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Alara, Cincinnati, OH

Alara

4.6
4.6
335 Reviews
$50 and over
Contemporary American

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2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 26 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for business meals
  • Innovative
A contemporary American restaurant located at Madison Square in Madisonville. Alara invites you to an immersive dining experience that encourages exploring, sharing, and tasting your way through innovative dishes that are expertly prepared and exquisitely presented. Featuring a seasonal menu emphasizing prime meats and seafood, the culinary team utilizes luxury ingredients to create fun and approachable dishes for every diner. With an open kitchen that fosters a social atmosphere, Alara strips away the conventional formalities of fine dining while focusing on high-quality food and next-level hospitality in a lively yet elegant setting.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Steak, Seafood
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (513) 272-5315
  • Dress code
    Business Casual

What 335 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Alara offers a "beautiful setting" with a blend of modern elegance and cozy charm. Known for its "creative cuisine" and shareable dishes, the restaurant provides "outstanding service" and exceptional attention to dietary needs. Diners praise the "phenomenal food," particularly the lobster gnocchi and scallops. Perfect for special occasions.

335 Reviews
  1. Dawn

    Cincinnati

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined today

    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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  2. Bill

    VIP

    Cincinnati

    46 reviews

    5.0

    46 reviews

    Dined 1 day 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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  3. Amy

    Cincinnati

    8 reviews

    3.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 2 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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  4. Greg

    VIP

    Cincinnati

    21 reviews

    3.0

    21 reviews

    Dined 2 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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  5. Alex

    Alabama

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 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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  6. Jim

    VIP

    Cincinnati

    28 reviews

    2.0

    28 reviews

    Dined 5 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.

    1 person found this helpful

  7. Karen

    Cincinnati

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 6 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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  8. DJ

    Cincinnati

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing presentation and service. Server was very informative.

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  9. Ria

    VIP

    Singapore

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    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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  10. angela

    Cincinnati

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on January 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delish! Amazing with food allergies. The ambiance and experience was exceptional.

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FAQs

Alara is rated 4.6 stars by 335 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 26 times today
Google Map for Alara

5410 Medpace Way, Cincinnati, OH 45227

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Madison Road and Red Bank Rd.
  • Neighbourhood
    Oakley
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Steak, Seafood
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Additional
    Chef's Table, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking
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  • Terms of Use
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