Maki Mono Covington — Restaurant in Covington

My partner and I are HUGE foodies. We've been to more restaurants between Cincinnati and Covington than we can remember to count. As massive fans of cuisine brought to Covington, we tend to lean a little more critically when we judge what comes out of our stomping grounds.

Maki Mono was a DoorDash staple for us. We had dined there in-person before, but usually we ordered in. Tonight was no different until we noticed a menu rebrand. We still ordered in, but pickup saves money, so... why not check it out?

First of all. The vibes are impeccable. Yes, 'vibes'. The restaurant fits the word. Local art pieces were for sale on the walls, which is something I always love to see with local businesses. A giant painting of a Shiba Inu smiles at you across from the sushi bar. Being a big fan and father of a shiba inu myself, maybe I'm biased because that may be my favorite part of the place.

There are neon lights, smooth, lofi-jazz, and an upbeat nature to the place. I could see this being popular with the nightlife in Covington. KungFood Chu's attracts a similar crowd and seems to be doing just fine business-wise.

Before I talk about the food, I need to talk about the staff. They're awesome. While I waited, we talked about the remodel and I've gotta say: everyone here seemed passionate about the food and their place in the restaurant. I love that. It gave me confidence that the food would be worth it.

And for the showstopper: the food. Wow. The food.

I ordered the Filipino Chicken Adobo. I'm going to make this quick because I'm already reaching for another helping. The serving size is extremely generous, which is perfect since I plan on devouring this bit by bit between tonight and work tomorrow. The chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender and absolutely drowning in flavor. In a good way. The best way. The peppercorns I was warned about popped and sizzled some spice into an extremely savory, broth-flavored dish.

The price of this dish was $13. You could show me this dish and if I were asked to guess the price of it in the NKY-Greater Cincinnati area restaurant? I'd say around $23. This price felt appropriate and gave me some hope for more great food at good prices.

My partner loved their dish as well. Tofu with bok-choy and a variation of mushrooms. It deserves more praise and the proper name, but honestly... go order it yourself. Or anything else. If it's half as good as my meal, you'll be coming...

Caveat for my review: this was my first time there and i went on a day that the ac was out. I'm trying to look past that

However, it was just me and my brother and we each only ordered 2 rolls. It took 30 mins to get our food. The waitress we had was kinda rude and def didn't care about our experience. It was clear she was only there to bring food to our table and get tipped. Then when i tried to ask her if our wait times were normal if there was an unusual reason why food was taking a while. I didnt want to complain and was just trying to give them the benefit of the doubt that my first time there was a fluke. The waitress offered nothing other than "ill go get the chef." I didnt want to talk to the chef cuz im sure they are busy cuz of how long food is taking to come out. So we wait and chef comes out and i apologize cuz i didn't ask to see her, but since she was there i talked to her about our wait. She explained that it was normal to wait that long for our order.

The whole ordeal was uncomfortable and irritating without considering that it was a nice 85 degrees on the restaurant. I tried to be nice and overlook things, but my experience was horrible and I'll never go back. I'll go to wabi Sabi for those prices and quality

EDIT: so now that the establishment has chosen to respond in the most childlike manner possible, im def changing review from 2 to 1. I left a normal, non-aggressive review with an honest critique of my experience and their reply is just childish and petty. They would rather attack me and make excuses instead of receive a poor review. Not only are those poor business qualities, but poor qualities in a person. All the more...

Alright, let's set the record straight about Maki Mono. Those "reviews" are just a bunch of salty losers who can't handle the heat in the kitchen or the fire in Erika's eyes. This place is a culinary masterpiece, and here's why:

First off, Erika is a goddess in the kitchen. She's got skills that'll make your taste buds dance like they're at a rave. Her rolls are so tight and delicious, they'll make you question your life choices if you've never had them before. Each bite is an explosion of flavor that'll leave you begging for more.

The atmosphere at Maki Mono is electric. It's like walking into a sushi den where the vibes are always on point. The staff is friendly, the decor is on fleek, and the energy is so good, you'll want to stay all night.

Now, let's talk about the food. The sushi is fresh, the fish is top-notch, and the creativity in the rolls is off the charts. Erika's signature dishes are legendary—each one tells a story, and every story is a masterpiece. Whether you're a sushi virgin or a seasoned pro, there's something here that'll make you moan with pleasure.

So, to all the haters out there leaving bad reviews: step on a Lego. You don't know good food when it's right in front of you. Maki Mono is the real deal, and Erika is the queen of the sushi world. Come here with an open mind and a hungry stomach, and you'll be blown away. Trust me, your taste buds...