Scotti's Italian Restaurant

If you are looking for fancy or fills...this is not the place for you. If your looking for hearty home style italian you are in the right place! I didnt care for the free salad but everything else was amazing. If you want to get a table schedule ahead, especially for dinner.

Scotti's Italian Restaurant is sadly consistent. The review response from the owner is a great example of what one could experience. Good luck. Not the Italian dining experience we hoped for. We had not tried Scotti's for years. Our February 2025 visit started with a no smile, unfriendly greeting from a waiter who asked if we had a reservation. We did not. He checked and they seated us at the closest table to the door. No problem. Then the tall, older man waiter came to our table starting with no smile, not friendly. We ordered glasses of red wine and an app. When the waiter returned and asked what we wanted to order, I asked what his favorite thing on the menu was. His response: Look man, I've worked here 20 something years, everything is good. Are you going to order or what? I asked for a couple minutes to choose. The more I thought of this consistent unwelcoming, unfriendly, unprofessional experience, I requested our bill, paid it and could not get out of there fast enough. Hey it's not easy getting downtown, finding a close parking spot that you pay for and getting approached by the homeless asking for money the moment I opened my car door 100 yards from Scotti's. We were hoping for an experience that made it all seem worth it anyway. It is easier and better elsewhere.

Really liked the food. Nice atmosphere. Good service. Nice family run restaurant. Very small, so don't try large groups.

This place is a our place to go before going to the opera in Cincinnati. My wife and father in law have been going here for 33 years and I just joined them 5 years ago and we look forward to going there. When you eat Italian food, it's all about the sauce and Scotti's has the best. A huge menu and I can't get enough of the lasagna. I have taken my older children and they too really enjoyed the food. Rena, Pat and Marco are like family. If you haven't been, you should try, but be prepared to compare every place forward to Scotti's.

Here is to another 100 yrs. I'm writing to share feedback about a recent experience at your restaurant. Unfortunately, I'm unable to leave a positive online review as I have for many other establishments during my travels. On a Thursday evening around 6 p.m., my family of four visited your restaurant. Despite the restaurant being empty, we were informed by the server/host that we could not simply order appetizers and entrees. He insisted on a five-course meal, even though your menu offers à la carte options. His demeanor was rude and uninviting, leaving us feeling unwelcome in a way I've never experienced at a family-owned Italian restaurant. As we left, he remarked that the restaurant has operated the same way for over 100 years. We ended up having a wonderful meal and experience at Jeff Ruby's. It's disappointing that one interaction could tarnish the reputation of a local institution.

5 stars all around. As an East Coast transplant who grew up in an Italian family, this brought me back years. This is the best Italian food I have had here in 10 years. Our waiter was great telling us tales from the kitchen and family times that had me nostalgic. The food is authentic and outstanding. The atmosphere is magnificent. The old chianti bottles hanging and the table candles tie it all together with the red checkered tablecloth. The minestrone soup blew me away. Do not make the same mistake I did and wait 10 years before getting here. If you’re a NY/NJ transplant this is a must go.

I want to like this neat little hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant more than I actually do. This place has a super cool, classic Italian restaurant atmosphere, and the service isn't bad--relatively friendly and attentive. Having been several times, however, I'd say the food can be a bit hit/miss. Some of the dishes I've had here have been pretty good, some I would never order again. I recommend ordering something with a marinara or other red sauce; every time I've ordered anything with say, a white wine sauce or Alfredo, I've been a bit underwhelmed. I've seen others comment that their food isn't particularly well seasoned, and I'd say that's a fair criticism. One absolute exception: don't forget to order the garlic bread. It's delicious.

The ambiance was very nice. However, I was yelled at by the waitor for wanting to order 2 separate sides of the pasta and meatballs (on the menu). I was told I was very disrespectful to ask for that when someone else couldve taken my reservation if I didnt really want to eat. He threw his hands up and walked away from our table. I really thought it was a joke, until I realized it wasn’t. Unfortunately, I won’t be returning even though I was really looking forward to this. Wish you the best, just wasn’t for me!

First visit tonight and loved everything about Scotti's. Family-owned business with great intimate atmosphere, great food & great service. We will be back.

Hole in the wall italian joint. Scotti's is romantic and you should definitely come with a date. My gf is Italian and loves pasta, we saw Scotti's was recommend on a Instagram video so we drove downtown to check it out. First impressions when you walk in, it's dark. Mostly lit by candlelight, we were promptly greeted by the owner and relative to Scotty himself (we would soon come to find out) They have just recently celebrated 100 years and it shows. From the authentic atmosphere of the wooden mugs hanging from the ceiling, to the atomic smell of diarrhea creeping up from the basement. We were seated at a small table, second group in the restaurant. It's not very big, maybe 15 tables but the dim lighting and atmospheric table setting immerses you. The menu has alot of options. We were craving pasta, red sauce seemed like the move. On the left side of the menu, you can order pasta types, add sauce and toppings for a price. I ordered linguini with spicy meat sauce, it was closer to the bottom of the choices. And my gf ordered the linguini with regular tomato sauce right under it. We also ordered the garlic bread and wine waited patiently. The garlic bread was big, crunchy and tasty. A little too much oil for my liking. I'm sure that's authentic but it was soaked. The soup and salad came complimentary and we didn't have the heart to deny them, salad was soaked in dressing. Flavorful but soaked. And idk what those weird vegetable looking worms on top were lol. The soup was pretty good, but it was a lot and I was mainly hungry for the pasta. I ordered a simple red recommended by the owner, the house red. It was dry tart and fruity, I liked it and felt pretty good after. Gf got the moscato but wasn't as potent as she'd liked it to be. Pasta came out last and man, it was worth the wait. My spicy meat sauce was very good. Noodles were a little tough but nothing to complain about. Sauce was delicious and the perfect level of spice. There is some spice. Decent portion too. Gf - it was very yummy. The garlic bread was eh, but I would get the pasta again. The bathroom was kinda scary. The atmosphere was great and the business is family owned, down to the wait staff. It was nice supporting. I do have to mention the downstairs though. This is where the bathroom is located, and before you even open the door, the stench of sewage tickles your nose. Then you enter what seems like the back rooms, flickering light, creepy long hallway that ends with a very unfinished bathroom. It smells. But you can't smell it in the dining room. At least not where we sat. (Along the right side face the door)

Scotti's has been around forever and is still as iconic as it was when I went for the first time over 30 years ago. The atmosphere is very uniquely kitchy and reminiscent of an authentic place tucked in the corner of NYC. The menu is extensive, spend a little time upfront researching the choices. I had the Veal Marsala which was fabulously flavored and chuck full of large mushrooms. It came with a cup of minestrone which was excellent, a chopped salad with a sweet vinegary dressing, and a small side of pasta with red sauce .Got an order of garlic bread and some meatballs. Tiramisu for dessert is a MUST have!!! Food was fantastic. Service was excellent. Sorry it took me 30 years to come back.

It was our first time here and was glad we did. The atmosphere is very European with all kinds of wine bottles hanging from the ceiling. Our food was very good and you get a lot for your money. I ordered the eggplant Parmesan and it comes with minestrone and salad. My hubby got the spaghetti with hot sausage The only downfall was one of the staff. Our party was running late and she was not happy.

I can't believe the negative reviews. Scotti's is fantastic! It has been over 20 years since we were last there. I love the atmosphere! 112 years in business not all in same location. Staff was all the family siblings. All the meals came with soup and salad. The minestrone soup was very good. The Salad was not typical but was like slaw. Very good. The choices of veal were many. I got the veal parmigiana. My wife got the Veal Marsala and son got the breaded veal with mushrooms and brown sauce. Each came with pasta and special Scotti sauce. All fantastic! We also ordered a side of garlic bread and side of meatballs. Everything was fantastic! We ordered tiramasu for dessert. It was awesome. We will be back. They do serve steak and chicken but specialize with veal.

This small place shoots above its weight. The food and service is perfect. No complaints. The vibe is everything. Professional, romantic, quaint, reasonable, intimate, wonderful ... just really perfect. This isn't fancy, but it is so wonderful and unique; it is fantastic. I will be back many times.

Lunch was just so so this time with the half and half covered with chunky tomato sauce. The sauce had a poor consistency for my tastes and the raviolis seemed overdone. The bread and butter was good.

Food is amazing!! Service was top notch and very informative about menu items. The menu is very large. Ambience is exactly what u would expect in an old school Italian restaurant. We have been a few times and just keeps getting better!

Great services. Terrible food. Beautiful atmosphere There was just no flavor to the food. The garlic bread was good though

I hadn't been in here in probably 20 years. Ambience is obviously the big draw and very charming. Service was great. Food is Amazing. Came in for lunch and left full

If you don't mind a sewer smell that is putrid in bathroom area which is in a dimly lit basement hallway or rude waiters that make no effort to be friendly or accommodating then this is your place for mediocre Italian food. Maybe at one time this place was nice but it's just not . With so many options in the area . Don't waste your money on this overpriced and unfriendly establishment!!!

My god the illnesses we walked out of this restaurant with... My dear friend Wiznewski had to literally run to the toilet after we wrapped our meal. Only good thing about this place is Marco, the man with the most beautiful laugh. Oh the soup was low key bangin.

Been waiting to try out this place for ever and finally decided to give it a shot for my mums bday. I called days in advance to make a reservation and thankfully I was able to get one. We got there a little late but they were super accommodating with that so that was a great start. They took a little bit to come and introduce themselves and all of that but it was completely understandable since it is a family owned and ran place, plus it was already packed. The waiter, took the drinks order and explained it was his great grandfather who started the place which I thought it was so cool that he said it with such pride. We ordered to glasses of wine. I'm not a wine drinker but the location and occasion called for it. Now to eat we ordered the Eggplant a la Rusticana, and the Stake Giardinera. I was going to order the pimentos as a starter but the waiter said it was a lot of food, so we opted for garlic bread. Both entrees came with soup (minestrone) and a salad, also with a side of spaghetti in red sauce. It was definitely a lot of food. Everything was extremely delicious, and full of flavor. The eggplant was tasty and well cooked, and the steak, I asked for medium well, and it was both soft but crusty on the ends which was perfect. Everything we was perfect! I'm not a fan of red sauce but the spaghetti was on point. Furthermore, the place is tiny but gracefully decorated. It truly take a you back in time. This is a must try location in Cincinnati, needless to say the price is worth it.

Scotti's Italian Restaurant is 110 years old! The authentic pasta dishes are delish While it is located in the heart of downtown, it's still a little hidden gem if you haven't been before! You escape the sunlight into a dimly lit, traditional Italian dining space. They have a large menu with all kinds of available accommodations - music to our ears if you want to opt for a simple pasta and sauce they have tons to choose from! We thoroughly enjoyed : Eggplant Parmigiana - we asked for this with their spicy diavolo sauce and it had a kick! this dish came with a side of spaghetti with tomato sauce each entree also comes with a soup of the day (ours was a creamy minestrone) a salad and bread. *they were so nice to split this entree for us on separate plates! Manicotti side filled with ricotta covered in their tomato sauce - Cheesy, saucy, delicious. Cannoli - perfect crisp filled with luscious cream and chocolate chips topped with rainbow sprinkles. They only take reservations over the phone so call ahead especially on the weekends!

A group of coworkers and I went on April 4, 2024 for a celebration. We made a reservation about a week before. When we arrived, we were greeted and they had our table ready. It wasn't an overly busy night. The atmosphere is quirky and dim, but fun - decades of melted candles cover the candleholders on the tables, the tile work is colorful and seemingly has no rhyme or reason, photos and newspaper clippings adorn the walls. Our dinner had a leisurely pace. After we ordered we got minestrone, which was pleasant, followed by salad (the dressing is not my cup of tea - sweet Italian dressing and I'm more of a ranch dressing guy) which I tried a bit but did not finish, garlic bread - which was ok- and then our entrees. Nobody at my table had anything bad to say about the food. I had the spaghetti carbonara. Other than needing to add some salt, it was pleasant. The wait staff were efficient, not overbearing and never hovered. They seemed to know when to move things along and we didn't have to ask for anything. Overall it was a nice, rustic space that, sure, could be spruced up to be a modern restaurant, but then would lose its charm. If you're looking for a fancy spot, there are plenty of other places around, if you're looking for pleasant and old-world quirk, then Scotti's is the place.

Authentic Italian, family owned since 1912. Feels likes you're in a 1950's mobster movie. One of Cincinnati's hidden gems - ambiance is unbeatable. I would recommend going in the winter months, Italian just tastes better when it is cold outside. You will need to call for reservations. They do not book online and the tables will fill up quickly as there is not many tables Portions are big! Food is good, traditional 'your grandmothers Italian', I wouldn't rank it as the best Italian in the city but it is definitely worth the visit. Bathrooms downstairs could use some love. Overall I would highly recommend Scotti's for a unique intimate date night.

Do not sleep on Scotti's. I was one of those people who drove past this restaurant maybe 100 times without stopping in. My fiancé finally said, "They've been open for 100+ years, they must be doing something right" ... so we stopped in for dinner, and we're both so glad we did. Something important to note before you dine -- you do need a reservation. The restaurant isn't available on Yelp or OpenTable to book online, so you will have to call. We saw at least two groups turned away because they didn't call ahead. From the outside, Scotti's is completely unassuming. Just a neon sign and a rather unwelcoming storefront. But inside ... you're transported to somewhere totally unique. The ambiance isn't like anything I've ever experienced ... and I'll most definitely be searching for something to compare it to for years to come. It definitely has a European, "locals-only" charm ... a true hidden gem in Downtown Cincinnati. Our server was attentive and lighthearted -- and the food was authentic and memorable. The minestrone soup (included with the pasta meal) in warm and homey ... the salad (also included) is more coleslaw than salad, but in the best way possible. I ordered the Linguine Con Diavolo (the spicy tomato sauce) and it happily delivered a well-balanced spice. The garlic bread was crispy, although not the best I've had. We also ordered a small carafe of house red wine, which was the perfect size for two people who can never quite finish a full bottle. If you're reading other Yelp reviews and second-guessing whether you should try this restaurant ... just do it, and prepare for an experience you won't soon forget.

This is a family owned and ran restaurant. I guess the brother and sister were not getting along this day. They both wait on tables. The sister walks through the restaurant saying how her brother is an asshole. Then we hear them Yelling at each other in the back. He's telling her that she needs medication and she's calling him names and he's telling her "f$&k you!". Then the sister walks out and waits on a table like nothing over happened. Then walks to the back again, more yelling and screaming, then brother walks out like nothing. It was so bad that I thought we might be physical violence. I guess this just adds to the ambiance of the place.....very Italian. lol it was an experience e nonetheless. We didn't love our food this time but I think we just choose the wrong dishes for our taste.

Though I reviewed, but Yelp tells me "No" I passed by this restaurant, which looks like a dump many times without going in. Then my son brought me here. I was amazed at the interior. Wine bottles hanging, and just a homey feel. Food was outstanding...with enough left overs for another meal. At a very reasonable price. I will never walk by again. That is my story.

I would have given five stars, except that they were out of tiramisu to an accident in the restaurant. Something fell on the tiramisu, smashing it. The food though is very good and service was excellent. It was my first time eating here. I definitely want to go back

Took a group of 10 for dinner and everything was FANTASTIC. You have to understand going in that this is not a fast food restaurant or a place to grab a quick bite. This is the place where you go to slow down and have dinner. The minestrone soup is wonderful and the chopped salad is unique and full of flavor. The garlic bread is delicious and my Braciola was tender and the red wine onion sauce was spot on. We really enjoyed the carafes of the House Red and we never had a time where we didn't have drinks in front of us. There is a reason they have been doing this for over 100 years.

OMG! How is this place not closed down for health violations? The entire restaurant sits upon a basement that smells of raw sewage. Go down to the restrooms. It stinks like raw sewage and permeates the whole building. It is disgusting. If you like to eat around the putrid odor of raw sewage--this is your place! They should rename it Scotti's sewer and septic! They need to fix this!

Great place. Very unassuming and easy to miss in a city like Cincinnati but it was a great old Italian atmosphere. No kids menu but that was ok and our split something. Small local type places we love finding and the service was perfect.

Srsly one of the coolest interiors of any building I've been in. If you're a history buff you'll love this place. So much attention to detail and a vintage feel. The food is good. Minestrone soup is a 10/10. Salad I'm not a huge fan of but it comes free with the meal so it's not a big deal. The pasta is really good, however I would say it's priced a little high for what you get. I recommend the spaghetti with spicy Italian sausage! The two times I've been here I have encountered an older waiter with quite strange and unwelcoming vibes. He'll just get right up in your face and grab your dishes without saying anything. Overall it's a good place and I hope it stays open for years to come!

This little place has the best authentic Italian cuisine. The restaurant is quaint, and the ambience is old school. Staff is friendly and welcoming! Definitely a must when in the Queen City!

Great lunch spot! Food was delicious and fast. Menu is daunting but boils down to shape of pasta and what sauce do you want

In town checking out places to eat, I liked the look of the place. We just had dinner but wanted to have dessert and coffee. The host checked with the manager and they told us they don't serve just dessert, we would have to buy dinner. Oh well...

When preparing to carb load for a marathon, what's better than an Italian restaurant that is over 100 years old?! This is our second trip for the Flying Pig Marathon and it really hit the spot! Inside you can picture it 100 years ago. Starting off with tasty minestrone soup and chopped salad. I chose this visit to be my first veal experience and I was not disappointed. I had the Scottis special which was veal, sweet peppers, mushrooms with tomato sauce. The portion was large and the taste was authentic and not too sweet. While it is not on the extensive menu, my wife requested chicken parm as is her ritual and she was delighted. Another huge portion and done to perfection. I chose and Italian red wine and it was delicious. Call for reservations as it is relatively small but the ambiance and staff are awesome!

Love the atmosphere. Food was delicious. Ask for recommendations because menu is broad. Our server was very welcoming and assisted in a fun tagalong with our guests.

Had tickets to the Aronoff and wanted something unique to follow up with dinner. Scotti's is absolutely the unique restaurant we were looking for! Maybe a little rough around the edges, but for a 3rd generation family, it makes perfect sense! We had the Caponatina with salad and bread. The pasta was perfect, the ambiance was spot on, and the house wine quickly hit the spot! If you're looking for the authentic Italian experience, this is exactly what you're looking for. We made reservations, and watched the place pack in around us. Maybe a bit on the pricey side, but worth every single cent. Highly encourage anyone who likes Italian food to give 'em a go. Oh, and were you thinking about the Tiramisu? Definitely DO IT!

Always excellent. Family run old world atmosphere. Best Italian food in Cincinnati. Tiramisu is a must have.

I've lived in Cincinnati for more than 20 years and have always wanted to try Scotti's. My wife and I were able to conveniently get a reservation on a Friday night and park right outside. Inside, you feel like you've stepped into a small, Italian restaurant in NYC. Our waiter was a cross between the soup nazi and your typical friendly, but not overly sociable, warm Italian grandpa. Our meals came with soup and salad. The minestrone was excellent, and we hoped it was a sign of good things to come. The small salad on the other hand was just ok and served with the house Italian dressing (which I'm not a big fan of). I ordered the Cannelloni Lombardi which comes with a white wine marsala sauce. It was a decent portion, but the filling was lukewarm to cold, and the wine sauce tasted like flour, water, and an entire bottle of wine. It was thick and pasty too. My wife had the chicken scallopini. The sauce was good, but the chicken was tough. I wanted to love this place but came away pretty disappointed.

5 for what it is. The food is just delicious! Definitely get garlic bread and say yes to the soup and salad that comes with your meal. Best minestrone soup ever. Pasta is fresh and absolutely delicious! Service is straight to the point. No sugar coating, extra-ness here. The place is small but quirky, bottles hanging from the ceiling and a mishmash of tiles decorate the walls. The place is over a 100 years old and pretty authentic perhaps to what it once was. So not a shiny new establishment but nice cozy place with dim lighting and wonderful food!

We had a wonderful dinner at Scotti's. I haven't been there in over 25 years - not sure why! The food was amazing and the service was great. The atmosphere is my favorite part - so authentic Italy. Actually, more authentic than some of the actual restaurants that I ate at in Italy! I'll go back for sure!

The food was so bad. I have no words for this experience. My friends and I headed in for lunch and it just wasn't it. The food was frozen not kidding, one bite and we both stopped chewing our food (ravioli and lambardi) the inside of the food was cold cold the cheese was not melted. The cappuccino was a 3/5, espresso shot was burnt and the utensils/ cups were not washed properly we saw pieces of food on the fork and had to ask for new ones. I wanna like the place but the food was not worth it not even the espresso shot.

Cozy, classic Italian and hard to beat the romantic setting. The food was good; the ambiance the best part.

Want a great marinara? Try Scotty's Italian Restaurant. The Marisela Veal is exceptional and a side of pasta with the great marinara was included along with a sala. The restaurant has been in same old building for 112 years. Great ambiance but make reservations a month in advance.

Walking into this place I was like this has got to be the coolest, most romantic Italian restaurant I've ever seen, from the crazy tile to the Chianti bottles strung from the ceiling to the dripping wax candles. The dining room was small with intimate tables. We didn't have a reservation on a Thursday evening so they sat us by the door. What I noticed immediately was a strong sewage smell. I thought maybe the restroom, downstairs, was backed up but when I went down to use it, the smell didn't get stronger. I have no idea why the sewer smell was so strong at our table but it definitely colored my experience. Unfortunately it wasn't the only problem. We were given minestrone soup which was pretty flavorful and a head lettuce salad which was not. Garlic bread was okay. I ordered spinach lasagna. I wish I had taken a picture of it. The presentation was not appealing and it just tasted . . . old - like not fresh. Halfway through I found a piece of paper (like the kind that goes between cheese slices) inside the lasagna. I was done. We ordered glasses of house wine and when I had finished mine halfway through the meal, the server just took my glass, didn't ask if I'd like another. It was weird. I really wanted to like this place. I'm guessing it has a following of locals. But I wouldn't even give it a second chance.

I'm so glad I finally got to try the restaurant that has been in Cincinnati for over 100 years! It did not disappoint. Each meal comes with a soup and salad as well as bread. We ordered the garlic bread as well because we had to try it, it was a little too charred for my liking but was still really good. For my entree I got the spaghetti carbonara and it was to die for! The chunks of ham were large and delicious.

(4) ~ very good overall lunch. Note: They do have more menu options for dinner. DRINKS: ** Water (tap) = (4) very good, must be filtered;) ** Espresso = (4) very good FOOD: ** Scotti's Speciale Meat Sauce = (4.25) Very tasty ** Ravioli (Beef) = (4) very authentic ** Garlic Bread = (4) very good * Bread w. Butter = (3.75) Good

Had high hopes... Cool spot and nice old school ambiance. Service was solid. I like that most meals come with soup, salad and bread. However the soup is just ok, the bread was not great, and the salad was one step above coleslaw...I liked the dressing but it was on the too wet side and everything was chopped to tiny pieces... Had pasta with spicy Italian sausage. Couple red flags for me. The pasta comes plain with the sauce on top...kinda amateur in my opinion. Also the pasta was way over cooked and made the whole meal kinda blah. Sausage had great flavor and texture and was definitely spicy. Also not impressed with the cheap on the table Parmesan cheese...could be better for sure. For the high price I don't think I'll be back. Gotta cook the pasta properly at a pasta joint!

Needs new management, place smelled like urine. I always appreciate family-owned, but there is a time to pass the torch 5 generations !!!! Quality went down significantly

I made reservations in December for February 10th for my son's birthday... I called on February 5th to confirm reservations. An older woman answered and said "how do you expect us to keep a reservation from December, we do not have you down." I was upset and was hung up on. We scrambled on short notice to find another Italian restaurant, and had no luck on such a short notice. Now, February 10th, I just got a call from them asking if we were coming ... are you kidding me? We were told they did not have a reservation for us! Completely ruined our dinner plans for our son's birthday. We will never patronize this poorly ran establishment again.

I love the vibe of this restaurant! The ambiance is great for a date night, very intimate. The service was also good, our waiter was very kind and friendly, and he served our food promptly. The other server/host was not as kind. She was an older lady and was rude to the table she sat before us and with us. She made a comment about being annoyed with a fellow employee in front of us. Not a huge deal but she was the first one we saw coming in to the restaurant and it set the wrong mood right off the bat, but thankfully our server made up for it. The food was not impressive by any means. The minestrone soup was the best thing we had. The spaghetti and meatballs were completely flavorless. I don't think I've ever had a more bland meatball. The shrimp fettuccine in white sauce was good, not great. The garlic bread was okay and the salad was not my favorite either. Overall, good experience with our server and the food was okay at best. Do not plan to return.

Neat atmosphere, salad was surprisingly good, minestrone good, and the best eggplant Parm I've ever had (and I'm picky!)

Ahh Scotti's, one of the finer Italian restaurants in Cincinnati. I have been here twice and I have enjoyed my experience. The hours are weird so if you try to go on a weekend, you will want a reservation. The building itself is really small, but the interior design is interesting. There are wine bottles hanging from the ceiling and different pictures on the wall. Everywhere you look, there is something new. I won't lie, the price range is pretty high. My dinner both times ranged almost 35 dollars, luckily I was a tourist and wanted to try a place that was not in my hometown. If Scotti's was in Louisville, I would not go because of the price range. Even though it is a little expensive, you get a lot of food. You get bread, soup, salad and the entree. Everything is spot on and I do not have a single complaint about it. Ok, here is where I am not giving Scotti's a 5 star review. The staff is very hit or miss. The first time I went, the waiter was so sweet and did everything he could in order to make sure his customers were happy. The second time I went, the waiter was not as friendly. I went with my friends while spending a weekend in town. My friend ordered a glass of wine and he darted off without asking anyone else wanted to order a glass...ok? Afterward, the check was not separated (the bill was over 100 dollars there was no way one person could pay that on a college level budget). My friends were nervous to ask, so I asked him if we could pay for our own dinner. He got mad at us and said "get in line". Kinda mean, but it's whatever. I am a sucker for Italian food and Scotti's did the job. If I ever come back to visit Cincinnati, I will gladly come back.

Every time someone asks for recommendations for authentic Italian or a romantic restaurant, I always say Scotti's. These pictures show why! Family owned and in business for 110 years. Stepping into the building feels like stepping into Italy itself, with the wax candles, checkered tablecloths, wine bottles hanging from the ceiling and the always perfect Italian almost mafioso music playing in the background. My dad started going to Scotti's for lunch back in his 20s when he worked downtown. He's now 89 and it's still his favorite place - spaghetti with GIANT meatballs with the diavolo sauce. Every other "italian restaurant he goest to - he asks for Scotti's diavolo sauce! I have to tell him, that's only at Scotti's! I get the Canneloni speciale, and I am not exaggerating when I say it's one of the best dishes I've ever had - definitely the best Italian dish, hands down!

The vibe in this place is great. I see a lot of complaints about the service, I've never had a bad experience there, it's actually refreshing to have someone not be fake nice and kiss my ass expecting it will get them a better tip. They do their job, explain what everything is and bring the food out in a timely manner, that's all you can really ask for. The servers are also all like 50+ year old men and women, not bubbly 20 something's. The decor is unlike any other restaurant I've been to in cinci and it really feels like you step back in time. It doesn't smell like flowers but it's a 100+ year old building that hasn't really been update much. It does smell like great food though. You get a three course meal, the sauce is on point, last time I got the veal parm and it was fire. If you want some bougie overpriced food from some try hard hipsters go to OTR, there's plenty of it there. If you want good food in an authentic environment go to Scotti's.

Omg! One of the best Italian restaurant I've ever gone too. Outside looks small but inside is a great size and super cozy restaurant. Service and food are more than 5 stars. We started with the homemade garlic bread. And minestrone soup. Super fresh. All our dishes were huge, tasteful and delicious. So much food and genuine Italian. You definitely need to come and enjoy a typical Italian dish. You will not be disappointed. Best decision coming here