Echo Restaurant, Cincinnati

1st ate here 38 years ago & to this day know of no other comparable restaurant in the area. Like home cookin'? You'll get it here. Lunch is a skirmish, as it is always packed. I like to visit on Fridays, when fresh fish is available. The side dishes are fresh, the entrees are delicious & filling & the desserts are worth the time & cost. Save room for something homemade. Try an open faced roast beef & they will remind you of Middletown's classic home-cookery of days past Tee's.

The charm, appearance, and friendliness of the Echo seem perhaps unchanged since the mid-20th century. It is a wonderfully preserved American relic from another era. Unfortunately, the bland, uninspired diner food--very few fresh ingredients and very little creativity evident here--is equally reminiscent of the mid-20th century. There are plenty of cafes and pubs in town and around the country that have similar menus but serve considerably better food. Also unfortunately, the prices are all too reminiscent of 2008. Honestly, the Echo is somewhat overpriced.