My fiancee and I are attending Cirque de soleil at BOK Saturday night in Highland Heights. We are going to the 7:30 show and plan on having a late dinner afterwards. I was hoping some locals could give me some suggestions. I don't want to hit the usual chain restaurants. I was thinking of a good steak house or italian. We are staying at the Hilton in Florence, so something in either area would be ideal, but not absolutley necessary. Thanks in advance. :thumb:

Montgomery Inn about 2 miles from your hotel. My favorite.

For Italian I love Pompilio's in Newport. Wouldn't be far from the Bank of Kentucky Center. Price is good too. http://www.pompilios.com/index.cfm

One of the best kept secrets is Knotty Pine on the Bayou. It is off the beaten path but fairly close to NKU. It sits on Licking Pike (915) off of the AA highway. The steaks are great and I'd recommend getting the Cajun spice on it. Don't let the physical appearance of the building scare you. It is an old house that feels like its about to fall off the hillside over looking the Licking river.

One of the best kept secrets is Knotty Pine on the Bayou. It is off the beaten path but fairly close to NKU. It sits on Licking Pike (915) off of the AA highway. The steaks are great and I'd recommend getting the Cajun spice on it. Don't let the physical appearance of the building scare you. It is an old house that feels like its about to fall off the hillside over looking the Licking river.

 

One of my favorites also...:thumb:

If you are going after the show, you need to check how late these places are open. For example, Knotty Pine's kitchen closes at 9.

 

All the restaurants suggested are excellent. Here are a couple more thoughts:

 

Chinese - Oriental Wok located on Buttermilk Pk just off I-75 across from Montgomery Inn.

 

Mexican - Montoya's located in a strip center next to Oriental Wok. Former Bengal Max Montoya owns and it has been around for 20 years.

 

Chez Nora or De Felice's - These two are located across from each other in Covington's Main Strasse neighborhood; 5th Street exit off I-75 then two blocks and go right on Main Street. Interesting bar and restaurant area that is sure to have options for you for a late dinner.

 

Crestview Hills Town Center - For convenience, this might work. There are plenty of options but a lot of it is the higher level chain type restaurants. You will pass this on your way to NKU. Dixie Highway exit off I-275.

 

Let us know what you end up doing and give us some feedback.

Walts Hitching Post off 275 on Rt. 17. If you head south on 27, there's a Longhorn. Ton of places in Florence. I like Cheddars on Houston road. As far as the Knotty Pine, it used to be a favorite, but had less than stellar food the last time visited. BTW, I'll be at BOKC also Saturday night also. Should be fun.

Brio down on Newport on the Levee has some really good Italian. Pricey though.

I appreciate all the feedback. It seems as though my biggest obstacle is finding one where the kitchen stays open late. I'm sure it will be 10:00 at the earliest before we sit down. How is the parking at BOKC? Does it take awhile to get out?

One of the best kept secrets is Knotty Pine on the Bayou. It is off the beaten path but fairly close to NKU. It sits on Licking Pike (915) off of the AA highway. The steaks are great and I'd recommend getting the Cajun spice on it. Don't let the physical appearance of the building scare you. It is an old house that feels like its about to fall off the hillside over looking the Licking river.

 

I concur. It's got character. The food is great.

I concur. It's got character. The food is great.

 

The heck with it. We can hit the road early and stop by there for a late lunch.

I appreciate all the feedback. It seems as though my biggest obstacle is finding one where the kitchen stays open late. I'm sure it will be 10:00 at the earliest before we sit down. How is the parking at BOKC? Does it take awhile to get out?

 

 

It all just depends on how big the event is. The circus-type events at the BOKC haven't drawn particularly well so I would say it shouldn't be as bad as some of the other events there. Parking at the garage will allow you to leave three ways. The easiest to get back to your hotel would be to go back through the turnabout and back towards 275...the other would be to go through the turnabout and up towards the BP station across from the big NKU sign, from there you can go towards Newport and Cincinnati to the left or Alexandria to the right. The other is a bit tougher to describe for someone who isn't from the area so I would suggest either of the routes through the turnabout.

It all just depends on how big the event is. The circus-type events at the BOKC haven't drawn particularly well so I would say it shouldn't be as bad as some of the other events there. Parking at the garage will allow you to leave three ways. The easiest to get back to your hotel would be to go back through the turnabout and back towards 275...the other would be to go through the turnabout and up towards the BP station across from the big NKU sign, from there you can go towards Newport and Cincinnati to the left or Alexandria to the right. The other is a bit tougher to describe for someone who isn't from the area so I would suggest either of the routes through the turnabout.

 

I haven't been up that way in some time. We used to go to NKU's summer bball team camp every June. We would always turn left at the NKU concrete signs. It took us back the gym and the baseball field I believe. Is that where the BOKC is located?

If you are going after the show, you need to check how late these places are open. For example, Knotty Pine's kitchen closes at 9.

 

All the restaurants suggested are excellent. Here are a couple more thoughts:

 

Chinese - Oriental Wok located on Buttermilk Pk just off I-75 across from Montgomery Inn.

 

Mexican - Montoya's located in a strip center next to Oriental Wok. Former Bengal Max Montoya owns and it has been around for 20 years.

 

Chez Nora or De Felice's - These two are located across from each other in Covington's Main Strasse neighborhood; 5th Street exit off I-75 then two blocks and go right on Main Street. Interesting bar and restaurant area that is sure to have options for you for a late dinner.

 

Crestview Hills Town Center - For convenience, this might work. There are plenty of options but a lot of it is the higher level chain type restaurants. You will pass this on your way to NKU. Dixie Highway exit off I-275.

 

Let us know what you end up doing and give us some feedback.

 

Voice, you hit all of the top spots! All great choices!!! Didn't realize Knotty closed that early.

I haven't been up that way in some time. We used to go to NKU's summer bball team camp every June. We would always turn left at the NKU concrete signs. It took us back the gym and the baseball field I believe. Is that where the BOKC is located?

 

Sounds like you are coming in from the back side of the campus off of John's hill road? The Arena is located to the right on the other side of the parking garage from where it sounds you are entering the campus. Can't miss it.