Matt Buschle, owner of Virgil's Cafe, added a patio after the restaurant was featured on the Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
(Credit: File)
Stacks of boutiques are sewn in the rows with restaurants and bars, and once the lights dim, warm evenings entice chatting neighbors and visitors walking dogs, or, on the lookout for ice cream.
Yup, Bellevue’s trimmed itself a niche. Beyond Party Source, a varied bunch of specialty stops has formed in this historic district near the river.
Mornings bring out the Kentucky hot brown, courtesy of a pair of fresh biscuits, bacon, turkey, crab, tomatoes, cheddar jack cheese and hollandaise sauce. Lunchers can’t get enough of the coffee-rubbed burger, baked at 420 degrees, it’s on a pretzel bun with barbecue sauce, also with cheddar jack and bacon. Those questing for green leaves often enjoy the Cleveland, Fairfield and Roosevelt salads, but don’t forget to have a look around; Bellevue Bistro features new artists and art for sale every month, and Star Wars toys get a permanent display.
A sweet tooth fixer within walking distance, Bellevue claims the first location of the homemade candy company which first opened its doors to Northern Kentucky in 1939. Specializing in opera creams, it also offers a variety of caramel, fudge, and chocolate treats, doubling as an evening cool-down spot thanks to its ice cream selection.
Sure, Thyme Square features 50 teas and 60 spices, but that’s not all. For sampling, you can choose from their entire tea selection any day of the week. Need a boost? Grab the energy tea and then shop around; they also sell herbal remedies, fresh squash and peppers, and locally conceived jewelry, cups, and pots among other items friendly for gifting.
Trying Thai shouldn’t be scary – let Siam Orchid be your guide. You should know that their chicken pad Thai is a popular pick. Or, give the pad see ew (complete with homemade noodles) a bite. Lunch and dinner specials kick in routinely, and they’ve added a new sushi bar.
Leggy burger concoctions include the black and bleu Angus. Try it with your brew, or, drive for the 45-cent wings on Tuesdays. It’s a fine place to bump elbows and watch the summer rain fall; just remember – the quiet dissipates when weekend live guitars crank from the corner.
Scallops, shrimp creole, pastrami, and burgers remain a lock at Virgil’s, which claims thematic roots in Dante’s Inferno. Grab a seat at the cozy bar or hang out on the patio. Either way, keep in mind that bourbon chocolate torte and coconut cream pie wait for you after dinner. The restaurant now grows its own produce and herbs.
Prime for boat watching or testing your free throw skills on the basketball courts, the park’s playing host to a concert series and a couple of movie nights this summer (find details at www.bellevueky.org). Hey, it even gives your billfold time to recharge.
Each month, the Fairfield Avenue business district hosts a evening of special shopping hours. The next one is Aug. 5 with the theme of “Dog Days and Cats, too.”
Another big event is Art in the Park on Sept. 10.
Find out more at the district’s website: www.shopbellevueky.com.
