About Nicholson's

Great place for a cocktail or a meal. Staff and food was excellent. Large bar area. Highly recommend. - 5/20/2026 

We went here on a food tour. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The bangers and mash tasting was my favorite meal of the tour. I loved the atmosphere and decor. - 5/17/2026 

We had tickets to see Water for Elephants at the Aronoff with reservations before the show at Nicholson’s. The show was cancelled but we didn’t know it. Someone from Nicholson’s called me to be sure that we we were aware. Thanks to them if saved us a trip. - 5/13/2026 

Great Mother's Day! Service was attentive, the food was delicious, and the open doors and windows added a great ambience for all. Thank you! - 5/12/2026 

Haven't been here in at least a decade or more, so expectations were not high. PLEASANTLY surprised! Food was all really delicious...around the table we had french onion soup, pot roast with mash potatoes, fish and chips, shrimp and grits, beer cheese and pretzels, mac and cheese, the house salad was sooooooooo good. My only call outs were the beer cheese could've been, idk, a little creamier to go with the thick heaviness, and the fish, whilst delicious, the presentation was giving fish sticks, not fine food like the sign says lol. A nice fillet for the small portion, and 2 for the larger would've been a better look. But otherwise, yeah, highly recommend, especially if you haven't been in years like me. Glad to know they're still doing good food. Have to call out our server, Chainey (??)...she was fantastic! - 5/11/2026 

Food good / service was great - we had kids and they did a nice job with them for brunch! - 5/10/2026 

We came here once for dinner on a Thursday evening. It was very busy, but mostly likely because there was a show at the Arnoff across the street. The place cleared out by 7pm. It's probably wise to make a reservation, just to be safe, in case you're visiting on a night when there's a show.It was restaurant week when we came. The full menu has English vibes with plenty things I'd order. Between the two of us, we had the walnut street salad, kilted shrimp, pan seared salmon, bone-in pork chop, berry crumble, and three layer chocolate cake. Overall, everything was good, nothing I wouldn't eat again, but I don't think there was a wow factor for either of us. The salmon and veggies were very well seasoned and tasted even better than they looked. Portions were good and service was very good, too. I wouldn't deter anybody from giving this place a try. - 5/08/2026 

Accommodated our large party after UC graduation. Great food and drinks, get the Bloody Mary with Guinness. - 5/07/2026 

We eat here before each Broadway show, have for decades!! Yesterday it was just my sister and I and they seated us in the "nook". Best day ever!! We want to sit there from now on!! F9od was amazing, as always!!! - 5/03/2026 

Food was great and our server very attentive. We explained we had theater tickets and she said she’d make sure we were out in time. - 5/03/2026 

We went for our anniversary. Great food. Even better service - 5/03/2026 

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Nicholson's before our show at the Arinoff. Lainey, our server was amazingly attentive. She even held our left overs at the restaurant until after the show. The food was delicious. We had the pasta ala whiskey and the chicken schnitzel. The Brussels' sprouts appetizer was well seasoned but a bit tough. The only real complaint is the high table. (Only table available over a week in advance) With the demand for regular tables so high, why keep these uncomfortable bar stool chairs? They take up the same footprint as regular table. Still, we'll climb up there again if that's the only seat available. - 5/02/2026 

We had an excellent meal. We each had the salmon meal with delicious, mashed potatoes and veggie medley. The level of noise was a bit too much for us to enjoy our conversation. Our server did an excellent job. I will definitely return for another fine meal. - 5/01/2026 

Excellent service!! The food was amazing! All around a great experience! Love the themed menus for the plays at the Aronoff! - 5/01/2026 

Had a great experience. Food delicious and server Azalea was delightful. - 5/01/2026 

Constantly good food that is reasonably priced. Great service and atmosphere. - 4/29/2026 

Our food was good. The service was good. But when we got the bill, the price of the items on the bill did not match the listed price on the menu. We look at the online menu and the printed in restaurant menu. My husband gave a pass about not updated paper menus but I order from the show menu which is special for a week or two. The prices should be current. My meal was a couple dollars more that the menu price. - 4/27/2026 

Nicholson's is comfy cozy and yet sophisticated. The menu choices are interesting yet familiar. Service is friendly and efficient. What more could one ask? - 4/26/2026 

Very nice experience. It was very loud, but great food and great service!! - 4/26/2026 

The specialty menu before an Aronoff show is always a must! - 4/24/2026 

We love going here before shows at the Aronoff. They always have a fun menu that is themed to the current show. We have never had a bad meal. - 4/21/2026 

Stopped in several times during our week in the city. The service was always great. There’s an excellent selection of draft beers and whiskey available. The side plates are huge so plan to share. We also had the stew and the wings. Both commendable. Great location right in the middle of downtown and near a stop for the commuter tram. - 4/19/2026 

Our table ordered 6 different meals and we all enjoyed them. We had great service. Good restaurant for a large group for sure. - 4/19/2026 

Fun spot for great drinks and food. Tons of choices. We really enjoyed our visit. - 4/18/2026 

Went here for my friend's birthday. It was delightful, as always! Good food, good drinks, nice & quiet. We enjoyed it! - 4/15/2026 

Overall they were fine. We got a bit of a run-around when we were told the pork belly appetizer was out of stock, then told it was in stock but the lamb chops were effectively out (they had one left with a portion size of two). To their credit, they were very kind and intentionally didn't charge us for the appetizer as an apology, but they were polite throughout the entire process. Things happen.The sirloin I got in place of the lamb was unfortunately just alright. It was tender and they cooked it to a perfect medium rare as requested, but the flavor was a bit lacking, even with the herb butter it came with, and there was a touch too much char for my tastes. The side of potatoes on the other hand were fantastic - great flavor, crispy outside and tender inside, and the aioli the dish came with was a great pairing for them. Just a bit of a shame that the side outshone the entree.The salmon was cooked very nicely as well - well done but still very tender and moist. Neither of us were personally big fans of the sauce it came with, but I don't think we could objectively call it bad by any means, just not to our taste. The quality of the fish itself though, fantastic. The mashed potatoes it came with once again weren't quite to our tastes, but that's just preference.The pork belly was a tad bland, it could have used more of the barbecue sauce that it came with, but I'd still say it was overall worth getting.In the end, we didn't have a bad experience by any means. The staff were all super friendly and very apologetic, and the wait times were pretty low despite a decent number of customers. I'd say they're at least worth trying. - 4/13/2026 

We've been wanting to check out Nicholson's prior to taking a show in at the Aronoff Center. It's been difficult to get in since the times fill up so fast, but we finally managed to get a reservation this past Sunday afternoon. It was a much different experience than it would have been on a Friday or Saturday evening. This has more to do with downtown Cincinnati than Nicholson's though.The atmosphere of the restaurant was great along with the service. This is the first place outside of The Brown Hotel in Louisville that I've had a hot brown. It was soo warm and hearty. Would definitely get it enough. My wife had a salad with blueberries, strawberries, blackened chicken, and vinaigrette dressing. She was very pleased with her choice as well.I'd be interested to come at a busier time to see how it is then, but overall would eat here at any time. - 4/13/2026 

Always absolute best experience before a show! Food & drinks were amazing. Our server was wonderful & chatted enjoyably about the arts venue. This has always been the attractive experience that I have at Nicholson’s.👍😊 - 4/11/2026 

Great service and amazing food! Fun dinner stop before a musical at the Aronoff - 4/11/2026 

Forget best UK/Irish inspired bar in Cincinnati, first trip in and this gets my vote for one of the best in the country. Proper pours of Guinness, a menu clearly inspired by Irish, English, and Scottish pubs (but with American flair) and phenomenal sticky toffee pudding. Its a good thing I'm from out of town, or I'd be here minimum once a week until I'd tried every whisk(e)y they have, and it'd take a good long while.If that's not a good enough recommendation for you, service and staff are fantastic, and vibe is 10/10. Plus they make a mean old fashioned. - 4/05/2026