Last updated on October 3rd, 2019
On Sept. 25, The Kroger Co. opened a new, 52,000-s.f., two-level urban-format store in downtown Cincinnati, offering the grocer’s first-ever food hall, named On The Rhine Eatery. The experience features Cincinnati eateries Django Western Taco, Dope! Asian Street Fare, Eli’s BBQ and Queen City Whip, as well as Kitchen 1883 Café and Bar, Kroger’s American food restaurant concept.
“Kroger is thrilled to introduce our first food hall and offer a one-of-its-kind shopping experience in our hometown of Cincinnati, providing a convenient location to experience delicious, quality meals and foods. This innovative destination highlights Kroger’s food-first culture,” says Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen. “Kroger’s new store offers something for everyone. We invite all to visit the store to meet our wonderful associates, shop for fresh groceries and discover their new favorite restaurant.”
The store features grab-and-go and ready-to-heat meals for lunch and dinner, in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables and traditional grocery departments. The store offers an exclusive Starbucks coffee blend, as well as a walk-up window for beverage orders. Located in the city’s central business district and accessible to downtown workers and residents and customers from the Over-the-Rhine and West End neighborhoods, the store anchors an 18-story residential high-rise and is located at 100 East Court Street—a block away from Kroger’s national headquarters. Open daily 6 a.m.-10 p.m., the store will offer grocery delivery and plans to add restaurant delivery.
On The Rhine Eatery can accommodate up to 200 customers and offers indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a full-service bar, offering signature cocktails, local beers, tasteful wines and Kentucky bourbons. Featured restaurants and dishes at the food hall include:
Kitchen 1883 Café and Bar: Kroger’s second location of its American food restaurant that offers dishes like flatiron steak panini, Brussels sprouts salad and coconut milk smoothies. The restaurant also offers breakfast and weekend brunch.
DOPE! Asian Street Fare: a restaurant that offers ramen, dumplings, bao buns and more, all inspired by street food throughout Asia, along with Vietnamese iced coffee and global libations.
Django Western Taco: Mexican food with a flair of American cuisine, featuring homemade tortillas produced with Ohio corn, jackfruit carnitas and jerk chicken quesadillas. The restaurant also serves handcrafted margaritas, breakfast and weekend brunch.
Eli’s BBQ: a restaurant serving hickory-smoked pork sandwiches topped with homemade barbecue sauce, as well as ribs, smoked turkey and sides like jalapeño cheddar grits and macaroni and cheese.
Queen City Whip: a local food truck offering its first brick-and-mortar location at the food hall, featuring made-to-order burgers, chili dogs and milkshakes.
“On The Rhine Eatery features emerging restaurants and true tastes of Cincinnati—all handpicked by Kroger’s culinary team to create a popular hangout for meals, cocktails and community,” says Teri Rose, Kroger’s senior director of culinary development. “Cincinnati is Kroger’s hub for culinary innovation and experimentation, and the food hall is an example of the types of concepts and ideas we’re creating every day.”
Cincinnati was named one of the top 50 best places to live by U.S. News and World Report in 2018 and cited by The New York Times as one of “52 Places to Go in 2018.” National food and travel magazine Saveur recently selected Cincinnati as the host city for its 2019 social awards, a three-day event that will bring influencers together from around the country and beyond to explore the city’s food scene.
“Cincinnati’s dining scene isn’t just up-and-coming; it’s here and happening now,” says Susan Lomax, executive director of Source Cincinnati, a collaboration of city organizations that share the Cincinnati region’s stories. “Kroger’s new grocery store in downtown Cincinnati and its On The Rhine Eatery are welcome additions to the city’s growing list of unique culinary experiences.”
