About Nicholson's

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 

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 

Been here with my wife a few times—drinks, food, and service are amazing. It’s a great place to dine without having to dress up (suit-and-tie style) if you don’t want to.Our usual dish is the Walnut Street Sirloin. The steak is obviously the star, but what keeps us coming back is the potatoes. They’re roasted in duck fat and taste incredibly delicious ❤️ - 4/04/2026 

Great time and amazing service Stopped into a pub in the US while out one evening and ended up staying longer than planned—in a good way. It had that easygoing, no-pressure vibe where you can just settle in and relax without thinking about time. The staff were genuinely friendly, not in a forced way, just normal, down-to-earth people who made you feel welcome as soon as you walked in. Service was quick but still felt personal. I ordered some food not expecting much, but it actually surprised me. Portions were generous, everything tasted fresh, and it hit that proper comfort-food spot. Paired it with a cold beer, and it just worked. What stood out most was the atmosphere—people chatting, a bit of background noise, maybe a game on somewhere—it felt real and unpolished in the best way. Prices were fair, nothing that made you think twice, especially for how much you get. Overall, just a genuinely good experience. The kind of place you’d happily go back to without overthinking it. - 4/03/2026 

Nicholson's is our pre-show go to for many reasons: location, great menu, great service and a value. We love Nicholson's - 4/03/2026 

Service a bit slow on a crowd at night but the food was excellent. - 3/31/2026 

Restaurant Great locations, comfortable seats, and good lighting. Absolutely great location if you're about to see a play next door. Service Our server was not so great. Maybe the waitress was new, but she took forever to come and help us, our glasses stayed empty, and it took an extra 15 minutes just to get the check. Appetizer None Main Course - Crab cake and toast was a huge hit with my wife. Though she wasn't sure how to eat it and the egg wasn't runny as she wanted, she enjoyed it. - 9/10 - Steak and fries with chimichurri was quite delicious. The bourbon bbq sauce for the fries I highly recommend. Steak was a bit over cooked but tasty. - 8/10 Dessert - Brulé cheese cake was light and fantastic. The berries consisted of 4 blueberries. Would have been nice with a few strawberries or raspberries- 8/10 - 3/30/2026 

We love Nicholson’s! Great food, and drink, exceptional service, and friendly staff! Their specialty menus that match whatever show is at the Arnoff are fun and tasty. Their regular menu is wonderful and always reliable. Love that they support nonprofit organizations in what they do! Highly recommended! - 3/30/2026 

We love eating at Nicholson’s when we attend shows at the Aronoff. Location is across from the Aronoff, the atmosphere is comfortable and the food is fantastic! Fefee is our favorite waitress, however, the entire staff is always on their A game and accommodating. Highly recommend eating here! - 3/30/2026 

Great place! Food was excellent. Try the pot roast! - 3/30/2026 

Food, service and ambiance are always amazing! My only complaint is, the past few times I have been to Nicholson’s, the hostess makes a point to say they have a reservation for my table in 1.5 or less than 2 hours. This makes me feel rushed, uncomfortable and undervalued as a customer. No other restaurant has said this to me. If they have an issue with tables being available for reservations, I suggest they adjust their schedule, staffing, whatever is causing a need to put a time limit on their customers. - 3/29/2026 

Food was delicious, service was friendly and timely. Would definitely recommend for a fun night out. - 3/29/2026 

Visited after ball games and had an amazing experience. - 3/29/2026 

In part chosen for its proximity to the Aronoff and part for the fish and chips offering for a Lenten Friday, Nicholson’s was the perfect pre-show dinner. We had the crab cakes and flash fried Brussels for appetizer, fish and chips, fish and shrimp, shrimp and grits, and salmon for entrees, and sampled the toffee sticky pudding, bourbon crème brûlée, and red velvet cheesecake for dessert. Also had the Belhaven Scottish ale and Roxie specialty cocktail. In a rare occurrence, we actually had zero leftovers. The haddock, in particular, was a fish fry delight. Crispy and meaty, spritz of fresh squeezed lemon and malt vinegar. Our server, Chani, was terrific. Mindful of our timing for the show, attentive, with spot-on recommendations including the cocktail and sticky toffee dessert. Would make it a regular destination for any Aronoff production. - 3/28/2026 

Went in after show at the Aronoff. Server was Farrah and she was very attentive and nice. Gost cheese dip is delicious. Bourbon sours were good. I had the pasta à la whiskey which was very good. My husband had a New York strip that was off the special menu from the Aronoff show. It was not a New York strip. It was a couple pieces (very fatty) on top of French fries. For $36 would expect a full steak or better description of what the meal was. - 3/28/2026 

Wonderful dinner before our show. Our waitress (Asia? Maybe) was amazing and she was sure to mention the specials and note we were on a timed evening. Overall great experience. - 3/28/2026 

We will always reserve a table at Nicholson’s before seeing a show at the Aronoff. The food is excellent, the service is always great, and we love that there’s always a special menu of features inspired by the show that’s on! - 3/27/2026 

We have never been disappointed at Nicholson's. The food and service are always excellent. They know how to get you finished and onto your show on time. And it's a fun atmosphere! - 3/27/2026 

My rehearsal dinner was hosted at Nicholson's upstairs venue and it was 10/10 great experience. We enjoyed and food, dreamy atmosphere and friendly staff. - 3/27/2026 

Great food, always love the show specials. Fifi was our server and was fantastic, looking forward to next play. - 3/26/2026 

Great location for everything and wonderful staff with great food - 3/26/2026 

Ditto to everything I have said in the past. The food was excellent and was our seat location. We always love coming her before the play. One last item, out server was excellent and very attentive - 3/25/2026 

Haven't been here in a while - so glad I came before seeing Chicago last night. Food & drink specials were SO GOOD! Service was GREAT! - 3/25/2026 

Food was good, service was a bit slow due to a large crowd. - 3/25/2026 

Wow. Just wow. Nicholson's has been on my radar for a while, but I'm not in Cincy all too often. It wasn't until recently that I found myself staying at the 21C Hotel right next door again and decided to give them a try for dinner. They aren't on any apps and ordering on their website is not an option, so you have to call ahead. That said, they happily took my order and said it would be ready in roughly 20 minutes. When I got there it was indeed ready for me and they truly delivered. For starters, it seems obvious to include utensils in the bag along with ketchup and vinegar for my fries, but I've lost count of how many times I've picked up food while traveling and it's not in the bag (even when I ask for it). When I got back to my room I went to town and holy moly was it good. I ordered the fish and chips (of course!) and I ate just about every bite. The fish was perfectly crispy, piping hot, and had good flavor. I would have liked for the fries to be a bit crispier, but I get that their style of fries is simply not like that. A couple days later my coworkers and I needed a place to grab lunch close by and I was so happy with what I ordered for dinner that I suggested it to them and they were quick to oblige. We got some appetizers to share and everyone at the table was pleased. I could eat an entire plate of their brussel sprouts, seriously they were so good. I pretty much ordered the same thing that I did for dinner, but it included shrimp and those were just as tasty as the fish. They clearly know what they're doing and I would order from here again in a heartbeat. I'll end by saying our waitress, Mack, was an absolute pleasure. - 3/24/2026