Jeff Ruby's Carlo & Johnny

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Steakhouse With a Past Worth Knowing

Jeff Ruby's Carlo & Johnny sits inside a historic mansion on Montgomery Road that has lived several lives — stagecoach stopover, speakeasy, illegal casino, gangster hideout. The building's most dramatic chapter came in 1949, when two detectives named Carlo and Johnny shut the place down for illegal gambling. The incomparable Kitty Kallen was performing that night, and she dedicated her final song to the officers as they stormed in. Decades later, she told Jeff Ruby she should have sung We Gotta Get Out Of This Place instead of Mule Train. The restaurant takes its name from those two detectives, and the history never really left the walls.

Jeff Ruby opened Carlo & Johnny in 2001, and Cincinnati Magazine named it the best new restaurant in the city that year. Part of a family-owned group operating since 1981, it has since earned a place among the top steakhouses in America and holds Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence — recognition that reflects the depth and care of its wine program.

What's on the Table

The menu is built around USDA Prime, dry-aged steaks — the cornerstone of every Jeff Ruby restaurant. Alongside the beef, Carlo & Johnny has developed a reputation for its raw bar, cited as one of Cincinnati's finest. The broader menu spans fresh seafood, a recently added sushi program crafted by the kitchen's chefs, desserts, and a wine list substantial enough to earn serious critical attention. The restaurant describes itself as a fine dining American steakhouse with, as guests have noted, a bit of an Italian accent — a nod to both its namesakes and the warmth of its hospitality.

The Room Itself

The décor pays deliberate homage to old Hollywood and the era of extravagance. Antique slot machines, Art Deco-inspired artwork, and doorknobs sourced from Al Capone's winter home share space throughout the mansion. Jeff Ruby has said that guests digest the ambiance with every bite of steak and sip of wine. Five private dining rooms make the space well suited for events, and live entertainment runs regularly throughout the year. There is also, reportedly, a resident ghost named Emily — ask the staff about her.

The philosophy that drives the whole operation is straightforward: "The only thing that is really important is to make every guest feel really important." At Carlo & Johnny, that standard has held for more than two decades.