This place has quickly become a regular spot for me. The food is excellent and they have a great selection of wine. We dined here on a recent Saturday night and they offered Bison. Â It had a wonderful flavor and was cooked amazingly. The menu changes often and we always try something different each time we visit.
A couple of tips - make reservations and get the jar pie dessert. The place is very small and is always packed. The jar pie changes with the seasons and it is money!!!
Definitely a must try.
Best meal for local ingredients and product. I thought the overall restaurant was gorgeous; good atmosphere and vibe for fine dining. I get a true "country in the city with a refined feel" atmosphere. Food was on the spot delicious using locally sourced ingredients which is much better than other restaurants in the area!
Review Source:Nice atmosphere and very helpful and friendly waiter. I had the pork chop and beet salad, both of which were excellent. The pork was cooked just right and delicately seasoned. My wife had the trout, which was also perfectly cooked. She thought it was a tad salty, but still loved it. I didn't think it was too salty. She also had curried mushroom soup, which was delectable. Reasonable prices considering the quality of the food. We are going back tonight!
Review Source:Went here for my brother-in-law's birthday. Â We had a group of kids in our party and, although the restaurant is not what you'd call kid-friendly, they were very accommodating, nevertheless. Â
Our server was absolutely outstanding... and interesting fact: his brother was a Next Iron Chef contestant (Nate Appleman). Â I suppose the restaurant business is in his blood, and it shows.
The food was flavorful, arrived at an appropriate pace, and was generally very well received by everyone at the table. Â
Lastly, the chefs prepared a tasty vegan dish for my father, which was great, as he is often left eating uninspired salads when we dine out at most places. Â But here they apparently whipped up something which he really enjoyed.
All-in-all, food was excellent, but it was the service that brought it to 5-stars.
My goodness...what a delicious night at Bouquet. I've been here on business this week and this meal made a success of my otherwise dull trip. I went out for a late dinner with a co-worker and sat at the bar. We each ordered a cup of curry mushroom soup, followed by a shared plate of seared sea scallops with butternut squash, green beans, and a celery root & dill puree and another shared plate of a bone-in porkchop with lentils, brussels sprouts, and a maple glaze. Everything was SO delicious, albeit slightly salty for both of our tastes (hence the four stars rather than 5). We also had dessert- a chocolate plate with two truffles, some kind of liquid chocolate, and a dark chocolate pot de creme, bruleed with candied orange zest (the pot de creme was THE best part... to die for). Our other shared dessert was a deconstructed jar pie of the pumpkin variety...also delectable. Service was quick and friendly. All and all, a lovely experience!
Review Source:Bad. That best describes my experience here.
I had been dying to try this place because of all the rave reviews I have read, but when I got there, it was just ok.
The place is tiny - so make reservations. The menu was eclectic, which I love, but I think it is too eclectic for their own good. Not all of the flavors mixed together. I actually almost sent my dinner back because of this. My boyfriend ordered steak, which was cooked medium rare instead of medium well, and they cut in into pieces, so we couldn't send that back because they would have to start with a brand new steak. Why did they cut it?? I have no idea.
Our waitress seemed very disinterested in helping us, and I am pretty sure she forgot about us because we had to chase down our check. And find her again to take the credit card.
We spent a few dollars on dinner, and I left there hungry.
This is not a place I will go back to.
I used yelp to locate this quaint little restaurant this evening and I was not disappointed. I had a wonderful dish of grouper over a bed of wild rice with scallions, celary, and walnuts. It was very tasty. Â I also had a couple of glasses of a decent cab. I would like to have seen a few more selections of California cabs by the glass. Â I would come back if I was in the area again.
Review Source:Went to Bouquet this past Saturday for a date night with my wife. Â Date nights without kids are amazing in general but the food and service (our waiter was Josh) was amazing! Â Josh was very knowledgeable about the food and drinks so we felt comfortable with allowing him to make suggestions for our dinning experience. Â I would highly recommend this place to anyone for a great night out or special occassion. Â When you make your reservation ask for Josh, he really made the experience--great Customer Service.
Review Source:Really delicious food in a great setting on the cutest street. Â Love Covington's bar & restaurant scene! Â We had a fully array of apps and entrees and the general concensus was that everything was delicious. Â My husband got chicken and I got the filet (ummm, what kind of twilight zone moment was that? Â Total role reversal!) and both were outstanding, but my favorite entree was my friends pork chop. Â Mmmmmm....
Starters were soup, a tomato salad (probably the only thing that didn't blow me away, although it was fresh and light), the sweet potato flatbread, and the Quinoa. Â The flatbread and Quinoa were amazing. Â
The only thing I didn't love was our wine, and that's not the restaurant's fault! Â Our server recommended a bottle that she said was popular, but it just tasted "off" to me... of course this was following an Old Fashioned at the Kentucky Bourbon Bar, so maybe it was me that was off!
I can't wait to go back!
The wife and I went to Bouquet last night for dinner. Our friends had purchased a gift certificate for us to go there, so we finally got around to checking it out.
We made a reservation and were seated promptly upon our arrival. The inside of the restaurant is quaint - it looks like it was converted from a house.
Our server was great. He was helpful with the wine list and attentive but not overbearing.
I started with the gazpacho which was decent. It's the first time I've eaten it, so I have no basis for comparison.
My wife had the scallops and I had the filet. The beef was OK, but bland and a bit overcooked for medium-rare. My wife was not all that impressed with the scallops either.
Our gift certificate was for $100, which covered our meal, taxes and a healthy tip for the good service.
We might be back for drinks only. The food was overpriced considering that it was not really anything to write home about.
Bouquet definitely earned its 5 stars. My hanger steak was tender and flavorful. The chicken tasted fresh and wasn't dry at all. The flavor combinations with vegetables and sauces were original and interesting. Â The only negative was the service. It came with a "I really don't care if you dine here or not" attitude.
I encourage you to visit Bouquet. Â It is definitely a stand-out.
Booked a table here when I was visiting my Mom through Open Table since I'm a huge foodie and love wine too. Good start. When we arrived, the waiter guessed exactly who we were let us pick our own table. I love that. He remained attentive during our whole meal without being overly attentive (if that makes sense..) and gave great wine pairing tips to everyone in our party. Wine selection ended up being fantastic.
The appetizers and food were, simply put, wonderful. My stepdad and mother both had the carrot soup while I had the sweet potato flatbread (cooked on it's own cedar plank..awesome) that were tasty and perfectly sized appetizers. It's ALWAYS a good sign when little things like the appetizers are outstanding.
The main courses were also great. I had lamb which was well seasoned, cooked to perfection. My stepdad enjoyed his halibut and ate every last bit of his meal to prove it. Mom had an asparagus salad since she had a late lunch that also looked outstanding--most importantly, no tough pieces of asparagus. Presentation was also gorgeous.
I honestly can't think of even one criticism for our visit. Simply point, food, drink and service were first rate.
One visit does not qualify as a good sampling of a restaurant's quality, but maybe it does. I will start off by stating that the service was well above average and about right for a restaurant with an upscale casual flair. Â Our waiter knew the dishes well and offered cogent descriptions and recommendations based on our questions. Â The halibut was fine but the pork chop was not as succulent as I had hoped it would be but dry and very thick. I love pork chops but was not inspired by this one. Â I could not finish it. The house "carriage salad" was good but not five star. The appetizer of warmed mixed olives was a nice way to start. Â With one bar drink and three glasses of wine, our bill with tip came to $100. Â Our experience this first visit would not place Bouquet in the top 10 but it really needs a second try. It is a popular place. Â The tables are small so be prepared for an intimate evening.
Review Source:Hit and miss- I know Steven is a good chef - we've eaten there a lot- but have had some downright bad food- fish tacos- the mahi mahi was unseasoned and dry. squash blossoms- so oil soaked couldn't tell they were squash blossoms, Â carrot cake that
looked and tasted the consistency of a kitchen sponge. Â And the wine list has gone downhill- the more they thrive the less they have to perform I guess- if you're lucky you get great food- but honestlySteven is no Mark Bodenstein. Â But this is Kentucky so I guess we should be thankful for someplace that mostly good food but I've lived a lot of places and this is no longer a 4 star much less 5 star restaurant- sorry guys
My best friend and I were meeting at a halfway point for a girls weekend. We choose Cincinnati and due to hotel we chose Covington, Ky. I found Bouquet through Open Table and took a risk due to ratings. My friend isn't very adventurous with food and wasn't so sure about the menu. Let me just say, she's STILL talking about our meal that night!
The ambiance was warm and inviting from the second we stepped in. The level of customer service made us feel as if Bouquet was our nightly hangout; we felt at home and welcomed like old friends.
The wine list and prices are reasonable (there is a selection for every width of wallet). We ordered the cheese plate, the sweet potatoe flatbread and cornish game hen. Whle portions are relatively small (not for me, but rather my friend) each bite was full of flavor and delight that we enjoyed our food, conversation, and good wine. My friend woke up in the middle of the night thinking about the food.
I will definitely be back with my foodie husband.
Tip: it is a small place, I highly recommend reservations.
Wow! Last night was my first time at this restaurant and it was really really good. I had the hanger steak. My boyfriend had the bison. My friend had the scallops. All were delicious. I also recommend the green bean ceasar salad, mushroom curry soup, and the quinoa. Â So unique and so good! Â The presentation was above and beyond - our plates were works of art. Â The place is charming, the service is good. I highly recommend!
Review Source:My husband and I went to Bouquet for drinks and dessert a few years ago and had an amazing experience. Â The bartender was very helpful in picking interesting dessert wines. Â The croissant bread pudding was delicious. Â Rich like you expect bread pudding but not too thick and with more interesting texture.
Bouquet has been on our list of restaurants to go to for dinner since then, but for some reason, it took a while. Â My in-laws offered to take us to a nice dinner for my birthday and Bouquet seemed like the right place. Â Convenient, special and not too snooty. Â
Ambiance - The restaurant is small and cozy. Â The decor is simple but elegant. Despite the size, you do not feel as though you are on top of the next table.
Service - The hostess was very friendly. Â Our server came to our table quickly for our drink and starters. Â Of course, I wasn't ready because I take forever to decide anything so she came back a few minutes later. Â Our appetizer and salads came out at the perfect time, but the wait between the salads and the entree seemed a little too long. Â Luckily, I like my in-laws and I had a glass of wine, so it was not uncomfortable. Â Again, after dinner we waited for dessert longer than I would have liked. Although maybe I only cared because I was done with my wine and the conversation had turned to politics. Â Overall, the service was great and, without those little waits, would have been perfect.
Food - We started with some small plates to share. Â The sweet potato flat bread was tasty but the sweet potato was overpowered by the cheese. Â The crust was perfectly crisp. Â There were very few beets in the baby beet salad. Â Most of the flavor was in the kale and cheese but it was still delicious, so who care about beets anyway? Â My father-in-law ordered the green beans Caesar and his favorite part was the fried capers. Â I tried one and they were awesome. I enjoyed that the server later told us the recipe.
For entrees, I ordered the hanger steak with fingerling potatoes and ginger carrot puree. Â My husband ordered the Kentucky Bison with purple potatoes and carrots. Â My in-laws ordered game hen with blackberries and brussel sprouts and the striped bass with fennel and edamame. Â Of the four dishes, (I tasted all four) the striped bass was my favorite but I would have been happy with any of the four. Â The presentation was beautiful without going over the top and the combinations were interesting and worked nicely. Â
Dessert was the chocolate brownie with praline shell, lemon pound cake with blueberries and rhubarb, and, of course, croissant bread pudding. Â My father-in-law tried to order tea, but they didn't have any. Â I thought it was odd, surely he isn't the only person who prefers tea to coffee. Â It wasn't a big deal, he was quickly raving about dessert and not caring about tea.
Overall, everything was wonderful. Â And maybe the only reason this is getting four stars and not five, is because I didn't drink enough wine to not notice the lull before dinner and before dessert. Â I will definitely be back.
Wow. This place really deserves its "as good as it gets" rating. Friendly, knowledgeable staff who recommended us a champaign and honey to start with (I would really recommend this, it is delicious!). We spent a few minutes at the bar, making conversation with the barmaid, who was really cool and who gave good recommendations.
Our table was prepared for 3, with a glass of water waiting for us. We really liked the menus. Not having a crazy amount of choices is the proof that the ingredients are really fresh and that they just focus on a few entrées to do them well rather than to try to do a lot kind of ok. I had the ribs with gnocci as an entree and it was delicious and the right size. I then followed up with the sea scallops, which were amazing, they came with a bit of potato puree and vegetables and I'd order them again every time. In the end, I was convinced to try a dessert and I took the carrot cake, which again, was amazing... To be honest though, I was pretty full after the main course so the dessert was really an extra. Still finished it :) best proof that it was amazing!
We spent a great evening here, catching up with colleagues who I hadn't seen in a while. And even when it is a bit pricey, the quality of the food was top. Also, the atmosphere was really intimate and cozy so I could imagine it as a perfect spot for a date or a wedding anniversary (note to self: book for second anniversary!).
Even when I live in Covington, I haven't really been exploring Mainstrasse but this experience definitely makes me think I really should!
Final 2 points: our waitress told us that everything is prepared fresh and I definitely believe that. And finally, it was easy to leave my bike behind in the front, so I was happy about that too!
Wow, what a fantastic meal! Â
Definitely worth the short drive across the river from downtown Cincinnati. Â Strongly recommend the cheese plate (four spectacular cheeses with great fruity accents and crispy toast), warm olives (best ever, made even better with a little orange zest), soup of the day (ours was a curry mushroom that made us completely rethink our long-standing avoidance of Indian spices), and crab cake (rich, salty, moist, maybe the best I've ever had) ...all deliciously amazing. Â Dessert was inexpensive and decadent, a warm chocolate brownie with a crispy wafer and ice cream. Â Extensive wine list and very reasonable bottle prices. Â Our waiter Brandon gave us just the right amount of attention and timed the food arrivals perfectly.
*Easily* a 5 star restaurant without any hesitation. Â Can't say enough good things about Bouquet, we'll absolutely be visiting it again the next time we're in Cincinnati!
I shared an amazing 2nd year anniversary here with my boyfriend recently. We had great friendly service and an amazing 5 course meal with wine.The place was more than accomodating, saving us the most secluded table for two and even making us our own "bouquet" of flowers to take with us!!!! the food was the best part, we ate every bite, the quinoa is to die for!!!!!
Review Source:I was in Cincinnati last month for work and a colleague of mine recommended this wine bar for dinner. Â My co-workers and I made reservations without realizing it was restaurant week. Â The staff were extremely courteous and accommodating. Â We ordered off the 3-course restaurant week menu and were very happy with our choices. Â I don't consider myself a foodie, but I loved every last bite of each dish. Â And the portions were the perfect size for a 3-course dinner. Â We also went with the wine pairings offered with each course and again, not disappointed in the least. Â We were treated to a free dessert at the end since despite having a reservation we had to wait to be seated.
Definitely a big fan of this place, and if I ever go back to the area I will be dining there again.
I am a big fan of Bouquet Restaurant for dinner or just stopping in for a glass of wine and cheese plate. Â Sitting outside st the sidewalk tables on a nice evening is fun to do also; however, I don't know if I would have a full dinner out there.
I wasn't going to write a negative review of my dinner that I had there last nght, but I think I would be doing injustice to the chef and patrons. Â Last night we had 6:30 reservations and sat at one of the back tables and it was very nice. Â We were one of the first patrons to arrive for dinner, and by the time we left, the tables were 80% full. Â It is a small place, so it doesn't take much.
When I looked at the menu and saw they were serving Cornish Game Hen, I immediately knew what I was getting. Â I always see these in the meat store but I have never had one. Â I was excited as I told our waitress my order. It sounded so lovely. Â Unfortunately, instead of baking the Hen whole, as it is normally served, the chef cut it up and fried it. Â So, I basically had small peices of fried chicken. Â It was also overcooked and dry.
I struggled through dinner with what to do. Â I wasn't enjoying the 'chicken' and I couldn't even eat the vegtable mixture that was underneath because it was way more than aldente. Â I wanted to tell the waitress my issue just so the chef knew, but I didn't want to seem like I was complaining. Â So, I only had a couple bites of my food and left there still hungry. Â
However, the wine we had was excellent.  I'm  just sad that I didn't like my dinner.
Moral of this story - Â when ordering a Cornish Game Hen, always ask how the chef will be preparing it.
Wonderful establishment. Â 8pm dinner reservation, 78 degrees maybe, sat outside and had Rose Prosecco followed by the cheese plate. Â Wonderful assortment, the Fig sauce was rad. We had the pork chops, the scallops, and hanger steak. Â I think these guys excel at sauces. Â I was tasting hints of curry in many of the dishes, I think but im not sure... but i think i was tasting homemade garam masala. Â What I like about this place is the flavors just keep going and going. Â The staff was wonderful, fun, and really made the night perfect. Â Thank you so much and I'll be back.
Review Source:This has become one of my favorite restaurants in Cincinnati and it is also 5th on Cincinnati Magazine's latest list. Â It is cozy, has a fabulous wine list, and the local and organic food is delicious. Â The menu, while not large, changes with the seasons. Â Last time we were there, I had the Spring Vegetable Quinoa and Sea Scallops. Â Both blew me away and I do love the wine list too much. Â It is hard to stick with the same wine as they offer so many great wines by the glass and bottle.
Review Source:My boyfriend and I went on a Saturday evening as a group of 4. Â For appetizers, Â we shared the heirloom mixed salad, which was a little on the small side but delicious and the Foie Gras which was served on small pieces of crisp bread with a sweet jam - it was really great. Â For entrees we had the Hangar Steak (and subbed brussel sprouts for the black eyed peas) and the Game Hen. Â The game hen was 2 small breasts and 2 small legs served atop buttermilk grits with bacon, brussel sprouts, and blackberries - it was rich and amazing - especially the buttermilk grits! I thought the game hen was better than the hangar steak, but both were really tasty - they were different, hard to compare. Â The hangar steak was a cleaner, lighter dish, and our server prepared us for that. Â For dessert, we had the carrot cake, which was just okay - I didn't like that it was served cold. Â
One thing I didn't really enjoy - the person serving the water came to our table probably 6 times and asked us if we wanted more water. Â I appreciated that they were attentive on the water, but I wish he would have just filled up the glasses instead of asking, as it often interrupted the conversation we were having at the table. Â Also, we ordered wine and our server didn't fill our glasses other than the initial pour, which I thought was kind of strange, so we had empty glasses and were left to pour for ourselves - I would think for a place that calls itself a "wine bar" there would be slightly more attention paid to the wine at the table. Â
Overall, those negative things were really slight and would defnitely not deter me from coming back. Â The food was great.
Tonight was my last night in town, and I had a really hard time deciding between my new favorite restaurant, Otto's (right next door) or Bouquet which had also been suggested by someone sitting next to me on the plane. Â I decided I needed to try Bouquet because I knew I'd regret it if I didn't. Â I AM SO GLAD I WENT! Â The food was fantastic. Â I had the beet salad, followed by the Organic Salmon filet with lemon confit, broccolini, and served over risotto. I added the sparkling rose with homemade banana ice cream with vanilla wafers for dessert. Â All in all, it was amazing. Â The portions are perfect, not too big so you can enjoy each bite of every dish. Â The service was excellent as well. Â I highly recommend Bouquet, and although I walked in without reservations it filled up quickly and I think everyone that came through had reservations, so probably a good idea to make them in advance.
Review Source:Bouquet was recently voted as the 5th best restraint in the city by Cincinnati Magazine, which is a pretty darn good honor. I'd never been to the spot before last night, but I can now honestly say, it's everything you'd want out of a fine dining night out.
We made a reservation for 8pm and it's a good thing we did, since this place is tiny. It's a small one room spot that can't hold more than 30 tables - and even that might be generous. The chef told me later that they have plans to expand it out and make it a multi-floor restaurant, but for now, it's worth it to make a reservation.
The atmosphere is lovely. It's mood-lit dark with a beautiful bar when you walk in and tables to the back. It feels intimate from the moment you walk in.
We were there to try the three-course special for Restaurant Week and everything was amazing. Split pea soup? Delicious. House greens with pickled onions. Fantastic. Flank steak and hash. Honestly, couldn't be better. They even did wine pairings with it all to match the meal, which was spectacular.
Everything is so fresh and well prepared, it's just amazing. Obviously, this is not the cheapest restraint in the world. Even with the special, we still paid about $45 a person, and that's on the cheap end for sure. However, for a treat of a night out, especially on a date, I can't think of a better spot.
Flank steak was tough and void of flavor, paddle fish was nothing special. too bad the rice that came with the fish was the hilight.
Portions were very small. I understand it's Restaurant Week, but this is when you show off.
Server were not very friendly. Â Maybe I expected too much. We will give it one more try.
Now have had two straight excellent meals here, over two different seasons. Â Whether it's the beet salad, the greens salad, the scallops small plate, the bison entree, the bone-in pork loin entree, the brownie dessert, or any number of other choices, we have yet to have a dud. Â Flavors are well developed, there's a variety of textures on every plate, and visual presentation is very well done. Â Prices for starters are ridiculous bargains. Â Entree prices are still good for the quality. Â Â
The staff is gracious, friendly, and seem to enjoy being here. The small size of the place and the space between tables makes it perfect for conversations over dinner. Â Lively, but not too loud. Â
Wish they had a few more wine choices by the glass, but that's the only nitpicky thing I can think of that's a down side. Â
We'll be back... again and again and again.
My brother and I stumbled upon this restaurant last night after the Wine Festival. Â
We loved the massive wine list, the service (managing our expectations about the longer wait) and the AMAZING meal. Â Both of us had different appetizers, entrees and deserts and we both raved that this was the meal we would choose as our all-time favorite meal and would like as our proverbial last meal. Â This was completely unexpected from a restaurant I had yet to hear of (I've lived here 2.5 years). Â To say this was my favorite meal ever is no small feat - I moved here from NYC where I've had amazing meals and until last night my favorite was from the restaurant at the One and Only Palmilla in Cabo San Lucas. Â
I had the Farmer's Salad (watermelon, pickled onions, feta, grapes, etc.) to start. Â The Filet Mignon was not short of perfection. Â Medium rare on a bed of creamed corn, mushrooms (which i usually hate) and Brussell Spouts (BEST EVER). Â It melted in my mouth and was sooo full of flavor.
For dessert, I chose the Carrot Cake with Ginger Ice Cream. Â Best I've ever had. Â
My brother had and recommends the Cheese Plate, the Flank Steak with Avocado and Chimichurri Sauce, and the Chocolate dessert. Â
It was my brother's first time to Kentucky and he said he wants to fly back JUST to eat at this restaurant again!
You will not be dissapointed!
This was my pick for my birthday dinner this year after reading the review in Cincinnati Magazine and I was pretty happy with the whole experience.
The place isn't large, so definitely make reservations for a weekend. Our server was excellent--great recommendations and lots of patience for a very late member of our party (despite her ordering long after all of us, they managed to bring all of the food out at the same time!). Also, a huge plus for dining in Northern Kentucky--100% smoke free.
The wine list, as you would hope, is choiceful yet varied. Our server was able to intelligently recommend some great options to meet my requests (side rant: it seems to be increasly rare that servers are actually knowledgeable about the wines their restaurant serves and I find it quite frustrating!).
For food, I started with the house salad, which had a delectable dollop of goat cheese on top and lovely dressing with mint in it. My entree was the fillet mignon--ordered medium-rare, served just a little under that, but very good. The sides were actually a highlight with this dish--very fresh and well-seasoned mushrooms and potatoes. Could have actually used a bit more though. My friends' fish dishes (1 salmon and 1 halibut) were apparently disappointing though.
For dessert, we shared the croissant bread pudding and seasonal fruit cobbler (apple & peach). I love bread pudding, but their offering was a bit flat for me. The cobbler was a stand-out though, served warm with vanilla ice-cream. They even put a candle in it for my birthday (but a little surprised they didn't comp 1 of the desserts for the occasion).
Prices are a bit high for everyday dining, but I think I'd go back for the half-priced small plates (Tues-Thurs, 5-7pm) and a glass of the rose' Prosecco, which was outstanding.
Yum! Â I came here a few weeks ago for a lite bite during "Happy Hour" (which happens to my fave hour of the day!) and I was pleasantly surprised with this neighborhood gem. Â During happy hour they have half priced "small plates". Â I had the crab cake, which had a delightful southwest flavor and the romaine salad that had delicious blackened pecans, bleu cheese and this amazing house-made vinaigrette. Â I will definitely be coming back and look forward to the warmer weather and the prospect of lingering over a nice bottle of wine on the patio/sidewalk.
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