Nicholson's Pub
4.4 Stars - Based on 6322 User Reviews
Underated So the restaurant was expansive, painfully empty, and I could not figure out why! The food was average, I had the chicken snitzel. It was a great portion. The drinks were good, and reasonable. The place was clean and the bartender was awesome. Makes little sense that this place is not busier on a Wednesday night. Definitely recommend so long as you know you are getting value more than quality. 
This is a great place for Brunch and not just "a bar". I stopped in after taking in the exhibits at 21C, next door. I wish I would have had a chance to go back to try their famous Fish and Chips as it was I was in a brunch mood so I tried the Goetta Hash. I enjoy Goetta but that is by far my favorite way to have Gotta! So going for brunch, I did try the Millionaire's coffee and it was Yum! I did save some room for the Chef's Crumble too - Berry Goodness! Don't let the authentic bar fool you. This truly is a GASTROPUB. Although my waiter did not wear a kilt, I did receive awesome service from Aidan. If you want to try Whiskey from near and far make this your go to spot. Cheers!
went here as part of a food tour and the bangers and mash was great! Definitely will be back!
I celebrated my birthday dinner here, and the food was fantastic. The service was very attentive. However, I did have an issue with a menu change that occurred mid-week. My wife had planned the dinner based on the menu from Sunday, but when we arrived today, the item we wanted—the sliders—had been removed from the menu. When we inquired about the menu change over the phone, we were informed that there wouldn’t be any changes until April. Aside from this issue, everything else was amazing.
Hell yeahs I recommend. Authentic atmosphere.friendly .tasty. the flatbread pizza with pesto and balsamic is fantastic.i like the veg selections.cabbage and the mashed potatoes are a personal fave.plus men in kilts! What's not to love?! 
Came here for my birthday dinner & had a great time!! The hostess was excellent, very nice, and seated us right away. We were seated in the phone booth & it was a really cool experience - almost felt like private dining. The food was outstanding!!
It was crowdy weekend's evening. bUt fortunately, we could use counter. And ever food is great! I ordered Signature Burger. Toasted bread and juicy meat are nice!
Great place to dine.
First the atmosphere. This is what I would picture a Scottish pub would look like. Everyone is friendly and the staff is very attentive. Now I could see it getting noisy as the evening wears on. But for an early dinner it was quite pleasant. Now the food. Started with their take on an egg roll. But it is filled with pot roast! They were creamy, tasty and just down right delicious. Then I had the surf and turf. It was outstanding! Steak cooked perfectly, shrimp, same garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. Yum, yum and yum! Our server, Josh, was awesome and we had a great meal experience. 
Great pub environment, lots of seating and large bar for quick drinks. Food comes out quick and cooked exactly to order. The Goat cheese dip was amazing, could use more Naan bread with it. Prices are great for size and quality of food. Wait time for a table is short and take reservations.
Nicholson's has been a amazing experience every time I have went . I recently went with my youngest brother to show him a good time that night and first spot we went was here for dinner - he never been here so both of us were in for a treat - his reaction to a good experience and i love the food and experience so couldn't pass this place up. Fish & shrimp for the both of us , seasoned potatoes, corn bread, vegetable medley, and cole slaw came out AFTER we got the bear cheese and pretzels . They even forgot to swap out the shrimp first so we got extra fish too . In other words, we got plenty of food and took plenty home. Amazing all around . Service, this place was very attentive - i will say it wasnt crazy busy like after a aronoff show but still . My only weirded out moment was we had our waitress clock out middle of it so we had like 3 people cover our table ? Ambiance, this place is a irish gastropub and has a very welcoming and cozy feel (especially if you get a private party room in the back) and i highly recommend this place - my brother and I as well as rest of our family will be back ! read more
Great atmosphere 👌 Great cuisine Nice and happy staff.
That's how you pour a Guinness. Shepherd's pie was very good as well with a lot of flavor 
I love the bright open feel of Nicholson’s . First go to for down town dining . Always great service and food options .
Nicholson’s brings the perfect Scottish pub vibe to Cincinnati. The food is incredible—don’t miss the crispy fish and chips, the rich pork belly with apple side, or the chicken schnitzel with a lemon twist. The shepherd’s pie is pure comfort food bliss. Great drinks and a warm atmosphere, but service can get pretty slow when it’s busy, which has happened more than once.
I LOVE the fireplace room! Our waitress had to many tables. I think someone called in sick. She was really nice.
Nice place to grab a drink with friends! I’ll try food next time I’m in 👍🏽
I had such a great first time here. My friend and I walked in on a busy Friday night and were able to get a table right away due to a canceled reservation. The ambiance was warm, brown, and cozy. Our server's name was Phe Phe - she was remarkable, kind, and took such great care of us. I had a Scotch egg for the first time - so tasty and jammy, I could eat 10 more. I also ordered the Welsh Dip and it was worth every penny and bite. My friend ordered The Bonnie and I was a bit jealous of it. I'm so excited for my next visit! 
Been here a couple of times and I'm always getting good food. Everything from their appetizers to their entrees to whatever special they have on hand is always top notch! Aiden was our server this last time and he made sure we were taking care of. There was lots of room in the restaurant on a Wednesday after work but usually when there's a show going on across the street, it can be pretty full. I highly recommend the Scotch egg appetizer. Delicious! The fish and chips is also usually pretty good as well as any of the specials that they have on file. Everything from their breadboards to their burgers just always really good. Enjoy it! 
Came back to Nicholsons and got to try the brunch menu this time- it did not disappoint! We got seated in the back room with the fireplace going and it made the experience cozy! The chicken and waffles and goetta hash were delicious! Will definitely come back for brunch again! 
Food was AMAZING. Full of flavor, and true to the country of origin. I had the shepherds pie and my eyes near rolled when I took a bite. The vibes are immaculate, I've been to Scotland and you could plop this place in the middle of a city there and fit right in. Only took one star because service was slow but they are clearly understaffed today. 
Cool place! Great fish and chips! Excellent service and convenient location. Fantastic drink selection!
I stopped in for a dram and stayed for some great live music. The Kentucky specialty food was a tasty bonus. The servers were attentive and friendly. 
Great Scottish-themed pub with remarkably reasonable prices for a place right downtown across from the Aronoff Center. Parking in that neighborhood is a pain, particularly when there's an event at the Aronoff and parking prices are hiked, but this place has Valet Parking. Sadly, we only found this out after paying $20 for "special event" parking around the block. I don't know what the Valet parking costs, but it's probably less than $20, even with tip. The food is pub grub, but with some Scottish-inspired items. I had Cock-a-Leeky soup, a small house salad, and flash fried Brussels sprouts side. The daughter had the Salmon, and the spouse had the Shepherd's Pie. Spouse and daughter split a large salad, and the house served them as two small salads in separate dishes, no upcharge. Everyone greatly enjoyed their food! There were a couple of mistakes in our orders: I initially got the mashed potatoes instead of the Brussels Sprouts, and the ladies' salads did not have the dressing on the side, as requested (my daughter hates salad dressing). The staff made those mistakes right immediately. We didn't order drinks, but this place has over 100 Scottish Whiskies, including some curated flights. I do enjoy a Single Malt Whisky now and again, and I can say they have a very impressive selection. read more
Stopped in Nicholson's for a nightcap and snack. Gorgeous entrance, the interior had a beautiful bar with lots of woodwork, some old world throne looking furniture and an authentic pub look. On tap they have mostly traditional British beers with some local craft. I haven't seen Kilkenny (A red ale in the Guinness family) in forever. Nitrogenated and creamy, it was a simple and delicious ale with a soft/creamy mouthfeel. We ordered Goat Cheese Dip - topped with smokey bacon jam and naan bread $15 and the Belhaven Beer Cheese - warm soft pretzels, celery, carrots $14. Both were delicious and great for a sharable snack. The whiskey list is crazy long. Scotch (Lowland, Reserves, Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Speyside), Whiskey, Bourbon ..... We were in the twilight of our night and wanted to indulge, but it was not to be. I will say if you want to try a local Bourbon you can find New Riff, Boone County and Northside served here. Our server was great, I loved their kilts. Just look around and enjoy the pub views. I highly recommend a stop in Nicholson's. If I had more time in Cincy I'd have definitely returned to explore their pub menu. Thanks guys! read more
Only popped in for a few drinks. What a beautifully decorative bar. Our server explained it was brought over from Scotland and assembled here, stunning. Great staff. 
Nicholson's was delightful. The restaurant was warm and welcoming, with live music playing in the front. We sat in a smaller room farther from the band in front of a fireplace. It was perfect for a cool evening. Our service was excellent. We started with the Bellhaven Beer Cheese with Pretzels and we both loved it. I had the chicken schnitzel. It didn't seem to fit with the menu but we learned Cincinnati had many German immigrants so it made sense. It was excellent. My husband had the Kentucky Hot Brown, which was so good he wants to make it at home. The spirits list was extensive though we had wine and beer. 
My husband, two adult daughters) and I went to Nicholson's for dinner before a show later that evening at the Aronoff. We had never been to the restaurant before, and with the location close to the theater, we figured we'd try it. We will be back! The entire staff was friendly, from the greeters and seaters to our server, Fifi. Our service was wonderful--just the right balance of getting us what we needed while leaving us to enjoy the meal and each other's company. We all loved the breadboard. There was something for everyone there: sweet, savory, and even some pickles to enjoy! Each of us had a different meal and enjoyed our orders. My Welsh Dip sandwich on a pretzel bun was fabulous, and the tavern fries were hot, crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside. And the desserts (we split a bruleed cheesecake and the seasonal berry crumble with vanilla ice cream) were the perfect ending to our meal. We were pleasantly surprised with the value of the meal and I look forward to returning again with my husband for a date night! read more
I've been wanting to try this place and wasn't disappointed. Really cool atmosphere, staff were so friendly - especially the guy behind the bar, service perfect and the Pot Roast was awesome!!
In town for the weekend and overwhelmed by restaurant options we decided just to walk the streets and see where we found. We walked by this place and the decor grabbed our attention and luckily they had a menu posted outside. When we walked in we were asked if we had reservations and if not we could sit at these side booths newr the bar. This worked great and since it was busy and loud, it made for better conversation. The decor is like an old pub, the staff wear kilts and filled with stories. The menu has old English favorites fish & chips, scotch eggs, bangers and mash. We ordered beer cheese with pretzels which was very good. My husband got chicken schnitzel with bourbon glazed carrots and mash and I had to try the fish & chips (they come in 2 sizes and the small was plenty) l. My husband also tried a smoked old fashioned and he is very particular about these and said Soooo Good! read more
Nicholson's is such a cool place. Love the interior and the food. For an appetizer we got the Scotch Egg. So good. We decided to get the Shepherd Pie and Tavern Salad for our main and it was so so good. Service was super and the food was awesome. Sticky Toffee Pudding was I believe the best dessert I have ever eaten. I would go out of my way to get that again. Definitely 5 stars in my opinion. 
cute place, friendly waitresses and good food We loved the place, the vibes of the pub. The waitress was really nice, he even made small jokes. The food was also really goos, I tried the nachos with beef and the padron peppers. 
Great Gastropub!
We stopped at Nicholson's for dinner before enjoying Blink. This isn't the first time we tried the restaurant, and it won't be the last. Of course, I had to start with a scotch (McCallan's 12-year). I ordered the salmon, and my wife had the pot roast. Both dishes were delicious. After the meal, my wife commented on how reasonably priced the menu was. Cheap, terrible food is never a bargain. But Nicholson's offers outstanding food at a fair price. Plus, they had live music. This is a winning combination. If you're visiting downtown Cincinnati, don't hesitate to try Nicholson's for a meal. And order a McCallan's on the rocks. 
Think about your favorite comfort food. Do you feel that? That is exactly what it is like eating the Scottish/British version. Whether it be fish and chips, bangers and mash, or one of their delicious soups. The vibe is a pub atmosphere but the food is like a warm blanket. Parking: There are many paid parking lots within walking distance.
Very cool pub/restaurant downtown. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. The only place I've ever been that offers Guinness 0.0. Our server was top notch and the food was very good, but the lack of vegetarian options limited me to a salad. Good experience and highly recommended! 
Neat restaurant/bar in Cincy. We came here for a relatively early lunch on a weekday and it was empty so can't speak to much about what it's like when it's packed out but they have plenty of space and the decor is very neat. I really enjoyed my meal and they had plenty of options. 
I enjoyed our lunch at this restaurant, but I was expecting more! The food was good, but nothing spectacular. The pretzels were rock hard and we sent them back. They were kind enough to remove them from the bill . My reuben sandwich was good, but soggy. They should play more on the Scottish theme with music and food. Our waiter was very attentive and pleasant.
Great place This is a Great!! Place to eat and enjoy a drink. Close to everything downtown service was great and food was excellent had live music and outdoor setting LOVED it 
This is a great pub in downtown Cincinnati the food is above and beyond what we expected drinks are fabulous prices aren't bad atmosphere couldn't be better was in town for a concert and ate there twice Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly Wheelchair accessibility: Defiantly wheelchair accessible
Great food, wonderful service, & a nice atmosphere. Would definitely recommend and come back. Came back the next day for lunch. Still delicious. Still great service. 
Great food!! Total ambiance was amazing. Great selection of whiskey and a good beer selection. 
We wanted to really like the place it is a great interior. Somehow it felt like a cheese cake factory. Over all solid service and a nice selection of beers and whiskey but it fell kind of flat. Maybe it was just my mood I will try again, but I'm not in a hurry. We had dinner here a couple of years ago and left feeling the same way 
My first time dining here! The food and service were absolutely incredible. To begin, the salad was so fresh and crispy. The bread seems freshly baked and toasted. The marvelous plate included a portion of delectable salmon. The chicken breast was so tender with the most amazing sage gravy. The Brussels spouts were delectable. Service was impeccable, especially those smiling faces! 
Dinner at the tavern was pretty good and the service at the bar was good. Had the fish and shrimp. Generous portions. The Shrinp were good sized not too small The haddock was tasty. Had a pint of the bourbon ale that was good to wash down the meal. The decor was welcoming. 
We stumbled upon a fantastic experience at Nicholson's when visiting Cincinnati for a concert with friends. Coming from a sports city (Pittsburgh) it was our guess that there were no games the Saturday that we stopped in because there was no wait for seats at the bar or for a table -- in fact the entire city was pretty much empty during our stay. The bar is beautiful -- if you enjoy interesting woodwork, classic lines, and dark finishes this is one you definitely want to visit. The hostess, bartender, and server were friendly, and they seemed genuinely interested in sharing their knowledge of the food and drink. Drink selections were good -- especially for the scotches, whiskeys, bourbon, and beer. Our party enjoyed some imported beer, wine, and their signature old fashioned. The food is definitely the star here though. I finally got my first SCOTCH EGG, and it was incredible. We also tried the Kentucky Burgoo. Our ultimate food compliment is when we decide we need to "replicate this at home", and we've been reading up on how to make the best Burgoo for the last two weeks! The bangers and mash were tasty -- and the slightly spicy cabbage was a perfect compliment. The fish and chips were ok, but I would probably pass it up in favor of trying something else from the menu. For a totally unplanned meal this was a great choice, and I would definitely return next time we're in town! read more
I had low expectations for Nicholson's but they proved me wrong in every way that mattered. The restaurant was very clean while maintaining an authentic pub vibe. The service was fast. The servers were fun and polite! The food was delicious! We asked the staff for recommendations and they did not disappoint. We had: Appetizers 1. Flash Fried Brussels 2. Pretzels and (Belhaven) Beer Cheese 3. Scotch Egg Main Dishes 1. Fish and Chips (4.5) 2. Chicken Schnitzel 3. Bangers and Mash 4. Pot Roast Dessert 1. Sticky Toffee Pudding Overall, it was a wonderful experience! I would definitely recommend eating here. 
Fu n Outstanding environment and incredible story of how location Food drinks service was great Had a good experience it’s fun 
We stumbled upon this place while we were wondering around town. We went to the beautiful authentic Scottish bar to grab a beer, looked at the menu then decided to eat lunch. I had the fish & chips, which was hands down the best I've ever had in a restaurant. My husband said his Reuben was very good, but could've used a bit more sauce. Of course the beer was nice and cold:) The bartender told me her name, but I forgot it. She was so nice and personable, like she was happy to be working. She also knew the menu, along with the history of the restaurant, sharing that the bar actually sits on Scottish soil from Scotland! I love that! She also knew Cincinnati and directed us to some interesting sights. We will definitely come back here when we return to Cincinnati. read more
Food is good love the servers in kilts. We had Sal On and fish and chips both were well prepared Attentive service, nice drinks 
Right next to the hotel we stayed. And the ambiance, it's like you stepped into a pub in Aberdeen. The staff were beyond fantastic, really. They were absolutely the highlight of the visit. I started with a Belhaven and my wife had a cider drink. My wife had the steak and enjoyed it. The sauce was good. I had the fish and chips, and as much as I wanted to like them, I was a bit disappointed. I'm not a fan of panko and they were just a bit over cooked. But that did not ruin our night. We then stayed at the bar and patio afterwards and had a great evening. 
A Fun Experience in Every Way I was a single person among a group of 11 others on the Riverside Food Streetcar Tour. There were 12 of us who all sat down to eat at the same time. I was very impressed with the quality and amount of the food we were served. Everyone from the host to the servers could not have been more cordial and helpful. The entire group agreed that ours was a fun, fulfilling experience. 