The culinary landscape of Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood has received notable recognition, as Wildweed has been named one of Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurants in America for 2024. This establishment sits alone as Ohio's entry on the prestigious list, spotlighting the chef-owners David and Lydia Jackman's inventive approach to pasta, eschewing the traditional Italian framework for a menu that draws from local farms, fields, and forests. According to WLWT, the Jackmans, who ran over 225 pop-up dinners before settling into OTR, present a "soaring ode to a region whose culinary virtues have been overlooked for too long."
Wildweed began its journey in July of this current year, situated in a 1,848-square-foot space as part of a multi-million-dollar development project by Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. Joshua David Stein, offering his insights for Esquire highlighted the restaurant's unique dishes,s such as the Urbanstead Quark Mezzaluna and Doppio Ravioli—creations that skillfully blend local ingredients with non-traditional flair, spotlighting a particular dish with "brown-buttered beans and local quark huddle under a zingy lemon sauce studded with foraged lobster mushrooms," the result of which is a dish described by Stein as divine CityBeat reports.
Introduced in Esquire's latest roundup, Wildweed is a bastion of culinary innovation and a testament to the unfolding narrative of Cincinnati's gastronomic scene garnering national attention. With a seating capacity of about 53 in the main dining area and an intimate chef's counter experience, which seats 11, Wildweed ensures a personal touch to its offering. Beyond the a la carte option, the chef's counter promises an exploratory tasting menu, chronicling a story through multiple courses and ingredients, as the Cincinnati Business Journal details.
The Jackmans have expressed their gratitude for this recognition and the community's embrace, with David Jackman stating, “Any opportunity we have to shine a spotlight on the community that welcomed us so openly is an honor," these words coming from the chef himself in a news release covered by multiple sources. While Wildweed represents the 2024 honoree, Cincinnati's culinary profile continues upward. Last year, Nolia Kitchen also found favor on Esquire’s list, suggesting a blossoming of local culinary excellence that's stepping into the national spotlight, as The Business Journal notes. Those seeking to experience Wildweed's culinary creativity can do so Tuesday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
