If you’re in the mood for crab, shrimp, lobster, Mahi-mahi, cod, or some other seafood dish, then you’re in luck because Cincinnati has several excellent restaurants around the city where you can enjoy each of these dishes.
From small and cozy dining spots to large and spacious restaurants with incredible views, the Queen City has a diverse mix of places around the city where you can enjoy some seafood.
In this post, we share the 7 best places to get seafood in Cincinnati.
Map of Restaurants
The following map shows the location of every restaurant mentioned in this post.
Pelican’s Reef
Located on Beechmont Avenue on the east side of Cincinnati, Pelican’s Reef is a restaurant that offers a massive variety of seafood dishes including grilled fish tacos, fried shrimp and oysters, grilled salmon, grilled tuna, and mahi mahi along with a variety of sandwiches and burgers. Known for their delicious food and their friendly service, Pelican’s Reef is one of the best places to enjoy some seafood not just on the east side, but in the entire city.
Location: 7261 Beechmont Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45230
Website: Pelican’s Reef
Alabama Fish Bar
Located in the heart of Over-The-Rhine, Alabama Fish Bar is a small seafood restaurant known for their fish and fries. Although this spot can be busy and doesn’t offer much standing room, the food is phenomenal and the service is quick. Our go-to dish here is the cod and fries, but you can’t go wrong with any item on the menu.
Location: 1601 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: Alabama Fish Bar
Washington Platform
Housed in an old brick building that was erected over 150 years ago, Washington Platform is a restaurant filled with plenty of character and history that serves up some of the best seafood in the Queen City. Located in Downtown Cincinnati, Washington Platform is known for their inviting atmosphere and their excellent seafood. What makes this spot truly unique is that they offer different “carnivals” and “festivals” throughout the year where they serve specialized dishes for two to three months at a time, including a crab carnival, an oyster festival, and a “Lobstapalooza.”
Location: 1000 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: Washington Platform
McCormick & Schmick’s
Another excellent spot to enjoy some seafood in Downtown Cincinnati is McCormick & Schmick’s. This is one of the most spacious and upscale seafood restaurants in the city and is known for being busy during dinner hours, especially on the weekends. Our favorite dishes here are the crab cakes and the grilled shrimp.
Location: 21 E 5th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: McCormick & Schmick’s
Court Street Lobster Bar
Yet another excellent seafood spot in the Downtown area is Court Street Lobster Bar. Court Street prides itself on offering “east coast flavor with midwest hospitality” and they truly deliver: their dishes are delicious and their service is friendly. Housed in a long narrow building, Court Street offers a unique dining experience in a casual setting. Their menu includes a variety of lobster rolls (which they’ve received awards for), crab rolls, and cod rolls, which can all be complemented nicely with their mac ‘n cheese and roasted cauliflower on the side.
Location: 28 W Court St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: Court Street Lobster Bar
K&J Seafood
Located on the University of Cincinnati campus area, K&J Seafood is a seafood restaurant known for serving dishes in baskets. Their menu items include shrimp, crab, and corn on the cob among other seafood classics. They also offer mouthwatering seafood fries, which are just a huge blend of cheesy sauce, shrimp, crab and bacon. Because this spot is so popular, it’s a good idea to call ahead of time to place your order.
Location: 2516 Clifton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Website: K&J Seafood
Chart House
Located just across the Ohio River in Newport, Kentucky, Chart House is a seafood restaurant that offers dishes with a view. Known for their spacious dining area with large windows that offer sweeping views of the Ohio River and the Cincinnati skyline, Chart House offers one of the most unique settings to enjoy seafood in around the city. Their menu includes a huge variety of dishes including Mahi Mahi, Spiced Yellowfin, Clam chowder, and even slow-roasted prime rib.
Location: 405 Riverboat Row, Newport, KY 41071
Website: Chart House
