Lake Nina Restaurant, Cincinnati

Lake Nina Restaurant, named after the neighboring Nina Lake, fills plates with water-born proteins. The crowning dish, according to a review in the Cincinnati Enquirer, is the boneless cod fish log, which can clock in at nearly a foot long and 1 pound in weight. Tilapia, frog legs, and shrimp are made to order, all which are cooked without salt. Chefs also dish out non-fishy food like sandwiches, chili, rib-eye steaks, and their popular fried chicken. The no-frills eatery eschews fancy tablecloths and waiters who spoon-fed guests. Instead, placemats bedeck tables and a pinball machine keeps kids entertained while adults catch the latest sports game on TV.