Stone Bowl
3355 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH, 45209
Stone Bowl Menu
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Address :
3355 Madison Rd
Cincinnati, OH, 45209 - Phone (513) 533-9600
- Website https://www.stonebowloakley.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :Closed
- Mon : Closed
Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Meg C.
My husband and I came here for date night and planned to see a movie afterwards. Because I'd read some reviews that service can be slow, I let our waitress know about our plans and asked her to warn me if anything we ordered would take a particularly long time. We ordered a couple of sushi rolls and a beef stone bowl bibimbap and a chicken stone bowl bibimbap. Our food was served within a very reasonable timeframe (and despite that, the owner came out and apologized for the wait--I think there may have been a miscommunication with the waitress, probably my fault). The sushi was good, but the stone bowl bibimbaps were incredible. We're new to Korean food, so our waitress described all of the little pickled side dishes to us as well as mixing our bibimbaps for us. Really great and hospitable service. We're due for another date night and can't wait to come back.
(5)Jake H.
This was delicious and authentic. I had the stone bowl bibimbap and it was the best I've ever had. The place was extremely clean (even hands free restrooms... complete with a door opener that allows you to use your feet and keep your hands clean). The waitress was EXTREMELY helpful, nice and knowledgeable and was generous with refill of drinks and unlimited side dishes.
(5)Mindy O.
I got the chicken ramen bowl, and it was so good! My sister got the veggie ramen bowl with dumplings and it was even better! The noodles and broth were delicious and with all the veggetablea it made two meals for me which was good because it was a bit pricey. We carryed out. The service was fast. I agree with other reviews that the docorations were a bit off, but it didn't bother me. The place was clean and the food was great!
(5)Mariah Y.
Went here with a friend from out of town this week. We both got Bibimbap stone bowls - mine was chicken and hers was tofu. I was very impressed at both the quality and the quantity. The meal was fantastic. The bowl wasn't loaded with rice, but rather full of vegetables and definitely more than enough meat. My egg was also cooked perfectly. Nothing was overseasoned or too sweet (which I often find is the case with asian in Cincinnati) but the flavour was great in both dishes. It also came with six sides, including pickled radishes and kimchi. They were great! I was so impressed that I actually ordered a spicy tuna roll and a cali roll to take home for my boyfriend. Judging from the fact that he ate them up so quick, I'd say they were a hit too. I definitely recommend this place and i'll be back!
(5)Konstantin A.
See review below (from my wife). Reallyyy wanted to like this place. I may return at some point in the future to try some of the Korean dishes but I don't think I can recommend this place. Tip - they don't accept credit cards so make sure you bring cash.
(2)Ray F.
Great Korean and Japanese food at great prices! Husband got bibimbap and futomaki but I chickened out and got salad and chicken katsu. I will get bibimbap next time. Both were delicious and by checking in I got a free glass of good Pinot noir!! Going to Korea in 4 wks so will be able to directly compare!!
(4)Lauren S.
My sister told me awhile ago that I MUST go to Stone Bowl and today I decided I was in the mood to give it a shot. The place was super easy to find, parking was plentiful, and we were greeted/seated immediately. The staff were friendly and very helpful with all my questions (I have to avoid meat and dairy, they were very accommodating). Our appetizers arrived promptly and our meals followed shortly after. My boyfriend ordered the chicken stone bowl and I ordered miso soup, seaweed salad, sweet potato roll, and veggie roll. They even shaped my sushi into a heart (I'll post a pic)! The owner came to our table and thanked us for coming.. Very cool place and we'll definitely be returning often.
(5)Hengye J.
there is not much on the menu, however the food is very authentically Korean. Quality is good. The service and decorate makes you feel comfortable.
(4)Denise W.
First, I have to preface my review with the fact I came here solely for the sushi and did not try any of the Korean dishes. I was looking forward to a no frills, fresh sushi/sashimi spot. With that said, I can say I will not be going back for the sushi. I ordered a few sashimi pieces and a few hand rolls (which came out as regular rolls). The roll pieces were small and very flavorless...the seaweed tasted stale. The sashimi was not very fresh and honestly, most pieces tasted the same. The octopus and clam were very chewy (and yes, I know exactly what their flavor and consistency are supposed to be like). The smoked salmon barely had any flavor and the squid was slimy and tasteless too. I also had ordered mas ago with quail egg but was informed by the sushi chef he did not want to serve this because he did not like the smell and consistency. Honestly, at that point a "we're out" would've sufficed. Even the ginger tasted old...I've had better grocery brands than this. I really wanted to like this place. I appreciated the no frills sushi advertising but fresh is a must. I would like to want to go back and try the Korean dishes as I am a fan, but the ambience left little to want to go back to. The place needs revamped from the old restaurant's diggs and if you're gonna have TV's up in your lounge/sushi bar area...anything is better than cartoons and a generic weather channel. This place needs work, hopefully it gets the work it desperately needs. I really like to support family restaurants but I don't think I can go back here.
(2)Lauren C.
I am kind of shocked this place has high of a rating as it does. Food - We ate hot stone bibimbap with chicken and three speciality rolls. The bibimbap was fine, but Riverside Korean bibimbap is definitely better. Not enough protein in it. The sushi was not very good. It didn't taste super fresh, quite fishy. The hot fish roll.... Just stay away. It was very very fishy tasting and we each had one piece then left the rest. Service - didn't get the guys name but he was incredibly friendly. He was the bright spot in the dinner. I read other reviews that said service was very slow. I did not find this - I thought it was quick and friendly. Ambiance - kind of looks like a German restaurant inside, which is confusing. Nothing special here. All in all, pass on it. There are better Korean restaurants in cincinnati. I wish these owners well because I can tell it's a family owned business but the food just wasn't up to par.
(2)Courtney C.
My boyfriend and I were very excited to see this restaurant open in our neighborhood, and we finally got to try it last night. Overall, we're big fans and will definitely be back! Other reviewers have complained about slow service, and I have to think the staff was just working out the kinks because it's still a new restaurant. We were greeted and seated immediately when we walked in, and our server was very nice. We knew we wanted to split some sushi rolls, and she answered our questions and made some great recommendations. While we waited for the food (which we didn't have to do long), the co-owner came over to welcome us to the restaurant. We chatted for a bit, and she was very sweet. I thought it was a very nice touch and was a nice display of customer service. Overall, the food was excellent. We ordered a variety of rolls - the Alaskan, Dynamite, Spider, Rainbow, and Caterpillar - and each was better than the last. Everything was very fresh. When the co-owner stopped by, she mentioned that the soy sauce on the table was house-made, and even though I normally don't like a lot of soy sauce with my sushi, I tried theirs and really loved it. It was extremely light and not as salty as soy sauce normally is. This was a huge bonus! I'm already wondering when we can go back - I'd love to try some different sushi rolls and the bibimbap.
(5)Toral V.
I lived in nyc last summer and had the pleasure of living right above an authentic ramen shop which I frequented on a weekly basis. Recently I had been craving ramen and was excited to try something new here in Cincy. I ordered the vegetarian ramen with marinated tofu- you can tell the broth is truly homemade and it balanced well with the other flavors of the ramen bowl. (You can also ask for more broth!) The noodles themselves were cooked to perfection- not too little, not too much. The homemade spicy sauce was delicious- not just a kick of heat, but a ton of flavor as well- I recommend it on your ramen. I also tried the chicken ramen bowl that my bf ordered and was equally impressed. Though the location of the restaurant may catch you off guard, the atmosphere of Stone Bowl is unique and charming. The staff was so sweet and charming and were open to suggestions and feedback. I hope the word about this place spreads and they gain more business- I'll definitely come by here again!
(4)Gregory G.
My wife and I went to Stone Bowl and had a great experience prior to receiving our bill. We received great service, the food was great, and the owner was very friendly. The reason I awarded the restaurant two stars was because the sushi was not really half price despite the large sign on the exterior of the building and the flyers given to us upon entering. It was incredibly disappointing to receive a bill for twice the amount we were planning on spending. We tried to explain this to or server and he told us they get this complaint a lot but there is nothing they can do to adjust our bill. For this reason I would not recommend this restaurant to any of my friends.
(1)Steph F.
My mom and I were absolutely delighted to have dinner at Stone Bowl tonight! The service and food was great, and we are already planning our next visit. Service: Excellent. Our server was very friendly and quickly got us our menus and drinks. Food came out in a reasonable time and the server and the owner and his wife checked in several times to make sure everything was going well. Food: Dumpling Cocktail: a little on the petit side, but overall they were fine. Stone Bowl Bibim-bap: Both my mom and I got the bibim-bap (beef for her and tofu for me). The bowl was filled with cooked zucchini, bean sprouts, carrots, spinach, rice and our proteins with an egg on top. The owner and his wife showed us how to mix everything with a spicy sauce so that the egg and sauce bind everything together, while the stone bowl does some extra cooking. I'm not sure how much it cooked the vegetables, but it crisped up the rice and kept everything warm. We both enjoyed our bowls, though next time I'd order the beef because it was more flavorful. Definitely add soy sauce and be aware of how much of the spicy sauce you put on :) Our bowls came with a trio of sides- kimchi, vinegar pickles, and a sweet potato dish. They were all served cold, which was a nice compliment to the hot and spicy stone bowls! All of them were tasty, but my mom's favorite was the kimchi and I especially liked the vinegar pickles. The rest of the menu looks very vegetarian/pescetarian friendly. Green tea mochi ice cream: This was my first time trying mochi, so I don't have anything to compare it to. The inside ice cream was a treat- I love green tea ice cream, but haven't been able to find it in Cincy. The ice cream was wrapped in a paste that almost had the consistency of bubblegum. It wasn't unpleasant, but not what we expected. I also have to compliment the chef on the beautiful presentation. Next time I'll take pictures! Fruit tray: The owner's wife explained that Koreans often end their meals with fruit, and was kind enough to bring out a small tray of apples and oranges. Once again, the presentation was lovely and was a very nice effort. It was a lovely night out and we cannot wait to bring the rest of the family here and try some other dishes on the menu!
(4)Torian S.
Came for the hot stone bowl bibimbap and was not disappointed. Only giving it 4/5 because its not quite up to par with Suzie Wong's which I still find to be the best ive ever had, but the service, variety, and taste will bring me back. My lady had the pork belly and I was taken aback by how amazing that dish was. I'd definitely suggest checking this place out. (*Sidenote, i was also a fan of Great Scott, so being back in the same building adds to the atmosphere).
(4)Esther K.
Really sweet owners and the food was great! Excited to have a Korean place in Oakley so close to home! I'm Korean so it's nice to have a taste of home sometimes :) Excited to go back and try the ramen!
(4)Jackie B.
We we very excited to see this place open near our house. Dinner was delicious and the service was friendly. It was also very affordable: an entree, appetizer, two sushi rolls, two beers, and a nice tip for about 50 bucks. We both enjoyed the stone bowl bibimbap with chicken, which was enough to share. The tofu appetizer was very tasty as well. The fifth star is being withheld because they have a lot of room for improvement. The employees were all absolutely charming, but very green and disorganized. I am sure service will become smoother as they gain more confidence. I am also hoping that they will put some energy into remodeling. I hope my neighborhood supports this restaurant and has patience while they work out their kinks. Note: we asked for spicy, and it barely registered on the heat scale. Next time I will ask for extra spicy!
(4)Eric F.
My wife and I went to Stone Bowl on Sunday, July 6. Let me begin by saying that even though many on here will put the restaurant down for service and wait time, our experience couldn't have been any different. Immediately, upon entry, we were greeted by the restaurant owner and she directed us to our seats, where we waiting no longer than 30 seconds before a waiter was with us asking for drinks, apps, etc. The service was very good and everyone was very warm and inviting (always a plus). As far as the food, the sushi was just as good as we have had in the area if not better. Everything was very fresh and the presentation was fun! I got the chicken stone bowl which was delicious. Best Korean stone bowl I have had and I love the cooked rice at the bottom. Fresh, hot and plenty of quality ingredients as well. Do not let anyone tell you to pass this up. It is worth a night out with your friends, significant others, etc. Impressed and we will be back soon!
(4)Andy L.
If I could give no stars I would. Came here a few weeks ago and enjoyed the food and service but this time I got the sea food pancake and it was horrible. I asked the server if they can make another one. The cook said its almost closing time and he wouldn't charge me but they close at 10pm and as I write this review its 8:45 pm. I'm never the type to go on yelp and write a review but I'm putting in the time to write this. I've been in the service industry and this is the first time I've ever felt like this. I will never return and I live in the area. I will let many people know about my experience. Finished dinner and it wasn't good at all.
(1)N E.
Got takeout here recently. Great prices, tasty sushi. The artistry with the avocado on the Alaskan roll was amazing, and the Sunday morning roll was crunchy and tasty. The pieces were really fresh and well-crafted. Looking forward to going back and trying the Korean side of the menu. Really wonderful family that runs the place. They do take credit cards - not sure why there was a comment to the contrary in a prior review.
(5)Carrie C.
Loved Stone Bowl, owners are amazing, so nice and inviting. Food was amazing, we had the sushi and will definitely be back for the ramen noodles that they make in house. Also loved the Korean Honey tea, it's was fresh and delish!!!
(5)Kelly M.
You know I originally wrote this review bc I had called your resturaunt and informed them about getting food poisoning and i had to write down EVERYTHING that had happened before I could get a refund. I work with the public in customer service, and in my eyes you go above and beyond for the customer. I was really sick I asked you for a refund and you made me jump through hoops before I could get my money back... which btw i never did. So maybe if you would have given your customer what they had asked, your lunch wouldn't have been interuppted. I would appreciate it if you would write a yelp review and stick with it bc getting an email every 10 minuets saying you've edited your response at 1 am is getting quite old. I hope in the future you treat other customers with problems better than what I experienced.
(1)Princess T.
Sadly I can't agree with Alan on his review of this establishment. My husband and I were here for dinner really hoping to like this place given how close it is to our home. After each bad service experience and every terrible bite we kept telling ourselves that "it could still work" however I'm sad to say it just didn't. The service was lacking and the food is subpar. We won't be going back and I wouldn't recommend it to others. Service While the staff was friendly and courteous, the service itself was just terrible. We were there just after opening time for dinner on a Tuesday, two tables were occupied one of which already had their food. It took an irrationally long time to even get us a menu, an equally prolonged wait followed before our order was taken (mind you we were sitting at the bar, straight across from the chef who wouldn't take our order). All this was followed by an incorrect bill at the end of our meal. Food We ordered from their Korean & Sushi menu. Our first course was the Korean pancake appetizer (apologies but I can't remember the menu name) which was just awful. The dough was entirely raw, by which I mean as raw as you would expect dough to taste when you take it out of a pre-made tube. And if you think it was a personal preference type of situation, let me assure you that I always get this dish whenever I can get my hands on it because I like it so much. While I'm no expert in Japanese pancakes I would think by now I have at least a basic understanding of what the dough's consistency should be. I strongly dislike to send food back however it was impossible to eat! We had to ask to have it cooked longer, once it came back I stayed away from it because it was so overwhelmingly salty that it was just not enjoyable. Next comes the sushi, there isn't anything to say here other than what a terrible disappointment it was. The fish tasted stale and was cut very thinly. The quality just wasn't there. There are other places in the Hyde Park area with better quality for the price. Menu Why oh why would you set your prices at 2X the cost and have an always running half-off promotion? I have never understood this practice and I never will. Just set the prices at the correct price to start with and let's forget about this half-off non-sense. Our server forgot about the 50% deal herself and when our check came back some pieces had been rang up at the ridiculous "regular" prices. There goes waiting again for our server to fix the problem before we could pay our tab.
(2)rick k.
I came back again because I was craving some sushi. I am glad to see that they are getting busier, I guess the word is getting out. I love this place and can't wait to get back. I think I may go for the bibimbap next time. Update: Stone Bowl Bibimbap, which I beleive to be their specialty, is excellent as well.
(5)Hsin T.
I've had my fair share of ramen at the famous NYC ramen houses and in Asia. I was so excited to see that Stone Bowl was serving ramen...which was perfect for a cold winter day. Unfortunately, I have to say that the ramen at Stone Bowl was worst than the $0.99, prepackaged dehydrated instant noodles that you can get from the Asian grocery stores. It seemed like they just doctored it up by adding some bean sprouts, carrots, meat, and egg. Actually, my Korean instant noodles taste much better. First off, the noodles were soggy and overcooked. Second, the ramen soup was lukewarm at best. Third, I asked for my egg to be cooked well but it came out virtually raw. Even the egg white was super slimy. Lukewarm soup and raw egg is not a good combination. I ended up fishing the runny raw egg out of my bowl onto a plate. Third, they advertise "no MSG" in their ramen. I am very sensitive to MSG. Upon first sip of the soup, I could tell it had MSG. Perhaps, it is "no added" MSG but whatever powder soup base mix they are using already contains MSG. MSG makes me very thirsty and lethargic, and gives me a headache. Sure enough, I experienced all 3 of those symptoms. Sorry, Stone Bowl, I will not be going back for your ramen noodles.
(1)Janelle E.
I do want to preface that the food is very good. But I have consistently waited an absolutely absurd amount of time every time I have gone and keep trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. Currently, I am standing here waiting for the last hour for an order consisting of 2 sushi rolls and a stirfry entree. Guys, you need to do better. And not just a little bit.
(2)Chad D.
This place is authentic and delicious. The stone bowl was hot, fresh, and fun to eat. All sides and sauces made fresh in house. A little pricey, but didn't care because the food was so fresh. The owner came to our table and described some of the sides and brought us roasted corn tea on the house! Definitely worth a try. It's a little back off of Madison, don't be afraid. Good food!
(4)Ann L.
Stopped in for a carry out order last night. We were waited on by the owners, Ms. S and Chef Young- he took our order and prepared our food, she checked us out. They are both lovely people and are working hard to fill their employee roster with excellent people. The wait for our food was not lengthy, the timing was excellent. I did hear one of the seated customers asking to order, and- of course- they were not prepared to order when Ms. S came to their table. She patiently, and politely guided them through the ordering process. It is sad that some people are so used to instant food (food that has been prepared and left to stay warm under a heat lamp or cool in a fridge) that they do not recognize when their wait for real/good food is appropriate. Stone Bowl gets huge points from me- this is Not fast food, it's done correctly! The sushi was excellent, we tried 6 different rolls and were not disappointed. The food was served with generous amounts of wasabi and pickled ginger. The food prep area is fabulously clean (I am a clean freak). The restaurant is clean, friendly, not overly decorated, date night ready, and family comfortable. We will be back for more!
(4)Katharine F.
Loved the Stone Bowl with beef! Highly recommend! And customer service was very attentive. Thank you for a great visit Stone Bowl!
(5)Rene B.
Disappointing. This space has great old german-style architecture, which does not lend itself to an Asian restaurant. Waited 5 minutes before being greeted to pick up take-out. Soy sauce cup only 1/3 full for 3 rolls; all rolls were warm; fresh fish is usually a bit cool. Shrimp tempura was soggy - should be crispy and crunchy if it was recently fried. Did not taste fresh - avocado was brown. The menu is a rip from Dancing Wasabi & Cloud 9 - nothing original. Hand-written signs and dead orchid just show lack of finesse for running a great restaurant - we'll go to one of the other 7 sushi restaurants in the area next time.
(2)Kelley U.
First, the service was amazing. Our server, Suzie, was so attentive and enjoyable. The sushi was delicious! A wide variety on the menu and came out perfectly. The Stone Bowls, I have no words. I was scraping the bottom of the bowl. If only it was a never ending stone bowl. Eat here!
(4)Amelia O.
THE BEST BIMIMPAP IN THE CITY! If you've never had Korean food Bibimbap is the dish to try and if you have...well this is the place to come get it. The service is exceptional and the owners, Misook and Young, are gracious and welcoming - it's like dinner with family. All the dishes are made in house (with no MSG). Side dishes are diverse and replenished generously. Stone Bowl is must do - frequently.
(5)Susan K.
one of the best in cincinnati! Fresh ingredients, kimchi is just like they are in Korea and no msg. If you want quality, authentic Korean food this is the place for you.
(5)Greer B.
Love this place. Don't let the weird Manor House type of exterior keep you away. My Co-workers and I have been here a few times in the past couple of weeks. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. We will return next week I'm sure. Ask the server for a suggestion if you are feeling lost, they are happy to help navigate. We all ordered the Bibimbap Bowl. It was beautiful - DON'T TOUCH THE BOWL! The server walked us through what each thing was as it was served and explained how to eat it (as many midwesterners are not familiar with Korean food). The food is delicious, it takes some time to eat as the temperate of the food is piping hot throughout your meal but it's worth the time commitment. Be prepared for KPOP, Korean Pop music, so fun! Try it out, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
(5)Nancy C.
My husband and I had dinner at the Stone Bowl this week, and I am happy to report that we will definitely be back! The restaurant is newly opened in the location where Great Scott used to be on Madison Road. In fact, the Great Scott sign is still up, but you can recognize them by the bright sushi signs. We originally came for sushi, but ended up having a couple sushi rolls for appetizers and trying Korean cuisine for the first time. Our sushi rolls were very good, and there was a nice variety of options on the menu. The added bonus is that sushi is half-price. One thing that makes Stone Bowl different from many of the other sushi restaurants in the area is that half-price sushi applies to carry out orders too! My husband ordered the chicken Stone Bowl Bibim-Bap. It was a wonderful assortment of crispy rice, chicken, and veggies served with a bowl of a Sriracha-based sauce on the side where he was able to control the spice level. What was really cool about his dish is that the stone bowl that it was served in was flaming hot, keeping his dinner warm throughout the course of the meal. I opted for the chicken Bul-Go-Gi (chicken, veggies, cooked in a light sauce with rice on the side). Mine was very tasty as well. Our server provided outstanding service, was very knowledgeable of the Korean menu, and made great suggestions. He told us that next time we visit, we should order the same dishes with beef instead of chicken (which is the more traditional way that these Korean dishes are served). We had the pleasure of meeting the owner, a delightful woman. It is obvious she takes a lot of pride in her restaurant and wants to see her customers happy. She checked in with us from time to time to make sure we were happy. She told us how the dishes prepared at Stone Bowl are healthy, not prepared with a lot of fat and very easy on digestion (I agree with her...we ate a lot and didn't feel sick/stuffed when we left). Before our meal, she served us a divided dish containing tastes of their homemade white kimchee, cooked potato, and red kimchee. I tend to shy away from red kimchee because often it is way too spicy, but this had a very nice heat level. The owner told us about the pork bellies and kimchee entrée that has been very popular since the restaurant opened three weeks ago. Do yourself a favor, and check out the Stone Bowl...you won't be sorry!
(5)Tim L.
I have eaten here twice now and tonight was the first try at takeout. The reviews below are accurate when they say the people are friendly. The service has so far been really bad. They are trying really hard, but they need to hire someone that knows how to run a restaurant. The food has been good once you actually get it, but not good enough to overcome the deficiencies in the way the place is run.
(2)Lemon L.
No MSG. Fresh and high quality ingredients. Very friendly owners. I can see that some might think stone bowl's food is not as flavorable as others. Then they are used to foods with lots of MSG. I am a Korean and I try to eat healthy so I don't go to Korean restaurants as much because I taste MSG and lots of sugar. But, you know I will bring my family to this restaurant to enjoy delicious and healthy authentic Korean foods!
(5)Chris J.
This was a great experience. First time at this restaurant. Our dinner was wonderful and so was the service. The sushi was outstandingly fresh. Bebimbop was less rice and more veggies and meat. Good came out fast and correct, fresh and hot. I will be a regular!
(5)Matthew L.
Decent sushi, friendly service. We were charged an extra $0.50 for extra ginger. I didn't realize the fast food condiment limit had reached casual sushi dining.
(4)Mehdi S.
Mediocre food, overpriced. Service was friendly, but not very attentive. Won't be going back.
(2)Sarah M.
Excellent sushi, great atmosphere! The owner was very friendly. The boat was awesome!
(5)k f.
Great sushi and service! The person I ate with had the bibimbap and said it was excellent. I'll be back!
(5)Mitchel B.
Some of the best fried rice around in the Oakley/Hyde Park area. Very nice service as well!
(5)J ..
They are way over priced on every menu. Food is generally ok but small amount is disappointing. It is not something I would pay for. The rolls are very small and rice is not right texture for the roll. I think food quality is more important than interior decorations for this restaurant.
(1)Kathleen M.
Loved the Stone Bowl Bibim Bap ... unique, fresh, and healthy ... Can't wait to go back and try the sushi
(5)Barbara W.
Finally! A place in Cincinnati will reasonably priced Korean and delicious "half priced" sushi available for carry out. I split a few rolls with a friend and had my own stone bowl bi bim bop and in total (+tax and tip) spent less than what any of the other Korean places in town charge for their dol sot bi bim bops. The sushi: Definitely on par with Cloud 9/Dancing Wasabi in terms of variety and quality. I will definitely be taking advantage of the carry out option in the future. Dol sot (Stone bowl) bi bim bop: (w)holy chunks of beef! I was very pleasantly surprised that my bowl arrived with large and plentiful chunks of beef and piping hot, making for a lot of crispy rice chunks. Yum. The sides: My stone bowl entree came out with house-made red kim chi, white kim chi, and potatoes, all of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Like a previous reviewer stated, there is room for service improvement but the entire staff seems very willing to improve the customer experience. Our waitress brought out a free side of edamame for the table to share between our appetizers and entrees and the owner personally came out to apologize for the delay in our food (which was personally unnoticed by me since I had gotten an appetizer). Overall, I'll be back. Stone Bowl is definitely going through some growing pains, but the food was good and it's kind of refreshing to see a mom and pop restaurant starting from the ground up.
(4)X D.
We were able to get a reservation the day before for 9 adults and a child without any problem. The entire staff was very accommodating, even providing two people to help take orders, and the food was simply incredible. Most of us had the stone bowl bibimbap and loved it - and the ones that ordered other dishes were equally satisfied with their food as well. The kimchi here has a good kick to it, which was awesome, and the hot sauce (which you add yourself) was actually spicy (as opposed to some of the other local Korean places where it tastes more like ketchup and I end up having to ask for Sriracha). While waiting they brought out some of the side vegetables that typically accompany Korean dishes like bibimbap (kimchi, daikon, potatoes, etc). There were only a few brought out, I suspect to conserve table space since we were using a lot of it, but they quickly brought out more when I asked for additional after running low. I'm still thinking about the crispy rice and those fresh vegetables. Mmm. I saw some of the other reviews on here and I just don't get the negative ones. Maybe the people did not understand that stone bowl bibimbap can take time to prepare (which still was not a long time for us), or maybe they just had a one-off experience with staff that may no longer be there, but I have nothing but great things to say about this place and I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone. They were always very fast to refill our drinks, the food was fantastic (I think I like it even more than Riverside and Sura - my two previous favorites) and the entire staff was very hospitable and friendly -including a visit from the owner, complimentary mocchi ice cream for the birthday girl (and an extra to share since we had a large group), and the owner again stopped outside to tell us goodbye and to again wish my wife a happy birthday. This place was just great and made a birthday celebration into a real treat. We will definitely be back!
(5)M M.
I seriously crave this place all of the time. i don't have much history of eating at a Korean restaurant, so I have limited knowledge of its authenticity. I just enjoy good food. Stone Bowl Bim Bop... sooo good. I like chicken better than beef. Was surprised.
(4)Echo R.
I was excited to check out Stone Bowl which recently opened in Oakley. It's got a good location near the movie theatre with ample parking and a nice, clean restaurant. The food was ok (we had the Seafood Bibimbap and several sushi rolls) and the 50% off sushi was a ploy to get you in the restaurant (they claim the prices on the menu are 50% off but nowhere does it actually say that). The sushi was fresh, but the carrots were not a small enough and took over the roll because they were so crunchy. The stone bowl seafood bibimbap was overpriced ($19) and wasn't quite right. With a typical stone bowl I expect crispy rice on the bottom and a dish so hot temperature wise that I have to eat it very slowly. This meal was warm, but felt like it wasn't cooked in the stone bowl but they steamed the rice and vegetables separately and then threw them in the bowl. The potatoes that came as one of the sides was undercooked and was hard. Korea House in Symmes Township and Sura in Mason are a thousand times better and cheaper. If you want Korean, it would be worth the drive. If you're in a pinch and in the area Stone Bowl will do .
(2)Rich U.
4 of us ate there last night (June 15) Amy and Tim had Tofu Stone Bowls, Sarah had the Rainbow Bowl, and I just had to try the Korean BBQ pork ribs. All of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The presentation was wonderful and they use less salt, sugar and oil that most other restaurants and no MSG :-) My sister in law is Korean and these meals seem more authentic than most of the other Korean restaurants. The Hoisin sauce is not overly sweet. and neither were my ribs. We enjoyed it so much that some of us are coming back for sushi on Thursday with some other friends of ours. I recommend it highly. I know they no longer serve lunch till they get more servers and chefs. I think some of the lower scores were from the beginning of the restaurant as it was starting out and suffering start up pains. It is still very new. I'm confident that the decor will slowly change to what they envision and it will eventually become a bright jewel in the restaurant scene here. Hint: try the OB beer, it comes only in large bottles, and it is quite good and quite LARGE
(5)Coral W.
Updates! We visited this restaurant today again and still LOVE it!! This time we ordered different items on the menu. Again we were impressed by all of them. I ordered the honey ginger hot tea (good as usual), and my husband ordered an iced honey plum tea. My husband was very happy about his drink (finally he didn't have to order regular iced tea!) If you want something refreshing and also a little bit sweet, try the plum tea! I ordered the seaweed salad and Korean seafood pancake (from their appetizer) and my husband ordered their signature bibimbap with tofu. I had the pancake as my entree and loved it! Though it is listed as an "appetizer," the serving size was big enough to serve as an entree. (It's like an 8 inch pizza!) What I like about this pancake is that it had more solid body in it, compared to the Korean pancakes I had tried in other places. It was also less greasy too, which I really appreciate! I have been trying to find a less greasy Korean pancake and this restaurant offered me that. :) My husband's bibimbap was just awesome! Something I have to really praise about this bowl of goodness is that they used a mixture of white rice, brown rice, and black rice as the bed of their bibimbap. This definitely made the dish much more nutritious!! (I finally found a restaurant that truly pays attention to not only flavors but also nutrition. This is rare!) The brown and black rice definitely added a nice grainy flavor to the whole dish! I have never had bibimbap that served three different kinds of rice! By the way, our dishes came with 6 small side dishes (3 for each entree), and each of them was unique and yummy. There were baby ginseng roots, daikon, kimchi, spinach and onion, and something I forgot it's name (they were all yummy, anyway!) They were good before and with our entrees. They provided fresh and spicy flavors that stimulated our palate. And again, the service was pretty good as usual. Our server (her name is Kathy?) is a very likable lady. She did not feel hesitant to explain foods on our table. I saw her taking care of other 3 tables, and I think she did a great job. :) Again, the chef came out to talk to us, and we had a nice talk about the rice they use in their restaurant. While most customers go to a restaurant to consume foods and enjoy services, I am glad that I actually "learned" something from her (in addition to the nice food and hospitality.) This definitely made our visit more meaningful and interesting! We were definitely happy in our second visit. We will definitely be back again and continue to try different things! Since we are return customers, we got a nice little treat for free!! (This restaurant is run by people who are very personable, sweet, and sincere!) I am not telling you what that nice treat was because you will have to come to visit the restaurant by yourself! If you are around the neighborhood of Oakley, or if you are searching for sophisticated Korean foods, please give Stone Bowl a try! Here what you will get is delicious and health-oriented foods as well as sincere hospitality.
(5)Susan Q.
Brought my husband here for a surprise Father's Day dinner after I read some mixed reviews on Yelp. So glad I went with my guts that this will be good. Restaurant had nobody when we got there but by the end of dinner, we wish more people knew this place. The ramen is so good. Indeed your soup base is the best I've had ever! My husband said your rainbow roll is worth driving out for. The bimbimbap is true to what bimbimbap is. Thank you for being proud of what you do and please keep doing it. We'll come back for sure!
(5)Charles S.
I went here for the first time on a Saturday night and the crowd was fairly sparse. Hopefully this place will gain some fans as what I had was very good. When I go to Korean places I like to get beef Bibim-Bap. Theirs was very good like usual but was about $5 cheaper than at other places. I recommend others get Bibim-bap, add nearly all of the little side dishes they bring out and add a lot of the spicy sauce and mix it all up. I have not had their bulgogi but that's usually very good. I ordered dumplings as well and they were good but I wasn't over the moon about it. The sushi looked a bit expensive. Not related to the food but it's nice to see more restaurants adding the foot grip to bathroom doors so you can open them without using your hands. Service was excellent and the atmosphere is kind of cool. The bar is very cozy and the music is bizarre.
(4)Brandy V.
Stopped in tonight for sushi and there was a sign on the door that said the didn't have sushi, went inside and was told that they didn't have sushi and that they were changing their menu.
(1)Shan S.
Absolutely amazing! I went for the first time today and it will definitely not be the last. Went for lunch so it was rather quiet, just a few tables going. Service was quick and Cathy (my server) was just lovely. She asked me if it was my first visit, and since it was had great recommendations. I got the house ramen with pork belly and it was perfection! The meat was great, veggies fresh, noodle texture was to die for, and the broth was clearly made with love. I can't wait to go back and explore the menu more!
(5)Rachel A.
Updated: The last time I made a trip to Stone Bowl, the service was great. Our server was incredibly sweet, friendly, and attentive. My stone bowl was delicious as always. Docking one star only because the chicken katsu my aunt ordered could have been warmer. We didn't mention it to our server, but I think she would have fixed this for us if we did. We were too hungry and didn't want to bother her about it. Overall, it was a great experience.
(4)Jessi G.
My fiance and I went to Stone Bowl because we were sick of our usual stops, and we were definitely surprised by how good it was! I got the sushi, which was great, but there are better places to get sushi (for cheaper) in town. It was yummy and beautiful, but I probably won't be ordering sushi next time I come back. My fiance ordered the pork belly ramen which was AMAZING. I have never tasted ramen that tasted like this before. The noodles were extremely fresh (do they make them in house?), and the broth was incredibly flavorful. We ate every last bit of it, and then we slurped up the broth because we just couldn't get enough. For the price, it was a great deal, and it is very convenient to get to. We will be adding this place to the restaurant rotation for sure!
(4)Nichole S.
Very nice restaurant. We were seated right away and the owner immediately introduced herself and went over any questions we had about the menu. Server was very friendly...and looked like Andrew Luck, which we were partial to. Food was great. We were just disappointed that they don't have sushi at the moment since they are working on a new sushi menu.
(4)Calvin C.
Came in for a late lunch on a weekend. I didn't realize that this building was there as its a bit hidden from the street. The restaurant has a nice patio and quite some tables inside. Our server promptly day us down and took our orders since we were one of two tables. I suppose that's to be expected for late Saturday. They have a typical korean menu and serve all of the typical korean dishes as well as sushi and ramen. We ordered the spicy tofu and chicken ramen. Both were pretty decent. The tofu was fried and had been marinated in the sauce as it was quite tasty. The ramen was surprisingly good. The noodles were spot-on with good flavor and chewiness. The broth was a chicken or beef broth but had some great flavor especially after all noodles were eaten and the soup had time to absorb the flavors of the chicken and vegetables. It's not a typical japanese ramen but still a very good facsimile. The prices were very fair though and the service was better than average. I definitely want to come back and try the bulgogi for dinner.
(4)Susan L.
I'm torn. I really wanted to love this place. How exciting to have a korean place open just down the street from me, and with late hours at that. It would have absolutely made my day... but I'll have to give it a second try on some other night. We ordered the pork belly & kim chi soup. I typically love the kim chi soup, and I even make it at home often. It was ok, but the flavors were a little off. The pork belly is a slightly different take on a pork bbq dish that mom always makes, and we order often at all the other korean restaurants. I'm fairly impressed with how much the owners are trying to make it work. They are looking to create a restaurant that makes healthy choices. They make their own soy sauce to use less salt and preservatives than the commercially sold ones (reminds me of mom making her own soy sauce back when she used to have the time to do that). I'll give them another try after they work out some of the kinks in the new business. Service was disappointingly slow, and the ban chan was very minimal. I want this place to work and I want to fall in love with it. I could imagine making stops here several times a week... but it's not quite there yet. ----------------------------------- Explanation of my rating system - 5*: Epitome of something, the best I've had, would LOVE to go back 4*: Great food and happy to go back regularly, but not the best of the category 3*: Food is fine. I may spontaneously decide to go there based on convenience. But no need to go back either. 2*: If you insist, I guess I'll come along. I'll find something to eat. But I wouldn't have picked it. 1*: No plans to come back. I'll try to talk companions out of going.
(3)Peter B.
I had the beef bibimbap. It was delicious and served extremely hot. Never had Korean food before so I have no threshold to compare it to. The service was slow. I was here for a lunch meeting and there were only 2 other tables occupied besides ours. Yet we had empty water glasses for long intervals and had to find the waitress to get the check. There didn't seem to be any reason for such slow service.
(4)Cindy G.
We went to Stone Bowl last night and honestly, it was just OK. Our server informed us that this used to be a former German restaurant and you can certainly tell. They did little to renovate or change the interior. You have to know up front that the atmosphere is not the draw of this place. We sat and were given no rundown of the menu whatsoever. This was our first time dining here and my friends first time ever having Korean. There were three menus given to us all of which were confusing. We ended up navigating it ourselves and ordered up three sushi rolls and the beef bi bim bap. I am a HUGE fan of bi bim bap and order it wherever I go. I do not like to compare restaurants because I like to judge each as their own, but this was not my favorite. The bi bim bap came out at the same time as our sushi and we had no time to eat the sushi before the bi bim bap got cold despite us asking for it come out AFTER the sushi. I would also like to note that our server was very friendly but had no knowledge of the menu or Korean food whatsoever. When our sushi came out, there was no explanation of even which roll was which. When the bi bim bap came out he sat it on the table and was about to walk away when I asked him to stir the bi bim bap for us, he looked extremely confused. At every other Korean restaurant I have ever been to they describe the dish to you, answer any questions you may have and stir it table side. He ended up stirring it and then saying, "Hey I'm not Korean, sooo..." This was confusing to me. You work at a Korean restaurant, you should know the menu and be able to answer basic questions. The sushi itself was okay, and the bi bim bap was my least favorite in the city. The ratio of veggies to rice to meat was way off. There were way too many veggies and very little meat. And because their were so many veggies our rice did not get crispy on the bowl at all which is the best part! I was really disappointed that this was my friends first encounter with Korean cuisine. I went against my gut and tried something new and failed. For now, this restaurant needs to spend significant time training the staff on what basic Korean dishes are, and more importantly the basics of serving: i.e. explain which dish is which, give a quick synopsis of the menu etc. You might be able to get away with some things, but service is just not one of them. Three stars for the food, two for the service. I'm calling this one a 2.5.
(2)John T.
Loved it simple, good ingredients, unique for the area. I hope they do well & more people branch out to try new things. I look forward to trying some other menu items. The ramen was great, behbim bap (i probably misprlled it) was great & I loved the accompanying hot sauce. I look forward to more kim-chee next time.
(5)Tom C.
Went Last Saturday, the place was empty, ordered bulgogi (korean beef) and pork stonebowl, not even close to authentic korean food. You could go to krogers and buy beef and korean sauce in the asian isle and make the food 10x better. Dont let them fool u about the no msg thing, they cant cook. The service however was outstanding. Will never be back thought, not worth the drive, even if it was only 5min
(1)Bill C.
Run, don't walk, to eat at Stone Bowl! This place was simply amazing! They have a menu full of korean, sushi, Ramen and more... and everything we had was delicious. The nigiri was fresh and well presented, a perfect appetizer. I had chicken stir fry, perfectly saucy and spicy with big soft noodles. Service was fast and friendly. The best part was the owner/chef came out after we ate and talked with us for about 10 minutes. We learned she limits oils and salt, and doesn't use msg... she had a real passion for her food. And we were amazed to learn that the red pepper she uses is grown organically by her mother in Korea! All in all we had a great experience at Stone Bowl and will definitely be back soon!
(5)Jacquelyn G.
This is one of my favorite restaurants to go to in Cincinnati. The staff are incredibly welcoming and attentive. The bim bim bap is incredible! Also, make sure to try there sushi!
(5)Ahmed R.
I have visited this place twice so far with my friend. On my first visit, I got the dolsot bibimbap (bibimbap served on a hot stone bowl) and it was great. The only thing that threw me off was the addition of lettuce on the dish. I don't think the lettuce adds to the dish so next time I get dolsot bibimbap, I'll ask for no lettuce. Everything else on the dish was very good. I only stirred together the veggies and all the other toppings above the rice so that way the rices keeps cooking some more at the bottom is the stone bowl and it gets a bit crunchy. It was soooo good to have a spoonful of all the combines toppings and some soft and crunchy rice on almost every bite. But then again, that is how I like to eat bibimbap. You can definitively feel the lack of MSG in the dish, which is awesome! They also have good banchan (Korean side dishes). For my second visit I had the kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) with pork belly. The stew comes on a hot stone bowl too like the dolsot bibimbap. I got mine with the minimal spice level (level 3) and it was incredibly good! I think the kimchi jjigae was my favorite of the 2 dishes that I have tried so far. As always, you get some nice banchan too with your dish. For dessert, I tried the green tea ice cream. It came drizzled with chocolate and caramel. Bang! I think I found my new favorite ice cream flavor. Too bad it is an ice cream flavor that would be impossible to get at your local ice cream place :( My friend also liked a lot the green tea ice cream (he rarely likes "non-traditional" ice cream flavors). For some weird reason we got forks instead of spoons for eating our ice cream lol Service was a bit slow. Me and my friend had to wait some time before someone would come out and sit us ( the place was not super busy when we got there). I think they should get some system (like some movement sensors or the like) that alert people at the kitchen--or at any other place--that the door was opened and someone needs to come out and attend to the customers ASAP. Overall, me and my friend have already mentioned that it is a place that we would keep visiting. Although the place has room for improvement, it is a great place to come and have a nice Korean meal.
(5)Andrea P.
My husband and I came here last night and were pleasantly surprised! We got the pork belly ramen and the chicken bibimbap. Our waitress explained all the sides for us and she made sure to stir my bibimbap since I had no idea what I was doing. We will definitely be back!
(5)Whitley D.
OH MY GOODNESS!!! This is the perfect place for a pork belly dish. I NEVER write food reviews but after having their pork belly, I had to. The staff is so nice and they make Stone bowl a wonderful experience. The music also makes it a joyous experience. (Fyi, great place for a date). I cannot express this enough to pork belly lovers...GET THE PORK BELLY, GET THE PORK BELLY, GET THE PORK BELLY! It is well worth the price and you get a ton of it! Thank you StoneBowl for the amazing experience ^_^
(5)Minji C.
We went on a Friday night and they were very busy. The waitress was very nice and got us seated in 15 minutes. The waitresses were explaining all the side dishes to the customers to acquaint them with Korean cuisine. They currently serve 6 different well appointed side dishes. I ordered spicy stirfried porkbelly with kimchi and it was very good, spicy and only slightly sweet (most Korean dishes are not supposed to be sweet). My mom ordered grilled mackerel and it was perfectly cooked and salted just the right amount, and I could tell that they use good quality mackerel. The Korean menu is hopefully evolving, as there aren't too many options other than the stonebowl bibimbap that they are known for, but the little they have seems to be good:)
(5)Saki A.
Went on our adventure dinner date. I adore Riverside Korean Restaurant in Kentucky, Sung Korean Bistro in downtown Cincy, and Kim's Korean in Harrison, Ohio. Wanted to try a new Korean place and this was next on our list. We got the Pajeon (Kind of like a seafood onion pancake) for an appetizer and beef bibimbap which of course was served in a stone bowl. Pajeon was nice and crispy with a kick of a dipping sauce. The beef bibimbap was just perfect; crunchy rice, half done eggs, and pickled veggies made a spectacular combination with the well seasoned beef. Yummm!! The service was very attentive and kind. No complaints there! 4 stars only because I didn't get to try their ramen menu. I'd like to see how they compare to the Japanese ramen; I am a little picky about my noodles! Will be going back soon for an updated review!
(4)Toral V.
I lived in nyc last summer and had the pleasure of living right above an authentic ramen shop which I frequented on a weekly basis. Recently I had been craving ramen and was excited to try something new here in Cincy. I ordered the vegetarian ramen with marinated tofu- you can tell the broth is truly homemade and it balanced well with the other flavors of the ramen bowl. (You can also ask for more broth!) The noodles themselves were cooked to perfection- not too little, not too much. The homemade spicy sauce was delicious- not just a kick of heat, but a ton of flavor as well- I recommend it on your ramen. I also tried the chicken ramen bowl that my bf ordered and was equally impressed. Though the location of the restaurant may catch you off guard, the atmosphere of Stone Bowl is unique and charming. The staff was so sweet and charming and were open to suggestions and feedback. I hope the word about this place spreads and they gain more business- I'll definitely come by here again!
(4)Bridget S.
I got takeout from here the week this place opened. I just have to say that the sushi has hardly any flavor at all. There were no sauces or anything topped onto our rolls. I've never experienced such blandness. I probably wouldn't order from here again.
(2)Tyler M.
Preface: This review is coming from someone who knows little about Korean Cuisine. [tastes bad]--------------x------[tastes good] [bad service]-------------x-------[great service] [poor atmosphere]---x-----------------[oh snap, that's cool!] Taste: I wish I had more to compare this place to. It definitely sparked my interest in Korean Cuisine and the staff definitely seemed to encourage the sampling of new flavors. The sushi, I can definitely remark on- It seemed pretty on-par for the city, definitely nothing remarkable, but tasted fresh and as expected. I liked that it was served on a boat (It's the little things in life). Nothing tasted bad here, but I wasn't blown away either. Service: The staff was very kind and attentive, but maybe not the most knowledgeable about the cuisine. Nonetheless, kindness goes a long way and would definitely warrant my giving them a second chance. Atmosphere: The restaurant seems to be in just a bit of an identity crisis. The exterior (and much of the interior) looks straight up German. Not a lot you can do about the outside of the building, but the inside could definitely use a consistent theme. This place has a lot of potential, it's a pretty cool building and the sushi-bar room had a nice atmosphere. I think a little paint could go a long way here (let's pick a theme and roll with it). Check in on Yelp and get a free glass of wine: GAME ON. Will I be back? Maybe. I don't have a ton of Oakley favorites, so I may just have to stop in here if I happen to be in the area. Though, I can't say that I would make a special trip to come here.
(3)Jon S.
I've been craving Bibimbap lately, so I was excited to visit this place because it is fairly close to my home and work. I did lunch there with a few other colleagues, and ordered the stone bowl. It sizzled as it came out, and true to my expectation was hot and tasty, and hot rice clung to the bottom of the bowl... my favorite part! Portions were decent. Price was a tiny bit steep, but reasonable. The staff was friendly. Atmosphere, however, leaves a bit to be desired. As other posters have commented, the decor is left over from the previous business... a rustic, european lodge style with decorative chandeliers, hearty wood molding. The tables and chairs were generic, and didn't offer much atmosphere at all. The only Asian influence to the decor was a few stretched linen wall panels and some hastily-assembled bamboo fencing in the parking lot. If I were the owner, I'd either gut the place, and try to remove as much of the previous decor as possible (despite how expensive it looks), repaint and seek the help of an interior decorator... OR own the European village influence, and change the menu to reflect a Euro-Asian fusion (but fusion might not be the kitchen's strong point). Either way, it needs some work to make it more inviting. The lunch crowd was very thin, but I enjoyed my bowl very much as well as the various 'appetizers' they set out (kimchi and other pickled goodies). My co-worker who ordered the sushi said she wished she'd ordered the bowl, as she was not impressed with her 'sushi boat'. Overall, I liked the place, and it looks like they're trying hard to make the place work. I just hope they find their stride, as I'd love to see them succeed. 4 stars for the food, but the atmosphere needs some work.
(4)Ben N.
Heeding the apparent City of Cincinnati ordinance or by-law that requires any Asian restaurant other than Chinese (or more specifically, Americanized Chinese) to have a pan-Asian menu, Stone Bowl has Korean food as its anchor cuisine but offers other Asian items, most prominently sushi, as well. As is the case with most of the other pan-Asian restaurants inside the city limits, this is probably a mistake: Stone Bowl, alas, doesn't do much of anything very well. I've tried a couple of the Korean stews, one with kimchee and pork and a second with clams. Both were only okay: They lacked the color and pop of the Korean stews I've had in better Korean restaurants--as well as the complexity--and the bowls arrived at the table with the veggies cooked almost to death. As with too many Asian restaurants in Cincinnati, the hot-pepper scale probably doesn't go nearly high enough. I ordered my stew at an 8 out of 10, but the only heat was provided by what looked like a few jalapeno slices. (Maybe I'm just ignorant in asking this, but where's the bright red gochujang?) Stone bowl bibimbap was a bit more successful. The rice on the bottom was pleasantly and uniformly crispy without getting burned, and the veggies were cooked properly and thus had flavor. And this dish did come with a healthy serving of gochujang. We disagree with all the rave reviews of Stone Bowl's sushi, but then we are almost always disappointed by sushi in Cincinnati. We've ordered a couple of Rainbow rolls that were sloppily assembled and featured fish that was not at its freshest. Very much a blah product. Service is quite friendly, but the kitchen is very slow to get cooked items out into the dining room. The good news is that your server is likely to bring you more banchan while you wait. Given that Stone Bowl has jarringly adopted the rather threadbare, dark Tudor decor of whichever misbegotten steak-and-chops emporium used to operate in this space, the price points seem somewhat high. You'll pay almost as much for the Korean items as you would at a nicer place like Sung Korean, or a few dollars more than you would at better Korean places out in the suburbs, like SuRa. 2.5 stars. I'll round up because the owners seem very earnest and welcoming, and I have hopes that the food and service will improve.
(3)Ellis L.
while on a visit to the Queen City, I was invited to the Stone Bowl. I was very surprised at the food and the service. I felt like I was at my favorite Korean Restaurant in Washington DC. The Bibim-Bap was incredibly good. The Starter was simple, had perfect flavor. I was impressed. This place I hope stays, and I will be coming to the Stone Bowl more often, when I am in Cincinnati. Well worth the trip. You guys gotta try it, you'll be hooked...
(4)Erin C.
Lower rating because my stomach did not handle the food very well. When the waitress brought the stone bowl out she did not immediately ask if my friend knew how to eat it so it sat for a while burning the rice on the bottom since he didn't stir it right away. I ordered the ramen and I think there was something in there that caused serious discomfort after eating. The one bright star is that their sushi looked good (a friend ordered, I did not eat) and the chicken Katsu was delicious but overpriced.
(2)Lauren J.
Bibimbap WHAT!??? I was reading reviews on local restaurants at 10pm on a Saturday and came across this restaurant. And it was still open. So I texted a friend, and we concluded since we ate lunch at the casino at 3:30pm, it would only make sense to have dinner right then. 10 minutes later we were seated in the main dining room. It was later at night, so our server and host were the same person, and he was polite, attentive, and willing to answer any questions we had. We ordered quickly- the chicken bibimbap stone bowl for me and my friend 2 rolls of sushi. After the server left we noticed the decor. It used to be a restaurant called Great Scott, which seemed to be an English Pub. Much of that remains the same with the Tudor feel, but it was clean and quiet which I liked. There was a bar area that you could order at or wait for takeout. Our server brought 2 dishes that appeared to be relish trays. I am not knowledgable of Korean cuisine, but it was fun to try and interesting. I remember it had kimchi, anchovies, zucchini, and other items in the little bowls. The sushi arrived first, and quickly after my stone bowl. It-was-HOT! As in- the metal serve ware was almost too hot to touch to mix it all together. But it smelled amazing. I broke the yolk, added some soy sauce and chili paste, tossed it a bit and let the rice get crispy. And crisp it did. It was a perfect blend of spices, fresh- and I mean FRESH- food, and each bite was just as hot as the first. My friend's sushi was also delicious. She loved the touch of making the wasabi in the shape of a leaf. She also made a good point. The sushi was very reasonably priced and they didn't have signs screaming 'sushi half price all the time.' Because when you price it right at the beginning you don't have to use those gimmicks to attract customers. Stone Bowl- great job! A really nice touch is that the owner was still there (at 10:30pm) and came to see how everything was. She was gracious with my many questions and genuinely concerned with our experience. Bottom line- great service, friendly and helpful staff, good food reasonable priced, we will be back!
(4)John K.
I am impressed with the food at this restaurant. The place deco is simple but the food is very authentic and healthy. This is the best Korean restaurant in Cincinnati. High quality and delicious authentic Korean food. I recommend this place to everyone.
(5)Dominique L.
Cute little atmosphere with friendly service. Sushi was really good and even though I tried the stone bowl and was not a huge fan of the meal itself I did enjoy the experience as a whole. It was competitive with the prices of most 1/2 price sushi restaurants. Very unique menu items.
(4)Angela C.
Oh, man. I really wanted to love Stone Bowl- Korean in my neighborhood is so exciting, but I was rather disappointed. Services, as everyone has said, was very friendly, but very slow for a weeknight and small crowd. It took several awkward minutes of looking around before someone came out to seat us. I can tell it's a family run restaurant and I want them to succeed, but I'm worried. I had the stone bowl tofu bibimbap, which tasted good and was a great portion size, though didn't surpass other Korean restaurants in taste in the same price range. I also thought it was a little weird that there was some cooked romaine lettuce mixed in with the spinach. It tasted fine but I've never seen that, and romaine isn't really an optimal cooked veggie. The sushi was fine, and came in a pretty boat, but the order of baked sushi was not particularly good and seemed small for an $8 roll. Regular roll prices looked good, but we didn't order any fresh fish rolls so I can't speak to how those were. Mandu and seafood pancake were also fine. I guess, overall, the pricing was similar to all other Korean restaurants in the area, but wasn't quite as good in overall taste and experience. The most disappointing part was that we got no ban chan (little appetizer dishes)! We thought that they just didn't do it here, which was strange, but my husband got it in his to-go meal, so apparently someone just forgot to give it to us. If we had had that, I might have bumped this up to 4 stars, but ban chan is to me a signature part of a good Korean meal! The space itself is kind of unusual- I never came when this was Great Scott. It's sort of cottage/tudor style which is cute. Probably could use a furniture upgrade. It also got pretty hot while we were eating, not sure what that was about. I'd probably get takeout here in a pinch. Overall, I'd maybe give Stone Bowl one more chance, but really was underwhelmed by the experience this first time.
(3)Andy V.
Heard great things about this new sushi place from some friends. My fiancé always orders a ginger salad when we get sushi and this time was no different. I tried it and it was weird... The ginger salad dressing seemed really watery and lacked that usual taste but I wasn't too worried about it since it's just a salad (that's why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5). When the rolls came out they were huge! Everything was delicious and the wait staff came around often to check on us.
(4)Margaux H.
So delicious, I've had the bibimbap and chicken fried rice and both were amazing. I can't wait to try more items on the menu
(5)Taylor M.
My friends and I wanted a low-key girls night and this has been on the list to try. We were not disappointed. I went with the ramen and it was quite tasty. I also enjoyed a Kirin Ichiban beer. My friend ordered sushi as an app and the presentation was great on a fish shaped plate! She said it tasted good too. My friends ordered the stone bowls and quite enjoyed them. It wasn't too crowded and the service was good. Would go back!
(4)Travis L.
Average sushi. However the service was great. The owner will come out and talk to you. Very friendly. Next time I'm looking forward to actually trying the stone bowl.
(3)Katie F.
What a wonderful place to enjoy dinner with your family, with a good number of vegetarian options. First, the service was attentive and friendly without being pushy, and the owner stopped by a few times to speak with us, which was really kind. They brought us great homemade snacks before the meal began-spicy kimchee, pickled radishes, and sweetened potatoes. For dinner, my husband and I split a Stone Bowl, and asked for double vegetables and no egg, which they were able to do. We also asked for brown rice, which they did not have. We did not miss the tofu or egg at all. The delicious mix of vegetables and the luscious rice (which formed into crispy rice balls on the bottom of the hot stone bowl) was very satisfying. In addition to the edamame that we had on the side, we left totally stuffed. We did not try the sushi but the table next to ours ordered sushi with an eye-catching presentation-it came out on a platter (the sushi was in a foil tent) that was on fire! Also, their sushi is half off, and they stay open extra late on Fridays and Saturdays so this could be a great place to visit for late-night munchies. Overall, this was an excellent experience and comes highly recommended.
(4)Yvonne H.
The stone bowl was sizzling and there was plenty of crispy rice at the bottom of my bowl. The food tasted fresh, flavorful, and healthy. The owner came out and let us sample her new chicken wing creation. Delicious! This is the kind of place you want to go back to so you can try everything on the menu. I also really liked the foot latch on the bathroom door so I didn't have to touch the handle. Probably going back tonight!
(4)Hanna E.
This place has amazing food; specially their bibim-bap. The atmosphere is very cozy and cute. Also, the service is so incredibly friendly and helpful. They showed us first time stone-bowlers how to mix it up and everything. The whole experience was fantastic!!
(5)Andrew B.
I had never had Korean food and I had some time to myself so I decided to stop in. I got the hot stone bowl with chicken. I really enjoyed it tho the food was very hot temperature-wise. The food was elegantly simple and flavorful with unique texture from the crispy rice and vegetables. I'll come back
(4)Dale H.
We stopped here after Sunday service at Crossroads. Very convenient to church! They open at 11:30 on Sunday, so that's great after the 10 AM service (by the time you get out of church and the parking lot, etc.). There's a small parking lot which is nice. We went in and were promptly seated. There was one other group eating. It was pretty cold in there. Perhaps they just opened, but they needed to turn up the heat! My husband ordered the bibimbap, and I had the seafood ramen. The usual Korean small dishes were served, and they were delicious. I love that they cook without MSG! My ramen was delicious. I loved the soup flavors. My hubby enjoyed his bibimbap as well, though the rice did not get that crispy on the bottom. Overall, a good experience.
(3)Matt B.
I've been to Stone Bowl several times, and I'm ready to declare it as one of the best casual places to eat in the Oakley area. The menu features multiple types of Asian cuisine with more of a focus on Korean and Japanese (sushi / ramen). Up until recently, they offered the typical "Half Price Sushi" deal common to places in the area, but the menu was recently changed to remove that. As such, the sushi is now probably a little on the pricey side for the area. Having said that, the sushi is pretty good. Where Stone Bowl really shines is with their namesake dish -- the bibimbap or "Stone Bowl." Simply put, it's outstanding. The combination of veggies, rice and meat is both flavorful and filling. Spicy sauce is provided at the table to help you reach the perfect level of heat. Definitely check this out.
(4)Sara M.
This place is a diamond... Well not in the rough but just a diamond. I was very worried to not be able to get good Korean food after have been living in NYC. But the food here is hands down just as great as any place in NYC. I'm very happy to have found this new gem! Satisfies all my cravings and it's healthy as well! Fantastic!
(4)Suzanne N.
I had Jujube hot tea, squid sushi, egg sushi, and the pork belly bibimbap. Delicious. One of the best meals I've ever had at a restaurant. Service was great. Ambiance, was ok. It seems like all efforts are going into the food right now, and bravo!
(5)Beth E.
This is a great find! Great food, service and atmosphere. The stone bowl was outstanding!!! I hope this place catches on. It's worth a visit.
(5)Sumner S.
House Salad- olives? And dressing flavorless Stone Bowl Bim Bim Bap - bowl not hot hence rice didn't crisp and continue to cook.
(2)Darpan P.
Great date night in the Oakley area. We sat at the sushi bar on a slow night and learned about the chef and his story while we were served an array of sushi items on and off the menu. Highly recommend this place and allowing the chef to make items most would consider adventurous. This is not your bland California roll type of place even though they offer the typical sushi menu. The proprietor takes a hands on approach from picking the fish to everything else to maintain a high level of quality and freshness.
(5)Morgan W.
Always on a quest to find a great Korean restaurant that doesn't require too long of a drive, my friends and I searched for some new places and found this place by chance. The food was some of the best I've had since actually being in Korea, including the kimchi. The homemade kimchi had such a fresh, crisp taste that I think I could eat it for days on end--and I'm usually not a big kimchi eater unless it's cooked into something. I love that the banchan come in small doses, so you're not just throwing away foods that take so long to prepare if the customers don't eat everything. Needless to say that wasn't a problem with our table! We cleaned our plates and then some, it seems. If Korean food here in America wasn't so expensive, my friends and I would be back here at least once a week! It's absolutely fantastic if you're looking for a cozy, homey place to enjoy some amazing Korean food~
(5)Natalie M.
Very pleasantly surprised! Great Korean food!! They offered some unique beverages not offered at other Asian food restaurants in the area such as ginger honey tea. Yum!! The atmosphere was pleasant and we didn't have any trouble conversing. All of us gushed over our meals. We are definitely going back! :)
(4)Meggie S.
I really enjoyed our recent visit to this Korean restaurant. We stopped on our way to the 20th Century Theater to see a show on a Thursday night. We got seated right away and I immediately noticed the really nice ambiance. I loved the yellow curtains and homey feel of the place. The menu is exactly the right size. They offer sushi and Korean favorites making your choice easy. Not feeling too hungry, I ordered the chicken fried rice and my boyfriend go the stone bowl beef bim bi bop. My rice was good but when I saw my boyfriend's awesome looking bowl I wished I had ordered something more. (I'll be back for the bulgogi!) He really enjoyed his bowl too. On top of the good food we received excellent service. Our waitress was prompt and the owner herself came to check on us toward the end of the meal. She told us that the spices for the kimchi (made in house) came directly from her family in Korea. This struck up a conversation about some beautiful and unique places to visit on my first trip to Korea beyond the tourist attractions. Overall we had a lovely visit and can't wait to be back!
(4)Linda A.
Our server was extremely nice and friendly. I was a bit disappointed in the Korean side dishes they bring out. These are not nearly as fresh and tasty as at Sung. However, my stone bowl bi bim bap was terrific. We were there early on a Sunday when no one else was in the dining room. Our food came out in about 5 minutes. I had the chicken bi bim bap steaming hot in the stone bowl. It came with a healthy portion of vegetables, which I liked. And the rice got nice and crisp. Even the leftovers were very tasty the next day! They really should consider dropping all the 1/2 price sushi promos since it really isn't. When its 1/2 price all the time then its just, you know, the sushi menu.
(4)