Descend the steps on East 6th Street and the city noise fades into candlelit whispers.
Sotto wraps you in brick, wood, and the aroma of grilled bread and truffle as if you stumbled into a hidden den locals prefer to keep quiet.
Reservations are tight, but the payoff is an evening that feels intimate, celebratory, and a touch conspiratorial.
Ready to slip underground and taste why 4.7 stars barely tells the story?
Finding Sotto and Scoring a Reservation
Walk down to 118 E 6th St and you will feel the city fall away. The staircase is narrow, the door unassuming, and the glow beyond is warm and amber.
It immediately sets the tone for a night that feels like a local secret you just unlocked.
Book early, especially for weekends, because tables are limited and prime slots vanish quickly. If you are flexible, try early evening or a late reservation after 9.
You can ask for the chef counter or a cozy booth if you prefer a particular vibe.
Plan for valet or nearby garages, then settle into the hush of clinking glasses and low conversation. Sotto officially opens at 4 PM some days, and lunch hours vary by weekday.
Arrive a touch early to check in, then let the candlelight guide you underground.
Atmosphere and Seating Vibes
The room is a study in restraint, all brick and wood, with tall candles that make every table feel like a scene. It is dark in that flattering, date-night way, and lively enough that you will lean in to talk.
You can even glimpse pasta being shaped by hand, which adds to the theater.
Seating ranges from chef counter to booths and communal high-tops. If you care about comfort, request a standard table over high-tops when you book.
The hum rises on weekends, so choose earlier times if conversation is a priority.
What you notice most is how the space dissolves time. It feels like a cellar in Rome, not downtown Cincinnati.
That underground hush holds the evening together like a secret shared between you and the room.
Start Strong: Grilled Bread and Goat Cheese
The grilled bread arrives blistered and smoky, carrying that just-off-the-grill perfume. Whipped goat cheese lands like silk, and hazelnut honey drips into the charred pockets.
One bite and you understand why regulars order it on autopilot.
Share it, but do not be shy about a second round if you are pairing cocktails. The sweet-salty crunch sets up richer plates beautifully.
If goat cheese is not your thing, the oil-packed tuna on toast is bright and savory without heaviness.
This first course is your tempo setter. It welcomes you into the kitchen’s rhythm, where restraint and boldness mingle.
Take your time, sip something spritzy, and let the candlelight make every crumb feel celebratory.
Handmade Pasta Highlights
Pasta is the heart here, and you can see it made by hand. Cappellacci stuffed with short rib tastes like a hug, with thyme and shallot lifting the richness.
Tajarin with black truffle is delicate, glossy, and intoxicatingly aromatic.
If you lean rustic, pappardelle al cinghiale brings a gamey depth that rewards slow bites. Sauces are restrained, designed to showcase texture and wheat.
Portions encourage sharing, so you can try two or three without tipping into excess.
Order one familiar and one adventurous pasta for balance. Ask your server about seasonal shapes that rotate onto the menu.
When pasta is this precise, al dente becomes a feeling you carry out into the night.
Plates from the Grill and Sea
Beyond pasta, the kitchen plays with fire. The quail arrives with spice and char, juicy under its rub, a small plate with big swagger.
Branzino hits the table with shattering skin and bright, saline depth that begs for a squeeze of lemon.
You might see pork loin with capers, or a steak that slices like butter. Everything gets that kiss of smoke from the grill.
The flavors feel old-world but never stodgy, and sides like asparagus or potatoes round out the table.
Share one larger plate and a couple of pastas for the sweet spot. It keeps the pacing steady and the conversation moving.
And if you love seafood, the branzino is a reliable crowd-pleaser.
Dessert You Will Dream About
The ricotta donuts are the finale everyone talks about. They land warm, tender, and dusted with sugar, ready to dunk into caramel, chocolate, or pistachio.
It is the kind of dessert that turns tables into instant friendships.
If you prefer spoon desserts, the chocolate budino is deep and glossy, bordering on sultry. Panna cotta and affogato sometimes rotate in, each offering a cleaner finish.
Order two desserts for the table and taste them side by side.
There is joy in how unfussy this course feels. It is comfort and craft in equal measure.
Leave a little room, because saying no here feels like turning down a celebration.
Drinks, Wine, and Zero-Proof
The cocktail list balances classic and playful. An Old Fashioned here is confidently built, and you will see Negronis and spritzes drifting by like sparkling invitations.
If you avoid alcohol, ask for a zero-proof spritz that still drinks festive.
The wine list leans Italian, with staff who actually taste and pair thoughtfully. You can go Piedmont for truffle nights or something bright and mineral for seafood.
Let your server guide you if you want a glass that evolves with each course.
Start light, shift richer, and finish with something soft to meet dessert. The pacing matters as much as the pour.
Good service keeps your glass aligned with your appetite, not the other way around.
Pro Tips For the Best Night
Reserve early and note any celebrations so the team can add a sweet touch. If noise is a concern, aim for earlier slots or request seating away from the busiest thoroughfares.
Dress smart-casual and plan parking to arrive calm rather than rushed.
You’ll find Sotto tucked beneath the city at 118 E Sixth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, a quiet descent that already feels like stepping into another world. Dinner service typically runs Sunday through Thursday from 5–10 PM, and Friday–Saturday from 5–11 PM, making evenings the ideal time to experience its glow.
Order for the table: bread, two pastas, one grill plate, a bright vegetable, and donuts. If you are sensitive to rich flavors, balance with salad or a lighter pasta.
Tell your server about allergies and preferences, because they are attentive and resourceful.
Finally, linger. Candlelight does something kind to time and conversation here.
When you climb back up to the street, the memory follows like perfume.