Restaurants In/Around Newport KY?

I am taking a date to the Newport Aquarium this coming week, and am looking for some restaurant suggestions in or around the area to take my date to, as I'm really not sure what is good up around that area. Also, are there any other things around there to do? Since it will be a nearly 2 hour drive, and I've heard it only takes 1-1.5 hours to go through the aquarium, I'd like to find more to do up there, and to make a day of it all.

Hofbräuhaus (an international German chain) has decent food, large servings of beer & a nice atmosphere. My parents both enjoyed Pompilio's (Italian) but I haven't had the opportunity. York Street Cafe looks promising. My wife's father & grandmother are flying in from France on Monday so we'll be picking them up at the Cincinnati airport. We're thinking about checking out Virgil's Cafe if we can get there in time.

As far as things to do we always just walk around by the river.

http://www.newportonthelevee.com/directory/

http://terrysturfclub.com/

Saw this place on DDD, looks pretty cool. Best burger in Ohio.

I can vouch for Pompillio's. The food is good, and the building is quaint.

Dewey's Pizza is inside Newport on the Levee, and the product is a cut above average. They have some unique pies and salads.

Habanero is fairly similar to Qdoba and Moe's.

The one thing I miss the most in Newport now that my BF has moved from there to FL are the stromboli sandwiches from Pasquale's. **sigh** There's one on Monmouth Street not too far from Newport on the Levee.

There's an area in Covington called "Manstrasse Village" It's similar to the Highlands. Lots of cafes & pubs within a few blocks. It's about a mile and a half from the Newport Aquarium. Basically, you get back to York St. and head away from the river for about 2-3 blocks. Take a right onto 4th (you'll be heading west). Drive a little over a mile until you see Main St.(the sign might also make reference to Mainstrasse). Take a left onto Main St. and park somewhere around Main & 6th St. You'll see lots of pubs & cafes within walking distance.

The Cock & Bull for English Pub grub (that's actually good) http://www.theenglishpub.com/covington.php
Chez Nora
http://www.cheznora.com/
Dee Felice Cafe
http://www.deefelicecafe.com/deefelicec ... /Main.html
Wertheims Cafe
http://www.mainstrasse.org/wertheims-restaurant

Hofbrauhaus makes great sausages. We spent 2 days going through the museums at union station. They've got an incredible model train setup that recreates the entire city with the trolleys going up the sides of the hills and such. It sounds nerdy but was very cool. Could be fun date material?

Virgils is a great choice. Had a great meal there about 2 months ago.

Big thumbs up for Pompillio's