Best Restaurants for Groups in Northside

The calamari is always excellent maybe the best in Cincinnati. Service was slow but the restaurant was packed and everyone was getting in the spirit of the holiday. We did not have anyplace to be after dinner so relaxed and enjoyed the buzz. We had 3 different veal preparations - all were fantastic. The green beans were excellent (when is the last time a review mentioned the side vegetable?) The polenta was disappointing. The prep does not allow the dish to shine which was too bad because a creamy version would have been great with the veal. Not a real problem, just not taking the opportunity to shine. The salmon was also outstanding. Molly was a great server. Attentive but not intrusive.

It's always good to go back to Oriental Wok: good food and good service.

Everything about Alara wowed us! One of my dearest friends was in town to visit and we are both foodies! I had heard great things about Alara from other friends, so we decided to try it. I'm so glad we did. The valet parking is so nice, especially since the weather was snowy the night we dined. The atmosphere is elegant and beautifully done. No detail was overlooked. The service was impeccable. Askia, our server, was delightful...so knowledgeable. Everything he suggested was outstanding. We ordered a bottle of wine to complement our dinner choices and that enhanced the meal even more. Portions are large and perfect for sharing. I took home quite a bit for leftovers which was a huge bonus. If you love beets, the beet and goat cheese salad is a must! For our entrees, we chose the Lobster & Butternut Squash Carbonara and Seared Sea Scallops with Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash as our vegetable side dish. All were exceptionally prepared. The Carbonara had a very generous amount of lobster so you got some in every bite! Askia recommended we save room for dessert, and I'm glad we did. We had the Creamsicle Cloud and Chocolate Espresso Torte. The Cloud was the most beautiful dessert I've ever seen and it was equally light and elegant. The Torte was beyond rich and decadent. The Prisoner bottle of wine was delicious with the entire meal, but especially that rich chocolate dessert. Cincinnati is fortunate to have some fabulous restaurants, and Alara is one of them. It is a must for a special occasion or an evening of pampered perfection.

Great time was had by all. Actually tried to reserve again to share with other friends but it’s all booked up. Bad for me but great for business. I recommend it!!

The create your own feast was delicious: 2 premium, 2 classics, 2 sides--Reasonable price. Watermelon martini was delicious! Husband had a lobster punch, he said it was good! Server was good, she was training someone during her shift. Sat promptly, ordered immediately, food came out hot, they forgot to bring part of my food but it was taken care of quickly.