Explore Mt. Lookout

When one thinks of the eastside of Cincinnati, the trendy comforts of Hyde Park often spring to mind. An intimate restaurant and bar scene gives the neighborhood signature flair. However, as you head down Edwards Road and venture across Observatory Avenue, you will stumble upon a rather similar neighborhood.

Welcome to Mount Lookout.

A trip through Mount Lookout Square will immediately establish a similar vibe to Hyde Park Square, particularly because the two designs are nearly identical; however, make no mistake – this is not Hyde Park.

Mount Lookout has a classic atmosphere that even surpasses what some refer to as its big sister in Hyde Park. The streets are drenched with history and tradition and the shops put out much more of a small-town feel than most neighborhoods
in Cincinnati.

Some Cincinnatians will not be attracted to a small, historic neighborhood, instead preferring the hectic bustle of downtown or the comforts of suburban Kenwood.  Those that want a mix of intimacy and history, however, will find a sense of security in Mount Lookout.

While Mount Lookout is known for its bar scene, like so many other Cincinnati neighborhoods, there is more to the area than drinking spots. Mount Lookout Tavern and The Stand will bring the nightlife, but there are numerous spots in Mount Lookout that contain appeal before the sun goes down.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love sushi.  Call me pretentious, but I love the flavors and uniqueness of the dish. Many sushi restaurants in Cincinnati attempt to one-up the others with ultra-modern decor, but the Dancing Wasabi, located in the Square, instead decides to let the food speak for itself. While it would be terrific if the wasabi actually danced, you get the next best thing: great sushi for an affordable price. The restaurant even offers half price sushi all day Wednesday and Thursday and late night Friday and Saturday.

Sushi is an acquired taste and is not for everyone. A generally universal dish is pizza, and Lucy Blue’s delivers (figuratively, not literally). I warn you, if you’re looking to sit down and have a common dining experience, you will not find it here: you place your order at a walk-up window. Lucy Blue’s defines “hole in the wall” in the best way possible; you would literally miss the restaurant if you weren’t looking for it. Sitting right in the middle of the Square’s bar scene, Lucy Blue’s offers late night pizza at an affordable price: hard to top after a night of bar-hopping.

Affordability is a key of the neighborhood. Hyde Park is entertaining but packs a huge punch on your wallet. Mount Lookout, in comparison, is much more affordable – a huge plus for the broke college student. I find a sushi roll at Beluga in Hyde Park is, on average, about $2 more than a comparable roll at Dancing Wasabi. In unkind economic times, saving a few bucks on a night out can go a long way.

Do not let the affordability fool you, though, you are still getting a quality experience in Mount Lookout. The restaurants and bars are terrific while the small shops provide a large dose of charm; however, my favorite locale in the Square is a coffee shop – no surprise given the only thing I love more than a good sushi place is a coffee house.

Lookout Joe, located in the heart of the Square, is better than nearly any coffee shop in the area.  The shop offers a great choice of gourmet coffees and an interesting seating arrangement: the outside patio is similar to many restaurants while the inside offers a ridiculously comfortable sectional couch, which is perfect to sit on as you use the free wireless Internet Lookout Joe’s offers (not pseudo-free service like Starbucks offers, this is actually free). Be prepared, however, to pay prices similar to Starbucks for the coffee, though it is worth it for the quality of the drink and to support an independent business.

Which brings us to the best part of the neighborhood: the plethora of independent businesses. Mount Lookout is not quite as “indie” as Mount Adams, which is virtually chain-free, but the heartbeat of the neighborhood is the close relationship of the small businesses and their customers. When I walk into Lookout Joe’s, I genuinely want to support what they’re doing because they have a great vision: a place to relax with friends or get work done online while offering a stellar cup of coffee. I get a similar feeling from the Dancing Wasabi, which offers half-price sushi four days of the week and friendly service all the time.

Could you just go to Hyde Park? Sure, it’s right down the road, only one neighborhood over. The glitz and glam of Hyde Park is appealing, but in looking past Mount Lookout you look past a terrific combination of fun and affordability, which is hard to come by in most Cincinnati neighborhoods. Mount Lookout is classic and a cornerstone of Cincinnati – think twice before blowing past it on your way to another neighborhood.