Best Contemporary American Restaurants in Springdale

Everything about Alara wowed us! One of my dearest friends was in town to visit and we are both foodies! I had heard great things about Alara from other friends, so we decided to try it. I'm so glad we did. The valet parking is so nice, especially since the weather was snowy the night we dined. The atmosphere is elegant and beautifully done. No detail was overlooked. The service was impeccable. Askia, our server, was delightful...so knowledgeable. Everything he suggested was outstanding. We ordered a bottle of wine to complement our dinner choices and that enhanced the meal even more. Portions are large and perfect for sharing. I took home quite a bit for leftovers which was a huge bonus. If you love beets, the beet and goat cheese salad is a must! For our entrees, we chose the Lobster & Butternut Squash Carbonara and Seared Sea Scallops with Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash as our vegetable side dish. All were exceptionally prepared. The Carbonara had a very generous amount of lobster so you got some in every bite! Askia recommended we save room for dessert, and I'm glad we did. We had the Creamsicle Cloud and Chocolate Espresso Torte. The Cloud was the most beautiful dessert I've ever seen and it was equally light and elegant. The Torte was beyond rich and decadent. The Prisoner bottle of wine was delicious with the entire meal, but especially that rich chocolate dessert. Cincinnati is fortunate to have some fabulous restaurants, and Alara is one of them. It is a must for a special occasion or an evening of pampered perfection.

Emma took great care of us and the food was exquisite!

A great neighborhood gem. The staff is always great, the food is excellent and the location is perfect.

The food quality was excellent, per usual. We were a large family group (myself, my husband, my teenage & young adult children, and my mom who is visiting from out of state) and everyone loved their food. The seafood night on Tuesday is a great value! Our server, Taylor, was attentive & friendly. Some of us shared a giant slice of carrot cake for dessert and it was one of the best desserts I have ever had. I thought my teenage son was going to lick the plate!

Went before a show at the Anonoff which was just a quick walk away. Have a great wine list and cocktails. We had the oysters to start which were great and then split the Bronzino which was amazing. Will be back for sure