Mecklenburg Gardens
The building that houses Mecklenburg Gardens was built in the nineteenth century and is on the National Registry of Historic Places. It features stained glass windows, a large mahogany bar, fireplaces and an outdoor seating area with 100-year-old grapevines climbing the walls. Mecklenburg Gardens is open Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner and Saturdays for dinner. The motto of this restaurant is "Where food is an art and the setting is history." The drink menu here has 15 beers on tap and more than 80 in bottles, as well as an extensive wine list. As for food, some of the house specialties include wiener schnitzel, horseradish-encrusted salmon, Bavarian goulash and chicken strudel. For dessert, diners might want to save room for the Mecklenburg Pie--a pecan chocolate chip crust with mocha filling topped with a light mocha mousse.
Mecklenburg Gardens
302 East University Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45219-2431
513-221-5353
mecklenburgs.net
Christy's & Lenhardt's
Christy's & Lenhardt's serves German and Hungarian cuisine. All recipes are made from scratch daily and use only the freshest of ingredients. Guests can enjoy the historic dining room or the outdoor Biergarten spring through fall. If the weather is not permitting, there is also the basemant Rathskeller with the feel of an old German pub. No matter where guests choose to dine, this restaurant has a full bar with more than 40 draft and bottle choices. As for food, specialties include the authentic Chicken Paprikasch and Hungarian Goulasch. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. The basement Rathskeller is open Monday through Saturday starting at 4 p.m. and open late night, as is the Biergarten during select seasons.
Christy's & Lenhardt's
151 West McMillan Street
Cincinnati, OH 45219-1316
513-281-3600
christysandlenhardts.com
Hofbräuhaus Newport
Ten minutes south of Cincinnati, across the Ohio River and into Kentucky, is Hofbräuhaus Newport. Modeled after the over 400-year-old Hofbräuhaus in Germany, rooms here are traditionally decorated and the beer is brewed onsite. Diners can choose a quiet dining room, the festive Traditional German Bier Hall and the outdoor Bier Garden. This festive place offers views of the Cincinnati skyline and the Traditional German Bier Hall has live entertainment nightly. On the last Wednesday of every month, there is even a special keg tapping event. Menu items include the Hofbräuhaus Würstlplatte--a sampler of wursts, served with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes--and the Sauerbraten--slow braised wine and vinegar marinated beef with red apple kraut and mashed potatoes.
Hofbräuhaus Newport
200 East 3rd Street
Newport, KY 41071-1612
859-491-7200
hofbrauhausnewport.com
Article Written By Kimberly Porter
Kimberly Porter is a writer based in Miami Beach, Fla., first published in high school when she was an intern with "The Miami Herald." Since then she has interned with "Ocean Drive Magazine," graduated from Florida International University and written articles for "Social Affairs Magazine." Currently she writes articles mainly Trails Travel, GolfLink and eHow.
