NKY RESTAURANT GUIDE 2019 There’s no better place to dine than Northern Kentucky. New restaurants continue to open up and old favorites are being rediscovered. This annual guide gives a taste of the region’s excellent cuisine, from barbecue and sandwiches to steak and pasta. Make tonight a night out and try one of the fabulous dining establishments that call NKY home. Do you know of a restaurant we should include next year? Fill out a Letter to the Editor form at bestofnky.com or tweet using #NKYdining to tell us what we missed.
By the Editors
CITY GOAT 404 W. Pike St., Covington visitthegoat.com 859-279-3533 Restaurant Type: American Restaurant and Bar Price Range: $4-$15
Year Opened: 2018 Most-Popular Menu Items: Unique pizzas, wings and burgers (including the Go Goetta Burger) Atmosphere: Casual Why you should go: City Goat takes
classic sports bar food and adds a twist (try the Sky Pie for a Cincinnati chili-style pizza). It also offers customizable options throughout its menu. The West Side Covington dining spot has a large patio and game room, with an event space for groups up to 100. www.BestofNKY.com
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THE BAKER’S TABLE 1004 Monmouth St., Newport bakerstablenewport.com 859-261-1941 Restaurant Type: Rustic, Seasonal Cuisine Price Range: Sandwiches and entrees start at $10 Year Opened: 2018 Most-Popular Menu Items: Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich, Egg-in-a-Hole on housemade sourdough, Italian Ricotta Doughnuts with fruit compote and Seasonal Breakfast Hash with creme fraiche and a fried egg
Atmosphere: Casual, with Relaxed Elegance Why you should go: The Baker’s Table is more than a name—the restaurant serves an array of house-baked bread and has a 10-foot antique baker’s table that diners can reserve or use for private events. The restaurant offers farm-to-table food, craft cocktails, third-wave coffee and an in-house bread program, and serves breakfast, lunch and brunch with inspirations from the American South, Italy and France.
COLONIAL COTTAGE 3140 Dixie Highway, Erlanger thecottagenky.com 859-341-4498 Restaurant Type: Traditional American, Southern
SUB STATION II 1826 Dixie Highway, Fort Wright substationii.com 859-341-9494 Restaurant Type: Sandwiches & Salads Price Range: $5-$10 Year Opened: 1989 Most-Popular Menu Item: The Super Special (ham, turkey, bologna, capicola,
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salami, pepperoni and provolone cheese with your choice of bread, vegetables and toppings) Atmosphere: Casual Quick Service Restaurant Why you should go: Nothing pre-sliced here—this deli-style restaurant slices all meats and vegetables to order and doesn’t use preservatives.
Price Range: $8-$12 Year Opened: 1933 Most-Popular Menu Items: Breakfast, it’s goetta, for lunch it’s burgers and for dinner it’s the fried chicken Atmosphere: Casual Why you should go: “Our people make you feel welcome and our food makes you feel comfortable,” says owner Matt Grimes.
TOUSEY HOUSE TAVERN 5963 N. Jefferson St., Burlington touseyhouse.com 859-586-9900 Restaurant Type: Southern Cuisine Price Range: $11-$35 Year Opened: 2008
Most-Popular Menu Items: Fried Chicken (rolled in secret herbed flour before they’re fried), Alaskan Halibut (topped with crab meat, artichoke hearts and parmesan cheese before it’s baked to a golden brown) and Tousey’s Pasta (linguini tossed with garlic, tomatoes, parmesan cheese and either chicken or shrimp)
Atmosphere: Casual with a Fine Dining Touch Why you should go: Go for the traditional Southern food, stay for the historic atmosphere—the restaurant’s building was constructed almost 200 years ago.
www.BestofNKY.com
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SMOKIN’ THIS AND THAT BBQ 10020 Demia Way, Florence smokinthisandthatbbq.com 859-817-0492 Restaurant Type: Old-School Barbecue Price Range: $10 Year Opened: 2015 Most-Popular Menu Item: BBQ Tacos (barbecue pork or brisket on a soft taco shell with barbecue sauce, coleslaw and avocado sauce) Atmosphere: Casual Why you should go: According to owner Gu y Cummins, the restaurant’s “old-school wood-smoked” barbecue is what separates it from the other barbecue restaurants in the region.
2018
We are grateful that the people of NKY recognize what goes into the comfort food in which we specialize. There is nothing more comforting than good fried chicken. Please join us soon! 3140 Dixie Highway • Erlanger, KY 41018 859-341-4498 • thecottagenky.com 20
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• Outstanding heading into the 27th year! •
POMPILIO’S RESTAURANT 600 Washington Ave., Newport pompilios.com 859-581-3065 Restaurant Type: Italian Price Range: $12-$30 Year Opened: 1933 Most-Popular Menu Item: Spaghetti and Meatballs Atmosphere: Full-Service Casual Dining Why you should go: First opened in 1933, Pompilio’s has some history to go with its classic Italian cuisine. Home to gangsters in the 1940s, the restaurant has kept its historic atmosphere—much of the bar and adjacent dining room look similar to how they did when it first opened.
www.BestofNKY.com
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AGAVE & RYE 635 Madison Ave., Covington agaveandrye.com 859-360-1060 Restaurant Type: Innovative Tacos Price Range: $5-$11
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Year Opened: 2018
Atmosphere: Casual
Most-Popular Menu Item: The Swipe Right (taco with honey lime grilled chicken, bacon, aged white cheddar, salsa and sour cream)
Why you should go: Three words: Epic, unique food. Ever tried a taco with duck? One with macaroni and cheese? What about cauliflower? Tacos with these ingredients and more make up the menu here.
CASUAL CHINESE RESTAURANT 88 Carothers Road, Newport casualchinese.com 859-431-2900 Restaurant Type: Chinese/Thai Price Range: Lunch express $5.50, most dinners $9.95 and specials up to $13.95 Year Opened: 1992 Most-Popular Menu Items: Pad Thai noodles (choice of protein stir-fried with Thai noodles, egg, bean sprouts, onion and carrots in Pad Thai sauce with peanuts), Sesame Chicken (chicken deep-fried and sautéed in tangy brown sauce) and Chicken Fried Rice Atmosphere: Casual Why you should go: Casual Chinese is committed to quality food (only using fresh and good quality ingredients), good prices and good service—it’s even known for refusing tips.
www.BestofNKY.com
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DRAKE’S 6805 Houston Road, Florence drakescomeplay.com 859-869-4840 Restaurant Type: Beer, Burgers and Sushi Price Range: Sushi rolls start at $6, entrees range $9-15 Year Opened: 2013 Most-Popular Menu Items: Mini Cheeseburgers (three mini burgers with melted American cheese and fresh-cut toppings) and the Crab Rangoon Roll (a crab and cream cheese roll that’s tempura-fried and topped with sushi sauce and sweet chili sauce) Atmosphere: Casual Why you should go: Drake’s says it offers something for everyone by mixing three things together that often aren’t served on the same menu: burgers, beers and sushi. It offers 24 microbrews and local beers on tap, hand-pressed burgers, build-your-own tacos and an extensive sushi menu. The restaurant also has large TVs, darts, shuffleboard and giant Jenga, along with a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights.
YORK ST. CAFÉ 738 York St., Newport yorkstonline.com 859-261-9675 Restaurant Type: Eclectic Fine Dining Price Range: $8-$11 for lunch, $9-$25 for dinner Year Opened: 1997 Most-Popular Menu Item: The Sharable Conversation Board (Baked brie en croute, with an amaretto honey sauce, sliced almonds with fresh fruit and sliced baguette), the Mediterranean board (hummus, tabouli, baba ghanoush, spanakopita and Greek salad with toasted pita) and burgers with fresh ground chuck from Ebert’s Meats Market Atmosphere: One-of-a-kind Why you should go: York St. Café is certainly eclectic, but in the best way. The combination restaurant, lounge and art gallery is located within a Queen Ann-style building built in the 1880s that originally housed the Widrig pharmacy. Inside, diners will find an Elvis collection, more than 150 Pez dispensers and more. Make sure to bring some friends—the restaurant’s conversation boards are ideal for large groups.
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KENTUCKY CRAVE 7373 Turfway Road, Florence www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/kentucky/ hilton-cincinnati-airport-CVGCHHF/ dining/index.html 859-371-4400 Restaurant Type: American Classics Price Range: $10-$30 Year Opened: 1987
Most-Popular Menu Item: Grandma’s Meatloaf Atmosphere: Casual/Modern Why you should go: While it’s inside the Hilton Cincinnati Airport, this isn’t the hotel food of old. Expect an intimate, personalized setting with delicious home-cooked food.
CAMPOROSSO WOOD FIRED PIZZERIA 2475 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell camporosso.com 859-331-0155 Restaurant Type: Italian Price Range: $12-$22 Year Opened: 2017 Most-Popular Menu Item: Wood Fired Pizza Atmosphere: Upscale Casual Why you should go: Housed in a re-purposed 1934 gas station, Camporosso serves artisan house-made Italian cuisine, like its long-fermented wood-fired pizza, housemade meatballs, pastas and hand-stretched mozzarella. Locally and family owned, the restaurant also has an extensive Italian wine list, large bourbon selection, craft cocktails and local craft beer, all served by a friendly, knowledgeable staff.
2018
Visit York St. Café in Newport, KY for their delicious appetizers, seasonally changing entrees, and award winning homemade desserts.
“Lettuce” show you what fresh truly is! We slice every sandwich to order. Produce is sliced everyday to ensure the best taste and without the addition of chemicals. Our bread is a true east coast Italian sub roll. 1826 Dixie Hwy Ft. Wright KY 41011 794 Donaldson Rd. Erlanger KY 41018
Order Now @ substationii.com 26
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Our award winning cakes were voted in the top 10 desserts in Ky in 2018 and our strawberry buttermilk cake was featured in Southern Living Magazine
With unmatched hospitality and a truly unique ambiance, the folks at York St. have perfected both lunch and dinner options that are sure to please both the most sophisticated of palates, as well as those that enjoy satisfying hometown cooking. With fresh, often local ingredients and cocktails prepared to delight, York St. Café has found the recipe for success.
738 York St. • Newport Ky 41071 Yorkstonline.com • 859-261-9675
BARLEYCORN’S Cold Spring: 1073 Industrial Road, 859442-3400 Lakeside Park: 2642 Dixie Highway, 859331-6633 Florence: 8544 US 42, 859-371-4100 barleycorns.com Restaurant Type: American Fare Price Range: $8-$15 Year Opened: 1976 Most-Popular Menu Item: Doc-Style Wings (wings that are dipped in hot sauce and double fried) Atmosphere: Casual, Sports Bar, Family-Friendly Why you should go: Family-owned and -operated Barleycorn’s won both Best Happy Hour and Best Patio Dining in NKY Magazine’s 2018 Best of NKY and is known for its unique “Doc-Style” wings. Each location has spacious patios, big screen TVs and plenty of cold brews.
www.BestofNKY.com
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