HART & CRU

WINE LOVERS REJOICE! I've been coming here since the spring, and it's honestly criminal that I haven't left a review yet. I don't go out to eat a lot anymore because I just think it's a horrible value at most places. Why pay more for something I can do better at home? However, Hart & Cru is definitely the exception! It's an experience worth the price of entry. Most places, even dedicated wine bars in the area, you pay a huge markup on an average-at-best bottle, but not here. The cost of the booting is the same as if you’d buy it to drink at home. Oh, and can anybody say stemware?!? It is so refreshing to have a wine bar that actually uses high-quality crystal. I don't want to buy a premium bottle of Classé Growth or grand cru wine just to drink it out of a 3-pound goblet. God bless H&C + glasvin. I haven't mentioned the food yet, which honestly has no business being this good for a wine bar. It's near restaurant quality; at times, the only thing they're honestly missing for my taste is a delicious shot of espresso and some killer desserts, which I hope is on the way. The menu changes seasonally; the small bites are wonderful, the olives are perfect, and just like wine, they take the olive oil seriously. And maybe it's just me being a passionate Italian, but that means something. This is one of the few places I'll come to dine alone. The staff are enjoyable to hang out with, the communal table is great to strike up a conversation with randoms, and the grape juice is flowing. You never feel like you're drinking alone. I have to give a special shout-out to Brittany, who I met as a server but has since grown into one of my wine mentors and a friend that I greatly respect. It's thanks to her and the rest of the crew, like Trevor, that we keep coming back.

My brother and I visited Hart & Cru this evening for some wine and good conversation. The service was outstanding, good selection, great tunes on vinyl. For a minute I forgot I was in Cincinnati and that’s a huge compliment.

It's actually criminal that this please wasn't on some mass reviewed site of places to visit. They're not doing their job to recommend quality locations. My lady and I rolled up to HART & CRU quite serendipitously. Have you ever wanted to be on that out of town trip and stumble upon a local GEM of a place that makes you wish that you lived in the city you're visiting? Please let Houston, TX know it's been good to me for 35 years but the Queen City has stolen my taste buds tonight. I'll say less. Food 5/5 Wine 5/5 Service 100/5 (this one is for you Miles) Atmosphere 5/5 I'll say more.. We sat outside on Sunday evening during golden hour, enjoying to cool breeze wash over us, while sipping. We were in town for a wedding so love was in the air. Black shirt guy certainly felt it. I didn't get enough pictures worthy of this place. 3 varietals and 4 appetizers later only wish to share the good news. Please go. I'm unable to be a regular patron from states away. This is the type of establishment that all elements add to the experience. Thanks black shirt guy! P.S. Trevor is not the guy in the black shirt making out with his date on the patio but the extremely knowledgeable server. He's the shizz with just enough rizz (this sentence is for the youths). Listening to his recommendations was the best decision. P.S.S - solo diners were exceptionally well taken care of.

We absolutely loved our visit to Hart & Cru. The ambience was beautiful with impeccable service provided by Jonathan. The food was delicious and next level with fresh truffle shavings added. The extensive wine list was wonderful to explore, and we particularly appreciated the additional staff recommendations, including some exceptional dessert wines. Start to finish the evening was magical. Can't wait to go back!

First time at Hart & Cru and I think it won't be my last. Very cool atmosphere. The sommelier is very knowledgeable and great selection of wines. They also have small plates that accompany your wine. 10/10

What a gem! Unique selection of wines with a team that makes you feel comfortable making a selection no matter your preferences or level of knowledge. Great little bites and a cozy space that’s so welcoming. We love grabbing a glass and chatting with the staff about what they’re drinking/loving and exploring new wines. Love love love!

What a great experience!! Excellent knowledgeable staff, great appetizers, music on vinyl, and great selection of wine in a cozy setting. Feels like Chicago! Thank you!!

Small intimate wine bar with knowledgeable staff. It’s a great place for a journey through wines. Small appetizers available and no entrees.

Stopped in on a whim before a dinner reservation elsewhere and so glad we did! The place was super busy and we did not have a reservation. The staff was very accommodating and made room so we could have a pre dinner drink. The staff was very knowledgeable about the wine selection and made a great recommendations on a wine I would have never tried. The inside is ADORABLE, cozy, and very clean. Definitely a new favorite spot.

A nice little wine bar right in the heart of OTR / Pendleton area. Came in on a Friday afternoon and were able to snag a table right out front. They have the street blocked off and have about 6-8 tables outside. The inside is extremely small, so I'd recommend coming on a nice sunny day! There was so much wine to choose from. Our server gave us quite a few recommendations. Prices are typical for OTR. Not too crazy expensive. We wanted to try some Rose, but they only had a few by the glass options. The evening before they had a Rose event, so they had a few bottles still left open we were able to try. The Rose was great! A perfect blend of dry but yet extremely smooth. She mentioned that just because it says they don't have it by the glass, to still make sure and ask. They have a small menu for light bites as well. Looking forward to trying those during my next visit.

Went to Hart & Cru with friends who felt sure we would really enjoy it and enjoy it we did. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about wines and pairings. It was so impressive! Even tried a new food there for the tasting called caper berries - so delicious which surprised me because I don't like capers. If you let capers grow full-sized, they would be a caper berry. It felt like we were invited to someone's home to try some of their favorite wines because it felt so comfortable and intimate with the size of the place and the warm reception. We could hear ourselves talk and just relax. What's even nicer is that nobody there seemed pretentious at all. We would definitely go back.

Best wine shop in Cincinnati! Service is impeccable & they always make great recommendations.

Great Customer Service! It's a cute intimate spots with a date or good girlfriends. Cheers to finding a really cute wine spot in OTR. We've been tasting some really good wines that are not sold at your local grocery stores or even your local restaurants. if you get an opportunity, this is a must see and taste, especially if you are a wine connoisseur

Kevin Hart, seasoned Sommelier has taken his passion for great wine and opened up a shop in the heart of the Pendleton neighborhood in Cincinnati where you feel like you're enjoying your friend's favorite wines right in their kitchen as you sit at the long table which makes up the heart of Hart & Cru's new storefront. This past Sunday I attended Sunday School curated class on Spanish wines, where there were only 14 of us learning from the best, Kevin and his team, Brittany and Peter what a wonderful time it was learning about 8 unique wine producers in Spain. They provided a detailed map with the cities and regions as well as a tasting booklet with the wines listed in order, key tasting notes, Spanish regional details and I'm ready to jet off to Spain to visit the wineries in person, so until then stop by Hart & Cru for an incredible worldly wine experience right in Cincinnati.

Fun and interesting vibe. Small and a little cramped. They have seating outside. Service was good . Very good selection of wines . Located near Braxton Brewery in the Pendleton area of downtown Cincinnati. So have heart, go check out the crew and enjoy yourself.

Wow! What a gem we stumbled upon while out and about in Pendleton (adjacent to OTR). Details details,details. That's what makes this small wine and food shop a refreshing and enjoyable experience. Details such as large beautiful clay pots with plants surrounding an outside eating area, elegant stemware and fresh rosemary and olive branches on the tables. Then of course there's the main affair-wine: a large selection with emphasis on European varieties. The staff was extremely knowledgeable and friendly.

Amazing! This is a new favorite for wine and dining. The wine list is amazing, of course: that's the specialty, and Kevin Hart has the qualifications. Glassware is glassware, but even this little detail was great: I loved the glasses, and they added to the experience of trying the wine. They were large and stable without feeling heavy. Now, the food was unexpectedly great. We mainly came because we wanted a snack plus drinks after being a little disappointed with our previous stop that evening. The food was awesome! I love the selection of canned seafood - I know that sounds absurd, but it was unbelievable. We had the dorade and lamb shank. Both were excellent. To be honest, I've never had lamb shank with such an interesting combination of seasonings. With all that, our server modestly explained they mostly get things from Avril Bleh and heat them up. Fine and well, but you guys should take credit for how wonderful what you're serving really is. The layout is beautiful. This spot used to be Urbana Cafe, which moved across the street to offer more space (and is also a favorite of mine). We sat on the balcony upstairs. What a great experience. I like the way they just leave a large long table in the middle. It felt social without necessarily feeling like it was "a party." The massive wall of wine is of course quite impressive. I appreciate so much that they are explicit about their priorities.

Enter and you will be transported to another place. Hart & Cru offers something extremely unique as you walk through their doors and you leave Cincinnati and enter (insert anywhere in the world). The space and the people are very warm and inviting. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and treats you like you are family. If you are new to wine or have an experienced palate you will find something here and they will help you navigate the menu/offerings. Even though food is not the focus you can easily come here for a meal! The food is wonderful and compliments the wines perfectly. It is hard to describe in a review, go check it out for yourself. You will not be disappointed. Cheers!

I absolutely adored this place and can't wait to visit on my next trip to Cincinnati. A great location, with charming seating outside, and warmly lit, it was a great place to have a glass (okay, I had two glasses...) of wine on a chilly fall night. Outside heaters really helped! I had a great Bandol rosé (my absolute favorite kind of rosé, more gastronomic than poolside) followed by a glass of Crozes Hermitage by the famous, and recently departed, Alain Graillot. Any place that has Graillot by the glass gets an A+ from me. I had a small dish of olives and they were perfect with the rosé. The glassware was elegant and large, and the server was very knowledgeable and obviously loved talking wine. A curated selection of bottles for sale, I really enjoyed looking around. Highly recommended!

Great wine, service. Approachable. Honestly one of my more enjoyable evenings tasting wine!!

This is hands down one of the most defining places in Cincinnati, and that's coming from someone who has lived here for their entire life. Every single employee is humble despite being incredibly, deeply knowledgeable, the food is spectacular, the wine is impeccably chosen, the space is lively yet also cozy, the music is good enough that I find myself googling what song is playing so I can add it to my own playlists - Hart & Cru does not miss. I've experienced nothing less than perfection each time I've gone, and am already planning to take several more people there to show what they have to offer. I've never written a Yelp review before, but this place is genuinely THAT GOOD (and then some). A million stars and more.

The customer service was fantastic. Brittany walked us through the menu and was extremely knowledgeable about the wines. We appreciated her friendly banter and found the interior of this bottle shop to be both relaxing and charming. While the food was delicious (meatballs and olive appetizers) the portion size was a little small for the cost. We will certainly be back for a special evening in the future.

First thing I should just get out of the way is that Hart & Cru is perfect. I'm a pretty imaginative guy, and I love food & wine, so I can typically come up with a few ideas of how a place could be better...at least to me. But not so with Hart & Cru. The wine selection is perfect. The waitstaff was perfect. The vinyl-powered music system is perfect. The communal table is perfect. The wine glasses are perfect. Heck, even the lamps on the table are perfect. Their vision and attention to detail is incredible, and made for a truly wonderful wine experience. And if you didn't catch it from the beginning of the review: It was perfect.

I think the atmosphere and concept are terrific but I value great service. I walked in to purchase a few bottles,someone came over to help me. We talked about a few options and I made a selection she said okay great and walked off I assumed she was going to ring me up but instead she started cleaning glasses. I sat there for a few minutes but finally I decided to leave I didn't feel like my time was valued I understand they have other customers but I think I could have swiped my card and grabbed the bottles off the shelf before she started dishes. I left unsatisfied

Loved the atmosphere of the spot, it was super cute and intimate. Nice for a date or girls night. The staff was amazing and answered all my questions about the menu!! I will be back for sure :)