Overall, a good place for special occasions. It is very pricey, but you won't feel like you've wasted your money.
The menu is simple, but the flavors are outstanding. The pasta is very rich and creamy and extremely flavorful.
Service is very formal and professional. The staff is very knowledgeable, and friendly without being overly chatty.
I love the wine selections, but would like to see more of a beer selection for my husband.
We have been here twice now and are eagerly awaiting the opening of the downtown location. Â The first time we went, we did the Chef's Tasting Menu with the wine pairing. Â The bill was not cheap, but it was far and away the best meal either of us have ever had. Â Everything was interesting, delicious and cooked to perfection. Â We have been to Nicola's, Orchid, etc, and always left felling there was indeterminate balance that was not achieved. Â Every detail, from texture, taste, plating, portion size and cadence flowed seamlessly. Â For this reason I have not mentioned any specific dishes, as it is the whole experiance that you need to go for.
Review Source:Boca, I can't afford you.
But I keep going back! Â
It's worth it. Â
This place makes for an excellent date/celebration night. Â I've been here twice with my fiance, and both time have blown me away. Â
Their menu is fairly simple. Â They have three sections, Starters, Pastas, and Entrees. Â You get a selection of 1 or 2 starters/pastas and an entree. Â
The food is excellent. Â The imagination involved with this level of cuisine is almost as good as their presentation. Â In every dish I have tried there, the flavors just work. Â They meld in such a way that you can tell there was long hours put into the prep. Â The veal I had last time was to die for. Â It was buttery smooth, and had just enough sauce to accent but not overwhelm the dish. Â
The servers also shine. Â Being 24 at a restaurant like this we feel out of place. Â Both servers we have had have been very accommodating, professional, polite, and friendly. Â They made us feel welcome for our celebrations, and not put off. Â They know their food, and they do a great job at describing it. Â The management/hostess on the other hand seemed to always have a skeptical gaze. Â Every time they walk past our table, they would give us a sideways glance, never saying a word. Â I do not, will not, and can not afford to go to a place like this often, but when I do I would appreciate being treated with the same respect given to others. Â The subtraction of a star is for the management, not the food. Â The servers are the saving grace here. Â
Another recommendation for Boca management: add more beers. Â I know, beer isn't as 'classy' as wine. Â Craft beer still needs to be on your menu(more than just 6-10 bottles). Â Beer can be paired with food in the same way that wine can.
I was warned repeatedly before going here. In fact, one of my friends refused to join - she'll only go on an agency dime. I felt obligated to finally get out of Downtown and try something new, though and Boca seemed the right choice.
And it was.
Everyone is right - this is not a cheap place. My friend, the one refusing to eat unless an agency is picking up the tab, has less of an issue with price and more of one in leaving hungry. She isn't wrong about that, either. I did leave a big hungry. My own fault, but still true.
We went on a Friday night, which is mandatory prix fixe. $57 for 2 courses and dessert, $69 or 3. I recommend paying the extra $12 to not leave hungry, and regret that I didn't. You have a choice of one (or two) from the first and second course menu, plus one from the third course menu. You can mix and match first and second course, or even do what one friend did and double one of the first or second courses.
My first course, essentially ravioli, was tiny. Delicious, and a perfect starter, but quite small. 5-6 big bites, or 10-12 or so small. Delicious, but small.
My second course was larger, and only slightly less delicious. But it still wasn't enough to fill me.
For dessert I opted for the trio - a sampling of 3 of their desserts. This was an additional $4, and likely not a terrific upgrade as I felt that it didn't include much substance - that money went to variety over quantity. For quantity go with the sorbet - which came with an enormous amount of ice cream.
The meal was delicious, and the venue was very cool. All the superlatives you hear were not false. The cost was also quite high, especially given that I left hungry. However, had I gone with the $69 option, and not upgraded the dessert, I would have been quite happy with my meal.
Go. Just go.
Tremendous restaurant that would hold its own in any city around the globe. Â Perfect ambiance, charming location, delicious food, nice wine list, and UNBELIEVABLE customer service. Â Customer service the way it should be and the way that it seems to never be; unless you are fortunate enough to be dining here. Â Also, I love that they have very affordable prices on their second course pastas, so one can enjoy both a pasta and an entree without breaking the bank. Â Anyway, come and come often (and try the Veal dish)
Review Source:I decided to update my review when I realized I gave Boca 4 starts instead of 5 originally. Â It is true that it a pricey place, and the food is on the rich side. Â However, the combinatino of delicious food and chill atmosphere makes this a restaurant to go when you want to celebrate a special night or just enjoy an ordinary one. Â I'm okay with paying more for the experience-- it just can't happen every week.
Review Source:I have used Yelp now to always find the best restaurants and the reviews for here led me right once again. I had all my family in town so decided to have my early birthday dinner here, and I was so glad I did. From the reviews I got the sense that the staff here are not snooty unlike most expensive fine dining. That is exactly what I got. I don't usually dine out and drop $100 on a meal, but when I do I don't want to feel completely out of place cause I don't normally eat fancy stuff. My waiter was extremely helpful and explained each dish and ingredient if I was unfamiliar with enthusiasm. You know a place is good when the staff is even extremely excited about sharing what they serve. I non hesitantly went with the Chef's tasting menu with 7 courses. I wanted to try as much as possible and this did exactly what I hoped for. The menu changes seasonally except a few staples (caesar salad, scallop, and filet). Â I opted out to know what was coming in order to be surprised with each course. A few favorites were the Hamachi Crudo which was a brilliant dish with ruby red grapefruit, wasabi, avocado, shishito peppers & ponzu dressing. Also the wood fired branzino was spectacular and cooked flawlessly. I found each dish throughout the meal to compliment the prior and flowed fabulously. They went out of the way to tweak your meal and I was extremely impressed with every aspect of the meal. Be ready to sit for awhile though, we had a party of 8 and were there for close to 4 hours. It's definitely an experience here, If you have never been than you need to find an excuse or any reason to do so. You won't regret it, and of course you can thank me later.
Review Source:There is no question about it. Â The food at Boca is outstanding. Â Why only four stars and not five? Â The service was mediocre at best. Â In my opinion, a restaurant of that caliber should have spectacular service, no exceptions. Â My husband and I decided to celebrate our 2 year anniversary at Boca. Â I wanted to try Boca for quite a while now so I was excited. Â We had just come off of an afternoon of having consumed a bottle or 2 of wine so by the time dinner came around, we really weren't interested in Boca's wine list. Â Luckily, they had a cocktail menu that did not disappoint. Â I had a martini with violet in it. Â Delicious. Â We each opted for 3 courses. Â I started with their scallop/brussel sprouts/brown butter truffle sauce and it was truly one of the best things I have ever tasted. Â I am still thinking about it. Â I then went with their Veal Porcetta. Â I had to try it. Â Porcetta is something that is quite complicated to make so I figured it had to be good and it was. Â It was served with a basil sauce and a balsamic reduction. Â Then for dessert I had their cheesecake which was amazing as well. Â My husband opted for the prosciutto Bolognese and he didn't want that particular dish to end. Â He had their filet and would rank it one of the best in Cincinnati (definitely better than the Precinct). Â He had a piece of almond cake topped with berries for dessert. Â He liked it very much as it is not something you typically find on dessert menus. Â So, overall the food was fantastic, it was the service that left us disappointed. Â Our waiter was not attentive and had no interest in providing recommendations or really giving us any additional information about the menu at all. Â It took him about 10 minutes to even bring us a drink menu after we were seated. Â My husband even mentioned that we were celebrating our anniversary when he made the reservation. Â Usually, restaurants show some kind of appreciation to customers when they choose to celebrate an event at their establishment. Â It was not acknowledged at all. Â Now, I don't expect anything more than a "Happy Anniversary" but I do think it shows that a restaurant values their customers' business by extending well wishes in some way. Â Boca has great food but there is something left to be desired with their service.
Review Source:THE RESTAURANT
So, the restaurant from outside looks really nice. You can see inside through the big window, nice tables, nice people,...and apparently they can see you too arriving in your car that you forgot to wash before coming... A valet comes running (was he really sitting on a camping chair, listening to a boom box in front of the hair salon next door ??). Inside, wood floors and paintings hanging on brick walls, very trendy, if not for the fabric of the bench.
THE MENU
Menu confused me. Yes, I'm probably easily confused by things. 3 courses menu. I understand the starters (10-15 USD). I understand the main course (30-45 usd). But what is the second course again ? dishes sound like main course (but with starters price...ok, ok, waitress explained me.
Problem is second course dishes are really tempting but portions small. I guess you can ask double portion. Third course choices are very limited. The only red meat is 45 USD. The other ones are two fishes ( i don't like fish) and a chicken (already went to boston market yesterday).
They have a wine selection by glass which is surprisingly ...affordable !!
THE TASTE
I chose as a starter the Ortiz tuna bruschetta (12 USD), which is really a great idea to make at home, when you feel lazy, and want to make some appetizer and all you have in the kitchen is a can of tuna, an egg and some old bread. Boca recipe : Burn the bread, put tuna on it, boil the egg an put it on top.
Second course : seared day boat scallop. Really impressed this time.. This was definitely, the best ...brussels sprout ever !!! Yes, the brussels sprout is incredible. Too bad the scallop was not cooked properly (not cooked enough, meaning chewy).
Third course : roasted gerber farms chicken breast. . This was definitely, the best ... wild mushroom truffle risotto I ever had !!! Â Yes the risotto was incredible !!! The chicken...was ...chicken I guess.
My wife had the veal porchetta. Guess what was awesome ? the vegetable !!! Do we see a trend here ???
Dessert: Gelato was good (imported from a shop next door).
Dessert Wine : tried one of italian digestive wines. Was really strange and fun experience, with a sweet start and VERY sour finish. Waitress was kind enough to make us try another one.
CONCLUSION
The place is nice, the service is good, but felt like somehow the menu is strangely built, with main courses extremely expensive (for the dishes you get in your plate) and choices very limited, second courses more attractive but by definition too small for an entree, wine very affordable by glass. Side dishes were the most spectacular (the sprouts !!! and the risotto deserves a dish for itself!!). For the range of price, I'm definitely looking for a higher culinary experience.
I love Boca. Â Given that we have tried to branch out and try other fine dining options in Cincinnati, and that my husband dines out frequently for work, the food, service, and ambiance at Boca keep us coming back for more.
Some of the things I love about Boca: Â
The food is amazing, and the focus is on quality, not quantity. Â Everything is always plated so beautifully, and the taste is equally as amazing.
The service staff bends over backward for you. Â We happened to mention that we were going to Napa in a few weeks to the sommelier, and he made us up a take away of reccommended dining and vinyards in the Napa valley. Â (And we did in fact take his advice, and it absolutely made our trip.). Â They seriously go above and beyond, because, it seems, they actually care about you.
They always have an amazing selection of wine.
I love the atmosphere here. Â From the more open front room, to the more private seating in the back, I love this place. Â It's not too dark wood and leather man cave-ish, like other notable spots around town. Â As a woman, walking into a man cave for dinner is off putting. Â I am hoping their new location downtown is equally as beautiful.
Anyway, Boca has earned its place as one of our top pics for a great dinner out, and I'm afraid to stray, as when I do, I've often wished we went here instead.
The service here was the best I've seen in Cincinnati! They were promt, attentive, polite, and respectful. Â I had the caeser salad to start, a bite of the pasta to continue, and shared the seabass and bisteca, with risotto on the side. I love, love, love truffles and love the fact that they used truffles and truffle oil where they saw fit. The food was extremely flavorful and I was impressed with how delicious the risotto was. Â The seabass was a bit bland and I wasn't a huge fan of how soggy the brusselsprouts were. The bisteca is huge with portions big enough for 4 big people, 5 small people. The wine selection was fantastic. Â 5 well deserved stars. Â I just wish this restaurant weren't so expensive so that I could go more frequently. Perhaps they could offer and pick up service with cheaper prices for those of us on a budget :)
Review Source:If this site is about food then this should be 6 stars. From top to bottom this is the best meal I have had in sometime. The branzino is to die for. The English Pea pasta with lobster also excellent  and the pot de chocolate was a chocoholic's delight. The tasting menu is in my sights for my return visit. As to the one star someone gave it over their coats, get a life.
Review Source:Hadn't been in 6 or 7 years visited there original location in north side numerous times. We started with a nice bottle of Chanti Classico I chose the three course my date the two course. My tune packed in olive oil was a glorified tuna fish sandwich. My dinner partner and i decided to split the linguini in oil oil and red pepper sauce. This dish was very tasty but literally 10 - 15 noodles each.The waiter who was very diligent and polite recommended the veal entree. Tender juicy but lacked real flavor. The base sauce was a pea puree with a Demi glaze .... The pea puree further dueled the flavor. My partner paid the extra $20 for the filet. The last bites were a fat.... Not the USDA kind of fat the chewy kind... disappointing I recommended we try it again.... No love for me
I read 10 or more reviews on this restaurant and i can only conclude that we ate at different restaurant. $260.00 later I now know why I hadn't been back in 6 years!
Had an excellent meal at Boca last night. Â I love all the new restaurants in the gateway quarter but it was quite nice to have an "adult" dining experience; they take reservations, we never felt rushed (3 hour dining experience) the noise level is just right to have conversation, service is absolutely flawless.
My partner and a friend had the 2 course + desert and I had the 3 course plus desert. Â We all ordered something different so were able to share all courses. Â The best was the pasta course - agnoloti stuffed with potato with a brown butter sauce. Â The dish was light and elegant with absolutely wonderful flavor combinations. Â For me the second best was the grilled lemon appetizer - little lemon cups stuffed with cheese to spread on toast. Â For main courses the halibut and branzino were perfectly cooked - the pork chop my partner ordered was a tad dry. Â Deserts were all excellent.
We all had the wine pairing and the server did an excellent job of explaining each wine, the origins, etc. Â The prices are not cheap, but the experience and food are well worth it.
Just returned from my second meal at Boca and I have to say they are great at what they do. Â The decor is beautiful, modern and polished. Â The servers are efficient and knowledgable. Â The welcome is warm and the meal is well-paced.
If I had one reproach, it would be that we were served our bill about 30 seconds after our dessert hit our table. Â ARGH!! Â Boca should know better than to chase its diners out the door (they weren't waiting for the table, it was past 10:00). Â I was really shocked when the server, who had been so charming and gracious the entire night, made this gaffe. Â If they do it all the time, they really need to re-think it. Â It makes a customer feel like it's time to pay up, they rush through dessert, and the joy of the end of the meal is ruined by the knowledge that it's time to settle up.
Otherwise, great food, great service, great atmosphere. Â A perfect date night.
Hello. Â My name is Trisha and I am a non-recovering Boca-holic. Â That's right, I have no intention of recovering. Â Ever. Â
Front door valet service, nice. Â Welcoming entrance with multiple greeters, nice! Â Immediate seating and pink champagne pouring before I could get settled in my seat. Â NICE!!
I opened the menu, which I had been viewing online up until the day before. Â I had items in mind I wanted to try and I did! Â So, here we go... Â
FIRST COURSE: Wood Fired Lemons. Â Grilled bread with pulled Buffalo Mozzarella in olive oil. Â The garlic and smoke flavors came together so well and their Sommelier paired it PERFECTLY so the flavors came through the wine and did not cover it. Â Thank you!!
SECOND COURSE: Â Boca Caesar. Â A grilled Caesar Salad? Â OH YES! Â It was the most wonderfully warming sensation that started in my mouth and made its way through my body to my toes. Â It was the best Caesar Salad (or any salad for that matter) I've ever had. Â YES! Â YES!! Â YES!!! Â More please.
THIRD COURSE: Â Seared Day Boat Sea Scallop with Brussel Sprouts. Â When you read how wonderful the SECOND COURSE was, did you think it could possibly get better? Â Well, I tell you it did. Â I almost cried it was so good. Â Senses were tingling, emotions were racing and tears were welling. Â A feeling like that just deserves to sit back and enjoy as long as possible. Â I was nearly like Meg Ryan in 'When Harry Met Sally'. Â Whew...moving on.
FOURTH COURSE: Â Now as I mentioned earlier, I had studied the menu online and had my heart set on the pork dinner, however that dish was removed from the menu that same day. Â But, I wasn't broken hearted for long since Chef Jeremy gladly offered to create a personally prepared pork dinner just for me. Â Wow!! Â It was MARVELOUS!! Â This pork chop was de-boned and sliced for my convenience. Â It was prepared in such a way that it was like butter. Â Those scrumptious slices sat atop a layer of mashed potatoes and a sweet vegetable mix with a drizzle of magical pork sauce. Â Oh my. Â As you can imagine, my senses felt like they had been through the ringer at this point. Â I was nearly spent, but wait, there's more!!
DESSERT: Â Baklava Gelato! Â It was like eating an ice cold piece of Baklava. Â IMPRESSIVE. Â I also tried the Chocolate Pot de Creme. Â Actually, it WAS my husband's dessert, but I stole it. Â
After a 3 hour whirlwind of fabulous service, food, wine and my 'When Harry Met Sally' scenes, we were done. Â
Thank you to all and I can't wait to come back again!!!!! Â AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN!
Overall, a very solid foodie meal.
My wife and I went to Boca for the first time this past Saturday. I was excited to try what had been recommended to me as one of the best restaurants in Cincinnati and it did not disappoint.
I'll start with the price -- my wife had the 2-course menu (plus dessert), I had the 3-course (plus dessert), and I had two glasses of wine and she had a small glass of Prosecco. Without tip is was about $175 for our dinner and drinks. Definitely "special occasion" but if you are not too disconcerted by that price the food and service are excellent.
The menu is set up with a listing of "first course" offerings (think appetizer, soup, or salad -- but interesting versions of these like steak tartare and an interesting caesar), "second course" offerings (think pasta course, and very fancy but small), and main courses (think meat and fish (including skate!), normal size entrees).
I think my wife might have preferred to have one of the first courses plus a dinner-sized version of one of the second courses, but that did not really fit -- so she had her two courses as one of the second courses and a main course.
They have available a 7-course chef's choice tasting menu (with or without wine pairings) which looked really nifty and it would be fun to get that at a future visit.
We had 6:15 reservations but decided to come a little early and they sat us right away when they opened at 5:30, which was appreciated.
Service was excellent; our server was knowledgeable, attentive, and helpful. Staff also made sure our water glasses stayed full and if we wanted bread for the table it was available, and you didn't need to hang on to your fork after your salad, they would bring you appropriate silverware for each course -- they did this all pretty unobtrusively; basically, what you'd expect from a fine dining experience.
I had the caesar as my first course (very cool, they grilled the lettuce which sound strange but it was delightful), scallop dish as my second course (very tasty but worth knowing that the dish contains a single scallop, not several), and pork loin as my entree. The entree was great; part of the dish was some house-made sausage. I was slightly disappointed this was not featured more prominently -- there was a small amount of sausage crumble seasoning the pork. My wife had the ravioli-like dish (can't recall the Italian name) and they brought her a small bruschetta while I had my second dish so she wouldn't feel left out - a nice touch. She had the roast chicken and risotto which was quite good. For dessert I had an interesting baklava gelato and she had almond cake topped with gelato.
I look forward to going back to Boca in the future for more special occasions.
Boca is the bomb! Pretty much one of the top 5 meals I've had in my life. Cincy's finest. This place is great. It is all that it says it is. If you are looking for a romantic night out on the town. This is the place. The restaurant is very trendy. Servers are all knowledgeable and some of the best I have ever had. The food here is amazing. You can tell that they really pay attention to every single plate, steak and lettuce leaf that leaves the kitchen at this place. Anything on the menu looks amazing. I had the steak for 2 with my wife. It was top notch. I would also suggest the charcuterie platter. Simply the best thing you could ask for. They also have some great wines. I would suggest just settling in with a bottle.
Be ready to break the bank though. This place is pricy. I honestly feel that you get what you pay for though. I can't wait to go back sometime soon.
Amazing restaurant! Â Boca lives up to every ounce of hype it receives. Â Every detail of the menu, down to every bite you eat, is well thought out and perfectly prepared. Â I went with a large group of co-workers, mainly from New York a couple weeks ago...needless to say, they left with a great impression of Cincinnati cuisine.
I stayed pretty traditional with my choices, but honestly, I don't think you could go wrong with any choice. Â The grilled Caesar is wonderful (nice play on a very classic salad) and the Filet Boca was pure perfection (I promise you won't be disappointed). Â I'm very critical of bearnaise sauces on my steak because they tend to take away from the natural taste of the steak, but this one perfectly complimented the king crab topping, while letting the natural steak flavors shine through. Â Oh yeah...and the wine...very nice!
If I could give Boca 10 stars, I would. Â We had the most incredible dining experience EVER last night at Boca. Â We have eaten in many great restaurants all over the world, and I would put Boca up against any of them as the most amazing meal. Â We did the 7 course tasting menu with wine pairings and I was completely blown away by the food and the service. Â
The courses were: sea bass crudo with all kinds of delicious accompaniments, mushroom soup with foie gras and tiny little fried potato cubes, slow cooked cod with butternut squash and soy buerre blanc, lumache all'amatriciana (pasta deliciousness), brussel sprouts with scallops,(un-freaking-believable), twice cooked pork (pork belly and bacon... really), and a beef tenderloin with a crunchy marrow crust and truffles... oh, and dessert with a chocolate pot de creme, a tiny little cheesecake, and a spoonful of creme brulee. Â Every course had amazing sauces and additions that I couldn't keep track of. Â I can't possibly say the right things to give these dishes enough credit. I literally ate every single bite of food that was put in front of me. Â Every course, every bite. Â I wasn't letting any of that go to waste. The wines with each course were unbelievable. Â They were interesting and unique on their own, but paired with their course, they transformed. I loved that nearly every wine was a varietal that we weren't familiar with, grapes from far-flung parts of Italy or Germany, and it was so fun to learn about them and get to try them.
Our server was unbelievable, he knew everything about everything! Â He was fun to joke around with and he was very helpful.
I just can't say enough about this restaurant and, in particular, the tasting menu experience. Â It's not cheap by any means, but if you ever have the opportunity to try this, it's a MUST. Â I cannot wait until I get the chance to go back (although I am sure my arteries will enjoy the break)...
Monday night I attended the benefit for Transitions Global at Boca, five courses and five wines for $85. Amazing!
First course enjoyed the grilled caesar salad, second course chicken pot pie, third course was hard to decide so we shared the veal lasagna and greens ravioli, fourth course filet and fifth and final course cheesecake and chocolate. Wow it was one of the best meals ever, very flavorful, just the right portion size and wine paired so well with each course. Chef David came over and checked to see how we were enjoying the meal and if there's anything else we needed. Also I have a two food allergies - seafood and nuts, which I alerted with my reservation and they confirmed the allergy prior to serving the first course and made sure each course was to our liking.
I can't wait to return. Thanks Chef David and Boca team!
For my mom's birthday, my father decided that we should try something new. My sister and her boyfriend recommend Boca, for one reason, their grilled salad. I kid you not. He (the boyfriend) swore it was worth it for the salad. Which got me thinking? Go to a new place, just because their salad is top notch? I find myself in that camp that believes that salads are good, but salads are not meals.
And I was wrong. For one the salad was not a meal. It was just for the salad course. But that grilled Caesar salad was amazing. How amazing. I "licked" the plate clean. And that was just the first course. For my main, I had their pasta dish with sausage and a cooked down chicken stock. It is much better then my description makes its seem. I wish I could remember what the rest of my family had. But I was going full on "fat boy" on my meal. But they all agreed that it was awesome. I say if your looking for a nice place to take a family, group of friends to a nice meal. Then Boca will make them think "oooh, X is a foodie now, nice".
Just go. Even it is just once. It is worth it.
The only reason why I did not rate this 5 stars is because this is not as good as it gets. But it is pretty damn close.
Boca is my favorite go-to delighter in Cincinnati, hands down. Â The warm staff will remember your name, you favorite drink and menu items (even if it is no longer in season on the menu), and bring out all sorts of surprises from the kitchen.
Obviously I am a sucker for the brussel sprouts & scallops & their monkfish & just about everything on their menu. Â My absolute favorite though is a seasonal item in the spring - a sweet pea ravioli that i've tried elsewhere and was disappointed by, after I savored its amazingness at Boca.
Indulgences aside, Boca is actually a great stop for a "budget" trip as well. Â Doubters hold on - I've had many meals at the bar with the bar menu - a great drink, their amazing bread, and bar menu items (you can still try much of the reg. tasting menu and then some). Â Their flatbread pizzas, when available (ask to be sure), pastas, and their filet sliders (omg sliders. i hate burgers & i love these to death) are all great dishes that will fill you up with richness & yummy-ness without you having to drop three figures (drinks & dinner w/ a girlfriend run me ~$30-$40 - a figure you can easily hit at a lesser, less-deserving, restaurant!)
Their new coffee service is also fun to watch the filtering happen before you in the fun glass. Â
You will always be getting quality food with good people - a no-fail, go-to!
I honestly can't say enough good things about Boca! This is our favorite restaurant in the Cincinnati area and we have been going regularly (about once a month or so) for the past couple of years. While Boca is an upscale restaurant, there is nothing about the atmosphere that feels stuffy!
The service is outstanding and the staff has really taken the time to get to know us and our food preferences. They know I'm vegetarian and have gone out of their way to make sure I have something amazing, if nothing on the written menu is going to work for me.
Their menu changes seasonally, although a few things are Boca staples that you can always find. We usually get three courses, plus dessert. My husband enjoys the Caesar salad and has it almost every time we come. I find the scallop with caramelized Brussels sprouts to be out of this world and I can't get enough!
A few of my favorite pasta dishes are the sweet corn and mascarpone filled pasta and also a pea pasta dish that they do earlier in the spring. Boca has also gotten my husband to eat his vegetables and greens! He didn't realize that he enjoyed, say, fiddle head ferns, until they were perfectly prepared and placed in front of him.
Desserts are amazing as well. The maple cheesecake is unlike any other you will ever have, and the almond and berry cake is perfect.
We are transplants to Ohio from Massachusetts and will move back there eventually. We have already decided that we will fly back to Cincinnati just to eat at Boca. That's how good it is.
I went here a year ago for a birthday dinner with my mom, and she surprised me with us sitting at the Kitchen Table. I got to meet David Faulk and everyone else in the kitchen, since it was my first time there I ordered the Chefs tasting menu opting for the Foie Gras addition.
 Our server was very good, and Richard Brown kept a close eye on us.
Would and have recommended it to friends visiting from out of town and fellow culinarians.
We had the most delightful and helpful waiter. Tired from apartment hunting in Cincy, my hubby recommended trying out Boca. He had seen his coworker checking it out at work and yes.. it simply was a wonderful meal. We got complimentary strawberry-watermelon gazpachos with a little bit of olive oil and tiny croutons. Delish!! I loved it, my hubby didn't.. i had his :D  We went straight to dinner I had the fillet boca- medium rare swiss chard, rosemary roasted potatoes, alaskan king crab, béarnaise & bordelaise and he had the Pappardelle Bolognese :fresh pasta, meat ragu & parmigiano reggian - he said this was one of the best pastas he had and it reminded him of the quality at spiaggia in chicago! and for dessert we had the chocolate pot de creme!! My husband, one who does not like dessert, had his pupils dilate at the taste and almost had to fight for one more spoon. I caved..
Boca is simply one of the better restaurants in Cincy that i've been to, and that is many! Boca has nice details like the Australian Murray River salt crystals that are tiny light & delicate peach colored flakes with a mild flavor on the table, next to ground fresh peppercorns, EV Olive oil and a knowledgeable staff! = Yummers!!!
This is my favorite place for an extra-special occasion. We first came to Boca the evening of our engagement, the management and wait staff treated us well when they found out about our happy news.
I also appreciate the fact that this is a high-end gourmet restaurant, but feels very relaxed.
The food is cooked perfectly, and the wait staff is extremely knowledgeable to the point that they may be able to tell you the name of the pig whose slice of ham you're eating. I highly recommend splurging for adding the wine pairings to your meal. It is truly amazing how the flavor opens up and deepens with the addition of the right drink. I also highly recommend the Brussels sprouts--they are cooked in browned butter and taste completely unlike any Brussels sprouts you've ever had.
I visited Boca with three friends to celebrate tenure. Â This restaurant is all that it is said to be.
We had reservations for 6:15pm. Â I arrived first and we were given a wonderful table in the back room. Â It was perfect, although the piped in music was unnecessary and distracting to me while I was waiting. Â Once my friends arrived though I never noticed the music again.
We went with the recommendations and all ordered 3 courses with dessert. Â The Caesar salad, brussel sprouts and scallop and then fish.
The brussel sprouts dish was earthy, rich and delicious. Â It was the favorite of the table. Â The dessert options were fantastic and it was a decent, but not too large, size.
I was told this is typical, but I am noting it just the same. Â We were given an array of cured meats as an 'apology' because the back room wasn't perfect when I arrived. Â The meats came with toasted bread, lettuce, wonderful cheese and some kind of sauce. Â
I would give it 4 1/2 starts if I could because of two issues.  First, there are no vegetarian options for the 'main course'.  I don't eat meat and was pleased that there was a fish option, but I had no choice.  The other issue is minor, but still bothers me 4 days later.  The wait-person split the bill wrong and  was clearly annoyed when we asked her to correct the error. Â
All and all, I plan to bring family here when they visit next. This restaurant clearly earns all of its awards.
It seemed all of a sudden everyone we meet
was saying we HAD to go to Boca to get a bite to eat
"You haven't been to Boca?" they exasperatedly said
"It's the best place in Cincy to go and be fed!"
So, Friday night we finally made a point
of getting dressed up and heading to this classy joint
From the bartender to the waiter, everyone agreed
of what to order for your first time, so we let them take the lead
The amazing scallop and brussel sprouts aren't to be missed
And the boca filet topped with crab was hard to resist
If you are worried about expanding your middle
You've got nothin' to fear, the portion size's are little
But they pack a lot of flavor into those few bites
Your taste buds will thank you for the delicious delights
Our meal was finished with one bite of creme brulee
we left happy and content merrily on our way
Off to share with the masses the happiness at Boca
I promise you'll enjoy, It's no joke-a!
Boca is an amazing restaurant for special, romantic occasions like an anniversary, birthday or Valentine's day. In fact, my husband and I are going there for our anniversary May 5.
The food is jaw-droppingly good. If they have the Prix Fixe menu, try it. You'll get flavor combinations you never thought of before - but should have!
We had incredible service. I felt that the service justified the price- so many people were doing so many things for us that the meal just had to be expensive to cover their costs.
And of course you'll want to make reservations.
So we're all staying at this hotel for a business seminar that, as it turns out, is at least 1/2 an hour by taxi from any restaurant that rates above the culinary triumph that is an Applebee's. Â Â I took it upon myself to query the Gods of Yelp and find something ever-so-slightly more upscale - even if it required a somewhat long drive. Â Heck, we're from Los Angeles. Â It takes us 20 minutes to go two blocks. Â We can handle it.
The van pulls up in front of this restaurant and all I could think was....Wait, was that Nick Lachey sitting at the window? Â
Turns out it was. Â And it turns out he's got great taste in restaurants. Â
Boca was one of the top-ten dining experiences of my life. Â It might have rated even higher if I had been sitting in that beautifully decorated restaurant with my husband and not my boss. Â Sorry, boss-lady - you can't compete with newlyweds.
I had the risotto as a starter and the scallop as a main. Â Phenomenal. Â Totally awesome. Â Fantastic. Â Worthy of several grammatically incorrect duplicate exclamation points with a random number one at the end!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
So yes. Â This is a five-star review for a truly five-star establishment. Â
Hell, if it's good enough for Nick Lachey, isn't it good enough for you?
Boca is a terrific restaurant.  One of the best three or four in Cincinnati, without doubt.  I can't find fault with either the Italian-oriented, meticulously and perfectly prepared food or the excellent, unobtrusive service.  And I really like the way Chef/Owner David Falk has conceived of his restaurant:  Visible to most of the tables in  the restaurant, the servers' station at the open kitchen is an eye of a storm of what looks like barely controlled chaos (calmly orchestrated by Mr. Falk).  Just a few yards away you get the fantastic end result, presented with efficiency and professionalism. Â
But I might be echoing a couple of Yelpers below in saying this: Â When the three-courses-plus-dessert prix fixe menu, augmented by a rather modest bottle of wine for two, sets you back almost $125 per person, something about the meal should be transcendent, so as to leave you astounded at the power of good food. Â But the transcendent did not make an appearance, at least not on this evening.
Although each stage of the dinner was superb, nothing knocked our socks off. Â (By way of contrast, socks got knocked off, at least figuratively, once or twice during an Orchids experience earlier this year.) Â Maybe we didn't order that well. Â And maybe we should have upped the ante even more and gone with the chef's tasting menu. Â And I'm definitely not a supertaster--I like my flavors big and bold--so maybe I'm a philistine dullard missing out on some of the finer subtleties. Â
Still, a fantastic meal: Â The wood-fired branzino, especially, and the salmon were the two best fish dishes I've tried in this town--neither could have been cooked more perfectly--but the preparations were relatively basic(not necessarily a bad thing, with fish this good). Â The asparagus and prosciutto salad was very nice but seemed to be missing an ingredient that I'm too ignorant to pinpoint. Â The pasta courses--cacio e pepe (squid-ink tagliatelle with fava beans) and linguine con battarga (a spicy-hot and flavorful but simple dish)--were both tasty, but both seemed somewhat simple for a restaurant of Boca's reputation. Â As a couple of others state below, the mascarpone cheesecake is great, a concentrated flavor bomb, but I'm not that big a dessert person. Â All in all, a really good dining experience, with food executed virtually without flaw, but it fell short of the massive cost.
Aside from the open-kitchen-in-the-center concept, I wasn't that big a fan of Boca's atmosphere. Â It's almost a little too casual for the price tag: Â e.g., a couple of middle-aged dudes wearing shorts, which I'd rather not see when I'm dropping this much money (I'm not far behind these fellas in years, but I sure as shit am not wearing short pants to a restaurant like Boca). Â With some whimsical paintings, a basic color scheme, and, on the night we were there, a rotating Boomer soundtrack of James Brown, Sam Cooke, and Stevie Wonder, a bunch of classics for sure, but they probably don't need to be heard for the umpteenth time in an environment like this. Â
Anybody in Cincinnati who cares about fine dining and who has the means to do so should check out Boca at least once. Â It may be right up your alley. Â And for those lucky few for whom money is no object, Boca should be a standby, because it is indeed top-notch. Â But since we don't fall into this latter category of diners, we'll almost certainly save our ducats for fine-dining experiences with a little softer bite on the wallet.
The food at Boca is fresh, local, and very good. Table service is attentive and knowledgeable. The atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant.
So with all of that, how can I rate Boca only three stars?
To start, bar service is awful -- flaky and ignorant. It's a small bar (maybe seats 10), but the bartenders have a hard time paying attention to their customers and simply don't know how to mix drinks. If you are waiting for your table, this is not the introduction you want for your evening. Go across the street and have a drink at Hugo instead.
As for the meal? Prix fixe three course meals start at $67 on the weekends. Throw in a couple of cocktails, a mid-range bottle of wine, and coffee, and you'd be hard pressed to walk out of here for less than $250. And for $250, I expect an experience.
I expect the 12-course delight at Arun's Thai in Chicago or the 9-course culinary adventure of the French Laundry. I expect to be impressed at every turn, and sadly, both of my trips to Boca have been disappointing. On my last visit, the lamb was overcooked and underwhelming.
So while Boca may very well be the "best" Cincinnati has to offer, it's not worth it. Unless, as others have noted, someone else is paying for it.
If you are looking for a comparable, prix fixe meal in Cincinnati, I'd recommend Slims in Northside. The food is equally fresh, local, *and* very good. Plus, you won't wince when you get the bill.
I love this place and I eat here everytime I go back to Cincy. Â
Their butternut squash soup...is...out...of...this...world. Â I think I might have actually licked the bowl at the table (I know, highly inappropriate, but it was almost like a supernatural being forcing me too). Â When people talk about this kind of soup, I stop them and tell them they have never experienced anything like I have. Â (Am I out of control yet?) :)
I loved how you can see the chef's cooking and its not a nasty kitchen either, its very state of the art. Â The atmosphere at Boca is lovely. Â Serene and fine dining at its best. Â Our server was delightful and gave incredible recommendations. Â
They have a 3 course tasting menu or the "Chef's Grand" which is their 7 course tasting (all pre-selected by the chef). Â So if you want to go out on a limb, get the 3 course, its still plenty of food...oh and their wine list is plentiful, a definite plus!
If you are in the Cincinnati area and are looking for a nice little "diamond in the rough"...Boca is your answer!
Mad love...
Had a few mishaps with water spilling and cold service, but when the food came I was temporarily distracted by the delicious smells and tastes.
But they accidentally threw away my mass quantities of leftovers instead of remembering to box them up, and that made me sad, especially when they didn't seem the least bit apologetic about it. Boo, two stars for you.
A restaurant that would do well anywhere. Â I had a three-course dinner, which was the price you would expect to pay for a meal and service of this caliber. Â I had scallops with caramelized brussel sprouts and a truffle vinaigrette. Â It was one of their most popular appetizers and I thought it was sublime, especially the brussel sprouts.
Then I had the loup de mer, which was delicious but nothing that made my mouth water. Â And my cousin ordered an extraordinary bottle of New Zeland pinot noir.
But the thing that wins the fifth star was the inventive way Boca presented its artisanal cheese plate for desert. Â It was served on something that was like a chalkboard and the names of the cheeses were written on it with a food pairing next to it (Granny Smith apples, apricots with sauce, etc.) Â I loved knowing exactly what I was eating.
And Boca fixed our intentional wrong fork choices for the first course without being pretentious or snotty. Â The knock on this restaurant is that it is snooty, but on the evening we dined, the waiter was attentive and explained patiently without airs. Â The service was excellent and unobtrusive.
A definite recommend!
My favorite restaurant in Cincinnati and probably top 5 anywhere. Â The grand tasting menu can stand up to any competition on the coasts. Â What makes Boca a truly extraordinary dining experience, however, is the overall atmosphere created by the elegant dining room and outstanding wait staff.
I have never been disappointed here with anything. Â If you choose to not get the tasting menu, then it is a crime to eat here and not get the brussel sprouts and scallop. Â That truffle scent you smell when you first walk in? Â It's from this dish - get it and I dare you to not like it.
But the wait staff truly sets it apart from any other fine dining in the country I think. Â They are educated, engaging...and just fun. Â I went here for a going away dinner for a co-worker of mine and ended up the night playing beer pong on the table. Â The waiter had overheard us talking about it and somebody ran down the street to UDF to get us bud light, keg cups and a ping pong ball. Â Now that is service!
Usually before a fine dinner I avoid snacking during the afternoon so my stomach's eagerness will amplify my enjoyment of the tastes, plus be able to enjoy several courses without stuffing myself. Â This is not necessary for Boca, which has gained quite a reputation for small portions. Â However, unlike the old joke ("This food is awful...and there's so little of it!"), everything is delicious.
I had one of the best courses of my life from the morel, fiddlehead, and escargot salad that overflowed with flavors. Â Yet, despite the potent tastes of those ingredients, none conflicted with the others. Â This sort of vibrant flavor demonstrates why Boca is such an excellent restaurant. Â Every plate will burst with taste and tingle your tongue.
Plus, chef David Falk innovates with intelligence. Â The grilled Caesar salad (a hunk of romaine slightly toasted, infused with dressing and anchovy sauce) is a perfect example of his creative twist on classic dishes. Â Falk's training under Jean Robert de Cavel shines through in these efforts, as his craftsmanship takes the clever ideas and fulfills their potential.
There is no need for recommendations. Â Pick whatever sort of meat/pasta/vegetable you usually like, and get it. Â It won't be what you're used to; it will be better.
Boca. Oh my. Words can hardly do justice to describe the extraordinary meal set before us at Boca. I was immediately impressed by the casual, yet upscale, intimacy of the dining room. This feeling was further cultivated by our fantastic server. She had a familiar face, though  none of us quite knew why. If you're ever there, look for the young woman who looks and sounds like Joey Lauren Adams of "Chasing Amy" fame, and you'll know who we're talking about. Our server made us feel at home, and, with little arm twisting, made short work of getting all 6 of us to submit to the 5 course chef's tasting menu. And taste we did! I was skeptical. I like food, but not all kinds, so I was a little skittish about caesar salad as a course. This was no ordinary caesar. In fact, nothing was ordinary about this meal.
First Course: Wood-fired Caesar Salad. Yes. That's correct. A caesar salad that's cooked in a wood oven. Oh my. A whole heart of romaine was quick-charred in the wood over and served with warm, creamy, garlicky, dressing. On top of this, large slivers of parmesan cheese. No dust from a green can here! I have never enjoyed Caesar salad before, but I will make this my first course on any return trip to Boca.
Second Course: Day boat diver scallop on a bed of caramelized Brussels sprouts. Heaven on a plate--though I'm sure I said that about each and every course. One, plump, tender, perfectly seared scallop with a generous serving of Brussels sprouts. This is considered a signature dish, and rightfully so. I would go back JUST for this dish. If you're not a fan of Brussels sprouts, still give the dish a try. The tiny bits of golden, tender goodness are void of that acrid bite that many fear, leaving behind nothing but a sweetness that perfectly compliments the creamy sweetness of the scallop.
Third Course: At this point, I'm betting Boca can't top the scallop. Alas, I was wrong. A pasta course. Homemade wide noodles with a generous dollop of a tender, braised wild boar and vegetable meat sauce. Think of the meat sauce you get at your favorite Italian joint. Now, I've never met you, and I've probably never tasted this sauce, but I'll tell you what--this wild boar meat sauce will make you want to weep, and put your old favorite sauce to shame. You may think that's saliva building in your mouth right now, but it's not. It's the bitter, salty tears of your taste buds because they're jealous they haven't had this wild boar pasta. However, the meat does not own the sauce. Clean notes of red wine, root vegetables, and nutmeg or cloves permeate the dish, providing it a balance of flavors that is sure to leave an impression.
Fourth Course: Finally, our meat course. A moderately-sized filet (maybe 6 ounces?) cooked to your liking (medium rare, please), topped with lobster meat and a tangy, smooth and creamy sauce. I'm ashamed I don't recall what kind of sauce, though it was certainly no run of the mill barnaise or hollandaise. Paired with braised greens and potatoes, this was the point at which I thought "I'm getting a little full." I ate, and thoroughly enjoyed, every bite. It's not often that you find a restaurant--even one that purports to be a "steakhouse"--that knows how to treat a good cut of meat AND keep it fitting with the casually elegant theme of the establishment.
Dessert: This was the only course I thought would have been better off as a "choose your own ending," rather than a pre-determined "course." On each plate was one morsel of flourless chocolate, and one spoonful of rich crme brulee. I, for one, could eat my body-weight in crme brulee, so one spoonful just isn't enough to satisfy my love for all things vanilla-y and custardy.
At the end of the night, we enjoyed coffee and after-dinner drinks, though there was quite some ordeal for the decaf drinkers, who were served very cold coffee, and then coffee that had obviously been brewed from spent grinds. Our serve made up for it though--each of us were sent home with a half-pound of Boca blend whole bean coffee.
Upon reflection, this meal was more than satisfactory in all areas (except the decaf--but thankfully I drink regular!), and was easily one of the top 5 meals of my life. We hope to share our experience with others--once we've got the bankroll to finance the $85pp, plus tax and gratuity. It was certainly worth every dime.
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