Two popular Over-the-Rhine restaurants are expanding to the suburbs.
Italian restaurant Pepp & Dolores and fried chicken joint The Eagle, both owned by Thunderdome Restaurant Group, are opening new locations in Mason.
The two new locations will open right next to each other at The District at Deerfield, a new mixed-use development in the Mason area.
Previously, Thunderdome planned to open a new iteration of their Mexican-based concept, Bakersfield, in the spot instead of Pepp & Dolores; however, Thunderdome co-owner Joe Lanni told the Cincinnati Enquirer that the company determined there were already too many Mexican restaurants in the suburban area.
This version of The Eagle will also include a takeout window from Thunderdome’s other chicken-based concept, CityBird, a fast-casual spot that sells chicken tenders and fries to-go.
The Over-the-Rhine location of Pepp & Dolores has drawn national acclaim—it was recently listed at #10 on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. for 2026.
Construction on both new restaurants is expected to finish by this September.