It’s the woodsy aroma of the smoker that’ll be the first clue you’re getting close to downtown Maineville’s newest restaurant, MaineTowne Kitchen and Bar. Once you hit that well-known four-way stop, you’ll see the beautifully restored 1840s building, with a welcoming two-story front porch and a quaint backyard filled with picnic tables, games and hanging twinkly lights. And on a crisp fall Saturday night, you’ll likely hear the melody of a local musician, too.
This is not your average bar. The food here is elevated: Local, free-range chicken. Meats smoked in-house. Homemade sauces and dressings using high-quality olive oil. And nary a fryer on site.
“We use real, fresh ingredients that people should have in their everyday diet,” says Courtney Stylski, one of the owners of the restaurant that opened in July. “We even make our own simple syrup for mocktails and cocktails, and our super popular sangrias are made fresh in-house daily.”
MaineTowne has been a dream in the making for a group of local residents—Mike and Courtney Stylski, Lauren and Ian Day, and Matt Scheffer—who knew that acquiring the historic home in the heart of the village of Maineville would be the perfect place to bring people together.
“We’ve lived in the area for more than 11 years, and we wanted a place close to home with delicious food, great drinks, and a community feel—so we decided to make it a reality.” Courtney explains. “We wanted to bring more life to our cute little town.”
It’s difficult to pick which item on the creative menu was my favorite. Let’s start with the sharable options, which were warm, aromatic, and full of flavor. The creamy, whipped feta drizzled with honey, topped with house-made sweet and spicy peppers and served with homemade flatbread was a great way to start the evening. The mix of sweet and spicy came through the whole dish, and the friendly server was kind enough to bring extra peppers when they disappeared (too) quickly.
To wash it down, the Sangri-La Sangria, one of their most popular drinks (made with white wine, peach brandy and the aforementioned house-made simple) was an excellent choice. With healthy options in mind, there’s also a nice mocktail list, including The Portland Peach, a combination of peach purée, fresh lemon juice, honey and club soda.
Up next was a heartier choice of meatballs and buffalo chicken flatbread. Courtney says the meatballs are co-owner Matt’s family recipe, and it’s easy to see why it made our must-have list. They were moist, seasoned perfectly, and covered in marinara goodness. And there’s no denying the difference good quality chicken can bring to a dish. It was the highlight of the flatbread, and the addition of MaineTowne’s own hot sauce and ranch dressing put it over the top.
But Courtney says the sloppy joe is one of their most popular items on the menu, which also includes an array of well-priced sandwiches and salads. Made with juicy smoked brisket, crisp onions, and their pickled peppers on a brioche bun, it’s every bit as elevated as she boasts.
A great deal of thought went into highlighting the original history of the home-turned-restaurant, Courtney shares, including exposing the original brick walls, refinishing the original hardwood floors, and turning the garage into an attractive bar.
My suggestion? Put MaineTowne Kitchen and Bar at the top of your “Get There Now” list. With daily lunch specials, happy hour from 4 – 6 p.m., and Wine Down Wednesday wine specials, there’s always a perfect time to go.
MaineTowne.com | 8143 OH-48, Maineville | 513.239.5743
“We’ve lived in the area for more than 11 years, and we wanted a place close to home with delicious food, great drinks, and a community feel.”