Hadn't been here in a while mainly due to my distaste for Clifton Gas Light's parking nightmare. This time, however, I trusted La Poste's valet to ease my worries. The process went flawlessly.
Dinner was, for the most part, incredible. The PEI mussels were a generous serving and a nice touch to start. The waitress surprised us with a complimentary amuse bouche of chilled and diced root veggies on crackers. It was light and refreshing and so obviously farm fresh. The Caesar salad was the only real letdown. If you're going to charge $10+ for a starter salad, I'd hope it's good enough to justify the price. This one wasn't. It was the standard Caesar with two thin slices of anchovy adorning the top of the salad. Fortunately, the main dishes were spot-on incredible. We had a bottle of their recommended Shiraz - reasonably priced at around $60. Because of this slightly heavier red wine, we went with the duck breast and the lamb entrees. Both dishes were spectacular. I had a slight preference for the duck breast and particularly enjoyed the crispy hashbrown-esque side lying underneath the duck.
Finally, I have to mention the bread pudding. I'm a huge sucker for bread pudding. If you haven't tried it, please try the white chocolate bread pudding at Bouchard's in Findlay Market. It's incredible. My only qualm with theirs is the lack of a topping sauce. I mention that because La Poste makes an equally good, albeit completely different, bread pudding and serves it with a mouthwatering sauce and two small scoops of vanilla ice cream. I just had to wipe the drool from my mouth just from thinking about this spectacular dessert!
This was my first "real" dinner out since arriving in Cincinnati 20 days ago for work training. Â My old co-worker was coming to town for a conference and we decided to meet here and enjoy a nice meal together. the server brought out a black bean and crosstini amuse, We ordered the seasonal salad, escargot, and I had the duck breast, which was the best I have ever had. Â It was cooked to the perfect temperature, and it was not over fatty. Â My co-worker had the bone-in short ribs which were perfect on a chilly night. Â
Our server seemed a bit new, but the overall service was great! Â The space itself it very pretty, especially liked the full length mirror in the ladies room that had a border of vintage stamps. Â I hope to return again.!!
I've heard great things about this La Poste and was finally able to try it with a date.
PARKING: Â I don't really go out in Clifton much, but it seems like parking is never easy. Â La Poste is off on a side street and there seemed to be a lot of cars already on the street so it might be hard to self park. I valeted, and it was nice because at the end of dinner, our waiter took our ticket and when we walked out of the restaurant my car was there waiting for me.
ATMOSPHERE: Very nice ambience and decor. Feel very warm and homey. Â Not a very big space at all. Â Not loud at all and very easy to have a conversation.
SERVICE: Â Our waiter was awesome. Â He had a very good knowledge of the menu and his recommendations were great. Â He earned the 25-30% tip that I gave him. Â Plates were cleared and wine and water glasses refilled in a timely fashion. Â There was another person at a table behind us that was sitting on a window edge talking to the diners behind us and at one point I reached back and hit her. Â It was almost like she was on top of us. Â Our waiter saw that and apologized after she left. Â Then when we had finished our wine, he poured each of us another glass to apologize for the intrusion. Â
FOOD: Â Great food. Â Really not a bad dish. Â For appetizers, we had mussels and escargot. Â Muscles were good. The broth didn't seem like your typical white wine. Â Escargot came out of the shell in some kind of cream sauce. Â The sauce was ridiculously good. Â I guess that's why it came with a lot of pieces of bread to dip and sop up the sauce. Â Our waiter said his favorite thing on the menu was the duck, which we had. Â I agreed with him. Â It was very good, well balanced, good texture with some little fried parts to give it crunch and some cherry for sweetness too. Â The lamb shank wasn't bad, similar to what I've had at other places, and I really haven't been a huge fan of anywhere. Â They also have an extensive wine menu and a sommelier available.
OVERALL: Â Definitely a new fan. Â I'd say one of the top 10 restaurants I've been to in town. Â Maybe a little pricey, so it's not somewhere that you're gonna go every week.
Terrific upscale bistro in the Gaslight District, the only real fine dining establishment near the university and particularly out of step in the Gaslight district, an area where Shiva couldn't swing an arm without hitting a curry joint. Thoughtful seasonal menu, extremely attentive service, and creative wine list with surprising, excellent choices.
Only two minor flaws:
Numerous reviews have complained about portion sizes. My dish (a lamb shank over creamy polenta) was more than ample, but my wife's scallop and butternut squash risotto portion was small. Odd that one of us would leave the restaurant stuffed and the other was hungry enough to make popcorn the moment we got home.
My lamb was perfectly cooked but under-seasoned, to the point that I found myself looking for a salt shaker. Also odd, especially with a slow-braised dish such as this.
Still, I'm looking forward to coming back often. The chef and sommelier are both worth getting to know much better!
first time was last night.
second time will be very soon.
and third.
and fourth.
etc. . . . . . . .
i had the prok chop and potato/brussell sprout hash.
YOWZA!
super good.
the corn soup (that i stole from kt m.) was super excellent and awesome.
the minimalist decor left much tro be desired on my end - but i ain't into that kinda thing.
that said, it did not detract at all from my experience.
viva la la poste.
La Poste, La Poste, La Poste...I don't really know where to start with you. You are an overflowing bucket of awesomeness.
Here we go...
ATMOSPHERE: La Poste just on concept alone is successful. Some restaurants try to do themes and the execution falls short with tacky decor, or confusing ideas. La Poste is simple, and the theme of the former post office runs effortlessly throughout the space. The atmosphere is dim lit, romantic, soft and beautiful. (We sat in a princess booth, a tall wing backed booth that was just stunning)
WINE: I don't normally mention wine, but we didn't select our wine here. The absolutely wonderful sommelier did. I didn't catch his name but I'm pretty sure this dude's famous, cuz he's amazing! He selected a less pricier version of our favorite red that tasted almost identical, paired better with the food, and was very light and drinkable. Delicious!
FOOD: My tummy is full just thinking of this night. We had a table of four, and I thought I knew what I wanted until the server came over and described the specials for the night, then everything went out the window! There was too much deliciousness to be decided, we just choose to order basically one of everything and split.
They were nice enough to break it down into courses for us. Everything that came out was almost to beautiful to eat...almost. Things that stuck out to me, the frites with black garlic truffle NOM, were the table favorite. Potato soup was well seasoned and flavorful, mussels had a nice broth and were cooked evenly.
DESSERT: I do not usually order dessert. I hate chocolate (GASP!) I know, but they had carrot cake, and a girl can never turn down anything with cream cheese icing, my god, that's a sin. A delicious sin indeed! The amaretto cheesecake was also one of the most delicious desserts I have had in a long time. Not overly sweet, but perfectly balanced.
I wasn't expecting this for some reason. This little unassuming restaurant tucked away in the gaslight district is a contender people. Do not miss out on the wonderful culinary artistry, and delicious wine here. Not to mention the service, between every meal we got a new set of plates, silverware, and our wine was always filled to the brim. If I could give 10 stars for service I would.
An effortlessly perfect night at La Poste. I will definitely be back!
La Poste is great for dinner if you intend to go there for a nice, multiple course, sit down meal. It's not going to cut it if you just want to go there for a quick filling dinner. The quality of the food is fantastic. The wines are even better! You just have to keep in mind that the portions are meant for you to have an appetizer or two on top of your meal. If you go there hungry and don't think about that ahead of time, you'll probably leave hungry as some of my friends said when we left. Lastly, it is definitely on the pricier end. The service and quality is great, but maybe not a casual spot to go eat. It's definitely more of a date night locale.
Review Source:Great restaurant to have around University of Cincinnati. It's upscale decor inside but not too much of pieces which I like about. And the restaurant is pretty quiet making my dining experience relaxing and enjoyable. I was also surprised about the various wines they have in their storage. The foods are great, too. The portion was nice, not too big but not small. I liked the affordable prices also. I tried their burger. It was nothing spectacular but had everything I could ask for a burger. My wife had salmon, and it was cooked perfectly and the seasons was not too strong. That way we could enjoy the actual taste of salmon. The service was perfect. I think the waiter talked little too much, but it's better than being indifferent. He was kind and explained everything very well. I will come back here when I want to enjoy a dinner with wine when I'm around at the area.
Review Source:A friend introduced me to this place and I am glad she did. It's subtle decor and laid back atmosphere set the tone for an enjoyable dinner. The waitress was very knowledgeable and spot on with service. We shared the crab cake and smoked mackerel and were pleased by both. Next came the gourmet burger and a side of fries. Very filling and both were delicious. I had to try dessert and ordered the bread pudding. It didn't stand a chance and I am still reminiscing about it. I would highly suggest you check this place out. It's not to be missed.
Review Source:A visit during lunch provided a portion smaller than desired, and while I was satiated, I left feeling hungry for more.
La Poste is a classy eatery tucked away on a side street near Graeters. I ordered a gourmet grilled cheese that was packed full of vegetables. The sandwich was cooked to perfection with gooey cheddar and hearty veg, I felt like it should have came with more, especially for the price. A dainty salad had arrived as an appetizer, but still, I was hungry.
La Poste is a great place to go for a business lunch where you are not looking to stuff yourself. If you are starving, note that the portions are not platter-sized and you may need to order a few things to fill up. I'd be willing to give La Poste another try, but perhaps during a lunch where I'm not desperately starving this time.
Price per person: $15.00
I live in the area and this place is always packed in the evenings, which is really great for the Clifton Gaslight. The wait staff and sommeliers really know their stuff and won't lead you in the wrong direction when you want a good wine to pair with your food or vice versa. Don't shy away from La Poste if you don't have much wine knowledge; it's a welcoming environment for the novice as well as the experienced wine drinker and/or foodie. The staff is also really great and attentive. Definitely worth the trip for lunch or dinner.
I also want to mention the interior of the place. The restaurant is based off of the french post office, and the interior plays off of this with the colors of blue and yellow, simple flower arrangements, and cloth napkins folded like envelopes. The art on display in the restaurant is always rotating as well. These things make the dining experience even more memorable!
A friend and I decided to catch up over dinner at La Poste, he had been before, I had not. We had to wait until 8:30 to get a table, but that is to be expected on a Friday night. When we walked in, the first thing we both noticed was that it felt nearly as hot inside the restaurant as it was outside (101 degrees that day!) and there was a very noticeable haze at the far end of the room. Initially I thought it may have been some residual smoke from the kitchen, but really it was just that hot and hazy in there. Â The staff never said that the AC wasn't working, but it certainly felt like it to us, and it didn't let up the entire time we were there. It didn't ruin our evening, just an observation.
We started off with a complimentary jicama salad served with crackers, which was very refreshing. Next we had the scallops and the mussels. Both were very good, although the crust on the scallops was incredibly salty (not worth $15 IMO). After our appetizers, we shared a bottle of 2005 Burgundy, he had the Butchers cut, a New York Strip Steak, and I had the pork shank. His steak was cooked med rare as ordered and was excellent! My pork shank ($23) was very tender and fell right off the bone. It was served with micro-greens sprinkled with candied citrus, roasted potatoes and goat cheese. The greens were tasty and the potatoes slightly undercooked, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the dish as a whole. Both portions were large and we each took some home. Lastly we both had the panna cotta with fresh strawberries for dessert, a fresh and light end after a solid meal on a very hot night.
Although it can be pricey, the food was good and the service was excellent (our glasses were consistently being topped off). We were there for 3.5 hours and didn't feel rushed or bothered at all, which was very nice. Overall my experience was positive, and I would eat there again, hopefully under cooler conditions :)
We enjoyed our first experience at La Poste last year, but there was something subtle that made it even better this time around. Everything looked the same -- comfortably upscale decor, interesting art, cute postage-themed menu -- but all night we felt an extra spirit of joy infusing our experience. Slightly better service? Slightly better food? Maybe both. Maybe magic. I'm only half-kidding, because improving upon an already-great experience isn't easy to do. So kudos to the La Poste team. You'll be seeing us again soon, and more often.
Review Source:This little restaurant tucked away in Clifton Gaslight never dissapoints. The atmosphere is fun and romantic, down to the napkins folded like envelopes. Although the menu is pricey it is completely worth the money. I ordered the sopressata salad and scallops which were both amazing. For dessert we split a goat cheese cheese cake, Yum!!! If you are looking for a romantic but low-key place to enjoy some delicious food and exceptional service, this is the place for you.
Review Source:One of my favorites in Cinci. The food is always wonderful. From their steak to salads to pasta, everything rocks. The cost is a bit high but the quality of food and service more than make up for that.
La Poste has a wonderful wine selection and their cocktails are fantastic.
If you're looking for a chic place to eat with nothing but the best food and service this is the place for you.
We made our first visit to La Poste for restaurant week. Â I was pleased that they had a Belgium brown ale. It was served in glasses fit for wine. And I will say now that the beer was the highlight of our meal. I was served a unremarkable salad which supposedly contained roasted pistachios and hearts of palm. The hearts of palm must have been in thin slivers as they were in distinguishable from the Parmesan. Next I was served a scallop which by itself was good, but nothing was there to complement it. Finally I was served a strip steak which was again just ok. After this preview I am not impressed by this establishment enough to make a return visit. The pricing versus quality and portion size was just not equitable.
So long La Poste. Have a good journey.
This place is fabulous! Â We had dinner here on Valentine's Day; the earliest reservation was at 9:45pm but it was sooo worth the wait. Â We were a little early so we sat at the bar and had some cocktails. Â I can't remember which one I had, but it was so good! Â
We had the special prix fixe Valentine's Day dinner for two which consisted of four smaller courses plus a dessert. Â OH. MY. GOD. Â Everything was so amazingly good. Â My absolute favorite was the mushroom ravioli, which I'm glad to know is on the regular menu as well. Â However, every single course was awesome. Â In fact, my only complaint is that it was so good, we didn't want to not eat everything on our plates, so when we left, we were so full all we wanted to do was pass out in a food coma. Â I will definitely be coming back here as soon as possible....I'll just try to not eat so much this time.
After all the hype, I gotta say that something was lacking from my experience here.
I was seated with my friend at a table for two right by a window, which was a little drafty on a winter's night. Our server was perfectly nice and conversational, checking his notes as he named the specials that evening. Being the regrettably cheap person I am, I ordered the burger and aioli fries. Now, what I REALLY wanted was the braised beef shank, but alas, that was $30 and I just couldn't bring myself to do it. So I would like to advise you, fine review-reader, to order whatever the hell you want! Throw caution to the wind. Because really, who goes to a fancy place to order a burger and fries?? ? (Sigh.)
The fries were good with the black garlic aioli, though saltier than they should have been. The burger, though, was a disappointment - other than the fact that it did taste like beef, it was flavorless. It supposedly had sausage and other meats mixed in, but I could barely tell. Determined to finish my food, I coated the burger with the rest of my aioli, and then it was edible. I left feeling almost full, but not very satisfied.
I will give La Poste another chance someday, especially since I live about 2 feet away from it. Maybe next time I'll be wiser about what I decide to order and that will make all the difference! I can only hope so, anyway.
I Love Love this place! My taste buds are still dancing from the rich flavorful meal. Beth and I were celebrating our 6 monthaversary and i can't think of a better that to have gone to. I wanted to do a chef tasting so we could try a little bit of what they had to offer. I threw Eric the wine guy a curve ball when i asked for an all white wine paring. Eric meet the challenge with enthusiasm and really made the meal POP!
So we started off with a seared scallop, toast, Gorgonzola mouse, and a suvi egg. The scallop was done to perfection, and this was my first time getting anything suvi. Let me just say that i am looking for how to cook most my meals this way now, LOL!
Next we had mushroom ravioli which was out of this world. The ravioli was out of this world! The sauce was rich and it was topped with a grilled mushroom. Being allergic to mushrooms after a few bites i gave the rest to Beth, who was more than thankful :)
Our next course was Mahi with a beet puree. The asparagus was done to perfection. The citrus topping really complimented the Mahi well. The beet puree, well im just not a fan of beets, but it was ok. The Mahi was cooked a little overdone but by combining it with the beet puree it made it moist again. This was probably the dish i liked the least.
After that we had Filet with a poblano mole and an avacado crab topping and grilled onion and carrots. The filet melted in your mouth, and was near heavenly. The Crab Avacado topping was excellent, and the grilled onion and carrots were nice as well. The poblano mole was a nice add on and gave it enough spice.
Our final tasting was bread pudding and orange creme brulee. The bread pudding had a small serving of vanilla bean ice cream. The orange creme brulee had a light interior and a well carmelized top. I'm still having dreams of the bread pudding at night. This was an excellent ending to a fantastic meal.
All in all we really enjoyed this place. Parking was valet and the attendant was fast and friendly. Eric was very knowledgeable about the wine and made some awesome pairings.
If you're looking for a creative chef, good pairings, and a classy casual and in no way too pretentious scene, this is a great spot. Comfortable ambiance: you know you're in a nice restaurant (you probably picked this place for a reason), but there's no need for a place this good to push their over-importance upon you. (They know it's that good too!)
The wait staff is as comforting as the vibe -- knowledgeable but not uptight. They might not know it all, but they're not too proud to ask a resident expert. Example: They're sure to have a "beer guy" on staff who will be able to treat you with craft beer knowledge from their impressive selection.
Only complaint could be that the menus -- food, wine, and beer -- are light in quantity of options. But the quality is what counts. And, they pack that in so that you don't really need much more than is there.
The chef's accompaniment on every dish was expert. Scallops were done perfectly, at least as good as Boca. The pear salad is phenomenal, mixing light greens with warm, cheesy pear yumminess under toasted prosciutto.
Mushroom Ravioli is creamy, light on the palate, yet somehow so rich and full of flavor. Pork Tenderloin was fantastic as well.
They were out of Dolcetto, but had a decent substitue. And the terrific taste in beer treated me to two rare large format brews that I had never seen in the wild.
Trust your local brew-loving chef!
The food was very delicious - but your would not get that impression based on the limited menu that they present. The waiter we had was nice but a little SLOW, he stumbled when presenting the specials and we felt that the sommelier did not have a good wine background.
However annoying the start was, my husband and I did the tasting menu for my birthday dinner and it was simply AMAZING!!! : We had the
Roasted Crimson Pear   11
fresh herb goat cheese, prosciutto,arugula
Mussels and Clams   10
dry cider, coriander, leeks, grilled tomatoes, crostini
Seared Salmon* Â Â 23
warm quinoa, caramelized, mirepoix, asparagus, piquilloclam brot
Veal Short Ribs   26
rosemary mashed potatoes, red vegetable slaw, strawberry braising ju
Butchers Cut
I would have not have done it any other way. I really liked the restaurant fell, just not impressed with the staff.
We went to La Poste last night for a casual Thursday night outing of nibbles and wine. Â This was my third time there, but the other two were for their opening and for a special wine dinner. Â So, this was my actual first normal dining experience. Â The place was hopping with patron conversation and hustling servers when we arrived at 7:00. Â Without solid reservations, we were able to nab one of the sideline seats against the wall. Â These seats allow for a birds-eye view of the action.
We like to try several smaller plates rather than ordering two main dishes, so we decided on two appetizers to get us started. Â We ordered the Steamed Mussels and a special of Seared Scallop & Braised Pork Belly that rested on top of a veggie hash. Â The Steamed Mussels were soaking comfortably in a beautiful creamy and flavorful broth. Â After the mussels were gone, we soaked up the broth with the crusted bread and then once the bread was gone, we just started spooning it into our mouths. Â If we weren't out in the middle of everyone, I'm pretty sure I would have slurped it straight out of the bowl! Â The Seared Scallop & Braised Pork Belly was to die for. Â The Pork Belly was so tender if fell apart in your mouth and it paired perfect with the scallop and the hash. Â
After those two dishes, I really didn't think I could be impressed any further. Â But, then we got the Mushroom Ravioli. Â I'm pretty certain I was making strange noises as I was eating it. Â After eating the Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli from Wildflower Bistro in Mason, I never thought I would enjoy any other as much. Â But, I must say this will go down in my book as my new favorite.
The FINALE - We ended our evening at La Poste in a way that is really indescribable on paper. Â I will just say we ended with Dave's Bread Pudding and a glass of dessert wine. Â That should really tell it all, but just to be clear - Dave's Bread Pudding is amazing. Â Enough said.
It's simple: I JUST LOVE THAT PLACE!
I discovered it as I was going through an interview for Grad School. I was quite doubtful about the menu, so I decided to have the mushroom ravioli. I have been to quite a few restaurants in my life, most of them being in Paris. But I have to admit it: The best dish I had in my entire life was served in Cincinnati OH at La Poste. Believe it or not but it's very true.
That being said, the ambiance is really enjoyable, the service is really friendly and overall I think that's the perfect balance of cosy atmosphere and dedicated professionalism. Everything is thought through, from the music to the local artists painting on the wall.
If you ever go to Cincinnati, remember to stop by La Poste. One of my best memory of my time in Cincy and definitely one of best culinary experience in the US.
Only little bad thing: the place is quite pricy, but it's definitely worth the money!
Well, I enjoyed the food, but this is mainly about a wine incident in September that might keep us from coming back (sorry about the review delay). Let's see if I can remember all the details. Sorry about all the numbers.
Asked the sommelier for a fruity pinot noir under $45. He came back with three btls: one was $42, one around $55, and one above $60. The guy needs to open his #%&@ing ears. Â But with our hands kind of tied, we got the $42 btl.
After the meal, we were charged $52 instead of $42. Hey miscommunications happen. We asked him to fix it. Came back a few minutes later and said they could only bump it down to $47. Well, ya know, jeez, I'm not asking for a discount. Just charge me what you said you would. Plus, is it really worth the $5 for us not to come back and spend another $120?
Otherwise, I really enjoyed the pork spareribs. But my wife had a tough time avoiding  all the cute little bones in the rabbit con fit.
Another weird thing: they kept asking us if we wanted dessert (about 4 times)-a la drug dealer.
Let me start by saying that the food and the service here is absolutely fantastic! They have a great chef, great wait staff, and a wonderful wine list. I only wish they would take the 'post office' theme up a level...it's such a cute idea and they should incorporate it into the decor.
I came here for my birthday and would definitely come again for another celebration.
La Poste is a really great restaurant. Their waitstaff is attentive, helpful, and polite. The food is really good (I had rabbit, delicious). Their drinks are well made and creative (not to mention award winners, GO bartenders!). Their menu is seasonal. And the room and tables are really simple and pretty.
I'd go there more if it wasn't so expensive! (I had a gift certificate)
After a failed attempt to eat at A Tavola (it was Monday and they were closed) we decided to come to LaPoste. Â Having had a great lunch here about 6 months ago I was excited to see what dinner had to offer. Â It did not disappoint and was on the of the best meals I have had in a while. Â
We started with the Hot Bacon Scallop appetizer. Â Wow, what an amazing starter, I highly recommend. Â It is small with just two scallops but very rich in flavor.
For the mains I had the Fried Chicken Breast and my friend had the Veal Short Ribs. Â I liked my dish but I wasn't blown away. Â The veal short ribs were tasty. Â I had a side of Pommes Frittes which were crispy and delicious. Â On my next visit I think I'd like to try the Mushroom Ravioli.
We finished the evening off with the Bread Pudding. Â Now I wouldn't call myself a bread pudding connoisseur by any means but this was the BEST bread pudding I have ever tasted-gooey, warm and yummy! Â The only wish I have for this dessert is maybe a bit more ice cream, the scoop was barely larger than a quarter.
Our server was pleasant, maybe a bit too stiff but I'd give LaPoste a 4.5 rating. Â I'll definitely be back and I hope this restaurant makes it.
Bacon scallops and mushroom ravioli stole the show tonight, and the pear salad held its own. The service crew, especially our server, Jeremy, was attentive without being overbearing or pretentious. The two entrees in the five-course chef's sampler, the pan-fried flounder and seared sirloin, were quite tasty but not at the same level as the opening salvo.
Suggestion: Request a table in the small dining room (it's by the walk-in wine closet) when you make a reservation. It's quieter and cozier than the main dining room.
Great for special occasions or a romantic night out!
Hate to be a Debbie Downer on this one, but dang, what a bummer this restaurant turned out to be. Â Strap in because it's gonna be a bumpy ride...
I started off with a glass of white wine and although it was different, it was not a good different.  Then, I had the pear salad, which was very good!  My entree was the burger with frites.  I didn't really care for the burger unfortunately, but it was better than my hubby's entree!  This is where it gets bumpy folks!  He ordered the rabbit with mashed potatoes.  How is it possible to make rabbit taste like salmon?  Just ask the chef at La Poste!  Straight up nasty, but  wait, there's more!  I decided to try a bite of his mashed potatoes.  As we all 4 watch him slide his fork into the potatoes, we all fell over when a hair came up with it!  UUUHHHHG!
Now, the service? Â Hmm, nope, not great either. Â It was obvious I wasn't impressed with my wine, yet the waiter didn't care enough to attempt to fix the situation. Â It was also obvious something was up with my hubby's meal, yet he didn't care enough to ask if everything was ok. Â We left with them never knowing there was a hair in his meal. Â If we felt there was reason enough to let them know, we would have pushed it, but because of our overall experience, we had already determined we would never return anyway. Â In any fine dining restaurant, I expect a higher level of service, however, I get better service (and food) at SmashBurger.
NEXT!
Today I went to La Poste for lunch. They have a great lunch special where $14 gets you a main dish, side, and dessert. There were many options for the entree, which all sounded wonderful and very unique. I chose their version of eggs benedict, along with pomme frites as a side and their bread pudding for dessert.
The eggs benedict was unusual in that the hollandaise was made with blueberries, giving it a slightly sweet flavor. It was served on a thicker toasted bread slice over the traditional english muffin. Although it is not stated in the menu, be aware that the benedict came with ham. I don't eat pork, so I had to ask for a new order when I realized there was ham. Luckily, the waitress was very gracious and apologized for the confusion and my replacement (in which tomatoes and spinach were subbed) came out very quickly. The pomme frites were good, but too salty for my taste. I did enjoy the garlic aioli dipping sauce they came with.
The dessert was very large and very rich. It was delicious, but I definitely could not finish it. The juicy slices of bread were smothered in dried cherries and thick, warm caramel sauce. If you love caramel, this dessert is right up your alley. I would recommend sharing it with a friend.
All in all, great service and very reasonable lunch prices.
After the world's worst wine festival we snuck into La Poste for dinner. We had to wait until 10 to get reservations but it was worth it. Street parking can be a little bit hairy but we just parked in the public lot behind IGA.
The decor is very simple (mail themed, very cute). The bar was very small so we had to stand and loiter with our drinks. I was a bit surprised that they didn't have a signature drink menu. That's one of my favorite parts about going to a restaurant - trying the new drinks.
Wild Mushroom Flatbread
This was so delicious. That little eggy delight there made this dish. There were 2 pieces of flatbread there, not that you can tell by my photo. The pieces were also really large - totally a sharable dish. The mushrooms were so tasty, salty and nutty. I could eat this again anytime.
Pomme Frites
Also delicious. It's hard to screw up a french fry in my book. The black garlic aioli  was very tasty but rich. This is also a heaping helping of fries.
Hot Bacon Scallops
Oh my god these were so good. Have you ever heard someone describe a seafood that "tastes like the sea"? Have you looked puzzled when they say that like I do? This dish for me tasted like the sea. These scallops were huge and so fresh you could just smell the sea. The little salad and crisp were a nice addition.
Foie Gras
My friend Ann is a sucker for foie gras. She loved this dish the same as any other foie gras dish. I guess its easy to prepare something that tastes so delicious.
You have a marscapone pound cake there with some sauteed apples. That doesn't hurt either.
Mushroom Ravioli
These were really delicious. Must get them next time. I am a sucker for mushrooms but I went with salmon. The flavor in this was buttery, nutty and velvety. The sauteed mushroom on top made this just heaven.
Salmon with ratatouille
If I am in a new restaurant and I am not certain what to get I always fall back to salmon. It's hard to screw up and always has great potential to be amazingly delicious. I was really impressed with the salmon, incredibly fresh and delicious with a beautiful char. But, what was most surprising was the ratatouille. Ratatouille is the layered dish underneath the salmon. Under those layers of zucchini and squash is a chopped medley of more of the same. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly complimented with the salmon.
We talked to the manager for a bit about the restaurant and what their plans were for it. Our server was really great. To your right of the entrance there are 2 bar banquettes. We ate there instead of having a full table. I really really enjoyed those tables. We got do do a lot of people watching, and drinking, in a really cozy, comfortable spot.
We also found a wonderful bottle of torrentes to share for under $40 a bottle. If in the Clifton neighborhood check out La Poste and then go see a movie at the Esquire.
My husband and I dined here to celebrate his birthday over the weekend, and we're so glad we did!
I had heard excellent things about La Poste, but was well aware that we would consider this a bit more of a special occasion place for us because of the pricing.
La Poste did not disappoint. We had excellent service all around. We were seated within 5 minutes of our reservation, and tended to by an amazing bartender who was sweet and engaging. I happened to mention it was my husband's birthday, and she sent two flutes of champagne to our table with our server when we sat with a "Happy 21st Birthday" message. ;)
The menu and the night's specials all sounded so great we were really having a hard time deciding. We wound up sharing a ricotta salad (with amazing homemade ricotta, ground pistachios and orange dust), and the crabcake to start. The crabcake was the best I've ever had, and i'd be remiss if I didn't mention that my husband came very close to ordering a second one for dessert!
My husband went with the burger and pomme frites for dinner. Not a usual choice for him, but he had been craving one all week. He said it was perfectly cooked, and for $10 it was a gigantic burger.
I ordered the salmon, which was buttery and melted in my mouth. Perfectly seasoned and perfectly medium as I ordered it. Served over braised kale and lentils.
For dessert, we went with the cherry bread pudding, and it did not disappoint. The caramel sauce was to die for, and we savored every last bite.
All around every bite was scrumptious, the service was impeccable, and the atmosphere was relaxed and unpretentious. I can't wait for another excuse to go back there again soon!
So in exactly how many reviews am I going to have to admit that I'm a total francophile? Â Probably a few more than those in which I will admit that I love... the mail. Â Yes, the mail. Â Correspondence. Â I love it. Â And I'm pretty sure that I've mentioned that I love wine, right?
Well... Francophilia + mail + wine = La Poste.
And my love for La Poste doesn't stop there. Â The service is perfect. Â Flawless. Â Really. Â The timing was great, orders were placed in a synchronized fashion. Â Every detail was attended to. Â It was great. Â I can't say enough about the professional service.
The food is great. Â I was dining with a group of pescetarians, and there were more than enough options for everyone to get what they wanted. Â Some of the highlights were the crab cake, scallops and the salmon dish. Â The ravioli is quite popular, but also quite rich. Â If you plan on order the ravioli, then maybe you want to forgo the salutation course.
I'm a little upset that I didn't visit La Poste earlier. Â Definitely one of Cincinnati's must-try restaurant destinations.
What a difference 6 months make! I dined at La Poste on opening night and noted a number of deficiencies in the quality of the food and the level of service. I understand that it usually takes a month or two to work out the kinks in a new restaurant, so I fully intended to revisit this cozy neighborhood bistro near Clifton and Ludlow. True to my word, I walked back in to La Poste 6 months after the opening, and I am extremely glad I did.
The bartender Suzie (late of Nada) was both pleasant and enthusiastic. A foodie herself, she was more than happy to talk at length about the Cincinnati dining community in general and La Poste specifically. In order to give the place a fair shake, I decided to try the 5 course tasting menu, providing me with a wide exposure to the chef's cooking technique. Note: at $50, this is probably one of the best gastronomic deals in the midwest!
The chef started with a complimentary amuse bouche in the form of a roasted pepper hummus with fresh pita chips. A great start to meal full of flavor and good textures. The first course involved a scallop sauteed with bacon with spinach and Gorgonzola cheese. The flavors were well-developed and scallop perfectly cooked.
Next up: a mushroom ravioli in a cream sauce. Simply put, this was a warm plate of love! I could have eaten 10 plates of that and still asked for more. A plate of grilled salmon followed. This was served over braised lentils and was accompanied by a fried polenta cake. While the fish was a bit undercooked for my taste, I appreciated how well the flavor of wood-grilled salmon contrasted with the lentils and polenta. A solid dish in summary.
The star of the savory offerings was certainly the slow cooked veal short ribs with sweetbreads and currants. I can still taste the smooth and developed profile of meat. What a way to finish a tremendous progression.
I would be remiss if I were to omit a description of the dessert, bread pudding with cherry and white chocolate. In a word: sublime. I MUST have that recipe!
If you haven't given La Poste a try, you are missing one of the best culinary experiences in the Queen City. Make the effort and you will be rewarded with an outstanding meal!!
This is my new favorite restaurant in Cincinnati!
From the moment I walked in the front door, this is a place that made me happy just to be inside. The overall decor is elegant but with some splashes of color and funky paintings on the wall.  There is a bright blue color running as a subtle theme throughout the dining room, from  the napkins folded on the table to the piping on the seats and the color of the waitstaff's attire. Â
Our waiter was amazing. Â It was very evident that Joe is passionate about food and his descriptions of each dish were delivered with more feeling than I've ever heard in a waiter's voice. Â His recommendations were spot on. Â We ended up ordering several different dishes, not all in the categories laid out on the menu, and Joe asked if it was OK to suggest the order they came out. Â We jumped on this and let him plan the delivery of our meals which was orchestrated with absolute perfection. Â
Oh and the food! Â For upscale dining, I have not been to another restaurant in Cincinnati I like as much as La Poste Eatery. Â The salads are masterful balances of flavors beautifully presented on the plates. Â The second and third courses were all delicious, well portioned and attractive. Â Our shared bread pudding dessert was absolutely divine, but would be far too much for one person after a meal!
Overall, I am *loving* this place. Â We noted there is a Chef's tasting menu available for $50 (a bargain!) and I plan to make that a top priority on my "to do in Cincinnati" list.
I had a foodie friend in town for the weekend, so when we decided to try La Poste, I hoped she would be impressed. Luckily, we both loved what we ordered!
The chicken fricasse was amazing, though I wish the portion of vegetables in a sauce that the chicken breast was served with had been larger. It was just that good. My friend got the braised lamp shank and she thought it was delicious, tender, moist, etc. I don't like lamb myself, but I trust her opinion on it, knowing how much she knows about food, nutrition, cooking, etc.
Other thoughts: we didn't have a reservation and ended up having to watch the bar like hawks so that we could snag a couple chairs once they became available. If you want a table, reservations are a must, at least at this point, but the bartender was helpful and attentive during our meal. I was also expecting a larger wine list, especially since La Poste has "Wine Room" posted on its exterior.
All in all, I would definitely suggest La Poste for a special dinner out.
As an unwritten rule I usually wait to post my reviews good bad or indifferent La Poste was no exception. I only wanted to gush about it while it was still fresh in my mind because of the unbelievable time I had.
Music.
Im a total stickler for dining room music. Ive dined at Le Bernadin where they place deep house and ambient techno during service on Friday night. Ive dined at the Spotted Pig where youll hear anything from The Temptations to Wu-Tang Clan. Even at Momofuku where youll hear The Klaxons and dubstep remixes of La Roux.(Yes this has all happened) La Poste on a sleepy post Halloween monday night definately set the tone properly. Ranging from Wilco to Citizen Cope and some light jazz from Charlie Parker and the like. It was intimate and comforting.
They dropped in some new banquettes added a few tables and put some color on the walls so you can actually see what youre eating but importantly they put up some remarkable art from Kim Krause that was actually seen. Most people view art in restaurants as an afterthought. At La Poste its paramount, where whats on the walls matters just as much as your plate....
My date and I hadnt even sat down yet.
We were greeted by very smiley and chipper waitstaff as well as Kelly and Bryant Phillips who, after letting my date and I tour the newly installed wine room sat us and indulged with us menus to peruse even though we were doing a tasting menu. I felt at home... special, even. Thats what a dining experience is about. You wont find this at Local 127 or Boca. (treated)
The tasting menu we received was impeccable and rivals any meal ive had while living in New York to top that its one of the best meals Ive had in Cincinnati to date.  Bryant and Chef Dave worked very hard to pair our meal with phenomenal wines that complemented our entire menu FLAWLESSLY. I wont give out any inkling  as to what we ate in full detail because it will just make you jealous...but I will say mushroom,proscuitto and pear, foie gras, lamb, boquerones, and all kinds of other fun things that are delicious as they are costly. The wine featured some tremendous juice ranging from Pinot D'Alsace to Barolo
Sadly my friend Chef Dave was unable to be there however, Cameron the Sous Chef and his team of Matt and Mark executed Daves menu perfectly. Ive had the pleasure of working with these guys previously at other establishments and couldnt be happier or more proud with what they put out.
La Poste is excellence in its purest form. Every little detail is noted and taken care of down to the strategically folded napkins to the polished stem ware. Its not to miss and worth the trip to Cliftons Gaslight neighborhood.
La Poste is a new restaurant where Tinks used to be, and where a post office was some time before that (hence the name). I was kind of hoping La Poste would offer a different sort of selection than Tink's somewhat overpriced but rather good food, but it's really the same kind of restaurant - that's not a bad thing, mind you, it's just not really a grand change.
As you can tell from the name, La Poste has a postal theme to it, but only in small subtle ways. Things on the menu are adorably featured this way (instead of "appetizers" they serve "introductions") and the check comes in a tiny plastic envelope.
However, that's where the post office theme stops. The rest of the place looks like your classic upscale eatery - beautiful art on the wall, long wooden bar as soon as you walk in. The real beauty of this place is it's gorgeous wine room, which houses hundreds of bottles in a controlled temperature. That was amazing to see - and it goes without saying that the wine selection is second to none.
They also play some really great music, stuff like My Morning Jacket. That was a bit of a surprise, but not an unwelcome one.
Now the food? Ah, the food, here's where I come into my confusion. When the meal was great it was GREAT. Like the Chicken Fricassee, which was moist and flavorful and everything I wanted out of it. Oh my god. However, stuff like the house salad with pomegranate seeds and candied walnuts sounded amazing, but actually turned out to be just so-so. That was a little disappointing, but really, not enough to ruin the whole experience.
Plus, I asked them to pair a wine with my meal and they choose a fantastic bottle, one I never would have choose myself! If you're not in the mood for something specific, I would certainly go that route.
The prices are high but not unreasonably so. Actually, for a place this classy, I'd say they are right on. You're going to spend some money, but you could easily do double what you do here at other equally classy places around town. Easily.
La Poste is not an everyday restaurant (which makes me really nervous for it's survival, since Clifton is an everyday eating kind of place and restaurants like this don't seem to do well) but for your special occasions and dining out treats, La Poste is a place to check out. I did and I am quite happy indeed.
I visited La Poste on its opening night, and I will visit again. Â Not because it was an outstanding experience, but because I believe it has the potential to be a great restaurant after it gets over its opening night jitters.
I met up with a co-worker for a 7:00 reservation, and we were seated right away. Â Our server came to take our wine order within a few moments of being seated, but we were already prepared to order our food, so he took our entire order at once.
Within about five minutes of ordering, our wine had been served and we were treated to an amuse bouche, which was an artichoke-olive tapenade type spread, served with olive bread. Â It tasted fine, but nothing terribly exciting.
Our starters came out a short time later. Â My seasonal spring salad was just the right mix of sweet and savory, with bits of butternut squash and orange slices served over greens with a somewhat salty dressing. Â It was a great combination. Â My dining partner order the foie gras, which tasted good, but was a very small portion considering the price.
We then waited nearly an hour for our main courses to arrive... with no apology or comment from our server. Â I ordered chicken fricassee, while my co-worker ordered the lamb shank, neither of which were terribly complicated in their preparation, so I will attribute the significant wait time to the kitchen not being quite up to speed on opening night. Â Either way, my chicken was hot and juicy, though not very flavorful, and the lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone tender. Â My co-worker's only complaint about the main dish was that his lamb shank was served with french fries, which became quite soggy after soaking up the juice from the lamb shank. Â
We had three options for dessert: a chocolate and dried cherry bread pudding, butternut squash creme brulee, and a soaked pear with cream. Â We chose the bread pudding and the creme brulee. Â There must have been some confusion, as the pear dessert came to our table after just a few minutes. Â When we brought the mistake to the attention of our server, he took it away, but again had nothing to say. Â
Eventually the correct desserts came out, and while the bread pudding was quite tasty, the creme brulee left a lot to be desired. Â It didn't taste bad, but frankly, it did not taste like much at all. Â Perhaps we should have kept the pear after all.
In general, the food served at La Poste is pretty good, and the prices are fairly reasonable (most entrees are priced between about $15 and $25). Â Our server could have been a bit more personable, and the kitchen needs to work on getting food out to the tables in a more timely manner, but again, it was opening night, and I'm sure they're working out the kinks as they go.
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