The Baker's Table - Newport

The food was outstanding—so remarkable that my wife and I found ourselves almost speechless. I've been to Italy, speak Italian, and have many Italian friends and family, so I can confidently say that the rigatoni I ordered last Saturday (10/7) was the best I've ever had. And I mean the best, even compared to authentic, home-cooked rigatoni from northern, central, and southern Italy. This isn't meant to undermine Nicola's or Pep and Dolores, who are also fantastic, but this dish was, without a doubt, the finest Italian dish I’ve had in Cincinnati and one of the best I've ever experienced. While I wanted to highlight that particular dish, I must emphasize that the entire menu is top-notch. I highly recommend opting for the prix fixe with your companions to sample the entire offerings. As someone who doesn’t drink alcohol, I greatly appreciated the bartender crafting a refreshing raspberry spritz drink with lime—perfectly accommodating given their impressive wine list. We will definitely be returning and are eagerly looking forward to it. Thank you for a wonderful evening! I also want to extend my gratitude to the two servers who took care of us (I’m so sorry I forgot your names!)—they were truly wonderful and pleasant. A presto!

**Vegetarian options:** They always have excellent vegetarian choices, in addition to locally sourced beef, pork, and poultry. **Parking:** There's street parking right out front, and we've never had any issues finding a spot.

On a whim, we decided to go out for dinner on Sunday night. We had visited this restaurant for lunch a couple of years ago and were eager to experience it for dinner. What a fantastic choice it turned out to be! Upon arrival, we were able to request a table that was comfortably situated—not too close to the music, yet not too far away. The cocktails were expertly crafted, and our server, Sally, offered valuable recommendations from the menu, which helped us make our selections. The dinner was truly delightful. We started with lovely gougères as an appetizer, and the braised pork entrée was outstanding. It featured a creative combination of protein with seasonal greens, tomatoes, almonds, and a delectable jus, all perfectly balanced. In the background, at a pleasant volume, a pair of talented musicians played jazz standards. It made for a wonderful date night.

These guys are geniuses with seasonal foods, not to mention their delicious staples. Fantastic people and food! Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

The service was quite friendly. However, I found the pizza, despite its pretentious reputation, to be disappointing. The crust was nearly impossible to chew, and both the sauce and cheese lacked flavor. I appreciate that gourmet pizzas often stray from the robust qualities of a classic pizza, but I still expect a meal to be enjoyable and flavorful. Additionally, there were some unexpected charges on the bill. While the staff handled this issue graciously, I believe these extra costs should have been communicated before the bill arrived, not after.