A Cincinnati classic, Sugar n’ Spice Diner offers a fun, friendly, comfortable atmosphere for breakfast and lunch.
The original Paddock Hills location has been serving Cincinnati since 1941. It’s iconic and homey, with a “welcome all” vibe. Now under new ownership, Sugar n’ Spice opened their third location in January 2023 at Summit Park in Blue Ash. This comes on the heels of their second location, which opened in summer 2019 in the former Joe’s Diner on Sycamore space in Over-the-Rhine.
Regardless of the location you choose, you can expect the same delicious fare, friendly service, and kitschy large breakfast-themed wall murals. Expect a wait — especially on the weekends — for their iconic thin pancakes, available in original, blueberry, chocolate chip and banana. Regulars also swoon over overstuffed omelets, goetta, oatmeal, waffles, fresh fruit, sausage, crispy bacon and signature sandwiches.
Always family-owned, the service makes this place stand out above the more popular pancake joints. At the original location, the friendly staff have been known to bring out samples for people waiting outside. And each guest — regardless of age — gets to pick out a special rubber ducky as a keepsake.
Kids young and old also love the counter seating with the swivel stools and eye-candy abound. (After all, this is a diner.) And while the original location on Reading does not have outdoor dining, the Over-the-Rhine location does, and there is an outdoor dining area planned for Blue Ash. And the OTR location also serves alcohol. Bloody Mary or Mimosa, anyone?
Sugar n’ Spice has three locations around Cincinnati:
Blue Ash at Summit Park, Wednesday- Sunday 7a-2:30p
OTR, Daily 7a-2:30p
Reading, currently closed for renovations, expected return summer 2023.