National Exemplar

Mariemont, Ohio

The National Exemplar Restaurant

Things to Do Before or After Your Visit

Join our Team

Location & Hours

Mariemont's Beginnings

Mariemont was envisioned by its founder, Mary Muhlenbery Emery, as a “National Exemplar” in practical town planning. Mrs. Emery was convinced, far ahead of her time, that congestion and poor housing were due primarily to bad city planning, and that this problem could not be corrected easily without rebuilding an entire neighborhood. It could be changed, she felt, by constructing a community and its housing according to principles of town planning.

Mariemont, pronounced “Mary-mont” not “Marie-mont” was named for Mrs. Emery’s summer home in Rhode Island, which was named for a town in England, thus the English pronunciation. The town was to illustrate the best architectural, engineering, and environmental concerns possible for this type of development. Mariemont was to be a model “English garden” community and a self-sufficient town where good planning would prevent common big-city problems.

Today Mariemont thrives in its eye-catching, harmonious, and mostly English-Tudor style architecture. Tree-canopied streets with wide, grassy medians sets Mariemont apart from other areas around Cincinnati. The village has a reputation of being charming and quaint with its scattering of mini-parks. Mariemont also prides itself on having the nation’s only elected town crier, who dresses in colonial costume to call villagers to the non-partisan town meetings.

Acquisition of the property located about ten miles east of downtown Cincinnati and on a plateau above the Little Miami River began in 1913. The first spadeful of Earth for Mariemont was turned by Mrs. Emery on April 23, 1923. Twenty-five of the country’s leading architects were employed to work with the plan developed by John Nolen, the eminent town-planner hired by the Mariemont Company to design and build this community on the 420 acres of gently rolling farm land anciently inhabited by Indians. The first building was completed in 1924-25. There is only one church in Mariemont, per Mrs. Emery’s design, the interdenominational Mariemont Community Church.

The National Exemplar, a delicious independent restaurant in Mariemont, offers modern, fresh American cuisine in its dining room, outdoor patio and adjoining bar. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks seven days a week.

We are looking for outgoing, motivated individuals to join our team, including:

bartenders
cooks
servers
hosts

We are a high energy team with excellent growth potential. We also offer a great benefit package to all full time employees. Prior experience is preferred but not a must.

To apply for a rewarding position with our team, please send an email with the position desired in the subject line, a cover letter and resume/experience to nexemplar@nationalexemplar.com or apply in-person 2-4 p.m. weekdays.

No phone calls, please.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Drinks...Simply Delicious!

In April of 1983, The National Exemplar began operation in the Mariemont, Ohio landmark, the Mariemont Inn. The Inn was constructed in the mid-1920's as a small piece of the very unique Mariemont community, founded by Mary Emery. The National Exemplar Restaurant was named after learning that Mary Emery once referred to her developing community as the National Exemplar, meaning national model community.

The National Exemplar Restaurant, located on the first floor of the hotel, is a popular neighborhood restaurant. It offers American-style cuisine in its spacious dining room or relaxing outdoor patio. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the National Exemplar offers an outstanding dining experience.

Southerby’s Pub, located off the lobby, offers dining as well as a cozy place to have a drink, and features oversized chairs overlooking one of the original 1920’s fireplaces. In the evening settle down in an over-stuffed sofa and savor a drink with the locals in this intimate lobby pub.

Click Here For Dinner Reservations