Pre-Theater Dinner @ Zula's (OTR)

We prefer eating at the bar rather than in a dining room at this lively spot on the edge of Washington Park. Here's a shot of our delicious appetizers -- haricots verts salad (with hearts of palm, roasted garlic, roasted tomatoes and frisee) and cured Scottish salmon. Then we split a mushroom flatbread, with drinks of course, before heading out to catch "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" at the Shakespeare Theater.

If you haven't tried Zula's yet, you need to. Here's a link to their website.

Eating at the bar @ Zula's (OTR)

We had tickets to see the new conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony on Friday night; beforehand, with no dinner reservations, we luckily snagged two seats at the bar at Zula's Bistro.
It was perhaps our third or fourth meal there, and this was one of the best.
The bar scene was lively -- and by the time we left to walk to Music Hall, beyond lively to rather insanely crowded.

Zula's bar

Both the drinks (well designed and executed cocktails) and the food were truly spot-on. We each had one of the seviche-type seafood starters, or small plates -- mine was tuna, his salmon. I had a salad with haricots verts, olives, and a few slices of hearts of palm, while he ordered a vegetarian flatbread. That turned out to be so large (and delicious) that I helped him finish that rather than order another plate.

Tuna with avocado and Serrano chili

The wine choices combine the more familiar with some adventurous, less commonly available glasses.
All in all, it was a way fun start to the evening.
And the concert was fabulous!
Zula is at 1400 Race Street and is open for dinner every night except Sunday.