Monday Monday

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Can’t trust that day. Every other day of the week may be fine, but when Monday comes around, most restaurants roll up their sidewalk. Here are 10 you can count on to be good to you.
 
Nicola’s. My favorite Monday night dinner. Nicola’s has steadily built Monday nights into one of their busiest nights of the week by featuring their sublime bolognese pasta and a salad for $13. Set your DVR to record Weeds and No Reservations, and go. Downtown. www.nicolasrestaurant.com
 
Via Vite. Nicola’s younger sibling, and center-of-the-city cool. Monday is 1/2 price wine night, with some good-to-great Italian wines offered at retail price. Try the elegant, velvety 2008 Santini Poggio Al Moro, or the bright and lively Cuvee Rose ‘Prosecco” from Il Follo. Downtown. www.viaviterestaurant.com
 
Terry’s Turf Club. If Monday is your burger or veggie burger night, then this is the place to be. Try the halloumi cheese with lettuce and tomato, and be prepared to wait. This joint is always jumping, for good reason. Linwood / East End. (513) 533-4222
 
Jean-Robert’s Table. A seat at the bar with the Mister B Hangtown Omelette (with oysters, fava beans, bacon, swiss cheese, and watercress) is one of my favorite ways to hang at Table. Damn good burger too. Downtown. www.jrtable.com
 
Walnut Street Grill. It can be challenging to switch gears from my chill yoga class to WSG’s bright and spacious dining room, but their excellent chicken pot pie can be very convincing. Downtown. www.walnutstreetgrill.com
 
Nada Monday night mellow is a nice break from the throngs that seem to invade Nada on every other night. The sopes are my go-to dish, but guacamole, salsa, and several of the tacos are delish. Downtown. www.eatdrinknada.com
 
Melt One of the grooviest little cafes in the city. Good ingredients and a lot of TLC go into their inventive sandwiches. Personal favorites are the Joan of Arc (Applegate Farm roast beef, roasted red peppers, roasted garlic, blue cheese, caramelized onions, and provolone melted on flatbread) and The Rachel (Applegate Farm turkey, red cabbage and apple kraut, swiss, and a  tangy sauce melted on sourdough rye from Shadeau Bread) Northside. www.meltcincy.com
 
Virgil’s Cafe He bakes his own bread, smokes his own meats, and grows his own greens. And on Monday through Wednesday nights, Chef Matt Buschle offers his slow food fare at a bargain prix fixe of three courses for $30. Try his house grown greens with gorgonzola and amaretto macerated peaches,or his andouille meatballs with roasted fennel and polenta. And then there’s his dreamy gelato. Yep, he makes that too. Bellevue, Ky. www.virgilscafe.com
 
Dushmesh Indian Restaurant It’s possible that the nicest people on the planet run this restaurant – a tonic if your work week began on shaky ground – serving up a voluminous menu of northern and central Indian homespun stews and breads, plus vegetarian and tandoori specialties. Northside. (513) 221-8900
 
Cityview Tavern In the summer when tomatoes are plentiful and ripe, a low key Monday dinner means a Big Ted (griddle cooked 6 ounce burger with American cheese, onion, mayonnaise, lettuce, pickle, and a thick slice of ripe garden tomato), a cold beer and a view, all set to a soundtrack from one of the best jukeboxes in the city.  Mt. Adams (513) 241-VIEW
 
 

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