The 25 Best Restaurants in Northern Kentucky Right Now, According to Yelp

1. Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar

638 Madison Ave., Covington
“When the hotel restaurant's bar menu is twice the size of the food menu, I get a little nervous tbh. But, we quickly learned they just focus on doing what they do really well. Try the Liquid Knowledge cocktail. Essentially a mule, but next level. It was served in a custom Rookwood Pottery mug with a gorgeous floral garnish. Our gnocchi was perfectly prepared as was the salmon added on top. Presentation was gorgeous!
Their best seller had to be the burger. We saw so many being delivered to nearby tables. They're HUGE. Imagine a burger piled as high as Marge Simpson's beehive. Yup. If you go after dark, the magical, twinkling lights add so much charm.” -Susan O.

25. KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia

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.

24. The Well

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.

23. Knotty Pine on the Bayou

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.

22. Frida 602

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.

21. Nittha Siam Kitchen

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.

20. Fort Mitchell Public House

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.

19. Walt’s Hitching Post

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.

18. Bard’s Burgers & Chili

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.

17. Bouquet

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.

16. Sweet Basil

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.

15. Grassroots & Vine

1011 S. Ft. Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas
“Such a hidden gem in the heart of Ft. Thomas. Great ambiance, service, food and drinks! Went for a gals' brunch today and everything was delicious. The hummus board was delicious along with the BLT, B&V omelet and Margherita flatbread. Highly recommend!” -Alyssa G.

14. La Torta Loca

8645 Haines Drive, Suite A, Florence
“Great little dive for Venezuelan and Mexican food! The chips, guacamole, and queso cheese are tasty! Chips are thick and crispy. Had frozen strawberry margaritas which are strong and good! We had the Torta Loca, Birra Taco and shredded beef empanadas. Delicious and good portions. Lots to take home! Service was great and timely.” -David F.

13. Rich’s Proper Food and Drink

701 Madison Ave., Covington
“A caramel old fashioned?!?! Oh my what an amazing experience. Plus a couple of vegan food offerings to eat while having cocktails with friends. Love the vibe and space. Just fun and a cool place to hang out. The bar is a bit small but the dining room is a bit more spacious. Service was top-notch. Our server knew the menu and made recommendations to help us make our decisions as to what to order. I will definitely return. Highly recommend.” -Wendy K.

12. Blinkers Tavern

318 Greenup St., Covington
“Blinker's Tavern is an institution in Covington. KY. They serve up an excellent crusted steak and delicious sides. Also one of the few steakhouses in the area that can provide Worcestershire sauce for your steak. I'm not a huge fan of sirloin steaks, but theirs are thick and juicy. Nice decor, friendly staff, well stocked bar. Come on Tuesday for steak night and get a great deal.” -Rick H.

11. Governor’s House Wine Bar & Kitchen

314 Greenup St., Covington
“Governors House has the same owners as Blinkers next door, so we stopped in to check it out. They did a fantastic job renovating this old house into a very quaint bistro-like experience. I have been back twice now and the service is fantastic. Jake is the bartender and has a LOT of knowledge with drinks.
Last night we decided to try a few appetizers. We ordered the Nachos and the Antipasti Platter. This was PLENTY of for four people to share. I was very impressed with the food and the portion sizes. The old fashioned is probably one of the best I've had in the Northern Kentucky area.” -Brandon G.

10. Pensive Distilling Co. + Kitchen

720 Monmouth St., Newport
“We had the pleasure of experiencing the brunch menu. Our group had the Animal Kingdom, the biscuits and gravy, and the Real Quiet (dishes all named after famous Derby horses) and had zero complaints!
The fries are a modern take on steak fries, thinner and crispier, and when dipped in the Avocado aioli, they become the star of the dish. The bacon was crispy and sweet and paired perfectly with the cheesy eggs. And the biscuit gravy has pure magic in it with a savory sweetness that should be bottled and sold right alongside the bourbon! This place may be focused on the Bourbon, but the food is 5 stars.” -Hannah B.

9. Sake Bomb Sushi

3072 Dixie Highway, Erlanger
“Sake Bomb loves and values their customers 100%. Their service and care in their food and service blows me away every time. I recommend very spicy ramen, add beef, no vegetables... Blows me away. This is the kind of food that keeps you up at night craving it. This place is just different. Good food where you can taste the love. Treated like family. The small business of all small businesses.” -Reese F.

8. Maki Mono Covington

715 Madison Ave., Covington
“Great quality sushi/nigiri/sashimi and meat portion size! My husband and I got the sushi moriawase which tasted super delicious and fresh. I liked the soy sauce and sushi rice flavor too. Honestly so good that it can compete with sushi on the coasts. Did not expect to get this at Covington! I will be coming back and bringing more friends and family here! Service and owners here are also very friendly and give off very modern comfy vibes!” -Carolyn W.

7. York Street Cafe

738 York St., Newport
“Best burger out there with the quirkiest decor in Newport. Their standard burger is hand-molded, fresh meat, juicy on the inside, and a tad crisp on the outside. I've only been there with larger groups, but would love to sit at the little tables for two. They look so cozy. I'm not a dessert person, but we've had dessert both times I've been there. The peanut butter cup pie is excellent. York Peppermint Patty cake and Key lime pie are out of this world. And everyone there serving is super friendly. Can't say enough about this place.” -Sonnie W.

6. Libby’s Southern Comfort

35 W. Eighth St., Covington
“Highly recommend this place! We ordered the shrimp & grits, Chicken Biscuit with Mac & the goetta balls for an app. Everything had soooo much flavor & felt so unique to the area! The food leaves you wanting more!” -Brooke D.