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Cheers to 20 Years!!

Happy 20th Anniversary Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse – Cincinnati!! WOW, can you believe it has been 20 years since Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse – Cincinnati opened its doors?! Considering most restaurants do not survive their first year in business, this is an amazing accomplishment! Hats off to the Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment group for 20 years of awesome food and dining. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse is upscale dining at its finest. Located in Downtown Cincinnati directly across from the Aronoff Center for the Arts and in the heart of the city’s Backstage Entertainment District, Ruby’s is the place to go for an elegant night out on the town. The restaurant is modeled after the 1940’s-era French Art Deco Steakhouses of New York City. The artwork, lighting and rich textures create a vibrancy that will make sure you feel as though you’ve been treated to not just dinner, but a show. Tiff Squared could not agree more. Mr. Ruby loves huge chandeliers, so you will see quite a few in the dining area. They are so vibrant and dramatic and lend a nice touch to the restaurant’s décor. We had an amazing experience! From the truffle butter and bread to the dessert and everything in between, we enjoyed one of the best dining experiences the city has to offer. This location is the first of five Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse concepts. The other locations are Louisville, Nashville, Columbus, and Lexington.

The concept of Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouses came many years ago during an era of entrepreneurs opening steakhouses. The thing about everyone else was they named their steakhouses after athletes or other famous people. Mr. Ruby liked the idea of opening a steakhouse but wanted to name it after himself. This is when Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse was born. Mr. Ruby opened the doors to a new restaurant, but he did not want just a plain jane steakhouse. He wanted one that delivers award-winning steaks, seafood and service. He also wanted to combine those three staples with live nightly entertainment with great attention to detail. With his dream and determination being the driving force and his team’s hard work delivering on execution, he did just that. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse has become a favorite of celebrities, athletes, politicians, and Cincinnatians looking for a good time and a good meal. Also, we cannot forget to mention that Mr. Ruby is a big cigar guy. The outdoor area is called the “Cigar Patio” and he even has cigars made just for the restaurant with his name printed on them. Yes, if you are a cigar person you can purchase these cigars.

From then to now (1999-2019), Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse has been delivering phenomenal food, service and a great night out on the town. They live up to their mission and Tiff Squared could not have been more excited and prouder to be a part of this great accomplishment. When we were asked to come in and do a behind the scenes, we were super elated. Trust us, they did not have to ask twice! Haha 😊 From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by friendly, smiling staff. We were then given a glass of champagne to toast. We received a tour of the restaurant and even got to say hello to the executive chef and his staff. We ended with the best part – dinner and dessert. We can truly say, our dining experience was one for the books!

Tiff Squared

Their menu certainly helps as well! Anyone can open a steakhouse, but they must deliver on the food and most importantly the steak. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse has an amazing culinary team. Even the pastry chef is the bomb.com! Although this is a steakhouse, they have something for everyone. What makes them unique compared to other steakhouses is they offer sushi, bar bites and fresh seafood.

Now, let’s dive into the menu!

We started with some yummy bread and butter. I mean who doesn’t love carbs?! The kicker here is half of the butter was truffle butter. This butter was so good and was the perfect touch to the sourdough bread. Next, we had the Wagyu Meatball served with creamy polenta and tomato gravy. Talk about one big ball of beefy goodness! It was flavorful and tender. The polenta was the cherry on top. Truthfully, at this point Tiff Squared was tipping the scale of being stuffed. Hehe! However, we had not even laid our eyes on dinner. It was waaayyy to early for our little bellies to be halfway happy. C’mon, I mean it’s a steakhouse and of course we had to order steak. We could not come to a steakhouse and not order what they are known for. MY OH MY, dinner is now served! The waiter comes to our table with two plates of 12 oz. steak with Mac & Cheese and Creamed Spinach for sides. Tiff Squared now has the **eyes bucked** emoji face! We look at each other and wonder who is going to eat all this food. With our happy half full bellies and a smile, we dig in. I ordered the Steak Collinsworth and Tiff D. ordered the Barrel-Cut Filet. Both steaks were amazing, cooked well, seasoned well, and tender. The sides were amazing and the best I, Tiff B, have had from a steakhouse. That Mac & Cheese was DEEEELIICIOUS! The Creamed Spinach was creamy and flavorful. The chefs certainly deserve a hand clap for this meal! Needless to say we are now beyond stuffed, but guess what??? We now have dessert!

DESSERT?!

Just when we thought we couldn’t eat anymore; it was now time for dessert. Not one but THREE! I, Tiff B, was super excited because I am the sweets eater between myself and Tiff D. Tiff D. was super thankful for the desserts but looked at me like what have you done. Three wasn’t planned but I could not decide on one, so our awesome waiter, Patrick, brought us three. Yep, you read that correctly, UNO (1), DOS (2), TRES (3)! Sorry Tiff D., however, I’m sure her belly appreciated it 😊 We had the Banana Pudding Ice Cream Torte, the Warm Brown Butter Spice Cake, and the Chocolate Torte. All three were truly amazing and lent a different taste profile. Having a crazy sweet tooth, I truly appreciated this dessert tray! Also, if you get to the end of the meal and are hesitant on ordering dessert, do not be! The pastry chef is one heck of a chef and puts out amazing desserts!

Banana Pudding Ice Cream Torte, Chocolate Pie, Warm Brown Butter Spice Cake

WHEW!! I got full just typing all of this! Lol! All jokes aside, Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse truly offered us an amazing dining experience with delicious food. We are so thankful and appreciative to have been apart of them celebrating 20 years! Again, thank you Jeff Ruby’s and Cheers to 20 Years!

Friday Feature: Taste of Cincinnati

If you’re a true Cincinnatian, you know the Taste of Cincinnati comes to the downtown area every Memorial Day weekend. Some people plan their weekend around it, knowing there is no chance they’ll miss it. Others plan their weekend around avoiding the area due to the traffic and crowd. I am one who tries to attend every year- even more now since moving to downtown. So how did 2019 compare to previous years? Read on to find out! Read more

We’re Fired Up For Fiery Hen!

Downtown Cincinnati is no stranger to up and coming restaurants. It seems like every month there is something new- and we’re certainly not complaining about it! When we heard Dan Swormstedt, owner of Court Street Lobster, was launching a new restaurant centered around Nashville hot chicken, we were all over it! We sat down with Dan and chef Clint Walker to talk all things chicken and more…

Welcome to the Fiery Hen

Photo Credit: Sam Greenhill

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Flying into Aladdin’s Eatery

Where can you get amazing, authentic Mediterranean food while being surrounding by hip decor and a cool bar? Aladdin’s Eatery in Downtown Cincinnati! If you have been a subscriber to Pursuit of Delights for some time, you may have noticed we do not feature chain restaurants often. However, after dining at Aladdin’s newly opened location, we had to make an exception! The menu might be the same, but the vibe has been kicked up to make for a fun, yet welcoming experience.

 

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Behind the scenes with Crown Republic Gastropub

“Cincinnati is the Queen City and every Queen needs a Crown!”

That’s the concept Hailey Nutter-Sitek, Anthony Sitek, and Mike Cassari (who make up the “Republic”) thought of when coming up with the name for their new downtown Cincinnati restaurant, Crown Republic, an American Gastropub located at the corner of Sycamore and 8th. (Side note: How genius and creative is that name?!). Now that Crown Republic had been opened for close to 2 months, Pursuit of Delights had the opportunity to sit down with the owners to discuss all things food and the history behind how the restaurant came about.

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Praises are Certainly Due for Lucius BBQ

If you’ve walked around the Pendleton area, you may have noticed a few businesses opening within the past year. While exploring the area, if you’ve been on Broadway, you may have also heard live music, laughter, and smelled the aroma of BBQ floating through the air. Sound familiar? Then you have discovered the deliciousness of Lucius Q! Opened March 15th, 2018 by 3 owners (Aaron Sharpe, Shane Spears, and Jeff Keate), Lucius Q is a neighborhood joint with its roots centered on music and food (Yes Please!). They were named in honor of Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus who was well known for his leadership and selflessness. Pursuit of Delights had the pleasure of sitting down with two of the ultra-friendly owners, Aaron and Jeff, to hear more about the history of their fun vibe restaurant! 

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Did Someone Say Burgers?? Let’s MEAT!

The Pursuit of Delights is back for our second feature in Travel Host Magazine! This time, we are here to share with you our top BURGER options within the surrounding area. Don’t eat meat? No worries… we have a vegetarian option in there for you too! Keep reading to see which burger joints fill our bellies with delight!!!

Americano Burger Bar Downtown Cincinnati, OH

Atmosphere: Fun, Funky and Cool. The dining area is a large open concept that is warm and welcoming. It can be used to host burger eaters of all ages. It even has a Shuffleboard and Foosball Table.
Burger of Choice: Who doesn’t love $5 burgers? If you go on Tuesday, $5 Americano Burger night, you will be in for a delight. This burger is a classic, but classics never get old! Add a side of fries for a small additional fee. With Shuffleboard, Foosball, a classic burger and fries, you will indeed have the perfect burger night!


CWC Wyoming Cincinnati, Ohio


Atmosphere:
You will feel as if you’ve entered someone’s home who happens to have
super cute décor! They are a charming and friendly restaurant with a small, yet diverse menu.

Burger of Choice: If you love cheese and a thick, juicy burger, CWC is for you! They smother theirs in a nice, melty cheddar cheese sauce, which so deliciously slides over the fries as well. Word of advice…. Don’t forget to bring your bib! You’ll need it!

 


Flip Side West Chester, Ohio

Atmosphere: It may seem like your typical restaurant, but they’ll surprise you! They have a robust menu and a patio that is awesome. If you’re feeling bold, try one of their craft milkshakes to go along with your grass-fed burger!

Burger of Choice: The Flipside Burger contained flavors that were large and in charge! Don’t forget to add a side of the chile rubbed, crispy onion rings! Crazy good!

 

 

 


Mad Mike’s Newport, KY

Atmosphere: Fun and Family Friendly; located just a short walk from Newport on the Levee. If you don’t want anything fancy from the Levee, visit Mad Mike’s for burgers and fries!

Burger of Choice: If you want a gangster burger, try the American Outlaw. It’s indeed the classic Outlaw. If you don’t want plain, boring fries, add bacon, ranch and cheese for a twist. If you’re into the world of not normal, try the Goliath. Its mouthwatering ingredients are between two grilled cheese sandwiches! Now that’s gangster!


Nation Kitchen and Bar Downtown Cincinnati, OH
Atmosphere: If you love beers, burgers and bars, this is the spot for you! Most of the seats are bar tops with a small area that includes a couch and low tables.

Burger of Choice: If a burger and tots were the only things we could get in “The Nation”, we’d be satisfied! Their Nation burger with their Loaded Tater Tots is AHHHmazing! There’s just something about their 6oz brisket blend patties. It will have you saying the Pledge of Allegiance backwards!


Northstar Café West Chester, Ohio

Atmosphere: If you mixed hip + earthy + friendly, you’d get Northstar Café. They aim to please and will likely have you smiling for no reason due to their bubbly personalities.

Burger of Choice: Vegetarians… this one is for you! The Northstar Burger is completely organic and out of this world!! It is absolutely one I’d go back for. I never knew I’d love a meatless burger this much!

 

 


Pleasantry OTR Cincinnati, OH

Atmosphere: Small, cute, and quaint, but spacious enough for a cozy time. It’s the perfect happy hour spot or afternoon date with the girls/guys or that special someone. You will love seeing the interaction that takes place in the kitchen with their cool, open concept!

Burger of Choice: I know, I know, who ever thought you would find a good burger at this type of restaurant? However, you can never go wrong with their seasonal burger. It changes, but the combinations are always fun! The one in season during my visit had pimento cheese, pickles, red onion, and bibb lettuce. It felt like I had found a small gem in the world of burgers.


Terry’s Turf Club Cincinnati, Ohio

Atmosphere: You literally can’t miss this restaurant. They have ALL of the bright lights and are full of color. Fun fact: They were featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives! Let’s see if you can spot Guy Fieri’s picture inside!

Burger of Choice: You can get as creative as you’d like because their menu is “build your own”! For your made to order burger, we suggest a fried egg, bacon, brie cheese, and burgundy wine sauce! Doesn’t that sound fancy?!

 


Didn’t see your top burger on the list? Drop the name in the comments below so we can check it out! Click here to access the digital version of our burger article. Click here to see the full 2nd edition of Cincinnati’s Travel Host Magazine!

A walk through OTR with Cincinnati Food Tours

I have lived in Cincinnati for most of my life and really thought I knew and understood the history and stories behind many of the restaurants and parts of town. After completing my first Cincinnati Food Tour adventure, I realized there was a lot I didn’t know about this great city! Cincinnati Food Tours is a walking tour founded by Barb Cooper in 2012. Her vision was to share her love for Findlay market, food, and Cincinnati neighborhoods. There are a variety of $50 tours to choose from, which focus on savory eats, sweet eats, or both! I opted for the Over The Rhine (OTR) savory tour, lasting about 3 hours with multiple stops. Read more

Piada Taste Tour in Cincinnati!

If you haven’t heard, on October 10th, Piada will be unveiling new menu items consisting of healthy alternatives, savory meats, and seasonal vegetables. EXCITING!!! As a huge lover of all things Piada, it was a great pleasure to attend their Taste Tour in Cincinnati! Read on to see what the event consisted of and what the new items will be….. Read more

Events & Pursuits

CALLING ALL FOODIES!!!

Ever have a hard time finding fun, food filled events to attend in the Greater Cincinnati area? Well, search no further! In the “Events & Pursuits” section, exciting events meant to fill our bellies and warm our souls will be showcased. Read more