Covington’s Madison avenue boasts endless spots to eat, drink and shop. Visits there yield discoveries time after time – both hidden, hole-in-the-wall gems and legendary places. This week, we start with dessert before delving into sushi and ending with Indian.
Del Gardo’s
Del Gardo’s joined the Madison Ave family a little less than a year ago, bringing its famous Italian desserts with them. This storefront operates as the No. 1 grab-and-go dessert destination in Covington.
The beauty of the cannoli is portability: Grab a few before grabbing some drinks at Braxton or Hotel Covington. Del Gardo’s cannoli come in over 100 flavors, and each week they feature between four and five that best match the season. First timers may opt for a traditional chocolate chip, but choices have included Biscoff cookie butter crunch, red velvet, black raspberry chip and espresso martini.
If you’re not enticed yet, there also are rotating flavors of tiramisu, brioche and cookies. Because the menu changes weekly, it’s best to follow Del Gardo’s social media pages to stay up on current offerings. Who needs Crumble’s flavors of the week when you can have Del Gardo’s cannoli flavor of the week?
In addition to its storefront, Del Gardo’s offers catering and cannoli classes that can be booked. (The Cannoli Guy – yes, that’s his official name – comes to your event and guides groups through crafting their own cannoli.)
Wabi Sabi
Wabi Sabi has repeatedly been named the top sushi restaurant in Greater Cincinnati, so needless to say its sushi is good. There is no shortage of options; in fact, there are so many that the restaurant has broken its menu into three parts: classic rolls, specialty rolls and sushi/sashimi for those wanting a little taste without committing to an entire roll.
The Lov the Cov roll comes with spicy tuna, avocado, salmon and is lightly deep fried. The less traditional Drunken Taco includes spicy tuna, avocado, lettuce, crushed doritos, cilantro, spicy mayo and jalapeno sauce. Those wanting something more mainstream may find a Philly roll, California or salmon skin and cucumber roll more to their liking.
Although most come for the sushi, Wabi Sabi’s other offerings shouldn’t be overlooked. Besides traditional edamame, gyoza and tempura, it offers some unique starters, including lobster rangoon, fried green beans and haemul pajun (a Korean seafood pancake with calamari and shrimp). Noodles, hot stone bowls and platters – bulgogi or bibimbap, anyone? – complete the menu.
Wabi Sabi has a full service bar, too, with beer, wine and sake along with an ample cocktail menu.
Taj Mahal Bar and Grill
Many Indian restaurants in NKY only offer carryout, but Taj Mahal is a dine-in restaurant, making it a great spot for those wanting a full-service atmosphere. It has ample seating, along with a full-service bar to pair with classic Indian dishes.
The menu includes a mix of traditional Indian dishes featuring chicken, fish, lamb and shrimp to pair with rice. Chicken tikka masala will please even the pickiest eaters, and vegetarians will love their saag paneer with cheese cubes and spinach cooked in a cream sauce.
Of course, no Indian meal is complete without naan bread, whether you want to keep it simple with plain or add extra flavor with a stuffed bread – choose from garlic, chicken, cheese, potatoes, spicy red pepper or even nuts and raisins. There are plenty of options for the perfect pairing with your meal. Make your meal even more memorable by ordering one of their tandoori dishes made from their charcoal clay oven.
What to Know If You Go
Del Gardo’s
Location: 621 Madison Ave., Covington
Hours: Sunday-Wednesday, closed; Thursday, 4-9 p.m.; Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, 2-10 p.m.
Website: delgardos.com
Phone: 859-300-3456
Wabi Sabi
Location: 508 Madison Ave., Covington
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.- 9:30 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon-8:30 p.m.
Website: wabisabisushinky.com
Phone: 859-399-6503
Taj Mahal
Location: 726 Madison Ave., Covington
Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m.-midnight; Thursday-Saturday, 10-1 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Website: tajmahalbargrill.comPhone: 859-655-9111