The Presidents Room at The Phoenix has only been open to the public for three months, and already it’s becoming one of Cincinnati’s hottest dining locales. Featuring Chef Jeremy Luers’ causal-upscale take on Italian and German cuisine in the elegant, refined enclosure of The Phoenix, the downtown restaurant is an alluring destination for happy-hour cocktails, flavorful weeknight dinners and romantic weekend meals. 

An area native, Luers attended culinary school in New York where he developed a passion for Italian cooking as sous chef at Babbo, Mario Batali’s celebrated restaurant. Returning to Cincinnati, he was chef de cuisine at Boca and Enoteca Emilia before becoming executive chef and culinary partner at The Phoenix. At The Presidents Room, he has translated his influences to create a contemporary American menu. 

The menu showcases continental flavors in unique ways. Sharable dishes and entrees like Caramelle pasta, Sauerbraten-style short ribs with braised red cabbage and Choucroute Garni Royale reveal Luers’ experienced touch. The flavors are sometimes subtle, sometimes robust, but always perfectly integrated within the dish. Luers is a masterful chef who understands the virtues of restraint and can adroitly execute modern variations on classic German and Italian dishes.

The atmosphere of The Presidents Room complements that of the classical building in which it is enclosed. Yet, like Luers’ menu, modern variations abound. The renovated bar is sleek and fresh, perfect for after-work socializing. The dining room features a thrilling mixture of old-world paneling and new-world decor. The restaurant’s designers, no less than its chef, have found the perfect balance between the classic and the modern.

"The Presidents Room menu and atmosphere fit and flow together," says Luers. "There is a great history here that we are interpreting in a new way. It’s very exciting."

The Presidents Room at The Phoenix is located at 812 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. You can reach them at 513.721.2260 or visit their website at www.thepresidentsrm.com.