Welcome to Alara Cincinnati

“ Everything was excellent from start to finish. Our server, Kayla, made sure that every step of the meal from drinks to apps to main meal and dessert flowed smoothly. She gave us suggestions on each portion of the meal and kept our waters and cocktails full all evening. The small details and care that went into every plate made this meal even more special. You can tell that everyone on staff takes great pride in creating a great experience for their guests. My biggest appreciation comes from how much concern they have in making sure that your food allergies are addressed. Our table was immediately across from the open kitchen where you can see the chefs creating their dishes in an immaculately clean environment. We had a mixture of different parts of the menu - Fillet, Pork chops, lobster carbonara. Sides of potato wedges and Carrots. Apps of the hummus and focaccia bread and desserts were Espresso chocolate torte, Dreamsicle Cloud and a Bananas foster creation. We will definitely be coming back. ”

“ I visited Alara this past Saturday evening for dinner. We went there because they have many gluten-free options. It was very trendy with beautiful decor and music that seemed to cater to a younger crowd. (That isn't me and I saw plenty of people that were in the 40-50 age range.) Our server, Grace, was extremely pleasant, knowledgeable, and attentive. She was very nice to talk with, and she made our dining experience perfect. I will request her the next time we go, and only hope she is there when we do. For cocktails, my wife had a Cucumber Collins and I had a Mi Amaro. Very different drinks and both were excellent. The CC was refreshing and a little bubbly. The MA was just slightly oaky and just the kind of drink I like. It reminded me of whiskey even though it was good anejo tequila. My wife had a second of her drink and if I wasn't driving I would have had another of mine - which was strong the way a good drink should be. Grace recommended the H.O.P. Cakes and the way she described them made us give them a whirl - she said they tasted like crab cakes. They are flash-fried heart of palm cakes, citrus frisée salad, avocado aioli, and five spice vinaigrette. Holy cow they were excellent. I'll get them again without hesitation when I return. We skipped salads because we were getting a lot of food, but the Caesar was highly recommended. We ordered the Lobster Mac & Cheese - which is radiatori pasta, cheddar cheese sauce, and parmesan bread crumbs (no chives on ours). The pasta was good for GF, but the star of that dish was the lobster. There was a lot of it swimming in the creamy and slightly spicy cheese sauce. My wife had the Blackened Snapper which was creole cream sauce, roasted Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and bacon, topped with a fresh shrimp salad. The creole sauce was really tasty with a creamy roasted red pepper taste. The snapper was fantastic. I had the Seared Sea Scallops, which sat on top of parmesan risotto, with caramelized fennel & roasted shiitake mushrooms, crispy prosciutto, candied carrot ribbons, and micro arugula. I added some Jumbo Shrimp Scampi that we shared. If you like scallops - this right here is calling your name! The scallops were cooked perfectly with an awesome sear. The mushrooms were extremely mild and a great compliment to the creamy risotto. The prosciutto and carrots were also great in this dish. The shrimp scampi were great! I usually like to try different things but I'd be challenged not to get this the next time I visit. We took a couple desserts to go - the Banana Bliss and Chocolate Espresso Torte. Both were great but I imagine they'd be even better served there with warm sauces. This was an excellent dining experience all around, and I eagerly look forward to returning! ”

“ I had dinner here last weekend and honestly, everything was phenomenal. The heirloom tomato salad was refreshing on a summer evening. Their cod was tender, and the accompanying chimichurri sauce was divine that I could've slurped it. If you love bananas, you must order the banana bliss for dessert. Now on to the not so good, which was unfortunate, as the service overall from everyone was friendly. However, the evening was nearly ruined by the waiter who had an extremely offensive body odor. I understand that while serving, you may work up a sweat. But if you're larger, you have to take extra measures (besides a soapy shower), such as wearing an undershirt, anti-perspirant, and men's body powder. I won't let that deter me and will definitely visit again because Alara is truly a wonderful restaurant with a beautiful aesthetic and food to match. ”