Wednesday, October 13, 1999
Eatery casts line in river
Others left Covington site
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The former owner of the Mount Adams Fish House is betting that a blend of fine dining and a nightclub targeting baby boomers will be the right recipe for a troubled Covington riverfront location.
During Tall Stacks this weekend, Pisces, a 240-seat, white tablecloth restaurant, will have a special preview opening on the Covington Landing barge. It takes space previously occupied by the Glass Onion restaurant and Gators Sports Cafe.
“I think the riverfront's conducive to fine dining, especially when you have places like the Embassy (Suites), the Marriott and the Northern Kentucky Convention Center nearby,” Pisces owner Kip Kussman said.
While the restaurant's official opening is Oct. 25, Mr. Kussman will open Pisces from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a buffet. During the day, it will serve casual fare on the deck, as well as coffee and cider for Tall Stacks spectators.
By New Year's Eve, Mr. Kussman plans to enclose the space formerly known as “The Swamp” and convert it to a 225-seat banquet center and “a high-end nightclub” with music appealing to baby boomers.
Mr. Kussman recently signed a 10-year lease with the Star of Louisville Corp., the company that owns the barge.
“All we did at the fish house was seafood,” Mr. Kussman said. “Here, due to the size of the restaurant, we'll be able to put more variety on the menu.”
Pisces will feature lunches from $9 to $15 and dinners from $18 to $40.
While the site has seen several restaurants come and go — including Gumbo Charlie's and the steamboat Spirit of America — Mr. Kussman said his venture will be different.
“I did a little background on what was here before,” Mr. Kussman said.
“Some, like Gumbo Charlie's, were successful, but a decision was made nationally to cut their tenure short. And the Glass Onion started out with a good concept, then it tried to compete with Applebee's and Friday's.”
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