For the past eight years, the Best of the North has celebrated all that Cincinnati’s northern suburbs have to offer. From doughnuts to bike shops, we love celebrating the businesses of this community. Thousands of people voted in the 2020 Best of the North competition. Cincy Magazine readers voted for their favorites in 133 categories, and we are excited to bring you this year’s winners. We asked all of our winners why they thought they won their category, and we included a selection of their responses in the following pages.
FOOD
Best Bakery
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Multiple locations Mason (9540 Mason Montgomery Rd)
Best BBQ
City Barbeque and Catering
Multiple locations including Blue Ash (10375 Kenwood Rd)
Best Breakfast/Brunch
First Watch
Multiple locations including Harper’s Station (11301 Montgomery Rd)
Best Burger
Quatman Café
Multiple locations including Mason (224 W Main St)
Best Butcher
Dave’s Quality Meats Of West Chester
4883 Smith Rd, West Chester
Best Catering
Vonderhaar’s Catering
19 W Pleasant St, Reading
Best Chef
Michael Shields, BrewRiver at Sonder Brewing
8584 Duke Blvd, Mason
“Chef Michael Shields is, and always has been, committed to quality, authenticity and doing things the right way. He believes in making all the dishes in both our restaurants from scratch, never taking shortcuts and always using the best ingredients.” – Joby Bowman, partner, BrewRiver at Sonder Brewing & Brewriver Creole Kitchen
Best Chinese Cuisine
Twin Dragon Buffet & Grill
7763 Tylersville Rd, West Chester
Best Cupcakes
Gigi’s Cupcakes Cincinnati
7940 Hosbrook Rd, Cincinnati
“From the beginning, you could spot a Gigi’s cupcake across the room because of its signature swirl or seasonal decoration. Our classic flavors are topped with a tall, sweet spiral of icing, piped by hand to Instagram-ready heights. These days, there is nothing better than bringing a little joy to our customers and our community!” – Amy Jones, owner
Best Dessert
The Almond Sisters Bakery
224 High St, Hamilton
Best Donuts
Stan the Donut Man
7967 Cincinnati Dayton Rd, West Chester
Best Family Dining
Silver Spring House Restaurant
8322 W Kemper Rd, Cincinnati
Best Fast Casual
Blue Ash Chili
Multiple locations including Blue Ash (9565 Kenwood Rd)
Best Fine Dining
Jeff Ruby’s Carlo & Johnny
9769 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati
“The company and the Ruby family are my family. I come to work to help guests celebrate life in any way. Seeing my staff perform in a family culture makes me so proud.” – Charlie Bledsoe, general manager
Best Food Truck
Empanadas Aquí Café and Food Truck
322 Reading Rd, Mason
Best Fresh Catch
S.W. Clyborne Co. Provision & Spirits
5948 Snider Rd, Mason
“We like to be creative with our preparation and we’ve never offered the same Fresh Catch Feature twice. We are committed to sustainable sourcing and have strong relationships with our vendors. This ensures that we know where all of our seafood comes from and that we don’t serve anything that’s overfished or out of season.” – Will Wadsworth, VP of Culinary.
Best Fried Chicken
Schoolhouse Restaurant
8031 Glendale Milford, Camp Dennison
“What makes this business best in a category? It takes a longtime, loyal customer base with their word of mouth recommendations for our delicious fried chicken. We’ve been in business for 58 years as a family-owned business. We are fortunate that many families visit our Schoolhouse to share the experience of good food and hospitality with a dose of history! Consistency is the key.” – Beth Miller, co-owner
Best Frozen Yogurt
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
11397 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati
“We are a franchise with a neighborhood business approach and in the specific case of Menchie’s Harper’s Station, I, as an owner, am hands-on in all aspects of the business operations and marketing strategy. Menchie’s proprietary frozen yogurt flavors are made exclusively with our own custom recipes. We capture the taste of your favorite treats and magnify them into exceptional flavors.” – Roxana V. Turner, owner
Best Ice Cream
The Cone
6855 Tylersville Rd, West Chester
Best Italian Cuisine
Vincenzo’s
11525 Chester Rd, Cincinnati
Best Mexican Cuisine
TAHONA Kitchen + Bar
1100 Summit Place, Blue Ash
“Our menu is inspired by Mexican street fare and includes a variety of items such as tacos, salads, house-made guacamole and tortas. All of our meats are slow-roasted and the chef team prepares everything in house using fresh ingredients.” – Scott Schmidt, owner
Best Patio Dining
Cozy’s Café & Pub
6440 Cincinnati Dayton Rd, Liberty Township
Best Pizza
Two Cities Pizza Company
2020 W Main St, Mason
“At Two Cities we strive to excel in all three areas of our industry: product, concept and hospitality. When it comes to our product, we proudly serve genuine New York and Chicago style pizza. As for concept, the city experience permeates everything from our branding to the interior design. Transformative hospitality rounds out our pillars of success. What sets [us] apart is that every team member genuinely believes in our core pillars.” – Zach Greves, co-founder
Best Restaurant
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
7490 Bales St, Liberty Township
Best Sandwich Shop
Luigi’s Olde World Market
9480 Cincinnati-Columbus Rd, Cincinnati
Best Soup/Salad
Northstar Cafe at Liberty Center
7610 Sloan Way, Liberty Township
Best Steak
Jag’s Steak & Seafood
5980 West Chester Rd, West Chester
Best Subs
DiBella’s Subs
Multiple locations including Mason (9333 Mason-Montgomery Rd)
Best Sushi
Tenji Asian
5490 Beach Blvd, Mason
Best View from a Restaurant
Tano Bistro Hamilton
150 Riverfront Plaza, Hamilton
Best Wings
Lucky Dog Grille
729 Reading Rd, Mason
DRINK
Best Bar
Back Porch Saloon
9626 Princeton Glendale Rd, West Chester
“Nothing beats happy hour out by the Tiki Bar!” – Jessica, manager
Best Bourbon Selection
S.W. Clyborne Co. Provision & Spirits
5948 Snider Rd, Mason
“We offer a wide selection based on what is available in Ohio. We are always keeping our eye out for new bourbons to enter the Ohio market so we can add them to our bar menu.” – Scott Schmidt, owner
Best Brewery
Fretboard Brewing & Public House
103 Main St, Hamilton
Best Happy Hour
Napa Kitchen + Bar
9386 Montgomery Rd, Montgomery
Best Independent Coffeehouse
Adesso Coffee
125 E Main St, Mason
“Adesso means ‘Now’ in Italian. Our goal has always been to create a space that is welcoming and inviting for everyone that comes in and to be a place that celebrates simple moments.” – Chuck Pfahler, owner
Best Sports Bar
Fricker’s
Multiple locations including West Chester (7844-B Kingland Dr)
Best Wine Store/Tasting
Arrow Wine & Spirits
6061 Radio Way, Mason
ENTERTAINMENT / PLACES
Best Bowling Alley
Main Event West Chester
9477 Oxford Way, West Chester
Best Festival
Red, White & Blue Ash
Best Golf Course
Shaker Run Golf Club
1320 Golf Club Dr, Lebanon
Best Live Music
Blue Ash Summer Concert Series
Best Museum
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum
1763 Hamilton Cleves Rd, Hamilton
Best Event Space
Manor House
7440 Mason Montgomery Rd, Mason
Best Fitness Trail
Loveland Bike Trail
Loveland
Best Hotel/Motel
Great Wolf Lodge
2501 Great Wolf Dr, Mason
Best Park & Place for a Picnic
Sharon Woods
11450 Lebanon Rd, Sharonville
Best Place to have a Wedding
Cooper Creek Event Center
4040 Cooper Rd, Blue Ash
FAMILY
Best Birthday Party Location
EnterTRAINment Junction
7379 Squire Ct, West Chester
“EnterTRAINment Junction is home to the world’s largest indoor train display and an amazing fun house, so it offers endless excitement for party-goers of all ages and interests. Our stress-free parties provide a memorable party experience where children and adults can have fun together.” – Chrissy Potter, groups and event manager
Best Dance/Theatre Instruction
Mason Dance Center
600 Reading, Ste B, Mason
Best Daycare Center & Preschool
The Goddard School of Mason
754 Reading Rd, Mason
“The Goddard School in Mason is a step above other area daycares/preschools, because the school has an onsite owner who is very hands on and knows all of the students, teachers and parents at the school. The school also has an education director, who is in charge of making sure the teachers create lesson plans that meet the needs of every child in the classroom and also prepares the children for school, career and life.” – Kerra Spaeth, owner
Best Education
Lakota Local School District
“Everything we do at Lakota Local Schools is designed to provide a future-ready, student-centered learning experience for every single child. We take great pride in empowering our staff to be innovators and create a learning environment that is personalized, values student voice and embraces the diversity in our schools. Our future hinges on the success of public education and Lakota is leading the way.” – Matthew Miller, superintendent
Best Family Fun Entertainment
Topgolf
9568 Water Front Dr, West Chester
Best Gymnastics Center
Gym-Nation
836 Reading Rd, Mason
Best Music Instruction
School of Rock Mason
755 Reading Rd, Mason
Best Photographer
Photography By Jenna
8976 Columbia Rd, Ste 5, Loveland
“I always say my superpower is to freeze time! My clients are provided with a fun experience, one-on-one customer service, personalized sessions, beautiful products and you get to be YOU!” – Jenna Beers, owner
Best Place for a Family Day
Kings Island
6300 Kings Island Dr, Kings Island
Best School Spirit (K-12)
Mason City Schools
Best Summer Camp
Cincinnati Nature Center
4949 Tealtown Rd, Milford
Best Swim Lessons
Bear Paddle Swim School – Mason
9376 Mason Montgomery Rd, Mason
AUTO / BEAUTY / PETS
Best Auto New & Auto Used
Kings Toyota
4700 Fields Ertel Rd, Cincinnati
Best Auto Parts
Advance Auto Parts
Multiple locations including Sharonville (12144 Lebanon Rd)
Best Auto Repair
Don’s Auto Repair Inc.
6063 Cornell Rd, Cincinnati
Best Hair Salon
Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa
Multiple locations including West Chester (7795 Discovery Dr)
“Being the best hair salon in 2020 means a little something different this year. It means providing a safe environment for our clients to relax and enjoy their service. We still provide the trusted and consistent quality of service, our smiles are just hidden behind our masks. It has been a labor of love this year, but our clients make every day worth it.” – Logan M. Hines, VP of Marketing
Best Manicure/Pedicure
Ambiance Nail Salon & Spa
Multiple locations including Mason (5875 Deerfield Blvd)
“Ambiance Nail Spa is the Best Manicure/Pedicure because our team consists of the best nails technicians in all of Cincinnati. Additionally, our management team is very customer-oriented, which means we go the extra mile to ensure our customers have great experiences at our salons.” Sean A. Nguyun
Best Master Stylist
Casey Brogan, Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa
7795 Discovery Dr, West Chester
Best Place for a Spa Day
Woodhouse Day Spa
Multiple locations including Liberty Township (7272 Liberty Way)
“The Woodhouse Day Spa is a place where the genuine care and comfort of our guest is our highest priority. We pledge to provide the finest treatments and facilities for our guests, who will always enjoy a warm, relaxed, yet refined ambience. The Woodhouse experience enlivens the senses, instills well-being, and fulfills even the unexpressed wishes and needs of our guests.” – Jessica Johnston, director of marketing
Best Groomer
Kayla’s Posh Pets Grooming & Boutique
7090 Cornell Rd, Cincinnati
Best Pet Store
EarthWise Pet – Harper’s Point
11328 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati
Best Vet
Four Paws Animal Hospital
1001 Columbus Ave, Lebanon
HEALTH
Best Charitable Race
Shamrock Shuffle
9285 Centre Pointe Dr, West Chester
Best Chiropractor
Rohlfs Chiropractic Care
Multiple locations including Sharonville (504 E Business Way)
Best Dentist
Vita Dental
5841 Snider Rd, Mason
Best Eye Doctor
Focal Pointe Eye Care
7227 Liberty Way, West Chester
“Focal Pointe Eye Care’s foundation is built on a team-centered mentality that is dedicated to providing compassionate care for our patients. Our goal is to not only provide the best for your eyes and vision, but also create trust and friendships that will last a lifetime.” – Dr. Michael Lyons
Best Fitness Center
Adrenaline Sports & Fitness
6659 Liberty Ct, Liberty Township
Best Fitness Gear
Play It Again Sports
Multiple locations including Kings Automall (9990 Kings Auto Mall Dr)
Best Massage Therapist
Aruna Ramamurthy, Therapeutic Medical Massage
4859 Nixon Park Dr, Ste A, Mason
Best Medical Facility
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital – Liberty Campus
7777 Yankee Rd, Liberty Township
Best Medical Spa
TriHealth Fitness & Health Pavilion
6200 Pfeiffer Rd, Cincinnati
Best Orthodontist
Cassinelli, Shanker, & Baker Orthodontics
Multiple locations including Blue Ash (4881 Cooper Rd)
Best Pediatric Dentist
Bracken Webb, DDS, West Chester Pediatric Dentistry
9125 Cincinnati-Columbus Rd, West Chester
Best Pediatrician
Suburban Pediatric Associates
Multiple locations including Liberty Township (7335 Yankee Rd, Ste 100)
Best Personal Trainer
Becky Parnell, Adrenaline Sports & Fitness
6659 Liberty Ct, Liberty Township
Best Pharmacy
Yost Pharmacy
120 W Main St, Mason
Best Yoga Studio
Grace Tree Yoga Studio
8933 Cincinnati-Dayton Rd, West Chester
SERVICES
Best Accounting/CPA
UGJ CPAs
7419 Kingsagte Way, West Chester
“Our passion for people along with a curiosity to solve, professional integrity, collective intelligence and leadership gives us a laser-like focus on customer success. We have an unwavering commitment to excellence and a dedication to sustaining relationships.” – Paul Williams, president & partner
Best Bank Credit
First Financial Bank
Multiple locations including Monroe (108 W Main St)
Best Barber Shop
Gary’s Barbershop
314 W Main St, Mason
Best Car Wash
Mike’s Carwash
Multiple locations including Loveland (9675 E Kemper Rd)
Best Carpet Cleaner
Burlew’s Carpet Cleaning
Serves Cincinnati and Tristate region
Best Computer Repair
Micro Center
11755 Mosteller Rd, Sharonville
Best Dry Cleaner
Tide Cleaners
Multiple locations including Liberty Township (6842 Liberty Plaza Dr)
Best Electric
Apollo Home
4538 Camberwell Rd, Cincinnati
“Our employees, or, as we call them, Fanatics, are what make us the best in the business. Day in and day out our team shows up and works hard, and we have fun doing it.” – Jamie Gerdsen, president & CEO
Best Exterminator
ScherZinger Pest Control
10557 Medallion Dr, Cincinnati
“At ScherZinger Pest Control we do everything based on our three Core Values to deliver the very best service to our customers. Those are: Having a Service Heart, Being Success Driven, and Valuing Reputation.” – Kurt Scherzinger, president
Best Financial Planner
Vantage Financial
423 Ward Corner Rd, Ste A, Loveland
Best Florist
Oberer’s Flowers
7675 Cox Ln, West Chester
Best Funeral Home
Hodapp Funeral Home
8815 Cincinnati Columbus Rd, West Chester
Best Home Builder
Brookstone Homes
7203 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati
Best Home Remodler
Staley Transformations
Serves Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
”With a proven product, an experienced team, and a sound moral compass, it is no wonder that customers want Staley Transformations to be their ‘Not So General Contractors!’
– JD Staley, owner”
Best Insurance Agent
Gregory Burch, Lighthouse Agency
2794 Mack Rd, Fairfield
Best Landscaper
Natorp’s Landscape Design
8601 Snider Rd, Cincinnati
Best Law
Tibbs Law Office
1329 E Kemper Rd, Cincinnati
Best Lawnmower
Jericho Mower Service
8151 Regal Ln, West Chester
Best Locksmith
Larry’s Lock Safe & Security
8005 Plainfield Rd, Cincinnati
Best Mortgage
Plum Tree Home Mortgage
6511 West Chester Rd, Ste B,
West Chester
Best Plumber
Steve Jones Plumbing
Serves West Chester, Mason and
Northern Cincinnati
Best Real Estate Agency
Gary Rossignol, Rock n Roll Real Estate Team, RE/MAX Preferred Group
9032 Union Centre Blvd, Ste 100, West Chester
Best Retirement Community
The Christian Village at Mason
411 Western Row Rd, Mason
“At The Christian Village at Mason, care is the heart and soul of everything we do. While our 75-acre campus provides a beautiful setting, we believe it’s our staff and our residents—our family community—that truly make living here special. Our approach is grounded in compassionate service and built upon a multi-dimensional approach to care. We call it Service From the Heart.” – Lizz Stephens, vice president, marketing & business strategy
Best Roofing
Continental Roof Company
6926 Tylersville Rd, Ste 15, West Chester
Best Tailor
Alterations of Springdale
Multiple locations including Springdale (11627 Springfield Pike)
Best Tire Center
Tire Discounters
Multiple locations including Blue Ash (11255 Reed Hartman Hwy)
Best Tree Care
Cardinal Landscaping & Tree Service
1831 W Main St, Lebanon
SHOPPING
Best Antiques
Ohio Valley Antique Mall
7285 Dixie Hwy, Fairfield
“Ohio Valley Antique Mall truly is a unique shopping experience. We have regular customers who travel the country just to enjoy our expansive 85,000-square-foot antique mall. We offer a huge variety of items with over 500 individual booths and 300 locked cases, it’s hard to leave empty handed!”
– Paula Faxon, owner
Best Bike Shop
Montgomery Cyclery West Chester
8975 Cincinnati Columbus Rd, West Chester
Best Bookstore
Half Price Books
Multiple locations including Mason (8211 Arbor Square Dr)
Best Bridal Shop
Asterino Sposa Bridal & Intimates
209 S Reading Rd, Mason
Best Consignment Shop
Clothes Mentor
Multiple locations including Fields Ertel (12151 Royal Pointe Dr)
Best Electronic Store
Alamo Electronics
9572 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati
Best Farmer’s Market
West Chester Farmers Market
9285 Centre Pointe Dr, West Chester
Best Furniture Store
Furniture Fair
Multiple locations including Fairfield (7200 Dixie Hwy)
Best Garden Center
Natorp’s Nursery Outlet
8601 Snider Rd, Cincinnati
“It’s the combination of the Natorp family culture (since 1916), top-quality plants (Natorp’s ‘own grown’) and phenomenal plant selections, knowledgeable/customer-driven team members, ability to change with current plant/gardening trends, as well as catering to our different generations of customers’ needs and styles of gardening, within every facet of our business. And yes, have fun as a team doing this!” – Ron Wilson
Best Grocery Store
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market
Multiple locations including Harper’s Station (11349 Montgomery Rd)
Best Hardware
McCabe Do it Center
Multiple locations including Cincinnati (10821 Montgomery Rd)
Best Jeweler
Yelton Fine Jewelers
9623 Schulze Dr, West Chester
Best Mattresses
The Original Mattress Factory
Multiple locations including Cincinnati (9853 Waterstone Blvd)
Best Place for Appliances
Recker and Boerger
Multiple locations including West Chester (10115 Transportation Way)
Best Place for Home Accessories
At Home
Multiple locations including Springdale (11925 Commons Dr)
Best Shopping Center
Liberty Center
7100 Foundry Row, Liberty Township
Best Special Gift Shop
Mims Off Main
62 Reading Rd, Mason
“I believe what makes Mims the best is the love we all have for the store and all of our customers. We all work very hard to keep the best and unique items in the store. We help our customers in any way to find the perfect gift.” – Lisa Vitek, owner
Best Thrift Shop
This N That Consignments
600 Reading Rd, Ste A, Mason
