Food, drink, etc.

What are you doing New Year's Eve? Dining out is an option many of us choose, and you might want to consider the gourmet feast that CHEZ NORA, Covington's cozy restaurant, is offering. It's pricey ($150 for a couple), but the restaurant's new executive chef, MICHAEL CONNARROE, has conjured up a menu that just might be worth it, and each course is accompanied by an appropriate wine, included in the price. There's an ahi tuna appetizer, a shrimp bisque, a salad with roast breast of duckling; the main course is Smoked Filet Mignon Oscar. The meal is topped off with a mango sorbet and a glass of champagne. Chez Nora's offers two seatings (6:30 and 9:30 p.m.), and the Rooftop Jazz Club will feature Sweet Alice Hoskins (no cover charge). Sound's like a great way to wrap up 2002. Reservations: 859-581-5090 ...

New restaurants in familiar locations for you to check out during your holiday free time: CHENG-3 CAFE has opened in the space once occupied by American Pie Café at Harper's Station on Montgomery Road in Symmes Township. (513-469-8801) My vote for most unusually named place goes to DEAF GOAT RESTAURANT & BAR, which has taken over an old Ponderosa in Eastgate (830 Eastgate Drive, 513-752-3700). SHANNON'S GRILL & BAR has opened near Lunken Airport (4343 Kellogg Ave.), offering casual dining and a full-service bar. (513-321-0636) ...

Something to look forward to: Covington's RiverCenter will be the site for HORSEFEATHERS, a new dining spot offering a Kentucky-inspired menu by the folks who run Harry's Hometown Diner in Alexandria. Opening in the spring, Horsefeathers will seat 100 with additional outside dining. ...

Next spring will also see the opening of the new HOFBRäUHAUS in Northern Kentucky, the first franchise of the famous Munich, Germany, beer hall to open in North America. With 14,000 square feet it will seat 700 people -- that's a big space, although not quite rivaling the 3,600 who can be accommodated in the original in Munich. Hofbräuhaus will be located in Newport on Third Street in the former H. Dennert Distributing Co. building, just across from Newport on the Levee. ...

A nice spot in Covington has closed, MARGO'S on Pike Street. The restaurant opened as Margo & Jimmy's in 1999.