Orchids At Palm Court

Wow, what an amazing place. Brunch here is to die for, with the best selection I have seen in Lexington, Louisville, Indianapolis or Cinci. I would know.
Seafood is plentiful-​mounds of rolled salmon, crab claws, all very fresh and beautifully displayed. Lots of breads/​muffins, delightful dishes and main courses… desserts here are over the top. Beautiful craftsmanship in the details of all the delicious offerings made it visually overwhelming and a pleasure to dine.
The carving station and made-​to-​order eggs were very popular but lines moved fast, and food was being replenished regularly.
The décor is breathtaking. Authentic art-​deco design transports you to the gilded age and the excess of opulent food makes it feel like you are in a different time and place.
Magical.

Amazing food and great service! I had the strip steak and was excellent. Waiters were very knowledgable on wine pairings.

I’ll have to update with my dinner review soon, but first, the best kept secret in Cincinnati: Orchids Happy Hour.
They have a $ 3 draft beer that is phenomenal, cocktails are comparable with other happy hours around the city, and you can enjoy a good deal in the luxe atmosphere of Orchids without footing the bill. Definitely would recommend.

My wife and I had special arrangements for our engagement here. It was a quiet Sunday night & the experience Chef Todd Kelly provided was incredible!

A great meal with friends and family. Have a reservation! It’s a must. The Palm court is an intimate dinning room and can fill up fast. The first class weight staff will take care of your every need. It’s pricy but worth every cent. We were a table of 6 and tip was automatically added to our bill.
The food was excellent if there was any complaint it was the pace of the meal. I thought it was slow but I am a restless kind of guy. The sommelier was spot on once I told here our diverse taste. We had two wines one with out 1^st and 2^nd course from northern France that was beyond good. Paired well with our choices. All 6 of us had beef so we got a super Tuscan that was loved by all at our table.

I went to orchids for a 5 star dining experience and that’s what they delivered. Excellent service, 10 beautifully paired courses with wine and all the food was excellently cooked. It started off with a pallette cleansing custard filled egg followed by a beat salad and then soon floated you into a slew of entrees, my favorite being the cod. The meal was ended with a blood orange variety dish with reductions, gels and chocolates all made with blood orange.
It was the tastiest desert I’ve ever had in my life. I will absolutely be back to orchids again for another dining experience I recommend the 10 courses with wine, it may seem like a lot but they spread it out over a decent amount of time so your stomach is always comfortable and never overwhelmed.

The atmosphere at Orchids at Palm Court is wonderful. High ceilings with beautiful décor, dim lights, and exquisite live music. The service is impeccable, waiters and waitresses work together in perfect synchrony and make your meal feel like a royal dinner/​lunch.
Perfect restaurant for special occasions

If you’re looking for a once in a lifetime kind of a meal, this is the place for you. We went here to celebrate a special occasion and were not disappointed!
The staff is expertly trained. It is a lot of fun to be treated like royalty, and Orchid does exactly that.
The food was incredible, the experience exquisite. Highly recommend!

Dinner at the Orchids was a revelation of sorts. The work that goes into sourcing foods, ensuring the consistency and creating the flavorsome dinner we ate amazed us.
As part of a celebration, I went with a friend to Cincinnati for the Weekend, the Orchids at Palm Court was reviewed so well so many places and we had read about Chef Todd Kelly and decided dinner at the Palm would be the centerpiece of our trip. We stayed at the Hilton at Netherlander Plaza, which hosts the Orchids. We called ahead and the concierge arranged for a kitchen tour with Chef Kelly for us before our meal.
We arrived for our 8:00pm reservation at 7:30pm and were given the most educational and interesting lesson on food. Chef Kelly was an amazingly gracious host and showed us the kitchen, the area where they churn their own butter, their 16^th floor terrace herb garden, their bees (they have hives!), where they make cheese, and also where they cure their own meats and dry age beef. It was just amazing.
We asked questions and he talked to us about sourcing meat, and the fact that they butcher everything themselves. He showed us a picture of one of the Chef’s from the thirties that he used as an inspiration. He said that he wanted to bring the Orchids back to the way it had been then when people took great pride in what they were cooking/​doing. We loved the tour and it added to the overall experience, I don’t think I have ever enjoyed a meal so much.
We were then shown to our table. We were served bread and fresh churned butter. My dinner companion joked that she wanted to take the remaining butter home in her purse. (It was that good!)
We were treated to two amuse bouche one was fennel custard with lemon, served in an eggshell. It was light and beautiful. The second was crudot, with a red chile, avocado and a cucumber gazpacho. It had so much texture and the chile gave it just the right amount of kick. My first course was the young onion strudel. I will not lie, this might have been my favorite course of the night. The crispy chicken skin was a pleasant surprise. It sounded a little strange, but it tasted amazingly good. The sunchoke purée was great to mop with the strudel and the mushrooms added dimension to the dish.
My second course was the blue cheese beignet with poached pears. The contrast of the crisp outer shell and the creaminess of the blue cheese delighted my mouth. The pears gave just the right sweet and tart to the mix.
We enjoyed the ambiance in between eating, there was a live jazz band and well, the Orchids is breathtaking in all its Deco Glory.
Our third course was a surprise, squab with baby arugula (I think). The squab was cooked perfectly, it was so moist and tender.
My entrée was the One Hour Prime rib strip steak, which is cooked for an hour in clarified butter. I don’t think I have ever had a better piece of meat. It was charred on the outside but still tender and rare on the inside. The baby turnips were just the right thing to pair with the meat. The dish was topped with a gourmet French fry. I loved it. I would have licked my plate clean, except it’s not the kind of place where one does that.
We were given a palette cleanser made of vanilla, cheese and berries. It was sweet without being too sweet and made us ready to eat dessert.
For dessert I had the chocolate Bavarian. The first bite made me feel as though I had never tasted chocolate before. It melted in my mouth and there were hints of different flavors underneath. The cookie ice cream and the crunchy hazelnut mixture just added to the complex tastiness.
If I could give the Palm 6 stars for that dinner I would. It was the highlight of our weekend in Cincinnati.

Probably one of the top two brunches I have ever been to in my life. They truly do have just about anything you could want in a brunch. And, it is all fantastic.
Where they get you though, it is on the price. You are definitely paying for the high quality food, service and amazing atmosphere. If you’ve got the money, it makes for a very special Easter brunch. Senior citizens, $ 50. Adults, $ 70. Kids, $ 20. Keep in mind, that does not include drinks. So this year, 2016 Easter, two senior citizens, two adults, two kids came out to $ 375 with tip.
Would I go back? Absolutely. We’ve been twice now and would definitely consider coming back. You will not be sorry that you chose to have your Easter brunch here. That is, until you get the check. But but, you’ll find that it was worth it. And then you’ll go take a nap.

I was looking over my reviews and to my surprise, I realized I failed to update my review for Orchids at Palm Court after one of the most amazing meals I have ever had. It’s been almost a year and a half (Oct 2014) but I still remember most of it vividly. This is the kind of restaurant that takes the dining experience well above ordinary expectations even for most upscale restaurants. We came here for our wedding anniversary. What sets this restaurant apart is the attention to detail. On the table was a card addressed to us congratulating on this occasion. Once we were seated we were immediately greeted by a waiter to take our drink orders. The menu was explained and after a suitable time period questions were invited if additional explanations were required. One of the most memorable features was the amount of staff we had at our table without being obtrusive. There was one person whose sole job was to ensure we had all the proper utensils, plates, and glassware for our upcoming meal. In addition to the main waiter was a person that always ensured our used items were cleared away in a timely manner. Another surprising and elegant feature was the presentation of our meals. They arrived together under covered dishes and were revealed in unison by two servers. I had have only seen this done in the movies when the diners are at a very formal dinner. It made me feel very special.
Since it’s been a year and half, I don’t remember what was order but I do remember not being disappointed. What I do remember is the presentation of the dessert. Around the plate was written in chocolate, «Happy 28^th Anniversary. I was so surprised and pleased at this personal attention. Again, I don’t recall the exact dessert but I remember loving it.
The ambiance is quite and romantic and the décor is Art Deco. Although there is no advertised dress code, I am old school or maybe just old and think that dressing appropriately is part of the overall experience. Meaning, a dress for women and a suit for men. However, I did see slightly more casual dress by some diners, but definitely no jeans, short or t-​shirts.
This restaurant left such a wonderful impression that I rave about it to anyone wanting a spectacular dining experience. Our 30^th anniversary is this year and we are considering booking a room at the hotel where the restaurant is located, since we live in Dayton, and adding Sunday brunch the next day as part of the occasion. For those who are wondering about price, they are very much in line with what you would expect for a fine dining experience. Nothing outrageous unless you splurge on the wine.
It’s no wonder the restaurant continues to collect outstanding accolades year after year.

An incredible experience and amazing food! I ordered the Marinated Tuna, the Faroe Island Smoked Salmon and the Lamb Wellington. I definitely enjoyed the Tuna, but was a little saddened by the portion size. The Smoked Salmon was great and something I will order again, but the best was the Lamb Wellington. Mind blowing. That is all that needs to be said.
Also, I broke down and ordered the Pistachio Tart. It was a definite party in my mouth. Amazing chef and amazing staff. They treat you like royalty, but watch out for the sparkling water, it’s delicious, but they will charge $ 8 a bottle for it!

Went here on a special occasion. It felt like they were there to celebrate it with you. Which was great! It is a very fancy-​like place, but not snobbish. Which made my boyfriend and I feel at ease. Ambiance is very romantic, intimate, and special.
The service was incredible, and they were super nice/​professional about everything. If there was a mishap they quickly fixed themselves. Whatever you order, they will split it into different courses so you enjoy each dish individually. Presentation was incredibly beautiful.
First course we had these beautiful squash blossom which were fried, and it was delicious and savory. Second course we had a lobster salad, which was delectable. You can taste the well-​cooked fresh lobster. It had a balance of textures with a fried egg. Paring well with the lightness of the crème fraîche, and caviar cream. For our main course we had the Chateaubriand for Two, which had these incredible potato mousse, portobello mushrooms, and asparagus. Paired with these great sauces, my favorite was the sweet one. Chateaubriand was cooked to perfection and served table side, which was a awesome experience! For dessert, we got the cardamom basque cake. It had this sweet corn ice cream which gave a balance to the textures of the cake and the almond crunch. The varying flavors of creamy and spiced blackberry jam was a great balance of sweetness, not at all overwhelming.
Other than a gnat getting into my drink, this place was wonderful! Would love to come here again and spend my special occasions with people who really care about our experience. They gave us special small desserts, and granola made with their own honey from their bees on some floor within the building. Impressive! Thank you again Orchids for our special day and helping us make more special memories.

My husband and I had a kid-​free night in Cincinnati and were stayed at the Hilton so decided to have dinner at Orchids. I’ve dined at AAA Five Diamond restaurants before and had higher expectations for Orchids, being the only Five Diamond restaurant in the state. The food was good but nothing spectacular. Nothing was truly really inventive, creative or presented in a truly unique way, besides the mousse served in an eggshell. The lobster salad and the beef cheeks were the best items we ordered. The sweet potato soup was a let down, and the lamb wasn’t very tender or flavorful.
The staff was polite but stiff. Our waiter, Michael, was excellent and I think the only member of the staff who really smiled or seemed happy in any way. if you eat here, request him. At one point, a man in a suit walked over and asked how things were. I asked if he was a manager because I wanted to compliment Michael on his excellent service. The Napoleon replied, «I am THE manager.» Well, congratulations sir. Way to let a guest know how important YOU are. His management style might be the reason that the staff all seemed to be on edge and afraid to show any personality.
The dining room is absolutely beautiful but I don’t think we will be returning due to the pretentious atmosphere. If you like uppity attitudes and don’t really want to have fun, laugh or smile, then you will enjoy dining with Napoleon. :)

We arrived about 35 minutes prior to our reservation and checked in. The hostess was very polite and stated they could seat us then if we wanted. We chose to sit at the bar and enjoy a cocktail first though.
Had an amazing night celebrating our wedding anniversary last night! This place is amazing. We both stated we could spend hours just looking at the architecture and scenery of this place.
The service was amazing. top notch! I believe Michael was the name of our server, and with the exception of a small delay at the beginning of service, he was outstanding. Very knowledgeable about the menu, wine, drinks…
The food was top notch! Now mind you, this is not the type of place that we frequent (special occasion only) but the staff made us feel welcome and didn’t mind all the questions. Not once did we feel out of our league here! Kudos to the staff!
Appetizers: salmon dish, and I had the tortiline. .both amazing and suggested by our server.
Salad: we both got the lobster salad… Kim did not care for this, but I liked it.
Entrée: Kim got the duck and loved it, I got the lamb and enjoyed this also.
Dessert: Kim got the double chocolate something… I was only offered one bite, so I am pretty sure it was amazing.
You pay for the experience and it was worth every cent!
My only complaint, and it’s not really a complaint but more of a suggestion. I was expecting a nice selection of steaks on the menu and they weren’t there.
Overall a outstanding experience that left a positive mark on our special night.

This review is much overdue. Our biggest grievance since moving to Cincinnati has been the food. Just can’t find the perfect location for our ‘special event’ outings. Sure there’s great places to grab lunch or casual dinners but we have always felt there wasn’t a restaurant that really lived up to its hype when it came to fine dinning.
Well this is where I stop moaning and groaning… we have finally found it. The one~ :) The service was phenomenal and the food was far beyond what I went in expecting. Trust me my expectations were high given the raving reviews. From the moment we set the time and the date to the moment we walked out caring out complementary take home snacks, I had the stupidest grin on my face. We were celebrating our anniversary and when we arrived at our table we were welcomed with a sweet card that addressed the occasion.
The menu wasn’t overwhelming and the wait staff were very helpful/​knowledgeable about their foods. Most of the time I’m thinking in my head ‘please leave so I can think and make my decision on my own’…but this was never was this case. The descriptions were good on my paper as well as illustrated for me through words. You can’t feel intimidated with a fancy term you haven’t come across. The wait staff will surely walk you through.
Ok so you’re a seasoned restauranteur and maybe you don’t care too much about the helpful staff… well you will surely be impressed with level of detail that goes into the food. The bread was great but you know what really took the cake… the butter… I kid you not. Just try it. I can’t describe what exactly but that butter is so right. Then they start you off with a palette cleanser. Every course was executed to the highest caliber and every dish seemed to compliment itself. My fiancé and I couldn’t find any flavor/​texture/​composition that felt off.
We went out for a special momentous evening. Our expectations were high. But our night at Orchids exceeded our every expectation and made the meal so memorable and special. This is one place where I am confident you can’t make the wrong decision. Orchids won’t let you~

AMAZING! Best dining experience I have ever had. This place has it together from beginning to end. From the moment you step up to the hostess to the moment you think its over and they bring you more. My husband surprised me with birthday dinner there tonight and I could hardly contain myself with excitement from the 1^st course to the dessert. I probably should have waited to write this review because I know I am going to leave something out. Here is what you need to know. They do not disappoint the staff was on point. The cocktails were amazing. And The dry aged duck was AWESOME! Shout Out to the Bees on the 5^th floor! Thanks to my wonderful husband for a memorable night.

I’ve never had a bad dining experience here. I like to say they make food sculpture and I get to eat it! The service is top notch. except for the bar staff. They were a bit sucky but the restaurant staff man a table four staff at a time most times! It’s a bit pricey but the course meal is the way to go for sure. There are oil paintings in the place that look like they are from the 1800’s. The ambiance is Art Deco meets new millennium with gold guiliding and Renaissance-​esque murals. It’s a pretty classy place. One of the places you walk into and it makes you feel more important. Not a lot of those in Cincinnati! I have gone here for dinner and lunch a few times. Today I went for brunch which was a first and they lived up to their reputation. If you haven’t gone before I strongly encourage you to. It’s one of the best places in town for sure.

Another 5 stars to equal 10. If you don’t want to just eat and you want to dine, you MUST come here. Something refreshing, the portions are not huge which in my opinion is actually very nice. Every single aspect of this establishment is beyond exemplary. Service, food, atmosphere… The whole package is right here in Cincinnati, Ohio. You will not be disappointed, I promise you!

IMPRESSIVE!!!
Excellent service, beautiful interior, delicious food, fantastic presentation. There is absolutely nothing I can complain about.
So happy I could try the Restaurant Week menu, fantastic opportunity to try several things that I would probably not order a’la carte.
Very elegant place, but not snobbish, so my husband and I felt at ease, which I really liked! The servers are so well trained, finally a place where plates are only cleaned when ALL PARTY finished their meal.
The food was simply wonderful, it was definitely one of the best meals I ever had. Maggie B. was kind enough to post a lot of photos already, so there is not much more to add. If you get the chance, go try it, it’s worth it!
Btw, I absolutely love the art deco interior and the frozen fountain details omnipresent on walls, utensils etc. Beautiful!
Complimentary valet parking is a really useful perk, considering the difficulty finding a spot downtown! :)