When you order at Cilantro Vietnamese Bistro, you may think with a mixture of relief and disappointment that you've managed to snag soup and Vermicelli at one of the only layman-friendly Vietnamese restaurants in the city. Don't dwell on it for too long, though, because you've still got to decide what kind of spices you want; your desired sauces or dressings; what kind of noodles, etc, etc. As you munch later on, you might try to count what other Cincinnati Vietnamese restaurants you had ordered this dish from; we promise you won't need to relinquish your chopsticks hand to add it up.

For many of us, sushi is a production, a night out with no sneakers allowed. But nestled in Clifton Heights, Maki Express is giving its patrons a simple and pleasurable experience that's sure leave some extra cash in your pocket (for another visit maybe?).

O'Bryonville, that quaint strip of Madison Road wedged between Walnut Hills and Hyde Park, is BuyCincy's kind of place: Independent, locally owned and operated businesses as far as the eye can see. Some of these businesses (The BonBonerie, Bob Roncker's Running Spot and others) have been there for decades, and we look forward to working our way down the strip. But it's one of O'Bryonville's newest businesses that caught our eye recently, The Coffee Shop on Madison.

For fans of Riverside Korean Restaurant in Covington, BuyCincy has some fabulous news: Cafe Riverside, a Korean tea and pastry shop, opens Monday in the former Mad Cup at 514 Madison Ave. in Covington. The cafe will serve about a dozen varieties of tea, plus coffee and Korean baked goods -- think walnut buns, sweet rice cakes and red bean fillings*. At night, expect Korean wine and dessert wines, plus appetizers from the adjoining restaurant.

Cafe Riverside is owned by Mark Jang, who also owns Riverside. Cafe Riverside will serve two purposes: Accommodate overflow crowds on weekends and expose Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky to a different side of Korean culture.

BuyCincy is venturing into a new area of local businesses; locally owned restaurants and bars.  And to kick it all off, BuyCincy is pleased to present a look at Jean-Robert's new Wine Bar/Bistro, Lavomatic, as they work to put the finishing touches together for their opening on Tuesday, February 26th.  Hit the jump to go to the Flavor page for all the details.