Awesome Brunch! The Grand Finale sets the bar very high when it comes to its' Sunday Brunch! [NOTE] The Grand Finale's Sunday Brunch is very popular. I believe that the restaurant only accepts reservations for very large parties, so plan on waiting. Once seated, you are offered a complimentary glass of fruit juice, and have choices of several different kinds. We ordered cranberry and V8, but the usual choices for juice are available. The waitress also offered us Belgian waffles, blueberry pancakes and sauteed mushrooms. The rest of the brunch is served buffet style. My most favorite item on the buffet are the cheesy garlic grits. They are incredible. I always ask for a ramekin for the grits, because they're easier to eat that way. Another favorite of mine are the poached eggs served on artichoke bottoms and covered in hollandaise sauce... incredible! There are also an assortment of crepes, quiches and deserts, all of which the Grand Finale is known for. My favorite "dessert" is the bread pudding and "hard" sauce. The flavors are amazing. There is also standard breakfast fare, including biscuits, gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, chicken livers, large bowls of luscious mixed fruit, and pastries. Servers are attentive, glasses are refilled efficiently. The atmosphere is charming and cozy. There are several rooms to dine in. When they are crowded, they may want to seat you upstairs. The staircase is steep and a bit dark, so if you have issues climbing stairs, with plates of food, you may want to tell the hostess when you arrive that you cannot sit upstairs. The parking lot fills up quickly, however, there is a lot of parking on the streets. The cost of the brunch could be considered a bit pricey, but the value and quality makes it worthwhile.
(5)
Carrie P.
This place is great, but I didn't love my dinner this time. I had food envy. My dad got the seafood linguini. I had a 6oz filet and a crab crepe. The steak was okay but I would get something else next time. The crab crepe was rich, and good, but I think it would be better with a vegetable in it too. I didn't ask, but next time I will. The house salad is fantastic (avocado dressing), the wine prices are reasonable, the bread is good. And the chocolate paradise split 3-ways was a perfect amount of paradise for dessert. Even though my meal wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, I am eager to go back for something else.
(3)
Grace E.
I rarely eat breakfast or am awake when breakfast time occurs, but I will wake up at 9:30 on a Sunday morning to make sure myself and my roommate are there when Grand Finale opens. This brunch buffet has become something of a tradition, and I will tell anyone who's willing to listen about this place. The set up is slightly cramped and if you arrive anywhere from 11:30-1 you can be assured there will be a wait, but the food is well worth it. Poached eggs with Hollandaise sauce and artichokes, cheesy grits, and miniature desserts are something I don't ever want to bear the thought of giving up. Just thinking about it makes me want to get up early this Sunday...
(5)
Brian T.
Great Food, Cool atmosphere. Great place for a first date. You maybe able to trick her into thinking your classy. :)
(4)
Monti T.
Well it had been years since we had visited the Grand Finale and now I remember why. We have pretty much followed the reviews from yelp and more often than not they have hit home. I guess there are always those exceptions. It's Easter Sunday we just finished our" Brunch" at the Grand Finale. Let's start off with hospitality, it's raining and it was all morning, the restaurant opened at 10am we got there about 9:20 or so an took our place in line. Kids dressed in their Easter best, moms with babies and many post baby boomers we all huddled together trying to stay dry. Could the restaurant manager at least invite the youngsters and moms in, nope just made them wait in the rain, could they may be open a few minutes early, no they opened right on time as the bells from the local church rang clear. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, they were getting ready for a busy Easter. The line moved pretty quickly we got in about 10:15 or so, the host was on the ball and the young man who took us to our seat was very nice, overall could not wait for brunch. The server gave us a menu, one item the "breakfast buffet", 16.00 bucks, seemed reasonable, we were informed fresh juice would be served with brunch. We made our way through the squeaky door to fine a two sided buffet line, the line stretched 20 people long each side, as we approached the buffet line we started to look at the array of foods offered, without a word said from anyone in our party a patron asked what's makes this brunch, looks like all breakfast foods. That comment was offered up a number of times through our dining experience. The food on the "brunch buffet" was pretty much what you would expect from your local hotel or Denny's, Our group got back to the table to dig in to such delicacies as cold scrambled eggs and hash browns via a GFS food store, there was your sausage links and shaved ham floating in water, hard pastries from a few days ago along with some really cold crapes with mushroom and spinach(these had hope if they were warm) Oh I almost forgot chicken livers, (we were thinking this is what made it brunch) Really the bottom line some of the worst food I have had for breakfast in years. Our server was great, very nice.. She offered waffles and pancakes directly from the kitchen. At that point we thought we had a winner, what we received were waffles cooked way in advance cold, crisp (most likely under a heat lamp) really uneatable with the fast food syrup packets. We received an order of blueberry pancakes that looked great but were made sandpaper like, everyone tried one at the table, well I should say tried one bite, and thank goodness we had some of that juice to wash it down--I will give them a at a boy on the juice it was very good. The building is a historic one, I'm sure it takes a lot to keep it up, my question is when did they give up, our seat overlooked a green and white awning that was torn apart sometime in the 60's I think, the mold on this awning was thick and growing, that mold was on just about everything as we looked out of our patio window. I won't mention the total disarray of the patio area; it could have been very nice with some TLC. Our suggestion, hire a chef put some cutting edge foods on the menu, update the place- your staff is great the facility is in major need of updating and oh my goodness the food is boarder line prison food.
(1)
Christoffer M.
Actually, I've never even been here for a concluding meal; always the brunch. As a kid, I used to love the miniature portions of their desserts: chocolate mousse, key lime pie, cherries jubilee (non-flaming, alas). These were set at the end of the buffet line, and I always intended to have at least half of my plate available for them. But I couldn't. The belgian waffle quarters topped with spiced apples were necessary. So were a couple of sausage links. Bacon. Eggs. A mini quiche. And suddenly I would have to wait for another trip to overindulge in dessert-at-noon. But I was committed, dutifully polished off the relatively nutritious options, and returned triumphantly for my sweet, sweet rewards. Lately, it's not nearly as amazing, even though my tastes have expanded to appreciate previously disgusting ingredients like mushrooms and spinach. The mousse is still decadent, the key lime pie still delightful, and the Belgian waffles still in quarters. But the buffet presentation means that things get a little dried out or lukewarm. That said, it's great if you're really hungry for many things. Especially dessert.
(4)
Sharon B.
Very disappointed in trip to Grand Finale tonight. We have been going to Grand Finale for years but tonight was terrible. Service was poor-received my dessert with my salad-garnishments were wilt or no leaves at all, just stems. Had to repeat requests for refill of drinks. Not up to Grand Finale standards at all!!!
(2)
Tim L.
Unique atmosphere with delicious food for a reasonable price. Definitely worth the stop, especially for weekend brunch.
(4)
Jimmie D.
What a great experience we had here. It was our wedding anniversary, and we wanted to go someplace special. We started with a bottle of wine and some interesting fried asparagus for our appetizer. Yeah... Sounded strange to me too, but it was very good. I had the filet mignon and my wife had the salmon special. Both were cooked to near perfection. And of course dessert: I had the special cheesecake and my wife got a huge chocolate fix. Again...delicious. It's been a very long time since I happily paid $120 for a meal for 2.
(5)
Jason D.
I have always heard great things about Grand Finale but after eating dinner there I would say the two dinners I tried were mediocre at best. I had the filet and I also tried a few bites of the chicken and spinach. I think both were very bland and expensive. I will not be back for dinner again there are a lot of other places with much better food.
(2)
Stephen P.
I have long come to this restaurant for anniversary dates with my wife. Over the years they have consistently delivered a high quality experience with great food. The ambiance is good, but not great, because it is an old historic place. Nothing at all wrong with that, just a bit small inside. That does not at all detract from the great dining experience and I tend to overlook it when there. A bit pricey but wirth the cost.
(5)
Linda M.
A cut above of most places in the area. Lunch today at the Grand Finale was a pleasant, very tasty experience. Going to late lunch at 3:30, we combined the happy hour menu ( for appetizers ) with the lunch menu. Everything was beautifully plated as well as very tasty. Pistachio salmon cakes made a great appetizer (for two) and was also a great entree for another person. Shrimp and asparagus was succulent, big shrimp and beautiful asparagus. Lobster and shrimp linguini had a flavorful Alfredo sauce and big pieces of very fresh tasting seafood. The chicken ginger was a very special marinated and grilled chicken breast with ginger and walnuts topping. A creamy good mushroom crepe was the wonderful side dish. The bread is special. The mango iced tea was not too sweet and just right blend of tea and mango. So full we had to take dessert home, but if you like cheesecake, you must try theirs!
(4)
William B.
I had the opportunity to enjoy Sunday brunch at the Grand Finale on the 13th of July, 2014. The food was excellent, service great and atmosphere just the best. My travels do not bring me to Sharonville, OH often, but I will be back!
(4)
Michael K.
Excellent food and service. We had the best waitress who took care of us all night. I really appreciated her attention to detail. It was really one of the best dining experiences I had ever had.
(5)
Erin T.
This is a really neat historic building with unique charm. The wait staff was very attentive and the food was pretty tasty. I had the grilled shrimp and asparagus with the spinach crepe while my husband had the chicken breast pot pie. All the food came out piping hot and did not disappoint.
(4)
Lia V.
I have fond memories of this place with my mother. We would go just for the white chocolate cheesecake with raspberry topping (which they don't have anymore). I went the other day for lunch and got a great salmon salad - fresh ingredients - tasty dressing. The servers are friendly, helpful, and not too pushy or absent. They have a really nice menu - lots of options. You can have baby showers, parties, lunches - you rent the room or something. I think everyone should go once - antique everything - very cute.
(4)
vickki c.
Sunday brunch for two. $46. Plus I've had better breakfasts at the free buffet at Marriott or a buffet at Frisch
(3)
Amy H.
I"ve been there for lunch and dinner. Charming atmosphere, cozy and romantic. More like walking into a someone's grandma's house than a restaurant. The menu used to be overwhelming and eclectic. It seems they've chopped it a bit. Still has some unique options but as far as quality, it was mediocre at best and definitely not worth the price. I did have a nice experience for lunch a couple years back but dinner last night was not good at all. Not only was the food mediocre but the waitress came by about twice the entire evening. Probably the worst service we've had for a while. We had a few kids with us and they put us in the back and wrote us off.
(2)
Whit R.
We went to dinner at Grand Finale with a large party - close to 20 people. They had no problem with keeping separate checks for each couple, which was nice (for a 20% gratuity of course). Our dinner and experience were great. We started with a round of cocktails. They make a good manhattan - check. We shared the crab cake appetizer and it was really good. A bit small but very tasty. Next was a bottle of wine for dinner. They have a decent wine list with good variety and nothing too crazy, price-wise. Bottles were $28ish to $120ish. My dinner was steak with oysters. Yum! My steak was just a touch on the rare side of medium-rare, but that's ok. The oysters were delicious, in a herbed breading with a really flavorful sauce. I think it cost about $28 or so. This place is known for desserts, but we opted for after-dinner drinks instead. Scotch for me and cognac for the misses. Both were good and well-priced, though not exactly generous pours. Oh well. Reading other reviews, I saw some gripes about Grand Finale being "over priced". I thought we got what we paid for. I've certainly had more expensive meals that were less satisfying before. I didn't think the bill was out of control - about $150 including the tip. For a fancy dinner with good drinks in a well decorated restaurant - a classic kind of feel to the decor - I expected to pay that much. We'd go back.
(4)
Ploy K.
The Grand Finale is exactly that - grand. I have been here for lunch, dinner, and their fabulous Sunday brunch, and each time I am delighted by the food on my plate. The whole establishment is fairly transitional, with decor that may have come from your grandma's house and furniture that was acquired piece by piece by the owners. (BTW, some people find the decor overwhelming and/or stuffy, but I love it) The food is along the same lines - steaks, pastas, and other classic fancy entrees; multiple salads with as many options for dressing (all delicious); and wonderful appetizers. The brunch buffet is also incredible. Everything has about a stick of butter in it, which is probably what makes it so good. Even the multigrain pancakes are delectable. Also, I was there this past Sunday with a group of friends, including a vegetarian, and after she asked for a vegetarian-friendly version of something, a waiter came out with some other veggie-friendly options, which was really nice. For the record, it is best to avoid the Sunday brunch on holidays, when the line stretches around the parking lot and down the street. I have had brunch there on an Easter and a Mother's Day, and while the food is ABSOLUTELY worth it, not everyone enjoys that two hour + wait. They do, however, take reservations for parties of 8 or more for brunch, so gather up your friends and head over!
(5)
Carolyn B.
Our family has been going to Grand Finale for years and will continue to do so for years to come. Love the atmosphere and the artwork which is done by the original owner of this restaurant. My personal favorites are the salads, appetizers and desserts, which are huge!! Try the puff pastry dessert with berries - it is delicious!
(5)
Jillian B.
very nice ambiance. however, the waiter was not very knowledgeable about wines. also, our water glasses were hazy, and my rare tuna was overcooked. however, service was marvelous, and everything else was tasty.
(3)
Kassie C.
As someone coming from DC with some HIGH expectations when it comes to brunch, Grand Finale not only exceeded but SURPASSED any expectations I ever had coming here for brunch. Set in a Victorian style house in the village of Glendale, Ohio Grand Finale offers a Saturday and Sunday morning brunch that is an all-you-can-eat style buffet. Don't stop reading now though, because while it was buffet style it was the most delicious food you could ever imagine as well as just about anything you could think of as a breakfast food. From scrambled eggs to crepes to some biscuits and gravy - Grand Finale has it for you. Not to mention the petit desserts that ranged from tarts to creme brulee it just couldn't get any better... BUT THEN IT DOES! The menu also allows for patrons to order made-to-order blueberry pancakes, belgium waffles and other delicious and fresh breakfast foods as well. For those looking for a wake-up call, you can order mimosas or bloody mary's after 11 AM. Not to mention coffee and espresso drinks are also available. Do be warned that Grand Finale doesn't take reservations on the weekend for parties of eight or less, so be sure to get there allowing for time to wait. But it's worth it - I promise!
(5)
Scott M.
Great place for a nice dinner. Enjoyed a dinner with my parents here on a Wednesday Night. Located in a centuries old house in "downtown" Glendale, Grand Finale is an absolutely beautiful location, with multiple rooms for dining. We sat adjacent to the courtyard garden up against an exposed brick wall. For dinner I had a 6oz bacon-wrapped filet with a house salad and the champignon crepe. The filet was cooked as ordered which can often be difficult. The house salad was a little mundane even with the poppy seed dressing. The crepe was excellent. I would definitely go back for crepes. Speaking of which, I followed dinner with another crepe - apricot. A delicate concoction filled with cool vanilla ice cream and adorned with almond slivers and apricot preserves. Another excellent choice. I think we found Finale's wheelhouse. Everything here seemed a bit pricey. Most dinners (dinner alone) were in the $20 range. I don't doubt that this is an excellent place for brunches and would gladly go back for more of their savory and sweet crepe selection, as well as fancy ice cream drinks.
(4)
R G.
Good but pricey. The caesar salad your way with shrimp, three medium shrimp for an additional $4.50, was downright greedy. My scallop, bacon, blue cheese salad for $10.50 had what looked like five good sized scallops but turned out to be only two and a half cut crosswise. I wonder who got the other half. Come on folks. Don't ruin a Cincinnati institution by being stingy. Oh ye of the mile high chocolate moose pie, shape up!
(3)
Claude S.
We've driven past this restaurant for a couple of months now and its always busy. Last night we discovered why its so popular, they've got quite an extensive menu of items that pretty much fit anyone's tastes. We chose the Diver Scallops appetizer and it was great, the menu course version would suit anyone looking for a Scallops dish. We all selected to get a variety of their Crepes options, I chose the Cog au Vin and added mushrooms, other guests chose the seafood and ham dijon. All these were exceptional and quite filling as the dish has 2 large crepes. I added grill asparagus which were prepared correctly. We selected deserts that were so wonderful that you've got to simply go there and look at them, once viewed you might want to pass on dinner.
Went to dinner here with family. I got the chicken and asperagas (I can't spell) salad, it was very good. The bread is just ok, but I enjoyed the real butter. For dessert, we had the key lime pie, which was amazing, the chocolate tower (their specialty), and a fruit cobbler type dessert. The key lime pie was the best. The chocolate tower tastes more like a dense mousse so I didn't really like it. It was pricey but we enjoyed it and would probably go back. Get reservations!
(4)
Kate D.
So I had come here a few times as kid and remember it being good. Well my dad was with us and really wanted to try it again because he too remembered it being great... And well everything we had just awful. Its not the same as it use to be, everything seemed oversalted as if they were using premade sauces and frozen veggies on everything. Which for that type of money is not worth it. How can you screw up crepes! As a kid I remember the chocolate mousse being the coolest dessert I had seen and tasted. But it was like chalky and oily. Isn't mousse suppose to be light and airy? We left sad and will never return.
(2)
Carter M.
I have a lot of family in town, so there's always something to celebrate, and ever since my Grandparents moved out of the city and came to Springdale, this has been our go-to spot. The food and the decor are old-timey and busy fancy in a Victorian sort of way, as is the Glendale location. The deserts are ornate and fantastic. My one complaint: the entryway. Whoever decided to put the main exterior entrance, waiting area, coat area, bathrooms, and the entrances to both the upstairs and downstairs dining rooms, in one tiny hallway by a side door, needs to have their head examined. No one likes being driven into a claustrophobic rage before a meal. What's worse, it seems as though the entrance used to be out front at the sidewalk corner, but they moved it to the side because they thought that it would be more convenient for drivers. It always bugs me when people buy old buildings, then work themselves into a frenzy to prevent any unnecessary walking for area drivers. Or maybe they just needed more dining room space.
(4)
Andrea W.
Went here while we were in cincy for a nice steak and pretty good prices. First off, the decor is very garden like, interesting for sure and tons to look at. They have pictures up on the wall for sale, not in my price range or the price range of people who look at price tags but still cool. I had a strip steak with a Caesar salad, he had a really well seasoned mahi mahi. We both had cheesey rosmary potatoes, which were so good I could have ate an entire casserole dish of them. I got a flourless chocolate cake for dessert and he got a bananas foster, both very good. Overall it was a nice dinner, a lot of older people but I like old people. They eat early like I do, are quiet, and fall asleep before the clock reaches double digits.
(4)
MaryJo O.
This would be a good place to order salads and dessert, but skip the main course. We enjoyed the puff pastry dessert which had mixed berries, whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Others in our group thought the oreo cheesecake was excellent. I enjoyed the goat cheese salad and others liked their soup. The main courses were bland. Two of us had the chicken with spinach which was over-cooked and lacked flavor. The menu description sounded wonderful but the dish itself did not live up to the expectations. Every once in a while a small bit of prosciutto would surface to improve the shoe-leather chicken. One of us had the 9 oz. filet. The meat was lovely and cooked appropriately, but also lacked flavor. The au gratin potatoes were tasty but varied from al dente to well-cooked in the same dish. A bright spot, though, was the citrus scallops, which my husband enjoyed. The restaurant was pretty and eclectic, but needs editing. Years of accumulating stuff has given the place a sort of hodgepodge look. None of that would matter if the food was fabulous, but it just wasn't. If I were to return, it would not be for dinner.
(2)
Kellie A.
Luv, luv, luv this place! We go all the time! Service is great, the food is awesome! I get the steak every time and it's always cooked perfectly!
(5)
Linda J.
I was in Cincinnati last weekend and had the opportunity to sneak into the Grand Finale for dinner on Mother's Day. I say "sneak" because it was a last minute call, so we took a later reservation. I fully expected to find a tired waitstaff and a rushed experience: But NO! It was relaxed, prompt and happy service and of course, the food was superior. I had the Filet special with crab and bernaise,plus asparagus accompanied by baked potatoes au gratin. Started with a lovely fresh salad with goat cheese and the yummy bread basket assortment. My companion had a fettucine pasta dish with seafood and he added a baked artichoke app to the pasta dish, which made it total perfection. All the food was cooked perfectly and nothing was over salted, but seasoned just right. Very satisfying, but portioned correctly. I love the baked au gratin in it's own little casserole dish, nice and hot, tender and succulent! For dessert we split a white chocolate mousse with raspberries. I know all the desserts are great and this was yummy. Not too heavy and very light, just sweet enough. We sat on the patio and it was very charming and relaxed. It wasn't a date, but we really enojyed the feeling of privacy and the chance to relax and talk. It's a lovely atmosphere, but works for all kinds of occasions, not just for romance! I could see coming here for a business lunch or even a casual meal, too. I found the menu to be well priced. If you don't want the big ticket, there are plenty of options in all price ranges. I know some folks say to budget extra, and sure that's fun, too. But you can also have a salad and crepe (hold the cocktails) and it's quite affordable. Add the bread and share a dessert and it's not really more that the chain places up the road. But you get so much more and you support small business and a great place that has been a consistent winner for over 30 years. I'll be back, plus it's an excuse to drive around Glendale! Loved the whole experience, Enjoy!
(5)
Patricia M.
When I was a member of Wyoming Junior Women's Club many years ago a group of us would go there late Sunday afternoon and pack up the Sunday Brunch leftovers to be taken for the needy. That is no longer done due to food/health regulations. I've had many lunches and brunches at The Grand Finale over the years and have never been disappointed. Sunday brunch includes chicken livers, bacon, sausage, ham, creamy Chicken a la King, which I pour over the hash brown potatoes and scrambled eggs (yum!), a lovely poached egg sitting atop a large artichoke heart and topped with a little piece of bacon and hollandaise sauce (excellent), small crepe samplers, fabrulous bite-size desserts, made-to-order blueberry pancakes and waffles. A wonderful array of food and nothing like it anywhere else. The servers are very pleasant, the orange juice and coffee are great also. The atmosphere is pleasant, charming, comfortable. Easy access from the parking lot into the building, too....as a handicapped person, this is very important. They have even been kind enough to bring food to my car when I come alone and have no help getting in! We don't have many "nice", upscale restaurants in the Tri-County area. This is one where you want to go on special occasions. A big "thumbs up" to The Grand Finale. And don't forget to visit The Friendly Stop across the street for great food, too. There you can say "hello" to Adam, the owner, who makes most of the food from "scratch".
(5)
Bill E.
Came here for dinner one night with the family, it was fairly crowded. On certain nights Grand Finale has a special two entrees plus a bottle of wine for forty dollars. Since there were four of us we didn't do the special, instead my first course was the house salad and it was nice, crisp and fresh. My main course was the salmon and it was cooked perfectly and seasoned great. Of course coming to the Grand Finale one has to get dessert, I got a creme caramel and it was very good with a lot of caramel sauce. I still have not been here for brunch even though it's right up the street from our house. I will try the brunch soon.
(4)
Sarah F.
My 3-star review for lunch still stands, but I have to bump up the overall stars since I tried their lovely brunch buffet. It's reasonably priced at $15.50 per person, but do expect a long wait and a full parking lot (street parking can be found within a couple of blocks). To avoid waiting in the narrow, crowded hallway though, go up the stairs to the "serve yourself" coffee bar area--not only can you get a cup of coffee for under a buck, but have a seat, and even bring that same cup to your table for free refills. This time we sat out in the back enclosed atrium area, which was very pleasant--view of the outdoor patio, lots of natural light, and beautiful artwork on the walls. They offer several items brought directly to the table, including pancakes and waffles, included in the buffet price as well as a glass of fruit juice of your choice. I got blueberry pancakes, but they were just OK, so next time would just focus on the buffet proper. The mini-crepes and quiches were standouts, particularly the chicken and almond crepes, as well as the cheese and garlic grits (ask for a ramekin). There's also your standard eggs, bacon, biscuits, fruit, pastries, etc. The mini-desserts are really cute too--bite-size servings of lots of different desserts to try, and they also have their famous bread pudding and "hard sauce" on the buffet, which is definitely worth saving room for. If this place was closer to my house and not such a long wait for brunch, I know I would go more regularly. As it is, it will stay on the list for occasional, special brunches.
(4)
Moira V.
I went here for lunch with a group recently. I realize this restaurant is historic and considered a Cincinnati "gem" - but I would not recommend to anyone who really enjoys food. First, the service was terrible. Our group was seated upstairs and while I was trying to get up, one of their servers was sitting on the stairs using her iPhone. She didn't move an inch while I tried to get around her. Our actual server was also not very good. She would bring food for some of the people and say she had to run down to get the rest - then we would see her 5 minutes later taking orders at another table. She came back rarely to check on drinks and make sure everything was ok. The food itself was mediocre. I had the pot pie, which was pretty good but honestly probably just as good as a frozen one you get at the grocery store. It came with a salad that was less than stellar - just a bunch of shredded iceberg lettuce. Nothing I had blew me away for entrees that are all in the $12-$20. I think this place is probably catering to exactly who was there when we went - eldery folks that probaby don't have the highest food standard around. I won't be going back.
(2)
Lisa R.
Grand Finale has always been my favorite romantic restaurant so, my husband chose to propose there 8 years ago. We return every year on that date. This year I utilized their new Open Table reservation app and made a note that it was our engagement anniversary. We ordered our "usual" meals however, we did notice a new menu. All of the same entrees from the previous menu but a definite increase in prices. My Ginger Chicken had jumped up to $23. My husband's filet brochette was $27 - and was cooked perfectly but definitely lacked spices and desperately needed seasoning. Our waitress, one that we've had many times before, was friendly enough but definitely didn't offer any kind of special welcome or even mention a "congratulations" (our table candle didn't even get lit :) All in all, we left feeling a little disappointed that our once a year special evening didn't feel so special after all and commented it may be time to choose another location for our annual celebration.
(3)
Stacey L.
We hosted my mother's 60th birthday "Ladies' Lunch" in one of their private rooms and I couldn't have had a better experience! Food here is American-style and very "girl-friendly." Lots of soup and salad options. Their French onion soup is amazing. I love their Quiche of the day. Their soup, soup, and soup is a fun option- three cups of their different soups. Deserts are the highlight here! I tried their limelight (key lime) pie this past weekend. It was some of the best I have ever had. Their chocolate cordial pie is a favorite of the others in my family. Desert servings are HUGE! Our service for our party of 10 was excellent. We were never wanting for drink refills and all orders came out correct. The private room was a great option for us. We could be as loud as we wanted (and you know a group of 10 women were). It made the event very special as well. They have 2 private rooms you can reserve, one good for groups up to about 15 and one a little larger. I recommend this restaurant for any special occasion or a date night. Its got great charm, amazing food, and consistent service.
(5)
Angie M.
This place has interesting history. In addition, it has friendly, homey atmosphere and delicious food. I enjoyed the daily quiche and house salad. The food presentation is lovely and the portions are just right for leftovers. Grab a coffee or tea and enjoy some of their beautiful desserts.
(4)
Tom W.
Grand Finale is our go to "can't go wrong" restaurant when we want to have a nice dinner out with friends. From the top - - super tight parking spots - drive your small car. - experienced wait staff, wait staff's kid's friends bus staff, all friendly and hard working - nice wine list, the beer selection could use some updating with some local mirco brews - appetizers - soup bay-bee, soup. Never had anything else, no need to. - salads - go chck out the menu online- something for everyone - entrees- meat lover's paradise with steaks, chicken and pork chops usually on special. Last time I had the ahi tuna, and it was phenomenal; the stir fried veggies it was served on were integral to the entree, very artful in afoodie sort of way - desserts - it's why it's called Grand Finale anf had been around as long as I have, try anything.
(5)
Heather D.
Time to get better organized, prepared, and have respect for the guests. If you know it is going to be Mother's Day, make sure the restaurant is staffed to handle the rush. It is disappointing to wait in the RAIN, over an hour to finally have someone come down the line and notify us at that point the wait is probably another hour to hour and a half. It would have been nice to do that when we got in line at 9:45 for a 10am opening. We thought for sure the line would eventually move, but it hardly budged after folks got out of line. Note to host and management staff, when you see such a long line, someone could have gone down the line an hour earlier and not left guests looking like drowned rats on a special day.
(1)
Charlie T.
Maybe we will have to go back. We heard so many great things about this place and went for a special occasion. What we got was mediocre food that was overcooked (I believe, almost burnt), and one huge piece of very dry and not-so-tastey cheesecake. We were utterly disappointed. Every one else seems to love it, so maybe we just had very bad luck that day.
(1)
Chad F.
Let's start with what seems obvious to so many of us...there's a huge lack of great brunch buffet places in Cincinnati. At least from my wife's & my knowledge. And even though The Grand Finale is nearly 20 miles from where we live, I can tell you that we'll be back for the Sunday Brunch quite often! The food...let me start with the fact that most of the items were portioned in small sizes, perfect for taking several of many different items when you visited the buffet. GENIUS!!! That way you can try the sausage & the eggs on artichoke heart & the...well, you get the idea! Back to that poached egg on artichoke hearts...YOWZA! That was a new one on me and I loved it! And the fore mentioned sausage...way above par quality for brunch buffet. Let's talk service...it was great. Too often at brunch buffets the staffing level is kept really low because the managers want to cut costs in labor. Not at TGF! There were plenty of staff, to take your plate when empty, to fill your water, to fill your beverage. Yeah, because TGF is in an old house the walkways are narrow...and you have to "dance" with the staff when you meet them in said walkways...but who cares?! It's a cool old place, the staff is very pleasant and professional and the food is really really good! What else do you want? Value, you say? You want VALUE TOO?! Well, I'll tell you what...for my brunch dollar, this is a great value! I don't know if it's kosher to mention prices but I can tell you that we left there, with tip, for nearly half of what I thought it was worth. I kid you not. Thanks TGF...we'll be back...until you know us by our first names!
(5)
Amy C.
I'd say that the food here is overrated/overpriced though the dessert is AMAZING! I had the house salad with the balsamic dressing (just ok), crab crepe (way too salty and creamy for my taste), and chocolate paradise dessert (highlight of the meal). The chocolate paradise is basically flourless chocolate cake in a rasberry sauce...so delicious and hard to find in Cincinnati. I recommend the cake with ice cream vs whipped cream by the way...could be I just prefer ice cream to whipped cream though.
(3)
Angela C.
I stick to the 4 stars for general dining, but just went to Sunday brunch at Grand Finale and must give it 5 stars for brunch for the following reasons: 1. Crepes: you get to sample several types of their savory crepes in mini-version. 2. Desserts: you get to sample as many tasty little desserts as you want 3. FRIED CHICKEN LIVER! Don't be afraid!! It's so good! Try it with the biscuits and gravy! 4. A wide assortment of breakfast goodies (plus the ability to order fresh-made little pancakes or belgian waffles on top of everything else). 5. Heavenly food coma to follow. It's not the cheapest brunch buffet in the world, but when you get to sample all the crepes and desserts, definitely worth it. The brunch does get pretty packed on Sundays and the place is small, so plan accordingly! If you sit upstairs you might get seated sooner but you will have to maneuver the steep stairs and the crowd waiting for seats in the hallway. All together, it's a great place for breakfast brunch because of the number of food choices, plus good service and a warm ambiance.
(5)
Tree S.
I recently visited two different times after not having a meal here for quite a few years. The interior is still horrendously ugly and in desperate need of updating, and the seating is still crammed and uncomfortable. On the first visit we received excellent service and a good meal. Our young daughter was treated like royalty by the staff with no prompting from us and I was impressed with the generous servings and healthy meal we ordered for her from the children's menu. The second visit not much later was quite different. The service was terrible. A very rude and slow waitress made our visit so unpleasant that we finally just packed up and left with our food in take out containers. Possibly an off night for her but you know what? When you pay that much for a meal, the waitstaff shouldn't have off nights. There are some high notes with the food, however a lot of it is drowning in thick sauces that overwhelm and it's of course not Vegetarian friendly, or even that friendly to those concerned with eating healthy.
(3)
Andy D.
A Great Meal Everytime I love going to the Grande Finale. It just has a way of taking you back. I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for the decor. Something about it is just very elegant and nice...I feel like Jimmy Stewart would dig the joint. The food is well above par, and the service is wonderful....The Sunday Brunch is great too. It is amazing at Christmas time. Santa comes around to all of the tables and talks to the children...really nice touch! My Trifecta - Lobster Deviled Eggs, Rack of Lamb (Mid-Rare), and Bananas Foster with a Bailey's and Coffee for desert!
(4)
Marie E.
The buffet was pretty good. It got tons of great reviews and so maybe the hype was too much and it just couldn't live up to it but for us it was just okay. I won't go back if I am picking but wouldn't refuse to return. I have to admit I am just not a huge fan of buffets. It just feels cheap and everything is usually luke warm. Glad I tried it but probably not worth a repeat.
(2)
Becky S.
Best Feature: So much deliciousness I can't even ... wow! Worst Feature: Definitely a pricier venue, have some extra funds. My first visit here was for a very special occasion for me and my fiance - it was our 2 year anniversary dinner and my fiance decided to surprise me with a dinner at this restaurant. I had no idea where we were going until we finally pulled in to their private lot for parking and headed in. We were all fancied up and ready to go since I'd been warned dinner would be a fancy affair. I walked in and immediately loved the character of the place. We walked down a hall to the hostess and before we were seated we spotted a cute display case with a few foods displayed, one being some kind of chocolate pecan pie. YES PLEASE. The entire place felt very intimate and cozy, just the perfect place to have our anniversary dinner. I am not 100% for sure, but it seemed that at least for Saturday night it was reservation only. My fiance had made ours but even before we said anything, the hostess had first asked us, "Reservations?" so that's what I'm going with. Maybe not, maybe it's walk-in friendly as well, but the reservation option was nice regardless. We were seated at a smaller table with seating for two. The only thing I wasn't as big a fan of was our location next to some kind of service station. I could hear the consistent movement behind me during our dinner, but that would be one of the only "meh" points I had for our entire visit. Our waitress was incredibly nice - gave us the friendliest service and was always on top of our drinks. We had water to start and then both ordered a wine. I had an Austrailia Shiraz (glass portion, not bottle) and my fiance had a Cabernet Sauvignon. Both were fantastic and went fantastically with our meal. We started with the bacon, lobster and tomato deviled egg appetizer. If you are perusing appetizers, just know this one blew us both away with how flavorful and delicious it was. It was creamy, very flavorful with a slight kick, and made us both decide we had chosen wonderfully. The three eggs on lettuce in a glass and though there weren't a lot of them, we shared the eggs evenly and were very impressed with the dish. I ordered veal with asparagus and a crab cake on top with the crepe champignon (filled with spinach, mushroom, cheese) while my fiance ordered the Chicken Duo with steamed vegetable side. The salad we both started with (comes with the entree) was incredible and quite filling, leaving me very satisfied before I even got my main dish. As far as entrees go, however, those were definitely the real highlights of our dinner. I literally could not tell you which was better - my veal was incredible and I loved the crab cake, which was a surprise since in all honesty I'm not a crab cake fan. His chicken dish (we shared bites) was also amazing, however; the winner between his Chicken Duo dishes was the Chicken Ginger for both of us. The other was great as well, but the fruity spicy walnut-topped chicken just made your mouth surrender in total bliss. Yes, THAT good. We opted out of dessert this time around despite the fantastic selection (and my affinity for chocolate + pecans) as we were quite full. The total bill was about as much as we expected (pricey), but totally worth it. It wouldn't be something we'd hit up frequently as we are budget-minded folks, but for a special occasion this venue definitely hit the mark. Great food, fantastic service, and a cute, charming, and romantic restaurant I will happily give all my monies to for such a great experience. They earned all the stars with their fantastic food and I have to say that my fiance made a fantastic choice in choosing this restaurant to celebrate our two year anniversary. :)
(5)
Mallory R.
Wow! Loved this restaurant! They have a fantastic brunch, which is what we went for. I'm not sure how good the rest of the menu is, but if it's anything like the spread they put out for brunch, you won't be disappointed! My fiance's parents live a couple miles from the restaurant and took us there for Sunday brunch. We braved the cold to stand in line outside at 10:25 and were seated by 10:35. The brunch starts at 10:30. It was a little crowded inside, just because it is a cramped restaurant, but everything was great -- service, price, variety and quality of food, and atmosphere. The decor inside is just adorable and I liked the bird cages on the wall. I would definitely come back and hopefully get some outdoor seating in the summertime! Of all the brunch buffet menu items I ate today, I'd say the standout ones were: sauteed mushrooms, Belgian waffle, and bread pudding (a must have!!!)
(5)
Brandon L.
This place does not respect new customers. You need to be both elderly and a regular to get good service and even greeted at the door. They act like they are an exclusive old money spot in the Hamptons or something when they are far from it - don't waste your time - avoid this place.
(1)
Dave B.
I've been to the Grand Finale many times, and I've never been disappointed. The food is amazing and the service is top-notch. The most recent visit was with a large group for a friend's birthday. There were six of us, and we all got something different, and all of us loved our meals. I got the crab crepes, and they were excellent. My wife got the filet mignon brochette, and while I didn't think you could pull off what is essentially filet mignon on a kebab, Grand Finale nailed it. I had a bite, and it was delicious. I would tell you to save room for desert, but their deserts are huge! Your best bet is to get one and share it. The chocolate cordial pie is a mountain of chocolate mousse in a pecan crust, and it is mouth-watering. The white chocolate mousse and raspberries is also one of my favorites. I've also had brunch at Grand Finale, and it's fantastic. A great selection of their different dishes, plus some brunch-only items. The decor is all antiques, so the chairs are usually mismatched and looking a bit worn. Maybe that's a ding in your book, maybe not. It doesn't bother me. I think it adds to the ambiance, actually. A definite ding is the parking. The lot is tiny and cramped, so your best bet is to find a spot on the street. There's not much they can do about it, so I don't fault GF too much, but beware -- the parking lot can be difficult to navigate! If you're looking for a great "date" restaurant, Grand Finale is an excellent choice. It's incredibly romantic, although it's a bit on the pricey side, so keep that in mind if you're on a budget. It's also not a place for those on a diet, and their aren't a lot of vegetarian options on the menu, either. Overall, GF is one of my favorite "special treat" restaurants!
(4)
Stephanie B.
Yum!! I had a lovely lunch with a friend at the Grand Finale. There are many things that this place does very well! First- the service was excellent. My friend and I were catching up after a while- so we wanted to take the meal at a more leisurely pace. Our waitress never rushed us and set the pace perfectly. Second- the food! The menu is filled with a lot of french classics, and they seem to execute the dishes better than any other place I've seen in the area. Try their quiche of the day and you won't be disappointed! Finally- the atmosphere. It's a bit of an old-fashioned feel, but it works. Delish!
(4)
Sarah P.
Went for lunch on a weekday, after years of wondering if this Cincinnati institution lives up to its reputation. The noise level was so high that the screaming baby at the table next to us really wasn't that noticeable. The clutter level of the faux-Victorian decor is also so high that I found it unnerving. The service was professional and flawless, and I thought the food was good--not great--and a reasonable value for the price. Where else can you even find crepes on a menu any more? I get that this restaurant is known for its desserts, and I didn't order one. Might have had a slightly better impression if I had. All in all, worth a visit, not a disappointment, but also not a place I'll probably return to anytime soon.
(3)
Carol N.
I have been a patron of the Grand Finale since my first visit in 1979 and it had been favorite of mine ever since. It holds many special memories, so of course it was my first choice to bring out of town guests and family to celebrate the graduation of my son on Saturday, May 30th. Our reservation, made on Open Table several weeks in advance, was for 3:30, and as I expected the dining room was quiet with a total of only 4 tables filled including the patio. Dispite the availability of beautiful, roomy areas and tables my party of 8 was seated in a cramped corner table for 6 in the patio section, with a make due two-top round table added to the seating, next to the wait station. Outside of the windows where there is a lovely garden for us to view sat two naked conference tables with dirty linens piled on top of them. To be honest. I was I was not only disappointed, I felt embarrassed. Please don't suggest we may have asked for a different table, my guests were quite elderly and moving them would have made them even more uncomfortable since they were settled when I arrived. I still felt confident the food would be as good as always, but unfortunately, some of the dishes were not up to par. I had the chicken breast with wild mushroom sauce and the meat was overcooked, the ginger chicken did not have an appetizing presentation and there was only one rave review which came from my father who had scallops. The one standout was our server, Mike, who did an excellent job. After this experience my confidence in this old favorite is greatly diminished.
(2)
Kate L.
What a cute place! I loved the intimate feel of Grand Finale. The food was awesome. My favorite was the seared ahi tuna. The scallop appetizer was also amazing. It was a bit of a drive, but it was worth it for the unique experience. Unfortunately, we didn't save room for dessert so I feel like I didn't get the full "grande finale" experience.
(4)
Brent F.
While some of the waiters are friendly the management was rude and basically kicked us out because they had a large party coming one time. Wait times are long and the food is mediocre. Some waiters are friendly but others are rude or short with patrons. Wide spread of food but around the quality of a Golden Corral buffet. Some of the food was cold. Would avoid unless there is anything else better close by. Cracker Barrel is a great alternative for a Sunday breakfast. Not worth the money. Just an expensive building with cheap food!
(2)
Thom F.
No one answers the phone to make a reservation during businifess hours. Can't make a reservation on Open Table even though they participate. Doesn't matter how good it is if you can't get in.
(1)
Donald B.
To start, the hostess attempted to sit us at the worst table in the room by the bussed dishes though there were obviously better tables in the room. Service was slow and apologies only go so far. The onion soup was very good as well as the Caesar salad, the seafood crepe was tasty. but the coq au vin crepe was sub-par. It's been 20 years since our last visit and it'll probably be another 20. Perhaps if the hostess has not insulted us with a bad table our whole experience might not have been so tainted. She then wished us a farewell as we departed with her back turned to us.
(2)
Xiaoheng P.
I like everything about this restaurant, except their speed. they're SLOOOOW. Granted we did came in with a relatively large group of about ~20 people, nonetheless, it shouldn't take 70 minutes to get to our entree. By the time the food was out, I had to scrambled it down my throat so I could leave early to attend a meeting. That being said, if you have the spare time and dont mind waiting a little, I think it's worth trying out. The dish that I ordered was Ahi Tuna with wasabi dressing; absolutely succulent. The tuna fish is sashimi grade, so you can order it raw without worrying about food poisoning. I had it rare, so the interior was mostly raw and tender. The wasabi dressing was light but flavorful. Unfortunately I left before the desserts were out. so I couldn't comment on that. Overall, i think it was really good. I left in a hurry, so I dont know how much my portion cost. presumably it'll be around 20 dollars.
(4)
Jason Y.
This is a nice quaint place. First time here. Food is delicious and the service was nice. I had the special (some tilapia in lobster sauce). It was nice and savory. For desert, we ordered the mixed berry cobbler and the caramel custard. Both were delicious. Would come again; keep in mind that this place is a little pricey
(5)
Rhonda S.
Been going here for 25 years. Love crepes, herb salad and chocolate cordial pie. Rolls are not as good as years gone by nor is the salad as good but it's still my favorite place.
(5)
Marie A.
New to the area and read the online reviews..... In my opinion the drinks were well made and the service was excellent. The restrooms stunk like the sewer line was backed up or rotten eggs, which of course, is a huge turn off while dining. I thought the smell would go away but every time I went in the smell lingered and wasn't going away. The food, drinks, and service was amazing but the smell still haunts me! lol We were with a group and stayed for a couple of hours, and the best part is not one server or staff person rushed us! We also got the cheesecake to take home for desert..... delicious! Make reservations and try this place!
(4)
Ben S.
Had brunch here a few times, parents literally live 20 meters away when I visit. I mean, its for older folk here in Cinci (makes sense my grandmother took me there years ago when I was in college). Wasn't really a fan. The selection is lacking and the crepes weren't too crazy. Basically, if you need a place to take your grandparents, go here. They have cozy seating and decor that Queen Victoria would enjoy. Is that bad? No, just not for me. My main thing is the food, and I think out of all the items on the list, I think I really only wanted two items that sounded like they'd be good, and neither have really impressed me much to go back. :/. Its a decent restaurant, no denying, but not my taste I suppose.
(3)
Katie F.
After scouring the various Yelp reviews, I went in with a dual mindset-either this is going to be the best brunch ever, or as average as a hotel breakfast. I found it was much closer to the former. Here are the highlights-my friend made a reservation for 8 the day before we went, and when we arrived, we were seated right next to the buffet (not cramped at all!) The complimentary juice drink was in a wine glass, and was enough to last the whole meal. A lot of the food was really good: cheesy grits, mini crepes, cheesecake dessert. The biggest highlights-as a vegetarian, I was cautious about what to expect from a meat-heavy buffet, but I was soon to be surprised. The man who seemed to be in charge of the food (asking if he could help whenever someone looked curious) looked into if they could make the poached egg on artichoke vegetarian (all of those available had bacon) and not only did he get me two (which were delicious) he had the kitchen special-make vegetarian quiche for me, without any request on my part ( I had just inquired if any of the quiche were vegetarian, and he said no). I have to say, that way a delightful treat, above and beyond what I would expect, and really nice for anyone who is vegetarian. Things that were just ok- the bread pudding was just fine, but not that ooey-gooeyness that is perfect in bread pudding, and the hard sauce that went with it was buttery as all get out, but not that awesome meltiness that you want on bread pudding. The blueberry pancakes were dry, and felt "healthy" which could be awesome at a different restaurant, but guys, we're at a buffet. No one is being healthy. Also, I asked for the Vermont maple syrup listed on the menu, and was told that they were out! So, had to pour the plastic packet of syrup onto the pancake. The service was attentive and kind. I feel like there is value in the meal. All 8 of us enjoyed our time, and will definitely return. Again, major props for the vegetarian accommodations!
(4)
Suzanne S.
I had dinner at what used to be one of my favorite local restaurants but it's been a few years since I've been here. We stood for well over 5 minutes before being greeted. We were waiting in a cluster of confusion with several waiters entering their orders and also patrons trying to leave the restaurant and people behind us who ended up leaving before being seated. The smell from the bathrooms was pretty strong in the entry area. Everything combined gave a very unwelcoming impression and I wish now that we would have followed the lead of the people behind us that left. But we didn't and we were finally seated. Ordered drinks that were delish along with salads and entrees which were tasty. They tried to remove the salads multiple times even though we weren't even half way through them. Also, the waitress reeked of cigarettes, bad. Ordered desserts. Got the bill immediately, (a hundred bucks for this? I expect more for these prices) before we even got the desserts, because the waitress wanted to leave. It was 8:30. We were seated at 7:30. On a Friday night. Bad experience.
(2)
Meg M.
This has been a local favorite of ours for nearly 20 years, but the past couple of times it has been a disappointment. I think tonight was our last night. Our waitress (Ashley?) largely ignored our party of four in favor of a large party seated adjacent to us, while the bus girl hovered and repeatedly attempted to remove plates while we were still eating. The food was good but is no longer the quality it was years ago, and definitely not worth the price. Our server, who was obviously in a rush to leave even though it was a Wednesday at 8:30pm, finally only paid attention to our table when she made a point to reiterate several times how much our original bill was before we used the groupon-- very uncouth. She then returned several times within a couple of minutes to see if we'd paid. For a restaurant with this history and acclaim, I would expect servers who have better manners and who actually want to work for their tips. At such a nice restaurant, patrons shouldn't have their bills swept up off the table as soon as they've written the tip; a trained server would wait until the customers left to clear the table.
(2)
Sue L.
Looking over their menu, they offer a variety of appetizers ranging in price from about $6-$10. Some of the selections include artichoke fritters with Bearnaise sauce, crab cakes, fried oysters, and escargot in phyllo. They offer a number of salads which can be ordered in a small size to accompany your dinner or come in an entree size with or without something added such as seafood or chicken, and also they offer a couple of soups: French oignion and a soup of the day. There are a number of meat and seafood offerings, including Filet Mignon, several kinds of chicken, rack of lamb, shrimp, lobster, oysters, crab cakes, etc., (varying in price from $19.95 to $31.50 with lobster at the market price). Also on the dinner menu are some A La Carte entrees such as Lobster Linguini, Citrus Crusted Scallops, Grand Spaghetti Toss (can be vegetarian) and a few others, (ranging in price from $12.95 to $21.95). As well, there is the selection of crepes, (ranging in price from $11.95 to $19.95), that include a variety of fillings. They also offer a wine list and an extensive dessert menu (you will be asked when you arrive if you are there for dinner or just dessert!) and they also have a brunch buffet on Sundays. Read full review here: palatablepastime.com/201…
(4)
L J.
We hosted a bridal shower at The Grand Finale this Saturday, and everyone loved it. The private party room was arranged perfectly for our group. Our server, Anita, was friendly and super attentive. Great service! Food and cocktails were great as well. Thanks!
(5)
Jan M.
Had reservations for brunch at 1pm. My friend got there a few minutes before me, was seated and served coffee. I got there right at 1, waited a few minutes to be seated, then we waited 15 minutes for the server to take our drink order and send us to the buffet. Our juice was delivered while we up at the buffet, both drinks were warm. We didn't see the server again until we were finished and he brought the check. The only reason we got refills on water and coffee is because the bus girl felt sorry for us. I don't understand the poor service, all he had to do was supply drinks! We served ourselves from the buffet (which was mediocre at best). We complained to the manager who comped us for one of our meals. We gave the tip directly to the bus girl since she's the only one that paid attention to us.
(2)
Chris C.
I brought a friend to lunch here, and she too just loved it! Everything was so excellently tasty that we stuffed ourselves!! Even though you get a lot of food for a great price - I usually have to take some home, I guess we were really hungry because we managed to eat it all & get desserts! The Chocolate flourless cake with raspberry sauce & real whipped cream is MY favorite. My friend got the lemon cheesecake - I got to taste it and it was devine! See my 3 photos of the food above.
(5)
Tony L.
My wife and I have been going to the Grand Finale for years - it's one of our favorite places for special occasions. Service is almost always excellent. The crepes are exceptional and every entree is worth a try. Terrific ambience. Nice wine list. This place is a keeper.
(5)
Mike T.
Outstanding! My girlfriend and I had dinner here on Valentine's Day, and the ambiance was perfect. I had the filet Mignon, and she the salmon cakes. Our food was outstanding on all accounts, and our waitress, a very nice Russian woman, was a lot of fun. It's always hard to choose a bottle of wine with dinner here, since there are so many great choices, but we had a sauvingnon blanc that went very well with our meal. We'll certainly be back here!
(5)
Brandee B.
Up until recently, I had only had sunday brunch here which was pretty good. But now I have had their lunch and I have to say it was great! I went out of my comfort zone and tried something different for my taste. It was their take on cashew chicken with ginger and walnuts. It was a grilled chicken breast with a ginger walnut topping and a mushroom or spinach crepe(your choice) on the side. I chose the mushroom crepe and got a side of the soup of the day which was musroom and potato chowder. Yes, I know alot of mushrooms but as you can see I am a fan. The chowder was creamy and delicious and the crepe was crispy and cheesy, I also glanced at their specialty drinks and desserts and while I was full and did not get them. I will probably be back to try them.
(4)
Amy C.
This is a special occasion place for my family, where you can count on fantastic food and a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. My husband and I just went for Valentine's Day & the tables and restaurant were decorated with old-fashioned Valentines, lace hearts & red & pink fresh flowers. Nice. The star is always the food, even from the complimentary fresh rolls and gourmet butter. I had steak, that even well done, was extremely tender, French onion soup that's the best in the city & wound up taking home the paper-thin, crunchy (how do they do that?) mushroom & cheese sauce baked crepe that came with the steak because I was too full. My husband's dish is one of his favorite at any restauurant & didn't disappoint - paprika wine sauce, shrimp & asparagus crepes. We were both contemplating on the drive home how we could recreate the crepes at home!
(5)
Ada K.
This place looks like your fancy grandma's house, where everything is old and grand but a little quirky and not too precious. I had the fillet mignon and the raspberries with white chocolate mousse. This restaurant is now a Gift Card Day favorite (an awesome holiday where, in one day, we use all of the gift cards that have been accumulated over the year).
(4)
Truman L.
An old house turned fabulous French inspired restaurant in the historic district of Glendale, the Grand Finale was a great find. The house is partitioned into 6 rooms on two floors. The first floor consists of the main room, which is where the brunch buffet is located, the Patio (which used to be completely outside dining, and now has exposed brick walls), and the Tea Room (named for all the teapots and kettles decorating the room). Upstairs, you'll find 3 more rooms, one of which is called the Cabernet Room, named for the bottles of cabernet on display. The brunch is hard to beat (though I personally liked the Sunday brunch at Moonshine in Austin better, Wife thinks otherwise...and since it was her birthday brunch, what she says goes.) Back to the brunch - you can choose from your regular fare, scrambled eggs, sausage, and bacon, all made to perfection. Or you can have your choice of Belgian waffle, quiche, 4 different types of crepes (spinach, mushroom, ham & cheese, or chicken & almond), biscuits and gravy, homemade chicken a la king (the only thing I didn't prefer), and mushrooms (AMAZING). They also have a great mix of fresh fruits and pastries. But the main excitement, or dare I say, the "Grand Finale", of the brunch was the desserts. They have a homemade bread pudding, which was really good. And a huge assortment of dessert samplers - chocolate mousse with pecans, white chocolate mousse with chocolate chips, chocolate chip cheesecake, custard with caramel, and baked cherries. I give the Grand Finale 5 stars for the brunch. And if you stick to the crepes, the mushrooms, and the desserts, you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Lauren A.
The decor was great. It's so cozy and a beautiful old house. That's about it. The food was crap. I ordered the garlic parmesan artichoke hearts. Not only were they swimming in butter, it was so obvious they were not fresh. So, they serve canned food, gross. To top it off my Dad's lobster crepe just didn't smell fresh and I'm certain it wasn't. I don't want to smell my fish, I want to taste it. Get it together over there!
(1)
Liz A.
i know everyone from cincinnati loves the sunday brunch at this place because they grew up eating it or whatever but i find it mediocre, overpriced, and annoying. everything is overcooked and swimming in oil and little children are sticking their grimy hands into the said overcooked, oil coated buffet line food. loud, crowded, expensive, terrible food, horrible decor, and i got into a car accident once in their parking lot so i extra hate it.
(1)
Jennifer R.
I half-expected this to be one of those places that gets pretentious when they build a reputation. I had read so many reviews and thought to myself that it seemed to good to be true. On father's day, I had the task of making reservations for our large party of 15 people for brunch. I made them way in advance, which was great since it was packed when we arrived. We were seated immediately, thought it was a little cramped; that's to be expected with such a large party on a holiday Sunday though. Our drinks took a little while to get to the table, but again, the place was packed to the gills and the service was fine considering that fact. The buffet was set up as efficiently as possible, with two lines forming (one on each side) and desserts across the back. I didn't feel rushed (many places are like that on holidays) and we all ate our fill of delicious, rich food. I loved the artichokes with poached egg on top. The bread pudding was incredible. I think I tried one of everything. The staff kept the food coming as pans were emptying quickly in the full dining room. Everything was kept at a proper temperature. We all liked the juice choices that went beyond just OJ or grapefruit juice. A few of us had mimosas or a bloody mary. While I was very pleased and I got compliments on the choice, I think I'd like to go back on a regular weekend because I suspect it's even better.
(4)
Doug S.
Great food, very rich and delicious...Think of eating at the Grandmas house, the g-ma you always wanted to have that made the best of anything (on the menu). Wait staff was attentive, professional and completely on the job! An absolute GEM in Cincinnati..GO!
(4)
Jenny M.
This restaurant is one of Cincinnati's jewels. It's perfect restaurant for celebrating "big" events, private events, & a great date restaurant (if you're really looking to impress your date). My family has been going to this French-inspired restaurant since I was 10. Back in the day, they used to sell their desserts dirt cheap after the lunch rush & my dad who works for GE, would swoop in & bring us home a tasty treat. :) Everything on the menu is delish! The prices are kind of high for the 'Nati, but you get a salad & side with every meal (the creamy avocado dressing is to die for). Plus, the amount of food is a good deal. Items to try: -Crepes (sweet & savory) -Ginger Chicken (quite possibly the BEST chicken dish I've had anywhere in the U.S.) -Filet Mignon (they know how to sear a good cut of meat & wrap it with bacon) -Dessert (especially the cheesecakes, which are better than the Cheesecake Factory's)
(5)
Brandy B.
I was really looking forward to going to Grand Finale, after looking at the menu and reading the reviews. Once we got there, the decor was adorable and the restaurant was cozy but not too crowded. We arrived early, around 5:30 on a Saturday - if you're planning on a more normal dinnertilme like 7 or so, I'd recommend a reservation. I want to preface my review by saying that I'm not a foodie or a food snob; I love everything from Cici's pizza to Outback to the venison with chipotle potatoes I had at a little Latin-fusion place in Chicago. Our salads were quite tasty. I got the goat cheese salad and my husband had the house salad. Sadly, though, things started going downhill after the salad. I got the filet and my husband got the strip steak with a crabcake (they will sub in strip steak in any of the "Filet + X" menu items). Both steaks were the most bland steaks I have ever had in my life, and my husband agrees. I don't even know how you make meat so flavorless. Did they boil it before grilling or something? The filet was plenty tender, but even the bacon it was wrapped in was flavorless. How do you do that? How do you delete the flavor from bacon?? We finally both had to put salt all over our meat to bring out any little bits of flavor it had in it - and neither of us usually puts extra salt in our food. But they clearly had not seasoned this meat AT ALL before cooking it (not that I've ever had unseasoned meat this bland - I really don't know how they did it). His crabcake was good, though. He got the mushroom crepe on the side and loved it, I got the rosemary potatoes gratin and they were okay. VERY heavy on the rosemary, and a little undercooked, but better than the steaks. Maybe next time I'll stick with the crepes everyone raves about. Then dessert was a mixed bag. My husband got the flourless chocolate cake, and it was very good. Dense, flavorful, very tasty. I, however, got the chocolate cordial "mousse" cake, and it was... an experience. It wasn't exactly bad, but it was kind of scary. It's very sweet, and the chocolate flavor is not very bold. It's the texture that's crazy. I would not call it a mousse, as it is nothing like any mousse I've ever had. It's very dense, a bit like if ice cream were solid at room temperature, but with just a hint of greasiness that says to me that shortening is a major ingredient. There is no way that this is entirely dairy-based. We took half of it home and it did not change its shape or texture at all over the next couple of days - no melting, no softening, nothing. I'm not totally sure it qualifies as "food." Again, it didn't taste *bad*, it was just... strange. Overall, there was the good (the salads, the crepe, the crabcake, the flourless chocolate cake), the bad (the steaks), and the scary (that cordial thing). I won't be going back anytime soon, and if you go, avoid the steaks. But you might want to try the chocolate cordial pie just for the experience.
(3)
Daniel W.
avocado dressing with my salad. yeast roll, butter. iced tea. possibly the chicken ginger with a mushroom crepe, although I've tried about everything on the menu and its all good. a piece of chocolate cordial pie. (the greatest dessert of all time) then feeling sick to my stomach because I tried to eat the whole piece. This has probably happened 20+ times. I feel really young everytime I go there due to the age of the other patrons. Its been to long since I last saw a paper doilie. I think I must go back soon.
(5)
Erin M.
I had a $50 gift certificate for Grand Finale burning a hole in my pocket since July, so this morning my boyfriend and I decided to head over there for their famous Sunday brunch buffet. First things first, I love brunch buffets. During my most recent extended discussion on buffets, when asked what my favorite category of buffet was, breakfast won the prize. There's just too many great options for breakfast... Anyway, Grand Finale. The brunch goes from 10:30 to 2:30 and costs $15.50 per adult ($1 extra for coffee or tea). You get one glass of fruit juice and the buffet, along with made-to-order waffles and pancakes. We stuck to the buffet and got two plates worth each. The poached egg was a little disappointing, and the crepes (though he liked them). The quiche, bacon, and homefries were great. The bread pudding was very good as well, though by the time I had a huge piece at the end I was too full to enjoy it. The "dessert round" was good too-- little glass dishes with samples of their most popular desserts. Between the two of us, we split some sort of rum mousse w/ chocolate chips, key lime pie, white chocolate mousse, and custard w/ caramel sauce. We left fat and happy. There were a few cons though. Table service was kind of slow; we had to wait a good 15 minutes just for her to come get the bill. The selection was a bit smaller than I expected, but it was all good. A little crowded but never had to wait long- we arrived at 11:30 and didn't have to wait for a table. (On that note, they only take reservations for 8 or more for brunch). All in all, if you're in the area, it's worth checking out, but I wouldn't make the trip to Sharonville if you're already near a First Watch.
(4)
Natalie B.
When in my hometown, this is always a stop for me. The crepes are fantastic, though rich, and the steaks are also terrific. However, the one thing you must get (it's not on the menu) is the puff pastry. I promise, you will think you have died and gone to dessert heaven.
(5)
Mikie B.
Grand Finale is my all-time favorite restaurant in Cincinnati. Few things compare to Grand Finale's creamy avocado house salad dressing, crepes, or Chocolate Cordial Pie. One of Grand Finale's unique items on the menu are their crepes - they're not a dessert item here and you just don't find them very much these days. Of the crepes, I recommend the champignon or king crab. Their filets are top notch, as is the pot pie and the salad menu. For dessert, you will miss out if you don't try the Chocolate Cordial Pie. Not even some of the five-star restaurants I've patronized have had chocolate mousse that compares in taste and texture (density) without being too rich. I have lived in Chicago for years, and still crave it, though I only get to Grand Finale once or twice a year. The cherries jubilee are good alternative, though they don't flambe them at the table any more, like they used to. Grand Finale has been consistently good for as long as I can remember. Even though the original owners sold the restaurant within the past few years, the quality has not declined in any significant way (the most noticeable being missing avocado in the house salad). It is an after-Christmas treat in my family, as well as a Mother's Day brunch tradition.
(5)
Ramzy N.
When people breathlessly talk about how great this place is, your expectations are immediately too high. Honestly...what is the big deal? Oooh, a big long wait...ooooh, an old house...oooh absolutely decent food. Ho hum. It is totally serviceable but not in the same stratosphere as the hype.
(3)
John B.
I don't recall what C and I ordered for dinner, but I recall having the impression that the food was good. Not stellar, but solid. The decor is traditional. We thought our waitress was going to be mediocre because she failed on basic wine knowledge, but she was long on service, which made up for her lack of training regarding wine. I recall that we shared a really tasty desert. A couple of elderly women at a nearby table had order desert, but we didn't see it on the menu. Our waitress informed us that it was something that was always available, but got formalized on the menu. Sadly, I don't recall the name. Sorry. It was a concoction of puff pastry, ice cream, berries, whipped cream. Describe it and I'm sure they will know it instantly.
(3)
Alex A.
It's a very special place, a haunted house full of antiques where they serve pretty decent food.
(4)
Sharon H.
Decided to cancel a reservation at Golden Lamb and have my "girlfriends" Christmas dinner here instead. Very wise choice! Food was better than I had remembered from a visit years ago and the ambience and charm of this place at Christmas is as good or better than the Golden Lamb. If you read my reviews of the Golden Lamb, then you know how disappointed I have been with the changes they have recently made. I will no longer need to give Golden Lamb another attempt to get it right now that I have reacquainted myself with Grand Finale. The restaurant was decorated so nice for the holidays and honestly reminded me of my holiday trips to NYC and my routine stop to Tavern on the Green (sadly, no longer in business). Our waitress was one of the best and extremely attentive and had a very cute Russian accent. She was loaded with personality and charm. The wine offering was impressive. Most of us had the salmon or fish entrees and they were ample and excellent. Everything was made to order and the perfect temperature. The place was packed so this was a feat in itself. Definitely worth a visit and it is beautiful this time of year. I will be going back!
(4)
Teresa S.
It was the morning after the Fourth of July and my family and I were so hungry we were thinking about settling simply for a Bob Evans. My mom refused and search her navi for a zagat rated place. A few minutes later she told us about Grand Finale and its buffet. I thought "oh geez, just another buffet." When I arrived, I was shocked to see the old house. We went inside and were seated within 10 minutes. Our waiter was quick to come and serve. I ordered their freshly made blueberry pancakes along with the buffet. When I saw the buffet, I was pleasantly surprised. When I TASTED the buffet I was even happier. The food was incredible. This was overall a GREAT find and my family and I left extremely pleased.
(5)
Thor C.
This place has a reputation for being a great date finale, the kind of decadence to get you in like Flynn. And I'm sure the crepes and desserts are fantastic, but our interest was in brunch. And oh, what a brunch. There are few things I like more than bacon. And bacon alongside artichoke benedict and crepes is better than bacon by itself. Plus the desserts were very tasty. Go hungry. Allow some time.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Annie M.
Awesome Brunch! The Grand Finale sets the bar very high when it comes to its' Sunday Brunch! [NOTE] The Grand Finale's Sunday Brunch is very popular. I believe that the restaurant only accepts reservations for very large parties, so plan on waiting. Once seated, you are offered a complimentary glass of fruit juice, and have choices of several different kinds. We ordered cranberry and V8, but the usual choices for juice are available. The waitress also offered us Belgian waffles, blueberry pancakes and sauteed mushrooms. The rest of the brunch is served buffet style. My most favorite item on the buffet are the cheesy garlic grits. They are incredible. I always ask for a ramekin for the grits, because they're easier to eat that way. Another favorite of mine are the poached eggs served on artichoke bottoms and covered in hollandaise sauce... incredible! There are also an assortment of crepes, quiches and deserts, all of which the Grand Finale is known for. My favorite "dessert" is the bread pudding and "hard" sauce. The flavors are amazing. There is also standard breakfast fare, including biscuits, gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, chicken livers, large bowls of luscious mixed fruit, and pastries. Servers are attentive, glasses are refilled efficiently. The atmosphere is charming and cozy. There are several rooms to dine in. When they are crowded, they may want to seat you upstairs. The staircase is steep and a bit dark, so if you have issues climbing stairs, with plates of food, you may want to tell the hostess when you arrive that you cannot sit upstairs. The parking lot fills up quickly, however, there is a lot of parking on the streets. The cost of the brunch could be considered a bit pricey, but the value and quality makes it worthwhile.
(5)Carrie P.
This place is great, but I didn't love my dinner this time. I had food envy. My dad got the seafood linguini. I had a 6oz filet and a crab crepe. The steak was okay but I would get something else next time. The crab crepe was rich, and good, but I think it would be better with a vegetable in it too. I didn't ask, but next time I will. The house salad is fantastic (avocado dressing), the wine prices are reasonable, the bread is good. And the chocolate paradise split 3-ways was a perfect amount of paradise for dessert. Even though my meal wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, I am eager to go back for something else.
(3)Grace E.
I rarely eat breakfast or am awake when breakfast time occurs, but I will wake up at 9:30 on a Sunday morning to make sure myself and my roommate are there when Grand Finale opens. This brunch buffet has become something of a tradition, and I will tell anyone who's willing to listen about this place. The set up is slightly cramped and if you arrive anywhere from 11:30-1 you can be assured there will be a wait, but the food is well worth it. Poached eggs with Hollandaise sauce and artichokes, cheesy grits, and miniature desserts are something I don't ever want to bear the thought of giving up. Just thinking about it makes me want to get up early this Sunday...
(5)Brian T.
Great Food, Cool atmosphere. Great place for a first date. You maybe able to trick her into thinking your classy. :)
(4)Monti T.
Well it had been years since we had visited the Grand Finale and now I remember why. We have pretty much followed the reviews from yelp and more often than not they have hit home. I guess there are always those exceptions. It's Easter Sunday we just finished our" Brunch" at the Grand Finale. Let's start off with hospitality, it's raining and it was all morning, the restaurant opened at 10am we got there about 9:20 or so an took our place in line. Kids dressed in their Easter best, moms with babies and many post baby boomers we all huddled together trying to stay dry. Could the restaurant manager at least invite the youngsters and moms in, nope just made them wait in the rain, could they may be open a few minutes early, no they opened right on time as the bells from the local church rang clear. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, they were getting ready for a busy Easter. The line moved pretty quickly we got in about 10:15 or so, the host was on the ball and the young man who took us to our seat was very nice, overall could not wait for brunch. The server gave us a menu, one item the "breakfast buffet", 16.00 bucks, seemed reasonable, we were informed fresh juice would be served with brunch. We made our way through the squeaky door to fine a two sided buffet line, the line stretched 20 people long each side, as we approached the buffet line we started to look at the array of foods offered, without a word said from anyone in our party a patron asked what's makes this brunch, looks like all breakfast foods. That comment was offered up a number of times through our dining experience. The food on the "brunch buffet" was pretty much what you would expect from your local hotel or Denny's, Our group got back to the table to dig in to such delicacies as cold scrambled eggs and hash browns via a GFS food store, there was your sausage links and shaved ham floating in water, hard pastries from a few days ago along with some really cold crapes with mushroom and spinach(these had hope if they were warm) Oh I almost forgot chicken livers, (we were thinking this is what made it brunch) Really the bottom line some of the worst food I have had for breakfast in years. Our server was great, very nice.. She offered waffles and pancakes directly from the kitchen. At that point we thought we had a winner, what we received were waffles cooked way in advance cold, crisp (most likely under a heat lamp) really uneatable with the fast food syrup packets. We received an order of blueberry pancakes that looked great but were made sandpaper like, everyone tried one at the table, well I should say tried one bite, and thank goodness we had some of that juice to wash it down--I will give them a at a boy on the juice it was very good. The building is a historic one, I'm sure it takes a lot to keep it up, my question is when did they give up, our seat overlooked a green and white awning that was torn apart sometime in the 60's I think, the mold on this awning was thick and growing, that mold was on just about everything as we looked out of our patio window. I won't mention the total disarray of the patio area; it could have been very nice with some TLC. Our suggestion, hire a chef put some cutting edge foods on the menu, update the place- your staff is great the facility is in major need of updating and oh my goodness the food is boarder line prison food.
(1)Christoffer M.
Actually, I've never even been here for a concluding meal; always the brunch. As a kid, I used to love the miniature portions of their desserts: chocolate mousse, key lime pie, cherries jubilee (non-flaming, alas). These were set at the end of the buffet line, and I always intended to have at least half of my plate available for them. But I couldn't. The belgian waffle quarters topped with spiced apples were necessary. So were a couple of sausage links. Bacon. Eggs. A mini quiche. And suddenly I would have to wait for another trip to overindulge in dessert-at-noon. But I was committed, dutifully polished off the relatively nutritious options, and returned triumphantly for my sweet, sweet rewards. Lately, it's not nearly as amazing, even though my tastes have expanded to appreciate previously disgusting ingredients like mushrooms and spinach. The mousse is still decadent, the key lime pie still delightful, and the Belgian waffles still in quarters. But the buffet presentation means that things get a little dried out or lukewarm. That said, it's great if you're really hungry for many things. Especially dessert.
(4)Sharon B.
Very disappointed in trip to Grand Finale tonight. We have been going to Grand Finale for years but tonight was terrible. Service was poor-received my dessert with my salad-garnishments were wilt or no leaves at all, just stems. Had to repeat requests for refill of drinks. Not up to Grand Finale standards at all!!!
(2)Tim L.
Unique atmosphere with delicious food for a reasonable price. Definitely worth the stop, especially for weekend brunch.
(4)Jimmie D.
What a great experience we had here. It was our wedding anniversary, and we wanted to go someplace special. We started with a bottle of wine and some interesting fried asparagus for our appetizer. Yeah... Sounded strange to me too, but it was very good. I had the filet mignon and my wife had the salmon special. Both were cooked to near perfection. And of course dessert: I had the special cheesecake and my wife got a huge chocolate fix. Again...delicious. It's been a very long time since I happily paid $120 for a meal for 2.
(5)Jason D.
I have always heard great things about Grand Finale but after eating dinner there I would say the two dinners I tried were mediocre at best. I had the filet and I also tried a few bites of the chicken and spinach. I think both were very bland and expensive. I will not be back for dinner again there are a lot of other places with much better food.
(2)Stephen P.
I have long come to this restaurant for anniversary dates with my wife. Over the years they have consistently delivered a high quality experience with great food. The ambiance is good, but not great, because it is an old historic place. Nothing at all wrong with that, just a bit small inside. That does not at all detract from the great dining experience and I tend to overlook it when there. A bit pricey but wirth the cost.
(5)Linda M.
A cut above of most places in the area. Lunch today at the Grand Finale was a pleasant, very tasty experience. Going to late lunch at 3:30, we combined the happy hour menu ( for appetizers ) with the lunch menu. Everything was beautifully plated as well as very tasty. Pistachio salmon cakes made a great appetizer (for two) and was also a great entree for another person. Shrimp and asparagus was succulent, big shrimp and beautiful asparagus. Lobster and shrimp linguini had a flavorful Alfredo sauce and big pieces of very fresh tasting seafood. The chicken ginger was a very special marinated and grilled chicken breast with ginger and walnuts topping. A creamy good mushroom crepe was the wonderful side dish. The bread is special. The mango iced tea was not too sweet and just right blend of tea and mango. So full we had to take dessert home, but if you like cheesecake, you must try theirs!
(4)William B.
I had the opportunity to enjoy Sunday brunch at the Grand Finale on the 13th of July, 2014. The food was excellent, service great and atmosphere just the best. My travels do not bring me to Sharonville, OH often, but I will be back!
(4)Michael K.
Excellent food and service. We had the best waitress who took care of us all night. I really appreciated her attention to detail. It was really one of the best dining experiences I had ever had.
(5)Erin T.
This is a really neat historic building with unique charm. The wait staff was very attentive and the food was pretty tasty. I had the grilled shrimp and asparagus with the spinach crepe while my husband had the chicken breast pot pie. All the food came out piping hot and did not disappoint.
(4)Lia V.
I have fond memories of this place with my mother. We would go just for the white chocolate cheesecake with raspberry topping (which they don't have anymore). I went the other day for lunch and got a great salmon salad - fresh ingredients - tasty dressing. The servers are friendly, helpful, and not too pushy or absent. They have a really nice menu - lots of options. You can have baby showers, parties, lunches - you rent the room or something. I think everyone should go once - antique everything - very cute.
(4)vickki c.
Sunday brunch for two. $46. Plus I've had better breakfasts at the free buffet at Marriott or a buffet at Frisch
(3)Amy H.
I"ve been there for lunch and dinner. Charming atmosphere, cozy and romantic. More like walking into a someone's grandma's house than a restaurant. The menu used to be overwhelming and eclectic. It seems they've chopped it a bit. Still has some unique options but as far as quality, it was mediocre at best and definitely not worth the price. I did have a nice experience for lunch a couple years back but dinner last night was not good at all. Not only was the food mediocre but the waitress came by about twice the entire evening. Probably the worst service we've had for a while. We had a few kids with us and they put us in the back and wrote us off.
(2)Whit R.
We went to dinner at Grand Finale with a large party - close to 20 people. They had no problem with keeping separate checks for each couple, which was nice (for a 20% gratuity of course). Our dinner and experience were great. We started with a round of cocktails. They make a good manhattan - check. We shared the crab cake appetizer and it was really good. A bit small but very tasty. Next was a bottle of wine for dinner. They have a decent wine list with good variety and nothing too crazy, price-wise. Bottles were $28ish to $120ish. My dinner was steak with oysters. Yum! My steak was just a touch on the rare side of medium-rare, but that's ok. The oysters were delicious, in a herbed breading with a really flavorful sauce. I think it cost about $28 or so. This place is known for desserts, but we opted for after-dinner drinks instead. Scotch for me and cognac for the misses. Both were good and well-priced, though not exactly generous pours. Oh well. Reading other reviews, I saw some gripes about Grand Finale being "over priced". I thought we got what we paid for. I've certainly had more expensive meals that were less satisfying before. I didn't think the bill was out of control - about $150 including the tip. For a fancy dinner with good drinks in a well decorated restaurant - a classic kind of feel to the decor - I expected to pay that much. We'd go back.
(4)Ploy K.
The Grand Finale is exactly that - grand. I have been here for lunch, dinner, and their fabulous Sunday brunch, and each time I am delighted by the food on my plate. The whole establishment is fairly transitional, with decor that may have come from your grandma's house and furniture that was acquired piece by piece by the owners. (BTW, some people find the decor overwhelming and/or stuffy, but I love it) The food is along the same lines - steaks, pastas, and other classic fancy entrees; multiple salads with as many options for dressing (all delicious); and wonderful appetizers. The brunch buffet is also incredible. Everything has about a stick of butter in it, which is probably what makes it so good. Even the multigrain pancakes are delectable. Also, I was there this past Sunday with a group of friends, including a vegetarian, and after she asked for a vegetarian-friendly version of something, a waiter came out with some other veggie-friendly options, which was really nice. For the record, it is best to avoid the Sunday brunch on holidays, when the line stretches around the parking lot and down the street. I have had brunch there on an Easter and a Mother's Day, and while the food is ABSOLUTELY worth it, not everyone enjoys that two hour + wait. They do, however, take reservations for parties of 8 or more for brunch, so gather up your friends and head over!
(5)Carolyn B.
Our family has been going to Grand Finale for years and will continue to do so for years to come. Love the atmosphere and the artwork which is done by the original owner of this restaurant. My personal favorites are the salads, appetizers and desserts, which are huge!! Try the puff pastry dessert with berries - it is delicious!
(5)Jillian B.
very nice ambiance. however, the waiter was not very knowledgeable about wines. also, our water glasses were hazy, and my rare tuna was overcooked. however, service was marvelous, and everything else was tasty.
(3)Kassie C.
As someone coming from DC with some HIGH expectations when it comes to brunch, Grand Finale not only exceeded but SURPASSED any expectations I ever had coming here for brunch. Set in a Victorian style house in the village of Glendale, Ohio Grand Finale offers a Saturday and Sunday morning brunch that is an all-you-can-eat style buffet. Don't stop reading now though, because while it was buffet style it was the most delicious food you could ever imagine as well as just about anything you could think of as a breakfast food. From scrambled eggs to crepes to some biscuits and gravy - Grand Finale has it for you. Not to mention the petit desserts that ranged from tarts to creme brulee it just couldn't get any better... BUT THEN IT DOES! The menu also allows for patrons to order made-to-order blueberry pancakes, belgium waffles and other delicious and fresh breakfast foods as well. For those looking for a wake-up call, you can order mimosas or bloody mary's after 11 AM. Not to mention coffee and espresso drinks are also available. Do be warned that Grand Finale doesn't take reservations on the weekend for parties of eight or less, so be sure to get there allowing for time to wait. But it's worth it - I promise!
(5)Scott M.
Great place for a nice dinner. Enjoyed a dinner with my parents here on a Wednesday Night. Located in a centuries old house in "downtown" Glendale, Grand Finale is an absolutely beautiful location, with multiple rooms for dining. We sat adjacent to the courtyard garden up against an exposed brick wall. For dinner I had a 6oz bacon-wrapped filet with a house salad and the champignon crepe. The filet was cooked as ordered which can often be difficult. The house salad was a little mundane even with the poppy seed dressing. The crepe was excellent. I would definitely go back for crepes. Speaking of which, I followed dinner with another crepe - apricot. A delicate concoction filled with cool vanilla ice cream and adorned with almond slivers and apricot preserves. Another excellent choice. I think we found Finale's wheelhouse. Everything here seemed a bit pricey. Most dinners (dinner alone) were in the $20 range. I don't doubt that this is an excellent place for brunches and would gladly go back for more of their savory and sweet crepe selection, as well as fancy ice cream drinks.
(4)R G.
Good but pricey. The caesar salad your way with shrimp, three medium shrimp for an additional $4.50, was downright greedy. My scallop, bacon, blue cheese salad for $10.50 had what looked like five good sized scallops but turned out to be only two and a half cut crosswise. I wonder who got the other half. Come on folks. Don't ruin a Cincinnati institution by being stingy. Oh ye of the mile high chocolate moose pie, shape up!
(3)Claude S.
We've driven past this restaurant for a couple of months now and its always busy. Last night we discovered why its so popular, they've got quite an extensive menu of items that pretty much fit anyone's tastes. We chose the Diver Scallops appetizer and it was great, the menu course version would suit anyone looking for a Scallops dish. We all selected to get a variety of their Crepes options, I chose the Cog au Vin and added mushrooms, other guests chose the seafood and ham dijon. All these were exceptional and quite filling as the dish has 2 large crepes. I added grill asparagus which were prepared correctly. We selected deserts that were so wonderful that you've got to simply go there and look at them, once viewed you might want to pass on dinner.
(4)Tim S.
I'm no acclaimed food critic, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, and the brunch I just ate at Grand Finale was a glorified hotel continental breakfast. This review will be about the Sunday breakfast brunch, which is actually just a breakfast buffet, at this storied establishment. Imagine the Grand Finale building is a gigantic barrel. Next, imagine yourself instantly turned into a fish once you enter. Fish. Barrel. You see where I'm going? At this point you're at the mercy of the shooter, your server. The terminal shot comes when the menu hits the table: one option, the breakfast buffet, and it's $15.50. They've got you. There's nowhere to run. The dining experience just doesn't add up for me to this lofty price. Allow me to elaborate. Sometimes, saying a place is charmingly old with a rich history is a way to fancy up the fact that the place has stolen your grandmother's grandmother's décor. Grand Finale felt stuffy, stodgy, and downright old to me. Was that an oil tycoon ghost at the table next to me? I'd say you could find 85% of Grand Finale buffet offerings at most free hotel continental breakfasts. Nothing stood out to me as "remarkable" or "can't get this anywhere else!" Except the fried chicken liver, which is really convenient for those mornings I awaken as a wolf. The brunch comes with pancakes, Belgian waffles, and mushrooms (huh?) that you order from your server. We sampled the pancakes and waffles; neither were enjoyed. I still have difficulty expressing my disappointment over the pancakes, too mushy or doughy? Something like that. The waffle was too hard and crispy. At this point I was getting foodially and financially jealous of people eating at a surely nearby Waffle House. To satisfy your thirst, you're welcome to a juice, on the (really old) house. Two all-caps words of advice: NURSE IT!!!! Refills on your little free juice are $1 each. The glass is small, making a Capri-Sun pouch look like a Super Big Gulp. If I had liked the atmosphere more, and seen more than standard continental breakfast fare, the $15.50 price would not have bothered me. Alas, here I type, bothered.
(1)Kelsey C.
Went to dinner here with family. I got the chicken and asperagas (I can't spell) salad, it was very good. The bread is just ok, but I enjoyed the real butter. For dessert, we had the key lime pie, which was amazing, the chocolate tower (their specialty), and a fruit cobbler type dessert. The key lime pie was the best. The chocolate tower tastes more like a dense mousse so I didn't really like it. It was pricey but we enjoyed it and would probably go back. Get reservations!
(4)Kate D.
So I had come here a few times as kid and remember it being good. Well my dad was with us and really wanted to try it again because he too remembered it being great... And well everything we had just awful. Its not the same as it use to be, everything seemed oversalted as if they were using premade sauces and frozen veggies on everything. Which for that type of money is not worth it. How can you screw up crepes! As a kid I remember the chocolate mousse being the coolest dessert I had seen and tasted. But it was like chalky and oily. Isn't mousse suppose to be light and airy? We left sad and will never return.
(2)Carter M.
I have a lot of family in town, so there's always something to celebrate, and ever since my Grandparents moved out of the city and came to Springdale, this has been our go-to spot. The food and the decor are old-timey and busy fancy in a Victorian sort of way, as is the Glendale location. The deserts are ornate and fantastic. My one complaint: the entryway. Whoever decided to put the main exterior entrance, waiting area, coat area, bathrooms, and the entrances to both the upstairs and downstairs dining rooms, in one tiny hallway by a side door, needs to have their head examined. No one likes being driven into a claustrophobic rage before a meal. What's worse, it seems as though the entrance used to be out front at the sidewalk corner, but they moved it to the side because they thought that it would be more convenient for drivers. It always bugs me when people buy old buildings, then work themselves into a frenzy to prevent any unnecessary walking for area drivers. Or maybe they just needed more dining room space.
(4)Andrea W.
Went here while we were in cincy for a nice steak and pretty good prices. First off, the decor is very garden like, interesting for sure and tons to look at. They have pictures up on the wall for sale, not in my price range or the price range of people who look at price tags but still cool. I had a strip steak with a Caesar salad, he had a really well seasoned mahi mahi. We both had cheesey rosmary potatoes, which were so good I could have ate an entire casserole dish of them. I got a flourless chocolate cake for dessert and he got a bananas foster, both very good. Overall it was a nice dinner, a lot of older people but I like old people. They eat early like I do, are quiet, and fall asleep before the clock reaches double digits.
(4)MaryJo O.
This would be a good place to order salads and dessert, but skip the main course. We enjoyed the puff pastry dessert which had mixed berries, whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Others in our group thought the oreo cheesecake was excellent. I enjoyed the goat cheese salad and others liked their soup. The main courses were bland. Two of us had the chicken with spinach which was over-cooked and lacked flavor. The menu description sounded wonderful but the dish itself did not live up to the expectations. Every once in a while a small bit of prosciutto would surface to improve the shoe-leather chicken. One of us had the 9 oz. filet. The meat was lovely and cooked appropriately, but also lacked flavor. The au gratin potatoes were tasty but varied from al dente to well-cooked in the same dish. A bright spot, though, was the citrus scallops, which my husband enjoyed. The restaurant was pretty and eclectic, but needs editing. Years of accumulating stuff has given the place a sort of hodgepodge look. None of that would matter if the food was fabulous, but it just wasn't. If I were to return, it would not be for dinner.
(2)Kellie A.
Luv, luv, luv this place! We go all the time! Service is great, the food is awesome! I get the steak every time and it's always cooked perfectly!
(5)Linda J.
I was in Cincinnati last weekend and had the opportunity to sneak into the Grand Finale for dinner on Mother's Day. I say "sneak" because it was a last minute call, so we took a later reservation. I fully expected to find a tired waitstaff and a rushed experience: But NO! It was relaxed, prompt and happy service and of course, the food was superior. I had the Filet special with crab and bernaise,plus asparagus accompanied by baked potatoes au gratin. Started with a lovely fresh salad with goat cheese and the yummy bread basket assortment. My companion had a fettucine pasta dish with seafood and he added a baked artichoke app to the pasta dish, which made it total perfection. All the food was cooked perfectly and nothing was over salted, but seasoned just right. Very satisfying, but portioned correctly. I love the baked au gratin in it's own little casserole dish, nice and hot, tender and succulent! For dessert we split a white chocolate mousse with raspberries. I know all the desserts are great and this was yummy. Not too heavy and very light, just sweet enough. We sat on the patio and it was very charming and relaxed. It wasn't a date, but we really enojyed the feeling of privacy and the chance to relax and talk. It's a lovely atmosphere, but works for all kinds of occasions, not just for romance! I could see coming here for a business lunch or even a casual meal, too. I found the menu to be well priced. If you don't want the big ticket, there are plenty of options in all price ranges. I know some folks say to budget extra, and sure that's fun, too. But you can also have a salad and crepe (hold the cocktails) and it's quite affordable. Add the bread and share a dessert and it's not really more that the chain places up the road. But you get so much more and you support small business and a great place that has been a consistent winner for over 30 years. I'll be back, plus it's an excuse to drive around Glendale! Loved the whole experience, Enjoy!
(5)Patricia M.
When I was a member of Wyoming Junior Women's Club many years ago a group of us would go there late Sunday afternoon and pack up the Sunday Brunch leftovers to be taken for the needy. That is no longer done due to food/health regulations. I've had many lunches and brunches at The Grand Finale over the years and have never been disappointed. Sunday brunch includes chicken livers, bacon, sausage, ham, creamy Chicken a la King, which I pour over the hash brown potatoes and scrambled eggs (yum!), a lovely poached egg sitting atop a large artichoke heart and topped with a little piece of bacon and hollandaise sauce (excellent), small crepe samplers, fabrulous bite-size desserts, made-to-order blueberry pancakes and waffles. A wonderful array of food and nothing like it anywhere else. The servers are very pleasant, the orange juice and coffee are great also. The atmosphere is pleasant, charming, comfortable. Easy access from the parking lot into the building, too....as a handicapped person, this is very important. They have even been kind enough to bring food to my car when I come alone and have no help getting in! We don't have many "nice", upscale restaurants in the Tri-County area. This is one where you want to go on special occasions. A big "thumbs up" to The Grand Finale. And don't forget to visit The Friendly Stop across the street for great food, too. There you can say "hello" to Adam, the owner, who makes most of the food from "scratch".
(5)Bill E.
Came here for dinner one night with the family, it was fairly crowded. On certain nights Grand Finale has a special two entrees plus a bottle of wine for forty dollars. Since there were four of us we didn't do the special, instead my first course was the house salad and it was nice, crisp and fresh. My main course was the salmon and it was cooked perfectly and seasoned great. Of course coming to the Grand Finale one has to get dessert, I got a creme caramel and it was very good with a lot of caramel sauce. I still have not been here for brunch even though it's right up the street from our house. I will try the brunch soon.
(4)Sarah F.
My 3-star review for lunch still stands, but I have to bump up the overall stars since I tried their lovely brunch buffet. It's reasonably priced at $15.50 per person, but do expect a long wait and a full parking lot (street parking can be found within a couple of blocks). To avoid waiting in the narrow, crowded hallway though, go up the stairs to the "serve yourself" coffee bar area--not only can you get a cup of coffee for under a buck, but have a seat, and even bring that same cup to your table for free refills. This time we sat out in the back enclosed atrium area, which was very pleasant--view of the outdoor patio, lots of natural light, and beautiful artwork on the walls. They offer several items brought directly to the table, including pancakes and waffles, included in the buffet price as well as a glass of fruit juice of your choice. I got blueberry pancakes, but they were just OK, so next time would just focus on the buffet proper. The mini-crepes and quiches were standouts, particularly the chicken and almond crepes, as well as the cheese and garlic grits (ask for a ramekin). There's also your standard eggs, bacon, biscuits, fruit, pastries, etc. The mini-desserts are really cute too--bite-size servings of lots of different desserts to try, and they also have their famous bread pudding and "hard sauce" on the buffet, which is definitely worth saving room for. If this place was closer to my house and not such a long wait for brunch, I know I would go more regularly. As it is, it will stay on the list for occasional, special brunches.
(4)Moira V.
I went here for lunch with a group recently. I realize this restaurant is historic and considered a Cincinnati "gem" - but I would not recommend to anyone who really enjoys food. First, the service was terrible. Our group was seated upstairs and while I was trying to get up, one of their servers was sitting on the stairs using her iPhone. She didn't move an inch while I tried to get around her. Our actual server was also not very good. She would bring food for some of the people and say she had to run down to get the rest - then we would see her 5 minutes later taking orders at another table. She came back rarely to check on drinks and make sure everything was ok. The food itself was mediocre. I had the pot pie, which was pretty good but honestly probably just as good as a frozen one you get at the grocery store. It came with a salad that was less than stellar - just a bunch of shredded iceberg lettuce. Nothing I had blew me away for entrees that are all in the $12-$20. I think this place is probably catering to exactly who was there when we went - eldery folks that probaby don't have the highest food standard around. I won't be going back.
(2)Lisa R.
Grand Finale has always been my favorite romantic restaurant so, my husband chose to propose there 8 years ago. We return every year on that date. This year I utilized their new Open Table reservation app and made a note that it was our engagement anniversary. We ordered our "usual" meals however, we did notice a new menu. All of the same entrees from the previous menu but a definite increase in prices. My Ginger Chicken had jumped up to $23. My husband's filet brochette was $27 - and was cooked perfectly but definitely lacked spices and desperately needed seasoning. Our waitress, one that we've had many times before, was friendly enough but definitely didn't offer any kind of special welcome or even mention a "congratulations" (our table candle didn't even get lit :) All in all, we left feeling a little disappointed that our once a year special evening didn't feel so special after all and commented it may be time to choose another location for our annual celebration.
(3)Stacey L.
We hosted my mother's 60th birthday "Ladies' Lunch" in one of their private rooms and I couldn't have had a better experience! Food here is American-style and very "girl-friendly." Lots of soup and salad options. Their French onion soup is amazing. I love their Quiche of the day. Their soup, soup, and soup is a fun option- three cups of their different soups. Deserts are the highlight here! I tried their limelight (key lime) pie this past weekend. It was some of the best I have ever had. Their chocolate cordial pie is a favorite of the others in my family. Desert servings are HUGE! Our service for our party of 10 was excellent. We were never wanting for drink refills and all orders came out correct. The private room was a great option for us. We could be as loud as we wanted (and you know a group of 10 women were). It made the event very special as well. They have 2 private rooms you can reserve, one good for groups up to about 15 and one a little larger. I recommend this restaurant for any special occasion or a date night. Its got great charm, amazing food, and consistent service.
(5)Angie M.
This place has interesting history. In addition, it has friendly, homey atmosphere and delicious food. I enjoyed the daily quiche and house salad. The food presentation is lovely and the portions are just right for leftovers. Grab a coffee or tea and enjoy some of their beautiful desserts.
(4)Tom W.
Grand Finale is our go to "can't go wrong" restaurant when we want to have a nice dinner out with friends. From the top - - super tight parking spots - drive your small car. - experienced wait staff, wait staff's kid's friends bus staff, all friendly and hard working - nice wine list, the beer selection could use some updating with some local mirco brews - appetizers - soup bay-bee, soup. Never had anything else, no need to. - salads - go chck out the menu online- something for everyone - entrees- meat lover's paradise with steaks, chicken and pork chops usually on special. Last time I had the ahi tuna, and it was phenomenal; the stir fried veggies it was served on were integral to the entree, very artful in afoodie sort of way - desserts - it's why it's called Grand Finale anf had been around as long as I have, try anything.
(5)Heather D.
Time to get better organized, prepared, and have respect for the guests. If you know it is going to be Mother's Day, make sure the restaurant is staffed to handle the rush. It is disappointing to wait in the RAIN, over an hour to finally have someone come down the line and notify us at that point the wait is probably another hour to hour and a half. It would have been nice to do that when we got in line at 9:45 for a 10am opening. We thought for sure the line would eventually move, but it hardly budged after folks got out of line. Note to host and management staff, when you see such a long line, someone could have gone down the line an hour earlier and not left guests looking like drowned rats on a special day.
(1)Charlie T.
Maybe we will have to go back. We heard so many great things about this place and went for a special occasion. What we got was mediocre food that was overcooked (I believe, almost burnt), and one huge piece of very dry and not-so-tastey cheesecake. We were utterly disappointed. Every one else seems to love it, so maybe we just had very bad luck that day.
(1)Chad F.
Let's start with what seems obvious to so many of us...there's a huge lack of great brunch buffet places in Cincinnati. At least from my wife's & my knowledge. And even though The Grand Finale is nearly 20 miles from where we live, I can tell you that we'll be back for the Sunday Brunch quite often! The food...let me start with the fact that most of the items were portioned in small sizes, perfect for taking several of many different items when you visited the buffet. GENIUS!!! That way you can try the sausage & the eggs on artichoke heart & the...well, you get the idea! Back to that poached egg on artichoke hearts...YOWZA! That was a new one on me and I loved it! And the fore mentioned sausage...way above par quality for brunch buffet. Let's talk service...it was great. Too often at brunch buffets the staffing level is kept really low because the managers want to cut costs in labor. Not at TGF! There were plenty of staff, to take your plate when empty, to fill your water, to fill your beverage. Yeah, because TGF is in an old house the walkways are narrow...and you have to "dance" with the staff when you meet them in said walkways...but who cares?! It's a cool old place, the staff is very pleasant and professional and the food is really really good! What else do you want? Value, you say? You want VALUE TOO?! Well, I'll tell you what...for my brunch dollar, this is a great value! I don't know if it's kosher to mention prices but I can tell you that we left there, with tip, for nearly half of what I thought it was worth. I kid you not. Thanks TGF...we'll be back...until you know us by our first names!
(5)Amy C.
I'd say that the food here is overrated/overpriced though the dessert is AMAZING! I had the house salad with the balsamic dressing (just ok), crab crepe (way too salty and creamy for my taste), and chocolate paradise dessert (highlight of the meal). The chocolate paradise is basically flourless chocolate cake in a rasberry sauce...so delicious and hard to find in Cincinnati. I recommend the cake with ice cream vs whipped cream by the way...could be I just prefer ice cream to whipped cream though.
(3)Angela C.
I stick to the 4 stars for general dining, but just went to Sunday brunch at Grand Finale and must give it 5 stars for brunch for the following reasons: 1. Crepes: you get to sample several types of their savory crepes in mini-version. 2. Desserts: you get to sample as many tasty little desserts as you want 3. FRIED CHICKEN LIVER! Don't be afraid!! It's so good! Try it with the biscuits and gravy! 4. A wide assortment of breakfast goodies (plus the ability to order fresh-made little pancakes or belgian waffles on top of everything else). 5. Heavenly food coma to follow. It's not the cheapest brunch buffet in the world, but when you get to sample all the crepes and desserts, definitely worth it. The brunch does get pretty packed on Sundays and the place is small, so plan accordingly! If you sit upstairs you might get seated sooner but you will have to maneuver the steep stairs and the crowd waiting for seats in the hallway. All together, it's a great place for breakfast brunch because of the number of food choices, plus good service and a warm ambiance.
(5)Tree S.
I recently visited two different times after not having a meal here for quite a few years. The interior is still horrendously ugly and in desperate need of updating, and the seating is still crammed and uncomfortable. On the first visit we received excellent service and a good meal. Our young daughter was treated like royalty by the staff with no prompting from us and I was impressed with the generous servings and healthy meal we ordered for her from the children's menu. The second visit not much later was quite different. The service was terrible. A very rude and slow waitress made our visit so unpleasant that we finally just packed up and left with our food in take out containers. Possibly an off night for her but you know what? When you pay that much for a meal, the waitstaff shouldn't have off nights. There are some high notes with the food, however a lot of it is drowning in thick sauces that overwhelm and it's of course not Vegetarian friendly, or even that friendly to those concerned with eating healthy.
(3)Andy D.
A Great Meal Everytime I love going to the Grande Finale. It just has a way of taking you back. I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for the decor. Something about it is just very elegant and nice...I feel like Jimmy Stewart would dig the joint. The food is well above par, and the service is wonderful....The Sunday Brunch is great too. It is amazing at Christmas time. Santa comes around to all of the tables and talks to the children...really nice touch! My Trifecta - Lobster Deviled Eggs, Rack of Lamb (Mid-Rare), and Bananas Foster with a Bailey's and Coffee for desert!
(4)Marie E.
The buffet was pretty good. It got tons of great reviews and so maybe the hype was too much and it just couldn't live up to it but for us it was just okay. I won't go back if I am picking but wouldn't refuse to return. I have to admit I am just not a huge fan of buffets. It just feels cheap and everything is usually luke warm. Glad I tried it but probably not worth a repeat.
(2)Becky S.
Best Feature: So much deliciousness I can't even ... wow! Worst Feature: Definitely a pricier venue, have some extra funds. My first visit here was for a very special occasion for me and my fiance - it was our 2 year anniversary dinner and my fiance decided to surprise me with a dinner at this restaurant. I had no idea where we were going until we finally pulled in to their private lot for parking and headed in. We were all fancied up and ready to go since I'd been warned dinner would be a fancy affair. I walked in and immediately loved the character of the place. We walked down a hall to the hostess and before we were seated we spotted a cute display case with a few foods displayed, one being some kind of chocolate pecan pie. YES PLEASE. The entire place felt very intimate and cozy, just the perfect place to have our anniversary dinner. I am not 100% for sure, but it seemed that at least for Saturday night it was reservation only. My fiance had made ours but even before we said anything, the hostess had first asked us, "Reservations?" so that's what I'm going with. Maybe not, maybe it's walk-in friendly as well, but the reservation option was nice regardless. We were seated at a smaller table with seating for two. The only thing I wasn't as big a fan of was our location next to some kind of service station. I could hear the consistent movement behind me during our dinner, but that would be one of the only "meh" points I had for our entire visit. Our waitress was incredibly nice - gave us the friendliest service and was always on top of our drinks. We had water to start and then both ordered a wine. I had an Austrailia Shiraz (glass portion, not bottle) and my fiance had a Cabernet Sauvignon. Both were fantastic and went fantastically with our meal. We started with the bacon, lobster and tomato deviled egg appetizer. If you are perusing appetizers, just know this one blew us both away with how flavorful and delicious it was. It was creamy, very flavorful with a slight kick, and made us both decide we had chosen wonderfully. The three eggs on lettuce in a glass and though there weren't a lot of them, we shared the eggs evenly and were very impressed with the dish. I ordered veal with asparagus and a crab cake on top with the crepe champignon (filled with spinach, mushroom, cheese) while my fiance ordered the Chicken Duo with steamed vegetable side. The salad we both started with (comes with the entree) was incredible and quite filling, leaving me very satisfied before I even got my main dish. As far as entrees go, however, those were definitely the real highlights of our dinner. I literally could not tell you which was better - my veal was incredible and I loved the crab cake, which was a surprise since in all honesty I'm not a crab cake fan. His chicken dish (we shared bites) was also amazing, however; the winner between his Chicken Duo dishes was the Chicken Ginger for both of us. The other was great as well, but the fruity spicy walnut-topped chicken just made your mouth surrender in total bliss. Yes, THAT good. We opted out of dessert this time around despite the fantastic selection (and my affinity for chocolate + pecans) as we were quite full. The total bill was about as much as we expected (pricey), but totally worth it. It wouldn't be something we'd hit up frequently as we are budget-minded folks, but for a special occasion this venue definitely hit the mark. Great food, fantastic service, and a cute, charming, and romantic restaurant I will happily give all my monies to for such a great experience. They earned all the stars with their fantastic food and I have to say that my fiance made a fantastic choice in choosing this restaurant to celebrate our two year anniversary. :)
(5)Mallory R.
Wow! Loved this restaurant! They have a fantastic brunch, which is what we went for. I'm not sure how good the rest of the menu is, but if it's anything like the spread they put out for brunch, you won't be disappointed! My fiance's parents live a couple miles from the restaurant and took us there for Sunday brunch. We braved the cold to stand in line outside at 10:25 and were seated by 10:35. The brunch starts at 10:30. It was a little crowded inside, just because it is a cramped restaurant, but everything was great -- service, price, variety and quality of food, and atmosphere. The decor inside is just adorable and I liked the bird cages on the wall. I would definitely come back and hopefully get some outdoor seating in the summertime! Of all the brunch buffet menu items I ate today, I'd say the standout ones were: sauteed mushrooms, Belgian waffle, and bread pudding (a must have!!!)
(5)Brandon L.
This place does not respect new customers. You need to be both elderly and a regular to get good service and even greeted at the door. They act like they are an exclusive old money spot in the Hamptons or something when they are far from it - don't waste your time - avoid this place.
(1)Dave B.
I've been to the Grand Finale many times, and I've never been disappointed. The food is amazing and the service is top-notch. The most recent visit was with a large group for a friend's birthday. There were six of us, and we all got something different, and all of us loved our meals. I got the crab crepes, and they were excellent. My wife got the filet mignon brochette, and while I didn't think you could pull off what is essentially filet mignon on a kebab, Grand Finale nailed it. I had a bite, and it was delicious. I would tell you to save room for desert, but their deserts are huge! Your best bet is to get one and share it. The chocolate cordial pie is a mountain of chocolate mousse in a pecan crust, and it is mouth-watering. The white chocolate mousse and raspberries is also one of my favorites. I've also had brunch at Grand Finale, and it's fantastic. A great selection of their different dishes, plus some brunch-only items. The decor is all antiques, so the chairs are usually mismatched and looking a bit worn. Maybe that's a ding in your book, maybe not. It doesn't bother me. I think it adds to the ambiance, actually. A definite ding is the parking. The lot is tiny and cramped, so your best bet is to find a spot on the street. There's not much they can do about it, so I don't fault GF too much, but beware -- the parking lot can be difficult to navigate! If you're looking for a great "date" restaurant, Grand Finale is an excellent choice. It's incredibly romantic, although it's a bit on the pricey side, so keep that in mind if you're on a budget. It's also not a place for those on a diet, and their aren't a lot of vegetarian options on the menu, either. Overall, GF is one of my favorite "special treat" restaurants!
(4)Stephanie B.
Yum!! I had a lovely lunch with a friend at the Grand Finale. There are many things that this place does very well! First- the service was excellent. My friend and I were catching up after a while- so we wanted to take the meal at a more leisurely pace. Our waitress never rushed us and set the pace perfectly. Second- the food! The menu is filled with a lot of french classics, and they seem to execute the dishes better than any other place I've seen in the area. Try their quiche of the day and you won't be disappointed! Finally- the atmosphere. It's a bit of an old-fashioned feel, but it works. Delish!
(4)Sarah P.
Went for lunch on a weekday, after years of wondering if this Cincinnati institution lives up to its reputation. The noise level was so high that the screaming baby at the table next to us really wasn't that noticeable. The clutter level of the faux-Victorian decor is also so high that I found it unnerving. The service was professional and flawless, and I thought the food was good--not great--and a reasonable value for the price. Where else can you even find crepes on a menu any more? I get that this restaurant is known for its desserts, and I didn't order one. Might have had a slightly better impression if I had. All in all, worth a visit, not a disappointment, but also not a place I'll probably return to anytime soon.
(3)Carol N.
I have been a patron of the Grand Finale since my first visit in 1979 and it had been favorite of mine ever since. It holds many special memories, so of course it was my first choice to bring out of town guests and family to celebrate the graduation of my son on Saturday, May 30th. Our reservation, made on Open Table several weeks in advance, was for 3:30, and as I expected the dining room was quiet with a total of only 4 tables filled including the patio. Dispite the availability of beautiful, roomy areas and tables my party of 8 was seated in a cramped corner table for 6 in the patio section, with a make due two-top round table added to the seating, next to the wait station. Outside of the windows where there is a lovely garden for us to view sat two naked conference tables with dirty linens piled on top of them. To be honest. I was I was not only disappointed, I felt embarrassed. Please don't suggest we may have asked for a different table, my guests were quite elderly and moving them would have made them even more uncomfortable since they were settled when I arrived. I still felt confident the food would be as good as always, but unfortunately, some of the dishes were not up to par. I had the chicken breast with wild mushroom sauce and the meat was overcooked, the ginger chicken did not have an appetizing presentation and there was only one rave review which came from my father who had scallops. The one standout was our server, Mike, who did an excellent job. After this experience my confidence in this old favorite is greatly diminished.
(2)Kate L.
What a cute place! I loved the intimate feel of Grand Finale. The food was awesome. My favorite was the seared ahi tuna. The scallop appetizer was also amazing. It was a bit of a drive, but it was worth it for the unique experience. Unfortunately, we didn't save room for dessert so I feel like I didn't get the full "grande finale" experience.
(4)Brent F.
While some of the waiters are friendly the management was rude and basically kicked us out because they had a large party coming one time. Wait times are long and the food is mediocre. Some waiters are friendly but others are rude or short with patrons. Wide spread of food but around the quality of a Golden Corral buffet. Some of the food was cold. Would avoid unless there is anything else better close by. Cracker Barrel is a great alternative for a Sunday breakfast. Not worth the money. Just an expensive building with cheap food!
(2)Thom F.
No one answers the phone to make a reservation during businifess hours. Can't make a reservation on Open Table even though they participate. Doesn't matter how good it is if you can't get in.
(1)Donald B.
To start, the hostess attempted to sit us at the worst table in the room by the bussed dishes though there were obviously better tables in the room. Service was slow and apologies only go so far. The onion soup was very good as well as the Caesar salad, the seafood crepe was tasty. but the coq au vin crepe was sub-par. It's been 20 years since our last visit and it'll probably be another 20. Perhaps if the hostess has not insulted us with a bad table our whole experience might not have been so tainted. She then wished us a farewell as we departed with her back turned to us.
(2)Xiaoheng P.
I like everything about this restaurant, except their speed. they're SLOOOOW. Granted we did came in with a relatively large group of about ~20 people, nonetheless, it shouldn't take 70 minutes to get to our entree. By the time the food was out, I had to scrambled it down my throat so I could leave early to attend a meeting. That being said, if you have the spare time and dont mind waiting a little, I think it's worth trying out. The dish that I ordered was Ahi Tuna with wasabi dressing; absolutely succulent. The tuna fish is sashimi grade, so you can order it raw without worrying about food poisoning. I had it rare, so the interior was mostly raw and tender. The wasabi dressing was light but flavorful. Unfortunately I left before the desserts were out. so I couldn't comment on that. Overall, i think it was really good. I left in a hurry, so I dont know how much my portion cost. presumably it'll be around 20 dollars.
(4)Jason Y.
This is a nice quaint place. First time here. Food is delicious and the service was nice. I had the special (some tilapia in lobster sauce). It was nice and savory. For desert, we ordered the mixed berry cobbler and the caramel custard. Both were delicious. Would come again; keep in mind that this place is a little pricey
(5)Rhonda S.
Been going here for 25 years. Love crepes, herb salad and chocolate cordial pie. Rolls are not as good as years gone by nor is the salad as good but it's still my favorite place.
(5)Marie A.
New to the area and read the online reviews..... In my opinion the drinks were well made and the service was excellent. The restrooms stunk like the sewer line was backed up or rotten eggs, which of course, is a huge turn off while dining. I thought the smell would go away but every time I went in the smell lingered and wasn't going away. The food, drinks, and service was amazing but the smell still haunts me! lol We were with a group and stayed for a couple of hours, and the best part is not one server or staff person rushed us! We also got the cheesecake to take home for desert..... delicious! Make reservations and try this place!
(4)Ben S.
Had brunch here a few times, parents literally live 20 meters away when I visit. I mean, its for older folk here in Cinci (makes sense my grandmother took me there years ago when I was in college). Wasn't really a fan. The selection is lacking and the crepes weren't too crazy. Basically, if you need a place to take your grandparents, go here. They have cozy seating and decor that Queen Victoria would enjoy. Is that bad? No, just not for me. My main thing is the food, and I think out of all the items on the list, I think I really only wanted two items that sounded like they'd be good, and neither have really impressed me much to go back. :/. Its a decent restaurant, no denying, but not my taste I suppose.
(3)Katie F.
After scouring the various Yelp reviews, I went in with a dual mindset-either this is going to be the best brunch ever, or as average as a hotel breakfast. I found it was much closer to the former. Here are the highlights-my friend made a reservation for 8 the day before we went, and when we arrived, we were seated right next to the buffet (not cramped at all!) The complimentary juice drink was in a wine glass, and was enough to last the whole meal. A lot of the food was really good: cheesy grits, mini crepes, cheesecake dessert. The biggest highlights-as a vegetarian, I was cautious about what to expect from a meat-heavy buffet, but I was soon to be surprised. The man who seemed to be in charge of the food (asking if he could help whenever someone looked curious) looked into if they could make the poached egg on artichoke vegetarian (all of those available had bacon) and not only did he get me two (which were delicious) he had the kitchen special-make vegetarian quiche for me, without any request on my part ( I had just inquired if any of the quiche were vegetarian, and he said no). I have to say, that way a delightful treat, above and beyond what I would expect, and really nice for anyone who is vegetarian. Things that were just ok- the bread pudding was just fine, but not that ooey-gooeyness that is perfect in bread pudding, and the hard sauce that went with it was buttery as all get out, but not that awesome meltiness that you want on bread pudding. The blueberry pancakes were dry, and felt "healthy" which could be awesome at a different restaurant, but guys, we're at a buffet. No one is being healthy. Also, I asked for the Vermont maple syrup listed on the menu, and was told that they were out! So, had to pour the plastic packet of syrup onto the pancake. The service was attentive and kind. I feel like there is value in the meal. All 8 of us enjoyed our time, and will definitely return. Again, major props for the vegetarian accommodations!
(4)Suzanne S.
I had dinner at what used to be one of my favorite local restaurants but it's been a few years since I've been here. We stood for well over 5 minutes before being greeted. We were waiting in a cluster of confusion with several waiters entering their orders and also patrons trying to leave the restaurant and people behind us who ended up leaving before being seated. The smell from the bathrooms was pretty strong in the entry area. Everything combined gave a very unwelcoming impression and I wish now that we would have followed the lead of the people behind us that left. But we didn't and we were finally seated. Ordered drinks that were delish along with salads and entrees which were tasty. They tried to remove the salads multiple times even though we weren't even half way through them. Also, the waitress reeked of cigarettes, bad. Ordered desserts. Got the bill immediately, (a hundred bucks for this? I expect more for these prices) before we even got the desserts, because the waitress wanted to leave. It was 8:30. We were seated at 7:30. On a Friday night. Bad experience.
(2)Meg M.
This has been a local favorite of ours for nearly 20 years, but the past couple of times it has been a disappointment. I think tonight was our last night. Our waitress (Ashley?) largely ignored our party of four in favor of a large party seated adjacent to us, while the bus girl hovered and repeatedly attempted to remove plates while we were still eating. The food was good but is no longer the quality it was years ago, and definitely not worth the price. Our server, who was obviously in a rush to leave even though it was a Wednesday at 8:30pm, finally only paid attention to our table when she made a point to reiterate several times how much our original bill was before we used the groupon-- very uncouth. She then returned several times within a couple of minutes to see if we'd paid. For a restaurant with this history and acclaim, I would expect servers who have better manners and who actually want to work for their tips. At such a nice restaurant, patrons shouldn't have their bills swept up off the table as soon as they've written the tip; a trained server would wait until the customers left to clear the table.
(2)Sue L.
Looking over their menu, they offer a variety of appetizers ranging in price from about $6-$10. Some of the selections include artichoke fritters with Bearnaise sauce, crab cakes, fried oysters, and escargot in phyllo. They offer a number of salads which can be ordered in a small size to accompany your dinner or come in an entree size with or without something added such as seafood or chicken, and also they offer a couple of soups: French oignion and a soup of the day. There are a number of meat and seafood offerings, including Filet Mignon, several kinds of chicken, rack of lamb, shrimp, lobster, oysters, crab cakes, etc., (varying in price from $19.95 to $31.50 with lobster at the market price). Also on the dinner menu are some A La Carte entrees such as Lobster Linguini, Citrus Crusted Scallops, Grand Spaghetti Toss (can be vegetarian) and a few others, (ranging in price from $12.95 to $21.95). As well, there is the selection of crepes, (ranging in price from $11.95 to $19.95), that include a variety of fillings. They also offer a wine list and an extensive dessert menu (you will be asked when you arrive if you are there for dinner or just dessert!) and they also have a brunch buffet on Sundays. Read full review here: palatablepastime.com/201…
(4)L J.
We hosted a bridal shower at The Grand Finale this Saturday, and everyone loved it. The private party room was arranged perfectly for our group. Our server, Anita, was friendly and super attentive. Great service! Food and cocktails were great as well. Thanks!
(5)Jan M.
Had reservations for brunch at 1pm. My friend got there a few minutes before me, was seated and served coffee. I got there right at 1, waited a few minutes to be seated, then we waited 15 minutes for the server to take our drink order and send us to the buffet. Our juice was delivered while we up at the buffet, both drinks were warm. We didn't see the server again until we were finished and he brought the check. The only reason we got refills on water and coffee is because the bus girl felt sorry for us. I don't understand the poor service, all he had to do was supply drinks! We served ourselves from the buffet (which was mediocre at best). We complained to the manager who comped us for one of our meals. We gave the tip directly to the bus girl since she's the only one that paid attention to us.
(2)Chris C.
I brought a friend to lunch here, and she too just loved it! Everything was so excellently tasty that we stuffed ourselves!! Even though you get a lot of food for a great price - I usually have to take some home, I guess we were really hungry because we managed to eat it all & get desserts! The Chocolate flourless cake with raspberry sauce & real whipped cream is MY favorite. My friend got the lemon cheesecake - I got to taste it and it was devine! See my 3 photos of the food above.
(5)Tony L.
My wife and I have been going to the Grand Finale for years - it's one of our favorite places for special occasions. Service is almost always excellent. The crepes are exceptional and every entree is worth a try. Terrific ambience. Nice wine list. This place is a keeper.
(5)Mike T.
Outstanding! My girlfriend and I had dinner here on Valentine's Day, and the ambiance was perfect. I had the filet Mignon, and she the salmon cakes. Our food was outstanding on all accounts, and our waitress, a very nice Russian woman, was a lot of fun. It's always hard to choose a bottle of wine with dinner here, since there are so many great choices, but we had a sauvingnon blanc that went very well with our meal. We'll certainly be back here!
(5)Brandee B.
Up until recently, I had only had sunday brunch here which was pretty good. But now I have had their lunch and I have to say it was great! I went out of my comfort zone and tried something different for my taste. It was their take on cashew chicken with ginger and walnuts. It was a grilled chicken breast with a ginger walnut topping and a mushroom or spinach crepe(your choice) on the side. I chose the mushroom crepe and got a side of the soup of the day which was musroom and potato chowder. Yes, I know alot of mushrooms but as you can see I am a fan. The chowder was creamy and delicious and the crepe was crispy and cheesy, I also glanced at their specialty drinks and desserts and while I was full and did not get them. I will probably be back to try them.
(4)Amy C.
This is a special occasion place for my family, where you can count on fantastic food and a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. My husband and I just went for Valentine's Day & the tables and restaurant were decorated with old-fashioned Valentines, lace hearts & red & pink fresh flowers. Nice. The star is always the food, even from the complimentary fresh rolls and gourmet butter. I had steak, that even well done, was extremely tender, French onion soup that's the best in the city & wound up taking home the paper-thin, crunchy (how do they do that?) mushroom & cheese sauce baked crepe that came with the steak because I was too full. My husband's dish is one of his favorite at any restauurant & didn't disappoint - paprika wine sauce, shrimp & asparagus crepes. We were both contemplating on the drive home how we could recreate the crepes at home!
(5)Ada K.
This place looks like your fancy grandma's house, where everything is old and grand but a little quirky and not too precious. I had the fillet mignon and the raspberries with white chocolate mousse. This restaurant is now a Gift Card Day favorite (an awesome holiday where, in one day, we use all of the gift cards that have been accumulated over the year).
(4)Truman L.
An old house turned fabulous French inspired restaurant in the historic district of Glendale, the Grand Finale was a great find. The house is partitioned into 6 rooms on two floors. The first floor consists of the main room, which is where the brunch buffet is located, the Patio (which used to be completely outside dining, and now has exposed brick walls), and the Tea Room (named for all the teapots and kettles decorating the room). Upstairs, you'll find 3 more rooms, one of which is called the Cabernet Room, named for the bottles of cabernet on display. The brunch is hard to beat (though I personally liked the Sunday brunch at Moonshine in Austin better, Wife thinks otherwise...and since it was her birthday brunch, what she says goes.) Back to the brunch - you can choose from your regular fare, scrambled eggs, sausage, and bacon, all made to perfection. Or you can have your choice of Belgian waffle, quiche, 4 different types of crepes (spinach, mushroom, ham & cheese, or chicken & almond), biscuits and gravy, homemade chicken a la king (the only thing I didn't prefer), and mushrooms (AMAZING). They also have a great mix of fresh fruits and pastries. But the main excitement, or dare I say, the "Grand Finale", of the brunch was the desserts. They have a homemade bread pudding, which was really good. And a huge assortment of dessert samplers - chocolate mousse with pecans, white chocolate mousse with chocolate chips, chocolate chip cheesecake, custard with caramel, and baked cherries. I give the Grand Finale 5 stars for the brunch. And if you stick to the crepes, the mushrooms, and the desserts, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Lauren A.
The decor was great. It's so cozy and a beautiful old house. That's about it. The food was crap. I ordered the garlic parmesan artichoke hearts. Not only were they swimming in butter, it was so obvious they were not fresh. So, they serve canned food, gross. To top it off my Dad's lobster crepe just didn't smell fresh and I'm certain it wasn't. I don't want to smell my fish, I want to taste it. Get it together over there!
(1)Liz A.
i know everyone from cincinnati loves the sunday brunch at this place because they grew up eating it or whatever but i find it mediocre, overpriced, and annoying. everything is overcooked and swimming in oil and little children are sticking their grimy hands into the said overcooked, oil coated buffet line food. loud, crowded, expensive, terrible food, horrible decor, and i got into a car accident once in their parking lot so i extra hate it.
(1)Jennifer R.
I half-expected this to be one of those places that gets pretentious when they build a reputation. I had read so many reviews and thought to myself that it seemed to good to be true. On father's day, I had the task of making reservations for our large party of 15 people for brunch. I made them way in advance, which was great since it was packed when we arrived. We were seated immediately, thought it was a little cramped; that's to be expected with such a large party on a holiday Sunday though. Our drinks took a little while to get to the table, but again, the place was packed to the gills and the service was fine considering that fact. The buffet was set up as efficiently as possible, with two lines forming (one on each side) and desserts across the back. I didn't feel rushed (many places are like that on holidays) and we all ate our fill of delicious, rich food. I loved the artichokes with poached egg on top. The bread pudding was incredible. I think I tried one of everything. The staff kept the food coming as pans were emptying quickly in the full dining room. Everything was kept at a proper temperature. We all liked the juice choices that went beyond just OJ or grapefruit juice. A few of us had mimosas or a bloody mary. While I was very pleased and I got compliments on the choice, I think I'd like to go back on a regular weekend because I suspect it's even better.
(4)Doug S.
Great food, very rich and delicious...Think of eating at the Grandmas house, the g-ma you always wanted to have that made the best of anything (on the menu). Wait staff was attentive, professional and completely on the job! An absolute GEM in Cincinnati..GO!
(4)Jenny M.
This restaurant is one of Cincinnati's jewels. It's perfect restaurant for celebrating "big" events, private events, & a great date restaurant (if you're really looking to impress your date). My family has been going to this French-inspired restaurant since I was 10. Back in the day, they used to sell their desserts dirt cheap after the lunch rush & my dad who works for GE, would swoop in & bring us home a tasty treat. :) Everything on the menu is delish! The prices are kind of high for the 'Nati, but you get a salad & side with every meal (the creamy avocado dressing is to die for). Plus, the amount of food is a good deal. Items to try: -Crepes (sweet & savory) -Ginger Chicken (quite possibly the BEST chicken dish I've had anywhere in the U.S.) -Filet Mignon (they know how to sear a good cut of meat & wrap it with bacon) -Dessert (especially the cheesecakes, which are better than the Cheesecake Factory's)
(5)Brandy B.
I was really looking forward to going to Grand Finale, after looking at the menu and reading the reviews. Once we got there, the decor was adorable and the restaurant was cozy but not too crowded. We arrived early, around 5:30 on a Saturday - if you're planning on a more normal dinnertilme like 7 or so, I'd recommend a reservation. I want to preface my review by saying that I'm not a foodie or a food snob; I love everything from Cici's pizza to Outback to the venison with chipotle potatoes I had at a little Latin-fusion place in Chicago. Our salads were quite tasty. I got the goat cheese salad and my husband had the house salad. Sadly, though, things started going downhill after the salad. I got the filet and my husband got the strip steak with a crabcake (they will sub in strip steak in any of the "Filet + X" menu items). Both steaks were the most bland steaks I have ever had in my life, and my husband agrees. I don't even know how you make meat so flavorless. Did they boil it before grilling or something? The filet was plenty tender, but even the bacon it was wrapped in was flavorless. How do you do that? How do you delete the flavor from bacon?? We finally both had to put salt all over our meat to bring out any little bits of flavor it had in it - and neither of us usually puts extra salt in our food. But they clearly had not seasoned this meat AT ALL before cooking it (not that I've ever had unseasoned meat this bland - I really don't know how they did it). His crabcake was good, though. He got the mushroom crepe on the side and loved it, I got the rosemary potatoes gratin and they were okay. VERY heavy on the rosemary, and a little undercooked, but better than the steaks. Maybe next time I'll stick with the crepes everyone raves about. Then dessert was a mixed bag. My husband got the flourless chocolate cake, and it was very good. Dense, flavorful, very tasty. I, however, got the chocolate cordial "mousse" cake, and it was... an experience. It wasn't exactly bad, but it was kind of scary. It's very sweet, and the chocolate flavor is not very bold. It's the texture that's crazy. I would not call it a mousse, as it is nothing like any mousse I've ever had. It's very dense, a bit like if ice cream were solid at room temperature, but with just a hint of greasiness that says to me that shortening is a major ingredient. There is no way that this is entirely dairy-based. We took half of it home and it did not change its shape or texture at all over the next couple of days - no melting, no softening, nothing. I'm not totally sure it qualifies as "food." Again, it didn't taste *bad*, it was just... strange. Overall, there was the good (the salads, the crepe, the crabcake, the flourless chocolate cake), the bad (the steaks), and the scary (that cordial thing). I won't be going back anytime soon, and if you go, avoid the steaks. But you might want to try the chocolate cordial pie just for the experience.
(3)Daniel W.
avocado dressing with my salad. yeast roll, butter. iced tea. possibly the chicken ginger with a mushroom crepe, although I've tried about everything on the menu and its all good. a piece of chocolate cordial pie. (the greatest dessert of all time) then feeling sick to my stomach because I tried to eat the whole piece. This has probably happened 20+ times. I feel really young everytime I go there due to the age of the other patrons. Its been to long since I last saw a paper doilie. I think I must go back soon.
(5)Erin M.
I had a $50 gift certificate for Grand Finale burning a hole in my pocket since July, so this morning my boyfriend and I decided to head over there for their famous Sunday brunch buffet. First things first, I love brunch buffets. During my most recent extended discussion on buffets, when asked what my favorite category of buffet was, breakfast won the prize. There's just too many great options for breakfast... Anyway, Grand Finale. The brunch goes from 10:30 to 2:30 and costs $15.50 per adult ($1 extra for coffee or tea). You get one glass of fruit juice and the buffet, along with made-to-order waffles and pancakes. We stuck to the buffet and got two plates worth each. The poached egg was a little disappointing, and the crepes (though he liked them). The quiche, bacon, and homefries were great. The bread pudding was very good as well, though by the time I had a huge piece at the end I was too full to enjoy it. The "dessert round" was good too-- little glass dishes with samples of their most popular desserts. Between the two of us, we split some sort of rum mousse w/ chocolate chips, key lime pie, white chocolate mousse, and custard w/ caramel sauce. We left fat and happy. There were a few cons though. Table service was kind of slow; we had to wait a good 15 minutes just for her to come get the bill. The selection was a bit smaller than I expected, but it was all good. A little crowded but never had to wait long- we arrived at 11:30 and didn't have to wait for a table. (On that note, they only take reservations for 8 or more for brunch). All in all, if you're in the area, it's worth checking out, but I wouldn't make the trip to Sharonville if you're already near a First Watch.
(4)Natalie B.
When in my hometown, this is always a stop for me. The crepes are fantastic, though rich, and the steaks are also terrific. However, the one thing you must get (it's not on the menu) is the puff pastry. I promise, you will think you have died and gone to dessert heaven.
(5)Mikie B.
Grand Finale is my all-time favorite restaurant in Cincinnati. Few things compare to Grand Finale's creamy avocado house salad dressing, crepes, or Chocolate Cordial Pie. One of Grand Finale's unique items on the menu are their crepes - they're not a dessert item here and you just don't find them very much these days. Of the crepes, I recommend the champignon or king crab. Their filets are top notch, as is the pot pie and the salad menu. For dessert, you will miss out if you don't try the Chocolate Cordial Pie. Not even some of the five-star restaurants I've patronized have had chocolate mousse that compares in taste and texture (density) without being too rich. I have lived in Chicago for years, and still crave it, though I only get to Grand Finale once or twice a year. The cherries jubilee are good alternative, though they don't flambe them at the table any more, like they used to. Grand Finale has been consistently good for as long as I can remember. Even though the original owners sold the restaurant within the past few years, the quality has not declined in any significant way (the most noticeable being missing avocado in the house salad). It is an after-Christmas treat in my family, as well as a Mother's Day brunch tradition.
(5)Ramzy N.
When people breathlessly talk about how great this place is, your expectations are immediately too high. Honestly...what is the big deal? Oooh, a big long wait...ooooh, an old house...oooh absolutely decent food. Ho hum. It is totally serviceable but not in the same stratosphere as the hype.
(3)John B.
I don't recall what C and I ordered for dinner, but I recall having the impression that the food was good. Not stellar, but solid. The decor is traditional. We thought our waitress was going to be mediocre because she failed on basic wine knowledge, but she was long on service, which made up for her lack of training regarding wine. I recall that we shared a really tasty desert. A couple of elderly women at a nearby table had order desert, but we didn't see it on the menu. Our waitress informed us that it was something that was always available, but got formalized on the menu. Sadly, I don't recall the name. Sorry. It was a concoction of puff pastry, ice cream, berries, whipped cream. Describe it and I'm sure they will know it instantly.
(3)Alex A.
It's a very special place, a haunted house full of antiques where they serve pretty decent food.
(4)Sharon H.
Decided to cancel a reservation at Golden Lamb and have my "girlfriends" Christmas dinner here instead. Very wise choice! Food was better than I had remembered from a visit years ago and the ambience and charm of this place at Christmas is as good or better than the Golden Lamb. If you read my reviews of the Golden Lamb, then you know how disappointed I have been with the changes they have recently made. I will no longer need to give Golden Lamb another attempt to get it right now that I have reacquainted myself with Grand Finale. The restaurant was decorated so nice for the holidays and honestly reminded me of my holiday trips to NYC and my routine stop to Tavern on the Green (sadly, no longer in business). Our waitress was one of the best and extremely attentive and had a very cute Russian accent. She was loaded with personality and charm. The wine offering was impressive. Most of us had the salmon or fish entrees and they were ample and excellent. Everything was made to order and the perfect temperature. The place was packed so this was a feat in itself. Definitely worth a visit and it is beautiful this time of year. I will be going back!
(4)Teresa S.
It was the morning after the Fourth of July and my family and I were so hungry we were thinking about settling simply for a Bob Evans. My mom refused and search her navi for a zagat rated place. A few minutes later she told us about Grand Finale and its buffet. I thought "oh geez, just another buffet." When I arrived, I was shocked to see the old house. We went inside and were seated within 10 minutes. Our waiter was quick to come and serve. I ordered their freshly made blueberry pancakes along with the buffet. When I saw the buffet, I was pleasantly surprised. When I TASTED the buffet I was even happier. The food was incredible. This was overall a GREAT find and my family and I left extremely pleased.
(5)Thor C.
This place has a reputation for being a great date finale, the kind of decadence to get you in like Flynn. And I'm sure the crepes and desserts are fantastic, but our interest was in brunch. And oh, what a brunch. There are few things I like more than bacon. And bacon alongside artichoke benedict and crepes is better than bacon by itself. Plus the desserts were very tasty. Go hungry. Allow some time.
(4)