Sotto Review

Such a fun experience and environment! Pasta was amazing. The cheese and hazelnut app was to die for. The ricotta donuts for dessert are a MUST! Great service as well!

italian food, yeah, so good. The service here is above par. The bill was well within reason for the quality.

Nasty disgusting place. Did floor work here. Definitely wouldn t eat anything from this place...

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.

Food and wine were delicious! Definitely don't be in a hurry at Sotto. I was with a group of 6 and we were there for more than 2 hours, enjoying wine, appetizers, and our meal.

Over rated very expensive slow service don't get the big deal very dark

Underground restaurant with amazing food. One of Cincinnati's nicest restaurants! Wheel chair accessable from the restaurant located above.

Italian food and service at this location is great. Great ambiance & decor. Prices that are reasonable. Food and atmosphere reminds me of Kansas City.

Best in cincy! Wish gnudi (spelling?) was in the menu all the time!

Cozy cellar atmosphere, homeade pasta, and ricotta doughnuts are awesome

This place is very high quality. From the atmosphere to the menu, I am highly impressed with Sotto. The flavors and textures of each dish were so perfect I was blown away. I loved the donuts too!

My husband and I had the best meal thus far in our lives last night at Sotto! Candlelit, hip, and most importantly delicious. Our servers Paul and Hillary were top notch and walked us through the menu and their recommendations, which were on point. We had the polenta, octopus, cappellacci, gnocchi, tiramisu, donuts... all were decadent and left my eyes rolling back in my head! My husband also had a cocktail (il palio) which was delicious. Overall absolutely amazing! We will be back!

The smells, food, wine, and atmosphere are all my favorites when coming here. They serve family style dinners and every bite is an explosion of taste. You can even eat there at lunch time, the portions are smaller but it comes with a complimentary dessert donut hole drizzled in caramel. If you like red wines ask your server about an unfiltered volcanic red, this is my number one choice every time. The honey bruschetta is great appetizer option and the gnocchi I could eat all day. You may need to make a reservation and parking is tricky so give yourself enough time. The restaurant is underground so make sure you look it up on Google Maps and see a satellite view so that you know where you're going.

Great dinner. The waiter was great and explained everything.

Great italian food, romantic atmosphere. One of the hippest spots in town.

Outstanding bar options and food. Was in town for one night and happened to be a recommendation. Hand made pastas and house made sausage were wonderful.

Very weak menu. Good choice of appetizers. Service was slow. Not much flexibility. Probably won't return

Absolutely love this restaurant and the staff is amazing too. They have such a wonderful team and I cannot wait to get in again very soon!

Atmosphere, food, and service excellent. Highly recommend.

Great atmosphere. Pasta dishes were exceptional. Fish and steak dishes were plated well but average in flavor

Let me preface this review that I am a straight up urban, inner city fella with little education past high school. I've walked past this place multiple times and have always been intrigued by it. Walking in is an experience, thinking I'm about to enter the fanciest murder dungeon. A very nice decor with exposed stone, brick and wood with excellent mood lighting. The music playlist, Motown. The menu...can be a bit intimidating. It seems to be mostly pasta and entrees and you might want the servers or Googles help determining what you want. I went the fried pork loin with capers and what seemed a lemony white wine sauce with a fried egg on top. Very tasty, paired well with my Normandie, a pear and applejack kind of cocktail. While I wasn't blown away, the dish was tasty nevertheless. And to top it off, when I thought I was done....a ricotta doughnut as a last minute dessert, something they seem to offer at the end of meals. This can be a nice spot for a small (4-6) group or a business meeting but I think this kind of spot lends itself best as a date background. Don't be scared of all the Italian on the menu. It's worth a try.

Food was excellent and atmosphere is very unique. Very dimly lit with candle light during dinner hours. Staff was very polite and helpful, especially our waitress, Hillary.

Quick bar order for late night donut holes fix for me and the wife. Always great service, and best food in the city!

Wow. I mean really, WOW. This was one of the best experiences we have ever had dining. Words can't describe how much we enjoyed dining at Sotto. Just go, you won't regret it...

Would definitely recommend trying out this place. Exceptional vibes, delicious food, fantastic service. Keep up the good work.

Delicious food, exceptional service, wonderful atmosphere

Fresh amazing food and excellent, attentive staff. Everything I tried was excellent

Hunk of plastic in our salad and no one addressed it until after we paid! Unacceptable!!!

My favorite Italian meal ever. Loved the pate appetizer.

This restaurant is subterranean and where La Normandie used to be located downtown. The ambiance is special with exposed brick, farmhouse tables and soft lighting. The food was delicious. The portions are smaller, but all food was very fresh. I saw a man through glass making pasta. The bruschetta was memorable with goat cheese and honey. It's delicious. The risotto donuts are a must. They are served hot with 3 dipping sauces. The salted caramel was my favorite.

Not very big portions. I thought the one dish was very creamy but lacking flavor. Honestly for the price, the food was terrible and our waiter was also terrible. The doughnuts we're delicious.

This restaurant was such a treat! I was out with girlfriends and didn't know where we were going. Felt like a speakeasy or cool club you would have to know about to get into. Inside, that vibe continued. Dark, romantic, swanky. The food is more traditional Italian - not regular pasta that Americans think of - but what locals in Italy eat and recommend such as small plates of meats, cheeses, etc. I suggest family style dining here. Order several things and share - esp if you are there with a few people. Doing that as a couple is harder and gets more expensive. Was on the pricey side but felt totally worth it and divinely indulgent! Amazing service too! Bon appetit!
TIP: Reservations recommended

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.

Some of the best food in the city. Em was a great waitress.

Amazing, as always. One of the best restaurants in the US for a reason. Truly worth traveling to if you aren't local. If you are, and haven't eaten here, you need to.

We absolutely love this restaurant!! The food is delicious!! My favorite is the branzino, kale salad and the pasta dishes are the best! They're very accommodating and friendly!! Every time we visit downtown Cincinnati we come to Sotto!! During lunch they give you the best free dessert which is ricotta cheese balls with caramel sauce!!!

This establishment has earned a 5 star rating because of consistent food and service for the past 3+ years we have been dining here. We have never left disappointed with our meal, would recommend trying the Goat Cheese & Hazelnut Honey Bruschetta, the Polenta & Short Rib Cappellacci.

Best anniversary dinner ever! Chef Woody has a gift! Our server Meg was very knowledgeable about wine and did an amazing job! Our service and dinner was taken to the next level!!

This place is lowkey, dimly lit, and warmly inviting. Located underground with brick and wood elements and candles on the tables. Service was detailed and amazing. Food was even better. Ordered bruschetta, torta bread with oil, cacio e pepe and an espresso and ice cream dessert. Everything was absolutely delicious. I would recommend this place for a romantic dinner or special occasion....or to just enjoy really great food in a relaxing environment.

Trendy place that doesn't deserve it. The arugula was flaccid, the pasta excellent but not a meal, the music was awful and loud, our table too big for our party of 8 and we couldn't hear the others.

Completely awesome place! Food and service are GREAT!!!

This is a really beautiful restaurant. Great waitstaff, especially Anthony. The food is amazingly delicious, especially the pasta dishes. Great desserts as well.

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.

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.

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

Definitely not an oversold experience. Staff was friendly and helpful with a sense of pride in what they do; exactly what you expect when you're out for a nice dinner. The food was amazing. Not a single dish disappointed. It's not inexpensive, but nothing about the experience is cheap and prices were very reasonable for what you get. We'll definitely be back.

Fantastic food and a wonderful space. The wine list is also completely Italian, which is a nice touch. Service the evening that I visiting was absolutely exceptional.

Me and my wife went here last night for our 1 year anniversary and it was absolutely amazing! We were seated immediately even though we showed up early for our reservation. The setting and environment are romantic and intimate. Authentic Italian food like this is difficult to find but Sotto has it perfect. Every course is thoughtfully prepared and is set up to share which makes it a great place to come and sit for a while with a couple glasses of wine. We ended up being there over 2 hours but it felt like every minute was intentional. Part of this is thanks to our incredible server Megan who was extremely knowledgeable and helped us understand the menu and pair wines for he dishes. It was a great evening and we will be coming back again!

Incredible gastronomical experience! The service was excellent and the food amazing. It was such a wonderful birthday that I'll never forget!!!

Amazing atmosphere and great food. Waiter/waitress will explain the menu in detail for those that haven't eaten there before. You must get the ricotta doughnuts for desert, they are ridiculously good.

Try all three classic Roman pastas, black kale ceasar op.

Had a wonderful evening. Best food served. Views were breathtaking. Service was excellent.

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!

If you haven't been to Sotto you need to go. The dark lighting and exposed brick walls lend a to a very cool and enjoyable and the atmosphere and the food and service is great as well.

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.

Always fantastic. Been here a few times for special occasions. It's a little pricey but there's a reason it's that expensive as usual. Try the breaded pork. Amazing.

The place is very beautiful, in the basement of a building, good food and great desserts, especially donut centers with sweet sauces from the house

Visited during COVID. The food was good. The atmosphere was expected. The service was fair. Nothing was wrong, we just expected a little more in terms of food and especially service. Hopefully, this is just due to the current circumstances.

amazing! great atmosphere, and the food is top notch.

The ambience is beautiful and very refined, it really looks like the upgraded version of an Italian taverna (a restaurant in a sort of brick vaulted basement). Portions are more than decently sized. Flavors are good and ingredients are of great quality. Service is kind and attentive. However, everything was too savory. I had a cacio e pepe, which is a salty dish per se due to the pecorino cheese. It was good, and yet so salty I could barely finish it. My dad s amatriciana, instead, was too spicy not only for the recipe, but in general - and my dad eats very spicy food. As a secondo we got the tagliere di salumi. The homemade pancetta, again, was not bad , it was just incredibly weird to us - of all herbs, nobody has ever used rosemary. Desserts were bland in taste. Prices are fairly high, but it s downtown Cincinnati, what would you expect?

Very dimly lit yet interesting place. Surprised at first by the low lighting level provided essentially by candlelight we soon adapted and accepted the romantic atmosphere

Probably the coolest restaurant in the city, great for date nights. Food was amazing, must try any of the bruschetta

Tough to get a reservation, but worth it. Pricey but not nearly as much as other restaurants of the same caliber. Staff and food were awesome!

Insanely cool layout to the restaurant. Service was great and food was tasty. Portions could've been a little bigger.

Staff is excellent. The food is to die for. I highly recommend Sotto.

Simple, elegant, Italian countryside inspired dining....wonderful ambience, excellent service, exceptional yet affordable wine list...any questions????