View this pictures of former owner Florence Heines (1968-78)) with good friend Florence Frankel

Sugar n’ Spice prides themselves on being consistent and offering many of the same menu items they have offered during their 70 year history. After my first visit I aspire to at least become a semi-regular. The food, service and ambiance created quite the experience for me and I hope they continue flipping wispy thin pancakes for at least 70 more years.
-Taste & See Cincinnati Blog

Great neighborhood gem!
-Colt

Great breakfast, definitely my default restaurant for breakfast food when in Cincinnati. The servers are friendly and quick, and the retro atmosphere is appealing while not being overwhelming.
-Kyle

Great food good service and funny waitresses. Nothing better for a Friday night hangover than a good Saturday breakfast. A little crowded though so prepare to wait for a little bit.
-Jacquelynn

Fun cheap brunch eats providing a good reason to venture to a new area of town.
-Michael

This is our favorite breakfast place ever!  We always look forward to our weekend Sugar N’ Spice breakfast!  My first time at Sugar N’ Spice was so good that I knew I would be taking my grandkids here one day.  It is one of those places that I will be visiting until I have to wheel up in my motorized jazzy chair.  Thanks for the great food and friendly service.

Anonymous

Very friendly atmosphere!  Loved the free samples.  What a friendly Staff!

Jillian

I have been coming here since I was a child.  My parents lived in Paddock Hills and we used to walk here.  I love coming to Sugar N’ Spice!  I have brought my own children here and they love it as well!

Frank

We came here Saturday mornings mostly to start the weekend with an awesome omellette and the good vibe all around.  Sugar N’ Spice is such a relaxed, diverse, and pleasant neighborhood restaurant!  I love the upgrades you’ve made over the years, but please don’t make it too fancy!  You guys make our city a better place.

Autumn:

This restaurant rocks and also has the best food in the tristate area!  Many of my family relatives worked here or visited here often.  So great!  Sugar N’ Spice also has great food.  They have so many customers that it must be great, right?  It’s awesome!

Shaneka:

My first time at Sugar N’ Spice was when I was a kid, now I’m 30 and still coming.  I love this place!

Lisa:

My most memorable experience at Sugar N’ Spice was when I ran into my ex and nearly fell over.  We proceeded to resume dating and then got married!  My kids came here with me and loved it.  They were thrilled to see where their parents used to come while we dated and attended UC together.  What a great place!

Peggy:

My first time at Sugar N’ Spice was in the 1950′s.  I was married for 62 years and we came here before our four children went home for the first time.  My husband worked at a CPA firm nearby and I used to lunch here often!

Frank:

Too many “breakfast places” don’t open until 8:30.  It’s nice to come here early and relax before work.  My grandma started me on Sugar N’ Spice and I still love it.

Gari:

I have declared myself the “queen of regulars” since I am at age 85 one of the oldest, most loyal, and most ardent customers of Sugar N’ Spice!  I have been eating here since I was a teenager, which no doubt has contributed to the longevity of my life.  Sugar N’ Spice is my home away from home.  Keep going strong!

She immediately ask what that was. I said I had to park the car and I would explain. At that time, in the parking lot, I was forced to ask her before I really intended.

Well, she excepted, put on the ring, and we came in the restaurant to eat. Of course there was a gleam about her as she flaunted her left hand in front of anyone that would notice. The waitress got a big kick out of the situation and explained to others what the commotion was concerning. We finished our meal and split our complimentary dessert and left with fond memories.

So I guess after forty-four years of marriage the old saying is still true( Sugar-n-spice and everything nice that is what precious times are made for ) – just a little variance from the original.

Thank You,
Dennis and Janet Jasper

I posted this on yelp.com today so I’ll just send you what I wrote because it was rather lengthy When we drove up to it this morning the signs outside were glossy, cute and just fun in general. I knew that it was going to be a great place before I even stepped foot inside. You see, I don’t look for “New & Improved, ” most times. I prefer when it’s a local place with character. This little place has it all. The name is perfect. Sugar n’ Spice, because everything IS nice. When I opened the door I was amazed to see the retro appearance, and how they have kept it looking so nice. I loved it inside and declared to my friend after seeing the cartoon characters with the painted pancakes on the wall, that I was going to tie myself to a chair and never go anywhere again. Eventually I’d stay for so long I’d fuse myself to the chair and wouldn’t have to worry about anything because then I’d officially, be PART of the restaurant. He rolled his eyes at me, and assured me that it would probably be against several health code violations. Sigh.. he’s right, and I’d never want to cause this sweet little place any issues. So I just chose to sit at a stool instead and made a vow that I’d come back again soon. Now, mind you… this is all before we ate.. or even ordered for that matter. We were greeted by several waitresses as we looked over the adorable menu. Really?? The menu is even cute? I guess that makes sense though considering the name. Once we decided, our order was promptly entered. They gave us water as soon as we arrived, our order was in not even ten minutes after we sat down and our food probably took only another 10 minutes to get out to us. The staff were all super courteous and I loved the team work that ensued between them all. I didn’t see a single customer without something or with a bad look on their face. Now me on the other hand, I was grinning from ear to ear the whole time I was there… I’m a nerd. So what..!! I ordered the blueberry pancakes and a side of goetta. OMG…I went back to the idea of fusing myself to the chair again immediately after the first bite.., “health code,” my friend whispered beside me.. Crap. I guess I’ll just have to become a regular instead, and work would probably not accept me calling in on the case that I had fused myself to a chair in an incredibly delicious little restaurant. Jerks.. jeez. how dare them not just mail me a pay check for that! But seriously, the prices at this place are AMAZING!!!! I have never had a stack of blueberry pancakes that were that delicious. The goetta was also equally delicious and when i go back it’ll be hard to try something else just because I know how yummy that stuff was. Maybe I can just order a smorgasbord on my day off and sit there all day?? Hmmm… food for thought.. tee hee.. As if that weren’t enough, there was a family with a small child there too. He wanted an orange juice and they brought it out in this cute little coke glass that was just his size. He was so excited about it, and I had a Jolly’s flashback with my little rootbeer mug and I guess it showed that I was excited for him as well. A couple minutes after that gesture a man brought me out a kiddie sized coffee mug that said “Sugar n’ Spice” on it that was full of something red and some pink and white ice cream. He told me it was a Red Cream Soda Float. Phenomenal. I mean it. I joke around alot in my reviews… but everything was so good and that just warmed my heart. (Even though it was ice cream, and it’s cold.. and.. ok I’m rambling..) Obviously I cannot say enough good things about this place. I am so excited to go back, and I have not stopped smiling all day because of them. Thank you Sugar n Spice for making my day AWESOME!!!! The only thing I’m disappointed about is that I can’t add more than 5 stars for Sugar n’ Spice.

My late husband, Mel Herman and I visited Sugar n’Spice every Sunday morning for years. He always ordered the same things. Eggs, Sausage with Home Fried Potatoes, the little triangler ones and a Cuddlin Puppy. I use to wonder where he put it all.
I went there not too long ago and it was like a walk down memory lane. Same food and decor. Can’t say that about many places today.

-Barbara Herman

Congratulations on your 70th anniversary. Keep up the fine dining experience.
Between 1953 and 1957 I was a student at Xavier University. I was on a 5 day food plan so many weekends friends and I walked to Sugar-n-Spice for real breakfast or lunch treat. Funds were tight and I might have to “save up” to eat there but it was well worth it. A real treat and a bonus to breakfast was a dish of fresh fruit, and I do mean fresh. Made from real oranges, grapefruits, pineapples, bananas etc. I could only “afford” that ever so often. 
It was always good food, good frindly service and a real treat to go there. I have since stopped on occasion.
Keep Open.

-John Wintz

My family moved from Price Hill to Avondale in 1951 when I was 21 years old. Eventually we moved further north to Bond Hill. Today, young people hang out
at malls, etc. In those days we “hung out” at the drive-ins @ SugarNSpice &
Frisch’s Mt.Vernon just a little further down the road. We drove round and round
to see who was there, especially fellas. It was at Frisch’s I first met Jan, your
long-time and my favorite waitress who worked there. But SugarNSpice was
always my favorite breakfast spot & those wispy-thin pancakes are still my
favorite thing to eat…I practically devour them. Long live S&S!!!

-Sylvia Bortz

I’ve been eating at S’n'S since I was a kid. I still remember the old pictures on the walls of faces made of different foods(although I hardly ever find anyone else who does}.

My period of most frequent patronage was from the late 80′s through the 90′s, when I was single and living in Clifton. Owner Mick Michaelson was a sweetheart, and the always-ascerbic Mona was in her heyday. I was a definite “regular” at the cointer, having breakfast there almost every morning on my way to work at my frame shop, which was in Roselawn, then Blue Ash.

When I was planning to marry my wife Terry, we were looking for a fun idea for the rehearsal dinner. Mick agreed to open the whole restaurant to us and our guests. He and his wife Cathy, and their staff hosted a wonderful evening, and our guests had fun ordering classic diner food from the menu, along with a couple of specials they had whipped up. S’n'S saw some new faces from as far away as Mexico and Scotland. We will never forget what a great time we had.

We ended up living in Amberly, so S’n'S was no longer so much on my “beaten path”, and a new chapter of my domestic life had begun. After a little gap, Terry and I stopped in to the restaurant for brunch one Sunday, and were greeted enthusiastically by the staff with comments like, “Long time no see.” Mona’s retort was, as-always, unique: “Yeah, he’s getting his ‘bagel toasted’ at home now!” We still joke about that.

Here’s wishing many more years of delicious success to Sugar’n'Spice, the diner of my life.

-Rick Granick

Sugar N’ Spice will be celebrating all year by participating in events around the city including the 20^th Annual Basketball Extravaganza at the University of Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena on February 19^th, the Wyoming Pancake Breakfast on March 19^th, and much more!  Our official 70^th Anniversary celebration will occur on March 8^th at the restaurant, so mark your calendars!  Also, beginning on April 1^st we will keep our doors open later on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday until 8:00 pm.  Be sure to join us for dinner all summer long.  (Still open 7am-3pm daily).

Film crew using Sugar N' Spice as the backdrop for a scene in a recent movie, the Black Dove.

No Clooney sighting today, but some of the crew enjoyed their first of hopefully many, wispy thin pancakes, omelettes, and other Sugar N’ Spice favorites…maybe next week.  We have a year of fun-filled activities planned so come on out to Sugar N’ Spice and partake in a celebration of the tradition that has been carried into its 70^th year!  Check back daily for updates and new event postings!

Cincinnati landmark Sugar n’ Spice restaurant is under new management. Retired corporate and commercial real estate professional Steven Frankel is just the fifth owner of the popular Cincinnati breakfast and lunch eatery as it prepares to celebrate its 70^th anniversary.

Frankel spent his early childhood in this Paddock Hills neighborhood, growing up on Bristol Lane, just around the corner from the restaurant he now oversees. Like many Sugar n’ Spice patrons, Frankel’s relationship with this neighborhood landmark is generational.

“The first time I visited Sugar n’ Spice was with my parents. I was 4 or 5 years old and apparently we were regulars, or so they told me” Frankel noted.

As the new owner of Sugar n’ Spice, Frankel describes himself as more of a “caretaker of an historic icon than a restaurateur.”

“Sugar n’ Spice is not my restaurant – it’s been here since 1941,” Frankel added.

Being a new owner always carries the temptation to change things, but Frankel quickly realized what kept this cozy breakfast and lunch eatery in business for 70 years was not a lot of “changes”. It was the consistency of the food, the staff, the charm and the personal touches that founder Mort Keller originated. Bernie and Florence Heines, then Mick Michaelson continued with the original concept and the original menu.

“So I came into Sugar n’ Spice thinking about what I could do to improve the customers’ experience  – let me rephrase that – what the staff and the regulars who have been coming here for decades would allow me to do,” Frankel noted.

So Frankel bought new flatware, plates, salt & pepper shakers. New water glasses and pitchers. He ordered new coffee cups with graphics that pay homage to the Sugar n’ Spice lineage of “caretakers.” He replaced the worn-out counter seats with new retro-style seating, adding more space for customer comfort, then refurbished the original stools to provide seating for waiting customers.

“I’m a big believer in ‘just cuz it’s old doesn’t mean you throw it away.’” Frankel added.

The decades-old floral wallpaper was stripped away, replaced with some fun, foodie murals, which surprised some long-time Sugar n’ Spice regulars.

“I’m told it was a little traumatic taking down the old flowered wallpaper, but now most everyone loves the murals and other recent updates,” said Frankel.

He spruced up, thoroughly cleaned up and fixed up all the stuff that hadn’t been attended to for a while. But he was wisely counseled by the wait staff and cooks – some who have been with Sugar n’ Spice for over 15 years – not to fuss with the food.

That’s because people have been coming to Sugar n’ Spice for decades  for the huge, fluffy omelettes, fresh fruit cups, signature sandwiches and of course Sugar n’ Spice’s famously delicious, “wispy thin pancakes” that Mort Keller featured from the restaurant’s start in 1941.

In the restaurant business, “under new management” usually means change. Don’t expect a lot of changes for Sugar n’ Spice, especially on the menu items. The omelettes will still be huge and fluffy, the secret recipe pancakes will remain “wispy thin,” and long-time restaurant regulars like Fort Mitchell’s Ruth and Bob will still make the trip every day for breakfast, as they have for many, many years.

Frankel believes the key to the success of Sugar n’ Spice is the spirit that Mort Keller brought to the business, and that hasn’t changed. Frankel embraces the 70 year history and spirit of this landmark with all due respect. The bottom line is: some things, Sugar n’ Spice being one of them, just aren’t meant to change.

Sugar ‘n’ Spice is located at 4381 Reading Road, just south of the Norwood Lateral. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch from 7am – 3pm seven days a week.

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