Mad Cheese is a vegan cheese shop that opened in Madisonville in 2023. They jumped into one of their first holidays in business with an array of vegan-friendly Thanksgiving options and teamed up with two other local businesses to get the job done. While Mad Cheese whipped up offerings like its pea protein-based “turkey” roast with rice paper “skin,” Beyond Grain Bakery, which specializes in low-carb, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free baked goods, crafted some delicious desserts, like a pumpkin-ginger pie, Snickers tart and the Date Tahini Swirl Banana Cake. To distribute all this vegan Thanksgiving goodness, Juniper Seed, a plant-based meal service, stepped in to help and also made the sides, like gluten-free stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and more. madcheese.com, instagram.com/beyondgrainbakery & juniperseed.net.
Eats
Here are the 2024 Best Of Cincinnati® Reader and Staff Pick winners for Eats.
- Sotto
- Pepp & Dolores
- Agave & Rye
On its own, tempeh, a plant-based protein made with soybeans, doesn’t exactly make the list of mouth-watering dinner options. However, the tempeh slider at Hangry Omar’s in Covington Yard makes the plant-based patty so delectable that you won’t need to close your eyes and imagine that you’re sinking your teeth into a real hamburger just to stomach it. In fact, the marinated local chickpea tempeh, topped with American cheese, Buffalo sauce, and bourbon tomatillo relish is so good that you don’t even think about the fact that it’s a meatless sandwich topped with great-for-you veggies. hangryomars.com.
- Marx Bagels
- The Bagelry
- Bruegger's Bagels
- OTR Bagel Bar
- Everything Bagels
- Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli
- Skip's Bagel Deli
- Big Apple Bagels
- Livia Jo's Bagels
- Bagel & Deli Shop (Oxford)
- Eli's BBQ
- Lucius Q
- City Barbeque
- Pig Candy BBQ
- Montgomery Inn
- Bee's Barbecue
- Just Q'in
- Sweets & Meats BBQ
- Smoke Justis
- Beards & Bellies Barbeque
- Yard House
- Northside Yacht Club
- The 859 Taproom and Grill
- Goodfellas Pizzeria/Wiseguy Lounge
- Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
- Smoke Justis
- Sleepy Bee Cafe
- First Watch
- Sugar n' Spice
- The Echo
- Original Pancake House
- Taste of Belgium
- HangOverEasy
- Maplewood Kitchen and Bar
- Blue Jay Diner
- Yuca
- Nine Giant Brewpub & Fermentorium
- Woodburn Brewery
- Wandering Monsters Brewing Company
- MadTree Brewing
- Fifty West Brewing Company
- Cartridge Brewing
- HighGrain Brewing Co.
- Dead Low Brewing
- Moerlein Lager House
- Third Eye Brewing
- Sleepy Bee Café
- First Watch
- Taste of Belgium
- Maplewood Kitchen and Bar
- HangOverEasy
- National Exemplar
- Greyhound Tavern
- Yuca
- Coppin’s at Hotel Covington
- Cedar
- Jose Salazar (Salazar, Mita's, Goose & Elder, Daylily)
- Jacob Wood (Sotto)
- Dylan Jones (Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse)
- Mary Paff (Ivory House)
- Hideki Herrera (KiKi College Hill, Sen by Kiki)
- Christian Gill
- Drew Rath (Tuba Baking Co.)
- Alfio (Alfio's Buon Cibo)
- Cristian Pietoso (Via Vite, Forno, Nicola's)
- TIE: Paul Barraca (The Governor) AND Jeffrey Harris (Nolia Kitchen)
- Gomez Salsa
- Mazunte
- Agave and Rye
- Chipotle
- The Comet
- Tortilleria Garcia
- Cancun Mexican Restaurants
- El Rancho Grande
- La Mexicana Restaurante
- Taqueria Mercado
- Skyline Chili
- Coppin's at Hotel Covington
- Incline Public House
- Avril-Bleh Meat Market & Deli
- Eckerlin Meats
- Jungle Jim’s International Market
- The BonBonerie
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
- Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli
- Skyline Chili
- Zip's Cafe
- Goodfellas Pizzeria
- Penn Station
- Cincy Steak & Lemonade
- Jersey Mike's
- Jungle Jim's International Market
- The Rhined
- Urban Stead Cheese
- The Eagle
- Galactic Fried Chicken
- Silver Spring House
- Ron's Roost Restaurant & Bar
- Revolution Rotisserie
- Libby's Southern Comfort
- The Hitching Post
- CityBird
- Greyhound Tavern
- Joella's Hot Chicken