Nicholson's Fine Food & Whisk(e)y

4.5

3073 Reviews

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Make a booking

2 people

18 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 40 times today

Experiences are available.

Lively
Charming
Neighbourhood gem

Located in downtown Cincinnati across from the Aronoff Center, Nicholson’s is a restaurant and bar serving fine food and drink in a genuine Scottish tavern setting. Taking inspiration from the public houses found throughout Great Britain, our goal is to provide our guests with authentic hospitality and a brilliant dining experience. In addition to high-quality food, we offer a wide variety of beer, wine, and spirits featuring one of the best selections of single malt scotch whiskies in the area. Our family of restaurants has grown in recent years to include two new concepts: Horse & Barrel Bourbon House and the Backstage Event Center located next door from Nicholson's Pub. Horse & Barrel is an award-winning whiskey bar with 100+ whiskeys and bourbons, specialty cocktails, craft beers, small bites and a friendly bourbon-loving staff. The Backstage Event Center is a private event venue hosting rehearsal dinners, weddings, cocktail parties, corporate events and more.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Gastro Pub, Breakfast, Seafood
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
Phone number
(513) 564-9111
Website
http://www.nicholsonspub.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Cameron Bloomer
Private party facilities
Nicholson’s is located directly across from the Aronoff Center for Arts. Nicholson’s has the largest selection of Single Malt Scotch in the region.We are a great destination for your next rehearsal dinner, graduation, business dinner or birthday party.

Location
625 Walnut St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Area
Central Business District
Cross Street
Between 6th and 7th, Across from the Aronoff Theater
Parking details
Private Lot
Entertainment
Bourbon & Blues - Live music every Thursday 6pm-9pm
Additional
Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Featured in

Experiences

Burns Night Celebration
US$75.00 per person
Prepaid
23 Jan 2025 only
Come join us for a night of Scottish revelry. Get ready for bagpipes, kilts, and lots of fun! This event will transport you to the heart of Scotland, with Celtic music, dancing, and, of course, a hearty feast. Mark your calendar and get ready to raise your glass to Scotland's National Poet at our Annual Robert Burns Night celebration. 6:00pm Ticketed Event at Backstage Event Center: $75 includes reserved seating, family-style dinner with appetizers, desserts, wine & whiskey tastings, live music by the Columbus Celtic group FinTan, entertainment throughout the evening by Robert Reid and The Cincinnati Highland Dancers, Traditional Toast to the Haggis, and more!

Popular dishes

Belhaven Beer CheeseUS$12.00
warm soft pretzels, celery, carrots
Guinness Spring RollsUS$12.00
pot roast, potato, root vegetables, creamy horseradish sauce
Crab CakesUS$16.50
lump crab meat, topped with seasoned breadcrumbs, fried, mixed greens, malt vinegar aioli
Flash-Fried BrusselsUS$9.00
parmesan, malt vinegar aioli
Fried Pork BellyUS$12.00
crispy with bourbon mustard BBQ sauce, apple turnip coleslaw
Scotch EggUS$10.00
pub mustard, mixed greens
Smoked Salmon DipUS$14.00
house-smoked salmon dip, red onion, capers, crostini, celery, carrots
Ploughman's Bread BoardUS$12.00
artisan bread, house-made cornbread, olive oil, honey butter, jam, goat cheese mousse, pickles
Charcuterie BoardUS$25.00
artisanal meat & cheese, crackers, pickles, granny smith apples, jam

Soups & Salads

Add: Chicken* $7 | Salmon* $9 | Crab Cake* $9 | Shrimp* $9

Soup du JourUS$5.00
chef's daily feature
Cock-A-LeekieUS$5.00
pulled chicken, chicken broth, leeks, golden raisins, white rice
Kentucky BurgooUS$6.00
house-made stew with chicken, pork, beef, potatoes, tomatoes, corn, carrots, onion, celery, beans, fresh baguette
Tavern House SaladUS$6.50
spring mix, dried cranberries, granny smith apples, stilton blue cheese crumbles, house-made bee pollen vinaigrette
Classic Caesar SaladUS$6.50
romaine, shaved parmesan, garlic croutons, house-made caesar dressing
Arugula SaladUS$10.00
dried apricots, arugula, feta cheese, walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette

Tavern Fare

Nicholson's Fish & Chips
hand-breaded haddock, tavern fries, coleslaw garnish, house-made tartar sauce
- WeeUS$14.00
- FullUS$18.00
Bangers & MashUS$18.00
Avril-Bleh sausage, caramelized ale onion gravy, mashed potatoes, green onions, braised red cabbage
Pot RoastUS$19.50
slow-roasted in house, three cheese macaroni, roasted carrots, topped with crispy onion straws
Shepherd's PieUS$17.00
ground lamb & beef, peas & carrots, mashed potatoes, parmesan breadcrumbs, bordelaise, accent salad
Kentucky Hot BrownUS$18.50
turkey, griddled sourdough, bacon, tomato, cream sauce

Mains

Pan Seared Salmon*US$25.00
highland beurre blanc, mashed potatoes, zucchini medley
Chicken Schnitzel*US$22.00
pretzel-crusted, lemon caper beurre blanc, clapshot, roasted carrots, scallions, crispy onion straws
Steak Frites*US$30.00
house marinated choice cut, tavern fries, garlic butter
Center Cut Pork LoinUS$21.00
slow-roasted pork loin, cranberry-apple chutney, truffle parmesan roasted potatoes, braised red cabbage
Shrimp & Grits*US$20.00
creamy sharp cheddar grits, jumbo shrimp scampi, scallions

Gastroburgers

tavern fries

Nicholson's Signature*US$15.00
sweet onion jam, yellow & white cheddar, arugula, tomato, lemon garlic aioli, butter-griddled sourdough
Bourbon BBQ & Bacon*US$15.00
beef patty, sharp white cheddar, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion
Shepherd's*US$15.00
seasoned ground beef & lamb, herbed goat cheese, lemon garlic aioli, arugula, tomato, onion
Horse & Barrel Sliders*US$13.00
Two hearty beef patties, pimento cheese, pickles

Pub Sandwiches

choice of side

Highland HaddockUS$14.00
hand-breaded, house-made tartar sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, rye
Roasted Pork SourdoughUS$14.00
jamaican jerk mayonnaise, sharp cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, butter-griddled sourdough
Welsh DipUS$17.00
prime rib, green peppers, onions, mozzarella, provolone, au jus, pretzel bun
Caledonian Grilled ChickenUS$14.00
marinated chicken, bacon, griddled onion, swiss cheese, lemon garlic aioli, lettuce, tomato, brioche bun
Corned Beef ReubenUS$14.00
sauerkraut, swiss cheese, thousand island dressing, rye

Sides

Side Dish Platter $12 | $4 à la carte; pick three side dishes, bread

Truffle Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
Tavern Fries
Mashed Potatoes
Clapshot
Mashed Potatoes & Turnips
Three Cheese Macaroni
Coleslaw
Roasted Carrots
Braised Red Cabbage
Flash-Fried Brussels Sprouts
Zucchini Medley
Artisan Bread
House-Made Cornbread

What 3,073 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.5Service
4.5Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whisk(e)y in Cincinnati is celebrated for its "fantastic experience" and "delicious food." With a remarkable Scotch selection and Scottish-themed pub ambiance, it's the perfect spot before a concert at the Aronoff Center. Guests consistently praise the "great service" and "excellent atmosphere." Enjoy live music, themed specials, and a cozy setting for a memorable dining experience.

3,073 Reviews

A
Amy
Columbus
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Celebrate my son’s birthday here. Food and service were both great.
Is this helpful?
D
Donna
VIP
Cincinnati
43 reviews
5.0
43 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious as usual and Jada and Kiera took care of our every need. A fun time again.
Is this helpful?
A
Allison
Tampa
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
We were in the back room which was lovely for my older parents who have a harder time hearing. The food was amazing, but not too much that you feel sick after eating! The cocktails were to DIE for! Our waiter was funny and kind. Made a reservation for me and my girls to go there for our Christmas dinner the same week!
Is this helpful?
A
Alisa
Cincinnati
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always a great experience! We went after seeing The Grinch, loved that they had a Grinch themed menu options!! Service was excellent! Food was amazing! Highly recommend!
Is this helpful?
J
JARLYN
Cincinnati
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
We had a great time before the Grinch show at Aronoff. The food was really good, ambiance for a 5 year old was great as well. The food took a little longer than expected but when my steak was wrong, they quickly corrected it. Great dinner before a show!
Is this helpful?
S
Sandy
Cincinnati
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Enjoyed the atmosphere, food and service! Thank you!
Is this helpful?
A
Amanda
VIP
Cincinnati
17 reviews
5.0
17 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Had a slight miscommunication when we got there about the pre-show drinks. Caleb, our amazing waiter, cleared it up. All-in-all, the food was fabulous. And Caleb made sure we had a fantastic day.
Is this helpful?
A
Aimee
New Orleans
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a great time with our young boys before a musical. Food was good; drinks were good; atmosphere was fun and festive. Try the Scottish egg.
Is this helpful?
B
Brian
Cincinnati
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
This used to be a great spot. For this visit, after waiting a long time for service, I started by ordering a nice whiskey, neat. It came out with ice, so I asked for it to be replaced. They strained the ice out of it(except for one cube they missed) and brought it back. After asking again, the finally replaced it with a neat whiskey. The appetizers were great. About 25 minutes after ordering, they came to inform us that they were out of mashed potatoes (this is a Friday night and mashed potatoes are a feature in multiple dishes), so the 2 people who ordered bangers and mash had to either substitute or pick something else. So… bangers and potato chunks? The waitress was very friendly and accommodating. The dessert was also delicious.
Is this helpful?
A
Amanda
Cincinnati
5 reviews
1.0
5 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 3
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 2
I go to Nicholson's a lot before going to the plays at the Aronoff. We were seated at 5:30 but our server got three tables at the same time. We waited forever for drinks, never got the appetizer that we ordered. Our food took so long to come out, that even though my son asked for no sauce on his burger but it had the sauce. I had to ask for our bill before the food came out so that we would make it to the plays on time. Very nice server but she could not keep up with all her tables.
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FAQs

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whisk(e)y offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Nicholson's Fine Food & Whisk(e)y also offers takeaway which you can order by calling the restaurant at (513) 564-9111.

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whisk(e)y is rated 4.5 stars by 3073 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people

18 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 40 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Nicholson's Fine Food & Whisk(e)y

625 Walnut St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross Street
Between 6th and 7th, Across from the Aronoff Theater
Area
Central Business District
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Gastro Pub, Breakfast, Seafood
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment Options
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Cameron Bloomer
Entertainment
Bourbon & Blues - Live music every Thursday 6pm-9pm
Additional
Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Website
http://www.nicholsonspub.com/
Phone number
(513) 564-9111
Private party facilities
Nicholson’s is located directly across from the Aronoff Center for Arts. Nicholson’s has the largest selection of Single Malt Scotch in the region.We are a great destination for your next rehearsal dinner, graduation, business dinner or birthday party.

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whisk(e)y

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

100 Cincinnati / Dayton Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

The Best Bars for Foodies in Cincinnati

Burns Night Celebration

Shepherd's Pie

Crab Cakes

12 Sandwich

Starters

Belhaven Beer CheeseUS$12.00

Guinness Spring RollsUS$12.00

Crab CakesUS$16.50

Flash-Fried BrusselsUS$9.00

Fried Pork BellyUS$12.00

Scotch EggUS$10.00

Smoked Salmon DipUS$14.00

Ploughman's Bread BoardUS$12.00

Charcuterie BoardUS$25.00

Soups & Salads

Soup du JourUS$5.00

Cock-A-LeekieUS$5.00

Kentucky BurgooUS$6.00

Tavern House SaladUS$6.50

Classic Caesar SaladUS$6.50

Arugula SaladUS$10.00

Tavern Fare

Nicholson's Fish & Chips

Bangers & MashUS$18.00

Pot RoastUS$19.50

Shepherd's PieUS$17.00

Kentucky Hot BrownUS$18.50

Mains

Pan Seared Salmon*US$25.00

Chicken Schnitzel*US$22.00

Steak Frites*US$30.00

Center Cut Pork LoinUS$21.00

Shrimp & Grits*US$20.00

Gastroburgers

Nicholson's Signature*US$15.00

Bourbon BBQ & Bacon*US$15.00

Shepherd's*US$15.00

Horse & Barrel Sliders*US$13.00

Pub Sandwiches

Highland HaddockUS$14.00

Roasted Pork SourdoughUS$14.00

Welsh DipUS$17.00

Caledonian Grilled ChickenUS$14.00

Corned Beef ReubenUS$14.00

Sides

Truffle Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

Tavern Fries

Mashed Potatoes

Clapshot

Three Cheese Macaroni

Coleslaw

Roasted Carrots

Braised Red Cabbage

Flash-Fried Brussels Sprouts

Zucchini Medley

Artisan Bread

House-Made Cornbread

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does Nicholson's Fine Food & Whisk(e)y offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Nicholson's Fine Food & Whisk(e)y restaurant rated?

Is Nicholson's Fine Food & Whisk(e)y currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

100 Cincinnati / Dayton Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

The Best Bars for Foodies in Cincinnati