My wife and I ate at 20 Brix on Saturday night. We thought the food was extremely creative and our service was excellent. It is a cute restaurant in Milford. It was nice not to have to go downtown and pay for parking. Â
We shared the shrimp and grits and the fried chicken. They were both very good. The Fried Chicken was sitting atop a bed of greens using a waffle as the base. We split the Brussels Sprouts side  We enjoyed our meals.
I do think the food was a little pricey for what you got, but it was competitive relative to other restaurants of similar quality.
They do have a good selection of wines to choose from. I will say one thing that I found very odd was when I ordered a Summit Lake Late Harvest Zinfandel dessert wine, the 2 oz pour was 12.25 and the 1 oz pour was $6. I was going to order 2 1 oz glasses to make a point but I didn't. I know dessert wine is expensive, but I thought the $12.25 was a real stretch. My wife and I have been to Summit Lake several times, so I decided to splurge. I enjoyed the wine, but did not care for the price.
We will come back.
Excellent spot for a date, or a special occasion. Â Top notch service and wine selection. Â The beer selection was solid, albeit not as robust as I would have liked it. Â We went for a birthday, and so we had a wide variety of dishes to share. Â Now, the waiter recommended the seasonal dishes, and we did not take him up on the offer, we stuck to the flatbreads, and appetizers, and while everything was good, nothing blew me away. Â Flatbreads, pozole, and chicken and waffles, it's really just fancy comfort food. Â 5 star experience, 3 star food, 4 star booze, Â divide by 3 and BAM, I'm a fan.
Review Source:My parents recently moved to Cincinnati so my father relied on my suggestion for a family dinner to celebrate my mom's birthday. I had heard great things about 20 Brix so I thought it would be a great time to check it out. And I'll have to admit, I was a little disappointed.
For starters, the restaurant is also paired with a wine shop and they claim the largest wine selection of any Cincinnati restaurant. I did like that they offered 2 different-sized pours - 2 oz and 5 oz - but was surprised by the steep price, especially for the 2 oz pours (why spend $6 on 2 oz when I can get a full glass of good wine at that price elsewhere!) We elected to get a bottle since we knew we all wanted wine. While the bottle prices are steep as well, they're not outrageous and we were able to find a decent wine. Unfortunately when the bottle was brought to us the wine was a bit too warm for my taste, which surprised me since typically red wine is served a little bit cooler than room temperature.
On to the food, which was admittedly delicious. Our server started us with bread and butter, and I was immediately impressed that the butter was flavored with lime and ginger - a great touch! We ordered a cheese plate as an appetizer which left me unimpressed. I've tried many cheese plates around the city and this definitely wasn't one of the my favorites.
Three of the four of us at dinner ordered a pizza as our dinner since that is what sounded the best. And once again none of us were overly impressed with the meal. Overall the food was good, just not as good as the price may suggest. And while I wouldn't be opposed to returning, I'm definitely not dying to go back.
We like 20 Brix for the following:
*Very good food, including seasonal chef's offerings
*Inspired cuisine for sure
*Extremely comfortable environment, really relaxed but very upscale atmosphere
*Fantastic selection of wines Â
*Wine bar (outstanding), seats about 10, always 20-30 open wines by the glass
*Clay the GM: he's a vibrant and charming host and great ambassador for the restaurant. Â We met him at our table on Valentine's Day and spoke at length about the wine we had brought in ($15.00 corkage fee, not horrible, considering they have their own excellent wine shop off to the side, and the restaurant list is extensive)
These people are serious and passionate, and it's in little old Milford Ohio. Â Great place if you can afford it.
What we don't like about 20 Brix:
A) Although great wines by the glass at the wine bar, no draft beer. Â Having said that, they have a good selection of microbrewery bottled beer plus the regulars so this is a minor issue and it's how they want to present their concept.
B) Pricing is moderately to fairly expensive. Â It's quite easy to drop a C-note for 2 people without even trying; we've done it more than once. Â The value of 20 Brix, I have to say, is that it's a special restaurant for special occasions. Â It is definitely not a weekly watering hole unless you have a high level of self-discipline. Â Which is a shame, because we like it so damn much. Â If I wanted to own a special upscale restaurant, this would be a good one to pattern.
Final Note: They do have a happy hour and there are both food and drink specials I believe. Â (Closed on Sundays)
20 Brix is outstanding in every respect: ambiance, service, decor and of course FOOD. Had one of the best steaks ever here, Ohio-raised, grass fed. The kitchen has a philosophy that guides their approach to the menu, and it clearly shows. Fantastic wine list ( I enjoyed the Drouhin) and highly recommended.
Review Source:Fun fact from the 20 Brix website: "Developed by the German chemist Adolf Brix, the Brix scale is the measure of sugar in a liquid. Winemakers look for a certain level of Brix before harvesting grapes. For example, if grapes were picked at 20 degrees brix they consist of 20% sugar." I'm so glad Brix wasn't some weird trendy way for spelling Bricks, not that that would have made any sense whatsoever.
Now, on to the actual review. 20 Brix is a lovely restaurant in the heart of downtown Milford, which incidentally is adorably full of little boutique shops that I am putting on my list of places to peruse. It has the look and feel of most contemporary American restaurants, and makes for a cozy dinner. I enjoyed the old Hitchcock movie playing with subtitles on the television over a chalkboard announcing the movie title! Just a cute little touch.
I love that they have some wines on tap- eco-friendly and still delicious. There's a nice long wine list, with glasses starting at around $7. The bread was tasty and the menu was interesting. The fried chicken that I ordered was delicious- served on a wild rice waffle with a spicy syrup, flavorful greens, and just a bit of gravy. The husband really liked his generously-size lobster roll. Even though I had no room for it, I ordered the creme brulee, which was surprisingly light (for creme brulee), and adorably served in a dish on a little wooden board with two pools of blueberry sauce on it. Warning, it's more expensive than you would expect, but it's also about the size of 2-3 regular sized desserts so you might want to share.
Great date night or girls night place, though it's on the pricier end (most entrees are over $20).
20 Brix never disappoints for us. Â We went this past Saturday, and we planned to arrive at 5:00 pm (we were going before a concert, so we had to go early). Â Therefore, I didn't make reservations because I thought, "5:00 on a Saturday? Â Should be empty!" Â But no, they were fully booked. Â Luckily, the kind gentleman at the entrance pointed us toward the bar, which was nearly vacant, and said we could do a full dinner there. Â Sold!
We didn't partake in wine that evening, mostly because we still had to go to a concert and didn't want that sleepy wine effect to kick in! Â But the cocktails were great, and the service from the bartender was even better. Â She knew the menu well, gave us suggestions, and was spot on with everything.
We had the fried chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, scallops, and a swordfish special. Â Everything was excellent, we were all sampling each others meals and there wasn't anything I tried that I didn't enjoy. Â My shrimp and grits were absolutely delicious. Â I started with a salad that had a jalapeno honey mustard dressing, and it was very good. I wished the dressing had more kick, but overall, it was very well-rounded and very good. Â My husband had the fried chicken and waffles, which are just ridiculous. Â It's served with a dipping sauce that is like a spicy maple syrup... Mmmmmm.... awesome. Â I hate to admit it, but he also ordered the appetizer that is essentially a slab of bacon, served with polenta, caramelized onions, and some kind of tomato-jam like stuff, and it was out of this world. Â Luckily he shared that with all of us so he didn't have a heart attack on the spot.
We love 20 Brix, but our meal seemed lacking because we didn't have the wine. Â Their wine list is awesome, with build-your-own flights and a great selection. Â We'll be back very soon to have a more leisurely dinner with wine and dessert, in this case we wanted to be upright for the concert so we skipped both of those!
20 Brix is a great little surprise. It doesn't get a lot of credit being tucked away all the way out in Milford but I am not kidding I would gladly make the trek back up there to dine here again.
I went for lunch and ordered the Grilled chicken ceaser flatbread wrap and it was delish! The cibatta flatbread was very unique. I had never had that before and I love to see creative fresh food. The wrap was not overdressed. The chicken was seared and very juicy on the inside. It also had a great big slice of very ripe tomato on it which pulled it all together. Very summery and refreshing on a hot day. I cannot wait to go back and try this outstanding wine I have been hearing so much about!
P.S. The staff was very attentive yet didn't get in the way of our meeting which was excellent!
This evening had the red snapper special off the new spring menu. It was prepared with a carrot accompaniment with both steamed carrots and spiced purée. Fantastic!  Also known for wine parings which were very well chosen. Lastly, the background music was jazz which I love.
This restaurant hits all the right notes. I've found a new staple! Â Move over Brown Dog.
I will start off by saying I was blown away by the food offered here at 20 Brix. Looking at the menu at first seemed a little daunting, considering there were so many options. I ended up ordering the Steak and Frites for an entree and a number of sides, including the brussel sprouts, corn bread pudding and the broccoli. I left full, happy and excited about what I would order next time. Great place to go for a date or meet up with some friends.
Review Source:We fancied  a late wine soaked lunch and 20 Brix was simply ideal.  Located in downtown Milford 20 Brix offers a quiet escape after a day of boring Saturday errands around the east side of Cincinnati.  There are several things I find appealing about  20 Brix. Â
*unique and wide ranging wine list
*knowledgeable servers
*a menu that is more than crab cakes , chicken caesar salad, and creme brulee (they do have those items / but they have much more)
To start ,we each chose  a glass of wine
  * Pinot Noir : Stoller Vineyards, Dundee Hills Oregon (Rob Choice)
  *Kerper Riesling Spatlese, Mosel Germany 2009 (My Choice)
to share with a generous plate of fruits / nut/ and cheeses.
I would tell you what we thought of the wine, flavors and hints of such and such, but we are not going there.  We loved the wine and each ending up having 2 glasses of our  selections.
I ordered a German. Â (black forest Ham on marbled rye pretzel) it was good . Â I ate half and took the rest home. Â Rob had a pork wrap and ate every bite. Â
We were forced to order dessert so I could try something I had never seen on any menu. Â
*Day Old Donut??? Â Wow !!! Here is how they did it:
    Two glazed donuts pressed in a panini maker dressed with raspberry sauce and confectioners sugar.
It was like eating a warm crisp donut flavored pancake dipped in raspberry. Â My only complaint was.......MORE RASPBERRY SAUCE PLEASE!!! Â In conclusion: wine, donuts, and cheese plate will always receive a big YES from me. Try it .
Let me just start by saying this place is amazing. From the food, to the wine, the service, the ambiance, and just everything about this place is a hit! Really a great concept and the execution was phenomenal.
I came to dinner on Monday with a few co workers. We were all very excited to eat here, but really didn't know what to expect. The waitress came over and alerted us that Monday was "retail wine night" where they sell bottles of wine for retail. What a great deal! We started the night off with Qupe Roussanne, a nice dry white wine. We ordered a few appetizers including the squash soup (great presentation and very tasty); Mushroom Bruschetta (on a toasted slice of baguette with roasted mushrooms, an egg, fontina, and arugula...so delicious it was gone in seconds; the lamb meatballs WOW (the meatballs were extremely flavorful and tender, served in a small crock with romesco, leeks, and manchego); frencho onion risotto (very rich and creamy, cooked well). The meatballs were my personal favorite and also a favorite for the table.
We got a bottle of Summit Lake Howell Mountain Zin for dinner (very bold, peppery and strong). We shared the crab mac and cheese gratin (very rich, the crab was everywhere and it was delicous...this was very well done). We also ordered several entrees including the 20 brix burger (a massive burger with ground prime filet and braised short rib); the sliced duck breast (exceptional flavor in the dish served with goat cheese, apricot, and parsnip chips for a sweet, savory crunch!); the scallops with baby bok choy (the scallops were seared perfectly and not overcooked); the roasted salmon (served with a sweet sauce, red and green grapes, and sauteed spinach); I ordered the shrimp and grits (extremely rich with chorizo, poblano, and crema corn pudding...the flavors maried very well, but the dish was too rich to eat by myself).
The waitress brought the chef over to our table and he thanked us for dining at his restaurant. We complimented all of his dishes and he mentioned some of the new dishes they'll add to a new menu coming out in a few days.
We finished the meal off with a few glasses of Tawny and ruby port as well as the creme brulee and the chocolate chip cookie.
This was a great experience and one of the better dining experiences I have had in a quite a while. I'll come back here every single time I'm in the Cincinnati area. What a great place...keep it up!
I finally made to this place tonight after having wanted to go for a 1 year.
My experience was one of the best I have had in Cincinnati.
I enjoyed the driving on 50 West passing Mariemont and Terrace Park and beautiful town on Milford. I just love the surroundings of this place.
For the food our party loved everything from the wine the server recommended to the dessert. We shared everything - the farm lettuce salad, french onion risotto, crab cake, kobe short rib, and duck breast. Everything seasoned perfectly and cooked well. I thought the sauce on the short rib was little overwhelming but I was fine with it. Every ingridient tasted fresh.
The server was friendly enough and helpful. I did not have any problem. She kept our plates clean and drinks filled. She was there for us at the rigt times.
I really appreciated the atmosphere of the restaurant. Very cozy and not lousy. The restaurant itself is not that big, but I thought it's spacious enough. You don't have to worry about squeeze into your seat or bumping with other people.
Overall, I have to give this place 5 stars and will come back soon. I must say this is the best experience so far when I look at all the aspects - the staff, location, decor, food, price, and menu.
Ha, this place is completely in the middle of nowhere for me.
But it was well worth the drive.
The wine menu is laid out in a very, very thoughtful manner, though I'll say it's geared more towards a non-educated wine enthusiast than a connoisseur. Nothing wrong with that. The service was very capable of recommendations.
The buffalo mozzarella was outstanding. Finding true fresh mozzarella seems oddly difficult out here (seriously, why can I only find vacuum-packed stuff?), but this was a home run.
The chicken and waffle was solid as well. The chicken was perfectly cooked and nicely spiced. The waffle was quality. The only real downside of this dish was the chicken au jus the waffles sat in. It was very heavily salted and really ruined the balance - any part of the waffle that had absorbed this was nearly inedible. Any part that hadn't was quite nice.
Dessert was a mixed bag. The cookie tasted a bit like toll house. Everything else was good.
This was a long ways from downtown, and at one point involved a turn into darkness. Repeating myself - It was well worth the drive.
My friends and I are on a mission to find the best burger in Cincinnati. We try a different location every month, but I was so jealous to miss their amazing experience at 20 Brix. All of them considered the burger to be a close second to "Terry's Turf Club", but they were really blown away by the hospitality of the owner.
At the nearest opportunity for a date night (the evening after Valentines Day), my wife and I hopped in the car and made the long trek to Milford from NCH. I wish the location were closer, but that's my own fault for living in Siberia. It's a nice little corner restaurant across the street from Sugar Cupcakery. The only odd thing about the layout is that you have to take an elevator to the bathroom, otherwise the ambiance is relaxing and peaceful.
We started with the squash soup, which was so good that my wife asked for the recipe. Two kinds of squash, pomegranate seeds, pepitas, fish sauce, thai spices, honey. It was delightfully smooth and balanced.
We decided to have beer and wine as both menu options were brimming with diversity and quality. My beer was the 21st Amendment, which was a special seasonal with 8.5% alcohol. Our bottle of wine was a Spanish blend called Autor. It wasn't as bold as I like, but it was pretty good.
I ordered my burger medium rare, and it was cooked to perfection. The meat quality was moist and flavorful with high quality beef and steak in the patty. It had a nice sauce and a fresh bun, and in my opinion, it was better than any burger I've had in Cincinnati, even better than Terry's Turf Club.
My wife went out on a limb and ordered fried chicken and waffles. While the chicken was meaty and flavorful, she wasn't fond of the sweetness of the waffle.
We were happy with the service and were pleasantly surprised to receive a visit from the chef. We'll be sure to come back when we have money for another date night. Highly recommended!
I visited 20 Brix last weekend and had a pretty great experience (aside from the fabulously drunk woman at the next table talking all about her digestive allergies and the trouble they cause--PERFECT dinner conversation.)
My guy friend who is an analytical flavor chemist practically licked his shrimp and grits bowl clean. He labelled it "the best meal he's had maybe ever."
I had the risotto that's listed as an appetizer or small plate and ordered some brussels sprouts for the two of us. The risotto was pretty tasty--nothing absolutely amazing but definitely something I'd have again. The brussels sprouts were AMAZING. They have this mustard sauce that I almost licked the bowl to finish. It's a perfect pairing with the sprouts, bacon and onion in the rest of the dish. Even if you don't like sprouts or haven't eaten them much, you'd love these ones! I'd go back just for the sprouts.
The service was so-so. We were there during a busy Friday night though so I can't complain too much. It wasn't terrible but we were left at the table for quite some time before ordering than again when we were finished.
This restaurant is a little pricey though. Maybe a little too pricey for what you get but not absolutely terrible.
It was also kind of strange because we hadn't made reservations and were told that it would be about an hour wait when we arrived. We left and wondered around Old Milford for about 30 minutes and when we returned, there were still about 5 empty tables. We ended up waiting about 10 more minutes and were only seated after a table of a man and his 3 boys left after realizing that they weren't in the pasta restaurant. None of the other tables were sat while we there. I don't know if they were holding tables all night for late reservations or what but it seemed strange.
Overall, a good experience and if I'm ever in Milford again, I would certainly go back.
Ate here with a group for lunch and we all picked something different. The place was pretty empty but the decor was immaculate and looks like it would be a nice place for an evening wine tasting. They have a huge selection of wines and some craft beer. Didn't get to try the wine or beer, but plan on coming back for sure sometime (once I move to the east side soon!)
I had the crab cake sliders and the crab cake was very good - perfectly fried crust and the lump crab inside was delish. There were only 2 and they were tinier than I expected so I also ordered the tomato basil soup which was a tangy creamy bisque with pesto dribbled on top instead of mixed in. All in all, everyone really liked their meals but the only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars was the service. Although they were certainly friendly and helpful enough, getting the food out was too long. A good 45 minutes we waited after our order and there were only 7 of us with a nearly empty restaurant. Still would definitely go back - probably for just apps and wine tasting on an evening though.
At my server's suggestion I chose the Swordfish Polmpettas made with Farro and nuts with Raisens. I am not normally not a big fish fan but I decided to give this a try. Boy am I glad a did because this Sicilian version on fish meatballs in just the right amount of a delicious red sauce was outstanding. I was so pleased that I was sure to eat every bite. I ordered Vanilla Creme Brulee to go (hard to preserve the presentation I know) but I was too full to eat it right away. Since it is my favorite dessert I couldn't resist. I was a bit surprised by the $9.00 price but it was one of the best versions that I have had.
Review Source:The staff, the food and the wine are wonderful!!
The restaurant is very clean.
The staff is very knowledgeable on the menu and about the wine.
They are always showing some sort of old film on the T.V. near the bar.
I really love the menu items, the figgy piggy sandwich, the German sandwich, the crab cake sliders and the pizzas are all wonderful!
I ordered the cheese tray before and it was a little pricey for the amount of food on the tray and they don't provide enough bread with it.
Once again, I'm torn between a 3 and 4.
I hesitate with the stars for small reasons but reasons nonetheless (sorry, I'm a harsh critic!)
1. The bread made me cut my cheek. Yeah, I know, I claim I always love free stuff, and it was probably more my problem, but my mom actually gave up on her roll it was so hard, crunchy and downright impossible to tear, even with both my teeth and hands fully engaged. Â (Quite the picture, right?) I was determined to get to inhale the cinnamon butter presented with it so didn't give up until I really got it in there and came down hard on my tongue. That made drinking acidic wine very, very uncomfortable. Sorta spoiled the rest of my experience. Lame, I know.
2. The appetizer was just so-so. Mushroom bruschetta. We both called it out on the menu immediately so had to get it but we wound up disappointed. The bread was much softer (thankfully) and the balsamic was some of the best I've had, but the mushrooms were barely there, the cheese was glopped only on one side and the egg wound up overpowering nearly everything else on the plate.
3. Finally, as I'm currently living in DC the prices didn't really phase me, but I think my mom experienced a bit of sticker shock when she saw the bill ($100+) for an app, two wine flights and two entrees.
But. But. Our server was very sweet and helpful (ably directing us to which wines we might enjoy) and the wine list truly is huge. The salmon entree was tasty and cooked all the way through (as my mom had requested), but the eggplant doughnut on top was probably the hit there! My scallops were truly well-cooked and the singed brussel sprouts were the perfect salty accompaniment. Presentation of every dish was lovely.
We  ventured out to Milford for Cincinnati Restaurant Week last night (9/12), and it was worth the twenty five minute drive for 20 Brix.  The restaurant is located in old downtown Milford, its just so charming.
 When we arrived in the restaurant we were greeted promptly by the maitre d' and he showed us to our table. We were greeted within a few minutes by our server Robin letting us know that Mondays are retail wine night. They do have an extensive list of wines so we chose a $50 bottle and after the markdown was only 35.
 :The restaurant week first course I got was the roasted cauliflower veloute with salsa verde swirled on top. It was nice, rich and creamy and gave the cauliflower a great taste. My companion got the caesar salad with a grilled lemon vinaigrette that she loved.
: For our second course we both ordered the risotto which had sweet corn, local tomatoes,chiles and cheddar cheese and also spring onion. The risotto was perfect, it was rich, creamy and flavorful. After eating this course the Chef came out to our table to see how the meal so far was going and it was a nice gesture.
: The third course for me was the signature shrimp and grits and my companion got the vegetarian mushroom polenta with wilted greens. Â The shrimp and grits were even better than Hugo for me, although I like the demi Hugo sends out with the dish. Â
: For dessert we split the Lemon Berry Mascarpone cake served with a bumbleberry sauce. It was rich and yet fluffy and the added lemon zest in the cake made it an amazing end to a wonderful meal.
  As I stated above Monday is a great night to go, since retail wine night. I would put this restaurant up in my top ten in Cincinnati.
20 Brix has a lot of good things going for it. Large wine and beer selection. Makes use of local ingredients. They care about food quality, presentation, and service.
I have been here a few times. I will say that most everything I have had has been both intriguing and good. This past visit I was stumped by some overcooked fish - two different varieties served at our table.The salmon was served with a smoky sauce that overpowered everything in the dish. I felt sorry for that dining partner. Â I enjoyed baby bok choy, oyster mushrooms, orange hollandaise sauce.
Lemon blueberry cake. It's a winner.
The service was good. The host had the most wonderful smile and was also quite gracious.
They have a lovely patio that I would like to try some day when the weather is more complimentary.
Hey, look at me, everybody! Â I finally made it out to 20 Brix!
I appreciate places like 20 Brix. Â Seasonal ingredients, many wines by the glass, adorable area of town, homemade bread, a great menu, really unique and delicious sounding specials... Â There were a few things I didn't appreciate so much. Â Our two-top was way tiny and I kept kicking my husband throughout the meal and trying to juggle glasses and plates. Â The service was quite slow - a caveat that I'm more likely to put up with for really great, freshly prepared food.
The starters were generously sized and I actually had two of those as my meal (you can totally skip the fritto misto though, it wasn't too impressive). The rest of the items we tried were on point. Â I delighted in Spring ingredients such as foraged mushrooms, pea tendrils, asparagus and spring peas.
Nonetheless, 20 Brix is a place I would whole-heartedly recommend. Â There are even plenty of vegetarian/pescetarian options.
Went for Restaurant Week and the experience was decent. Service was very good, as per usual. We appreciated that the menu included suggested wine pairings with each offered course. But the selections were a bit curious; I think they were catering to people who have a strong preference toward either whites or reds, because there was one of each per course. I suppose that's thoughtful, and I'm not a Nazi about having to drink white wine with fish, red with meat. But some of the recommendations I found suspect.
The food was hit or miss. The carrot and ginger soup was decadently creamy and delicious with just the right amount of spice--poblanos were a wonderful touch. 20 Brix usually does soups extremely well.
The chicken risotto was a miss. The texture was right, but flavor was anemic--tasted fatty without being rich, like a one of those microwave pasta in a bag meals.
The shrimp and grits were velvety and very well seasoned. The shrimp were tiny, but the grits and sauce were a real treat. I was disappointed I finished the risotto because I didn't have room to clean my plate with the shrimp and grits.
I've only been here once, but I plan to return. I went here with friends and we spent way too much money (we're wine people). The food was excellent, well-prepared, and savory. I agree with recommendations for the conversation platter. We ordered that, and it was a great pairing with our pre-dinner aperitif.
As for the wines, I don't think you could go wrong here. We did a bit of exploring, and enjoyed some fantastic wines that we had never tried before. Just watch out, because after a while, the cost starts sneaking up on you.
I'm surprised to see the experiences others have had with poorly prepared meals and bad service. When we went, we saw no indications of any of those kinds of issues. But, having only been to 20 Brix once, who knows. All I can say is, our experience was outstanding, and we look forward to returning.
We stumbled upon  20 Brix  a few weeks ago and had a pretty good lunch. They would have received a 4* if not for one mistake, which I'll get to in a minute.
One portion of the restaurant is a retail store which had a decent selection of wine and beer. It kept us sufficiently entertained until the rest of our party arrived.
Their wine menu is impressive and the suggested wines were helpful, though our waitress was a little unsure of herself and went to the bartender to get us recommendations (pretty sure she was new). We each tried 2 oz. glasses first, which was a nice option.
We ordered the conversation platter first, which had a beautiful selection of cheeses and sausages plus fruit and nuts. It was well balanced and presented; I was impressed. We also had the bruschetta with goat cheese and proscuitto and a delicious basil sauce and some sort of balsamic reduction (at least, I think that's what it was, it's not listed on the menu) that I was tempted to lick off the plate. Yum.
Before our entrees came out, we ordered another round of wine. The bartender's recs were delicious, except my mom ordered a chardonnay and ended up with some sort of cabernet sauvignon. She drank it and didn't complain since the waitress delivered the drinks then disappeared for a while.
I ordered the "Figgy Piggy" sandwich, a nice combination of prosciutto, triple cream brie, fig preserves and arugula. The flavor combination was really delicious.
However, the sandwich was served with a side of fruit- strawberries, raspberries and grapes- that would have been great, except  that the were caked in dirt. Not just a little dusty, but actually caked with chunks of dirt like they had just been pulled out of the ground. I don't know how they could have gotten past the chef looking like that. I very politely returned the plate to the waitress. She seemed surprised and not very apologetic. She brought the plate back immediately-the fruit had been rinsed. But, upon closer examination- as in, when I started to eat it- I realized that it still wasn't clean and that there was a live bug in a raspberry. Ew. I was so offput that I didn't touch anything else for the rest of the meal.
They didn't apologize or offer any kind of comp, which was surprising.
My mom also got the same sandwich, her fruit was clean, so it must have just been a fluke. But it was certainly upsetting to see a live critter nestled in a raspberry I was about to eat.
As I said, the food was great, the wine list was great, the service was fine. I'll probably go back, because, having worked in restaurants, I realize that things like this happen and the food was good enough to earn a shot at redemption. But, seriously, a live bug on my plate? Ew.
20 Brix is consistently good. Â I can always count on a great meal. Â The decor is inviting, and the service is warm and reliable. The food is delish, and the wine selection is fantastic. Â
For appetizers, we almost always get the conversation platter, which is a generious portion of cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts, and bread. Â I highly recommend it. Â The pizzas also make a great appetizer to share. Â
Hands down, my most favorite entree is the chicken and waffles. Â Perfectly crisp chicken paired with savory waffles and a semi-sweet syrup.......yumsters! Â I can't resist ordering this every single time. Â However, the scallops are usually very good, and the shrimp and grits is a crowd favorite, as well. Â
I wish the dessert menu was a little more creative. Â I can't remember anything I've had in this category that blew me away. Â
Overall, I love this place. Â It's always a solid choice for a great night out.
Ah, 20 brix, a place I thought I would never get to.
It's kind of become a running joke with my girlfriend, because I've heard such wonderful things about it, and we're always game for going - but then it's just so far away. We'd always be like, "You want to? ... Ugh, not today." Damn you Milford, why can't you be closer!
However, we were finally going to visit a friend up that way and had some time to kill - and so, I finally got to try 20 brix ... sort of.
We didn't really have enough time for a meal, but a glass of wine sounded wonderful. We walked into the mood-lit establishment, which I could easily see why it's a great date spot. Lots of two person tables with people close together. It's clearly a nice romantic restaurant.
We sat at the bar and were greeted with smiles from the woman behind it. She handed us drink menus and I was impressed. There were pages and pages of wines, all by type, with nice descriptions and even selections they thought you should try. Â Very nice. I sat there quite happily with my wine and my gal.
The one thing that freaked me out was the bathrooms, which were in the basement, and to get there, I took a crazy elevator with wooden panels that looked like it was a room in a library. When those doors slid open, I wasn't sure if I was supposed to enter or throw my overdue books in and run.
I glanced at a food menu and everything looked a little too over-priced, but I can't really make that claim until I come back for food ... which I will, whenever I make it back to Milford ... I swear, it will happen! ... ok, maybe I won't.
First of all, this area of Milford is adorable with its antique shops and other stores.
What drew us into 20 Brix was the patio and the delicious looking food that we spied people eating.
We started with the bruschetta and I have to say it was some of the best I've had--fresh ingredients and a decent size to share. Â For my entree I had the crab cake which came with a mixed greens salad and fruit. Again, the high quality ingredients made this lunch delicious. It was a perfect size and left me full but not stuffed.
The wine list is extensive but it was too early for me to partake so I opted for a sparkling water. During our visit we didn't see too many local beers on the menu which was a bummer.
Hmmm. Wish I could write 2 reviews. First, from my recent experience during restaurant week from my point of view. Restaurant week menu --wonderful. Shrimp and grits were to die for and the scallops on a hot rock were both fun and yummy. Service good .
Now from my friend who ate with me. Salad very good and so was the ap. But when they brought my butterfish it was raw and cold inside. I sent it back. They were most apologethic and said they would fix it. I waited. And waited. Finally my friend asked about it and the waitress had forgotten her--gave some excuse that she thought my friend had already eaten and the plate was gone. The fish came very quickly and my friend said it was OK. But they really should have comped her wine or something because of the long long wait and no one offered anything.
So Good for me and ok-ish for her. Or maybe just Meh.
Very good atmosphere, food and service. Â My husband had the shrimp and grits and said it was awesome. Â I just wanted something small and the server discussed the various salads...I went for the 20 Brix salad and it was good. Â Very different and good.
Service was excellent, food was very good and we hope to return. Â The server said the crab cakes are very good; I heard the chicken is awesome. Â The new burger is said to have Terry's Turf lovers talking about it's delicious taste.
We went here for Cincinnati Restaurant week this last week. Â We got to try a three course meal for $26.10 a person which is a real steal at this restaurant. Â This is intelligent food cooked very well with interesting mixes and flavor choices. Â I had some outstanding little chicken wings that just fell off the bone they were so good. Â The other two courses I chose were the oyster & pearl soup (great texture and flavor, not fishy at all.) Â and the scallops were absolutely to die for. Â They were large and a delicious flavor served on top of a bed of spinach and puree'd potatoes. Â Foodies will enjoy the wide and unique wine, beer, and food combinations. Â
They take pride and point out that they love to pair wines with meals for people.  I agreed to a glass of  chardonnay, the waiter came back to make sure I was ok with a $14 glass, which I declined hastily.  He then offered an additional wine which was absolutely fantastic until I realized he had sold me on a $12.50 glass of chardonnay.  It was a good selection, just a bit more than I like to spend.
I would recommend this to any foodie that wants to try something unique in the beautiful downtown of historic Milford.
We were a bit hesitant at first to try this place, considering the location. What a nice surprise! Being that it is in the heart of downtown Milford, it is by far a diamond in the rough. An extensive beer and wine list.
The only drawback to any of the menu items : The duck. The duck entree is over cooked, and that is such a shame because the cherry reduction that is served with the duck is divine. I say the duck is always overcooked because we went there two weekends in a row and ordered it each time hoping that it was just a mistake. Nope, just over-cooked. Other than that, the cream corn soup is wonderful( I came short of licking the bowl clean), the Shrimp and grits are pretty tasty, and the scallops were buttery. Apart from the above mentioned items, the menu is simple. Try the specials for the night, you will not be disappointed. I had a wonderful duck-confit pasta, very nicely done.
Leave room for dessert, their marscarpone cake was deelish!
Took a little jaunt out to Milford this weekend to try out 20 Brix.
General, I wouldn't begin with a tangent but what is with the "degree" symbol by the 20 in the name "20 Brix" (no, I refuse to type the degree symbol). Â So, is it 20 degrees Brix? Â An ode to that forgotten nightmare of a pop band 90-something degrees?
Speaking of forgettable, let's talk about Brix' food. Â The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Â Slap me insane, folks. Â I tried Shrimp & Grits, yet again, in Cincinnati and expected a positive result. Â Silly me. The $22 Shrimp & Grits had 4 prawns and grits. Â The manager described them as "breakfast style". Â I describe them as "yuck".
The other dish tried by my table of two was the Spring Pea Risotto with hand made Italian sausage. Â I think the meal was supposed to be like "Where's Waldo?," only it was "Where's the handmade Italian sausage?" Â We found exactly 4 eighth of an inch (or less) tiny pieces of sausage in a sea of risotto (which was orzo pasta) and snow peas. Â It was edible, but forgettable.
I was almost forgot (pun intended), we had salad too. Â We had the caesar salad. Â It was not terribly good.
The only reason that this restaurant gets two stars is SERVICE. Â The service in the restaurant is 5-star quality service. Â A party of 22, that was sat nearly the same time as we, did not affect our service in any way.
I was pleasantly surprised to find this great restaurant several months ago after hearing about it on NPR. Â After about 8 visits, I thought I'd write a review.
The wine list is rather daunting at first, but most of the staff I've talked to is well versed in it; and are adept at providing recommendations for pairings with entrees. Â The 2oz pours are great for a tasting flight in case you don't necessarily want to commit to a full glass.
I was just there last night for dinner with a friend. They had just a rolled out a new menu the Monday before last night. Â The menu is very approachable, and the two entrees we both got were unbelievably good. Â By far, this is the best meal (and certainly the best restaurant) in Milford I have EVER eaten. Â If you go soon, don't miss the calamari app (this is even better than the calamari I had at a 4 star restaurant in Chicago). Â Also the Brix-House (cute play on words) salad is my favorite on the menu of the three, and is probably enough for two people to split if you're each getting your own entree and an app. Â There was a pinch of taragon in their salad, which made for a wonderfully interesting combination of flavors with the salad's pine nuts and feta.
As for entrees, I had the scallop entree which I highly recommend, but if you ask for it make sure they just drizzle their carmelized butter sauce, if there's too much it can be a tad rich, but in no way does it detract from any other part of the dish. Â The deliciousness of the spring pea risotto cannot be overstated--slightly spicy, well balanced, and rich. Â My roommate rarely (and I mean rarely) finishes his entire plate--and there as was a lot of risotto there--I thought he would lick his plate if no one was watching ;)
The bartender, Vicki is absolutely a delight. Â She's usually only there on Thursdays, which out of all 8 times in 5 months we've has been so far there has been only day that we've gone. Â The service has always been on point.
The only detractor I would mention is that sometimes the kitchen can get a little in the weeds when they're busy. Â That's true for any restaurant of course, and I imagine that the little touches they put onto their entrees certainly add to the time it takes the entree to make it out of the kitchen. Â Parking is on-street, but in Milford at 745pm it's not far to walk at all. Â
20 Brix is definitely worth a visit, whether you're from this side of town or not (and then again for 7 more visits at least). Â I couldn't be more glad to have them so close to where I live. Â Congrats on a fantastic restaurant in my book!
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