Tinks Cafe report (Cincinnati)

[tapas]

My husband and I chose Tinks to celebrate our wedding anniversary on Saturday night. We hadn’t been there in three years and wanted to check it out again. Overall, it was a positive but not transcendent experience.

The two veggie entrees (wild mushroom pasta and curried tofu) weren't appealing to me that night, so I chose the fried green tomatoes appetizer ($7.99) and roasted beet salad ($8.99). My vegetarian-at-home husband gleefully ordered the NY strip steak with wasabi mashed potatoes and a mushroom sauté that replaced the usual side of spinach – is anyone else having a serious spinach craving now that it’s forbidden? ($26.99). We each had a glass of red wine – both were very generous pours – and ended with a shared piece of flourless chocolate torte with raspberry sauce that was fine but nothing special. (Note to self: Why do I keep ordering the same flourless chocolate torte every place I go when there are better selections, like crème brulee or cheesecake? Or better yet, in Tinks case, a Graeter’s 10 feet away? I must stop...)

The fried green tomatoes were served over a few mixed greens with dabs of goat cheese and a buttermilk dressing that was almost over-the-top garlicky. The tomatoes were perfectly fried, not oily at all -- I would definitely order this again. The roasted beet salad was tasty, but after a few forkfuls of beets, mixed greens, and blue cheese with a toasted pecan dressing, I got a little bored. And I swear there were some iceberg lettuce chunks thrown in ... I don’t get that. My husband places food in two categories – good and bad. He said his steak was good, for what it’s worth. His mashed potatoes were delish, I thought.

I like Tinks because it’s lively without being chaotic, and there’s something on the menu for everyone. Sure, there's only ONE chicken or lamb or pork or fish entree, but I prefer places with smaller menus anyways. And they do seem to change their menu seasonally while keeping some favorites (like the crab cake), so there's always something new to try. It can be a little pricey ($9 for a beet salad seems a bit much), but I thought $84, including tip, was a reasonable amount to pay for our experience. Will I rush back for dinner? No ... but I will try it again in a year or so. What I may do in the meantime is stop by after work for a glass of wine and some fried green tomatoes at the bar on a Tuesday night (I think it's Tuesdays) when The Faux Frenchman are playing. Then I’ll head to Graeter’s for dinner. ☺

Tinks Cafe
3410 Telford Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45220
[phone]

[cresyd]

Just to be aware - I recently was checking the Tink's menu and was informed that the beet salad happens not to be vegetarian. Not entirely sure why, but for veggies that may be something you'd want to follow through on.

[tapas]

Thanks for the tip. It's been awhile at this point, but I really can't imagine what would have made the salad non-vegetarian ... I would never have thought to ask if it contained meat.

Did you eat at Tinks or did you just check out the menu? What's the menu like these days?

[cresyd]

I just checked out the menu recently and noticed that and thought it was odd. I used to eat there once a season since I live so close, but it's been a while now.

[Emm]

I'm kind of guessing it is. I've never been there for dinner! They do have salads, sandwiches and some kind of tasty soup.

[tapas]

That's a good idea -- what's the lunch menu like? Is it the salads and sandwiches from the dinner menu?

[Emm]

I like Tinks for lunch. The prices are a lot more reasonable, and it's fun to sit by the window and watch Clifton go by.