Reviews of Sotto (Restaurant)

Rick Petri

Great speakeasy atmosphere and fresh pasta. Service was first class as well. A little loud not that it was a problem but if you're looking for a quiet dinner this isn't it.

Clarence Ward III

Great service, and staff. Check out Clarence Ward III saxophonist and trumpeter out of Baltimore at Sotto

Christopher Knapp

The music was great, the food and drink was overpriced for the quantity. It's unfortunate because the atmosphere is really nice.

A. Garcia

Great cool place for drinks and live music if you are at the bar. I don't recommend getting a table. I brought a date here and we ended up leaving after sitting for about an hour waiting on the waiter to come up. Staff seems a bit spaced out.

Sandya Ajith

The pork belly with sunchokes is fantastic, especially the sunchokes. Edie blue and her crew were a great band.

Tom May

Atmosphere, mood, music, drinks, food, and service all outstanding. If I lived here I'd be at Sotto twice a week

Yaisa Strickland

Great atmosphere, cocktails and small plates. Live music.

Noeli Biggs

I love this place. The athmosphere. The server Nathan was the BEST. I trully recommend this place.

Grant Jones

Great spot to enjoy drinks, food, and music

Marissa Maskulyak

This was our first evening ever in Cincinnati. We searched on google for a nice and romantic place to eat. We saw the amazing pictures of the food and atmosphere and decided on Sotto. We had the BEST time at this little cozy Italiano restaurant. We sat at the bar grabbed drinks and then were seated quickly at our booth in the bar area. They were comfy leather booths and well made! Then we met the manager but I forgot his name! :( He was so kind and went over the best staples of the menu and what he recommended. He even broke down how each dish was made, where the ingredients came from, and the flavors of each dish. He welcomed us into his restaurant and we felt like we were family even though we're just visiting on a birthday trip for the weekend. Then he passed us onto our amazingly awesome and friendly server Bryan W. He was wonderful and took care of us so so well. He even surprised us with an extra appetizer of grilled octopus on the house for our special occasion. Truly a wonderful gesture that put the icing on our evening. He was a joy to talk to throughout the meal checking in often enough ensure we were well taken care of. He also put a small candle on out doughnuts as a small token for my birthday dinner! I couldn't have asked for a better evening to kick off our little trip. We thank the staff, the manager, and Bryan for making our evening truly unforgettable. We will be back for sure when we come through Cincinnati.

Madeleine Duncan

We enjoyed a wonderful foods, Best server.

corey lucas

Live music. Great drinks

Lorena Bejarano-Pineda

Great place!! Great food and atmosphere

Brandon Pitts

Nice dimly lit date night spot. the tapas is good

K Crocket

Loved the setting. The food was great and the service was wonderful. For the price you cannot beat it. We will definitely be returning.

Jamed Beardson

I thought my hotel played a joke on me when they gave me Soto's address as a good Italian place to eat. You walk into what looks like a tiny basement and are greeted by a friendly staff. Now the place is tiny but wow is the food and service amazing. They make their pasta in house and it shows, plus their steak is done so well, I still salivate thinning about ot.

Rita Jones

NICE show. NICE atmosphere for a female that wants to go solo.

Robert Reschar

Incredible food! Great experience! I understand all the high ratings now.

David Coe

This review is for the service, not the food. The food at Ghibellina/Sotto is great. However, the service was terrible at accommodating someone with a hearing disability. I made a reservation on OpenTable at Ghibellina a week in advance specifying that my mother has hearing issues (cochlear implants) and we'd request a quiet part of the restaurant next to a wall. (I understand Ghibellina is not a quiet place but just being next to a wall seems reasonable). The manager brought us downstairs to a booth in Sotto next to a wall. It was perfect. However the Sotto manager made us move as the 'owner was coming in' and wanted our booth. We requested another table next to a wall. There were some, but only had 3 seats despite being the same size as the 4 seat tables. Finally after a lot of arguing the manager agreed to push a table out slightly so we could sit there. I asked for something to be comped for all the trouble and he said yes. We had our meal and the owner didn't even arrive until we were almost finished. The bill came and nothing was comped. I complained and I think they took one drink off. Overall a terrible experience. In comparison, we ate at Tabard Inn the next day and I had put the same request in OpenTable. They were incredibly accommodating. Showed us the table next to a wall and made sure it worked for us.

Gordon Trotz

Excellent atmosphere, food, service

Tim Butz

Best dinner I've had in a LONG time! From start to finish, every mouthful was exquisite!

Freddie Dunn

Live music and decent Italian food. The pizza and pasta and antipasto are nice. The calamari misto was meh. Excellent bar, plus good selection of beer and wine. The live music is high quality, but could stand a presentation upgrade. I.E. a piano, better sound treatment etc. I enjoyed the JS Williams Quartet on a recent visit. You can go any day and catch a great band. They definitely book excellent talent, and the tables near the stage are great for a cozy dinner date. The bar at the back of the house tends to have a level of noise from conversations excetera that make it more difficult to view the band from there. In the final analysis this is one of the best rooms for live jazz in DC! It is vibrant, fashionable, and the wait staff is on point.

George V Johnson Jr

Great atmosphere, friendly faces & food was delicious. Thank you

Boniface Smorthwaite

My colleagues' and I have made Sotto our go-to restaurant when clients come to town! We have been at least 7 or 8 times for lunch now and can not get enough!Some of our favorites are the honey goat cheese spread, tortellini con formaggi, and the short rib tortellini. The icing on top is that delicious ricotta donut that comes with every meal.

Aleksandra Typski

In Washington for the weekend. Decided to pop by Sotto because of all the good cocktail reviews and I'm glad I did. Very chill atmosphere, with live jazz bands and unique cocktails. The bartender Rodrigo was very friendly and his cocktail making skills are on point. We sampled everything from the original fire, trouble no more, supernaut and new divide (which was my favourite). All the cocktails are very unique in taste and garnished to perfection. I also tried their mustard glazed cauliflower which was delicious and I highly recommend!! Would definitely visit again and I recommend checking out this spot if you haven't!

A Bx

Wonderful time. Exceptional service. Thank you, Ryan. Fantastic Food

Ryan Alexander

Amazing music. Funny bar staff. Wonderful environment. I enjoyed the eggplant dish.

Mont G

A nice and classy place for the grown and mature crowd.

William Knox

Nice but narrow.

David Terrero

Amazing food and drinks. Make sure you go there with plenty of wait time

Larayna Gilmor

Best pizza EVER!!!!!!!!! Wonderful place for a night out.

Steve Buchheit

Excellent - first time eating at Sotto - justified high ratings!

Omar Soliman

Awesome vibe, great food.

Aidan Feely

Food was amazing. The short rib ravioli was my favorite. We are at the bar and Trevor was an absolute delight! Will be back.

Alisa K

Great food, cocktails and live music!

Nick Mendillo

It was really good, priced fairly for lunch. Prosciutto tasting was delicious, and the pasta was tasty. I had the short rib cappellacci. I would recommend it for sure.

Rick Petri

Great speakeasy atmosphere and fresh pasta. Service was first class as well. A little loud not that it was a problem but if you're looking for a quiet dinner this isn't it.

Kj Nish

Went for a birthday lunch. Service was great, and foods were delicious. Will come back for a dinner the next time !!

Joe Nastri

A nice restaurant / bar concept, directly under Ghibellina but owned by the same mgmt team. A different experience (drink and food menus are completely different) than Ghibellina, food focus is on rustic American, think smoked meats and South / Midwest fare. Nice cocktail program here. Service is pleasant as well.

keith quinette

One of those places that makes a city great. I didn't expect such a great repurpose of an old basement. The ambience is romantic, perfectly candle lit and just that right amount of old funky that one could hope. The food was awesome and quite unique. I enjoyed it from the moment I walked in the door. Bring a date or sit at the bar like I did, it's a friendly place.

Miles Bowden

Food made to order. Romantic setting for a long meal, perfect for celebrating with the one you love. Server was nice and made us sample the wine before we purchased the bottle. Food was made to order. Short rib cappellacci was a perfect starter, bite size and tasted fresh. Steak was well seasoned (slightly more rare than expected) but accompanied by two hearty sides. The Ricotta Doughnuts are by far the best on the menu.

Pop/Off Marketing

Sotto has no rival in Cincinnati. This romantic, wine cellar venue offers the very best Italian cuisine in the city. Yes, it may be hard to get a table so be sure to book in advance. Worth it though. The service was impreccible and the experience was unique. This is a must try.

Calvin Alexander

Not too bad. Maybe father's day on a Sunday isn't a good time to hang out because it was 25% filled. Wasted money on tickets because they weren't even needed. So that really hurt. Overall it was on me to not think it through in advance. The previous three months the tickets were always sold out... makes me wonder if that was a dupe... hmmm Ordered pizza and it was good. Sadly you can find better at your local favorite pizza shop. Would I recommend, that's a tough one. I am willing to try it one more time because I should've considered Fathers day. The other place just above seemed more vibrant.

Melissa Barron

I love the atmosphere at Sotto. There was plenty of space and seating options, which is rare for a bar in this DC neighborhood. The wine and service were fantastic. I will definitely be back!

KBone Hatfield

Great food and even better service. Such a fun restaurant with great ambiance. High energy, in a good way. Great vibes and on a Monday no less.

Jasmine Selena Buterbaugh

Cute venue for dope music which is why I'm giving it so many stars. However, this place is REALLY overpriced. No bueno.

Michael S

I've never written a review for a restaurant before but I feel that I had to for this one. We came here two nights in a row due to how amazing the food and service was. Bryan in particular made our nights by being so friendly the first night and the second night invited us to talk with the pasta making chefs in the back after the meal. Our waitress/bartender also gave us an order of her favorite pasta after we had trouble deciding on what to order and the coin flip resulted in the short rib ravioli instead of the penne. Everyone was so willing to engage with us and they seemed happy to be there. Thanks for the best meal I have ever had.

Sly

One word impression. "Vibe", it had my flow. The place is nicely appointed and cozy. Add a friendly staff and great cocktails, you are in for a great experience. Check them out.

Pop/Off Marketing

Sotto has no rival in Cincinnati. This romantic, wine cellar venue offers the very best Italian cuisine in the city. Yes, it may be hard to get a table so be sure to book in advance. Worth it though. The service was impreccible and the experience was unique. This is a must try.

damon jackson

Great Jazz performance by Thad Wilson Kindred Soul. Had the Funghi Pizza. Now some might question the decision, but i like mushrooms and that pizza was good! I read other reviews complaining of small portions but what I saw coming out the kitchen was not small Foo foo portions. And my pie wasn't small either. Great spot and ambience. Food and drinks were a tad pricey but were pretty tasty. If I had time, I'd stay for the DJ part of the night. All in all I'd definitely come back to this spot.

Freedman Boultons

Went with a bacholar party. I split the 1kg porterhouse with a friend, amazing. We actually all tried each other's dishes, not a bad one in bunch. Their short rib ravioli was incredible. Tried most of their desserts, amazing. I'd say an average bill per person will be around $40-50. They add 20% gratuity with the bill. Our waiter was excellent. The atmosphere excellent. A must eat place.

Rose Faeges-Easton

Sotto has all the makings for a great evening...cool decor, tasty food, great live music, perfect vibe for an evening on the town but also comfortable and sociable. Plus which, Sean was 'the best'. We knew the band members playing Friday night. As Sean ran around managing all of Sotto, he took time to be so helpful and kind going out of his way to find us a table near the music. I'd highly recommend Sotto for a great night out!

Jerod Swinehart

Great venue, great staff (double emphasis), great drinks. Giving it a 4 star only because the clientele was very pretentious and not friendly at all. However, it is Logan circle.

Terrence Dennis

Small portions but excellent Italian fare. Romantic setting

Krishna Boppana

The cocktails were great. The food was good, the ambiance, the buzz is great.

Derek

This place is packed for dinner, it took me 30 min to get a seat at the bar for one. Food was fabulous but my only issue is with service time. Appetizer cam quickly within 15 minutes of ordering but I main course took forever. I asked the server to bring my main as soon as it was finished cooking regardless of my appetizer but it still took a grueling 35 min after my appetizer arrived. All in all, good atmosphere, really good food even if it was slow.

Justin

Service could have been better when we visited. Slow and not get friendly.

Meg Smith

Sleek underground bar. Drinks are decent, beer list is better than one might expect. Service is friendly and accommodating. Live jazz is a nice touch.

Michael Warling

What an amazing experience! The ambience in atmosphere in this restaurant was superb. The food quality and service was unparalleled. Will definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a step up experience

Jonathan

Good food -- limited menu options. Very friendly staff. Donut balls are fantastic.

Khalil Muhammad

Drinks were good and the music was great!!!

Heidi Kurniawan

Fantastic cocktails with a cool basement bar vibe. I tried two cocktails from their menu and my friend ordered off-menu, putting his trust in the bartender. They were all amazing! We had a great time sitting and chatting - it got a little loud once the jazz band started to play, but I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the performance.

DeShawna Fisher

Justin the bartender Rocks! Great food and great atmosphere. One of my new fav's...

Melissa Moore

Out of everywhere that I've been to, we had the best service here. Our server gave fantastic suggestions, didn't pressure us for anything and was really helpful with the menu. The only small critique I would have would be for there to be more affordable wine options. Being on a budget, I feel like we couldn't get the wine without spending an arm and a leg.

Alex DiCaprio

Hidden between pearl dive and ghibalina. Go downstairs and have yourself the best negroni I have had in DC. Other cocktails were enjoyed as well. Bar atmosphere is relaxed with a larger space for live jazz music. Definitely a solid happy hour location for those looking for a different atmosphere from the general top 40 playlist bars

Nelson Cortes

What a great gem in DC. Potentially becoming one of my favorite places. Good drinks, good food, and excellent service. The golden touch cocktail is a must. The live jazz is just fantastic and the sound is pretty good. Nice underground bar.

Matthew B

By far the best Italian restaurant in Cincinnati! Arguably the best restaurant period in Cincinnati!

Anita B.

Good drinks and music...note: Bring your credit card, no cash accepted.

Rick B

The food was amazing, and the staff was knowledgeable and very attentive. An excellent experience!

Chuck Hall

The food, service and atmosphere were all awesome. They have lunch specials that are surprisingly reasonable in cost. The portions are not huge but the quality is top notch.

Lukas Rafflenbeul

We loved the food and the music

Kenneth Lampe

Band was spectaculer

Clevie Logan

We were only in Cincinnati for a night and were really eager to try out Sotto. They fortunately were able to squeeze us in and they did not disappoint! First off, the interior is super intimate and romantic with candles lighting up the whole celar. We made sure to order a good sampling from the menu and we were very happy with every dish.

Donna Schlemmer

Such a fun place! Branzino was delicious, though a little pricy. Pasta dishes and salads delicious. No one pushes you to hurry up and eat.

Nate Gottfried

This sensuous underground bar is worth catching, if you catch it at the right time. They've gone for a fun, speakeasy-style with great local music and fantastic (but pricey, at $12 or so) cocktails. The drinks our group sampled were on point. I imagine it could get packed at times, but at 10:00 on a Friday it was busy without being overwhelming -- which is a gem for that neighborhood. I've found my new pre-show drink spot in Logan Circle.

Zachary Male

One of the best meals I have ever had. Everything was exceptional and that includes the service staff. The atmosphere is stunning. I will be back every time we come here to visit

Raphael Tisch

Hard yes. If you're thinking about coming to this underground gem, just do it. Amazing speakeasy atmosphere, regular jazz nights for $15-20, no drink minimum, and amazing italian food. Also, as someone who eats tiramisu regularly, I can say this place has the *best* tiramisu I've had in a restaurant to date. Superb.

Adrienne Kreger

If you want to feel special when celebrating one of life's wonderful occasions like a baby, then Sotto is an ideal restaurant. We scheduled our colleague's baby shower over the lunch hour. Food was delish. (Beats eating a salad at my desk.) Pastry chef went the extra mile and filled our beignets with pink, luscious filling . Waitstaff was fantastic. Yes, it was hard to go back to work!

KBone Hatfield

Great food and even better service. Such a fun restaurant with great ambiance. High energy, in a good way. Great vibes and on a Monday no less.

Chelle Carter

Looks great but way overpriced for it's items. This "speakeasy" with small glasses for drinks and Foo Foo food is for the millennials. Mustard cauliflower? Don't go here hungry.

Armando Enriquez

I was very excited to go here for my friends birthday, but they completely messed up our reservation. We made a reservation. Instead of making for the night we asked for the person that took our reservation made it for the next day. The manager Tim apologize and said he can put us downstairs at Sotto. Sotto is a cool Jazz spot but was an ideal place to be seated. We had to squeeze into this tiny booth by the entrance and we barely had room. The waiter came and took our drink order. I ordered an old fashioned with Markers Mark which was perfect however our dirnks took over 20 mins to come out. After the drinks came out we placed our orders in. I got the Carne Di Vitello Milanese (Veal) and it was mediocre at best. There was zero flavor to the meat and it was the dryest Veal I have ever had. A friend of mine is Vegan and she asked the waiter if there was anything she could eat that's Vegan and asked if he could find out what they can do for he. He said okay he'll go find out for her however he never came back. After waiting 30 mins for the waiter to come back to her about any vegan options we had to grab the manager. The manager brought over a menu and said she can get a salad...she was not happy to hear that. Eventually Tim was very accommodating and had a vegan pizza brought down from Ghibellina for her when Sotto doesn't do pizza. When our check came we noticed we where getting charged for 8 margaritas when we only ordered 6. Again we had to grab the manager. I really wished our experience was better because I was really looking forward to eating here but unfortunately our experience was not the best. I will return to Ghibellina and hope my experience will be better when I return.

Marvin Perez

This is a lovely restaurant with a great atmosphere, perfect for any occasion but has a particularly' romantic feel' to it. All the Staff are helpful, attentive and friendly with a very professional approach. The food is delicious and we all enjoyed our meals. Thank-you for a great evening.

ERIKA G

Great bar. Great live music.

herman burney

excellent!!

David Calandro

Excellent atmosphere and cuisine. Portions are small but very well prepared. Rustic below street location in downtown Cincinatti. Dark wood booths low lighting plaster and brick walls. Definitely worth the long wait. Make reservations at least a week ahead of time

Michele Otto

This is one of the best dining experiences I had in a very long time! I went there for lunch. The server was exceptional, extremely knowledgeable about wine. The place is beautiful, check out the circular wine cellar. Oh & the food, oh my God. I don't even think they had to wash our plates they were so clean hahahaha! Food was amazing!

Angie A

What a unique, gorgeous little intimate spot! After my first visit a few weeks ago, I plan to bring all of my out of town guests here for the live music. Bartenders will craft any kind of cocktail you're craving but beware, the prices do reflect the quality of the ingredients and of the skills these professionals have ($$$).

Jason Criss

Awesome, creative cocktails. Live music. A rare, true bar's bar in DC.

Andrew H

Overpriced for portion sizes. They recommended getting several items from the menu to make it more like a tasting event and the price adds up quick which wasn't worth it in my opinion. I liked the ambiance the most

Zac Smith

One of the best meals of my life! The breaded pork is out of this world. The basement like atmosphere creates an incredible ambiance. We enjoyed a 5 course meal and by the end I still wanted more. The food is that good!

Julia A. Melzer

If I could give this place ten stars I would! Hands down one of the best restaurants we’ve ever been to. We throughly enjoyed every bite from the bread & olive oil to the perfectly created pasta dishes. I had the truffle special and it melted in my mouth. I wish it never ended. Also the desserts were just heavenly, not too much nor too sweet. One will not be disappointed with a visit here. It’s a must!

Pam Morin

Food was pretty good. Pasta and pork dishes needed more sauce as they were pretty dry.

Michael S

I've never written a review for a restaurant before but I feel that I had to for this one. We came here two nights in a row due to how amazing the food and service was. Bryan in particular made our nights by being so friendly the first night and the second night invited us to talk with the pasta making chefs in the back after the meal. Our waitress/bartender also gave us an order of her favorite pasta after we had trouble deciding on what to order and the coin flip resulted in the short rib ravioli instead of the penne. Everyone was so willing to engage with us and they seemed happy to be there. Thanks for the best meal I have ever had.

Keenan Gibbs

I love how how chic/low key Sotto is. It's a great place to go an relax. The vibe here is definitely unique. The only downside is that it's underground and there's no cell service.

Colby Hennigan

From ambiance to service, to of course taste, this place has yet to disappoint. Knowledgeable staff. Reservation definitely recommended because very popular place. But we've had success walking in with no reservations and were seated within 10 minutes, so worth trying.

Andrew Gadouas

Request to be seated with Mercedes. She is a fantastic waitress!! Helped us through our menu, considering we don't often fine for Italian, lol. Get the porterhouse!! It may seem expensive, but it's BEYOND worth it!!! Also, it easily feeds two (with leftovers). For desert, the donuts... Those donuts will literally change your life. This will, from now on, be our anniversary place. Love it.

Aaron Brown

The place looks great, and a great drinks menu/bar. I think it's supposed to be reminiscent of a speakeasy, but it's just a cool basement spot.

James Esterson

This is an easy 5 star rating. Probably the best basement bar in DC, which would put it in a top running for best bars of DC in my opinion. Decore is charming, dark but not too dark. It has an interesting, long skinny layout. Table seating is in the back right in front of the stage, which plays live, mainly jazz, music nearly every night of the week. Amazing cocktails, they change every couple of months. The food's also good from what I've tried.

Scott Uhler

Hands down the best restaurant in the city. The ambiance, the food, and the drinks all combine to make for an incredible meal. It also helps that you literally can't make a wrong choice on the menu, as every dish is amazing. My personal recommendation: start with the Prosciutto e melone, followed by the polenta (when available), then move on to the Short-rib cappellacci, and then round out the meal with some amazingly smooth pannacotta. You won't be able to move afterward, and you won't care.

Matt Peppes

Great atmosphere with fun cocktails! We came for happy hour and they had a pretty good selection of cocktails and food to chose from. The speakeasy vibe was awesome and they had great music playing while we were there.

Jim Thomas

Really good homemade pasta. Not your typical Italian menu. Cool atmosphere. A little pricey but worth it.

Ana Pozos

The place, the service and the food is great!

Aprill Macias

Omg! If your ever in downtown Cincinnati Sotto is the place to eat! Went for dinner and had the bistecca! I have never tasted a steak so tender and delicious! Such a friendly staff and the environment was awesome! Will definitely come back!

Nancy Clabots

If you're in Cincinnati, this is a MUST go. The food was beyond words. The service was spot on. You weren't rushed, I will go back next time I'm in Cincinnati!

Paula Flynn

This place is amazing the venue is neat. With awesome decor. Our waitress was amazing. We all got a side for me the bruschetta was like nothing I had before. We each got a pasta to share and the steak for the main course. We ended with fried donuts to share ! We plan to do this again soon!

Thomas King

Chelsea is a kick ads bartender and she was very accommodating. We went for pre dinner drinks and then returned after dinner it was that great of an experience.

David Morar

Nice little hidden gem. A practically unremarkable door between two great spots on 14th street takes you down to an amazing location. The drinks are stiff and tasty and the atmosphere is fantastic, especially when the jazz bands play.

Justin Marshall

The best restaurant in Cincinnati. And for the price it’s also hands down the best bang for your buck fine dining establishment in town. The vibe, food, and service all work together to make this an experience that always measures up to the hype. The short rib ravioli is a staple piece on the menu and something that should not be missed. The cheese and meats boards are a fun date night experience. Also, make sure to visit for lunch where the prices are slashed considerably for the same dishes and dining experience.

Don Ray

Had a really nice dinner. Service was excellent and the food was delicious. I had the cappellacci with short rib pasta and it was amazing. Started with the cheese plate which was also very good. Only complaint was the chairs were wobbly and uncomfortable, but that only bothered me when we first sat down. Everything else was so good I soon forgot about the chair.

Munkyung Park

Not crowded on a Wednesday night - which is unusal for any bar on 14 street. It is located underground, so hard to find if you do not pay much attention and pass by. Still, HH menus are great(!), and they even have a live band starting at 8pm!

Bill Humphrey

Great ambiance and cozy place! Came here to celebrate my wife’s birthday and we ordered several dishes to share with our party. Everything was so good! The pastas are handmade and cooked to perfection! Although the service was prompt the waiter didn’t follow with some of our requests. We had to remind him couple times. Overall we had a great evening!

Joe Murrhee

Really killer atmosphere, the lounge is awesome and the drinks are great. Makes for a great end to a date night

Raheem Wilson

Good food, drinks and music!

Jessica Pena

It was good but they didn't have a couple items from the menu so that was a little disappointing.

Victoria Johnson

The music and ambience was excellent. Service was a bit slow.

Cade Nicholson

Absolutely delicious! The pasta is a tad oversalted but the flavor is still magnificent!!! This is my third time being back to Sotto and it's always worth the price! You can't get something here that isn't delicious! I'll definitely be back! The affogato is also a really good dessert option if you love coffee and ice cream!

Enam

Great jazz music with even better cocktails!!

Paula Kleiman

Our group of 10 had a wonderful time! Service was beyond excellent and the food was all that we expected. We were served family style and everything was delicious, delicious, delicious!

Lennon English

Love this spot... good food, strong drinks, and excellent music

Asia Vianna

Amazing atmosphere and vibe. I've been here a few times for the live music on Friday evenings. The drinks are great and bartenders are very experienced. I always see the manager out and about taking an active role in what is going on. I haven't eaten here because honestly the food is too prissy for me, but I love the scene. This would be a great place to have an engagement party or rehearsal dinner for a small-medium wedding. Overall cool place to come to for cocktails.

Jen Burgas

One of my favorite restaurants in Cincinnati. The best homemade pasta I've ever had. You should try the a little of everything from the menu. I had the seafood stew the last time on a really cold snowy night...it was delicious. The atmosphere is cozy and a bit dark. Love visiting this restaurant.

Shell Bell

Delicious! We will be back. Went with my fiance for his 30th bday at 5:15. Our waitress was awesome, helpful and very knowledgeable of the menu. Don't let the menu overwhelm you. The staff is on point!

Gail Smith

It was relaxing and moving listening to Christos DC. His music speaks to the Heart and Soul. He can make you feel like you are time traveling to another place with his Reggae Roots Music!

Genaro Quinn

This is a very popular restaurant with locals. It is downstairs and ceilings are low so noise factor is high. That being said the food and service are excellent. Unless you reserve many days in advance don't expect to get a reservation before 9 PM. Our reservation was at 9:15 and the place was still packed and we had to wait for a table, but it was worth it. I recommend you try it!

Brandi Hayes

Food made to order. Romantic setting for a long meal, perfect for celebrating with the one you love. Server was nice and made us sample the wine before we purchased the bottle. Food was made to order. Short rib cappellacci was a perfect starter, bite size and tasted fresh. Steak was well seasoned (slightly more rare than expected) but accompanied by two hearty sides. The Ricotta Doughnuts are by far the best on the menu.

Kate Harrow

Sotto is beyond delicious! Excellent ingredients and amazing flavors. The staff is so helpful and the ambience is cozy and warm. There is a reason why reservations go so quickly!

Wanda Cave

The music was great.

Gregory Boyer

Great place to see and hear live music!

Ryan Linehan

Great spot to eat and listen to live music. I highly recommend the porcini-rubbed ribeye & the 4 cheese pizza!

Patrick Earle

This was the best tasting meal that I've had in quite some time. The deserts were delicious. Try the fresh donuts with dipping sauces.

Steven Hendrickson

Great experience! All of the pastas are unique and provide a different stimulation of flavor. The staff is courteous and engaging. They possess a deep understanding of their food and proper timing of a dinner service.

Eduardo Esquivel

Best Italian restaurant in Cincinnati. Any dish is great but do not miss the goat cheese, hazelnut and honey starter and ricotta doughnuts for dessert

Jennifer Schleppi

Best dining experience ever. Impeccable service. Extraordinary cuisine. Charming atmosphere

Dana Addison Boyer

The band was amazing tonight I had so much fun watching and dancing. Hope Greg Boyer plays there again.

Melanie Stegman

live jazz live music live

Tim Flores

Great old fashioned!

Fay Richards

The one and only time I came here for drinks I saw a mouse run across the floor. Such a shame because the drinks were good and it had a nice atmosphere. I was hoping to come back.

Michael Richardson

Great Italian. Free dessert with lunch.

Michael Mangus

Best Italian restaurant in Cincy. Love the vibe here and that fact that I'm in a basement. Everything on the menu is great, so come hungry and try it all!

Charles Moore

We have had a series of great experiences here, from wife's 60th birthday party to celebrations of new birth of our kids kids. Excellent food, romantic feel, personal attention. We had a few gluten free (allergy) issues and had great guidance, great gluten free pasta and dessert. We love this place!

Rachel Debuque

Loved it!! great music!!

Che tana

Went for the music and was sorely disappointed. When there was a live band, there was the usual lack of acoustics in a crowded bar. While the band took a break, beyonce was on. Sigh. Any place that plays radio music is not the place for me. Bartender was friendly and obliging (I wanted a nin vodka drink off menu in a coup glass, she made it happen) $10, a decent cabernet $12.

Veronica Licha

Awesome atmosphere and great space! Very friendly bartenders and staff.

Jared T

Absolutely incredible food. The service was also excellent. This was our second trip to Sotto, and it was every bit as impressive as our first. The setting is remarkable, and the food is divine. In particular, I enjoyed the chicken liver mousse appetizer and the grilled Branzino appetizer. They serve everything family style, so you can share dishes with other members of your party. This is, without question, one of the best restaurants in all of Cincinnati.

Michael Bowie

Best bartenders, beat live music, in DC

Greg Lumb

Amazing place in downtown Cincinnati. Chefs regularly travel to Italy to update their menu and methods. Meals were very authentic and wonderful. Don't really know what I had, but From the salad, main course and donuts I left stuffed and very happy.

Rosie Allen

Awesome Food and service. Little pricey but homemade pasta and dishes are worth it. Meg was an excellent server. Love the rustic atmosphere.

Ashley Levesque

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch here on vacation. The lunch menu had some great lighter meals, which was perfect for a hot day. Not to mention the food was amazing. We were there around opening time so it was still quite but filled up nicely around the time we were leaving. The staff was very attentive and friendly.

Dawn Schaefer

We wanted to get dinner and hear live music, and Sotto delivered. The food, music, and service were all excellent. Friend Zone is a well-balanced and interesting bourbon-based cocktail. The molasses bitters give it a really nice long finish. The charcuterie plate was also fantastic, and is easily customized with the server giving us tips on which items were his favorites. We both ordered ragu-- him beef and me lamb. Both were rich and delicious, with the pasta cooked Al dente. We ordered the hefeweizen as our second drink--also an excellent choice. For dessert we had the Nutella cheesecake, which was rich and dense but not too sweet. We enjoyed both of Dante Pope's sets as well. He's a must see if you enjoy live jazz. His voice is just gorgeous. We'll be back!

Jack Owens

really fun place to go late at night!

Rogelio Vargas

You deserve it. Well deserved drinks.

Steven Garman

Good sausages but realize that there aren't a ton of selections. The drink options are great. The live music is fun.

Jared T

Absolutely incredible food. The service was also excellent. This was our second trip to Sotto, and it was every bit as impressive as our first. The setting is remarkable, and the food is divine. In particular, I enjoyed the chicken liver …

Nik McCoy

This space is barely noticeable from the street but, is stunning on the inside. I went last night to see Chaquis Maliq and was impressed instantly. I love the look and feel. There is communal seating, beautiful ambiance, decent menu (more veggie/vegan options would be great) and friendly staff. It would be a great date night or a group get together. I had the roasted brussels, lamb sausage and a mock drink that looked like a real one. LOL

Greg Lumb

Amazing place in downtown Cincinnati. Chefs regularly travel to Italy to update their menu and methods. Meals were very authentic and wonderful. Don't really know what I had, but From the salad, main course and donuts I left stuffed and very happy.

Melanie Pettit

Love this place, nice vibe! Comfy/cosy.

Julia Hoge

I went here with my SO on my birthday and we absolutely loved everything about this place! The food was great, the service was phenomenal and the dessert was oh so good! The atmosphere was a little loud and the lighting was fairly dark but we adjusted quickly.

Barry Downs

Live bands and great pandora music mixes. Great date night location. Reliable hardy food menu.

Dustin Mckeehan

Excellent food and drink and the service was awesome.

Cat Thompson

Y.all. Sotto is the best restaurant in Cincinnati. Their food is quality, their service is bar none. I brought my friggen director of operations here. Aaron is a superb and knowledgeable bartender. Eric is a friendly and hospitable manager. The rest of the team has been outstanding on my every visit. Come eat food here, stupids.

allison nielsen

Sotto has a cool vibe and is perfect for going out to dinner or for drinks with friends or for a cozy date. I'll be honest, though, I walked past this place multiple times before figuring out where it was. It's right next to Ghibellina but there is not a huge sign and since the restaurant is underground, it's not visible from the street. The ambiance is a mix of sexy and hip and the place is dimly lit. The bar was packed when I went, but I opted to get a seat at one of the tables. The menu is plentiful and has a lot of options for barbecue. The barbecue was just okay, but I lived in Nashville so I'm kind of a snob. The brisket wasn't as tender as I'm used to and the cornbread was almost entirely flavorless, which was disappointing. The brussels sprouts that I ordered before the main course, were incredible, however. I would order these time and time again. I'll definitely be back with some friends for a fun night.

Tracey M Jackson

Great venue good food and customer service

Sue Baggott

Outstanding meal. The short rib capallacci simply melts in your mouth.

Negin Sobhani

Great music, but the bar service and drink prices are unacceptable...

Skip Doyle

Lauren did a great job. Food is always delicious.

Christina Scott

Great night life scene with live DJ

Matthew Scholle

Amazing amazing amazing. Food is top of the charts good. The atmosphere is like something out of a movie. Worth the wait every time I go. Easily one ot the top 5 places in greater Cincinnati.

Jeney Wierman

The best service I've had in years. Thoughtful, caring and patient servers and staff. Came in for a birthday and they went above and beyond to make it special. Added bonus: terrific food.

Rosie Allen

Awesome Food and service. Little pricey but homemade pasta and dishes are worth it. Meg was an excellent server. Love the rustic atmosphere.

Markie Mark

Great place for comedy?

David Pittman

Nice underground bar near Logan Circle with continual rotation of live music on the weekends. Nice selection of cocktails that are well-made if not terribly potent. At $12 a pop also not priced to encourage more than one, but so it goes on thr new 14th Street now. Great as a spot to stop over on a night out, but probably not a destination if it's too late as the long narrow lounge gets very crowded.

Farah Yahyavi

Food was fantastic. Perfectly crafted cocktails. Great happy hour options. Specifically, the charcuterie tray, braised lamb dish, and the ribeye were superb! The only negative thing I would have to say is that I paid $30 for tickets for that evenings jazz show and it seems as though they opened the show to all customers whether they purchased tickets or not. I feel like that was unethical. Still, the jazz musicians were great. Perfect place for a romantic and/or chill evening on 14th st. Easily metro accessible.

Chuck Wells

Every flight in this menu is off the charts. The serving staff knows their stuff and walk you through the experience. This is one of the best Italian places in the Midwest.

Vanessa Powell

A really fun jazz bar my friends and I stumbled upon one late night. Really chill vibes here.

Ashley Levesque

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch here on vacation. The lunch menu had some great lighter meals, which was perfect for a hot day. Not to mention the food was amazing. We were there around opening time so it was still quite but filled up nicely around the time we were leaving. The staff was very attentive and friendly.

sandgk sandgk

I was lucky enough to get a reservation for Katie Parla's visit to Sotto in March of this year. The occasion being perfect for my wife's birthday celebration. Excellent combinations of wines and dishes filled the night.

Trenton Cottrill

Great BBQ in a cool spot. Live music while we were there was good as well. Sausage sampler was terrific.

Emily Moran

Phenomenal food and service every time.

Stephen Sparks

Lunch at Sotto is always a special treat. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food offered. Don't pass up on the donuts for an after meal treat.

Kara Nolan

Stopped in to have a drink and app at the bar. Lovely as always. The meat and cheese is SOOOO good! Great place! If you want to sit and eat make a reservation, at 6 it was even full at the bar already. Bartender was friendly and efficient. A must for a nice night out!

Brittany Williams

I absolutely love this place. Their food is fantastic as well as the drinks. However their bar staff is rude. They are helpful when picking out food but make you feel rushed even when the bar is 1/2 full. They love to drop your check when your drink is new and you hadn’t asked for it. It makes guests feel extremely unwanted.

Daniel In

One of my favorite bars in the city. Has the perfect mix of great cocktail, good crowd, perfect ambiance, and live music.

Hunter Holliman

Good live jazz and tapas small plates.

Yemisi Sekoni

can't go wrong with the margherita but the funghi is delicious! omg and the arugula salad with pine nuts and avocado and tomatoes sooooo yum!! and you have to get the blank space drink! yum yum yum

Fj Abraham

Excellent across the board. Possibly the best restaurant we've ever been to.

Matt Wagner

This is one of my favorite restaurants for special occasions. I’ve eaten here for lunch and dinner. The lunch prices are reasonable ($14 for an entree) and the portion size is just right. If your going to eat dinner here, bring your wallet. It can be expensive depending on what you order but it’s worth it. The food is delicious and the service is outstanding. I love the atmosphere. You feel like you are in an underground hideout. It’s not handicapped accessible.

Sarah Bevins

Cozy romantic environment. A little hard to hear in groups at busy times. Service was prompt and attentive. I had the honey walnut goat cheese appetizer and the short rib pasta for my lunch entree. Both were delicious, and the meal ended with a lovely little donut. If it wasn't impolite to lick the plates I think I may have!!

Emmanuel Manful

The music is awesome. The food is just as great. Definitely a date night place

Burt Melzer

This was a fantastic experience with great service. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the whole menu and made great recommendations on food and drinks for the whole table. Would highly recommend visiting here.

Yuliya Tk

Don't go there for dinners when you haven't eaten all day, the plate sizes (when we've been there) are all sharable and not big. But cocktails and wine are not bad and music is very good. Especially jazz.