As Northern Kentucky’s restaurant landscape continues to evolve, 2025 has proven to be a transitional year.
One of the most consequential local events of 2024 was the closure of the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, which led to the shutdown of several restaurants at Newport on the Levee and in the surrounding river city communities.
Below is our 2025 Dining Guide’s openings and closing list, so you can stay up to date on Northern Kentucky’s ever-changing culinary landscape.
Closings
Amador Cuban (Newport on the Levee)
This Miami-style Cuban restaurant shut its doors in January after its operating firm, Pensacola Hospitality Group, decided to take a different direction, citing the closure of the Daniel Carter Bridge as a factor that strained the restaurant’s finances. The restaurant, which opened in 2023, serves classic Cuban dishes, including the Cubano sandwich, Ropa Vieja (braised flank steak), and Lechon Asado (slow-cooked pork shoulder).
Bridgeview Food Hall (Newport on the Levee)
Pensacola Hospitality Group also owned Bridgeview Food Hall, home to vendors like Los Tacos Hermanos, Club Coop, and Four Mile Pig. Bridgeview Food Hall opened in 2023 and served as a communal dining hall. The space was reminiscent of an upscale mall food court. It featured a diverse range of restaurants, allowing customers to enjoy a wide selection of cuisines. Similar to Amador Cuban, Pensacola Hospitality Group cited financial troubles following the closure of the Daniel Carter Beard bridge.
Opal Rooftop (Covington)
Opal Rooftop signified the growth of Covington’s fine dining offerings, giving customers a pristine rooftop view of the city and downtown Cincinnati’s skyline. With its signature rooftop bar, Opal valued aesthetics and ambiance in addition to its menu, which featured meals prepared by Grillworks’ wood-fired grill. In January, co-owners Bill and Morgan Whitlow announced the impending closure of Opal, citing financial issues and operational barriers.
Rich’s Proper and Hangry Omar’s Slider Shack (Covington)
Rich’s Proper, and its iconic neon sign, have adorned Covington’s Madison Ave. and 6th Street intersection since opening in 2018. The restaurant featured Creole- and Southern-inspired cuisine, along with a large selection of bourbon. On the other hand, Hangry Omar’s was more casual, serving hungry bar-goers from inside the Covington Yard food court.
Both concepts were co-owned by Bill and Morgan Whitlow, who announced the closure of both restaurants in late December of 2024. Like Opal, the Whitlows cited financial issues and operational barriers.
The Brickery Café & Play (Newport on the Levee)
The Brickery Café & Play was a Lego-themed café based in Newport on the Levee. Opened in 2023, the cafe offered families and LEGO enthusiasts a creative retreat featuring large-scale Lego sets, including Star Wars, Harry Potter, Super Mario and Marvel.
The cafe announced its closure in March, with owner Daniel Johnson acknowledging the negative impact the closure of the Daniel Carter Beard bridge had on the business.
Hooters (Newport)
The floating Newport Hooters has officially floated away. The restaurant, along with the other business on its barge, the Beer Sellar, closed in June alongside around 30 other locations nationwide. In August, the barge on which the two businesses were located was taken down the river by a boat, and what followed were a lot of memes.
The Metropolitan Club (Covington)
The Metropolitan Club, a social club, event center and dining space in Covington, permanently closed on Monday. The club, often abbreviated to The Met Club, announced its closure via email in July. Founded in 1991, the club has been in operation for approximately 35 years. It was established with the goal of providing a space where professionals and community leaders could gather, socialize and collaborate.
Openings
Mi Cozumel (Newport on the Levee)
Mi Cozumel is partying its way into Northern Kentucky. The Cincinnati-based Mexican restaurant franchise is renowned for its lively atmosphere, Margarita Tower, tableside guacamole, and flaming fajitas. Mi Cozumel offers over 40 margarita flavors for adventurous customers.
Mi Cozumel, named for the famous Mexican island, opened on July 1 inside the former Amador Cuban space facing the Ohio Riverfront in Newport on the Levee.
1 Levee Way P-122A, Newport
7 Brew (Newport)
7 Brew is a rapidly growing, drive-thru coffee chain that opened its first Northern Kentucky location in Newport back in April. 7 Brew boasts an expansive menu with ‘7 Originals’ Espresso drinks like the Blondie, Smooth 7 and Sweet & Salty. In addition, 7 Brew serves flavored energy drinks, sparkling sodas called “Fizz,” fruit smoothies, milkshakes, and lemonades.
7 Carothers Road, Newport
Noche (Covington)
From the creators of Hyde Park’s popular Italian-Argentine fusion restaurant Alfio’s Buon Cibo, Noche offers Northern Kentucky residents a glimpse into Alfio’s signature dishes of hand-cut steaks, fresh pasta, empanadas, cocktails, and premium wines. Noche means evening in Spanish.
Noche opened in July inside the former Rich’s Proper space. Rich’s neon sign, which overlooked Madison Avenue, was updated to read “Noche.”
701 Madison Ave, Covington
The Bodega at Roebling (Covington)
In March, The Bodega at Roebling opened in the heart of Covington’s Roebling Point neighborhood. Founded by Covington-based lawyer Jamir Davis, the bodega serves small bites, New York-style bagels, coffee and wines sourced from across the United States.
During the day, the café offers breakfast and lunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, with later start times on weekends. After hours, the bodega transforms into a speakeasy, featuring a small wine room and cocktail lounge on weekends and Friday evenings.
326 Scott St, Covington
Spear Ridge Cafe (Independence)
One Holland Group founder, Gary Holland, wanted the Spear Ridge Cafe to honor his hometown of Independence. Spear Ridge Cafe, which opened in July, boasts murals, old photographs and other memorabilia that pay homage to Independence throughout the 20th century.
The Spear Ridge Cafe is a comfort-food café and general store offering favorites such as smashburgers, catfish po’ boys, country ham and pimento sandwiches, hushpuppies, and seasonal soups. Adjacent to the restaurant is the general store, which serves small bites, coffee, and other convenient items.
11990 Mitch Dr Suite 150, Independence
Wayfarer Tavern (Dayton)
Wayfarer Tavern is the latest addition to the growing Dayton dining scene. The tavern, situated within the historic Burton Building at 635 Sixth Avenue, opened in late January. The restaurant specializes in bar-style pizzas, essentially East Coast thin-crust with a Detroit-style cheese edge, cut into Midwestern square slices.
635 6th Ave, Dayton
McAlister’s Deli (Union)
McAlister’s Deli, a fast-casual food chain, opened the doors to a new store in Union at 9148 US Highway 42 in September.
9148 US-42, Union
Jersey Mike’s (Independence)
Jersey Mike’s opened at 2164 Declaration Drive on Aug. 20. Orders can be placed in-store, online, or through the Jersey Mike’s app. Delivery is available in most areas through the app or third-party services, and curbside pickup is available for app orders.
2164 Declaration Drive, Union
Crumbl Cookies (Florence)
In August, Crumbl Cookies officially opened a new location in Florence, drawing early crowds and a line backed up out the door. The store is run by franchisees Jaxon and Claire Tews, who now operate a number of Crumbl outlets across the U.S. including their first Northern Kentucky location in Newport.
The Florence shop—located at 6805 Houston Road—replaces a former UBreakiFix and was described by the Tews as a long-sought leasing site in a busy retail market. It joins the nationwide Crumbl network, which now spans over 1,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada.
6805 Houston Rd Ste 500, Florence
Schlotzsky’s (Union)
Schlotzsky’s, a national fast-casual restaurant chain, opened a location in Union this July. The Union location is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dining options include dine-in, carryout, and online ordering. The menu includes sandwiches, pizzas, calzones, flatbreads, salads, and soups, in addition to vegetarian and gluten-friendly options.
9280 US-42 Suite A, Union
