Main Street in Covington is a place where the options for food feel endless.
Every NKY native at some point has made a trip to the Mainstrasse area, whether it be for the food, the fun or the festivals.
For this LINK streetscapes segment, we are going to focus on some businesses on the tail end of Main.
Lisse: 520 Main Street
Anytime I have someone in from out of town, Lisse is one of the first places I take them. Not only do I know they’ll like it, but it also makes me look like a fancy host, so it’s a win-win.
This is the first place I think to go to when I want to just enjoy a summer evening with a drink and some friends. It’s a calm, comfortable atmosphere where you can easily converse without having to shout.
This is a place for old souls who want to just sit, relax and not have to shout over the masses of people or music. Lisse is the perfect spot for just that. It’s the place I suggest going to before or after dinner for drinks, and their food is also top tier.
As a steakhouse, they are most well known for their meats, but no meal is complete without sides. Their Dutch mac and cheese is so savory and cheesy, it could be a meal in itself.
Their Brussel sprouts are a must-order. They’re dressed in a soy curry glaze and cooked so well that you wouldn’t ever think anyone used to hate them as a kid.
And what’s dinner without a drink?
Lisse’s wine and beer list is extensive, and if I’m sitting outside on that beautiful rooftop that overlooks Cincinnati, I am absolutely ordering a cocktail. The One Cool Cucumber is so refreshing that you may forget there’s alcohol in it. But, if you’re looking to really stick to the fancy and elevated atmosphere here, the White Cosmo will certainly match the vibe.
The Standard: 434 Main Street
The former car repair shop has turned itself into one of the busiest and most delicious fast-casual bar food spots. As a person who neither knows nor cares at all about cars, I was skeptical when I heard about them, but when I saw it in person I was very pleasantly surprised.
I was shocked at how they mixed elements to create a unique combination of eclectic and classy. U-Haul signs and a chandelier do not normally mix, but here, it works. It honors the business that used to be there while making an atmosphere that welcomes diners.
And the food is as pleasantly surprising as the decor. I researched the menu ahead of time and found that it was your standard (pun intended) American food.
We opted to sit outside because the seating is abundant and really adds to the overall atmosphere. Their drink menu was much more than I expected (Bud Light cans and Highnoons): I was happy to see that there was a fairly extensive cocktail menu. I am always a sucker for a mixed drink on a summer day. I opted for the Blackberry Mule, and it was such a refreshing option and very much needed on a 90-degree afternoon.
I wanted my food to also be on the lighter side, so I got the Cali Club, filled with every veggie you can imagine, making for a refreshing yet filling option. Another fresh and filling option is the blackened mahi-mahi, but if you are looking for something more savory, fear not their brisket and pork burgers.
The atmosphere of this place is so unique, and their food and drinks are more than worth it.
Spoon Kitchen and Market: 501 Main Street
Right across the corner from The Standard is Spoon Kitchen and Market.
I am always on a hunt for coffee, regardless of the time of day. When I saw people walking out with creamy-looking iced coffees, I had to have one too. I saw a sign for a s’mores cold brew, and I was sold. A cold brew with chocolate, topped with a marshmallow cold foam; it was dessert in a coffee cup. The bitterness of the brew is the perfect complement to the rich cold foam. Along with coffee, they have pastries and almost any dessert you could dream up. If you’re not in the mood for a coffee, they also have a full food menu, and a grocery.
My friend and I shopped around a bit, looking at their selection of drinks and snacks before checking out. It was a great place to sit and catch up, even with being a coffee shop, bistro and grocery store in one. Their sister restaurant, Bouquet, is mere steps away and offers the same great atmosphere in a more formal fashion. Like Bouquet, Spoon Kitchen focuses on fresh and healthy items that are also delicious. The hours at Spoon Kitchen and Market offer more flexibility than at Bouquet, so deciding when you want to visit may help you decide where to visit.
If you’ve never been to either, Spoon Kitchen and Market is a great introduction to the sister restaurant.
Otto’s: 521 Main Street
Otto’s is one of those places that you hear about and go to once every few years, and every time you go you think to yourself, “Why do I not come here more often?”
Making reservations is the key to dining here. They have a small interior as well as a few outside tables, but as popular as they are, planning ahead and making a reservation is your best option.
After eating here, I see why.
Overwhelmed by the fact that every choice looked like it would change my life for the better, my friend and I ordered a few items with the agreement to split each, so we could try as much of their food as possible. I ordered the avocado toast (yes, my age is showing) and goetta. My friend got the breakfast casserole with a lemon blueberry pancake as a side. If you’re like us and have a hard time choosing, get the pancake as a side order and you won’t be disappointed.
Otto’s has been around for almost 20 years but is still a community staple and one of the best restaurants, so I was very excited that I was able to try out their brunch menu. I’ll be back soon for dinner for my favorite (and basically everyone’s): tomato dill soup.
