To sum Lavomatic up in one word, I would say, pleasing. I stopped in for a quick happy hour and was, of course, pleased that they offer $2 off beers (and ciders) on tap. I was also pleased by the chic décor, extensive beverage offerings, and proximity to downtown. Most pleasing of all was the friendliness of the waitstaff. I do have to say however, that our server did not seem very experienced at the bar. She was not able to provide a comprehensive description of the beers on draft and she seemed to be just learning how to pour from a tap. It wasn't a big deal though and I would still recommend this bar as a comfortable downtown hang-out!
Review Source:Group of 7 went for a business lunch on a Friday. There were only four tables but the server was in charge of the ENTIRE restaurant and bar, even though there were other staff on the floor. Â On the plus side, the food was excellent!! Â They also comp'd our drinks for the lack of service, which is something most restaurants wouldn't do. Â If you aren't in a hurry, this is an great restuarant in OTR!
Review Source:Brunch at the Lavomatic Cafe is quite delicious and I dare you to not find at least a handful of items that sound appealing!
After salivating over all of the options, I finally narrowed it down to the 2 Egg breakfast with bacon jam. Yes, you read that right-- Bacon jam. It is truly amazing and one of the few items that make me questions my newfound decision to become a vegetarian. This bacon jam is out of this world amazing-- The perfect combination of sweet and salty. They really should serve it with everything, it's that good.
My boyfriend got a goetta egg in a basket that was pretty great as well. The service was friendly, the coffee was good, the prices were standard action for a trendy OTR place.
I highly recommend waking up early this weekend and trying out their brunch menu, your taste buds will thank you.
Lavomatic is the quintessential place that would have been on top of the food chain a few years back. Trendy and with a fun sophisticated vibe I like the atmosphere.
The tea I ordered was from a brand I respect and the water was about the right temperature for green tea, so I was happy there. But the wrap I ordered was mediocre at best.
The service was slow and inattentive. For a trendy place so talked about I'd hoped for more. Especially while it was quiet and sparsely populated during lunch.
I do think Lavomatic has promise though, and I've heard they've done some work on their menu recently. I have friends who like the wrap I had so I hope my experience was a one-off.
I went to Lavomatic as part of a birthday celebration with a VERY large party - almost 20 people. I thought going in that service would be awful, but I was pleasantly surprised! Our server was pleasant and attentive, and as far as I could tell, got everything right. That's no small feat with a group of that size, and I was quite impressed with the job she did.
Unfortunately, that was the bright spot of the meal. I ordered 2 drinks during the course of the meal (Spiced Rum and Vanilla Coke) and they were watery and extremely weak. The expediter who brought out my app didn't seem to have read the new menu so he shopped it around as something it wasn't (goat cheese wontons v. the bacon and cheddar that are on the new menu) before I realized he was looking for me. The dish was meh and uninspired, which was disappointing. My special lady friend had the panko-breaded fried mashed potato balls, which should be amazing - but they were bland as could be even with the variety of accompanying sauces piled on.
For an entree, I had the grilled cheese - several kinds of cheese, bacon, and fried tomatillos. Sounds good, right? Nope. The bread was astoundingly dry and it was, again, bland. I don't know how you can make a dish like this so pedestrian - it should sing with the ingredients they are using - but it just fell flat in a big way. Even the fired potato chunks tossed in duck fat were boring and bland.
This wasn't my first time at Lavomatic, but it might be my last. Yes, it's got a cute theme, but the food just doesn't cut it.
First time at Lavomatic was Saturday evening. Â We were able to get a table for four at 7:45 pm with little wait. Â As our meal was served, we noticed the place filled up quickly! Â This is a spot with a late arriving crowd!
Lavomatic does a great job of providing options to vegetarians and/or vegan diners. Â My date got the black bean wrap and RAVED. Â The Indian spiced hummus was excellent and the service was very helpful with recommendations.
$5.00 house wines and good price local brews and this place is a hit with me!
I will absolutely return.
Arrived for a late lunch, the place was fairly empty. I had the Cali Burger, delicious, cooked to perfection and well seasoned. Really good choice. Husband ordered French Onion Soup and a side of Mac and Cheese. We split the burger and Mac and Cheese, which was also creamy and delicious. The iced teas were refilled without asking. Our only complaint, soup is an appetizer/ first course, not dessert. It was delivered 15 minutes after our entrees. Will be back as the food was quite good.
Review Source:I've been twice, so don't go thinking that I'm giving it a low score unwarranted. The first was with coworkers for lunch and the second with a big group to celebrate the Holidays. I have tried the BBQ burger which was alright, nothing memorable and the chicken salad sandwich. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the chicken salad sandwich. It came with mixed greens which to me looked like a nice cop out to avoid giving me a real salad or fries. So, I ordered the rosemary fries. Gross. Literally tasted like they had dropped the whole cannister of rosemary into the fryer. I ended up giving them away...also, they were cooked in duck fat which for some reason bothered me (ever heard of canola, peanut, sunflower, etc. oil?). The service was slow despite there being very few people in the restaurant.
The 10 of us were put in the upstairs despite the downstairs being empty. The waitress's first day just happened to be during our lunch and they assigned her to the only large group in the place. She was slow and carrying 10 people's food up the precarious steps meant it came at different times. We ended up waiting over an hour even for our food. My manager ordered the salmon and was surprised when it arrived, raw. Nowhere on the menu did it say that it wasn't cooked and he was unable to eat it. The waitress kindly offered to take it off of his bill, despit his insistence that it wasn't necessary.
Neither were positive impressions. I've had better elsewhere in OTR.
What a great spot for lunch today. We ordered their mac and cheese (with bacon) for an appetizer - wowsa - don't miss trying this. For a drink I had a fancy rum and coke that was so smooth. And for my entree I tried the grilled cheese sandwich with fries. It was wonderful! The thick bread and creative interpretation made me smile! I would go again and order the same thing!!! :)
Review Source:The wife and I went here last night for Valentine's day. Â After waiting for 10-minutes, someone finally took our drink order....10-minutes later our food order. Normally, this wouldn't be such a big deal, but they weren't that busy - there were a ton of empty tables the entire time.
We got the mac-n-cheese to start and it was BY FAR the highlight of the meal. Â My wife got the shrimp & chicken pasta (she liked it) and I got the Bourbon BBQ burger. Since the burgers a decent size, I cut mine in half and saw that it was undercooked. The manager offered to take it back and make a fresh one, and it actually came back out quickly. I always appreciate when a business tries to reconcile an unfortunate situation (to add, he gave a voucher for our next visit....first round is on the house).
Once we finished, we waited a while for our check and then waiting a while for our server to come back to grab our check (which he actually never did. The same manager grabbed it).
To be honest...to be at a restaurant for an hour and a half is one thing...but to wait for your server for a combined thirty minutes is unacceptable....especially for how much our bill was. This was definitely the worst service experience we've had ANYWHERE in OTR, and it's enough for me to not want to go back.....well I might go back for that free round of drinks =)
I've been here about 4 times, so I feel I can accurately say that I wouldn't put it on a high priority to visit this place just to visit it. Â The three meals that I've had, have been less than great. Â I won't say that they're bad, but just not the best in the world. Â I ordered a burger one time, and it came out to me really charred - I think I ordered medium rare, so not really what I was expecting. Â And considering the quality of the food, I think it's a little overpriced. Â The service was so-so. Â My meal came out in a timely fashion, but they didn't check up on me until I was practically done, so I never got the chance to ask for the mustard that I wanted. Â (I know, I could deal with out, but when you order food, you kind of expect that you should be able to enjoy it how you want.) Â The thing that was really surprising, is that I should have been very easy to check up on - I was one of 5 customers in the restaurant!!! Really, you can't even check up on me, if there's only 5 of us in there?
My friend is trying to convince me that this is a great place to go for happy hour, I'm still waiting to be convinced.
I will say that if you are looking for a venue for your event, this is a great place to look. Â I've gone to two events on the upstairs patio, and both times, the food was amazing, the servers were timely and friendly, and I had a great time - I wish that service and quality existing when I go in there other times.
An adorable cafe in an up-and-coming area of Cincinnati!
The menu was concise but still had something for everyone. I had dinner with 4 girlfriends, one of which is a vegetarian and one vegan. Both of them had the vegetable "spaghetti and meatballs", julienned carrots and zucchini served as the noodles and were topped with black bean "meatballs" and marinara. Both girls raved about the dish and didn't have leftovers to take home!
I had the Bourbon BBQ Duck Open Face and enjoyed every bite! The shredded duck was tender and the house-made barbeque sauce was the perfect combination of smokey and sweet. The sandwich was topped with cheddar and arugula and served with a simple green salad and roasted potatoes.
We each tried a different drink from the extensive cocktail menu. I had the Lavo Cosmo, which tasted like a combination of fresh orange, cranberry and high quality vodka. The price was the best part--$6.57!
The best thing about Lavomatic was the atmosphere. Located in a refurbished area of Over the Rhine, the cafe was surrounded by trendy restaurants, unique and new bars, and cute boutiques.
Overall, loved the experience, service and food!
Great idea for decor and a trendy menu that puts a little adventure into their dishes. Â Service was great and the atmosphere was easy for a small group to enjoy their dinner with some elbow room. Â Reasonably priced and in a great neighborhood for walking around or going out for music and drinks aftwerward!
Review Source:I've been here twice, once with a friend and once with my boyfriend for a casual anniversary dinner. Both times, the experience was great! The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and I love the quirky atmosphere.
I definitely recommend the grilled cheese, the chocolate mouse dessert, and their cocktails. My boyfriend loved the Bison Bacon burger and the side of potatoes. We might actually make Lavomatic a tradition for our anniversary!
All in all, absolutely love it! One of my favorite restaurants in Cincy.
I love the new decor and the patio for a quiet brunch. I also love the half priced wine night (wednesday)
The food is just ok. I wish I could give it a better review. I always feel like something is missing or just slightly off no matter how many times the place gets re-vamped. I will say this. I hate lines. This is a great alternative when a million people are in line for a waffle brunch or an overpriced pizza. Â
The staff is always so great and sweet and helpful. I will still go but I have yet to find that one menu item that knocks my socks off.
I've waited longer than I should have to review Lavomatic. I say this because it is one of my favorite OTR spots to go to. If I am in one of those moods where I don't want to be stuffed into Senate or Bakersfield like salty sardines. They have much more seating than those other places do which makes for a much less stressful dining experience, and much quicker than the normal 2 hour wait time other usually quote.
The extra space is found upstairs on the second floor where another whole dining room is located. Along with the second dining room is what I consider to be the shining jewel of the place, the ridiculous patio over looking Vine St. It is newly extended further out and has an awesome seating area at the end. It is still some sort of hidden gem because it is very rarely crowded. Even on Friday nights it is fun to look down below at the hustle and bustle of Vine St. and see people looking up at you and pointing wondering what exactly we are doing up there.
Lavomatic to me has always been a fine drinking location. They've always touted an awesome drink selection. They offer a great happy hour and the infamous $20 bottle wine list, which many seem to feel is the MVP of the drink choices. There is one though, that I would like to combat that wine list with, and that is an excellent bourbon selection. I can grab a Bulleit bourbon on the rocks for four bucks. It is awfully nice to sip on cheap drinks all while relaxing out on the patio.
The problem that had always held me back was the food. I, and many others, had some issues with the food and rightfully so. The food though now, after a spectacular renovation of the restaurant and the menu, is amazing. It is also more reasonably priced. There brunch menu is damn good, they make there own biscuits in-house for heavens sake. I also highly recommend the Turkey Club with mozzarella and guacamole, not only delicious but filling for what you pay. The burgers are also a solid choice.
They still have some of the same items on the menu but the chef has vamped them up a little bit and lowered the prices. The menu, and restaurant as a whole is much more inspired and you can tell as soon as you walk in. I urge those of you whole recently gave Lavomatic unforgiving reviews to go back and check them out after the renovation. I don't think you'll be disappointed this time.
I must agree with many of the other reviews of Lavomatic in that it has undergone a lot of change within a short amount of time. Â The first time I tried Lavomatic it reminded me of many other bars in the area and had a very rustic feel to it. Â It was Santacon 2011 and needless to say this establishment was approximately bar six of the bar crawl involving one hundred of Santa's helpers, so my experience was limited to a drink at the bar before it was on to the next establishment.
However, upon my return to Lavomatic during Cincinnati Restaurant Week 2012 I was amazed at all of the changes that had occurred to what appeared to be less a bar and more a restaurant. Â The inside had been completed renovated, a long with a new deck area on the roof, completed with a table overlooking Vine Street. Â The service was prompt and our server was attentive to our dining needs. Â I ordered the Bourbon BBQ Pork Chop with fingerling potato salad and what was essentially a spinach cake. Â The food was good and the pork chop was cooked properly, but it was not dry or tough. Â Overall I would rate my dining experience as good and worth another look for those of you who may have tried Lavomatic before but came away with a less than impressed experience.
I am so glad I gave Lavo another shot after their overhaul.  The first time I dined here  it was underwhelming to say the least.  The decor was really great and nice ambiance.
We ordered the curry hummus which was one of the best I have ever had. Â The chef was really great about cutting up veggies for me as I did not want to eat the pita chips. Â For dinner, I had the vegetarian spaghetti and meatballs and it was AMAZING!!! Â The noodles were julienned zuchinni and carrots. Â The "meatballs" were made of brown rice and beans and were kind of like a falafel, but much more moist. Â
I am a new fan and will be back soon!
This place has had it's fair share of ups and downs. It was really good years ago, then sucked, now after total revamp (decor/menu), I only see good things!
Last night me and my two girlfriends went to dinner. We were a little nervous because the place looked dead (well anything looks dead sitting next to Bakersfield). We tried to sit on the roof top (yes - if you go, sit here!!) but it was packed. We opted for a table downstairs. The decor was warm - I loved it! The only creepy thing was the mirrors on the walls (I don't like to look at myself when I'm eating! Ha).
The staff was super friendly. In fact - the manager came over and overheard us asking about what was "healthy" on the menu - and proceeded to tell us he could make us anything we wanted - just let him know! How nice!!
Here is what we decided on:
Indian Hummus: This was ok - honestly, make sure you ask for vegi's to dip instead of the pita bread. The pita bread was rock hard...it you like curry, you'll love this hummus!
Bacon Mac n Cheese: Do it. I'm not kidding. This is probably the best mac n cheese I've ever had. They make it with house-made bacon jam (ask for a side of this with bread - it's divine)!
Boss Grilled Cheese: This sounds amazing, but honestly it was it was really heavy and buttery/greasy/cheesy. I only had a few bites - not because it was bad...it was just a TON of food!
Burger: My friend got the Bourbon burger. Not matter what burger you get, ask for the bison/bacon blend....juicy and delic!
Vegi Spag/Meatballs: Vegetarians....this is a must! The meatballs are great - but keep in mind this dish has no pasta...it's served atop julienne vegis.
We definitely will go back! This place just keeps getting better and better! Enjoy!
My husband and I went on their opening night. I was excited to see if they turned things around; they did not. We sat up stairs. Both the hostess and our waitress were friendly enough but the good thing stopped there.
We ordered:
Mac and Cheese
Shrimp pasta dish
steak with salad and salsa
The pasta was over cooked. My steak was COMPLETELY rare when I asked for medium rare and it was cold. We were completely disappointed. It ended up being about $70 for two entrees, 1 mixed drink and the appetizer. About $55 too much.
In addition, I think the new design is AWFUL. It looks like something Panera threw up in the 90's. I'm sorry to whoever designed the art, new menu and logo, but it couldn't be more dated. This is a real shame considering the space is in a good location and the upstairs and outdoor patio are quite special. I think it's time to permanently throw in the towel Lavomatic, your cycle is done.
Lavomatic. We've been through so much together. When it first opened back in 2009, it was easily some of the best food I've ever eaten in Cincinnati. The sweet potato gnocchi and honeycomb cake... ah! I digress. There was a rough patch of a few years when things really went down hill, and I avoided it all together.
But after I heard about the redesign, I felt I needed to give it one more shot. Boy, am I glad I did!
The design team at Switch Lighting really helped Lavomatic own its brand and history. The recent renovation helped get the little restaurant comfortable in its own skin, and it's easy to make the connection that the space was an old laundromat through the branding, signage, and other details. The Rookwood tile behind the bar and other new decor looks fantastic.
And to top it all off, the new menu does not disappoint. I've been once for brunch and once for restaurant week, and both times the food was delicious! It's a little bit pricey, but worth every penny for the great service, delicious food, and beautiful decor.
Well done, Lavo! You've finally come into your own.
I'm disappointed to have to downgrade my review like this, but I think it's necessary.
Five of us went for Sunday lunch. We sat inside this time to avoid the heat. They must be trying to save money on cooling because it didn't seem much cooler inside than it was outside.
The waitress, Erica, was extremely friendly and upbeat. Unfortunately, it took almost a full hour for our lunches to arrive at the table from the time we ordered. Jessica ordered a salad to have before her meal and didn't receive the salad for 35-40 minutes. This wasn't a fancy salad. It was mixed greens with a very meager amount of dressing. Unless they're picking the greens from their backyard garden, I don't see why this would take longer than 5-10 minutes to bring a salad to the table.
Once it arrived, the food was mostly good. The fish tacos were delicious, as they were the last time we visited. The fries were better than expected. The bbq duck sandwich was tasty. I didn't try it, but apparently the salmon roll was barely edible, which is a shame.
On the whole, I would give this place a 3-4 star review for the restaurant itself and the quality of the food. But who wants to spend an hour waiting for 5 lunches to arrive at the table? That's crazy. It wasn't busy or crowded either. And nobody from the staff seemed to care that we waited so long even though it was obvious that we were trying to peer into the kitchen to see what was causing the delay.
I guess I'll be back for a happy hour at some point. I do like their fish tacos, but you can get good tacos at so many other places. I'm seriously disappointed and almost gave this review 2 stars. Hopefully they figure this out. There's no reason for Lavomatic to be falling so far behind the curve when they're surrounded by all those other popular restaurants.
I see that Lavo is getting a bad rap and it makes me sad. I am a huge fan of this place and here's why:
This is one of my favorite places to get drinks in OTR. When everyone is else standing in line somewhere else, I am enjoying one of the many fabulous wines on Lavo's rooftop patio. It is stunning. You can see bustling Vine street right below and their is more than enough seating for everyone. It also isn't as loud as other places which I love. Another huge plus is they have a happy hour like no other. $4 dollar wines and my boyfriend gets a heaping pour of bourbon for $4 as well.
One night we were out with friends and stumbled in one Wednesday night and realized it was half off any bottle. Basically any bottle over $30 is half off!!!! How many places can you go and get a bottle of wine for $15 and a great atmosphere? Not many.
Lastly the service we have received here has been close to perfection. On one occasion the chef himself even came out to introduce himself personally to make sure we were all having a good time. And this is what keeps me coming back. I absolutely LOVE when the manager/chef/staff is in tune with the patrons. There is no better feeling than being taken care of. That is why we all go out isn't it? So we can be lazy and pampered?
Here's what you can expect from Lavomatic: Great rooftop patio, friendly service, and cheap drinks!
Was here for lunch/brunch on an early June weekend, and it was wonderful! The staff was very friendly, and the restaurant had a very inviting atmosphere! Lavomatic has great rooftop seating that sandwiches you between two larger buildings, which provided nice shade for the sunny afternoon.
I got the spinach salad which was light but still filling and wonderful, and I sampled some of my friend's gazpacho--very unexpectedly watermelony but delicious nontheless!
Very cute, very fresh, and hey, outdoor dining!
I would highly recommend this restaurant. Â The menu was interesting and left me wanting to try many of the items, so I'll definitely go back. Â The brunch poached egg over crab cakes and biscuit was delicious. Â The food gets 5 stars and the service was strong and helpful. Â The decor of exposed brick, plaster and artwork was well done and appropriate. Â The outside area upstairs looks nice as well for a cooler evening perhaps enjoying their extensive drink menu or one of their great microbrews on tap. Â They have a good selection of tapped beer! Â
A strong 4 stars... almost more. Â A definite "must"
Friday night. Family night in OTR. Perfect.
After being told there was a 30-45 minutes wait at their taco neighbors next door we knew that wouldn't work with 2 little ones. We ventured over and are so happy we did. The staff was so accommodating to our 6 and 4 year olds and the food was amazing. We got the bacon basil mac and cheese and swai tacos to start! Yummo.
My husband said the tacos were absolutely the best fish tacos he has eaten.
The boys split a burger and fries and I had the grilled cheese. there was more than enough food and the price was great. We met a lovely couple and started up a conversation about community gardens. What a fun night in our city!
Beautiful decor, stocked bar and inviting staff!
A must visit!
Had a delicious and very fun lunch at Lavomatic. Restaurant was cute and inviting. Casual yet polished. Staff was young and friendly-- personable, and delightfully conversational. Erica (behind the bar) is a sweetheart! As I was from out of town, she gave me cool bits of info. re. Cincinnati and the downtown area.
Their spin on a caprese salad was just TASTY-- MMM!! simply put. Mozzarell, by assessment of taste and texture, was fresh and quality-- soft, not cold, just salty enough. all as it should be. basil & basil oil dressed both creamy avocado and the mozz; what a glorious marriage. the avocado really brought something special to the salad. tossed with halved cherry tomatoes, topped with spinach and tangy, fresh arugula; beautiful and seasonal. The grilled chicken I had ordered with the salad was perfect. No exaggeration, it was perfect. A sizable clean chicken breast, grilled evenly, seasoned with S&P only, SUPER JUICY. was it free-range, vegetarian/grain-fed chicken?? not sure...very well could have been. I was informed that Lavomatic aims to support local vegetable growers, etc., and hence may also seek its meat from sustainable/green/humane farms...
Fried green tomatoes were OK. (I admit I have been spoiled having eaten a lot of excellent and authentic cajun/creole cuisine.) The green tomatoes themselves were very good, cut to a good thickness, and firm. as they should be. the basil mayo served as the side-sauce was sooo yummy. I also tried their remoulade (with the fried greens), which was also very very good. mmm...
and as I was the only customer present at the odd time between that designated for lunch and that designated for dinner, (or just happened to be in the right place at the right time), i was given an 'experimental' dessert to try...which was no less delicious than the savory things eaten prior.
You'd think being located next to Bakersfield and across the street from Senate would give them a complex, but instead Lavomatic is focused on putting out really good food!
Walk into this 2 floor establishment with exposed brick walls and you will come across a long bar with 14 square leather seats. Ladies will certainly like the hooks under the bar where they can hang pocket bags. Lavomatic offers 7 draft craft beers along with a large selection of bottled varieties. There's a solid bourbon collection on the back wall along with a series of boutique gins. The wine collection is eclectic but well-selected. A small 32" flat screen is attached to the upper right wall behind the bar.
Upstairs, you'll find  outdoor seating which is great for a summer lunch. There are 17 2-seat tables downstairs that are easily combined for larger groups. The walls are adorned with framed aprons, an homage to the fifties.
As for the food, I had the B3 (Blackened Bleu Cheese Bacon) Burger with tempura onion straws on top. As delcious as the burger was, the star of the show was the French fries. Hands down, the best in Cincinnati (and that's saying a lot given that Senate sells duck fat fries across the street!) Seasoned, dipped in a corn starch mixtures and fried to crispy perfection!
About as good as it gets in the OTR neighborhood.
I've been here three times and I've had three great meals. Â
Whether it be a black bean burger, or lav-o's spin on the Philly Cheesesteak, they never seem to miss the mark in providing high quality meals, including a decent selection of vegetarian options.
The Philly Cheesesteak was more of a steak than anything else. I tend to prefer the thin sliced stuff to this style, but it still made for a delicious meal. Â Dishes here can be a little pricey so be smart about what you order.
I tried a specialty drink that was supposed to taste like a Root Beer float and it missed the mark for me a bit, so maybe the food is stronger than drinks.
The rooftop patio is a wonderful option on a nice day, I highly suggest you check it out if given the opportunity.
Lavomatic will continue to be in my OTR food rotation even with all of the new additions along Vine and Main.
I came to Lavo on the recommendation of a friend and coworker (shout out to A.A.). Â Some friends and I decided to go there one evening to drinks and catching up. Â I'm glad I took that recommendation.
Of course I got there late, but the young lady at the door must have been told to look out for me, because I was immediately greeted and when I told her I was looking for my party she quickly showed me to our group. Â The service was very attentive and friendly all evening. Â When I dropped my silverware on the floor, I didn't even have to ask for another one because the waitress must have seen it happen and just showed up with one. Â That was pretty awesome.
The food was great. Â Since we were there kind of late, most of us just did appetizers and drinks. Â I had the fish tacos, which were simple and delish. Â All the ingredients tasted really fresh, which is ALWAYS a good thing with any fish dish.
The only complaint I have was that the party seated next to us was quite drunk and quite loud, but what can ya do? Â I look forward to returning.
Oh Lavomatic. What a torn feeling I have about writing this review. I feel like you're struggling with an identity crisis. Do you want to be an upscale, fancy restaurant with fine food and charge a lot? Or do you want to be just another American diner, a cozy, relaxed, low key place?
Lavomatic was a really weird mix for me. The food wasn't bad at all, but for the price we paid, I expected it to be more refined. We came here for the restaurant week ($26.10 for 3 courses), but when I looked at the normal menu, most entrees were around $20. I started with the hummus which was nice. Then I had a salad, which was ok but nothing crazy and then I ended with the short ribs. The meat was tender, the mashed potatoes yummy, the carrots a bit hard. It felt more like a homecooked meal than the fine cuisine I expected.
So, for the price we paid, I expected Bouquet quality. What we got was good food, a friendly waitress, but not enough value for our money. The interior of Lavomatic just looks cheap to me -- I probably don't get why it's supposed to be cool? --
In the end, we did spend a good evening here, thanks to the amazing roof terrace. What a gem in OTR. And even there I thought: with a few plants and clever lightning you could make that a truly magical place... And if you start there, why not redo the interior and make it a truly special, cozy, high end place -- after all, it's what you're charging for already
I'm sorry to hear about the negative reviews. My gf and I have eaten at the Lavo several times over the winter and each time it's been a great experience. The menu, like many smaller bisto style restaurants, is limited but I felt the food was always served quickly and was flavorful and worth the money. It is a bit pricey but in line with what I expect in the OTR area. The staff has always been very friendly and prompt. We've eaten at both the bar and at a table in the front room and enjoyed it every time. I look forward to visiting when Lavo's turn comes up (we cycle through a handful of places).
I'm getting hungry just writing this!
I've eaten at Lavomatic before and it has been nice. I've enjoyed it quite a bit--enough tho think the groupon was worth it. But this last time had me most disappointed. The "mushroom wontons" were greasy, fried and clearly reheated from the previous day. The vegetable pasta primevera was a euphemism for pasta doused in butter and heavy cream with a few vegetables added as afterthought. The salmon that was supposed to be served medium came out well done and was un seasoned and the brussel sprouts were flavorless.
The positive--we had a good amount of leftovers and were able to doctor them up to make them taste  better.
The best way for me to describe the food--it was not as bad as Michelina's frozen entrees but aspiring to Marie Callendar's level.
I ended up here with a few friends after a few of the other restaurants we tried in the area had waits that were too long. Â I guess this place has a bad rap as my friend who is local to Cincinnati didn't want to go here.
Well we were all pleasantly surprised. What we discovered was a really nice atmosphere, decent food, good vegetarian options (the meat eaters were happy as well, especially with the burger) and amazingly wonderful and accommodating staff.
Color me surprised. After hearing bad stories about Lavomatic for quite a while, it wasn't until a food blogger friend mentioned having some really good experiences here that we felt like giving it a try. Â We had a party of six and didn't feel like waiting so Lavomatc it was.
We all started with a craft beer and their draft beer was very good. Â I started with a Lost Coast Indica IPA and my husband had the Smuttynose Robust Porter. One or two of the beers on the menus were out, but the replacement beers were just as good. Â I started with the bourbon butter scallops appetizer and they cooked quite well. I just wish they had had a bit more flavor.
I had the grilled romaine salad with chicken as my entree. Â This was the big surprise. Â Instead of just a few pieces of chicken thrown on it, this came with a whole grilled chicken breast half. Â I had always wanted to try a grilled romaine salad since I saw Alton Brown make one on "Good Eats". Â I was so glad I ordered it! Â Great flavor and lots of blue cheese.
Dessert was a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and more chatting with our friends. Â Now, it wasn't an inexpensive night. The total for my husband and I was $94 before the tip. Â
All in all, it was a really good meal and we'll be back. Â Hopefully, Lavomatic won't let us down in the future.
Welcome to the longest meal of my life! Â Lavomatic was nice enough to give our party of 18 reservations, but the clearly weren't equipped to handle such a large group. Â We were seated in our seats for over half an hour before our order was taken, about an hour before our food showed up, and at least another half an hour to get our checks.
Now, I am not one to generally complain about a long meal with friends... Conversation will make me forget my growling stomach pretty easily. Â The problem was that this place was so loud that it was impossible to talk to the people more than a seat or two away.
Our chicken dinner was mediocre and overpriced for the portion size. Â Looking around at the meals of others at our table, my general feeling was that all their food was the same. Â Drinks were really expensive except for the happy hour priced ones we had at the bar before dinner. Â
I will not be going back there anytime soon, except for maybe a drink at the bar. Â There are way too many other options in the area.
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