Zula

Zula has great food and exceptional service.  Their specialies are mussels and flatbreads and they offer about eight variations on each item.  I've been to Zula twice and between myself and my husband, we've tried five variations on the mussels and they're all excellent.  Zula offers a good selection of craft beers, cocktails, and a respectable wine list.  The servers are very friendly and helpful, which makes the dining experience much nicer.  I will definitely frequent Zula and recommend it to others.

The wine selection is pretty good.  The food is a different story....the Lamb Moussaka was simply not good at all.  The tomato sauce tasted like it was from a can and the whole dish was not flavorful.  The eggplant (not even sure that's what it was) tasted bland and was quite rubbery.  Not pleasant.
I sent a polite email to them and received no response.  I really wish Cincinnati could get more than a handful of good restaurants...Zula seems to be trying to fake their way into the OTR scene.  
I sincerely hope the rest of their food is edible.

Zula is on Race Street immediately across from Music Hall on the edge of what is Cincinnati's burgeoning Arts and Theater district (The Know, Ensemble and Shakespeare Theaters are all within a short walk as well as the new School for PerformingArts).  Underground parking is now available in front of Music Hall under the new and exceptionally beautiful Washington Park.   Exiting from the garage to the surrounding area establishments is all redone, repaved and very well lit.
Zula is all about an extensive wine list, craft beers, expertly mixed cocktails and small plates.
Cold appetizers include a yellow fin tuna crudo (Italian for sushi) and a citrus cured salmon.  
Hot appetizers  I didn't have a chance to review.
Mussels are a specialty.  I love mussels but had yet to find anyone in Cincinnati doing them justice except my husband at home.  The mussels at Zula run $12 and are the best I've had anywhere.  The mussels themselves are huge, the servingis generous and the broth choices are like taking a culinary trip around the world; Thai, Spanish, French, the list goes on.
Another specialty of Zula is artisan breads baked daily.  The dinner rolls are a kind of sourdough focaccia that you can't stop eating.   I took an extra four home for a neighbor and ate them all before I knew it.  A different, equallyunique artisan bread is used for the flat breads (they call them Z-breads). Toppings range from fresh mozzarella to garlic confit to finnochiana salami.      
Finally, desserts were incredible.  I tried the Chai Pot de Crème and Chocolate Walnut Kaluha brownies.  Both amazing.