You’re reading part of our 2026 LINK nky Readers’ Choice Awards. Explore the full guide, including winners for food & drink, shopping, services and more here.
Northern Kentucky has never met a meal it couldn’t make memorable.
From down-home diners and hole-in-the-wall burger joints to fine dining destinations and craft cocktail bars that could hold their own in any city, the NKY food and drink scene is as diverse as the people who love it. Whether you’re chasing the perfect plate of goetta, debating the best Cincinnati-style chili, or discovering a new favorite happy hour spot, there’s always something worth pulling up a chair for around here.
This year’s Reader’s Choice winners in the Dining category represent the best of what our community is cooking up — and our readers have spoken loudly and deliciously. These are the spots locals return to again and again, the bartenders they request by name, and the flavors that make NKY feel like home.
Dig in, NKY. You’ve got great taste.
BAGELS
1. Einstein Bros. Bagels
2. Marx Bagels (Blue Ash)
3. WildBloom Sourdough Bakery
BAKERY
1. Emerson’s Bakery
2. Square Peg Bakery
3. East Row Cakery
BAR
1. Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
2. Saddle Club
3. Old Guy’s Tavern
BARTENDER
1. Brandon Schawe – Barleycorn’s Lakeside Park
2. tracy at molly malones
3. Katie Holden, Alexandria Brewing || Alexandria Brewing Company
BBQ
1. Harmon’s Barbecue
2. Four Mile Pig
3. Smoke Justis
BOURBON SELECTION
1. Sanctuary Social
2. The 859 Taproom And Grill
3. MRBL
BREAKFAST
1. The Hive – East Coast Kitchen & Coffee Bar
2. Greyhound Tavern
3. Bellevue Bistro
BREWERY
1. Barleycorn’s
2. Alexandria Brewing Company
3. Braxton Brewing Company
BRUNCH
1. The Hive – East Coast Kitchen & Coffee Bar
2. Greyhound Tavern
3. Bellevue Bistro
BURGER
1. Bard’s Burgers & Chili
2. Knuk-N-Futz
3. Herb & Thelma’s Tavern
BUSINESS LUNCH
1. Sanctuary Social
2. Hotel Covington
3. Blinkers Tavern
CAFE
1. Spear Ridge Café
2. Bard’s Burgers & Chili
3. Little Matcha
CAKES/CUPCAKES
1. Emerson’s Bakery
2. Square Peg Bakery
3. Little Flour Baked Goods
CASUAL DINING
1. Sanctuary Social
2. Barleycorn’s
3. PeeWee’s Place
CATERER
1. Barleycorn’s
2. Chef Barone’s Catering
3. Bender’s Pub Grub
CHEAP EATS
1. Herb & Thelma’s Tavern
2. Skyline Chili
3. Bard’s Burgers & Chili
CHICKEN WINGS
1. Knuk-N-Futz
2. Sanctuary Social
3. Barleycorn’s
CHINESE
1. Oriental Wok – Lakeside
2. KungFood Amerasia
3. Asiana Crestview Hills Thai and Sushi
CINCINNATI STYLE CHILI
1. Skyline Chili
2. Dixie Chili
3. Gold Star
COCKTAIL
1. Sanctuary Social
2. Juniper’s
3. MRBL
COFFEE
1. Seahan’s Coffee Company
2. The Roost Latonia
3. Left Bank Coffeehouse
DELI
1. Kremer’s Market
2. Rekas Butchery and Delicatessen
3. Bill Finke & Sons
DESSERT
1. Square Peg Bakery
2. Schneider’s Sweet Shop: Homemade Candies & Ice Cream
3. Golden Gelato
DINER
1. Bard’s Burgers & Chili
2. Anchor Grill
3. Herb & Thelma’s Tavern
DISTILLERY
1. New Riff Distilling
2. Wenzel Distillery
3. Second Sight Spirits
DONUTS
1. Emerson’s Bakery
2. Bailey Jaynes Bakery & Cafe
3. OakBrook Bakery
FAST FOOD
1. Skyline Chili
2. Chick-fil-A
3. Penn Station East Coast Subs
FINE DINING
1. MRBL
2. Carmelo’s Restaurant
3. Greyhound Tavern
FOOD TRUCK
1. El Jefes Cubanos and More
2. Litas Tacos
3. Mad Anthony’s Pizza at Covington Yard
FRIED CHICKEN
1. Greyhound Tavern
2. Galactic Fried Chicken
3. Libby’s Southern Comfort
FRIES
1. Bard’s Burgers & Chili
2. Barleycorn’s
3. Spear Ridge Café
GOETTA
1. Glier’s Goetta
2. Bill Finke & Sons
3. Anchor Grill
HAPPY HOUR
1. Barleycorn’s
2. The Hannaford at Pike & Madison
3. MRBL
HOTEL RESTAURANT OR BAR
1. Hotel Covington
2. Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar
ICE CREAM
1. Golden Gelato
2. Graeter’s Ice Cream
3. Schneider’s Sweet Shop: Homemade Candies & Ice Cream
LOCAL BEER
1. Barleycorn’s
2. Braxton Brewing Company
3. Alexandria Brewing Company
LUNCH SPECIAL
1. La Torta loca
2. The Pretzel Place
3. Greyhound Tavern
MEXICAN
1. OLLA Taqueria
2. Acapulco U. S. 42 Florence Ky. Mexican & Grill
3. La Torta loca
NEW RESTAURANT (OPENED 2025 OR LATER)
1. Carmelo’s Restaurant
2. Spear Ridge Café
3. Latonia Bodega
OUTDOOR/PATIO DINING
1. Barleycorn’s
2. Buckhead Mountain Grill
3. Covington Yard
PIZZA
1. Camporosso
2. Mad Anthony’s Pizza at Covington Yard
3. Bourbon House Pizza
RESTAURANT FOR A FIRST DATE
1. MRBL
2. Greyhound Tavern
3. Otto’s
RESTAURANT FOR AN ANNIVERSARY
1. MRBL
2. Carmelo’s Restaurant
3. Greyhound Tavern
RESTAURANT FOR KIDS
1. Knuk-N-Futz
2. Bender’s Pub Grub
3. Spear Ridge Café
SANDWICH
1. Spear Ridge Café
2. Latonia Bodega
3. Bender’s Pub Grub
SEAFOOD
1. MRBL
2. Knotty Pine On The Bayou
3. Cincy Seafood
SPORTS BAR
1. Longnecks Sports Grill
2. The 859 Taproom And Grill
3. Barleycorn’s
STEAK
1. Walt’s Hitching Post
2. MRBL
3. Blinkers Tavern
SUSHI
1. MRBL
2. Wabi Sabi
3. Asiana Crestview Hills Thai and Sushi
VEGETARIAN/VEGAN
1. First Watch
2. Jot India Restaurant (Newport)
3. Tuba Baking Co.
WINERY
1. Atwood Hill Winery & Vineyard
2. StoneBrook Winery
3. Brianza Gardens & Winery