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Two new Italian restaurants in the Cincinnati area are nominated for USA TODAY’s 10BEST Best New Restaurant award.Wildweed in Over-the-Rhine has also been recognized by The New York Times, Esquire, and Bon Appétit.Carmelo’s in Covington serves Italian American comfort food in a historic 1850s-era building.The public can vote online for their favorite new restaurant through December 22.
Two new Italian restaurants in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are receiving national attention.
Wildweed in Over-the-Rhine and Carmelo’s in Covington have been nominated for Best New Restaurant by USA TODAY’s 10BEST readers’ choice awards.
Cincinnati’s Wildweed earns another accolade, considered among best new restaurants in voting
Wildweed, which opened in 2024, was called “one of the Midwest’s most impressive and regionally distinctive Italian restaurants” by New York Times writer Brett Anderson. The restaurant is owned by David Jackman, a Winnipeg, Canada, native, and his wife, Lydia.
According to 10BEST, Wildweed has been praised for its “inventive and creative cuisine,” which utilizes foraged and seasonal ingredients. The menu features handmade pasta dishes, small plates and shareable entrees. The dining room also serves an à la carte menu, and the chef’s counter offers a 12-course dining experience with optional beverage pairings, the site adds.
Wildweed made The New York Times’ 2025 list of the 50 Best Restaurants in America in September. Last year, the restaurant was also featured on Esquire magazine’s list of the Best New Restaurants in America and Bon Appétit’s list of 8 Must-Visit Restaurants to Try This Summer.
‘Intimate and stylish’ Carmelo’s considered among best new restaurants in USA TODAY poll
Carmelo’s, which opened in 2024 inside a former 1850s-era office building in downtown Covington, is an “intimate and stylish dining venue focused on Italian American comfort cuisine,” 10BEST writes. The restaurant is co-owned by Billy Grise, who named the restaurant after his great-grandfather, Carmelo “Charles” Caserta, a Sicilian immigrant who once owned a popular restaurant and catering company in Piqua, Ohio, and Mitch Arens.
The menu features Italian classics such as eggplant parmigiana, mushroom marsala, and tiramisu.
How to vote for Wildweed, Carmelo’s in USA TODAY’s 10BEST survey
The 20 finalists are selected by a panel of experts and editors. A four-week online vote decides the winner. Carmelo’s is currently No. 1 on the leaderboard, and Wildweed is No. 13.
Voting is now open on www.10best.com through noon on Dec. 22. Winners will be announced on Jan. 2, 2026. Each person can vote once per day until voting ends.
Dining and Cooking