CINCINNATI (Angenette Levy) -- Restaurants on both sides of the river are getting ready for a big weekend and hope to cash in as tens of thousands of people arrive for the All-Star Game. At Main Bite in Covington, owner Margie Potts is opening Monday, July 13. Her restaurant is usually closed. She is also suspending the dress code that day. "We thought that with everything that's happening for us to be closed on Monday it would be kind of silly because so many people are coming in town and we want to show our best for the Tri-State, Potts said. At Dee Felice the staff is working extra shifts. "My wife owns the restaurant, Shelly Dee Felice Nelson, and she's actually been stopping at the hotels and getting ready for everything that way and putting the word out that Covington's just a great place to be as far as The Banks and everything else is, too, Chef Patrick Nelson said. Across the river at Taste of Belgium, waffle makers will have their irons on full time until the end of the game. The restaurant makes the official waffle of the Reds and will send 1,000 waffles to the ball park over the weekend. Typically on Sunday and Monday Taste of Belgium closes at 3 p.m. But this weekend it will stay open until 10 p.m. "All of the restaurants have had to ramp up, said Shawn McCabe, president of the Downtown Restaurant Association. McCabe said restaurants have been hiring extra staff for months. Finding the right people has not been an easy task. "So they've been going to Craigslist and the newspapers and telling everyone they know that now's the time to jump into the restaurant scene. Because we're going to be so busy, McCabe said. No matter where you go this weekend expect a crowd. Each restaurant will put on its very best. "We do everything local to begin with and this is a local event that's actually a national event. So when you put those two together if you're not participating then it's not there, Margie Potts said. Japps on Main St. will also open on Sunday when it is usually closed. Follow Angenette Levy on Twitter @angenette5, and LIKE her on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @Local12 and LIKE us on Facebook for updates!
