If you're on social media, you know people are talking about this and sharing photos of their experience – a food industry concept with the goal of bringing the community together.Oakley Kitchen Food Hall is officially open for business, and this is their inaugural weekend for dining in.You can think of Oakley Kitchen Food Hall almost as a cafeteria, a gathering spot for friends and family to meet and eat. With eight restaurants under one roof, there's something for everyone to enjoy.It's been in the works for about two years.“We actually signed our lease here before the world shut down in the pandemic. So, it's been about a year and a half, almost two years since we've been locked into this space,” said Donald Whitcomb, owner and chef of La Petite Frite, a restaurant known around the Queen City for its delicious, Belgian-style fries. This is the first time La Petite Frite has had a “home base,” if you will.Walk inside the building that used to house the Duck Creek Antique Mall, and you’ll immediately smell the success of this idea."It almost reminds me of like an old, you know, beer hall in Germany or Belgium. Here you can sample different cuisines, go upstairs. It's huge seating area up there,” said Whitcomb.Whitcomb’s La Petite Frite is just one of eight food options – other vendors include Jimmie Lou’s, Khana, Loakley, Olive Tree, Onolicious, Padrino and Parts & Labor – offerings ranging from Belgian to Hawaiian to Italian to New Orleans Street Food and more.The hall seats 175 guests, perfect for rubbing elbows with community members. Whitcomb said after the uncertainty of the shutdowns, this dining concept has brought him hope.“We literally had to put our lives on hold for about a year there, especially in the restaurant business. I was taking, you know, catering gigs and doing whatever I could, you know, to make ends meet. And it was perfect timing that we reopened, we opened here, just as the pandemic was ending and everyone was anxious to get out. And so, it's been it's been a really great fit so far,” explained Whitcomb.The space also features a marketplace for local businesses to sell their goods. There’s even a hot sauce vending machine with locally-made sauces.Jeffrey Miller, who is the co-owner and co-chef of Parts & Labor, started his restaurant during the pandemic as a takeout and delivery option in Over-the-Rhine.“It really was kind of a labor of love and fear of going back into kitchens and we birthed Parts & Labor. And that's what happened in the middle of the pandemic last year,” said Miller.Miller and his business partner, Derek dos Anjos, have both worked in restaurants around Cincinnati for many years. Miller said they are excited for their own brick-and-mortar and ecstatic to be sharing their fresh take on barbecue – what Miller said they like to refer to as “new school barbecue.”"I mean it's great. We had, we had a pretty loyal following prior to this. So, you know, we've had a lot of returning customers reaching out to us, like I said we had started as a kind of a pickup and delivery. Now we're going to real-time dining,” said Miller.Eventually, Oakley Kitchen will also have a bar serving beer and liquor and will be an event space for hosting large gatherings.So, if you’re part of a big family or friend group that can never agree on one option to eat – or if you want to go and try all of the vendors at once – head over to Oakley Kitchen Food Hall to whet your appetite!Oakley Kitchen is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. through 10 p.m. Keep in mind the various restaurants have different hours of operation, so be sure to check individual websites or call for each one’s working hours.Check out the space online and learn more about the restaurants here.
If you're on social media, you know people are talking about this and sharing photos of their experience – a food industry concept with the goal of bringing the community together.
Oakley Kitchen Food Hall is officially open for business, and this is their inaugural weekend for dining in.
You can think of Oakley Kitchen Food Hall almost as a cafeteria, a gathering spot for friends and family to meet and eat. With eight restaurants under one roof, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
It's been in the works for about two years.
“We actually signed our lease here before the world shut down in the pandemic. So, it's been about a year and a half, almost two years since we've been locked into this space,” said Donald Whitcomb, owner and chef of La Petite Frite, a restaurant known around the Queen City for its delicious, Belgian-style fries.
This is the first time La Petite Frite has had a “home base,” if you will.
Walk inside the building that used to house the Duck Creek Antique Mall, and you’ll immediately smell the success of this idea.
"It almost reminds me of like an old, you know, beer hall in Germany or Belgium. Here you can sample different cuisines, go upstairs. It's huge seating area up there,” said Whitcomb.
Whitcomb’s La Petite Frite is just one of eight food options – other vendors include Jimmie Lou’s, Khana, Loakley, Olive Tree, Onolicious, Padrino and Parts & Labor – offerings ranging from Belgian to Hawaiian to Italian to New Orleans Street Food and more.
The hall seats 175 guests, perfect for rubbing elbows with community members.
Whitcomb said after the uncertainty of the shutdowns, this dining concept has brought him hope.
“We literally had to put our lives on hold for about a year there, especially in the restaurant business. I was taking, you know, catering gigs and doing whatever I could, you know, to make ends meet. And it was perfect timing that we reopened, we opened here, just as the pandemic was ending and everyone was anxious to get out. And so, it's been it's been a really great fit so far,” explained Whitcomb.
The space also features a marketplace for local businesses to sell their goods. There’s even a hot sauce vending machine with locally-made sauces.
Jeffrey Miller, who is the co-owner and co-chef of Parts & Labor, started his restaurant during the pandemic as a takeout and delivery option in Over-the-Rhine.
“It really was kind of a labor of love and fear of going back into kitchens and we birthed Parts & Labor. And that's what happened in the middle of the pandemic last year,” said Miller.
Miller and his business partner, Derek dos Anjos, have both worked in restaurants around Cincinnati for many years. Miller said they are excited for their own brick-and-mortar and ecstatic to be sharing their fresh take on barbecue – what Miller said they like to refer to as “new school barbecue.”
"I mean it's great. We had, we had a pretty loyal following prior to this. So, you know, we've had a lot of returning customers reaching out to us, like I said we had started as a kind of a pickup and delivery. Now we're going to real-time dining,” said Miller.
Eventually, Oakley Kitchen will also have a bar serving beer and liquor and will be an event space for hosting large gatherings.
So, if you’re part of a big family or friend group that can never agree on one option to eat – or if you want to go and try all of the vendors at once – head over to Oakley Kitchen Food Hall to whet your appetite!
Oakley Kitchen is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. through 10 p.m. Keep in mind the various restaurants have different hours of operation, so be sure to check individual websites or call for each one’s working hours.
Check out the space online and learn more about the restaurants here.
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