For this week’s Streetscapes, we head to Park Hills for three small, familiar and comfortable spots. Coffee, beer and burgers all await along Dixie Highway. Join us as we visit Reality Tuesday Cafe, Finke’s Pub, and Herb and Thelma’s Tavern.
Reality Tuesday Cafe
A longtime Park Hills staple and well loved by nearby students of Notre Dame and Covington Catholic, Reality Tuesday has consistently been serving some of the best coffee in NKY for over 20 years.
This locally owned business is best known for its morning essentials, coffee and pastries. It have all the barista basics: espresso, drip and cold coffee, frappes and iced coffee. There are offer over a dozen flavors to enhance the drinks, including pumpkin (because, even in the heat of summer, sometimes you just need a PSL).
Besides coffee, Reality Tuesday’s chai tea is regionally known as the best in the area. It also offers smoothies and refreshers. The decadent pastries rotate and are always a nice treat, but guests shouldn’t overlook the lunch offerings. Soup, salads and sandwiches are all freshly made and in tune with the seasons.
As a small coffee shop, it has a fun, communal atmosphere with large seating for conversing with friends or strangers. There’s also cozy booth seating to get work done while enjoying a latte and scone.
Finke’s Pub
Those looking to hit the Covington bar scene have most likely passed this unassuming bar along Dixie Highway. Blink and you may miss it, but those that visit can expect alarmingly cheap drinks – yes a bar that still offers drinks under $5. Finke’s also has typical bar games like darts and the latest game on every TV.
The front of Finke’s has a garage-like door that opens to an outdoor patio. This welcomes the warm weather and sunshine in the summer, illuminating the bar’s interior. Although the space is on the smaller side, you won’t be standing shoulder to shoulder and screaming over music to order your favorite domestic beer.
The drink selection is primarily domestic canned and bottled beer, along with seltzers and select spirits. The easy going, welcoming atmosphere is perfect for a pit stop for a quick drink or to relax with friends for multiple rounds.
Herb and Thelma’s Tavern
Down the road, right off of Dixie Highway on Pike Street, Herb and Thelma’s is a tried-and-true hometown hangout. This cash-only establishment has been in business over 80 years, and the ambiance will take you back a few decades to a simpler time.
Herb and Thelma’s menu is focused on bar essentials, when the food is good there’s no need to complicate it with too many choices. It’s best known for burgers (my father says they’re the best in Northern Kentucky), which come basic or dressed up as guests choose. There also are grilled items – fried bologna sandwiches, bratwurst and mettwurst, along with soup and chili. Coney night on Wednesdays is the best way to get the full Herb and Thelma’s experience.
The tavern’s decor exudes a nostalgia, with quirky and timeless memorabilia tacked onto the walls. With all the beer necessities to pair with delightfully greasy eats, it’s a great stop for quick, cheap eats. If you have the time, though, the staff warmly welcomes guests to relax and converse over a couple of cold ones.
What To Know If You Go
Reality Tuesday Cafe
Location: 1518 Dixie Highway, Park Hills
Hours: Sunday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
Phone: 859-261-4939
Finke’s Pub
Location: 1458 Dixie Highway, Park Hills
Hours: Sunday 5-12 p.m. (open at 12:30 p.m. during Bengals game); Monday -closed; Tuesday-Thursday 4-12 p.m.; Saturday 4-2:30 p.m.
Phone: 859-431-6154
Herb and Thelma’s Tavern
Location: 718 W. Pike St., Covington
Hours: Sunday, closed; Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Website: herbandthelmas.com
Phone: 859-491-6984