There is no doubt that 2015 was a great time to be a foodie (or even just a hungry person!) in Cincinnati. I thought that before I get to the business of catching up on a few reviews that I have yet to publish from last year as well as reviews for the barrage of new restaurants opening this year that I would do a quick recap of some of the best and worst things that I had in my mouth in 2015.

Best New Restaurant: Lots of good places opened last year in the Queen City, and even a few great ones, but I would be hard pressed to compare any of them to Mita’s. The food and drinks are phenomenal, the service top notch, and the atmosphere beautiful. The Mercer is also great, but a little pricey for my blood. Son of a Preacher Man met all of my expectations, and the building and architecture at Taft’s Ale House are stunning, but all of the elements come together perfectly at Mita’s in a way that should make other restaurants envious.

Worst New Restaurant: Without a doubt the worst place that I ate this year was J Bar Pizzeria in Hyde Park. Apparently I wasn’t the only person who felt that way since they closed in less than a year. Horrible food, dreadful service and apathetic management are clearly a recipe for failure. A top notch location in Hyde Park Square will no longer suffice as the only draw. Deans Hops and Vines in Cheviot was fairly dreadful as well, but not nearly to the degree of J Bar. All of the right elements are there for Dean’s, especially in a part of town where the idea of a good restaurant starts with the word Bob and ends with the word Evans, but I don’t think the ownership or staff cares enough (or maybe doesn’t know how) to make the restaurant a success. Although it is far from new, the crown for the most disgusting restaurant of the year goes to Longworth’s Tavern. Hands down, it was the dirtiest place I went this year (maybe ever) and the food was almost as bad as the halfhearted service.

Best New Bar: This is probably the most difficult category as so many great new bars opened this year, like Nation (also a restaurant) or Tafts’s Ale House (a restaurant as well), but the prize here goes to two great bars, Sundry and Vice and Myrtle’s Punch House. Myrtle’s was brought to us by Molly Wellman and her staff so I knew from the outset that it would be great, but Sundry and Vice was a super cool (albeit pricey) surprise. Both bars cater to a slightly more adult crowd than is typical, so for this 45 year old, they were just what I had in mind.

Still Holding Out Hope: Lachey’s has such a great concept, a sports bar in a neighborhood filled with mostly sit down restaurants and trendy food. While Lachey’s menu has its trendy twists (like the delicious bison burger), most of the items are standard bar fare. When those items are executed properly and the service is on point, Lachey’s can’t go wrong. The problem is, rarely do all of those elements coincide. I have been to Lachey’s more times than I can count and it is still a hit or miss experience. I still believe in home town boys Nick and Drew Lachey and I will be rooting for Lachey’s long term success.