Cincinnati proper gets a lot of love, both locally and nationally, for its dining options, but we can’t forget how elite the food scene just across the river in Northern Kentucky is as well. And one Northern Kentucky city was recently named as having one of the best small-town dining scenes in the United States by a prestigious magazine.
Food & Wine, a magazine and website that focuses on the global epicurean experience, recently released “The Top Small US Cities for Food and Drink” as part of its 2025 Global Tastemakers awards, with Covington featured on the list at No. 4. While most of the award lists are voted on by a panel, this list of 11 small-town foodie destinations was curated by Ohio-based writer Wendy Pramik.
“Based in central Ohio, I enjoy exploring local food options in small towns across the country,” Pramik writes. “Each place reflects a distinct identity — shaped by history, sparked by creativity, and packed with way more flavor than their size lets on.”
Pramik says she chose these standout spots (all towns or cities with fewer than 100,000 residents) based on research, local insights and recommendations from fellow travel writers and editors at Food & Wine and beyond.
“Just across the river from Cincinnati, Covington is where smooth bourbon meets savory goetta, and North meets South. This walkable river town blends Appalachian, German, and Southern influences into a culinary identity all its own,” Pramik shares.
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In Covington’s section, Pramik calls out several well-loved restaurants, like Anchor Grill, a classic greasy spoon, and Otto’s, an intimate American bistro located in Mainstrasse. She also highlights the new Italian restaurant, Carmelo’s, and upscale farm-to-table eatery Bouquet, both of which offer modern flair and locally sourced ingredients. Goettafest also gets a shoutout, as does the B-Line, a collection of bourbon-focused restaurants, bars and distilleries in Northern Kentucky that in 2024 was added to the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail experience.
You can read everything Pramik had to say about Covington’s food scene, as well as see the other cities that made the list at foodandwine.com.
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This article appears in Nov 17-22, 1994.
