The 25 Best Restaurants in Northern Kentucky Right Now, According to Yelp
At CityBeat, we know a thing or two about picking the best restaurants in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, but Yelpers have some hot takes of their own that are worthy of attention. From places serving up phenomenal steaks and authentic Thai food to the ones with monster burgers featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Northern Kentucky is home to plenty of highly praised restaurants these Yelpers can't stop talking about.
*Note: This was the list at the time of publication. Based on ongoing input, restaurant locations in this Yelp list may change. Reviews may have been shortened or edited slightly for clarity and grammar.
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Photo: Hailey Bollinger
521 Madison Ave., Covington
“Amazing food and fun atmosphere! Everything we've tried so far has been delicious. Definitely recommend the imperial beef stew, how-fun, and sesame chicken. Service is fast even though they are always super busy. Our go-to Asian place!” -Victor P.
Photo: Aidan Mahoney
8 W. Seventh St., Covington
“Really cute spot with ample seating and an airy feel. There are large televisions above the bar for watching sports, will definitely return if there's a game on to watch!
Worth mentioning, the bartending staff were so kind and had such positive vibes! This was my first time in and they explained to us that the food is entirely separate from the bar. You order your food at a window at the back of the restaurant and the entire restaurant functions separately from there. It worked smoothly as they weren't busy and we didn't have to wait in multiple lines.” -Morgan C.
6302 Licking Pike, Cold Spring
“We always love eating here! The service is usually really good, and the food is always on point. The Cajun sampler is my all time favorite. The steak tips, chicken, and shrimp are perfection. It also comes with red beans and rice, and jambalaya. It's a lot of food but it reheats really well, so I say go for it and enjoy leftovers tomorrow! The Bayou-tini is also delicious. If you're into oysters, their Bienville is really good.” -Angela K.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
602 Main St., Covington
“The atmosphere is full of bright colors on the walls and tables. Even the bathroom is colorful.
I love their guacamole with jicama and radishes. Their chips are crispy and airy. In other words, I ate a lot of them. Spicy pineapple margarita with Al pastor taco and cauliflower taco made for a perfect meal.” -Eileen B.
2415 Alexandria Pike, Highland Heights
“In my travels, I have NEVER found a place that offered Sushi & Thai and did both well but my choice to try takeout of both here was a result of the Thai menu not calling Pad Ki Mao "Drunken Noodles" as most do, which to me suggests more authenticity. The sushi menu resembles many standalone sushi places so I sampled the Cincy roll and salmon sashimi.
The sashimi was a 9/10 for quality and cut. The roll was perfect. The texture, the size, the quality, the price. … Also, the eel is cooked and the rest of the roll is not. This provides a great taste profile.
When asked, the server said Thai was the dominant cuisine for the restaurant so with such a good sushi experience, I had pretty high hopes and was not disappointed. Spiced at 3, the pad ki mao was exactly how I like it.” -Mark S.
2053 Dixie Highway, Ft. Mitchell
“Love this place! Menu has a Cajun inspired feel. Great alcohol selection although I always end up getting Anita Purple Haze there because it goes with all the food options. They have a great outdoor patio with string lights and lots of space inside. I have tried multiple items from the menu but I tend to always go back to their pasta options. This is a great local spot with a delicious menu!” -Stephanie J.
Photo: Paige Deglow
3300 Madison Pike, Ft. Wright
“Our dinner was absolutely perfect from start to finish. We kicked things off with a 1/2 dozen oysters, some escargot, and the bourbon burnt ends. We'd had the first two appetizers in the past - and they lived up to how much we loved them on our last visit. The bourbon burnt ends were phenomenal - crispy, smokey, and coated with Walt's famous BBQ sauce. What more could you ask for?
We decided to order one of their nightly specials - the 10 oz. Bison Steak - along with one of their classics - the Braised, Bone-In Pork. The bison was tasty and tender - but our favorite bite of the night was definitely the pork. Every morsel melted in our mouths, and when paired with their creamy orzo, it was truly show-stopping. For dessert, we ate as much as we could of their Bananas Foster, which is a huge portion, even for two people.” -Bailey D.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
3620 Decoursey Ave., Covington
“First time here and now we're customers for life! Their burgers are absolutely delicious! I had the Bard Burger and it was seasoned and cooked to perfection! My husband had the 5 Way and loved it! We also ordered their fries, which are homemade, they were delicious too! They have a full bar with craft beer, wine, and liquor. Their bourbon selection is great and the prices are good. We were full so had no room for dessert, but plan to order it next time. I highly recommend Bard's! It definitely is ‘the dive that's worth the drive!’” -Lori S.
519 Main St., Covington
“** Vegetarian Review**
Farm to table restaurants are usually meat centric but this place had a few vegetarian/vegan options that we could enjoy. The restaurant and the staff take your dining experience seriously, do everything possible to make it worthwhile eating at their establishment. A unique thing I saw here was that the waitress intentionally changed the silverware after every course. That's what I'm talking about!
The menu changes almost every season, it's worth revisiting during summer to enjoy the next season's menu. For vegetarian protein, meat can be replaced with tofu and occasionally they have a veggie burger which they were out of when we visited.” -Vandana M.
2520 Hazelwood Drive, Crescent Springs
“Been a long-time customer of Sweet Basil starting out out their original location across the street. They always have consistent fresh delicious sushi. Paired with an ice cold Saparo makes the perfect dining experience. If your wanting better than the average sushi in Cincinnati, Sweet Basil is a place to try.” -Jeff M.
