Cincinnati Eats: Highly Recommended Hall of Fame
Discover the top culinary picks in Cincinnati as recommended by food writer Keith Pandolfi.
Highly Recommended is a weekly spotlight on some of food writer Keith Pandolfi’s favorite finds as he eats his way across Greater Cincinnati. Come back every Tuesday for more.
Lunch at Kitchen Social is a breezy affair. The dining room is sunny and spacious. The seating is comfortable, and the views of the wide open kitchen provide “Top Chef”-level entertainment. Its sophisticated, casual atmosphere will make you want to order a cocktail or a nice glass of wine, even if you’re still on the clock.
Given the 81-degree temps outside, I opted for an iced tea on my first visit last week. I also ordered the eggplant meatball appetizer – served in a spicy Moroccan tomato sauce topped with arugula pesto and chopped cilantro – and their Sonoma Caesar salad with avocado, romaine, arugula, Fresno chillies and just the right amount of crunchy breadcrumbs.
The meatballs arrived in a cast-iron skillet with a side of grilled house-made ciabatta. Unlike regular meatballs, these have a soft texture and are meant to be spread over the bread. Their spicy, slightly smoky flavor makes for a healthy-ish vegetarian dish. I found myself stuffed after eating just three of them, so plan on sharing them if you’re ordering more. The Sonoma Caesar was very good, too; the greens crunchy and well dressed, the breadcrumbs providing just the right amount of texture, and the Fresnos giving it enough of a sweet, spicy kick to keep things interesting.
Other appetizers include Nashville shrimp and grits and short rib and carrot hummus. Entrees range from a teriyaki rib eye to crab-crusted salmon. There are also plenty of salads, soups, pizzas and sandwiches from which to choose.
Kitchen Social is part of a Columbus-based chain of five restaurants (all in Ohio). The first opened in 2019 in the Polaris shopping center, near Columbus, followed by Dublin and the Cleveland suburbs of Westlake and Pinecrest.
It’s a nice addition to a Montgomery dining scene that’s been growing like crazy, thanks in part to the Montgomery Quarter project. Along with Kitchen Social, the Quarter is also home to the tapas restaurant Livery as well as Bru Burger. That’s in addition to Montgomery stalwarts like Forno, Carlo & Johnny and the original Montgomery Inn. I look forward to coming back soon to try more of what this buzzy ‘burb has to offer.
9340 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, 513-401-7690, kitchensocial.com.