Cincinnati's Riverfront Bets on Dining With a View

Cincinnati's Ohio River waterfront is drawing a wave of new restaurants wagering that scenery sells — that a table with a view of the river and the bridges is worth building a concept around. The riverfront's redevelopment has made once-industrial land into prime dining real estate.

A view is a genuine asset, but it is not a substitute for the food. The operators who last, industry watchers say, are the ones who treat the scenery as a bonus atop a restaurant that would succeed on its merits anywhere.

The riverfront's momentum feeds on itself, as each new opening makes the district more of a destination. The risk is saturation — too many restaurants chasing the same view, on land that commands premium rents.