This story originally appeared in the June 21, 2024 edition of the LINK Reader. To get stories like this first, subscribe here.

This Streetscapes heads to a small strip on the tail end of Mall Road in Florence. A new Mexican eatery, all you can eat sushi and a hidden coffee shop await. We divulge all the details in the latest Streetscapes. 

La Catrina Mexican Bar and Grill

For being open for mere months, La Catrina Mexican Bar and Grill has made quite a colorful debut in Florence. This vibrant restaurant is visually appealing and appetite-enticing. It serves authentic Mexican cuisine in an atmosphere that pays homage to the culture. 

Its menu consists of a variety of traditional Mexican staples, featuring an entire fajita menu. Beef, chicken, steak, veggie and nearly endless combinations of those bases ensure each guest has a meal exactly to her liking. Burritos, quesadillas, nachos and tacos are great options for those wanting something familiar. Those wanting to truly embrace all the flavors of authentic Mexican foods should opt for gorditas, huaraches or tortas. These are less common in Tex-Mex restaurants, making it the perfect opportunity to try something new. 

For drinks, there are a variety of cocktails, including margaritas in nearly every fruit flavor one could dream of as well as authentic nonalcoholic drinks like a sweet horchata.  

CV Coffee Lounge

This coffee shop’s home is in an unlikely spot – inside a vape shop. The vape shop is locally owned and operated and has three other locations in NKY, but this is the original location and the only one to do double duty as a coffee shop. 

The CV Coffee Lounge has a huge selection of beverages, from espresso-based to traditional brewed. Its most popular menu items are frappuccinos: From classic caramel to Fruity Pebbles, there are countless choices for customers to indulge in. CV is constantly updating its menu with fun and creative drinks that will give the caffeine kick one needs to fuel his or her day. Although most guests come for the frappes, lattes and more traditional coffee choices also can be enhanced with sweet or fruity flavors. 

CV also carries a variety of snacks, candy and other small treats. Many of these are exotic snacks one sees only on Tik Tok, rather than at a local grocery store, but CV Coffee Lounge seems to have a little bit of everything. 

Yamato Hibachi Grill and Sushi

This Japanese restaurant primarily serves sushi and hibachi-cooked dishes. This restaurant isn’t for the faint of heart – or for small stomachs. It’s best known for the all-you-can-eat menu, which includes choices of appetizers, hibachi and sushi. That includes delicious crab rangoons. Crab rangoons fans can really test the limits to see exactly how many is too many. 

If you aren’t solely looking for crab rangoons, there are ample options to sample everything on the menu. Gyoza, chicken hibachi, spicy tuna roll – you name it, it’s on there. 

As if endless food for a great price weren’t enough, the food is brought out to guests by a robot. This is a cool addition for any families to keep kids entertained or heck even some fun loving adults. 

Guests without an endless appetite, can order signature dishes, bento boxes and poke bowls while still getting a great value. For beverages, Yamato has traditional sake, wine, and both American and Asian beers. From the all-you-can-eat food options to the drink offerings, there are countless reasons to visit. (We won’t judge you if you go just for the robot.) 

What to Know If You Go

La Catrina Mexican Bar and Grill 

Location: 8133 Mall Road, Florence

Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight.

Phone: 859-534-0564

CV Coffee Lounge

Location: 8137 Mall Road, Florence

Hours: Sunday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Phone: 859-240-2846

Yamato Hibachi Grill and Sushi

Location: 8197 Mall Road, Florence

Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Website: yamatoflorence.m988.com

Phone: 859-869- 2016