Throughout July, UC Sustainability has featured a number of groceries, retail spots, and coffee shops as part of our effort to highlight Cincinnati’s best sustainable businesses that are doing their part to support the local community and the environment. This is our very last week of this feature, and this time we are going to highlight the most sustainable (and tastiest!) restaurants in Cincy. The restaurant industry has a big responsibility in doing their part for the Earth and their local customers. Some of the biggest issues that can arise from this industry include the use of single use packaging for carry-out, purchasing food from non-local sources, food waste, and the exclusion of any vegetarian or vegan options from menus. The local stores highlighted below have gone above and beyond to address these issues while still serving some of the best food on the block.
1. The Whole Bowl
364 Ludlow Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45220
11 AM - 9 PM
Located on Ludlow Avenue right by UC, the Whole Bowl serves some of the most delectable foods in the neighborhood. They are known for their tasty bowls filled with Mexican-style ingredients like rice, black beans, salsa, avocado, cilantro, cheese, and sour cream. One of their staples is that they can “veganize” any bowl on the menu! This is a great way to limit your consumption of carbon-intensive meats.
Photo and restaurant info courtesy of www.thewholebowl.com
2. Base Camp Cafe - Cincinnati Zoo
3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
9 AM - 5 PM
One of Cincinnati’s hidden gems in the restaurant industry is the Base Camp Cafe at the Cincinnati Zoo. It was rated the “Greenest Restaurant in America” by the Green Restaurant Association due to its conservation efforts. The restaurant boasts plenty of natural and LED lighting, aquaponics to grow vegetables used right in the restaurant, locally sourced produce, food waste diversion from landfills, and more. In addition, all of the leftover cooking grease is then transformed for use as biofuels. Located in the Africa exhibit right across from the train stop, Base Camp Cafe is a great way to cool down and enjoy a quick bite to eat while visiting the zoo.
Photo and restaurant info courtesy of cincinnatizoo.org
3. Fusian
600 Vine St. Cincinnati, OH 45202
Mon - Sat: 11 AM - 7 PM
Located in downtown Cincinnati, Fusian is a great place to satisfy your sushi (and other Asian cuisines) cravings. Part of their motto is to “keep things natural” by serving fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Plenty of their menu also includes vegan and vegetarian options. The spot has large windows that provide plenty of natural light and allow customers to enjoy the city view. Though it originated downtown, you can also enjoy Fusian’s sushi at their Kenwood and Hyde Park locations.
Photo and restaurant info courtesy of www.fusian.com
4. Conscious Kitchen
2912 Short Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Tues - Sat: 11 AM - 8 PM
Conscious Kitchen is one of our favorites on this list due to its array of vegan and vegetarian options, welcoming and artsy environment, and the fact that it is a black-owned local business. Located just a block from UC on short vine, eating at Conscious Kitchen is a great way to put your dollars into the good of the local community and support black-owned businesses. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/consciouskitchen513/.
5. La Soupe
915 East McMillan St., Cincinnati, OH 45206
Mon - Fri: 11 AM - 4 PM
La Soupe is a rare local hero that has combined sustainability with a sense of charity to conceive one great mission: To divert food waste and put it back into the community by feeding those in need. La Soupe serves customers, non-profits, and food insecure families to ensure that the 40% of food that would normally go to waste is used for positive change. Much of this food is produce that grocery stores cannot sell. To support the amazing work they are doing, you can order food online for pick-up from their McMillan St. location, right by UC.
Photo and store info courtesy of lasoupe.org
6. Sleepy Bee Cafe
8 East 4th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Located downtown, Sleepy Bee Cafe was founded by local entrepreneurs whose passion is to provide a positive, warm environment to enjoy healthy, nourishing food and to celebrate the wonders of one of nature’s smallest heroes: bees. The founders recognize the important role bees take in a sustainable future, and want to put a spotlight on it. Their menu includes plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, and the food is locally sourced.
Photo and restaurant info courtesy of www.sleepybeecafe.com
7. Rooted Juicery
17 E 6th St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
Mon - Fri: 7 AM - 6 PM
Sat: 10 AM - 6 PM
Sun: 10 AM - 4 PM
Rooted Juicery is located downtown and serves patrons with a locally sourced, organic, and completely plant-based menu. Rooted Juicery recognizes the importance of sustainability in the restaurant industry, and is open and proud to include sustainability as one of their core values. They are conscious about reducing packaging and having more sustainable/efficient water filtration systems, electricity, and building materials. All of their food waste is composted and materials are recycled when possible.
Photo and restaurant info courtesy of www.rootedjuicery.com
8. Loving Hut
6227 Montgomery Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45213
Tues - Fri: 11 AM - 3 PM, 4PM - 7 PM
Sat: 11 AM - 7 PM
Loving Hut is passionate about saving the planet by going green and serving customers vegan options. They are the largest international chain of vegan restaurants with over 200 locations in 35 countries with a mission to spread the word about plant-based diets, and we have the honor of having one of these locations nearby! Loving Hut recognizes the role of a plant-based diet as being one of the most effective ways to stop climate change, and they are passionate about providing customers with options for a healthy, sustainable diet.
Photo and restaurant info courtesy of lovinghut.us
9. Essen Kitchen
1 Findlay Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Wed - Sun: 9 AM - 2 PM, 5 PM - 8:30 PM
Located near the intersection where McMicken Ave, Vine St, and Findlay St. meet, Essen Kitchen is a local spot near UC that serves a delectable array of plant-based foods. Essen has made sustainability their core mission. With only plant-based ingredients, a zero-waste kitchen, and compostable packaging, Essen serves as a model for the restaurant industry to strive for. Check out their diverse breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus filled with items like waffles, biscuits and gravy, burrito bowls, soups, burgers, and vegan desserts.
Photo and restaurant info courtesy of www.essenkitchen.com
10. Guide to Cincinnati’s Black-Owned Businesses
Lastly, we wanted to highlight some of the many black-owned businesses in Cincinnati. As advocates for sustainability, we must recognize that cultivating a sustainable world means not just giving back to the environment, but also giving back to the local community. By supporting local businesses, we allow our community to grow and thrive. In light of the Black Lives Matter movement, we must recognize the importance of amplifying the voices and amazing work of black community members. Below you will find an infographic created by a University of Cincinnati Communication Design Major, Helen Kemper. This infographic includes the names and locations of local black-owned restaurants to support.
