CINCINNATI – There are a lot of great places to eat, drink and be entertained constantly opening in the Tri-State.
Because of the holidays, a few recent openings might have flown under your radar. So we're launching a recurring feature to share new places you should check out.
Vestry at The Transept: Holy swank bars! Owners Josh Heuser and Michael Forgus remodeled the deteriorating St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Church in Over-the-Rhine last year and turned it into the Transept, a full-service event center. The private portion of the Transept opened for event reservations in late October, and the Vestry public bar of the establishment will open for business at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Raising Cane's: What's better than good fried chicken? Good fried chicken close to home. Raising Cane's began invading the Tri-State last year with its first regional location in West Chester. Now Northern Kentucky "caniacs," as the restaurant's fans like to call themselves, can enjoy dipping their fried chicken fingers (and Cane's secret sauce) at the chain's new location at 8020 Burlington Pike in Florence.
Lucky Turtle: Frank Seta took the slow road to the bar business. The Finneytown native spent 20 years listening to friends and family telling him he should open his own place. Now he has. The Lucky Turtle offers 35 brands of bourbon, 20 different whiskeys and more than 23 beers on tap. The bar, located at 8621 Winton Road, is decorated with locally crafted tables and art that gives it a laid-back vibe. Keep an eye out for sweet details such as USB plugs for charging cellphones near almost every bar stool.
KUMO Asian Fusion: KUMO is now offering its Japanese, hibachi and Asian fusion cuisine at 4990 Delhi Ave. The restaurant promises a dining experience tailored to the individual tastes of its patrons.
Point Perk: A cup of coffee from Covington's newest cafe will warm your body and soul. The coffee shop opened in mid-December at 43 W. Pike St. and serves as a paid training opportunity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The shop also supports the Point, a 43-year-old nonprofit agency with a wide range of programs geared to help children and adults realize their full potential.
Urbana Café: Frequent visitors to Fountain Square may recognize the owner of Urbana Cafe. Daniel Noguera began his coffee business on the back of a powder blue Vespa in 2013. He recently opened his first brick-and-mortar store in Pendleton. Noguera purposefully made the space at 1206 Broadway St. small and comfortable, hoping it will become the neighborhood's coffeehouse and living room.
Bru Burger Bar: With the rush of the holidays, you might have missed the opening of two new high-end hamburger joints Downtown. Bru Burger Baropened at 41 E. 6th St. in early December. The eatery serves 28 hamburger options at affordable prices. Downtown is the fourth location for the micro-chain, which opened its first location in Indianapolis a few years ago.
Americano Burger Bar: Italian chef Cristian Pietoso and his wife, Amanda, opened Americano Burger Bar in the 84.51 Centre to give patrons their take on the American classic. Decor includes an American flag made from nearly 4,000 empty beer cans, shuffleboards and an emphasis on the bar portion of the burger establishment.
Currito: The Mexican restaurant chain that describes locations as "beautiful burrito" palaces recently opened its newest eatery at 3654 Edwards Road in Hyde Park. The make-it-yourself burrito bar will challenge food artists to create original concoctions with ingredients that include buffalo and Thai-style peanut sauces, mango salsa and feta.
