On a busy corner in Madison Square, a new hot spot beckons diners to a fun food experience that engages all the senses. An enchanting setting for business and pleasure alike, Alara is a delightful restaurant with an adventurous seasonal menu that’s the secret sauce of its success.
One of seven local restaurants under the direction of Mason restaurant group Looking Glass Hospitality (LGH) including Mason’s beloved S.W. Clyborne Co. Provison & Spirits, Alara offers a unique dining style that invites guests to enjoy time together while tasting new dishes.
“With Alara, we shifted away from the stuffy, white-tablecloth service model to a shared experience—a culinary exploration,” says Scott Schmidt, Mason resident, CEO and founder of LGH. “We really wanted to create a model where instead of ordering to eat individually, it is more about ordering what appeals to you on the menu, and everybody at the table sharing those items.”
The concept was inspired by around-the-world fine dining but operates under the theory that fine dining doesn’t need to be pretentious to be delicious. The quiet luxury of Alara’s design was inspired by a trip to an upscale Los Angeles hotel. The welcoming and comfortable feel curated by LGH Creative Director Erin Schmidt, in collaboration with design firm drawing department’s Alex Dever and Ron Novak, invites togetherness and celebration. With its contemporary dining room and sophisticated bar framed by billowy draperies, flourishing greenery and glamorous lighting, Alara is a destination.
“We wanted to create a fine dining experience—with quality food, service and ambiance—but in a comfortable, approachable way to sit at the table and enjoy the meal together as a group,” Scott says.
No matter your party’s size or reason for gathering, there’s a spot for you at Alara.
“We wanted to create an atmosphere that gives you multiple experience points, whether you want to just sit in the bar or cocktail area, in the dining room or bring in groups and have a private dining experience,” Scott explains. “We have three private dining rooms for parties of 10 up to 28.”
It's prime time for booking holiday parties and the private spaces are ideal for intimate dinners with close friends and family or festive office gatherings. Their team makes menu planning easy and is on hand to ensure a seamless event and an unforgettable dining experience.
Alara is all about creating memories. Guests especially enjoy the Chef’s Tables that flank the pass, where plates are handed from the open show kitchen to the dining room. While seated there, diners can observe the bustling kitchen and interact with Alara’s chef team. The intimate tables for two are only available by phone reservation.
“You are essentially in the kitchen, observing everything,” Scott shares. “The chef’s talking to you the whole meal, giving you samples and allowing you to explore at whatever level you would like to.”
Alara’s menu items are plated so that they are easy to divide and share, ensuring that every bite encompasses a dish’s flavors, including sauces and toppings. The seasonal menu features contemporary American cuisine with global influences and an emphasis on prime meats and seafood. Alara’s menu offers a variety of familiar dishes with international twists.
The Executive Chef at Alara is Jacob Lillicrap and he developed the fall menu, a process that includes team menu tastings to determine the new items. The fall menu rolled out at the end of September.
“The menu changes seasonally,” says Scott. “We have a lot of very approachable items, and then we have some unique, different items that you're not going to see or hear about anywhere else. We don't put anything on the menu that we're not proud of and that we aren't excited about,” he adds.
For the full experience, start with a signature cocktail like the Smoked Pear, but be sure to save room for dessert. Alara’s culinary team creates whimsical masterpieces that are as beautiful as they are tasty. Seasonal sorbets, a rainbow of mousses, one with a color-shifting glaze, and chocolate profiteroles come in servings for two.
Make Alara your next stop for adventurous dining. It’s an experience your palette won’t want to miss.
ALARA
5410 Medpace Way, Cincinnati | 513.272.5315
“We have a lot of very approachable items, and then we have some unique, different items that you're not going to see or hear about anywhere else."
“We really wanted to create a model where instead of ordering to eat individually, it is more about ordering what appeals to you on the menu, and everybody at the table sharing those items.”