Enzo’s

This is a pretty cool place — it’s pretty much your average local sandwich shop. My co-​workers and I started going to Enzo’s when we first moved to our new office, but now you’re hard pressed to convince any of us to go down there. There’s nothing wrong with the food — it’s good, it’s just not all that exciting. If you’re a looking for a new place to go, go somewhere else — if you’re passing by and just want a simple sandwhich, then you should stop here and try it out.

If it weren’t for Enzo’s location, I wouldn’t stop there. However, it’s the nearest coffee shop to my neighborhood and my job, so I end up there frequently for meetings.
There was a time when Enzo’s was not the dive that it feels like currently, but perhaps it’s fallen on hard times. Every time I visit there seem to be fewer options– and less décor! (Maybe they’re remodeling soon? They’ve been slowly taking things off the walls!)
This shop exists because of SCPA. If you have a few extra minutes, walk a few blocks to Coffee Emporium instead, or the 1215 coffee and wine lab on Vine.

I’m not a coffee or tea drinker, so this review ignores Enzo’s true strengths. With that said, their food was hit and miss. I got the roast pork sandwich and a bowl of chili. I’ve been a huge fan of Porchetta sandwiches and always make sure to get one every time I visit Rome and/​or Florence. Unfortunately, you don’t see roast pork sandwiches in the States very often. Enzo’s makes a pretty good one though. They serve it on a ciabatta bun with mayo and a cilantro pesto plus veggies, making it a much spruced up version of the one I’m used to. It was very good although the sauces somewhat masked the flavor of the roast pork.
The chili, unfortunately, was a complete let down. As far as I’m concerned, it may as well have been purchased from Wendy’s — and I actually really like Wendy’s chili and fries as a late night snack. But it’s not the quality of chili I’m expecting to receive from a highly rated spot on Unilocal.I could go on a long rant here about how Cincinnati chili is a disgrace to REAL chili and how hard it is to find decent chili here. For the record, Potbelly Subs actually serves pretty delicious chili as does Fresh Table at Findlay, with theirs being a bison based chili. If anyone knows of some good hearty chili in Cincinnati, I’m all ears.

Enzos is neatly tucked away just beyond where the eye can see and so it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. When I’m trying to persuade people to go, I usually describe it as a mom-​and-​pop Starbucks. I feel terrible about this. If you are an owner or fellow lover of Enzo’s; I’m really sorry! While that description may win nay-​sayers over, it doesn’t give this restaurant the justice it deserves.
Why Enzo’s is better than Starbucks:
–The coffee and hot drinks selection is much more diverse.
–It’s sort of like the art debate of whether it should appeal to the masses or be profound to a select few. You may not be guaranteed to like every item on their menu as though it was corporately tested in a lab for mass appeal (cough Starbucks), HOWEVER, the baristas will work with you to create the perfect drink that you will LOVE.
–You can’t go wrong with the sandwiches.
–Hot or cold, every sandwich I’ve tasted at Enzos has been amazing. I especially like the Cuban (I ask to nix the mustard) and Curry in a Hurry
–The people-​watching
–The community feel
–Enzo’s has bulletin boards full of posters and business cards that are definitely worth the gander. You’re likely to find out about an event or organization that you would have never heard of otherwise.
–The location
–Kitty-​Corner to Cincinnati’s new Washington Park?! Perfect for a nice lunch and afternoon at the park! Enzo’s has outdoor seating if you want to bring your pooch over after a jaunt at the dog park.
Want to give it a try on the cheap? Check out
for a coupon.

Although I’m a big Coffee Emporium fan, Enzo’s seems to be a good balance between Coffee Empo’s vastness (in both physical space size and menu selection) and Iris’s indie serenity. Also, people forget about Enzo’s because of Iris and CE. It’s right above Wash Park and just before Central Parkway on Race. Poor location, if you ask me, but hopefully WP’s reopening has given it a boost in sales and exposure.
I’ve been here a few times. Once for a breakfast burrito that I could have done without (about $ 5) and another time for an iced chai latte (which was also something I could have done without), and a third time for coffee and to actually stay and do some work on my laptop.
The coffee is why it’s a four star. And today, I’m particularly digging the ambiance. Like I said, a balance between Coffee Empo and Iris. Just enough people for some morning bustle, but not enough to annoy you.
I chose the Mexican blend coffee. SO GOOD that I drank it black. Are you proud of me, mom? I’m all grown!
OH YEAH… service is hit or miss. Approximately half the staff is awesome. The other half is rude as fudge.

So we were walking to Washington Park, and Wife and I wanted coffee, It was blazing hot, so I wanted to avoid walking a few blocks to the emporium. Lo and behold, what is this Enzo’s? I wasn’t sure, but a friend was turning the corner and told us she had been there (paige, so of course she had been there) So we decided to go in, I ha the best Ice blended frappuccino I had had in a while, and a hearty breakfast burrito that kept me going until late afternoon. Great spot if you’re near the park, breakfast with a delicious coffee will set you back 8 bucks, 12 if you’re stopping for lunch. Come back for lunch!

Tried this little place out this week and I have to say I was impressed. I had read the reviews this week and it lived up to the positive feedback. It’s right across from SCPA and parking was a breeze. The sandwich I ordered was good enough (not great), but the bread was amazing. Soft and fresh and very tasty. I would venture back again soon, but try something else.
The décor is ultra modern and fantastic. Great artwork and ambiance. This is definitely a joint to check out, and spread the word good people!

A quiet little coffee shop with fun, mod furnishings, Enzo’s is a great place for a cup of java for a business meeting Downtown. The space inside is open and bright, with bold colored chairs and walls, steel tables, and a giant menu of options. There’s even a couch for relaxing. My favorite coffee is the Café Mocha Bianca, a white chocolate drink with espresso. Delicious!
The staff has always been friendly and checked in on us during our meeting to see if we needed anything. I can’t stress enough how I really like the table set up here. They’re intimate enough for two, but big enough to get some work done. Although the room is open, I felt like our meeting was being held in its own little pod.
Price per person: $ 4.00

I stopped back at Enzo’s after hearing that they had updated their menu. It was easy to see that the sprucing up was not just the menu. the place was clean and fresh and there were new faces behind the counter. The new staff is very pleasant and the new menu offerings will have me back several times to try them all. Had the The Taos Turkey (yum) and looking forward to The ‘Bello — Roasted portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers and cheese. After reading some of the reviews here i wanted to post and let you know that some of the issues others have posted about appear to have been addressed. Seems someone there is listening and taking steps to improve which is always a good sign.

Having a kid across the street at SCPA, Enzo’s is quickly becoming my go-​to place for a quick breakfast.
Unassuming from the outside, the space inside is nice. It’s on the small side, but still comes across as open and bright and clean. It’s very low key– like a hidden treasure! There are several tables (some big, some small) and free wifi. The staff is generally young, but thus far, they’ve been nice enough. It is also much quieter than Coffee Emporium, which I appreciate. Enzo’s would be a great space to have an informal business meeting.
As far as food and drink, I’m fast on my way to being addicted to their zebra lattes and banana nut muffins. While I haven’t paid much attention to the prices of other menu items, the price for my latte and muffin is definitely lower than other downtown coffee shops. I’m hoping to have a chance to try lunch here soon!

Great atmosphere, great coffee, spectacular lunch. The curry chicken sandwich is incredible. I’d hang out there every day if 1) I didn’t have a job to tend to and 2) that wouldn’t make me the creepy chick who keeps coming to Enzo’s and giggles at the deers on the wall.

I would give Enzo’s five stars — the food is great and the atmosphere is clean, airy and hip — but I had to dock 2 stars for customer service. The young man who has taken my order every time I’ve had lunch there (multiple times over several months) is completely unresponsive to the point of being rude. On my first visit, this gentleman didn’t offer a greeting or say anything at all when I approached the counter. After the first few words of my order came out of my mouth, the guy answered his cell phone and wandered off, only to return at least five minutes later without apologizing or… again… SAYING ANYTHING. Every time I’ve been there since, I get equally cold service from the guy at the register. Every other employee seems to be friendly and efficient… so why is that particular guy working the register during the lunch rush?!
On a more positive note… their chicken salad is to die for and they have a great selection of beverages. Here’s hoping for shift change the next time I drop by!

I said I’d be back!!!
I was in a rush and had to skip breakfast at home but had a long morning ahead to keep my belly full and mind focused I was going to need a serious breakfast-​on-​the-​go that only an eggy-​cheesy-​sausagy burrito would deliver.
Would Enzo’s Salchicha be up to the task?
Ok look, i’m bad at drama. I won’t keep you waiting. Yes. Yes it was friggin perfect.
They throw hash browns in their burrito, which is perfect for someone who loves hash browns but can’t always be bothered with the strictures of a fork. Everything was piping hot (lukewarmness was a complaint of mine last time). The scrambled eggs were nicely fluffy, not soaked in grease or any of the other ways breakfast places find it possible to mess up scrambled eggs. And the cold-​yet-​mildly-​spicy salsa was a sly balance for the steaming eggs and browns.
If Unilocal averaged my reviews for me, I’d give them 4 stars for this effort, so put that with my first, two star review, and Enzo’s gets a cool 3 stars from me.

I’m actually at Enzo’s right now! How meta. But still awesome.
Enzo’s is a little out of the way for most people, I would think (it’s on Race Street just north of Central Parkway, across from SCPA) but it’s right next to Media Bridges, which means that I often find myself here before my radio show. And that’s totally ok with me.
The place is bright, clean, friendly, and plays good music. It’s also quiet (at least at 11:30 on Wednesday morning) and has good tea and good coffee. And, most awesomely, they make their café mochas with hot chocolate, which makes them essentially caffeinated sweet deliciousness, and an absolute treat to drink.
They also have free internet, and I suspect that as long as it’s not right when SCPA lets out and flooded with teenagers, it’s a pretty great place to work on a computer. Like I’m doing right now! If you’re looking for someplace to kick back and chillax with a cup o’joe, this may be your place.

This place is is defintely under reviewed! Definitely worth the visit. I am a huge fan of a great sandwich and this place delivers. I throughly enjoyed the Hawaiian tuna salad sandwich I had, which was a special for that day but the rest of the menu is just as fantastic. The ambiance is great and though I have never had a cup of coffee there, it will definitely be happening as it gets colder. The last time I was there, a fellow patron played the piano while waiting for his food to come out. It definitely added to the atmosphere and I was almost sad to see him stop! I say almost, because who can be sad when you are eating a delicious sandwich.

Enzo’s is a great coffee spot. First time I ever went I got a coffee and a breakfast sandwich to go. The coffee was fantastic; they carry artisan roasted, organic, fair trade coffee, which I appreciate. My sandwich was fried egg with cheese on toast, and was tasty and made fresh for me on the spot very quickly. I have gone in just to get a quick coffee lots of times, and the coffee has always been hot, flavorful, and fresh. The staff is very nice and they seem to really take care of their customers. I don’t get to go to Enzo’s quite as often as I’d like because their hours are a bit narrow: 7A-​2P Mon-​Fri. The décor is fun and different, with a variety of seating options. Free wi-​fi access is a nice feature, too. They have lunch specials and some great-​sounding sandwiches, but I’m rarely in OtR on weekdays at lunchtime, and have not partaken. I love having a place like this very close and hope they’ll start pulling a bigger share of the business their way.

A nice place to stop in Over-​the-​Rhine for a cup of coffee or a hot sandwich. The «Nubbs», a hearty portion of roast beef on rye with swiss, bacon, and tomato, is a pretty decent alternative to Subway or Skyline just down the street. If this place is still around when the School for the Creative and Performing Arts moves across the street, it’s going to be huge.