Virgil's Cafe, Bellevue

Virgil's Cafe celebrates the accessibility of gourmet cuisine prepared with local flair. At this intimate spot just blocks from the shores of the Ohio River, menus change on a daily basis, although the selection typically features down-home versions of refined dishes such as frog legs with jalapeño-cheddar hush puppies. Like the recipes that inspired him, Virgil's Cafe owner and chef Matt Buschle values from-scratch cooking, which earned his restaurant a feature on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Tastes Close to Home

Food doesn't travel far at Virgil's Cafe. Chef Buschle embraces local flavors by buying produce from area farms, although the restaurant's also features a small garden that grows vegetables and herbs throughout the year. Using these ingredients, Chef Buschle's team prepares as many items in-house as possible, baking fresh bread and even twisting their own links of house-smoked andouille sausage.