BRAVO! at the Rookwood Exchange, Cincinnati, OH

BRAVO! at the Rookwood Exchange, Cincinnati, OH

Did you know that pasta has it’s own month? I didn’t, until I got to try BRAVO! at the Rookwood Exchange in Cincinnati, Ohio, recently. Pasta already has a special place in my belly heart, so I was all too happy to help celebrate.

BRAVO! is proud to serve Italian classics with a twist made with authentic old world cooking techniques and the highest-quality ingredients – housemade pasta specialties, pizzas and flatbreads, steaks, chops and seafood. We invite you to come join our atmosphere under a fun, family-friendly Roman ruin decor.

This location has only been open for a few months, but it seems to have become a local hit in that very short time. It’s easy to see why, with the open floor plan and generous seating areas. Plus you can dine outside during nice weather or even meet up at the bar for drinks and appetizers.

It was a lot of fun to be able to see the kitchen because it’s part of the restaurant. It’s not hidden behind some wall where your food just appears out the door; no, you hear the chefs talking, you can see the pizzas being fired in the oven, and the smells are unbelievable.

Personally, I like having choices when I dine out, so I don’t have to get the same dish every time. Plus, my guests can choose something they want, whether it’s pasta, seafood, steak, etc. And BRAVO! has a number of menu options, whether you’re dining for lunch, dinner, brunch or dessert!

They also offer both a children’s menu as well as a gluten-free menu! Don’t forget to ask your server for either one of these because they aren’t usually offered unless you request them.

Recently, I was invited to dine with BRAVO! to taste their pasta specials they are currently offering. Here is what we thought:

• Sausage & Pepper Spaghettini – This dish is made with pasta, pappadew peppers and sweet Italian sausage, plus tomatoes, onions, basil and more. It had some heat, but probably middle of the road of spice level for me.
• Seafood Pasta – Linguine, shrimp, scallops, calamari, tomatoes and more. Plenty of heat!
• Shrimp Piccante Spaghettini – Spaghettini, shrimp, cilantro and broccoli. This was my favorite; mild heat level but loved the combination of the shrimp with the pasta.

Of course, we also enjoyed the brussel sprout and almond salad, lobster bisque, fried ravioli, meatballs & polenta and you can’t forget the delicious house bread and dipping sauce!

Dessert was so wonderful that we would have ordered seconds if we had any room left. Cheesecake, chocolate lava cake, a peanut butter brownie and more definitely finished off a terrific meal.

Don’t wait to check out the local BRAVO! restaurant! Whether you want pasta, brunch, seafood or pizza, you can find it all and eat every last bite. Plus, follow them on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and specials!

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored post. The company who sponsored it compensated me with some form of payment or service. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”