The Place
My second selection for Brunch & the Boutique is Subito. I first came across this spot during a Google search for best brunch spots in Cincy back in December. This particular restaurant caught my eye because it was an Italian restaurant that served brunch, which is a unique find for the area. This was now my second time visiting Subito.
Location and Parking
Subito is located within The Lytle Park Hotel on Pike St. in downtown Cincinnati. The hotel itself offers valet parking. I would not recommend this for brunch parking, this is more geared towards hotel guests. There is ample meter parking up and down 4th Street. I recommend using the Cincy EZPARK app. This app is a godsend for anyone who visits downtown Cincinnati and/or Covington on a fairly regular basis. What I love about this app is you can select your timeframe and you are alerted once your time is about to expire. You also have the option of adding time without having to feed a meter.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Subito is sheer wonder. I would describe the lobby of The Lytle Park Hotel as alluring and classy. The restaurant is located on the left side of the lobby. Gorgeous white table cloth seating with swanky décor is offered within the hotel lobby portion of the restaurant. An additional enclosed patio style dining area is located through a door in the middle of the main dining area. This portion of the restaurant offers a 180 degree view of Pike street through a wall of glass windows and is decorated with exposed brick walls, olive branches, and a fireplace. When it is snowing outside, you feel like you are dining in a snow globe. The first time I came here, I was seated right by the fireplace, which was marvelous! I arrived first and ordered a Bellini and once my friend arrived she ordered the mimosa. A Bellini is an Italian-style cocktail made with champagne or sparkling wine and peach puree. For me this was a great alternative to the traditional mimosa. The hostess and waitstaff were warm and friendly. The atmosphere was great for a Sunday morning.
Order-Up
Banana Bread French Toast
This is French toast on another level. This dish included three slices of homemade banana bread prepped like your traditional French toast only it was topped with caramelized banana, a Maker's Mark Bourbon glaze, and whipped orange mascarpone. Each bite of this dish was heavenly. I ordered a side of bacon thinking it would be a nice compliment to the banana bread. The bacon was on the dry side.
Cornetto Americano
My friend ordered the Cornetto Americano. This is described on the menu as an Italian pastry sandwich. This sandwich included goetta, American cheese, and scrambled egg served on a croissant. The sandwich was large and required a knife and fork to eat because it was difficult to keep together by hand. It was described as having good flavor but being a little dry. It came with a side of home fries. The home fries were prepared with pepper and onions adding an element of sweetness to this classic savory breakfast side.
Overall Experience
The experience at Subito was overall wonderful with a couple of minuses that could potentially be redeemed with an additional dining experience. The atmosphere is elegant and chic. The staff were nice and attentive. The cocktails were well prepared with generous champagne pours. The Banana Bread French Toast was out of this world. The Cornetto Americano had some negatives complimented with a few positives. Side dishes range from three to six dollars and main courses are thirteen to sixteen. You can expect to dine here for about twenty to twenty-five dollars.
Recommend: Yes or No?
Yes! Even though some of the menu items were served a little overcooked, I would say yes based on my prior visit to Subito and the outstanding Banana Bread French Toast. The atmosphere of the Lytle Park Hotel and indoor patio style seating are reason enough to visit. I would love to have brunch here again and use a third visit as a comparison to the first two.
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