Alara

Review summary

1. C

   Cecilia

   Cincinnati

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Everything is delicious very good service. Food it’s amazing we love all the entrees The winters are wonderful and explain every detail thank you.
   

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2. D

   Dawn

   Cincinnati

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   I took the hubby to Alara in Cincinnati tonight to celebrate his 50th and o m goodness!!! Not only was the meal fire! but the service was top-notch! We started with bread and finished with dessert. Every bite of every dish was so full of flavor that we took our time and savored every minute. If Y'all are EVER near Alara, please stop in. Grab a dessert. Grab a drink. Sit down and watch them prepare your ENTIRE meal in an open kitchen. You won't be disappointed i promise!!!
   

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3. B

   Bill

   VIP

   Cincinnati

   46 reviews

   5.0

   46 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   In my opinion, the is THE BEST RESTAURANT in Cincinnati. I’ve eaten at many phenomenal restaurants traveling often to big cities everywhere. Run, don’t walk, to this magnificent restaurant and ask for Kristina to serve you. We shared six dishes and they were unique, innovative, healthy memorable… Foodies unite! Go now! You won’t be able to get a reservation a month from now.
   

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4. A

   Amy

   Cincinnati

   8 reviews

   3.0

   8 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 2

   We had very mixed feelings about Alara's atmosphere and food, but no mixed feelings about the fantastic service and hospitality. From the valet, to the door service and hostess, to our server, everyone was so friendly and helpful. Our server Christina was lovely and described the menu in utmost detail. She was very attentive and actually asked our opinion on what we thought about our drinks and food. It was very refreshing to have her ask what we really thought. (I have no idea if that will go anywhere at all) We had reservations on a Friday night at 6:30pm and were seated promptly in a very comfortable booth in the back room. However, this room felt like we were in a hotel restaurant. It had no atmosphere whatsoever. We were sad we didn't get to sit in the main, very well decorated and energetic area that we walked through to get to our seats. Boo. Now, about the drinks and food. We have dined at most high-end restaurant in Cincinnati, and I have to say that Alara is very overpriced. I know that restaurants are struggling with food costs etc., but $58.00 for 6-7 ounces of Sea Bass on a bed of Swiss chard and 8 tiny mushrooms is a lot. There was only about 4 tiny leaves of chard and the rest was all stems. The shrimp tagliatelle had an ample amount of shrimp, but the pasta was cooked just a bit too long. It was very lemon forward and could have benefitted for just a bit more fat from butter or cream. The Tuna Crudo was fresh and had a pleasant mix of flavors from the yuzu tamari and citrus, but there was so much extra "sauce" that drowned out the tuna. We love beef carpaccio, but just know that their beef is crusted in berbere, which has warm spices in it (think light 5 spice flavors). I loved it, but wife is very adverse to this flavor and didn't like it at all. We thought it was just going to be raw beef like we know of a carpaccio. We ordered a Cucumber Collins, which was refreshing but weak, and a Smoked Pear, which was way sweeter than I prefer.
   

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5. G

   Greg

   VIP

   Cincinnati

   21 reviews

   3.0

   21 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   They have a back room of tables but it’s not near as nice as out front so sadly our “experience” wasn’t as remarkable as last time. Food was good, service was great.
   

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6. A

   Alex

   Alabama

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   Ordering a cocktail seemed to take a while. The ambiance of the restaurant is fantastic. Manager checked on us often. The server said she’d course out our evening and we even restated that we’d like the first course, then second, then third and she agreed. We then got our shrimp and salad at the same time. That is mostly our biggest gripe. The food wasn’t bad at all, just didn’t have the separation factor that a place like Jeff Ruby’s does but it is priced very similarly.
   

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7. J

   Jim

   VIP

   Cincinnati

   28 reviews

   2.0

   28 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Beautiful place, tremendous service, noise kept to a modest level. Food started off good (but just good), then with main dishes descended to barely or not acceptable. But the prices are those of a fine dining restaurant. Having been to about every fine dining place in town, I would say Alara has a long long way to go to measure up to the standards of so many of them. Went to dinner with a Chinese person and an Italian. So the pasta had better be very good, and the rice better make the grade. Two fails. The Italian woman said the gnocchi dish was 'an insult'. The rice also received a huge thumbs down, as did the Kale Caesar, the salmon, the sprouts. Would need a very positive review from someone we knew and trusted before we would return.
   

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8. K

   Karen

   Cincinnati

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   What a wonderful spot to enjoy a delicious meal with outstanding service! A must for anyone who loves outstanding food.
   

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9. D

   DJ

   Cincinnati

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on January 12, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing presentation and service. Server was very informative.
   

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10. R

    Ria

    VIP

    Singapore

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 12, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3

    Expensive but the food was not up to the mark. We were seated next to the kitchen and it wasn’t as nice as the rest of the restaurant. Service was great!
    

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