Alara

Alara, a gluten-free restaurant, is fully aware and responsive to the diverse dietary needs of its guests. Chef Jackson was eager to understand our table’s preferences and create a memorable dining experience. Chef Jackson meticulously adjusted the dishes to cater to our dietary restrictions. No spices, seasoning, salt, or hot spices were used, allowing the natural flavors of the ingredients to shine through. They were also accommodating enough to separate the components of each dish, ensuring that we could enjoy them without any unwanted sauces or modifications. Throughout our meal, the staff’s approach was consistently attentive and friendly. They never made us feel like an inconvenience, which was a great relief. The menu offered a wide variety of dishes, and the other guests we were able to order from it without any further adjustments. All the meals were absolutely delicious. The table service was also fantastic. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive, making sure that we had everything we needed throughout the meal. It was an early evening on a Monday, which was a relatively quiet day. We chose to dine during this time to ensure that we would receive the best attention from the establishment. They did not disappoint us at all. Some of the dishes were presented in individual containers, which was another dietary request we had made. Here are some of the dishes we ordered: - Beet and goat cheese salad - Flock focaccia (not baked in-house, so the kitchen remains gluten free. Possibly the only gluten option served by the restaurant) - Chilean Sea Bass (prepared with light salt and no spices, my dietary choice) - Seared sea scallops - Pork shank tacos - Chocolate espresso torte - Apples & Cream (not pictured)

Alara, a gluten-free restaurant, is fully aware and responsive to the diverse dietary needs of its guests. Chef Jackson was eager to understand our table’s preferences and create a memorable dining experience. Chef Jackson meticulously adjusted the dishes to cater to our dietary restrictions. No spices, seasoning, salt, or hot spices were used, allowing the natural flavors of the ingredients to shine through. They were also accommodating enough to separate the components of each dish, ensuring that we could enjoy them without any unwanted sauces or modifications. Throughout our meal, the staff’s approach was consistently attentive and friendly. They never made us feel like an inconvenience, which was a great relief. The menu offered a wide variety of dishes, and the other guests we were able to order from it without any further adjustments. All the meals were absolutely delicious. The table service was also fantastic. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive, making sure that we had everything we needed throughout the meal. It was an early evening on a Monday, which was a relatively quiet day. We chose to dine during this time to ensure that we would receive the best attention from the establishment. They did not disappoint us at all. Some of the dishes were presented in individual containers, which was another dietary request we had made. Here are some of the dishes we ordered: - Beet and goat cheese salad - Flock focaccia (not baked in-house, so the kitchen remains gluten free. Possibly the only gluten option served by the restaurant) - Chilean Sea Bass (prepared with light salt and no spices, my dietary choice) - Seared sea scallops - Pork shank tacos - Chocolate espresso torte - Apples & Cream (not pictured)

We had very mixed feelings about Alara's atmosphere and food, but no mixed feelings about the fantastic service and hospitality. From the valet, to the door service and hostess, to our server, everyone was so friendly and helpful. Our server Christina was lovely and described the menu in utmost detail. She was very attentive and actually asked our opinion on what we thought about our drinks and food. It was very refreshing to have her ask what we really thought. (I have no idea if that will go anywhere at all) We had reservations on a Friday night at 6:30pm and were seated promptly in a very comfortable booth in the back room. However, this room felt like we were in a hotel restaurant. It had no atmosphere whatsoever. We were sad we didn't get to sit in the main, very well decorated and energetic area that we walked through to get to our seats. Boo. Now, about the drinks and food. We have dined at most high-end restaurant in Cincinnati, and I have to say that Alara is very overpriced. I know that restaurants are struggling with food costs etc., but $58.00 for 6-7 ounces of Sea Bass on a bed of Swiss chard and 8 tiny mushrooms is a lot. There was only about 4 tiny leaves of chard and the rest was all stems. The shrimp tagliatelle had an ample amount of shrimp, but the pasta was cooked just a bit too long. It was very lemon forward and could have benefitted for just a bit more fat from butter or cream. The Tuna Crudo was fresh and had a pleasant mix of flavors from the yuzu tamari and citrus, but there was so much extra "sauce" that drowned out the tuna. We love beef carpaccio, but just know that their beef is crusted in berbere, which has warm spices in it (think light 5 spice flavors). I loved it, but wife is very adverse to this flavor and didn't like it at all. We thought it was just going to be raw beef like we know of a carpaccio. We ordered a Cucumber Collins, which was refreshing but weak, and a Smoked Pear, which was way sweeter than I prefer. We will go back to sit at the bar and try the Korean corn dogs next time we are in the area.

We had very mixed feelings about Alara's atmosphere and food, but no mixed feelings about the fantastic service and hospitality. From the valet, to the door service and hostess, to our server, everyone was so friendly and helpful. Our server Christina was lovely and described the menu in utmost detail. She was very attentive and actually asked our opinion on what we thought about our drinks and food. It was very refreshing to have her ask what we really thought. (I have no idea if that will go anywhere at all) We had reservations on a Friday night at 6:30pm and were seated promptly in a very comfortable booth in the back room. However, this room felt like we were in a hotel restaurant. It had no atmosphere whatsoever. We were sad we didn't get to sit in the main, very well decorated and energetic area that we walked through to get to our seats. Boo. Now, about the drinks and food. We have dined at most high-end restaurant in Cincinnati, and I have to say that Alara is very overpriced. I know that restaurants are struggling with food costs etc., but $58.00 for 6-7 ounces of Sea Bass on a bed of Swiss chard and 8 tiny mushrooms is a lot. There was only about 4 tiny leaves of chard and the rest was all stems. The shrimp tagliatelle had an ample amount of shrimp, but the pasta was cooked just a bit too long. It was very lemon forward and could have benefitted for just a bit more fat from butter or cream. The Tuna Crudo was fresh and had a pleasant mix of flavors from the yuzu tamari and citrus, but there was so much extra "sauce" that drowned out the tuna. We love beef carpaccio, but just know that their beef is crusted in berbere, which has warm spices in it (think light 5 spice flavors). I loved it, but wife is very adverse to this flavor and didn't like it at all. We thought it was just going to be raw beef like we know of a carpaccio. We ordered a Cucumber Collins, which was refreshing but weak, and a Smoked Pear, which was way sweeter than I prefer. We will go back to sit at the bar and try the Korean corn dogs next time we are in the area.

We had such a wonderful experience at Alara. My husband and I booked a reservation for our 1 year anniversary and wanted to try something new! They saw it was our anniversary and sat us at the chef's table so we had a fun engaging dinner. (Super thoughtful of them) The food was incredible - we had the lamb and scallops and would 10/10 recommend them, they were delicious! We ended the evening with the cloud dessert and it did not disappoint! They also have fantastic cocktails. I also want to mention how wonderful the service was, our server did the best job explaining dishes, cocktails... he also provided the best recommendations. We will be back!

We had such a wonderful experience at Alara. My husband and I booked a reservation for our 1 year anniversary and wanted to try something new! They saw it was our anniversary and sat us at the chef's table so we had a fun engaging dinner. (Super thoughtful of them) The food was incredible - we had the lamb and scallops and would 10/10 recommend them, they were delicious! We ended the evening with the cloud dessert and it did not disappoint! They also have fantastic cocktails. I also want to mention how wonderful the service was, our server did the best job explaining dishes, cocktails... he also provided the best recommendations. We will be back!

Atmosphere and service were excellent! Drinks were good, and our server, Taylor, was great. They brought out a special dessert for our toddler and made sure we were well taken care of. The tuna crudo, chicken Milanese, and NY strip steak were awesome, but some of the other dishes were just alright. Complementary valet parking, though!

Atmosphere and service were excellent! Drinks were good, and our server, Taylor, was great. They brought out a special dessert for our toddler and made sure we were well taken care of. The tuna crudo, chicken Milanese, and NY strip steak were awesome, but some of the other dishes were just alright. Complementary valet parking, though!

We had an incredible dining experience at Alara Cincinnati! 🎉 From start to finish, everything was top-notch, from the food to the service. Here’s the breakdown: • Tuna Crudo: Absolutely delicious! It had just the right amount of spice and a flavorful sauce that really elevated the dish. 🐟 • Lobster & Butternut Squash Carbonara: A standout! The portion was generous, and the combination of flavors was perfect. Rich, creamy, and absolutely satisfying. 🦞 • Lamb Chops: Cooked to perfection (we ordered them rare), and they were tender and bursting with flavor. Ironically, it was the smallest portion of the dishes we tried, even though it was on the prime meats list. But what it lacked in size, it more than made up for in taste. 👌 We also loved the open kitchen concept—it was so fun to watch the chefs in action while waiting for our meals. It added to the overall experience and showcased their attention to detail. 👨‍🍳 While it’s definitely on the pricier side, it’s a great spot for a special night out. The portions are generous, and the staff went above and beyond to provide outstanding service (even altering recipes to accommodate my dietary needs!). Highly recommend!

We had an incredible dining experience at Alara Cincinnati! 🎉 From start to finish, everything was top-notch, from the food to the service. Here’s the breakdown: • Tuna Crudo: Absolutely delicious! It had just the right amount of spice and a flavorful sauce that really elevated the dish. 🐟 • Lobster & Butternut Squash Carbonara: A standout! The portion was generous, and the combination of flavors was perfect. Rich, creamy, and absolutely satisfying. 🦞 • Lamb Chops: Cooked to perfection (we ordered them rare), and they were tender and bursting with flavor. Ironically, it was the smallest portion of the dishes we tried, even though it was on the prime meats list. But what it lacked in size, it more than made up for in taste. 👌 We also loved the open kitchen concept—it was so fun to watch the chefs in action while waiting for our meals. It added to the overall experience and showcased their attention to detail. 👨‍🍳 While it’s definitely on the pricier side, it’s a great spot for a special night out. The portions are generous, and the staff went above and beyond to provide outstanding service (even altering recipes to accommodate my dietary needs!). Highly recommend!

Very nice experience. Excellent food, service and atmosphere. Booked on Open table and no issues adjusting the reservation. Good value for the price. Was slightly under dressed but felt comfortable and welcome. Valet parking was ready on departure, unexpected perk. Will be visiting other restaurants int he group for sure. Try the deserts.

Very nice experience. Excellent food, service and atmosphere. Booked on Open table and no issues adjusting the reservation. Good value for the price. Was slightly under dressed but felt comfortable and welcome. Valet parking was ready on departure, unexpected perk. Will be visiting other restaurants int he group for sure. Try the deserts.

Just had an AMAZING dinner at Alara. We love all Looking Glass restaurants and Alara was fantastic- they were really great with all of my food allergies, ensured everything was gluten free, and our server (Dylan) and all of the other staff were AWESOME. We’ll definitely be back and highly recommend! Ask for Dylan if you have food allergies- he makes eating out safe and enjoyable!

Just had an AMAZING dinner at Alara. We love all Looking Glass restaurants and Alara was fantastic- they were really great with all of my food allergies, ensured everything was gluten free, and our server (Dylan) and all of the other staff were AWESOME. We’ll definitely be back and highly recommend! Ask for Dylan if you have food allergies- he makes eating out safe and enjoyable!

We celebrated my husband's 50th birthday this evening. The food and the experience were top notch! I couldn't find one thing to complain about. Every person that come to our table was polite. Our server was outstanding! We made sure to let management know that this is an experience that we'll remember and cherish 😍

We celebrated my husband's 50th birthday this evening. The food and the experience were top notch! I couldn't find one thing to complain about. Every person that come to our table was polite. Our server was outstanding! We made sure to let management know that this is an experience that we'll remember and cherish 😍