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Reserve a table
2
Tue, 3/19
8:00 PM

Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Food and ambience

About
It is a concept of casual intimacy and communal romance.Sotto is the art of simplicity, a steward of restraint. It’s undressed, gutsy and human. It is fire, meat, wheat, and laughter. Above all, Sotto is Italian.
PRICE RANGE
$20 - $50
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Dinner, Drinks
CUISINES
Italian, European, Tuscan, Central-Italian
FEATURES
Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Valet Parking, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Gift Cards Available
Reviews (812)
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791 results
Traveler rating
614
116
39
13
9
Traveler type
Time of year
LanguageEnglish
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Traveler rating
614
116
39
13
9
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All reviews pasta ricotta donuts branzino black kale panna cotta bread steak our waiter salted caramel menu items special occasion underground dipping entrees caesar cincy
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Reviewed 3 weeks ago via mobile

Make your reservations early for this outstanding Cincy restaurant. We were a group of 5 well-traveled ladies who aren’t afraid to pay for fine food and superb service. First the food: every dish knocked our socks off. Perfectly prepared Octopus, polenta on toast. The small...salami and cheese board is much larger than we expected. I ordered the truffle pasta which was delightfully smothered in shaved black truffles. Two of my friends enjoyed gluten free pasta and couldn’t believe how great it was. Best branzino they ever had as well. The finale was a salted hazelnut mousse, which in its simplicity was devine. Adriana was our server who earned every penny of generous gratuity. She took a keen interest in our group, our preferences and exceeded all expectations. In short Sotto is not to be missed when in Cincy!More

Date of visit: February 2024
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Reviewed January 13, 2024 via mobile

The vibe awesome. The service amazing. The food out of this world. I chose the spot with my boyfriend, and I were traveling to Cincinnati, because I was in the mood for some Italian food. I didn’t realize this was a SPOT! There was good...music, playing, candlelight and dim lights. Making it very romantic. we sat at the bar, and enjoyed several delicious cocktails. Our bartender made several recommendations from the menu, and we were not disappointed. We were blown away will definitely come back.More

Date of visit: January 2024
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Reviewed December 18, 2023

One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Snagged a seat at the bar, had the tartare di fassone to start, followed by the short rib cappellacci, and then the branzino for the main course. everything was awesome.

Date of visit: December 2023
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Reviewed November 18, 2023

Charging $50 for corkage fee is super greedy, especially since we got our food before the bartender even asked about the wine. Except for the initial pour, our glasses were never refilled. I dine at some of the best restaurants in the world, in the...US,$50 corkage is the most I ever paid, and that comes with appropriate service Shame on you.More

Date of visit: November 2023
Helpful?2  
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Reviewed October 29, 2023 via mobile

Really good ambiance and service. The food was very good but not excellent. The salad dressing just made it very sour, the alio olio was alright. Truffle pasta was indeed excellent. Homemade pasta makes it a good culinary experience.

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed October 17, 2023

OMG! We missed our reservation when we first arrived (late flight) and unfortunately there were no other reservations available. We thought we'd have to miss this one but on our last night decided to wait in line and get added to wait list. Let me...tell you it was worth the wait! We were seated at a group table next to two lovely couples. Our waiter (Brandon) was fabulous and explained the menu and dishes in detail while encouraging a truly familial atmosphere. Pasta is made fresh in house and everything is made with quality ingredients. I am married to an Italian whose family pride themselves on their cuisine and cooking skills but I have to say (quietly so she doesn't kill me) that Soto's food is even more outstanding than Nonna's (if she reads this I'm a dead man). The breads are fresh baked, simple, yet flavorful. The pasta (my mouth salivates even thinking about it) is divine! Fresh, light, and cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of sauce and filling. It's heaven on earth! Each dish is the perfect size. Salads are amazing and the broccolini is divine. We ended up sharing with the two couples beside us so we all got to experience different dishes. One thing for certain, you CAN NOT leave without having the ricotta filled doughnuts for dessert!!!! HEAVEN ON EARTH!!!!!! Surprisingly the price is extremely reasonable for what you get. Dining at Soto is an experience. If you go in October definitely try the white truffles. They are only available once a year. SOTO definitely is my #1 place and must see restaurant for Cincinnati. If you don't have a reservation it is definitely worth the wait!More

Date of visit: October 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed October 17, 2023

Fabulous meal! The flavors for each course were amazing. Our only criticism- the music was way too loud, and some Italian would have been more appropriate. The menu and decor were very Italian, but not the music.

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed October 7, 2023 via mobile

Expensive but 100% worth it! Drinks, apps, entrees all perfection! Atmosphere was wonderful! Our waiter was very attentive and friendly!

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed September 26, 2023

My husband and I had dined at Sotto two nights ago with his business colleagues. We had a fantastic dinner. Corrin was our server that night; she was knowledgeable, personable, and passionate about her job. We returned tonight and were able to be seated at...the bar, and,had another enjoyable dining experience with Kelly K. The rigatoni con pomodoro dish was phenomenal. as was the pesto dish. Corrin was working in a different section but remembered us, and made sure we were taken care of at dessert time. We were very impressed with the attentiveness and quality of the staff at Sotto. We will definitely be back next time we are in Cincinnati!More

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed September 17, 2023 via mobile

Sotto, tucked into a brick walled basement lair, has the best Cacio e Pepe in the country. That’s a fact, no doubt. I’ve tried many, as my belly proves. Sotto is a wonderful restaurant, with a great bar. Service is efficient, if not particularly warm....This was a return visit to Cincinnati after eight years. Sotto was a must visit.More

Date of visit: September 2023
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Reviewed August 26, 2023

They NAILED the cacio e pepi. That dish is really tricky to get right. I've eaten it in many restaurants in Italy, and this was as good or better than any of those. Noise level (on a Monday!) was conversation-challenged.

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed July 19, 2023 via mobile

Perhaps the best Italian dining experience in the U.S. everything was great from the cool ambience, to the professional and attentive service, and the creative and tasty meals. Sotto has maintained the traditional dishes of Italy and added their own flair at a reasonable price....They offer a nice selection of Italian wines at a variety of price points.More

Date of visit: July 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed May 21, 2023 via mobile

The wood fired Branzino was something special. Cooked perfect. Black kale Caesar was good The atmosphere had extremely loud music in main dining room as a drawback for large group conversation.

Date of visit: May 2023
Helpful?1  
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Reviewed March 9, 2023

Simple looking dishes that wander through the flavors of family, friends and childhood. Nothing is as simple as it seems. The short rib pasta rests in a light, elegant sauce that we ordered extra bread to finish off as we didn’t want it to waste....The pasta pomodoro dissolves into layers of subtle tomato, spice and warmth. The fig Old Fashioneds are familiar yet exotic. Desserts were equally simple looking yet not what they seem; complex textures and flavors in donut holes? Seriously? Art. I just spent a week in Florence and a week in Rome and didn’t have food of this caliber. Michelin, are you listening?More

Date of visit: March 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed February 22, 2023 via mobile

Arrived about 6:00 pm without a reservation. Only available seats were at the bar. Very noisy. The food (food tartare and insulate) was wonderful and served very quickly. I will return for different selection.

Date of visit: February 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Questions & Answers
Ask a question
Pathfinder776966
December 11, 2018|
AnswerShow all 4 answers
Response from SANCarolyn | Reviewed this property |
Yes. Only one size. Sorry. But it’s delicious! Great to take home leftovers.
0
Votes
anthonywM1253CT
October 14, 2018|
Answer
Response from frugalm0m | Reviewed this property |
huh?
0
Votes
831clayb
June 23, 2018|
AnswerShow all 5 answers
Response from George B | Reviewed this property |
I wouldn't say so. My wife and I wore nice casual clothes, and that was fine. Some people were wearing business dress, because we were there on a weekday.
3
Votes
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SOTTO, Cincinnati - Central Business District - Menu, Prices, Restaurant Reviews & Reservations - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Sotto

Sotto is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travelers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4.5
  • Value: 4.5
  • Atmosphere: 4.5