that great on paper, but you really have to try it. One of my dining companions had a pizza topped with fresh arugula; I didn't try it because there was meat on it, but I could smell the peppery arugula from across the table. Yum. And my boyfriend's truffle pasta dish was awesome as well. Prices are moderate; entrees are $10-20, appetizers are around $6-9, and portions are small so you'll probably want to get both. Booze prices are decent, though - I think my Yuengling was $4, which is pretty average for Cincinnati. Can't wait to go back and experience that pizza again. Yum.

    (5)

  • Andrea J.

    This place has potential, but I don't think I would go back. First, the air quality was awful. We were seated upstairs and the smoke was so thick you could see it. We asked the server if we could move and he said it was just as bad downstairs. He did offer to open the side door and that helped. Service was spotty. As our server explained the menu, he tried to manage a runny nose, and I was afraid he was going to sneeze all over us. He was not readily available and everything took a long time to arrive. We started with the bacon wrapped figs, which were lovely, except they were covered with a cold tomato sauce, which really made no sense. We also tried the whipped ricotta with bruschetta which was truly delicious. Lots of good anchovy flavor. We each had a salad and all three were very good. My friends had the caesar which was lightly dressed and lemony, and the beet salad, also very good. I had the kale and white bean salad with figs and it was the best thing I had all evening. Highly recommended. We also tried three different pastas. The lasagna was non-traditional, with a celery root bechamel, delicious. I had a black truffle and mushroom pasta, which was also very good. My favorite was my friend's trofie, with roasted pistachio and arugula pesto. LIght, flavorful and inventive! We did not order dessert because our server was noticeably absent for a long period and by the time he came back, we were over it. Again, lots of potential, but not a place I would revisit, given all the other Italian restaurants in the area.

    (3)

  • Jeni S.

    I dined here for my 30th birthday on a Wednesday evening. We made reservations and were seated at a nice half table/half booth in the corner. It was the 1st time I had visited and I will for sure be going back at some point. We had the ricotta appetizer, which was delicious and i would highly recommend. Our server said that the fig appetizer is popular, but a couple different friends of mine had tried those and they all said that it wasn't that great. Then, the three of us ordered 3 dishes and sampled each other's choices. I had the lamb pizza, my mom got the ravioli and my sister had the gnocchi. All three were delicious- but I think my favorite was the ravioli. The service was great. Our server was knowledgable and attentive. She explained a lot about the dishes on the menu and made great recommendations. It was a bit pricey, but I think that our wine consumption contributed to that!

    (4)

  • Sarah T.

    Yum, yum, yum! I started with a cheese plate -- Robiola Bosina (Piemonte), Podda Classico (Sardegna), and Testun di Capra (Piemonte) -- right into fried polenta, lamb skewers, margherita pizza, and then finished with chocolate mousse and coffee. Ab-solutely fantastic. The atmosphere is super classy; the ambience was perfect for a quite Sunday night dinner. The only thing is that the menu is too fancy - I feel that most patrons should be able to decipher all the ingredients/dishes. On my next visit, the menu had updated for summer. There are still many ingredients that are hard to decipher. The server was too friendly, but I guess that's what I would want. That fried polenta, marghertia pizza, and chocolate mousse was still fantastic. I tried the spaghetti nero and they forgot the scallops. Overall, my experience was enjoyable.

    (4)

  • Daniel C.

    I went here for dinner with some friends. The food was good and the service was spot on. The cheese and charcuterie plate was awesome, we selected 5 items, 3 cheeses and 2 meats, they were all delicious. For the main meal the four of us ordered 4-5 different plates and shared. The Quattro Formaggi pizza was great as was the Duck Liver Pate.

    (4)

  • Beth B.

    I went there with my husband and another couple who had been before and suggested it. I was not impressed. The food is very overpriced for what you get and for the quality. Apparently the olives on the appetizer list were good. I don't like olives so I did not try those. The sliders were pretty good (probably the best thing I had that evening). The creamy dip with bread was not too impressive and the bread it was served with had been burned during toasting. Our waitress also left to get us a serving spoon for the creamy dip and never returned with it. I had the black pepper It pappedelli and did not find it tasty. I will not go back because of the prices and the quality of the food. The atmosphere is nice enough too bad the food does not measure up.

    (2)

  • Eleni K.

    One of my faves in the city! Excellent wine and service. Perfect for a date. The figs, Caesar salad, pizza bianco, and garganelli are all so good.

    (5)

  • Joy S.

    HA! I thought it was just me: the bartender(s) were such JERKS! Arrogant, obnoxious, and exactly the wrong people you want to have introduce a restaurant to new customers. The food was good, but the sampler "plates" of salami, cheese and lardo, were WAY overpriced. The worst thing was being seated, and then getting hit with hurricane-force winds down from their HVAC system. And no, it wasn't summer, it was 40 degrees outside. I would spend these $$$ at Boca, Via Vite, or Nicola's - for sure. Skip it.

    (2)

  • Elizabeth W.

    I love a restaurant that values quality over quantity and isn't afraid to stick to their culinary bones. Enoteca Emilia is just that kind of restaurant. It's a beautiful open space with a big wrap around bar that flows through both rooms. The bar is large enough that several people were eating their dinners there. We opted to wait about an hour for a table for four (at 6:30 on a Friday night) and the time went by pretty quickly, as we each started with a glass of wine. They offer two sized pours (a 6 oz and a 9oz) which is nice because sometimes you just want a little more wine. They bartenders were eager to help us find wines we would like from the unfamiliar Italian selections. They have multiple seating options, but mostly for smaller parties, including small tables and high bar tables. I think they have a larger space upstairs that may accommodate larger parties. I just read that they are accepting reservations, which is a huge plus in my book! The food was just plain good. Al dente pasta, just enough sauce, not overwhelmingly spiced. Just good good food. The portions are small but satisfying, and the only guy in our group couldn't even finish his boar lasagna. I had several appetizers, which were all divine. The stuffed figs were sweet and salty and fantastic. I can't wait to go back and try a Salumi and Formaggi platter, which passed us several times and induced much drooling on my part. Finished the meal with Affogato, which is hazelnut gelato and freshly made espresso. It was dessert and coffee in one delicious package. All in all, this is a welcome addition to the Cincinnati scene and I'm excited to see their innovative menu creations and enjoy many cozy meals here in the future.

    (4)

  • Lesley C.

    When I arrived for my 6:30 reservation yesterday, I was immediately asked why I wasn't there at 6. The man in the front even showed me his phone, that it was now 6:30. I told him I was certain my reservation was for 6:30. He said it was marked for 6, but was kind enough to give me the benefit of the doubt. However it was incredibly awkward for the first few moments of what was supposed to be a great night. Especially showing me the time on the phone. Just strange. So they sat me, I looked up my reservation on my phone, and it was indeed for 6:30 as I thought. I told the waiter. The waiter told the manager. The manager told me, as I was on my way out, that it was not written down correctly. But wow, they went about it in a really abrupt and strange manner. And it was their mistake all along.... The meal was fabulous, thus the 4 stars. Why not 5? Well, the impolite greeting I received for one, and the HORRIBLE "house salad" that I paid $5 for. Greens and dressing. Nothing more. It was laughable especially for a place that prides itself on such great food.

    (4)

  • Kathy M.

    I went to this restaurant to celebrate our wedding anniversary and I was really excited to be trying out this new neighborhood restaurant. It sounded so appealing! Unfortunately, I would only rate the entire experience as "okay...." (not necessarily A-Okay but okay). As another reviewer stated and I am stealing her description VERBATIM because the exact same thing occurred to us....."we were escorted to a high-top table in the bar -- all slick floors and uncomfortable seats (so slick and so uncomfortable, in fact, that one poor man actually lost his balance shifting in his seat and ended up on the floor when the chair slid.) I mean, the fact that this happened while WE were there AND this other reviewer, how many times has this happened that are NOT written about? Geez. My husband ran over to check on the man but the man and his wife were so embarrassed that they left immediately. The rest of the population in the small dining area was left uncomfortably averting their eyes to save them further awkwardness. No one from the restaurant came to their aid we noticed - it was like they went out of their way to not admit that it happened. But yes the seats were tiny and uncomfortable and the floors were slick and very precarious for my high heels that night. I saw other women slipping on the way to tables and grabbing on to their dates and the bar as they were seated. It was almost comical. Wear rubber-soled shoes if you go, for cripes sake! The food was okay. The cheesy bread was delicious and rich, but the remainder of the experience was again, just okay. I had the squid ink pasta, which was cooked well but it had an overwhelmy fishy flavor and the squid were a bit on the chewy side. The lamb lasagna had a odd texture and just seemed slightly "off" somehow. The server was not attentive and we had to flag her down a few times when we needed refills on water and to make our actual dinner order. I'm not sure if I will be in a great hurry to go back. It's disappointing because the restaurant is literally within walking distance of my home and that particular building can't seem to keep a decent restaurant in business. I was really pulling for Enoteca Emilia but unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. Too bad.

    (3)

  • Ann M.

    I had dinner here with friends and thought it was really good. I loved the old building and the intimate dining room. Many of the dishes are authentic Italian fare and hard to find anywhere else in the Cincinnati area. Best dishes; the mussels, the stuffed figs, the lamb skewers, and the shrimp and scallop skewers, and the killer ravioli. The wine list was excellent and we were all pleased with our wine choices. I loved my dessert of chocolate mascarpone Mousse and was amazed at my friend's olive oil and thyme cake. Our server was attentive, helpful and gracious. We will definitely return. I thought it was a little pricey but worth it.

    (4)

  • Christine M.

    The apparent idea behind Enoteca is decent- a cute, cozy, trendy place to hang, eat, and drink some wine, with friends or even family. I think there is a timeless and potentially special quality about the environment and the diners present were of mixed age and likely background (socially speaking) when I went. Enoteca felt comfortable, welcoming, and full of potential. That said, be warned that the portions are small, the prices are high, and if you're looking to fill up (with a few glasses of wine for a group of 3) you may have to spend upwards of $100. To me, that's too much. Too much to spend in a somewhat casual, relaxed atmosphere (i.e. there wasn't a sense that I was going to be so underwhelmed with the portion size and overwhelmed with our bill), too much for a hang out to really gain traction for me, and too much spent only to leave hungry and unsatisfied. I'd go back for some wine and a small appetizer after an evening out, or before going for dinner. Not for dinner. The quality of the food, especially at the price, was questionable. Notably, three of us got the meat and cheese platter to share ($20 for a choice of 5, I believe); one meat recommended by our waitress was so thin you could see through it, it was nearly impossible to pick up, and the six pieces stacked on TOP of each other, barely reached the height of a quarter. Then there was the bruscetta of the day. It sounded delicious. It was, however, incredibly disappointing at $8 for one slice of french bread with a bit of cheese, some broccoli, and a squeeze of lemon (more or less). ONE slice. We also ordered the shrimp, which while we were aware of the skewer size, were so salty that we could barely finish (between the three of us) the 4 oz size. And lastly, a friend ordered a pizza which was purported to be about 10 inches and sharable. If it were 6, that'd be stretching it. Shockingly, my side dish (farro at $5) was by far the most filling dish, if not a bit overdressed and greasy. Essentially, it was not what I expected, paid for, or would go back for...on multiple levels. In terms of service, I thought our waitress seemed knowledgeable, she was patient, she refilled our drinks, but I also felt mislead and a bit cheated by her descriptions. She certainly work for her tip, but it pained me to calculate that based off of food that was so overpriced. We ended up splitting the bill and then going out for more food. Overall it was just disappointing, but there seems to be some potential? Price and portion have come up a few times...I hope they are listening!

    (2)

  • Beth B.

    We had the best service, delicious appetizers, great wine, a great salad and main course. I am never disappointed in this restaurant. Try the stuffed figs wrapped in bacon. I will never share that appetizer again! I could have eaten all five of them. This is the first time we had a table upstairs---nice!

    (5)

  • Sneha D.

    This place is awesome. I went here with my husband for our anniversary. We started with the some antipasta and Whipped Ricotta. The artisan cheeses and meat were to die for and the Whipped Ricotta with anchovies was mouth watering. I got the ravioli with balsamic butter sause and it was decadent. My husband loved his short rib Lasanga. Will definetely have to back.

    (5)

  • Nick M.

    Wish I could write two separate reviews for this restaurant. I would say the food overall is very good to excellent, the pizza's are incrediable and will keep you coming back by themselves. The portion's are the perfect size, just enough food that you can have a few courses without needed your stomach pumped after the meal. On the other hand the service seems to be were the ball gets dropped, while polite they seem to be lacking on training specifically when it comes to menu knowledge. When dropping off our cheese and meat tray I doubt the server could have told us which was meat and which was cheese. Each time we have come in for dinner they have been out of at least one of the wines we tried to order. I would love to see the service level improve as the food quality deserves a more knowledge staff to present the dishes.

    (4)

  • Molly C.

    I adore this place... amazing food, fantastic wine list and super service. Have been there multiple times and it never disappoints. One time, we were asked if we could be moved to a different table to accommodate a disabled guest and the manager bought our bottle of wine and an appetizer. Literally can't say enough - the decor and ambience is also pretty exceptional for cincinnati.

    (5)

  • Joanne G.

    I know I'm fussier than most about Italian food as I come from a long line of wonderful Neapolitan home chefs. But Enoteca Emilia's food was mostly a disappointment. It looked great on the menu, but what appeared on the plate did not please the eye or the palate. The stuffed figs appetizer was overwhelmed by a red sauce of indeterminate origin. Wasn't sure if it was sun dried tomato or red pepper or a combination. Two of us ordered the cavatelli with sausage and kale. The broth was overly salty and the portion size skimpy for $17.00. I had a hard time finding the sausage which was crumbled into the dish. The black kale was kind of sparse, too. Worst of all, some of the pasta was a bit gummy. Something else I really cannot get over: the "bread" they brought to our table soon after seating us was inexplicably nothing close to Italian or European-style bread. They were sweet, puffy yeast rolls, more appropriate to breakfast. They served better, more traditional "crostini" with my friend's steamed mussels appetizer, so I asked for more of that for our table. The service and wine list were good. The bar patrons seated right next to our table were quite noisy, so the dining ambiance was less than ideal. I'd be willing to give this place another chance, but this experience was expensive and not at all satisfying.

    (2)

  • Angie M.

    This quaint Italian wine bar completely lived up to its name! Our group of 8 flooded the bar with questions, wine samplings, appetizer orders, etc. and the bartender handled it all with total grace. She was very knowledgeable about the food and wine! We ordered a variety of dishes, everything was a notch better than expected but... the garganelli!!! It was the most flavorful pasta dish I've ever had! Superb!! BTW, Dear Owner, calling people over to your table of guests and questioning our transportation, is not 'paying it forward!' ;)

    (5)

  • David C.

    Went on the opening night which may be a bit unfair. Firstly the concept is attractive. We really need places like this in Cincy, so one has to encourage! The ambiance is excellent. A bar with small tables in front overlooks a pleasant streetscape; larger tables with an open kitchen are in the back. The somewhat loud music is not too intrusive. Probably a good place to hang out. The all Italian wine list is large and fairly priced with quite a few wines by the glass. I could not see any wines from Emilia (not its forte) but there are many good selections from elsewhere. A couple of better Lambrusci for the salumi would add to the authenticity. The menu is not that ambitious, OK for an enoteca. Salumi, bar snacks, cheeses, salads, spiedini (stuff on skewers), pasta, pizza, roasted vegetables, desserts and coffee. All this depends on good execution, an open question at the moment. The two spiedini we tried missed. The shrimp were undercooked. The lamb was a bit raw with too much fennel or something and the potatoes undercooked. The pasta dishes were better. Pappardelle with a Bolognese ragú was good if a little over salted. The gnudi ( sort of cheesy gnocchi) were very good indeed. We did not try the pizza. More dishes from Emilia such as tortellini in brodo and tagliatelle or pappardelle with a better ragú (not ground meat) would help. Bologna - this is not quite! The peach and strawberry cobbler was excellent as was the espresso. Could not judge the service on the first night except that everyone was friendly and willing to please.

    (4)

  • Dougie Fresh M.

    My wife and i went in for a nice meal last Saturday night. We had stepped into E.E. to check it out the previous Sunday afternoon. There was a 45min.wait on Sunday .Hot spot we thought. Saturday night was no exception ,but it was some of the worst service we have ever experienced! We went for a glass of wine thinking we would have one at the bar and maybe split part of a bottle at our table. We didn't get to the table. The bartender was such a jerk that we decided to leave. If you wanted to order by the glass you were pretty much ignored . By the bottle he was all over you. (Is that the way it is supposed to be?) The pizza we had was FANTASTIC, but when we go to a restaurant we love to go the bar and talk to the bar staff. We like to talk to them and find out whats good on the menu. This guy didn't have time to talk to anyone except his coworkers. Well she was pretty cute. It's all about the customer people, and if you act like you like your job it makes for a much better experience for everyone!

    (3)

  • Jessica S.

    It's been a while since I last went to Enoteca Emilia and had a friend not encouraged me to write this review, I would not have. Last September I hosted a failry large birthday celebration for my husband at Enoteca Emilia. My husband and our most of our friends had been there before and I was looking forward to celebrating there. We brought in a party of 15-20 people. At the end of the meal, as everyone was cashing out, our server brought my bill back with what should have included my credit card. Well, the credit card was not there. To make a long stroy short, the rest of our party left after around 10 minutes to head to our next destination while my husband and I stayed behind for at least 30 minutes as they looked for the card. No luck. We were not offered any compensation for our meal, despite the fact that our combined bill exceeded $1000.00. No offfer of a gift card, NOTHING. The next day I called to inquire as to whether my card was found and the manager or owner not only did not apologize but accused me of "losing" my card there, when in fact the restaurant lost the card, not me. Again, no offer to make ammends, no apology, nothing. I followed up with one last attempt at an email with NO response. I had to spend the next day contacting my credit card company to cancel the account and we showed up late to our next destination that night as the rest of our party waited for us to arrive. Needless to say, as much as we enjoyed the food there, we have not been back and have no plans of ever going again due to the poor customer service. Our friends who were with us that night have not been back either. No matter how good the food may be, poor customer service certainly left a VERY bad taste in our mouths.

    (1)

  • Lee B.

    I was all hyped up for this place originally. It has such a great vibe to it, and I really enjoy O'Bryonville. I thought it would be great to have a nice restaurant/wine bar located close to the Hyde Park area. The first time I came, I ordered lamb and it was okay, but definately not worth the price. I don't even remember what I got the second time I came, but it was even less impressive. The house red was pretty bad, and U;m usually not that picky about red wine. If only the food and wine were better, or if the prices were, this would be a fun place to go. The atmosphere is awesome, if that's the only thing you're looking for.

    (2)

  • Val T.

    We ate here last night for the first time and were really impressed. Our server was extremely well-trained -- pointed out a beer that was on the menu but not in stock before we'd ordered it, which I really appreciate -- and didn't rush us. I had the Brodetto, which had a broth so good I only wish they'd given me a couple more croutons with which to soak it up, and the roasted cauliflower which I could have made a meal of. My only complaint is that all the hard surfaces make it noisy enough that conversation wasn't as easy as I'd like.

    (4)

  • Irish F.

    Visited early Sat. 2/11. Place was already lively but we took a spot in the bar. Everything in the restaurant centers around the bar which was serviced by only two employees, and it is not a large space. I'd call things on the pricey side which is ok by us if the food is a standout and the service is good. Some parts of the food were a standout, service was inadequate. Ordered Squid and Shrimp salad with fennel $14. Very little squid and 3 shrimp (30 count) that were sliced bilaterally. The fennel was the frond (bummer, I love fennel bulb in a salad). Very tasty but too skimpy for the price. Ordered Black Pepper Pappardelle with Bolognese $17. Good homemade pasta that only hinted black pepper, tasty, but again skimpy on the meat, perhaps a tablespoon of meat (this is bolognese remember). Husband had Pizza con Speck add anchovie $16. Quite good on a delicately thin crust but again, it must be about "hints" of because the meat (Speck is like pancetta) again was very sparse. Crust is so paper thin, it feeds one unless an appetizer. Everyone at the bar was having fun though and a lot of people there were going for a "hip splurge". We were giving each other hints on how to get someone to take your wine order at the bar. It is a wine bar, right? We were out by 7pm before the real crowd got there.

    (3)

  • Ben N.

    If you live in the Cincinnati area, you might sometimes feel like the dining trends that are sweeping the bigger cities are passing you by, unless you travel extensively and/or subscribe to the slick food and dining mags. Count me among those who feel like they're out of the loop too often. So I don't know whether the concept that Enoteca Emilia has latched onto is typical in New York or San Fran or whatever. Or whether it might even be traditional to Emilia-Romagna itself. (Despite having spent three summers in Italy as a kid, I was a bit too young to learn much about Italian food and consider myself an Italian-food dolt to this day. Growing up down south sure didn't help.) Anyway, the concept (or format) at Enoteca Emilia seems to be an Italian version of tapas, as others suggest here. And it is a great one. Went with my wife and visiting-from-out-of-town brother. We started with an antipasti (salumi/formaggi) plate, which I thought was terrific, although I'm no decent judge of this stuff. (Although I do agree with Amber A. that serving this stuff on a raised pizza pan is a dumb idea.) Two additional "small plates"--three deviled eggs (one of each topped with pesto, smoked trout, and breadcrumbs) and bacon-wrapped figs--were also big winners. We shared the caprese and asparagus salads, both of which were super-fresh and bright-tasting. I took a wrong turn with the pizza margherita. It was a resounding dud, with really subpar crust: virtually flavorless, with no distinctive texture and even mushy in the middle. The tomato sauce and mozzarella didn't even help very much. Yuck. The wife and brother had much better luck with pastas. Both the black pepper pappardelle (with a pretty subtle bolognese) and the bucatini (prosciutto, white wine, frisee, and black pepper) were pretty great, especially the latter. I like the decor and atmosphere--think high-end casual--which I think suits almost perfectly what Enoteca Emilia is trying to do. (It's in the former Balboa's location, and it's quite a transformation from that misbegotten place.) Don't agree with the reviewer below who says the crowd is "straight up Hyde Park," at least not on the Saturday night we were there. There weren't that many young people, period, that evening; as somebody who lives near Hyde Park, I was picking up on a Clifton-type demographic as well, a bit less staid and conservative than the HP average. Agree with others that the prices seem a little high, even with the quality of the food, given how casual the experience seems to be and that we are talking about some pretty small plates. I thought our server was pretty patient with us, and informative, as the three of us struggled with putting together a lineup of food for ourselves and ordering an appropriate bottle of wine. Despite the pizza, we came away thinking this is one of the better restaurants to open in the city in the last couple of years, and it's definitely filling a void both cuisine-wise and within the O'Bryonville area, which was previously a culinary Bermuda triangle.

    (4)

  • Jessica A.

    We went in for lunch and didn't want to go back to work. The atmosphere is amazing. The restaurant has a lot of character, they did an excellent job renovating the inside. I can see myself coming here with friends for wine and small plates or for a big dinner. Service was great. The staff was very friendly and attentive. I ordered the Pizza Bianco and my boss got the Lamb flatbread. Both were very good. My favorite part of our meal was the Deviled Eggs for a starter. The dish came with three eggs (all prepared differently) and was the perfect amount to split between the two of us! The wine list looks amazing. I will be back very soon!

    (5)

  • Parker P.

    FOLLOW-UP REVIEW. So, now that the hype has died down, I made another trip back. Armed with the knowledge gained on the first experience, (see it here: yelp.com/biz/enoteca-emi… ) here's how it went: PLUSES: The hostess was both on her toes, and welcoming beyond her job description. My dining companion and I ordered strategically, and both felt we walked away with a much better value than the first time. The pizza crust and toppings were actually even better than on the first visit, putting them in line with their peers this time, This still visually wonderful restaurant almost got bumped to a 5-star rating, until... MINUSES: Our attractive, kind, well-spoken, and friendly server was thoroughly unencumbered by any sense of urgency. Zero. She missed the opportunity to sell at least two more glasses of wine by virtue of her vanishing act after the manager served our meals. Perhaps it was because she only had a total of six people to wait on that she was in her lowest gear...who knows? While I can say that I've never been neglected by a more pleasant server, it was some pretty bold neglect. This was the one black mark that kept Enoteca from upgrading to a 5-star. SUMMARY: I still recommend this restaurant, and will quite likely return. By all means go, but watch out for prices that can sneak up you very quickly, and be prepared for one less-than-perfect aspect at each visit.

    (4)

  • Nicholas S.

    Before I get into the review, a caveat: this was the first weekend for Enoteca Emiia, and I fully-intend on revisiting the restaurant and this review in a couple months. I currently would rate our overall experience at 3.5 stars (choosing to round down so I can come back and make forward progress). --The restaurant-- Great location at the end of the main strip of O'Bryonville. The building is gorgeous and the interior is very well-done, with exposed brick, lots of natural light, and a unique bar anchoring the first floor. The atmosphere is nice and balanced, and would be perfect for a first-, or any, date. Those seeking intimate family Italian may be disappointed, though. --The food-- As alluded to above, Enoteca Emilia is more a modern take on Italian cuisine than an authentic, family-style Italian restaurant. The menu is structured to share appetizers, not entrees. If you're a bit skeptical, I encourage you to head down and try it. There are no sacrifices on substance in favor of style... I think there was a very clear vision that was very well-executed for EE. --The lowlights-- As I said before, EE is a very new place. And with that come certain growing pains that I fully expect the place to grow out of. The most glaring instance of that portrayed itself in the staff-- I won't dwell on it, but general disorganization sums it up. Also, I had a Buscatini entree that I would not recommend. --The highlights-- 2 appetizers and 1 of our entrees were pulled off marvelously: a bruschetta of the day, the stuffed figs, and the white pizza (combination of corn, truffle oil, fried egg on top was positively mind-blowing!). We also had a nice Syrah by the glass that I would certainly order again. The EE menu is also priced right. --Conclusion-- EE fills a gap that I, personally, had for the Cincinnati area, which is for great Italian outside of downtown. With the kinks worked out, I think EE will be a favorite date night spot for us for a long time.

    (3)

  • Sarah L.

    Had high hopes for Enoteca Emilia, but was pretty let down by the food and not impressed by the atmosphere. The decor overall is OK, but with a number of details, they clearly cut corners. The bathroom is one example--it seems they tried to appear hand-crafted with the paint, but it looks cheap and sloppy. Also very strange not to have a mirror in the bathroom. The crowd is straight up Hyde Park, where even the young people seem old. And yet it got really loud, which doesn't bother me in a trendy urban spot, but in an Italian restaurant, it didn't fit the vibe. The wine was fine. In fact, their pinot noir by the glass was quite good. I enjoyed their bruschetta of the day, which featured an asparagus pesto. I thought it was earthy and light. I was excited about the prospect of the Grilled Squid and Shrimp Salad, but the execution was gross. Advertised as grilled, I expected charred, flavorful seafood, probably served hot. On the contrary, it was slimy, cold, and totally devoid of flavor. The vinaigrette was also lackluster. I left food on the plate--a rare occurrence. And we had to ask for bread, which turned out to be average, but with pretty good olive oil and balsamic. Seems like bread (excellent bread) should be standard at an Italian joint. Summary: I'd return for wine, olives, and perhaps try meatballs or cheesy bread, which can be easier to execute.

    (2)

  • Matthew R.

    I've been looking forward to trying Enoteca Emilia for dinner. The space looked beautiful and is in a great location close to our apartment. The space is cool and really well decorated, interesting layout and great lighting. Service was good, although when the restaurant got busy they forgot to bring out one of our salads. We started the meal with bacon wrapped dates and whipped ricotta + bruchetta. Delicious appetizers! The spicy red sauce on the dates was fantastic, especially when combined with the bruchetta. I wanted to try more of their cured meats & cheeses, but alas, only so much my belly can fit. We got an order of cheese bread between appetizers and entrees. It was topped with a generous amount of super stringy & delicious melted cheese, but too garlic buttery for me. Entrees were less impressive. Salads and skewers were voted 'just ok' by the table, beet salad got the highest marks. Squash ravioli was considered too sweet by most at the table. Boar lasagna was cheese / breadcrumb / herb heavy and rather dry. I was expecting more sauce! Finally, the pizza got good marks. Dessert was disappointing - chocolate mousse was firm with a very gritty granulated sugar whipped into it, and the fried ricotta was like a poorly executed ball of funnel cake dough. All up, I'd say this restaurant specializes in small plates and appetizers more than they do entrees & desserts. That's somewhat unimpressive, given the prices. With wine, appetizer, and entree, you'll spend 30+ bucks pp. Easy to go higher. Stick to small plates & pizzas, and I think you'll get the best of the bunch. I'll be going back to try a bit more appetizer variety, especially the cured meats & cheeses. If those rock my rating might improve a star.

    (3)

  • Samia M.

    Always on the hunt for new restaurants in cincy, a friend and I hit up this Italian establishment. For a Sunday night at 7:45 pm, there were plenty of patrons but the place was not full, so we were seated immediately. My friend and I split the pizza bianco and the garganelle. The pizza bianco was delicious - flavorful with a light, crispy crust and the corn topping was crunchy and sweet. The garganelle was less impressive. Not only was it in need of more flavor, but it wasn't even cooked fully! Al dente is one thing, but straight up hard is another. It was still edible, but definitely a lowlight of the meal. In addition, the pasta dish was not nearly as large as what a typical Italian restaurant would serve. After half a pizza and half the pasta dish, I was not very full. My friend and I decided to try dessert but each wanted different things; she the tiramisu and I the ricotta fritters. The logical solution was to order both. That was probably a mistake since neither of us could finish what we ordered. The ricotta fritters essentially were richer donuts that came with an orange marmalade and a dark chocolate dipping sauce. I did not like the orange marmalade at all! I actually removed it from my plate so I didn't have to look at it haha. The chocolate sauce was divine however and I asked for more because without it the fritters were boring. I think this place has the potential to be a great spot in Cincinnati. The pizza was really good and next time I will be trying a different pasta dish that is hopefully more interesting (and cooked).

    (3)

  • Paul K.

    It's definitely good stuff. I love it's location and decor inside. It's spacious and trendy. Also I can see that they try to make somewhat Europe-like atmosphere. The food is also very good. I haven't tried a lot of them although I really want to dive into their appetizers. Pasta and ravioli taste great with details they put on. The pizza.. I don't know about that. Maybe it's something I didn't expect, but I wasn't impressed about their pizza. Of course it wasn't bad at all. Their service is great, very friednly and helpful. I don't have much to complaint about this place and will come back frequently. There is one, though - the price or portion. I thought the portion is too small. I admit that I always put quality over quantity, but to me the portion was too small. Maybe because my party and I like to share the foods and taste different dishes. We ended up taking a bite of each or so... It's just a little complaint from a big eater I guess. But overall, I see this place can be great!

    (4)

  • Aaron H.

    Its OK, kinda pricey for what you get, and the 1/2 price bottle of wine is deceiving... only if you sit at the bar. The caprese salad was solid, but the caesar salad was weak. The lettuce was brown. The garganelli was very good, lasagna was OK, but the corn pizza wasn't the best... the truffle was just too overwhelming.

    (3)

  • Kristie S.

    We started with the Pane Formaggio "cheesy bread." This was by far the highlight of my meal. Bread, cheese, garlic - my favorites. I was trying to decide between a pizza and a pasta. Our server told us the pasta dishes were large. That sold me on the eggplant ravioli because I planned to save half for lunch the next day. When the ravioli came out there were only 4 raviolis on the plate. It appears the waiter and I have different definitions of large. I rarely finish my meal at a restaurant, but I had no problem finishing my ravioli. I wish I would have gone with the pizza.

    (3)

  • Jennifer B.

    LOVED the food, very hip. pizza blanca, mussels, and everything else melts in your nmouth. Service was also very good. love the option for the glass and half of wine. It was very hot on the second floor.

    (4)

  • Julianna R.

    Cute on the inside. Pretty good service. Extensive wine menu. Food was absolutely delicious, unique and perfect portion sizes-on the smaller side, but satisfying (I like leaving the table feeling like I could eat more). Tried the fennel, potato and arugula side dish with lemon dressing (with was light and tasty), mussels (great sauce with unique taste), chicken spiedini (again, delicious sauce), and chocolate mascarpone mousse, which left me literally licking the plate clean, it was so good... and I'm not a big dessert lover! Overall, great place and I'll definitely be back again.

    (4)

  • Sarah R.

    Yum. SO DELICIOUS. My husband and I are starting to go here more often now that the buzz has died down a tiny bit and you can actually get a reservation less than 5 days in advance. :) Things we love: 1. The cheese & meats platters. Perfect portions, well priced. 2. The small plates, including the bacon-wrapped dates. 3. The wine choices. 4. The service - the servers are very friendly, helpful and on the ball. 5. The atmosphere. Casual enough for nice jeans, fancy enough for a special night out. 6. The food in general. Just very delicious! The Thing That We Don't Love 1. Only taking reservations for a few tables. I'm 31, I don't wait 2 hours for a table anymore. (Yes, this causes problems for me downtown, A TAVOLA I'M LOOKING AT YOU) Last week, we called at 6, asked if they had any last minute reservations for the next 15-30 minutes or so, and they said, "No, but we aren't too busy, so you could just walk-in and hope we have a table available." We decided to stop by because we were realllly wanting some bacon wrapped dates!, and what do we know... lots of available tables. So why didn't they just give us a reservation when we called? To me, that isn't the attitude of a restaurant that WANTS their customers to come in. I love everything else about Enoteca Emilia so much that I have a hard time reconciling that. (That's the reason for the star knocked off) I guess I should just be thankful that Enoteca Emilia is NOT downtown and so probably HAS to at least take a few reservations a night.

    (4)

  • Kim B.

    This is a great bistro style Italian restaurant. The atmosphere was so relaxed and inviting, it really had the feel of Italy; no rush, great food, great time with friends. It has so many options. You could go in for a nice glass of wine; wine and cheese&meats; wine and small plates; wine and pizza; or wine with entrees and/or all the above. I went with my husband and another couple, so we each ordered a little of each to share. The wine selection is amazing, and the servers or bartenders will steer you in the right direction. The cheese and meats are so fun, because you have the option to mix and match. We had Prosciutto di Parma, Duck Prosciutto, and Calabrese which was a chili spiked salame. We let the server pick appropriate cheeses to accompany the meats we chose, and it was all like stepping back in Italy. The meatball sliders, stuffed peppers, and lamb skewers were a great selection of small plates. Our friends had a pizza, which they insisted we try at least a bite of; phenomenal, the crust was perfect. The hand rolled pasta was amazing, no matter the shape or accompanying ingredients. We had no room for dessert, we opted for a second bottle of wine instead. It felt so much like Italy, we didn't want to leave, but we will be sure to return.

    (5)

  • Kel A.

    My husband and I have made this our date night go-to. Everything I've had here is phenomenal! The pizza's are great, the cheese platters offer a wide variety, the pasta is not overcooked or over-sauced. They frequently change their menu, which would normally upset me since I'll order the same dish again and again. However, even with the menu changes, I always find something I love the same amount or more than the visit before. The atmosphere is relaxing and laid-back. Great place to sip wine and have casual conversation. This is one of my favorite Cincinnati restaurants.

    (5)

  • Jane F.

    Went here this weekend and was highly satisfied with everything. Server was attentive and professional. Ordered house wine (which was actually quite tasty), grilled pear salad, and split 2 entrees - the trofie pasta and the mushroom ravioli. Ravioli was the best I've ever tasted. Can't believe I live so close by but haven't been here yet. I will be back soon to order that ravioli.

    (5)

  • Jennifer D.

    Went here tonight for a Cincinnati Habitat YP event. Great pick, guys. Everything I tried was awesome. The Garganelli is AH-MAZE-ING! AHHH! It has truffle in it, so of course I loved it. That amazing, rich flavor and the pasta was perfectly cooked. It was so. So. good. In fact, I was kinda mad when the server started to take it away. I almost stabbed her a little with my fork, because I was trying to get at a last minute noodle. The Black pepper Pappardelle is also great, reminiscent of a bolognese. It was really delicious. The noodles are a bit weird, but the great taste made up for that. Beet & arugula salad was crazy delicious. Enjoyed the charred asparagus as well. Basically, this is fancy and what I might assume to be authentic italian, had I ever been to Italy, which I haven't. They can even turn water into wine. (Bit of an inside joke, the bartender played a mean trick on our server who came out with a carafe of water instead of the house white which my friend ordered.) We all had a good laugh at that, however, if it had been a stuffier crowd (which I imagine this place probably draws fairly frequently...) it might not have gone over so well. Pretty pricy but you boys should think about taking a lady here on a first date. She will think you're a baller and also very hip for even knowing what this place IS. :) The atmosphere is really nice, and I think I'd have stolen one of the light fixtures at our table if I hadn't downsized my purse. Kidding. Stealing is bad. Know what's not bad though? THIS PLACE!

    (4)

  • Lauren D.

    If first impressions were everything, I would've scored Enoteca Emilia a lot lower. We we escorted to a high-top table in the bar -- all slick floors and uncomfortable seats. (So slick and so uncomfortable, in fact, that one poor man actually lost his balance shifting in his seat and ended up on the floor when the chair slid across the floor.) Enoteca Emilia has a decent wine list, stocked with unique varietals. I tried the Montepulciano at the server's suggestion -- it was good, but definitely NOT as full-bodied as the zinfandel the server compared it to. Thankfully, the dinner improved from there! We started with an appetizer, Pane e Formaggio, aka cheesy bread. It was served as a whole loaf, warm, sliced into single pieces, generously smothered with gooey, flavorful cheese, spices and olive oil. But YOWZA! The cheese was so plentiful it was almost overwhelming. Dinner included a mushroom ravioli and bucatini with white wine sauce. Both were DIVINE -- smooth, buttery, well-seasoned. The only thing I'll say: it's all SUPER RICH. I ate half of my entree and then called it quits. Why the restaurant added parmigiano reggiano to a ravioli dish that already contained a lot of cheese is beyond me... but it was just too much. With a couple of tweaks -- to server training (i.e. knowing how to recommend wines), a lighter touch on the cheese and some more comfortable (and sturdy!) furniture -- this could definitely be the trendy neighborhood hotspot it seems poised to become.

    (3)

  • Bea D.

    We arrived early on the weekend for dinner because we were informed it would become crowded. At 5:30 we were able to walk in and not be put on a waiting list. As time passed it did become very crowded and very loud. We were sitting on the first floor in the bar area. We began with the figs as an appetizer. I was told these are popular, but I however did not care for them. Rubbery bacon wrapped around a fig and smothered in tomato sauce did not cause me to look forward for what was next. I had the shrimp and scallop skewer. It was ok. Nothing bad, but yet nothing great. However, I did very much enjoy the cauliflower and brussel sprouts. There was a fair amount of oil in the vegetables, so undoubtedly that helped with flavor. The brussel sprouts were a bit too sweet with the balsamic glaze. As for wine, they do offer a 6 oz and a 9 oz pour, which I found refreshing. The house red was quite good. As we began our meal, the crowds started closing in upon us. It was difficult to carry on a conversation. I loved the simple and rustic/model decor, but I don't think it damped any sound. All in all, it was on ok experience. If I do go back, I will be trying a pasta.

    (3)

  • Kathy M.

    I went to this restaurant to celebrate our wedding anniversary and I was really excited to be trying out this new neighborhood restaurant. It sounded so appealing! Unfortunately, I would only rate the entire experience as "okay...." (not necessarily A-Okay but okay). As another reviewer stated and I am stealing her description VERBATIM because the exact same thing occurred to us....."we were escorted to a high-top table in the bar -- all slick floors and uncomfortable seats (so slick and so uncomfortable, in fact, that one poor man actually lost his balance shifting in his seat and ended up on the floor when the chair slid.) I mean, the fact that this happened while WE were there AND this other reviewer, how many times has this happened that are NOT written about? Geez. My husband ran over to check on the man but the man and his wife were so embarrassed that they left immediately. The rest of the population in the small dining area was left uncomfortably averting their eyes to save them further awkwardness. No one from the restaurant came to their aid we noticed - it was like they went out of their way to not admit that it happened. But yes the seats were tiny and uncomfortable and the floors were slick and very precarious for my high heels that night. I saw other women slipping on the way to tables and grabbing on to their dates and the bar as they were seated. It was almost comical. Wear rubber-soled shoes if you go, for cripes sake! The food was okay. The cheesy bread was delicious and rich, but the remainder of the experience was again, just okay. I had the squid ink pasta, which was cooked well but it had an overwhelmy fishy flavor and the squid were a bit on the chewy side. The lamb lasagna had a odd texture and just seemed slightly "off" somehow. The server was not attentive and we had to flag her down a few times when we needed refills on water and to make our actual dinner order. I'm not sure if I will be in a great hurry to go back. It's disappointing because the restaurant is literally within walking distance of my home and that particular building can't seem to keep a decent restaurant in business. I was really pulling for Enoteca Emilia but unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. Too bad.

    (3)

  • Ann M.

    I had dinner here with friends and thought it was really good. I loved the old building and the intimate dining room. Many of the dishes are authentic Italian fare and hard to find anywhere else in the Cincinnati area. Best dishes; the mussels, the stuffed figs, the lamb skewers, and the shrimp and scallop skewers, and the killer ravioli. The wine list was excellent and we were all pleased with our wine choices. I loved my dessert of chocolate mascarpone Mousse and was amazed at my friend's olive oil and thyme cake. Our server was attentive, helpful and gracious. We will definitely return. I thought it was a little pricey but worth it.

    (4)

  • Sneha D.

    This place is awesome. I went here with my husband for our anniversary. We started with the some antipasta and Whipped Ricotta. The artisan cheeses and meat were to die for and the Whipped Ricotta with anchovies was mouth watering. I got the ravioli with balsamic butter sause and it was decadent. My husband loved his short rib Lasanga. Will definetely have to back.

    (5)

  • Nick M.

    Wish I could write two separate reviews for this restaurant. I would say the food overall is very good to excellent, the pizza's are incrediable and will keep you coming back by themselves. The portion's are the perfect size, just enough food that you can have a few courses without needed your stomach pumped after the meal. On the other hand the service seems to be were the ball gets dropped, while polite they seem to be lacking on training specifically when it comes to menu knowledge. When dropping off our cheese and meat tray I doubt the server could have told us which was meat and which was cheese. Each time we have come in for dinner they have been out of at least one of the wines we tried to order. I would love to see the service level improve as the food quality deserves a more knowledge staff to present the dishes.

    (4)

  • Molly C.

    I adore this place... amazing food, fantastic wine list and super service. Have been there multiple times and it never disappoints. One time, we were asked if we could be moved to a different table to accommodate a disabled guest and the manager bought our bottle of wine and an appetizer. Literally can't say enough - the decor and ambience is also pretty exceptional for cincinnati.

    (5)

  • Kevin B.

    We had dinner at Enotecca Emilia last night. Overall a decent experience - nothing too great, no major flaws. They do have a great wine list with mostly Italian offerings. We had 2 appetizers; the polenta balls and the mussels. The polenta balls are a deepfried polenta stuffed with cheese and prosciutto in a tomato sauce. The were fine, the sauce was good, there was a dearth of prosciutto. The mussels were in a nice saffron broth but did not have the spicy tomato as the menu desribed. They were just fine - nothing special. (If I ever have a craving for mussels I would go to The Senate). We also had 2 pasta entrees; a very rich duck liver ravioli and the bucatini. I actually preferred the ravioli. As for the bucatini, the pasta was cooked perfectly and the guanciale was nice but there was about a 1/4 cup of oil left in the bowl after finishing the dish - just a little bit too much oil if you ask me. Service was fine - although we never did receive the bread we requested. I also thought is was sort of odd that the placemat was also the menu and they don't provide a cocktail menu unless you ask for it. They did do a nice job with their renovations (although there was visible water damage above our table in the bar area). I also think they did a great job with noise control - although the tables in the bar area are close together, we didn't feel like we could hear other conversatoins. Also note that In the bar area, the tables along the windows have chairs with backs - the other tables in the bar area have stools with no backs which was not tremendously comfortable. Overall Enoteca Emilia is A-Ok, and a nice place for the O'Bryonville neighborhood. I don't think I would go back for a meal, but with the nice wine list I would return to share a salumi plate or maybe a pizza.

    (3)

  • Mark O.

    Stopped ay Enoteca Emilia on a Wednesday night, an experience that will be repeated. Enoteca is a new venue in located in the old Balboa's in O'Bryonville, near Roncker's Running Spot and Bon Bonerie, two of my area faves. It caught my attention in Cincy magazine's top pizza list (I think they are #3). I arrived around 7p and quickly found a place at the bar. The bartender was very helpful and knowledgeable. Enoteca, I learned, is the Italian term for wine bar and Emilia is the grand daughter of one of the owners. She went on to describe the partnership which opened Enoteca (Fall 2011) as a local restauranteur and former chef from Boca - good enough for me! I was tempted with an order of Grissini, which is basically a serving of 10-12 thin, crispy breadsticks with a strong, but pleasant cheesy flavor. It wasn't my favorite, but it did go well with the craft beer that I ordered. I was feeling a little risky and tried a pizza with vegetables (usually a faux pas for this beer and wings guy) called the pizza bianco, which is a combination of garlic, ricotta, fontina, caluiflower, parmagiano, and truffle oil. Truffle oil is one of those ingredients that just makes everything better, but I asked the bartender to go half/half on the cauliflower just in case. Less than 10 minutes later, my pie was ready. Thin, crisp crust which seemed to come from a wood fire oven. The ingredients worked well together, but it confirmed my bias against veggie pizzas - just not for me. As for the ambience, think urban cool meets classy chic. Maybe that was redundant as I'm admittedly not a copy writer. The floors are battered hardwood, the walls exposed brick, and a fireplace has a charming, rustic old world look. Modern light fixtures cast a low glow on the interior and pleasant, upbeat music played through speakers in the corners. Chicks would dig this place. I think. Back to the menu, there were four or five other things that looked incredibly edible on the menu, including pan e formaggio (cheesy bread), skewers of lamb or shrimp and combination plates of salumi (cured meat) and formaggi (cheese). It was also pleasant to see that pasta is only a small portion of the menu, much like the restaurants my friends and I hit up during a trip to Rome, Torino and Florence. Delizioso!

    (4)

  • SD L.

    Pretty good little restaurant in O'Bryonville. The wine list was very good, lots of options at price points. We were upstairs in the balcony area which made it a little quieter than it seemed downstairs. Food was quite good. One friend wasn't that hungry and just had the meatball sliders from the bar menu, and they were very good. I had the butternut squash ravioli which was well prepared. I thought there was a little too much cinnamon but I usually do. The other person had the bucatini with guanciale and loved kit. Desserts were good - I had the ricotta fritters which came with dark chocolate sauce (YUM) and blood orange marmalata. I liked that the sauces were in cups on the side so each person could create their own combination. One person had the affugato, which was hazelnut gelato with espresso over it. Oh my. I will get that next time.

    (3)

  • Sam Z.

    Ok so I was bordering on a 3 or 4 here but opted for a 4 with some reservations. Here is the open and honest review. Arrived with no reservation on a Sat. evening around 7. There was about an hour wait so we opted for the first 2 seats at the bar and ate there. We don't mind that so it was fine and we got a chance to mingle a bit. Stuffed figs: amazing. Slightly salty with the cured meat wrap and sweet and spicy on the inside. Red sauce not over loaded with spices which is the way it should be. This one is a winner. There were 5 wrapped figs which was nice for the price and we split the appetizer. 2 glasses of red house wine. For 5 bucks a pop it was worth it. A notch above your typical table wine but very good for the price. The entrees: My wife had the cavatelli with sausage. I would doubt these cavatelli were homemade. The sausage was good and the olive oil mix was very tasty. The pasta was not great and texture and taste screamed dried pasta. The bigger issue is the portion size. Very small for the price. My wide does not have a big appetite and she walked away still hungry. I had the pappardelle bolognese. A truly superb dish. The pasta tasted homemade...light and al dente. The bolognese was perfect with some chunks of meat. I really liked this dish a lot. Again, the issue is the portion size. Very small for the price. After entrees we decided not to order any more food. We were actually contemplating ordering a pizza as we were still hungry but opted to leave and get some yogurt. Their dessert menu did not do it for us. We were happy when we saw the menu online and noticed the pasta dishes in the 17-20 dollar range. A little less than some of the other decent restaurants in this area. The difference...the other places are about double the portion size. They really need to look at their price value equation because the food is good. They don't even give you bread. They charge for that as well. EE...if you read your customer reviews you should see that there are numerous calling out portion size. I could see if these were listed as tapas for maybe 5 bucks cheaper. I guess since you are doing well from the looks of the crowd on a Sat. night you will ignore this post. But, if you care about customer satisfaction, word of mouth and value for your guests you will take this to heart. 4 for food. 3 for value. Go when you can afford another course. Other places you will walk out full with 2 courses. Here you will need 3.

    (4)

  • Kevin K.

    Went for a late dinner with my wife and boss--we needed reservations and that's what was available--but it was definitely worth the wait. We tried a lot of different things and enjoyed everything. The presentation was gorgeous, but paled in comparison to the flavor of the food. Very enjoyable.

    (5)

  • Sarah B.

    As a vegetarian, I don't really get fine dining, because most of it isn't geared toward me. Oh, your steak dinner cost $100 a plate? That's... great for you. I'll take a decent $8 veggie burger, thanks. Now I get it. That being said, Enoteca doesn't have a ton of veg options, but what they do have is amazing - including the best four-cheese pizza I've ever had. Seriously, it was just a cheese pizza and yet it was bursting with flavor and perfectly cooked. (The July 2012 issue of Cincinnati magazine has the recipe, BTW!) We also had a stuffed pepper appetizer that was SO good - there was corn and cream involved, which may not sound that great on paper, but you really have to try it. One of my dining companions had a pizza topped with fresh arugula; I didn't try it because there was meat on it, but I could smell the peppery arugula from across the table. Yum. And my boyfriend's truffle pasta dish was awesome as well. Prices are moderate; entrees are $10-20, appetizers are around $6-9, and portions are small so you'll probably want to get both. Booze prices are decent, though - I think my Yuengling was $4, which is pretty average for Cincinnati. Can't wait to go back and experience that pizza again. Yum.

    (5)

  • Andrea J.

    This place has potential, but I don't think I would go back. First, the air quality was awful. We were seated upstairs and the smoke was so thick you could see it. We asked the server if we could move and he said it was just as bad downstairs. He did offer to open the side door and that helped. Service was spotty. As our server explained the menu, he tried to manage a runny nose, and I was afraid he was going to sneeze all over us. He was not readily available and everything took a long time to arrive. We started with the bacon wrapped figs, which were lovely, except they were covered with a cold tomato sauce, which really made no sense. We also tried the whipped ricotta with bruschetta which was truly delicious. Lots of good anchovy flavor. We each had a salad and all three were very good. My friends had the caesar which was lightly dressed and lemony, and the beet salad, also very good. I had the kale and white bean salad with figs and it was the best thing I had all evening. Highly recommended. We also tried three different pastas. The lasagna was non-traditional, with a celery root bechamel, delicious. I had a black truffle and mushroom pasta, which was also very good. My favorite was my friend's trofie, with roasted pistachio and arugula pesto. LIght, flavorful and inventive! We did not order dessert because our server was noticeably absent for a long period and by the time he came back, we were over it. Again, lots of potential, but not a place I would revisit, given all the other Italian restaurants in the area.

    (3)

  • Joy S.

    HA! I thought it was just me: the bartender(s) were such JERKS! Arrogant, obnoxious, and exactly the wrong people you want to have introduce a restaurant to new customers. The food was good, but the sampler "plates" of salami, cheese and lardo, were WAY overpriced. The worst thing was being seated, and then getting hit with hurricane-force winds down from their HVAC system. And no, it wasn't summer, it was 40 degrees outside. I would spend these $$$ at Boca, Via Vite, or Nicola's - for sure. Skip it.

    (2)

  • David C.

    Went on the opening night which may be a bit unfair. Firstly the concept is attractive. We really need places like this in Cincy, so one has to encourage! The ambiance is excellent. A bar with small tables in front overlooks a pleasant streetscape; larger tables with an open kitchen are in the back. The somewhat loud music is not too intrusive. Probably a good place to hang out. The all Italian wine list is large and fairly priced with quite a few wines by the glass. I could not see any wines from Emilia (not its forte) but there are many good selections from elsewhere. A couple of better Lambrusci for the salumi would add to the authenticity. The menu is not that ambitious, OK for an enoteca. Salumi, bar snacks, cheeses, salads, spiedini (stuff on skewers), pasta, pizza, roasted vegetables, desserts and coffee. All this depends on good execution, an open question at the moment. The two spiedini we tried missed. The shrimp were undercooked. The lamb was a bit raw with too much fennel or something and the potatoes undercooked. The pasta dishes were better. Pappardelle with a Bolognese ragú was good if a little over salted. The gnudi ( sort of cheesy gnocchi) were very good indeed. We did not try the pizza. More dishes from Emilia such as tortellini in brodo and tagliatelle or pappardelle with a better ragú (not ground meat) would help. Bologna - this is not quite! The peach and strawberry cobbler was excellent as was the espresso. Could not judge the service on the first night except that everyone was friendly and willing to please.

    (4)

  • Dougie Fresh M.

    My wife and i went in for a nice meal last Saturday night. We had stepped into E.E. to check it out the previous Sunday afternoon. There was a 45min.wait on Sunday .Hot spot we thought. Saturday night was no exception ,but it was some of the worst service we have ever experienced! We went for a glass of wine thinking we would have one at the bar and maybe split part of a bottle at our table. We didn't get to the table. The bartender was such a jerk that we decided to leave. If you wanted to order by the glass you were pretty much ignored . By the bottle he was all over you. (Is that the way it is supposed to be?) The pizza we had was FANTASTIC, but when we go to a restaurant we love to go the bar and talk to the bar staff. We like to talk to them and find out whats good on the menu. This guy didn't have time to talk to anyone except his coworkers. Well she was pretty cute. It's all about the customer people, and if you act like you like your job it makes for a much better experience for everyone!

    (3)

  • Irish F.

    Visited early Sat. 2/11. Place was already lively but we took a spot in the bar. Everything in the restaurant centers around the bar which was serviced by only two employees, and it is not a large space. I'd call things on the pricey side which is ok by us if the food is a standout and the service is good. Some parts of the food were a standout, service was inadequate. Ordered Squid and Shrimp salad with fennel $14. Very little squid and 3 shrimp (30 count) that were sliced bilaterally. The fennel was the frond (bummer, I love fennel bulb in a salad). Very tasty but too skimpy for the price. Ordered Black Pepper Pappardelle with Bolognese $17. Good homemade pasta that only hinted black pepper, tasty, but again skimpy on the meat, perhaps a tablespoon of meat (this is bolognese remember). Husband had Pizza con Speck add anchovie $16. Quite good on a delicately thin crust but again, it must be about "hints" of because the meat (Speck is like pancetta) again was very sparse. Crust is so paper thin, it feeds one unless an appetizer. Everyone at the bar was having fun though and a lot of people there were going for a "hip splurge". We were giving each other hints on how to get someone to take your wine order at the bar. It is a wine bar, right? We were out by 7pm before the real crowd got there.

    (3)

  • Angie M.

    This quaint Italian wine bar completely lived up to its name! Our group of 8 flooded the bar with questions, wine samplings, appetizer orders, etc. and the bartender handled it all with total grace. She was very knowledgeable about the food and wine! We ordered a variety of dishes, everything was a notch better than expected but... the garganelli!!! It was the most flavorful pasta dish I've ever had! Superb!! BTW, Dear Owner, calling people over to your table of guests and questioning our transportation, is not 'paying it forward!' ;)

    (5)

  • Mark R.

    Upon getting there I dropped off the ladies at the door as it was raining. My friend and I found a space right around the corner. Checked in only to find the ladies were ushered upstairs to a very remote empty area. First of all you should never take the ladies without their spouses. Secondly, then put them in a upstairs corner without anyone around them. The whole downstairs was completely empty. Very very rude!! Regarding the meal itself. Ordered apps; veal meatballs were really tasty!! The creamed polenta really made this app. Also had the Brussels sprouts and the ricotta. Sprouts were good, the ricotta was good and very different, in a good way. Move to the main course: I had the clams and pasta; very good however the clams were way over done and were very chewy. My wife order the margarita pizza which was very good. My friend order the lasagna which was actually burnt. He did eat it so I must not have been to bad, or he was really hungry. I would have sent it back. Overall I was very disappointed after everything I've heard and read about the place.

    (2)

  • Joseph P.

    Absolutely Fantastic!!!!! You should definately go.

    (5)

  • Alexandra G.

    Love this restaurant! Amazing food and incredible wine selection. I love bringing people there for a great atmosphere and delicious food. If you haven't been there yet you're missing out.

    (5)

  • Caitlin R.

    I went here for my birthday this year. When I made the reservation over the phone I ordered a meat and cheese platter to be on the table when we arrived. It was not on the table and the server had no knowledge of me ever ordering it. Regardless he got one out to us quickly and he picked the meats and cheeses himself. They were delicious and he did a great job describing each of the varieties he chose. He seemed a little less knowledgeable when taking wine orders and presenting the bottles. Cocktails came slowly from the bar, but beer and wine arrived quickly. There were 10 of us total, so we probably ordered at least half the menu. I was in love with the balsamic roasted brussel sprouts. I also got the quatro fromaggio flatbread, which had roasted cauliflowers and truffle oil on it. It was delicious and something it would be hard for me to not order again the next time I dined there. Overall, the food and wine were great. The service from the host desk was lacking (poor phone etiquette, my requests were not followed through with, no communication to the serving staff, no recognition that we were celebrating). Our server was very polite and efficient considering we were a 10 top on a Friday night. I would definitely go back again, but maybe not if I was celebrating a special event.

    (4)

  • Morgan C.

    The food and ambiance were my two favorite things about this place. The hostess seemed a little irritated that we didn't have a reservation and wanted to sit outside, even though there were plenty of tables open, but once we got past her we really enjoyed ourselves. A little pricier with drinks and an appetizer but well worth the money.

    (4)

  • Dustin M.

    My wife and I went here after work a few weeks ago for wine and a quick dinner. The waiter was really friendly and we ordered the charcuterie plate, gazpacho and bolognese. I was a huge fan of the gazpacho and both my wife and I were blown away by the bolognese. We consider Nicolas to be the benchmark for good bolognese and I think that Enoteca's was as good or possibly better. Definitely worth the trip.

    (5)

  • Karen D.

    Stopped by Enoteca Emilia on Friday night after another event. We were seated in the bar area right away. In looking over the menu wanted something quick so we ordered salad, pizza and wine. The three of us shared and everything was okay, nothing special to write home about. Service was also okay, I think our server was bummed there were three of us and we decided to share our meal, but it was after 9pm and we weren't that hungry just wanted a quick bite to tide us over. One of my friends in the group felt it would be good for a date and purchased a gift card to come back with her boyfriend.

    (3)

  • Donald B.

    We did a drop in. There were a good deal of obvious empty tables, but we were told there was a 1.5 hr wait. We've dined here several times and their food is acceptable, but not worth waiting 1.5 hr. Also we've been through the routine many times of the establishments that want to build your bar bill. Mt. Lookout has a very good alternative that deserves customer support for fine dining without the bar scene, and that's where we went and were graciously welcomed. "Bar-builders" need to balance out their plots with lost business. After we've forgotten this experience we may be back in a year.

    (1)

  • Cindy G.

    Holy heavens on the highest - GEM! Let me start by saying Enoteca Emilia does not get the recognition that it deserves. It is entirely underrated and forgotten about in the little neighborhood of O'Bryonville. ATMOSPHERE: Contemporary, rustic, classic - all rolled into one. To whomever decorated this space, I may be in love with you. Separated into three spaces: the bar, the dining room, and the upstairs/private dining room each space has its own feel. The bar seemed trendier with a few large group tables, some high tops & of course the sleek & sexy bar. The dining room seemed much more farm house-esque but still maintaining that contemporary feel. I actually preferred the bar area, which is where we ended up. FOOD: (Menu: enotecaemilia.com/Images… ) To start we had the Mussels which were Wild Rhode Island mussels, saffron, spicy tomato, basil & chives for $14. The broth was a nice change of pace from the usual white wine & garlic. The saffron was fragrant and flavorful. It was served with big warm chunks of bread to soak of the broth which was magnificent. Moving on the the main there was an obvious choice glaring at us from the menu -- The Gargenelli. Gargenelli pasta made with mushrooms, fresh oregano, black truffle, parmesan for $16. We also ordered the Pane Formaggio "CHEESY BREAD" garlic-butter, fontina & red sauce for $8. The pasta, ohhhh the pasta! It was cooked al dente with a nice bite to it. The sauce was delicate and perfectly seasoned. The truffle notes sang in my mouth like a choral hymn. My gawwwd this dish was celestial, but how can it not be with black truffle, pasta & cheese? The cheesy bread was the perfect campion for the little bit of truffle sauce left on the plate. It was also served with a house made marinara which was a nice touch. SERVICE: Everything seemed to match up. The atmosphere, the food, the drinks it was all wonderful, but the service was a little off. I'm not sure if the bartender just had a weird personality or bad attitude or what but right from the start it was a little uneasy. Since the restaurant was booked for the night we had to sit at the bar (which I usually love) but looking back I wished we would have sat at a table to get the full experience, service, and knowledge we desired. UNIQUE OFFERINGS: - Take reservations: enotecaemilia.com/reserv… - Tables are reserved for walk-ins every night & you are also welcome to sit at the bar - Have a beautiful private event space - 1/2 price bottles of wine on Monday nights OVERALL: Great Italian made modern while keeping the integrity of the food and that romantic charm we all expect. Perfect for a date night. I cannot wait to come back!

    (4)

  • Lizbeth M.

    Talk about charm and tasty dishes... This place has it all! As soon as you walk in the atmosphere is romantic and intimate, but still has a unique wit , relaxed and casual all at the same time. The restaurant is decorated to perfection! The hostess walked us promptly to our table and an evening of pure #foodporn started... They have an amazing wine selection and really good appetizers. We order the stuff figs... a spoonful of sweet and smoky savory and at the end a bit of spiciness, needless to say I'll be having those again. The history continues with the main course... I ordered the special which was a boneless pork chop with polenta and kale with grilled onions. It was delicious! The pork chops were tender and juicy and the polenta was spectacular, it came with a cherry reduction sauce that complimented the meat very well. At this point who could forget dessert? We ordered the chocolate bread pudding...OMG it had candied hazelnuts and it came warm... Definitely the cherry on top of an amazing meal! Will be coming back!!!

    (5)

  • Erin H.

    If you are like me and look at this place as you drive by day after day and never stop- think again! I have been seeing this place for years but never thought to eat there. I went with my family on Saturday night and it is amazing! The place has a modern feel and we were seated promptly at a comfortable table. My one complaint about this place was our waiter. He seemed to have a few too many tables which was not his fault and he did his best to be prompt. However, I'm not sure if he was having a bad night or if he was just not that friendly. He wasn't overly welcoming or responsive to our questions, but he wasn't enough to ruin a good experience. We ordered a few pizzas and multiple pasta dishes and everything was AMAZING. I highly recommend the pasta- everything is freshly made, piping hot and delicious. We also had the break pudding for dessert which was great. The food here rivals other great Italian places in the city such as Bella Luna and Via Vite. We had no issues getting seated around 6pm and we will be returning when the next craving for Italian hits.

    (4)

  • AJ D.

    Definitely not the place to hold a bridal shower or event of any kind. They took our reservation, and told us they would be in touch a week prior to the event. After they were not in touch with us a week prior, we made several phone calls and left messages for them to return over the following days leading up to the shower so it could be set up, with no response. They wouldn't return our phone calls and we had to set up an emergency shower somewhere else. This may be a fine choice for a meal out, but they are extremely deficient in the event hosting agenda. DO NOT put your special event in their hands if you care about the outcome.

    (1)

  • S W.

    Here with a large group, we had a semi private room. Very nice place for a group. The appetizers were great, many plates to choose from. I ordered the garganelli, which was new to me. The dish was excellent. We shared vegetables, o enjoyed a cauliflower side. The service was very good.

    (4)

  • Tessa X.

    I'm glad I finally got to try Enoteca Emilia in O'bryonville. While it's not my favorite choice for fine dining, I must say they have some really good food. I met someone for dinner here on a Monday night - she chose this spot because her husband had given rave reviews. We shared a bottle of red wine from the 1/2 price wine list (Mondays only). She knows a lot about wine and wasn't super impressed with the one we ordered, but I don't know anything so I was happy! We ordered the mussels, stuffed figs, and duck liver pate for apps. I remember all of them tasted good, but I was in love with the pate especially. It comes with a layer of fat on top which we mostly scraped off. The decadent flavor and creamy texture was incredible served with the sweet red onion marmellata and warm bread. I would come back just for the pate. For entrees, I got the black pepper pappardelle and she chose the buccatini alla vongole dish. Black pepper is like my favorite spice and I didn't think my sauce was that peppery. And I even added fresh ground black pepper! So it was more like a normal bolognese sauce in my opinion. The buccatini was a clam pasta dish - I tried a little bit and it was yummy. The long noodles are actually hollow which I thought was cool. We were too stuffed to order dessert and I took some of my pappardelle home with me (it was really filling). Our server was generally friendly, but a little awkward perhaps. He probably gave us water refills a few more times than he needed to. We were having a serious conversation about a heavy topic and it was a little annoying to be interrupted every time he stopped by to top off our glasses. It definitely didn't ruin our evening, I just like when a server is totally charming and puts you at ease! But other than that he did his job well.

    (4)

  • Katherine M.

    They have done a wonderful job with this place. My friend and I came in for a girl's night and sat at the bar. The place is comfortable, busy, but friendly. The staff is sweet and welcoming. It's a warm interior that you can stay at for awhile - which we did, nearly 3 hours, while enjoying some delicious, incredibly well priced wines. Their wine selection is wonderful and perfectly priced for a trendy, cute restaurant like this. We were on a cheese and bread kick. We started with the pane formaggio - a lovely cheese stuffed bread with red sauce on the side. It was to die for. Then we went for the quatro formaggio with roasted cauliflower pizza. Yum! The cheese was delicious, the pizza crisp with a nice olive oil garlic sauce that kept it from being dry, and the cauliflower amazing. Each bite was heaven. We ended with the chocolate bread pudding which was a perfect dessert for splitting. IT was topped with a salted toffee that really made it the deliciousness it was.

    (5)

  • David H.

    Enoteca is tops on our list not only for Italian but for any style of cuisine. Ok, so it doesn't hurt that we're walking distance away, but that's not why we love it. We've yet to have anything off of the Enoteca menu that isn't good. Their cold cuts and cheeses are amazing. Their pastas are great . . . the Garganelli is amazing, forget what it's called. Their osso bucco is equally fantastic. Again, no complaints anywhere on the menu. The ambiance is very nice. The exposed brick walls and rafters lend a very warm feel to the place. The bar is small but very cool. Nice place to finish off an evening with a cocktail and people watch.

    (5)

  • Mike S.

    This spot is a great Italian alternative to downtown/OTR and the crowds and ridiculous 3 hour wait times you run into there, or to staying in the suburbs. There is a downstairs and an upstairs dining area, and tables set off the main bar. Downstairs space is really nice, and has lots of energy when the tables are full. Upstairs I find to be isolated quiet if that's your thing or it's appropriate for the occasion. The bar area is bright, high energy, and a great space for a casual meal with a friend or significant other. The food is always served hot, and most items are delicioso. The veal sausage pizza and the pastas all rock. Desserts are nice though I take issue with anything other than vanilla gelato or ice cream in an affogato. They need to fix that very bad dessert faux pas. You don't mess with certain traditional dishes. A real star here is he wine list. It is small but the price points are excellent.

    (4)

  • Ben D.

    Hadn't eaten here in a while, and scored a last minute reservation before a show. Server was friendly but a little awkward. Table was cozy and out of the way; nice ambiance. We started with a charcuterie plate with two cured meats, a cheese, and breadsticks and olives. It was a great plate and the meats and cheeses were excellent. Abby liked the olives, but we agreed that next time we'd skip the breadsticks and olives (and extra $5) in favor of getting a selection of 5 meats/cheeses. The piece of cheese we got was tiny, but tasty. We split a veal sausage pizza that had garlic, mozarella, ricotta, pecorino, basil, light marinara, and fennel pollen. It was amazing! This was one of the best pizzas we've had in a while. The balance of ingredients was perfect, and the flavors were rich and amazing. We also split a quarto of "Vajra Langhe Rosso '11", which was perfect! It's a delicious expression of the Nebbiolo grape from northern Italy. Food was outstanding, service was above average, wine was great, ambiance was good. We'll definitely hit this place up again!

    (4)

  • Emily S.

    One word: Phenomenal. I'd been meaning to try this place, seeing as I pass it all the time. Finally we found a special occasion and made a point to hit up this little gem in the middle of O'Bryanville. It's got a kind of rustic feel with dark wood tables, and white walls to liven it up. It felt not small, but intimate, though we had plenty of space for the four of us. Our server was very sweet, Caitlin was her name, she was all smiles and was very helpful in repeating the menu suggestions multiple times (some of my family members refuse to listen.. :P ). We decided because it was a family meal to go ahead and do family style. We ordered the "set of 3" meats/cheeses, which was a perfect way to whet the appetite for the 4 of us. We shared their arugula and beet salad, which was quite light and refreshing. It's a small-medium sized salad that I had a couple of bites of, which was honestly just enough for me. Eating a full salad would have been a bit much, so be sure to split this one. Together we ordered two pizzas (sausage, and quattro formaggi, added arugula) and a white lasagna. The pizzas were good, definitely worth trying, but the showstopper was the lasagna. I want to go back and just order that dish! I'm not a fan of traditional lasagna so I was intrigued by the the white, short-rib alternative. Boy was I not disappointed. The meat is flavorful and melts in your mouth, the cheese pairs perfectly and even the pasta noodles compliment the dish well. This is no sloppy, greasy creation, this is a divine slice of heaven. All in all, it was actually a bit cheaper than I was expecting, for all of the apps and dishes (not including drinks, our friends bought those) it ended up being $75 for the 4 of us, and we were stuffed with leftovers to spare. Definitely a worthwhile trip, but you might want it to be a special occasion. Try it "family style" the first time around! It was great to sample a bunch of different dishes and really know what we'd want for next time around :)

    (4)

  • Annalisa M.

    I like this restaurant. The atmosphere is nice, the seating is nice. We sat by the fireplace and it is a very good spot. The food is good and it is freshly prepared. So it is real, a real restaurant, not one of those impersonal, anonymous, fake franchising restaurants where the food is just average. Here at Enoteca Emilia the food is delicious (I had garganelli with pine nuts, spinach, mushroom and truffle oil) the ambience is informal and nice and the service is good. The wine list is good, too. Just a bit overpriced but that's like in any restaurant here in America. they will see us again and again and again....

    (5)

  • Jennifer B.

    I have always loved this restaurant! I made reservations for for a few friends and I to have dinner to celebrate the holidays - it's a yearly tradition! This time...things went bad....really bad. The waitress we had was a complete b*tch. She was super rude. After finishing a bottle of wine and a few apps, we tried to order another bottle. The one we wanted was sold out and when I asked if she recommended another bottle she said "you have the menu, lady". Typically the waitress will recommend another bottle or offer a pricier bottle for the price of the one that was not available. I told her I would review the menu and when she came back we just asked for our check. She said "seriously - you just want the check?" Even though food has sort of gone down hill, I still really enjoyed this restaurant. But after experiencing this I won't be back. We left and went to Red Feather in Oakley - best decision ever!

    (1)

  • Brandon H.

    I've eaten here a number of times over the last year or so. The first few times, I was really impressed by the appetizers and cocktails, but sorta 'meh' on the entrees. I ate here tonight with my wife and in-laws and the kitchen has become a complete mess. The appetizers: -Charcuterie is still nice, but the menu hasn't changed a bit in a year. Still, it's solid. -Caesar salad. Oof. I love anchovies, but the dressing tonight went WAY too far. There's no way on God's green earth that the prep cook followed the recipe on this batch. It tasted like licking a salt brick that had been soaking in week-old fish guts. Just terrible. -Duck liver pate. The pate was delicious. The bread, however, was a different story. They served it with nearly an entire loaf. I suspect this is because half of the bread they brought out was burnt to a crisp. Instead of just chucking it in the garbage, they just made a new batch of bread and brought both out on the plate. Someone should smack whoever made that call. The entrees: -Swordfish (mother-in-law): seemed ok. She liked it. -Lasagna. My wife ordered this, took one bite and swapped me. I've had it before. I like short rib, but it's totally one-note. It would have just been un-memorable had they not left it for way too long under the salamander and burnt the hell out of the top. It's dry to start with and the char didn't help. -Papardelle. Dear lord, if you're going to run an italian restaurant, then you need to learn to cook pasta correctly. This was a gummy, messy sludge. Literally, when it hit the table, I tried to stir it up a bit and it was just one giant brick of stuck-together pasta sludge. The sauce was okay, I suppose, but the dish was just a complete disaster. The service: Damn, that dude was awkward. I don't know if he has a speech impediment, social anxiety or is just an odd bird, but he's chosen the wrong profession. Just. Really. Awkward. We live in the area, and this was definitely our last trip. Good luck, Enoteca.

    (2)

  • Alex M.

    My wife and I were very excited to try Enoteca Emilia for the first time. We arrived last night around 5:50 PM and were immediately seated. Our server was well spoken and knew the menu like the back of his hand. The barman made a killer Old Fashioned. Also, the whipped ricotta appetizer was fantastic! Why only 3 of 5 stars? When paying in excess of $100 for a meal (and drinks), I would typically expect to be impressed by my experience. Although it had a very nice presentation and was cooked well, the Grilled Pasture Raised Chicken dish (which was recommend by the our server) held less flavor than a rotisserie chicken from Kroger. I would compare the entire dish to a simliar foavor of air-popped popcorn. It was served with rappini (essentially tough/chewy broccoli) that also had zero flavor, as well as, some tangy (and equally mushy) green apples which didn't seem to fit the plate. I was less than amused and mentioned it to the server - to which I recieved no response. On the other side of the table, my wife sincerely enjoyed her Garganelli pasta. Would I recommend Enoteca Emilia? Do you have a $75-$100 burning a hole in your pocket and want to get away with a significant other for a romantic evening? Then yes, I would recommend going. Although, if its food you're after, The Precinct or Eddie Merlot's still have my vote.

    (3)

  • Kaitlyn H.

    My boyfriend drove by here a couple of times and thought it would be a good place to try out. One evening we went and it was hustling and bustling. We didn't mind waiting and grabbing a drink at the bar, but three drinks later we still hadn't been seated. Others had come in and were seated before us and we couldn't figure it out... Eventually we were seated and the server was great, as was the food. We tried some of the parpadelle (one of my favorites) and it was delicious. We also tried the pizza, another hit. With a side of Brussels sprouts our meal was complete. My night was made even better knowing they had good espresso! My favorite way to end a delicious meal! Other than the poor service upfront the evening was delightful!

    (3)

  • Clinton H.

    Went here last night for the first time. I sat at the bar and had a great experience. Scot was our bartender and he was awesome. Friendly, genuine, knowledgable about the product he's selling and passionate. The food was on point. The duck liver pate and meatballs were so so good. You can't put a price on having great people on your staff. They found one. Thanks Scot!!

    (5)

  • Alissa S.

    My husband and I have just returned from my birthday dinner at Enoteca Emilia. I've always wanted to come here, intrigued by their exterior and great logo and from further first impressions upon viewing their menu online. The interior did not disappoint and we had a great vantage point from an upstairs table. We started with two quartini of wine, prosciutto rosso, calabrese salame and Nufenen cheese. The cheeseboard came with deliciously salted and oiled bread, a jam and sage honey. The honey was incredible and I may have even resorted to licking it off the spoon. Afterwards we shared the Black Pepper Papparedelle which came coated in a delicious Bolognese. I could have personally eaten two bowls of it, I loved it that much, but just the one + the meat, cheese and bread was enough for us. Even though we tried a limited selection of items from their menu, the entire meal was great. It fulfilled our desire for simple, delicious and pretty authentic Italian food. I'll definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Taylor B.

    Enoteca Emilia is one of my favorite restaurants in Cincinnati. Every time I have been, we have had excellent service and friendly, helpful waiters. The food is absolutely divine. My sister and I love the bacon wrapped figs! Everything is fresh and the location is great. The building and decor is elegant but casual and as is the atmosphere inside. Luckily I just moved to obryonville so now I am walking distance to Enoteca Emilia. I'm looking forward to frequent visits for some great, fresh food!

    (5)

  • Chris H.

    Why do I keep thinking it will be better? I've been lured in a few times by the small plates format and good location - but it always disappoints. The food is underwhelming, but probably deserves 3 stars - but the service takes it down. Somehow the service is a combination of awkward and unwelcoming with a side of forgetfulness. On multiple occasions, the staff has made me feel bad for asking a question about their mistakes (like forgetting to bring items to the table) and then failed to correct it, only to seem annoyed when it comes up later. Sorry that I don't like paying for food you forgot to bring to the table...but it probably wouldn't have been that good anyways.

    (1)

  • Kari W.

    I'm not sure if I love this restaurant because it's the only one I can walk to, or if I just love it. I tend to think I just love it. I'm simple, give me good pizza and pasta and I'm happy! Love the wood fired pizzas that change with the season but are a insistently excellent. Pappardelle bolognese is my favorite pasta. Not a fan of mushrooms, but my husband loves the mushroom pasta. This is not a great place for kids; there really aren't cheap, kids menu type items but I'm sure kids would be welcome. I'm so happy that this wonderful, old building finally has a steward worthy of its character. The previous restaurants in this space just didn't do it justice. The owners are now expanding into the "eat well" space next door. Look forward to what comes next from this group!

    (5)

  • Rachel G.

    Mmm yum! First off I LOVE the venue. The atmosphere fits the decoration and layout of the restaurant. Romantic, intimate, but can be a casual gathering, but not stuffy feel. One thing I was disappointed about was that they were out of the Veal Osso Bucco. Dang! Oh well, I got to show up earlier next time. Instead we ordered Trouvie and added Prosciutto Rosso to it, and also the Quattro Formaggi and added Prosciutto di Parma. We also ordered an appetizer, but I couldn't tell you what it was called for the life of me. It was the special that day. It reminded me of a pate but with pulled pork texture. Probably not the most appetizing description, but it was awesome. Note that the plates are probably smaller then what most people expect. I love the size you receive. Definitely one of the most authentic Italian places I've visited so far in Cincinnati. We initially came on Italia Week where Italian restaurants had a 3 course meal deal. When I asked for it they said they already ended it, even though the deal said till Sunday and it was Sat. Guess it was up to the restaurant. Will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • John B.

    Pricey Italian that is good but not o-mazing. Service was great. Scarlet is an awesome server and was quick with the food, refills and some witty interjections. I had the Lasagna ($18) and it was rather unique in appearance and flavor. I enjoyed it but didn't love it, so take that however you want. I think EE is one of those places that is just a little too fancy for me and would possibly be the perfect place if I was on a date or just wanted a special occasion meal with some foodie friends.

    (3)

  • Rich Z.

    Great pizza! Perfect for a large group which we had. The "Wine Room" upstairs is really cool. Service was awesome and would go back for sure. Overall it was a great experience.

    (4)

  • E C.

    Fantastic place for dinner, drinks and especially events! Compliments on the ease of making a large party reservation, for an Engagement Dinner, and helping the event go off without a hitch! The manager, Emily, was available for any questions and/or concerns leading up to the event and helped create a seamless and unforgettable evening. Both Tara and Monica were exquisite waitresses during our event. We had a large party of 18 and both the Bride and Groom were both impressed by the service and the ease of the evening. Everyone in our party was grateful for the service by these two wonderful employees during the dinner and several guests mentioned that they are looking forward to returning. Gratitude once again to the manager Emily, the staff Tara and Monica and also Margaret, the owner, for hiring great staff!

    (5)

  • Kristan H.

    Clean, classy, step-up-from-casual-but-not-yet-stuffy atmosphere. The host and waitress were both friendly and attentive. The menu *looked* good, but honestly, nothing we ordered wow-ed us. Now, we didn't get any of the things the waitress recommended, so that might be part of the problem. (Not that we didn't trust her; we just weren't in the mood for the pizzas or sandwiches.) So, food and reactions... - cheese & charcuterie plate: fine but not amazing - butternut squash soup: very good (my fave part of the meal) - bacon-wrapped, stuffed figs: good - creamy polenta: bland and very grits-like in texture (versus the smooth, cheesy polenta I was expecting) We left feeling underwhelmed, especially for the price. That said, because we've heard such good things about EE from other people, and because we didn't try any of the recommended dishes, we *would* come back for another try.

    (3)

  • Red P.

    Don't you love finding a great new spot for dinner and drinks? Seriously, service and style have really gone away and I long for the days where going out was an occasion, worthy of the effort, both for the diner and the staff. I'm embarrassed to say I thought Enoteca Emilia had only been open around 6 months or so, but my bartender informed me they have been there two years. Wow....Red Pearl is slipping! Regardless, glad I finally made my way there and I will certainly go back, again and again. I absolutely loved it. I started the holiday weened and vacation with a movie (Saving Mr. Banks- recommend it) and I was ready for some wine. I had pulled this spot up and wondered why I hadn't been there. O'bryanville is not too far (although I prefer walkable spots) but it was worth it. There was a lot across the street which was great but it was $4.00. When I walked in there were two bars, definitely my kind of place. I chose the second and was greated right away by a bartender that was knowledgeable and fun to be around so I know I'm sticking around regardless. That's half the battle, if you can get good service everything else usually falls into place. The wine was delicious and so was the food. I enjoyed the ravioli with ricotta, oregano, mushrooms and black truffle. I added a side dish of roasted cauliflower with anchovy and lemon. I love cauliflower but wasn't sure about the anchovy. Obviously the chef knows better than me and I devoured it. Can't wait to go back and try something else. Care to join me? Until next time, Bon Appetit Red Pearl

    (4)

  • Lewis W.

    Only been to this modern Italian restaurant once, but I'll be back next time I'm in town (assuming I'm still financially solvent). As the name suggests, this place boasts a large selection of mostly Italian wines. The two I tried were fine if not totally memorable (in fact, I can't remember the names). I showed up late and only had a few appetizers: $9 stuffed figs (covered in red sauce and deliciously smoky thanks to nduja and prosciutto), $7 deviled eggs (three halves, each topped with something different: crispy prosciutto, arugula pesto and smoked fish) and $5 olives with breadsticks (very small portion of so-so mixed olives and thin, crispy breadsticks). Prices seemed on the high side, especially for Cincinnati, but the figs were pretty fantastic. If they offered half-price appetizers during happy hour, it would be a no-brainer. Service was great (I ate at the bar) and the surroundings were pleasant. Next time I'm feeling flush and hungry, I'll try the Florentine-style New York strip steak, which comes in at a hefty $29 but sounds delicious.

    (4)

  • Val T.

    We ate here last night for the first time and were really impressed. Our server was extremely well-trained -- pointed out a beer that was on the menu but not in stock before we'd ordered it, which I really appreciate -- and didn't rush us. I had the Brodetto, which had a broth so good I only wish they'd given me a couple more croutons with which to soak it up, and the roasted cauliflower which I could have made a meal of. My only complaint is that all the hard surfaces make it noisy enough that conversation wasn't as easy as I'd like.

    (4)

  • J M.

    Ate there for a second time tonight with my wife. Love their cured meats and cheeses to start. Ended with a pizza and 2 skewers of shrimp and scallops. The pizza was a bit burnt, but otherwise good. The shrimp were a little tough/overcooked, but the scallops were some of the best I've ever eaten. Our server was great tonight, a perfect blend of attentive without being cloying, and very informed about the menu. With 2 glasses of wine and 2 beers, we spent just under a hundred with the tip. The only bummer was the employee at the door when we left (manager/maitre'd?). When we arrived, he was sitting at the bar, right near the door (no greeting), but waved a server from the second level to seat us - during our dinner, he didn't speak with any of the diners - and when we left, we walked right past him, but he was on his cell phone and never looked up or spoke to us! I called from my car and spoke to him to express my displeasure - a simple good night is Restaurant 101, right? He apologized, but it was a bad ending to an otherwise good experience. He should not be in the restaurant business.

    (3)

  • Erica L.

    Wonderful food once it finally arrived. Very very slow service. The brussel sprouts were scrumptious.

    (2)

  • Mike M.

    i only had drinks and some chz and bread. it was good. i have to admit, visiting ANY place in this seemingly DOOMED lcoation gives me the heeby jeebies. :) but, i shall be back. good service, great price, nice ambience. just try and forget the brickyard and the 8,000 other places this has been!

    (3)

  • Katie U.

    Let me preface this by saying my friends and I went here with empty stomachs and a desire to try a new restaurant. There were a lot of groups / couples that clearly went intending to spend the evening there - sipping wine and nibbling on some food. It seems like a good place for that crowd. Why we didn't like it: - Wait: We ended up being there for nearly 3 hours! We waited for almost an hour and a half (after being told the wait would be 45 minutes). And then everything took a long time once we sat down - ordering, waiting for the wine and appetizer, waiting for our meal... - Selection: Pretty much pasta and pizza. An extreme lack of vegetables, particularly green: the only option was brussel sprouts which they were out of. A lack of meat entrees - aside from skewers of chicken, the only other meat was cured pork as an appetizer with cheese or pizza topping. They had no soup - which is what I was hoping to get. And don't say it's because it's an Italian restaurant - I've been to Italy and gotten great meat and vegetable entrees. - Price: SO overpriced. Small portions. Nothing included - no sides, and no free bread or anything when you get there. I got $15 ravioli which came with probably 5 raviolis (no meat - basically squash with butter sauce over it). It was good but not amazing. The one exception: the $5 cheesy bread appetizer was fabulous. - Service: With those ridiculous prices, you'd expect amazing service. But we didn't experience that. Several staff members seemed to be texting more than working. The hostess didn't update us on tables even though we were the only ones in the small waiting area and we'd waited much longer than she told us. When a table finally opened up, it remained unbussed until someone in our group said we'd like to sit down - even at a dirty table - just to get off our feet. When our waitress came, we said we'd been waiting for so long and were so hungry and she made no attempt to hurry - we had to track her down several times to order, to ask where our appetizer was (it was at least 15 minutes)... And no apology from anyone. I will not be going back.

    (1)

  • Allison K.

    Excellent small plate restaurant great for a special occasion. It is on the pricier side but the delicious flavors and interesting pairings are worth it.

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    Started the holiday weekend before hitting a couple of parties, and a great way to ease into the weekend. My wife doesn't drink and eats relatively light. She had the creamy polenta with just the right amount of cheese, with braised cauliflower seasoned with anchovies and cream, with a hint of herbs. The mussels were a bit small with the right seasoning and sauce, with crostini. Good cocktails, solid house wines...put it on your list!

    (4)

  • k f.

    I really enjoyed my meal here last night! I took my dad and step-mom from out of town. They love Italy so they were pleased with the authentic, fresh and interesting flavors. Great wine and great food that is reasonably priced for how fresh it is. The best flavors were the Heirloom Tomato soup (cold soup with watermelon and basil) and grilled peach and fennel salad. The peach cobbler was pretty good for desert as well. We went on a Monday evening and it was pretty hoppin'.

    (5)

  • Heather C.

    Enoteca Emilia is always where I bring out of town guests who are skeptics about good food in Cincy. The pizzas are crispy and delicious. The bar snacks / starters are delicious. The pastas are always interesting and unique. We love chatting it up with the servers who are passionate about what they do -- knowledgeable about the wine, enamored with the seasonal specials, and just interesting people. Minus one star for the menu being sneaky expensive and it always being freezing in the restaurant. I do wish the wine list had better/more info, besides just names/prices -- given how interesting and off-the-beaten path the wines are, with a little more background, I'd enjoy ordering/drinking even more.

    (4)

  • Roth M.

    When most people think about going out for an Italian meal, they think, Spaghetti, Meatballs, Lasagna, Veal Marsala, etc. You will not find that here. Instead, they are more the type of aged and cured meats and artisan cheeses. Having gone there with my parents, we all thought that the menu was needlessly complicated. It wasn't that there was a huge variety, but the descriptions were overly sophisticated (we had forgotten our food dictionary at home). For example, three of the meats on the menu were Speck, Guanciale, and Nduja. This is fine, and maybe I'm not high-brow enough, but when you have to ask your server about pretty much every item on the menu to understand what you'd be getting, you end up feeling foolish/stupid/unsophisticated = negative. I got the Margherita Pizza with Buffalo Mozzarella. It was pretty good, but not life changing. Both my parents got the Butternut Squash(I believe) Ravioli. I was given one to sample, and I honestly have no idea how my dad finished his plate. It was soooo rich and sweet. I really thought it was inedible. It was almost like if you were given 6 heaping spoonfuls of peanut butter and asked to eat them all in one sitting. Possible, but difficult, due to richness and flavor constancy. It really needed something to break up that richness, like something sour. I guess everything is a la carte, so we could have ordered a salad to break it up, or possibly our server could have informed us of this?!? I don't know, the place is OK, and now that I know what I'm getting myself into, I'm not saying I wouldn't go back. I just might bring my Foodie Handbook to make sense of the menu, and order more variety. I ended up giving half my pizza to my parents because I felt bad that they'd both ordered the super-rich Ravioli.

    (3)

  • Yvonne H.

    I've been here 3 times and each meal was just ok and drastically overpriced. Dishes to try: black pepper pappardelle, and cheesy bread. Dishes to avoid: bucatini (imagine pasta floating in a bowl full of grease- literally!) I will, however, commend this place on its gluten free pasta options, which were cooked perfectly al dente, and the quartino wine servings. At this point I'd only come back if there were happy hour food and drink specials.

    (3)

  • Doug S.

    We came for the wine tasting and stayed for dinner. What a pleasure to find a great little gem like this. Service has been great on every visit. and the food is excellent. Each visit we want to try new things but the Black pepper parpradell Bolegnase is too good to pass up.

    (5)

  • Jeff J.

    Whipped ricotta and good wine. Short rib lasagna. I mean cmon. Service was excellent. Ambiance is very nice. You have to stop by. Great date spot. Turns out the do a great rehearsal dinner too.

    (5)

  • Alyssa F.

    The food was great. Wine was ok- my dinner partner ordered a Sauvignon Blanc and I ordered a Chardonnay and there was very little difference in the flavors. In my opinion, if they are only going to have one of each type of wine by the glass, they should be pretty different, or at least have an oaked Chard option... Restaurant was LOUD. Very loud. We were seated in the bar at a high top and it wasn't the most comfortable seating/table arrangement, but we were near the wall of wines so that was something fun to look at during the evening. There is an upstairs that might be a little quieter/more intimate. We got there around 7 on a Thursday, and by the time we left, around 8:30, the bar was 2-3 people deep. It seems to be a good place to get a glass of wine after work if you are an attractive 30-40 year old woman. Preferably blonde. We had the bruschetta of the day, and it was very very amazing. White bean puree with kale and crispy pork and cheese, but I forget what kind. Dinner partner had a shrimp and scallop skewer. He said everything was really fresh. I had a pasta dish with mushroom and truffle and oregano that was good, not great. We also tried a side of farro salad with mint, beets and ricotta I think. It was really good and a really decent portion for a "side." Overall, I'd like to go back again, and maybe try one of the pizzas. I know it sounds like I had a lot of complaints, but it was a date night and the noise level really threw everything off, I think.

    (4)

  • Caroline C.

    The atmosphere is just perfect. Gorgeous building and oh my goodness, loved the wall paper. The menu is simple and restrained. Try some bar snacks or go for a full meal. The ricotta fritters were moist, soft and delicious (reminiscent of a funnel cake, but like, actually really good) and the peach & strawberry cobbler (more like a crisp) was ridiculously good. The wine list is all Italy. This is the first time I can remember being at a restaurant and making reservations while I was still there. It's just that great of an environment.

    (5)

  • Clare V.

    I just went there with a medium-sized group (6 people) and was blown away. I had previously been about a year ago and didn't remember anything special, but this latest trip was quite incredible. First, the waitress we had was fantastic - gave great advice on wine, apps, and main dishes. With the group we had, we were able to share all of the dishes, which made it more of a tapas feel. I think my favorites were the figs for an app, the lamb bacon pizza, and the roasted cauliflower as a side. Quite the meal and experience!

    (5)

  • Joey Z.

    Have been here twice and both times were great experiences. Great place to go if you want to sip on wine and try a bunch of small plates... stuffed figs, deviled eggs, and meatball sliders were all excellent. Pizza was cooked perfectly! Had the Quattro Formaggi with truffle oil... so good! Pastas are good, but portion sizes are okay considering price. Gnocchi and ravioli are definitely among the best that I have had. If you are a lasagna fan, be aware that their's is not traditional.. lots of flavor but baked in a very shallow dish. Finally, service couldn't have been better! Very knowledgable and attentive! Will be back to this place soon!

    (5)

  • Marie E.

    More like a 3.5 but I like to round up when places are new. (Hey Yelp, half stars would be awesome!) Great Space Nice atmosphere- felt relaxing and would be a nice romantic place for a date. They put in benches which made for much more appropriately placed seating. Close but not so close you feel you are dining with your neighbor. Loud enough you didn't hear everyone's conversation. The put a lot of effort into the appearance of the restaurant and it shows. Good food: loved the olives, meats and cheeses, lasagna, and Buscatini. Their pasta was cooked perfectly (More of a rarity than it should be) and the sauce was just the right amount of tomato without tasting like Chef Boyardee like so many other Italian restaurants. Price wasn't bad: $85 per couple for 5/$20 meats and cheeses, a bottle of wine, two other appetizers, an entree each, and two desserts, a soda and a cappuccino. Pacing: Loved that we were able to order and enjoy our starters before being asked for our dinner order. Not sure if this was an accident or not but it really made for a nicely paced meal. Didn't feel rushed. Let us sit and talk and enjoy our wine. Made it feel much more upscale than the order everything at once and get out restaurants that are becoming more and more common. To be Improved: Just little things that could be fixed easily Waitstaff: Our waitress was nice and personable but seemed a little overwhelmed and underprepared for questions (I feel it is the restaurant's job to make sure they have tried all menu items and know how to pronounce and explain what is being served). Meats and Cheeses: The are served up on a pizza pan with no cheese knife (hard cheeses were very difficult to cut and we almost flipped the pan twice which would have been very embarrassing). It would be much better if it had been served on a cutting board down on the table so people didn't have to reach up and over. Also, we had to ask for more bread twice. You should never want for bread at an Italian restaurant. We got about 6 slices of baguette for 4 people with five types of meats and cheeses. Even with the very small serving sizes it was not even close to enough. Cappuccino: My husband ordered a cappuccino which came looking like a coffee with milk added. No foam at all. He was disappointed there was no cinnamon on top or sugar cubes offered. Extras: No fresh pepper, or grated cheese offered for entrees. Some fresh bread would have been nice. Overall, enjoyed the night and will be back without question. This is one of the best new restaurants I have seen in their first couple of weeks. Pretty impressive if you ask me. They are going for more upscale and just need to make a few tweaks to really complete the picture. The food was well done and well timed which is the most important thing. With a little work this restaurant will be a wonderful success and could easily make it in with other greats spots such as Honey, La Poste, and Quarter Bistro. Similar intimate feel without being super expensive. Glad they are here and wish them lots of success.

    (4)

  • Austin F.

    Last visit, the chef switched up on me. The meal was definitely not like the first time. It was okay, but not sure how fast I would be up to go back this time! It's so unfortunate to say

    (3)

  • Jeni S.

    I dined here for my 30th birthday on a Wednesday evening. We made reservations and were seated at a nice half table/half booth in the corner. It was the 1st time I had visited and I will for sure be going back at some point. We had the ricotta appetizer, which was delicious and i would highly recommend. Our server said that the fig appetizer is popular, but a couple different friends of mine had tried those and they all said that it wasn't that great. Then, the three of us ordered 3 dishes and sampled each other's choices. I had the lamb pizza, my mom got the ravioli and my sister had the gnocchi. All three were delicious- but I think my favorite was the ravioli. The service was great. Our server was knowledgable and attentive. She explained a lot about the dishes on the menu and made great recommendations. It was a bit pricey, but I think that our wine consumption contributed to that!

    (4)

  • Sarah T.

    Yum, yum, yum! I started with a cheese plate -- Robiola Bosina (Piemonte), Podda Classico (Sardegna), and Testun di Capra (Piemonte) -- right into fried polenta, lamb skewers, margherita pizza, and then finished with chocolate mousse and coffee. Ab-solutely fantastic. The atmosphere is super classy; the ambience was perfect for a quite Sunday night dinner. The only thing is that the menu is too fancy - I feel that most patrons should be able to decipher all the ingredients/dishes. On my next visit, the menu had updated for summer. There are still many ingredients that are hard to decipher. The server was too friendly, but I guess that's what I would want. That fried polenta, marghertia pizza, and chocolate mousse was still fantastic. I tried the spaghetti nero and they forgot the scallops. Overall, my experience was enjoyable.

    (4)

  • Daniel C.

    I went here for dinner with some friends. The food was good and the service was spot on. The cheese and charcuterie plate was awesome, we selected 5 items, 3 cheeses and 2 meats, they were all delicious. For the main meal the four of us ordered 4-5 different plates and shared. The Quattro Formaggi pizza was great as was the Duck Liver Pate.

    (4)

  • Tara S.

    Noisy, service is slow and maybe a bit under-trained. Our waiter didn't bring serving utensils, brought a frozen bottle of water to the table, and didn't clear empty dishes for longer than seemed reasonable. He was nice enough, but he didn't seem experienced enough to have some of those details down. The food, however, once it arrives, is quite tasty. We had pizza and some kind of cheesy appetizer. It was very good. I'd definitely eat the food again--might take it to go, though. It's important to know that there's a bathroom upstairs. The one by the bar is usually occupied--and not by you!

    (4)

  • Amanda C.

    My expectations for Enoteca Emilia were high. Too high. My Cincinnati Magazine had just arrived, and Enoteca Emilia scores in both the Top 5 Pizza and Top 5 New Restaurants lists. So I enthusiastically bustled my husband and sister off to the place, my mouth watering for a delicious pizza. And the pizzas we got were... pretty good. You know, interesting enough to remember for the next ten minutes. Duck bacon is slightly sweet... who knew? Truffle oil is pretty overwhelming on a pizza. Good to know. I concluded that either the pickings for new restaurants are slim, or the owner knows someone on the Cincinnati Magazine's editorial staff. Here are the good parts, though, and why I would return: If I had gotten the bucatini pasta my husband ordered, this might have been a completely different review. It's an authentic Italian dish, prepared the way Italians made pasta before tomatoes were brought over from North America (and you thought pizza sauce was immemorial?). Delicious food is my favorite way to study history. The atmosphere is incredible. I loved the wallpaper bursting with poppies and the rustic feel of the interior. It's a very chic place to hang out and quiet enough for good conversations. And our server was super nice.

    (3)

  • Lesley C.

    When I arrived for my 6:30 reservation yesterday, I was immediately asked why I wasn't there at 6. The man in the front even showed me his phone, that it was now 6:30. I told him I was certain my reservation was for 6:30. He said it was marked for 6, but was kind enough to give me the benefit of the doubt. However it was incredibly awkward for the first few moments of what was supposed to be a great night. Especially showing me the time on the phone. Just strange. So they sat me, I looked up my reservation on my phone, and it was indeed for 6:30 as I thought. I told the waiter. The waiter told the manager. The manager told me, as I was on my way out, that it was not written down correctly. But wow, they went about it in a really abrupt and strange manner. And it was their mistake all along.... The meal was fabulous, thus the 4 stars. Why not 5? Well, the impolite greeting I received for one, and the HORRIBLE "house salad" that I paid $5 for. Greens and dressing. Nothing more. It was laughable especially for a place that prides itself on such great food.

    (4)

  • Christine M.

    The apparent idea behind Enoteca is decent- a cute, cozy, trendy place to hang, eat, and drink some wine, with friends or even family. I think there is a timeless and potentially special quality about the environment and the diners present were of mixed age and likely background (socially speaking) when I went. Enoteca felt comfortable, welcoming, and full of potential. That said, be warned that the portions are small, the prices are high, and if you're looking to fill up (with a few glasses of wine for a group of 3) you may have to spend upwards of $100. To me, that's too much. Too much to spend in a somewhat casual, relaxed atmosphere (i.e. there wasn't a sense that I was going to be so underwhelmed with the portion size and overwhelmed with our bill), too much for a hang out to really gain traction for me, and too much spent only to leave hungry and unsatisfied. I'd go back for some wine and a small appetizer after an evening out, or before going for dinner. Not for dinner. The quality of the food, especially at the price, was questionable. Notably, three of us got the meat and cheese platter to share ($20 for a choice of 5, I believe); one meat recommended by our waitress was so thin you could see through it, it was nearly impossible to pick up, and the six pieces stacked on TOP of each other, barely reached the height of a quarter. Then there was the bruscetta of the day. It sounded delicious. It was, however, incredibly disappointing at $8 for one slice of french bread with a bit of cheese, some broccoli, and a squeeze of lemon (more or less). ONE slice. We also ordered the shrimp, which while we were aware of the skewer size, were so salty that we could barely finish (between the three of us) the 4 oz size. And lastly, a friend ordered a pizza which was purported to be about 10 inches and sharable. If it were 6, that'd be stretching it. Shockingly, my side dish (farro at $5) was by far the most filling dish, if not a bit overdressed and greasy. Essentially, it was not what I expected, paid for, or would go back for...on multiple levels. In terms of service, I thought our waitress seemed knowledgeable, she was patient, she refilled our drinks, but I also felt mislead and a bit cheated by her descriptions. She certainly work for her tip, but it pained me to calculate that based off of food that was so overpriced. We ended up splitting the bill and then going out for more food. Overall it was just disappointing, but there seems to be some potential? Price and portion have come up a few times...I hope they are listening!

    (2)

  • Beth B.

    We had the best service, delicious appetizers, great wine, a great salad and main course. I am never disappointed in this restaurant. Try the stuffed figs wrapped in bacon. I will never share that appetizer again! I could have eaten all five of them. This is the first time we had a table upstairs---nice!

    (5)

  • Beth B.

    I went there with my husband and another couple who had been before and suggested it. I was not impressed. The food is very overpriced for what you get and for the quality. Apparently the olives on the appetizer list were good. I don't like olives so I did not try those. The sliders were pretty good (probably the best thing I had that evening). The creamy dip with bread was not too impressive and the bread it was served with had been burned during toasting. Our waitress also left to get us a serving spoon for the creamy dip and never returned with it. I had the black pepper It pappedelli and did not find it tasty. I will not go back because of the prices and the quality of the food. The atmosphere is nice enough too bad the food does not measure up.

    (2)

  • Eleni K.

    One of my faves in the city! Excellent wine and service. Perfect for a date. The figs, Caesar salad, pizza bianco, and garganelli are all so good.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth W.

    I love a restaurant that values quality over quantity and isn't afraid to stick to their culinary bones. Enoteca Emilia is just that kind of restaurant. It's a beautiful open space with a big wrap around bar that flows through both rooms. The bar is large enough that several people were eating their dinners there. We opted to wait about an hour for a table for four (at 6:30 on a Friday night) and the time went by pretty quickly, as we each started with a glass of wine. They offer two sized pours (a 6 oz and a 9oz) which is nice because sometimes you just want a little more wine. They bartenders were eager to help us find wines we would like from the unfamiliar Italian selections. They have multiple seating options, but mostly for smaller parties, including small tables and high bar tables. I think they have a larger space upstairs that may accommodate larger parties. I just read that they are accepting reservations, which is a huge plus in my book! The food was just plain good. Al dente pasta, just enough sauce, not overwhelmingly spiced. Just good good food. The portions are small but satisfying, and the only guy in our group couldn't even finish his boar lasagna. I had several appetizers, which were all divine. The stuffed figs were sweet and salty and fantastic. I can't wait to go back and try a Salumi and Formaggi platter, which passed us several times and induced much drooling on my part. Finished the meal with Affogato, which is hazelnut gelato and freshly made espresso. It was dessert and coffee in one delicious package. All in all, this is a welcome addition to the Cincinnati scene and I'm excited to see their innovative menu creations and enjoy many cozy meals here in the future.

    (4)

  • Jessica S.

    It's been a while since I last went to Enoteca Emilia and had a friend not encouraged me to write this review, I would not have. Last September I hosted a failry large birthday celebration for my husband at Enoteca Emilia. My husband and our most of our friends had been there before and I was looking forward to celebrating there. We brought in a party of 15-20 people. At the end of the meal, as everyone was cashing out, our server brought my bill back with what should have included my credit card. Well, the credit card was not there. To make a long stroy short, the rest of our party left after around 10 minutes to head to our next destination while my husband and I stayed behind for at least 30 minutes as they looked for the card. No luck. We were not offered any compensation for our meal, despite the fact that our combined bill exceeded $1000.00. No offfer of a gift card, NOTHING. The next day I called to inquire as to whether my card was found and the manager or owner not only did not apologize but accused me of "losing" my card there, when in fact the restaurant lost the card, not me. Again, no offer to make ammends, no apology, nothing. I followed up with one last attempt at an email with NO response. I had to spend the next day contacting my credit card company to cancel the account and we showed up late to our next destination that night as the rest of our party waited for us to arrive. Needless to say, as much as we enjoyed the food there, we have not been back and have no plans of ever going again due to the poor customer service. Our friends who were with us that night have not been back either. No matter how good the food may be, poor customer service certainly left a VERY bad taste in our mouths.

    (1)

  • Lee B.

    I was all hyped up for this place originally. It has such a great vibe to it, and I really enjoy O'Bryonville. I thought it would be great to have a nice restaurant/wine bar located close to the Hyde Park area. The first time I came, I ordered lamb and it was okay, but definately not worth the price. I don't even remember what I got the second time I came, but it was even less impressive. The house red was pretty bad, and U;m usually not that picky about red wine. If only the food and wine were better, or if the prices were, this would be a fun place to go. The atmosphere is awesome, if that's the only thing you're looking for.

    (2)

  • Joanne G.

    I know I'm fussier than most about Italian food as I come from a long line of wonderful Neapolitan home chefs. But Enoteca Emilia's food was mostly a disappointment. It looked great on the menu, but what appeared on the plate did not please the eye or the palate. The stuffed figs appetizer was overwhelmed by a red sauce of indeterminate origin. Wasn't sure if it was sun dried tomato or red pepper or a combination. Two of us ordered the cavatelli with sausage and kale. The broth was overly salty and the portion size skimpy for $17.00. I had a hard time finding the sausage which was crumbled into the dish. The black kale was kind of sparse, too. Worst of all, some of the pasta was a bit gummy. Something else I really cannot get over: the "bread" they brought to our table soon after seating us was inexplicably nothing close to Italian or European-style bread. They were sweet, puffy yeast rolls, more appropriate to breakfast. They served better, more traditional "crostini" with my friend's steamed mussels appetizer, so I asked for more of that for our table. The service and wine list were good. The bar patrons seated right next to our table were quite noisy, so the dining ambiance was less than ideal. I'd be willing to give this place another chance, but this experience was expensive and not at all satisfying.

    (2)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Intimate
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes

Categories

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

Enoteca Emilia

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