meetNKY: Especially during the pandemic, these lovely NKY outdoor dining options may fill the void

If you’re from Ft. Thomas, you know about Midway Cafe, but if you aren’t, it’s a great local secret. The wings are delicious — and so are these slushee drinks, and they are especially great when enjoyed on their sidewalk seating while watching the cars drive along the Ft. Thomas strip.

Goodfellas Pizzeria in Covington has tables out front and two levels of patio dining in the back where you can enjoy a yummy slice of New York-style pizza. Don’t forget about Wiseguy Lounge upstairs — a great place to grab a cocktail while you’re hanging out.

Frida 602, named in honor of the famous artist Frida Kahlo, is a Mainstrasse favorite and serves some of the best tacos in the NKY and Cincy region. You have to try their Brussels Sprouts taco.

Located at the foot of the Roebling Bridge, The Gruff is inspired by the fairy tale “Three Billy Goats Gruff.” With a full bar, brick oven pizzas, sandwiches, soups, and a great view of the bridge you won’t be able to get enough of their patio.

Pretzel sandwiches and warm soft pretzels.. what’s not to love? With outdoor seating on the sidewalk down Fairfield Avenue in Bellevue, The Pretzel Place is the perfect spot for lunch or even an afternoon snack. The smell inside is amazing — we can never leave without getting cinnamon sugar knots and the caprese sandwich.

If you like mac & cheese, then you will love Keystone Bar & Grill because they have eight different mac & cheese dishes for you to enjoy in their outdoor dining space. Don’t worry, though, if you’re not the biggest fan of mac & cheese, they have other great options like quesadillas, burgers, sandwiches, and more.

Blinkers Tavern that has not one but TWO outdoor dining areas and has been voted “Best Steak” in Northern Kentucky six years running.

Lil’s Bagels has some of the best bagels in the NKY and Cincinnati area. Some people think they’re the best you can get outside NYC! They also sell sandwiches, salads, and cocktails. They also have a carryout “windough” to grab some bagels on the go.

If you haven’t been to Siam Orchid before, you need to. On Bellevue’s Fairfield Avenue, simply delicious Thai food! Luckily, they have awesome sidewalk seating available.

Named after the opening day pitcher for the 1913 Covington Blue Sox, Smoke Justis is a sports bar in Covington that smokes their meat on site, making for great barbeque, wings, brisket, and more.  Check out their bourbon bar while you’re there.

Molly Malone’s is an authentic Irish pub owned and operated by a native of The Emerald Isle. Grab a pint of Guinness and enjoy the view of the Roebling Bridge from their patio. They also host lots of live music, and have one of the best St. Patrick’s Day parties in town.

Parlor on Seventh has recently expanded its outdoor dining area so there’s plenty of seating and room to ensure social distancing. You won’t be sorry you chose to dine here– everything on the menu is delicious.

To be honest, I haven’t personally dined here yet, but man, their food and patio look amazing on social media. They not only had a hopping patio before COVID, they also added to it by blocking off part of the parking lot to allow for more outdoor seating to accommodate for the new guidelines. I can’t wait to get here and try it out.

Darkness had an awesome patio scene before it was cool. This is an awesome patio to grab a beer and if you’re lucky, a local food truck will be there too. If not, grab some dinner at one of the Fairfield Avenue restaurants nearby.

Their name includes the word “legendary” for good reason–it’s been family-owned and operated since 1963 (read more about that here). We love the pizza, hoagies, and wings. Oh and those fries… yum. The outdoor seating on Fairfield Avenue in Bellevue is the perfect addition to this local favorite.

Bouquet Restaurant & Wine Bar is a stop on The B-Line and is a farm-to-table bistro known for their support of local and sustainable farming.

Otto’s Restaurant in Mainstrasse serves American and Southern-style food and is known for its classic Southern dish, fried green tomatoes. They also serve an amazing brunch on weekends — be sure to make a reservation.
 

Transformed from the original Coppin’s Department Store, Coppin’s is infused with history and offers curated cocktails and locally sourced food like their yummy Buffalo Cauliflower Sandwich. Coppin’s is also a stop on The B-Line and is dog friendly so bring your furry four-legged friend with you to experience their outdoor patio.

With a new covering for their already amazing patio, Libby’s has a strong outdoor dining game. You can’t go wrong with their fried chicken, burgers, or bourbon slushies.

The patio and bar are partially covered, so could be a good option for days when rainy weather is a threat. In Fort Mitchell, the patio is huge, so also a good bet if you have a larger party or want to keep very distanced from other people.

Hofbrauhaus’ spacious outdoor biergarten in Newport is America’s first authentic Hofbrauhaus. It’s located right across from Newport on the Levee. Make sure to stop in and enjoy traditions from Germany without having to leave the United States.

Located in Fort Mitchell, local favorite Greyhound Tavern recently built a large outdoor patio for customers to enjoy. Greyhound Tavern is known for its award-winning food including their fried chicken, hot brown, and large onion rings.

If you’re looking for a down-home pub to grab some dinner and socialize, Ft. Mitchell Pub is a great option.

Seriously the best Chicago-style pizza we’ve had outside of Chicago can be found in Florence.  They have a few outdoor tables, but if you don’t want to wait, there’s always carryout.

Riverfront patios are hard to beat and Cancun has a great one.  When you have a craving for Mexican with a view, this is your best bet, on Riverboat Row in Newport.

Lisse has an amazing rooftop area for dining with views of Mainstrasse Village as well as the Cincinnati skyline.

This Newport gem serves award-winning food and drink with a unique atmosphere and open-air garage doors. The pastries are phenomenal.

The new Bridgeview Box Park is a great option for outdoor dining. With walk-up counter service of several local food and drink options, there’s truly something for everyone.  Grab your picks and settle in on the amazing patio at Newport on the Levee with the beautiful Cincinnati skyline as your backdrop.

This place is a true hidden gem in Bellevue. We had no idea this was even here until they reached out and invited us over to see the space. Coffee drinks, a full bar, sandwiches, wraps, grab-and-go selection, pastries, plus outdoor seating… they’ve got it going on.

Sarah O’Shaughnessy and NKyTribune staff contributed to this meetNKY story. Rebecca Banks is digital marketing manager for meetNKY and lives in Campbell County.