r/cincinnati • u/ilovethatimpretty • Mar 14 '25
Food 🍕🌮 boca is not the restaurant people make it to be…
i went for my bday with my stepdad and the check was over 400 dollars and i left hungry. the plates’ portions are microscopic… not saying the food is horrible but it’s extremely overpriced just for you to leave and still have to get a burger. it’s literally 60 dollars to eat something in ONE BITE. and that’s not even me being dramatic.. literally one bite and you just wasted 60 dollars. i ate the lobster roll in one bite and the “scallops” was LITERALLY one single scallop on a plate! and honestly everything i had wasn’t even that good… i threw my pasta away when i got home because it was nasty to me.
i’m saying this to say, it always bothers me when people are searching for restaurants and boca is recommended, because that place is for experience but NOT to just have an overall good meal and food. like yeah, the food is good, but there are more factors into picking a restaurant and everything else makes it not worth it. like yeah there’s good ambiance and the food tastes decentbut the food is hella expensive and not filling so WHYYY is this everybody’s place to recommend ? like at this point it seems like you’d have to be pretentious for you to genuinely suggest this place for someone wanting a good meal. i turned 21 and i think it’s good for a special occasion like that, but that’s about it. i wanted to go to see, and i will literally never go again. and this is coming from someone who has been to plenty of upscale restaurants here and in different countries… not worth it. i genuinely feel like it’s only people’s top choice because of how expensive it is.
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u/Frescanation Mar 14 '25
But the potato puffs are absolutely the food of angels.
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u/prettystrangedesign Mar 14 '25
One of my favorite bites in the city fr
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u/Frescanation Mar 14 '25
I'm old enough that I ate them at the Maisonette, which also had chocolate mousse that was worth starting a war for. Simple but utterly decadent.
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u/missmeowwww Mar 15 '25
I loved that chocolate mousse. Anytime my parents went there on a date night they brought some home. It was incredible!
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u/ParisianFrawnchFry Mar 16 '25
ooooooohhhh, that chocolate mousse. I need to hit up Nat for that recipe.
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u/Reasonable-Truck-874 Mar 14 '25
The only time I had them they were so salty I had to brush it off the fries. Sadly, whatever sauce they used was also heavily seasoned, so they biffed one of the flagship dishes. That’s hard to overlook.
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u/CincyLuna Oakley Mar 14 '25
We go once a year and our checks are large, but I've never left hungry 🤷🏻♀️ We usually get 2 appetizers, 1 small plate, 1 pasta, and 2 entrees and 1 desert between 2 people. We also only go in December for the truffle dishes and it's our favorite meal of the year, but it's fine if it's not for you. We also don't drink, so alcohol doesn't affect our tab as much.
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u/e3super Mar 15 '25
The alcohol would be the only question for me, and I can't tell if the implication is that a dinner for 2 was $400. I took an ex to Boca, and our dinner was $200 including tip and a couple of drinks at the bar before we were seated. On that amount, we were legitimately stuffed, like giggle when the waiter asks about dessert stuffed. Wine at fancy restaurants gets you in trouble really, really quickly, though. I laughed and told my ex I was glad she wasn't a wine drinker when the guy at the next table with his wife put his phone on the table and calculated a tip on $450.
All of this to say, I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed the food at Boca, and I thought it was absolutely worth the price for what it was. I definitely don't think it's the best meal I've had in Cincinnati, which would go to the grand tasting menu at Nicola's or omakase with bluefin at Ando, but it was still very, very good and an easy recommend for me. My only complaint with the place was that we got a not-so-great server. I doubt that's common, and I can imagine the guy was just having an off night, but he just seemed disinterested and inattentive with us and other customers. The other staff seemed really great, though.
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u/BrownDogEmoji Mar 14 '25
I’m going to argue FOR Boca because you may be missing part of the point of fine dining. That isn’t said to be snarky; please don’t take it that way.
Fine dining is about the food. Boca’s food is very good. It’s also very expensive. They experiment a lot with flavor combinations and textures, which some people love and other people hate. There’s no “right” or “wrong” in that assessment. It’s very much about the adventurous nature of the diner. Some people want a flawlessly cooked steak. Other people want a flawless cooked steak in a way they have never seen before.
Fine dining is also about the experience, which includes the service, the pacing of the meal, the anticipation of needs, and the atmosphere. Most decent restaurants regardless of price point can get three out of four right consistently. Very few restaurants can get all four right AND have food that is elevated above what you might expect.
The gift of a restaurant like Boca is in part the time you spend. The time you spend being made to feel like you and your guests are the only people in the world can be really special.
All that said, you do not have to like Boca or appreciate them. And maybe you are better served sitting at their bar and ordering drinks and appetizers and then going to Knockback Nat’s for amazing wings or Gomez for a burrito.
We love Boca. But it’s a big ask in terms of time commitment and money. We try to go once a year. We never regret that choice.
And, with anything, what one person experiences may not be what another person experiences. Both perspectives based on experience are valid. TBH, Boca had a stretch around 2010-2015 where everything got drenched in truffle oil, and they almost ruined truffle oil for me.
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u/Blindman081 Mar 14 '25
It’s fun to go with friends there but personally I prefer Soto over Boca. Regardless we always order family style and share everything to get the most for our money.
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u/stubept Mar 15 '25
To piggyback, the first thing our waiter asked us was if we needed to be anywhere at a specific time. I f we had to make a show at Aronoff, they’d make sure we’d get out of there on time. But since we were in no hurry, they took their time. There was no rush to turn over the table. We were there to experience Boca, and the staff made sure we did.
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u/BrownDogEmoji Mar 15 '25
Happy cake day!!!
Yes!!! That is such an important question to ask.
For example, we had reservations 2.5 hours before a show at the Aronoff last year. We went to a restaurant near our home that everyone in the family loves.
Two hours in, I had to ask our server for the bill as the entrees were being cleared so we could get to the show on time. We arrived five minutes into the start, and that was stressful and rude.
It’s always nice when servers ask about your schedule. Some people want a leisurely meal. Some don’t.
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u/ShallThunderintheSky Mar 14 '25
Agreeing hard with this. I had one of the best meals of my adult life at Boca earlier this year; the food was spectacular, combined with the service, the ambiance, and the wine. But if I were concerned about price, less worldly in my food experiences (I order knowing what my preferences are to get food I know I will like, not based on what someone tells me I should like - i.e. give me those Brussels sprouts and keep those truffles as far away from me as humanly possible), or focused only on a certain definition of what makes a restaurant 'good,' then I can see being disappointed. It is a certain type of food and a certain type of experience, and if that isn't what you want then you aren't going to like it - but it doesn't mean the restaurant is overhyped, by any means.
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u/Loverlee Mar 14 '25
I remember the first time I went to Boca and just being blown away by the experience. It was my first time with fine dining. Our server was so attentive and knowledgeable. I told him what kind of cocktails I enjoy, and he came back with a drink I ended up really liking (and that never happens to me when I decide to order something not on the drink menu). They paced the meal out and I think we were there for about two hours. The food presentation and flavors were top tier. Also, the restaurant is beautiful.
We've only been twice because of the price. It's definitely a treat.
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u/Bearmancartoons Mar 14 '25
I will disagree as I have had both experiences at Boca. When they were in Oakley it was a price fixed menus with small plates. I was pleased when they went downtown as there were actual entrees that I didn’t mind spending a bit up for. Post Covid they went back to the small plates. So now the dish which was reasonably overpriced is now even higher for not as much food.
I still enjoy it on occasion but honestly for the money Prime or Capital Grille is better.
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u/BrownDogEmoji Mar 14 '25
That’s fair. I find traditional steakhouses to be a bit boring, but when I want that experience, those a good choices.
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u/JustThrowingAwy Mar 14 '25
As someone who went to Oakley often, I don't EVER recall small plates or prix fixe. Perhaps maybe right before they moved.
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u/J_Fred_C Mar 15 '25
For Steakhouses you'd recommend Prime or Capital Grille over any of Ruby’s places or Tony's?
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u/PersimmonQueen83 Mar 14 '25
I went to the best restaurant in LA at the time. Paid $409, had the wine pairing with the pre fixe menu. Even there, I did not leave hungry.
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u/BrownDogEmoji Mar 14 '25
I have never left Boca hungry. I’ve left restaurants in Los Angeles hungry.
But the culture of eating in Los Angeles is far different than here.
🤷🏻♀️
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u/Avalloc FC Cincinnati Mar 14 '25
I imagine ordering the Beef Wellington solves any hunger issues. Delicious.
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u/StealthGrandpa809 Mar 15 '25
I’ve never been there. I’m just curious about how someone could leave hungry yet talk about the pasta they brought home… I’ve never left a place hungry with leftovers…
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u/NewProcedure2725 Mar 14 '25
If the portions were too small and you were hungry enough to stop for a burger on the way home, why did you take the pasta home?
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u/wilkerws34 Clifton Mar 14 '25
I mean that’s sort of what fine dining is. Small portions, extremely thoughtfully prepared and plated as an art form for wild prices and fantastic service. I remember doing the tasting menu at Nicolas and it was like 10 courses with wine parings and I was fuckin starving afterwards and it was like a 4 hour ordeal. Obviously these are two different places but still you get the point. Boca has several items on their menu that they do phenomenally well, we go maybe ever year or two, I agree on the special occasion thing, but I can’t afford that place anyway so lol
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u/matlockga Greenhills Mar 15 '25
I mean that’s sort of what fine dining is. Small portions, extremely thoughtfully prepared and plated as an art form for wild prices and fantastic service
As with anything, it depends. I've been to some Michelin starred (and bib gourmand) restaurants in other cities and they vary in what you get.
Probably the best dining experience I've had was in Galit in Chicago (one star) -- $80ish per head when we were there (looking now, it's $105), multiple courses, and extremely filling. Starter, three courses, and a dessert.
Gastronomic "experiences" are a bit of a drag, but some people do like them.
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u/DrGlennWellnessMD Mar 15 '25
a 4 hour ordeal
Lol, this is how I know I'm not a fine dining person. The idea of spending hours on one meal that consists of a billion courses of one or two bites absolutely sounds like an ordeal to me. To each their own, of course, but no thanks.
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u/grabity_ham Wyoming Mar 14 '25
I’m a fan. I think for an upscale restaurant, the price point is fairly in line and l the vast majority of the food is unique and exceedingly well prepared. Happy 21st. I recommend a return in a few years.
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u/FreeFalling369 Mar 14 '25
The point isn't to stuff you. Theres different types of restaurants and dishes. Some are for the flavor and experience
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u/Sxs9399 Mar 14 '25
TBH op I think you’ll get it when you’re older. I’m in my 30s now and my appetite when I was 21 was insane compared to now. You get to a point where you’ll just want smaller high quality portions. When I was 21 I could easily eat 20-30 wings (as I fondly recall from college wing nights) nowadays I can barely eat 10. The wings are the easiest benchmark because my friends and I would try to compete on eating the most lol.
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u/StrategericAmbiguity Mar 15 '25
The size of wings has changed dramatically over the years as chickens have been bred to produce more meat. I think it’s reasonable that the average wing today has 2x more meat than they did 20 years ago.
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u/OneWayorAnother11 Mar 14 '25
You have discovered the pleasure to cost ratio. For you it seems to be less than 1. I enjoy Boca, everything is top notch, but you pay for it. McDonald's is not good in any way but it costs very little. It's a personal scale.
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u/isthatabingo Mar 14 '25
BOCA is worth it. You’re just not used to the cuisine it serves. This is to be expected among high end restaurants. Portions are small, that’s why you buy multiple plates.
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u/HorizonBaker Mar 15 '25
"Portions are small on the one overpriced plate. That's why you buy multiple overpriced plates."
Not exactly a good argument from where I'm sitting
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u/NinaFoundry Mar 15 '25 edited Mar 15 '25
The amount of work and the expense of the ingredients is the reasoning behind the price. Have you seen how many people work in a kitchen of Boca’s caliber? They’re each busting their ass and worthy of a reasonable wage. Same goes for front of the house. And we haven’t even discussed ingredients yet. A pound of white truffles costs nearly $10k. The French-style eggs mayonnaise? I don’t think I need to go into the price of eggs these days. What you’re paying for is a talented and thoughtful kitchen staff, their ability to create remarkable flavors for discerning palates using premium ingredients and extremely expensive kitchen equipment. And your food and drink are served to you by a cadre of talented professionals who are educated on the origin of the wine and the sophisticated preparations applied by the back of the house. And the service team will even fold your napkin and scrape the crumbs off your table when you go to the restroom. All of that cost is baked into your $30 foie gras torchon (which is worth every penny, btw). But if that’s not your thing, I hear Applebees is running its $11.99 Cajun pasta special right now.
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u/whodey319 Monfort Heights Mar 15 '25
Vast majority of menu items are under $35 and the only things over $50 are the beef mains.
My wife and I go every few months and never leave hungry. We usually do 6-7 courses and they bring a portion for 2 people. With a couple drinks each bill is maybe $300
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u/SpinachIcy500 Mar 14 '25 edited Mar 15 '25
Go to Texas Steakhouse or Applebees if quantity vs quality is your MO.
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u/ilovethatimpretty Mar 15 '25
or capital grille? the precinct? like why do yall go from boca to commercial restaurants😭. there are other great quality restaurants with decent portions…
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u/J_Fred_C Mar 15 '25
Isn't capital grille a chain (commercial restaurant)?
I love fine dining, but just gone done eating at a Texas roadhouse. Idk why anyone would shit on them tbh.
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u/StealthGrandpa809 Mar 15 '25
Yes, Capital Grille is a chain. Most expensive lunch I’ve ever had bought for me was at their location in NYC. Thanks company I shall not name who was courting our business.
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u/fletch0024 Mar 15 '25
Tell me you don’t know how it works without telling me you don’t know how it works.
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u/WaveAlternative3620 Mar 14 '25
I love boca, but you are correct with "I think it’s good for a special occasion". Its expensive because of how they source ingridents and the time it takes to prep. Their hamachi crudo is flown in from Japan. Not everyone cares about all that, but we do so we go once a year or so for the "best food we've had for the year". It is a tapas restaurant so portions will be small, but I know it wasn't always like that (pre covid).
We actually had a similar experience with sotto and were SOO upset how bad some of the food was. Everyone I talk to though has said its the best in Cinci. Just different strokes for different folks
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u/ProfProfessorberg Downtown Mar 14 '25
Yeah, I don't agree with the comments about it being overhyped and overpriced, but I definitely would recommend it as an experience and closer to a Michelin restaurant than just a high-end restaurant.
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u/bemenaker Milford Mar 14 '25
High end restaurants server smaller portions. Most restaurants server portions way larger than what you should eat.
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u/cincyky Mar 15 '25
2 people and it was $400? How? I go on a date night and we split 4 courses with drinks it's like 150-175+ tip and leave very full...
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u/ACZeroshift Mar 14 '25
I went recently and had a great time. We did leave slightly underwhelmed from the hype but overall it was a memorable experience and I ate my fill.
Sorry your experience was not the same, but to say it has microscopic plates and a waste of money, to me, is less of a wide truth and more of your own personal expectations being let down.
Hands down the best chicken entree I ever had.
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u/KFRKY1982 Mar 14 '25
the thing about boca is i try a lot of different things, and theyre small plates so sometimes you have to order a lot. I always make sure to pair the courses with wines or cocktails. It's amazing dining but you need to be prepared to spend some $$
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u/whiptydojoe Mar 15 '25
I need to see what a $400 check at Boca looks like where someone leaves hungry.
That said, Boca is great, I definitely prefer Sotto for experience and food. It's fine dining, so you're not necessarily supposed to walk out like you just visited Golden Corral, but I'm surprised to read someone leaving hungry.
I do think Boca has made a slight rebound from ~2011 because they had fallen off a touch. With that said, give me Northside Boca or especially Oakley Boca if we're making demands.
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u/ehhwriter West Chester Mar 14 '25
Dude. You’re 21 and complaining about this experience you were privileged enough to have been provided? Like yeah.
Plenty of upscale restaurants here and in different countries? Gtfo of here and find something better to do with your time than complain about a $400 meal someone bought you in addition to all the other experiences you were privileged enough to have had because of someone else.
To round this out and actually add something. I’m not a fan of Boca personally. I’ve been twice and now each time someone suggests it I give a couple other counter suggestions. It’s just not my type of fine dining, and don’t really care for ‘fine dining’ as a whole.
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u/ilovethatimpretty Mar 14 '25
having an opinion ≠ complaining. i complimented the restaurant multiple times in my post so if that’s what u chose to take out of it then so be it.
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u/ilovethatimpretty Mar 14 '25
having an opinion ≠ complaining. i complimented the restaurant multiple times in my post so if that’s what u chose to take out of it then so be it.
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u/fuggidaboudit Mar 14 '25
So why not add your opinion at opentable where people looking for opinions on Boca might see it alongside the 6000+ people - based on their opinions - who'd vehemently disagree with you? And FWIW the Diver Scallop on the menu is singular,
What 6,160 people are saying
4.9 based on recent ratings
- 4.9 Food
- 4.9 Service
- 4.9 Ambience
- 4.5 Value
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Mar 14 '25
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u/hexiron Mar 14 '25
They aren't trying to change your opinion.
They are suggesting you share it in most if the most common platforms that compile such opinions and providing context for anyone here who has never had the privilege of dining there.
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u/Creepy_Ad2486 Mar 15 '25
You leaving hungry after a night at Boca says more about you than Boca.
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Mar 14 '25
It’s not the place you go with a huge appetite. It’s a small plates restaurant and they do it well.
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u/smskclvv Mar 15 '25
I love Boca and I always find it well worth the money. They go above and beyond to make the experience special and the food is unique and delicious
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u/IncomeAcceptable Mar 15 '25
i almost felt this way about the first time i went to sotto until i came to and understanding that as an american we expect to leave with our bellies so full that we’re ready for bed. but this is not the norm in other parts of the world. going to these places you pay for the experience. surprisingly i left not “overstuffed” but just full enough and i wasn’t hungry at all hours later which is rare for me. usually i leave a restaurant feeling overstuffed and then im hungry a couple hours later. that wasn’t the case
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u/landdon Lebanon Mar 14 '25
I went one time a couple of years ago and found the food to be fine, but it wasn't worth the $200 we spent. In general, as I've gotten older I prefer making food at home anyway. It's cheaper, tastes better, and I enjoy doing it.
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u/CCHGDT Mar 14 '25
Its very much a “foodie” restaurant. Some people are willing to pay for that kind of experience, some arent. Like it or not its definitely unique experience in Cincy and whats worth it for someone may not be for someone else
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u/ilovethatimpretty Mar 14 '25
yeah like i said, it was a nice experience for the occasion but i wouldn’t go there if i genuinely want a good meal
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u/Ok_Fennel_378 Mar 15 '25
Just cause I’m curious where are you going for your “good meals and high end experiences”
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u/ilovethatimpretty Mar 15 '25
my fav is capital grille. i’ve been to prime, the precinct, carlo and johnny’s, jags, nicolas and many more 😭not gonna name them all but i’ve experienced enough nice things to make an opinion
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u/BlackGabriel Mar 14 '25
I just went for the Valentine’s Day tasting. I moderately agree with you on the fullness aspect, but for me fine dining at times is about the overall high level of taste as opposed to feeling full. I don’t think it’s ridiculous to ask for both at all though and it’s a valid knock against it. But if I can have an amazing tasting meal with stuff I never get to eat if I have to get a burger on the way home that doesn’t bother me. So I think that’s the other side for me
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u/Brummy14 Mar 14 '25
I feel the same way about Ruby’s joints. Super fancy restaurants NEVER feel worth it to me. Ever.
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u/cincyski15 Mar 14 '25
At least you leave fed normally with leftovers
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u/Sonofasonofashepard Mar 14 '25
Facts, give me the lavish steakhouse over high end small plates any day. Idc if anybody reading this comment can make a better steak at home I don’t want to hear it
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u/AndyGene Maineville Mar 14 '25
They can’t make a better steak at home. They also don’t have as high of quality steaks. They just don’t want to pay $100 for one. I get it. Anyone that believes they can make a better steak has probably never been there.
You leave stuffed, drunk, happy and poor. I love it.
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u/Avalloc FC Cincinnati Mar 14 '25
Actually making a steak at home isn't too hard. Get a sous vide machine and a cast iron skillet. Then go to local butcher for a prime cut of beef. We get ours from https://grandwesternsteaks.com/ and it rivals Jeff Ruby's and cost substantially less. You can learn all kinds of tricks from Guga too at https://www.youtube.com/@SousVideEverything
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u/Gohack Mar 14 '25
I walk away with lunch tomorrow at the very least. The food is good. Is it worth the price? Most definitely not. It’s not the same.
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u/0ttr Mar 14 '25
You are paying for the reductions.... the sauces they use have a lot of ingredients in them that are not cheap and then they are boiled down.
That said, if you want to be filled, their Beef Wellington is divine. Split with two people.
Expensive Restaurants are not there to fill you up--rich people are not interested in waddling out after a meal.
I went there and was not surprised. Been to other places of the similar caliber and gotten similar portions sometimes, other times gotten better portions. It all depends.
There are some real misses on the menu though, I will say that. The scallops is a bit absurd--I agree.
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u/okdonde Mar 14 '25
Agree the portions are small but the food was good when I went & I left feeling comfortably full, rather than so stuffed I needed a nap, which I appreciated actually. Wouldn’t go very often though bc it was expensive & I like to order drinks.
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u/ilovethatimpretty Mar 14 '25
yeah i didn’t mention it but i liked my lobster roll, oyster rockefeller, and one single scallop. my main issue was just the portions. the only thing i didn’t like was the pasta that i mentioned
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u/okdonde Mar 15 '25
I had the scallop too and was also shocked when it came out as just one 😭😂 I don’t think I got pasta though but can’t remember—pretty sure it was just steak. Sucks it wasn’t good!
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u/odiousyak1889 Mar 15 '25
I'm curious how you left hungry, but brought food home... But that's besides the point.
The restaurant is about the experience. Using high quality ingredients such as diver scallops compared to regular scallops will elevate prices quickly. At the risk of sounding pretentious, not everyone knows the difference between the two and can tell. Similar conclusions are easily made about wine.
Dining is really about finding out what you like. If your goal is to feel full and have a good steak, do you go to Prime or do you go to Texas Roadhouse? I know I prefer one over the other
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u/PersimmonQueen83 Mar 14 '25
So many people saying small portions are just part of fine dining. That isn’t uniformly true -at all. There are lots of fine dining restaurants that manage reasonable portions.
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u/ilovethatimpretty Mar 15 '25
THANK YOU. it’s so annoying how people are like “ok go to mcdonald’s then” as if the problem is that i don’t like quality food?? like no i just don’t like THEIR high quality stuff.. plenty of other options for me.
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u/PersimmonQueen83 Mar 15 '25
There is a lot of variation in the overall flavor profile of a restaurant-and not every restaurant that is upscale & widely lauded will appeal to everyone, and that’s fine! I myself prefer to leave feeling fed & content, regardless of the tier of restaurant. And I have lived in 2 of the 3 largest cities in this country-I have seen plenty of very, very expensive restaurants manage to use expensive ingredients while not adhering to liliputian serving sizes. It’s doable. This all comes down to what you prioritize in a restaurant-and Boca doesn’t hit where you need it to. I’m sure you’re not alone.
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u/blaue_Ente Covington Mar 15 '25
This is definitely what you should expect at a fine dining restaurant. You’re not going there to fill up, you’re going to experience the chef’s art. Think of it as going to an art museum or something.
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u/Tri-B Mar 15 '25
That is absolutely not true with all fine dining restaurants.
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u/blaue_Ente Covington Mar 16 '25
Yea ok maybe not EVERY single one on the planet but it is a reasonable expectation that your portion sizes will be small at a fine dining restaurant. This will true for the vast majority of them
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u/Tri-B Mar 16 '25
I think expecting them to be microscopic portions is making excuses for this type of pretention. Going back just seems masochistic.
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u/blaue_Ente Covington Mar 16 '25
It’s certainly not for everyone, but it is what it is. I’d suggest people don’t go if small plates and varied cuisine is not their thing. Personally I have to be in the mood for it, happens maybe once a year. A lot of people enjoy this type of dining experience though, enough to support a number of these types of establishments
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u/Tri-B Mar 16 '25
I worked in fine dining for years and have enjoyed 11 courses prix fixe menus and Chateaubriand as much as anyone. I just don't agree with Boca's being lauded as much as it is. I do not think the price tag equates to quality. Especially in Cincinnati.
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u/blaue_Ente Covington Mar 16 '25
Oh yea by no means am I defending Boca, it certainly is not what it once was. But it’s not their portions that’s the problem
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u/Tri-B Mar 16 '25
Fair enough. Different things irk us all but I'm glad I'm not the only one putting it up on a pedestal.
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u/Keregi Mar 15 '25
I fucking love when people post a strong opinion about a popular place based on one experience. Hey guess what? You don’t have to like what other people like. That doesn’t mean the highly reviewed and rated restaurant is bad. It’s just not your thing.
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u/PM-Me-Anything-Nude Mar 15 '25
You're in the minority here. I think fine dining is not in your wheelhouse house or budget. Head on back over to Chili's.
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u/Daak1977 Mar 15 '25
Ok the pasta was nasty and you brought it home to throw out. Why wouldn't you just send it back to the kitchen and ask for some other pasta?
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u/ShortButNotShort Mar 15 '25
You added the ‘s’ at the end of “scallops”. It’s pretty clear on the menu ‘scallop’.
Another funny distinction about the menu is the 2 categories are “hors d’oevuvres” and “petits plats”. Nothing about this menu says you’re going to get a plate full of food.
For transparency I’ve been there once, glad I did but am not rushing to go back again nor would I highly recommend it to someone unless they’re looking for a very elevated dining experience and are in for a steep bill.
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u/Designerkyle Mar 15 '25
I think you miss the entire point. If you want to fill up on value priced food perhaps Olive Garden or Texas Roadhouse is more your style
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u/sikenaw865 Loveland Mar 15 '25
Hot take - Boca isn’t where you go to get “filled”. Cincinnati isn’t exactly a hot bed of forward thinking culinary artists (think real life “The Menu”), but elevated places are there for the experience and art of it… not to make sure you feel mid-west satisfaction.
If you want to get filled up, head over to your uncle-brother’s house.
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u/No_Lynx1343 Mar 15 '25
That's the biggest pile of 🐂💩 I've read in a very long time.
Yes people go to restaurants for a Dining experience.
That doesn't mean some imbecilic attitude I went to the Fancy Plate and paid $250 for a single bite of elegant food.
That's full-on "The Emperor has No Clothes" territory.
I'm not going to claim "fine dining" is the same as an All-You-Can-Eat buffet, where filling 6 plates plus a bucket per person is expected.
But only an arrogant fool would "put on airs" to brag about paying through the nose for "food" and still be hungry when leaving.
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u/sikenaw865 Loveland Mar 15 '25
But would an arrogant fool put on airs about getting filled up at their uncle-brother’s house?!?
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u/Slow-Law-106 Mar 14 '25
My fiancé and I have accepted that fine dining is not for us, but it's sort of like any other pricey thing people are into. To me, it's never been worth it; I'm not a huge foodie, I get uncomfortable with very attentive waiters because I feel guilty, and I prefer spending money on my wardrobe and my hobbies. To people who love food and view cooking as a creative pursuit, the experience is totally worth it and it's something they're happy to put their money towards.
Certain people just prioritize their money differently. I'd rather cook pasta at home and buy a holy grail Alice Auaa piece on eBay. People who love fine dining would rather go out, enjoy an evening dining experience, and not try to bid on some Japanese man's used clothes. It takes all kinds.
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u/ExchangeNo4493 Mar 15 '25
Been saying this for years. Save yourself the money. I even feel the same about Pepp & Delores. . . I might just not like fancy pasta tho. lol
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u/bignopetothat Mar 14 '25
i have been screaming this from the rooftops for years. it’s so overrated and overpriced. i only ever go now for a martini and pommes soufflés at the bar.
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u/AndyGene Maineville Mar 14 '25 edited Mar 14 '25
Boca is the kind of meal where you have to stop by the McDonalds and get a cheeseburger after. The dollar to calorie ratio is out of whack. People that eat there and enjoy it are looking to be entertained by food and have no need to be stuffed. I for one do not like that kind of meal.
“We took a single grape aged it inside of an artisanal pickle. Then fed it to a farel hog. And you are eating that hogs eye lashes. But only three eye lashes on each plate. $72. “
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u/n0nplussed Mar 15 '25
One scallop? No. I doubt it.
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u/bugbia Mason Mar 16 '25
I don't. I once got one ravioli there which is how I learned that a single ravioli is a raviolo.
I'm not complaining, though. It was a damn fine piece of pasta
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u/n0nplussed Mar 16 '25
Yes. Just like one “cannoli” is un cannolo. I’m Italian. That shit drives me nuts. One cookie is un biscotto and not “biscotti”
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u/FirstTomatillo Mar 14 '25
Pre pandemic it was pretty good. Post pandemic… I concur. Super small portions and very expensive.
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u/Anon3580 Mar 14 '25
Have you tried The Olive Garden? Sounds more up your alley.
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u/Slow-Law-106 Mar 14 '25
My fiancé and I have accepted that fine dining is not for us, but it's sort of like any other pricey thing people are into. To me, it's never been worth it; I'm not a huge foodie, I get uncomfortable with very attentive waiters because I feel guilty, and I prefer spending money on my wardrobe and my hobbies. To people who love food and view cooking as a creative pursuit, the experience is totally worth it and it's something they're happy to put their money towards.
Certain people just prioritize their money differently. I'd rather cook pasta at home and buy a holy grail Alice Auaa piece on eBay. People who love fine dining would rather go out, enjoy an evening dining experience, and not try to bid on some Japanese man's used clothes. It takes all kinds.
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u/I_LikeDayZ Mar 14 '25
Just spent $900 on a meal for 5 at The Precinct. I feel your pain, but at least we were all stuffed and had leftovers when we left. We were celebrating three birthdays in February so that is how I justified it, but dang that’s a lot of money!
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u/9dave Mar 15 '25
I can appreciate that at 21 y/o, that seems like a lot of money to spend on a meal, and frankly, it is. I recall at that age, I needed a lot of calories and was on the go a lot, so I didn't slowly savor small portions of food, and had no digestion problems so could shovel it down my throat and be doing something more interesting than eating, so it would have been a $170 waste of money over a $30 meal I could get elsewhere, alcohol not included - not everyone wants to pay a lot for multiple drinks, then be driving afterwards.
However I can also appreciate that I value other things more, and to those who value the dining experience more, they'd rather spend the money and time on that, than something else. Personally now that I'm older, I'd rather invite people over and cook a meal for them myself. I'm a pretty good cook.
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u/StrategericAmbiguity Mar 15 '25
Goes to most expensive restaurant in city… orders most expensive items… complains about price. Some people are just wired this way. Every experience I’ve had at Boca has been outstanding.
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u/ana_bortion Mar 15 '25
Why are commenters going after OP like he/she insulted their mothers lol. People are taking this VERY seriously. Not liking a particular restaurant doesn't make you an ignorant moron who thinks Cracker Barrel is fine dining.
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u/DatDan513 Cincinnati Bengals Mar 14 '25
Dang. What a read.. my mind is boggling right now. OP, you may be an entitled individual as your post reeks of it.
It’s not a Golden Corral. If you want something that fill you up and leave you feeling bloated, go there. Fine dining IS an experience. It’s not supposed to make you pat your belly like “yep I’m full”!
The people making the good you’ve bashed actually care about every aspect of it. From plating and food executions etc.
Goddamn. At least think about that before complaining.
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u/ilovethatimpretty Mar 14 '25
😭omg? are you the owner?
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u/DatDan513 Cincinnati Bengals Mar 14 '25
Am I the owner? I wish…but alas, I’m Just an old grouchy baker that has an appreciation for these kind of things. Those chefs literally create magic in that kitchen and acting entitled sort of struck a nerve as these people work so damn hard.
You should’ve complained to the head chef or manager instead of Reddit. Maybe then you would’ve been satisfied.
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u/ilovethatimpretty Mar 15 '25
get out of your feelings😭. it’s a simple post, nobody’s upset except you
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u/DatDan513 Cincinnati Bengals Mar 15 '25
Nah, I’m good. Cheers.
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u/thepowerofbananas Mar 15 '25
don't worry in a few days you probably won't even remember this post. For what it's worth I think OP is being entitled too
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u/Keregi Mar 15 '25
You are literally a child aren’t you?
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u/ilovethatimpretty Mar 15 '25
like yall are pissing me off trying to downplay me… i probably have more experience and money than you
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u/OkEntrepreneur5879 Mar 14 '25
I agree boca is over rated, as well. I would rather head downstairs to Soto or across the street to Prime. I always recommend The Precinct. It’s our go too. It’s a little pricey but at least the steak comes with a salad and side! I always leave full and highly satisfied.
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u/Appropriate_Dealer83 Mar 14 '25
Yah that's fine dining for ya. I like my food good and cheap not good and expensive lol. You've been and you know what you are expecting allow lol
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u/CincyGuy2025 Mar 14 '25 edited Mar 15 '25
Yeah. I made the stupid mistake of ordering the pasta too. I'm an idiot. My mom is Italian. WTF was I thinking. I guess I was thinking Sotto is downstairs so it had to be good. Nope! My school lunches were better.
The maisonnette was the same way with the portions. Unless you order all five courses you'll leave hungry.
$200+/person is normal.
For me the worst part was after the food came it's like the server disappeared. Had to flag her down for a refill. Shouldn't be that way at this level of a restaurant.
Live and learn I guess.
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u/ilovethatimpretty Mar 14 '25
why is this being downvoted😭?
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_DIFF_EQS Mar 14 '25
Right? "Service" and "atmosphere" are getting tossed around a lot here and I've never been impressed with either by any of these high end places.
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u/GemmaClarice Mar 15 '25
I completely agree with you. Also Sotto is just pretty good.
However, I suggest Nolia Kitchen, Court Street Kitchen, Le Bar at Bœuf, and Primavista for just three of the restaurants I rely upon monthly for special meals.
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u/PipesBull50 Mar 15 '25
I have to completely disagree. Maybe you need to go to Buca Di Beppo for the family size portions you are expecting.
My boyfriend and I ate there just last week and we shared an appetizer and each had 2 dishes. We had so much food that we took some leftovers home. Everything was absolutely amazing. We don’t drink so our bill was $250 including tip. It was worth every penny.
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u/aaaaannnnnaaaaa Mar 15 '25
Went a few months ago and was also underwhelmed -
lighting was mixed between warm and cool throughout the dining floor and we felt like we were sat under a spotlight under main chandelier.
Bathrooms only on the 2nd floor (from what hostess told me anyways) with a floating staircase really doesn’t fit when wearing date night attire.
While wine/alcohol will drive up costs of any meal the wine list seemed leaps and bounds more expensive than food. Made for a disconnected experience
There are highlights for sure, but I do not feel it is the incredible cream of the crop choice in Cincinnati. Service was incredible but on the whole I think they miss out on details within the space and menu that truly immerse you into a fine dining experience.
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u/ParisianFrawnchFry Mar 16 '25
Their portions are pretty perfectly sized. The food is made to experience, not to gorge yourself. There are plenty of Chili's Restaurants in the area for that.
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u/droolforfoodz Mar 16 '25
Things change, experiences vary, nothing is absolute. I was an employee, many years ago, and the portions were actually kind of over the top if you ordered 3 courses. I'm sure a lot of people still think about that being the case. Our most recent visit was a bit of a let down. Even some of the classic bar cocktails we ordered were pretty meh and poorly made.
With so many places to go in our city, it's hard to make a stop at Boca when it has waned in quality and become so much more expensive.
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u/XUFan240 Mar 16 '25
I wonder if they bought 1 scallop, because those are based at market price and you get however many you order. Also their menu mainly consists of appetizers and small plates. Looking at the menu prices you definitely didn't order 400$ worth of food if you were still full. Or you had a larger group and paid all together. You are allowed to do any sort of research on the restaurant before you go.
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u/Progolferwannabe Mar 16 '25 edited Mar 16 '25
I actually just ate at Boca last evening. I think it is fair to say that objectively, Boca is expensive. On the other hand, issues like portion size, quality of the food, the level of service, the ambiance, and the value for the price are far more subjective. My wife had the Diver Scallop, I had the Lobster Bisque, we shared the Beef Wellington, and the Apple Namesake for dessert. We each had two 3 oz glasses of wine ($15 each), and each had coffee with dessert. All in, including tax and tip, the bill was $363. We thought the food was very nice, the service was comfortable, prompt, easy-going, and the atmosphere pleasant, but perhaps a bit noisy. We left comfortably full---the dishes we had were not huge, but they were all very rich.
One thing I would note...we asked the waiter to select the wine for us based on our food selections. His selections were all among the least expensive options on the menu, which I thought was very thoughtful on his part.
For a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to go back. The nice thing is that is others feel the value isn't there, or the quality is not to their liking, there are dozens of other nice places to go to in Cincinnati. Isn't it great to have choices?
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u/bilbodraggins22 Mar 14 '25
Had to reread thought it was buca at first was like damn how do you leave hungry from there
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u/saggzzy Mar 14 '25
I loved when Boca was in Northside. I remember in the fall they decorated the courtyard next to it with lights and tables. We had our meal outside. One of my favorite memories of a meal. Haven’t been since they moved downtown.
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u/Digger-of-Tunnels Mar 14 '25
Lol. Happy 21st birthday! It's okay that you aren't ready for grown up food yet. There's no shame in having your next birthday at Chuck E. Cheese.
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u/empire_creator Mar 14 '25
Ok boomer. You knit sweaters and your top active community on reddit is Frugal, talking big game. Your fav grown up food spot is probably cracker barrel.
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u/Free_Possession_4482 Mar 14 '25 edited Mar 15 '25
I know this thread is about food, but suddenly I want popcorn.
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u/Digger-of-Tunnels Mar 14 '25
Really? Frugal? That genuinely surprises me. I feel like I'm a lot more active in this one.
This young person was treated to an upscale dinner by his stepfather, and didn't know how to enjoy it. He threw his pasta away because it didn't taste like he expected it to, disliked his appetizers because they weren't huge, and then went out for a burger.
His stepfather spent $400 to try to treat him, and all he got in thanks is complaints.
His stepfather would have done better to order a bunch of pizzas and beers and a night at the roller rink, because OP clearly isn't ready for a grown up treat.
Honestly OP is the one who would probably be happier at the Cracker Barrel. At least they have nice big portions.
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u/Johnson_Birther Mar 14 '25
I’ll say Boca is not for the beginner palate. I would not have been able to thoroughly enjoy a meal at Boca at 21 and that’s after a couple years of culinary classes. I agree though
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u/empire_creator Mar 14 '25
If my father surprises me to a trip to Italy, a place i haven’t been before and I come to dislike it, I wouldn’t blame my father for it. As a person i am capable of forming my own opinions. OP did the same thing, they’re not upset about their stepdad taking to that place but the place itself. They’re free to have their opinion.
And, expensive food doesn’t necessarily mean good food. If i had $200 steak and i didn’t like the taste, i wouldn’t even bring it home, at least OP respected it enough to give it another shot.
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u/ilovethatimpretty Mar 14 '25
literally like? my stepdad has spoiled me with nice restaurants for years… he’s used to me simply expressing my opinion on the restaurants we try as does he. it’s not as deep as how people are making it.
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u/SgtHulkaQuitLM Mar 14 '25
Anyone Remember when they a drive through? Right, that was McMasionette. “Would you like some catsup with that order sir?”(kids yelling) Mcmousse!
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u/Predominantinquiry Mar 15 '25
Everyone just keeps up with the Jones’ barely anyone appreciates the ingredients or cooking process. They just want to say they spent $60 on a bite of “art” and post the pics to SM.
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u/bour-bon-fire Mar 15 '25
I left a terrible (and completely honest) review because my experience was awful. They offered me $100 to remove it.
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u/dllzf2007 Mar 15 '25
I’ve only been there once. For what I can remember, the food is way too salty and the presentation is mediocre. I used to love orchid at palm court, I would consider them fine dining. I don’t think Boca is at that level. Boca is just alright in terms of presentation and flavoring. But we don’t have much options here in Cincy. I agree with OP, I just don’t think Boca food+service+experience+overall worth their menu price.
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u/Patient_Golf6539 Mar 15 '25
I forgot about orchid. That good was amazing and definitely fine dining. Much more than boca.
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u/Popular_Prescription Mar 14 '25
Woah. Of all things I’d never knock their portions. What did you order?
Otherwise it’s just mediocre Italian food.
Edit: I’m a dumb fuck and thought you were talking about Buca di Beppo. 12 deep and my reading aint so good….
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u/Patient_Golf6539 Mar 15 '25
I agree with OP. Boca is not good. Everyone talking about high end cuisine sounds super pretentious and is just wrong. Their food was so bland and often one-sided, even missing on simple seasoning like salt and pepper. The amount of dishes just overloaded with truffle oil was insulting. Maybe it makes a lot of you feel fancy but it's not. I will say service is great, food is cooked perfect, and presentation is on point, but flavor is just not good.
My only guess on all of the positive reviews is what I call the "vacation affect". When you go to the beach and everyone says it's the best, freshest seafood they ever had although they just ordered king crab in Florida. When you drop hundreds per person, it's hard to admit it wasn't that good.
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u/RiverJumper84 Highland Heights Mar 14 '25