What began as a spark of change evolved into a thoughtful redesign as Chef John Varanese refines one of Louisville’s signature dining rooms.
PROFILE | HaiFry
Drawing on the Osaka flavors that shaped her life, Toki Masubuchi crafts soulful, deeply personal dishes that anchor HaiFry in the Highlands.
COLUMNS
Starters
COMINGS & GOINGS
A summary of changes in the local restaurant scene.
BAR BELLE | Buzzed in Bardstown
From historic taverns to bourbon-soaked hideaways, the Bar Belle maps Bardstown’s best stops and makes a strong case for a proper crawl.
Liquids
HIP HOPS | Hop Atomica
Hop Atomica, the city’s only brewery–micro-distillery, delivers house beers, crafted spirits and top-tier wood-fired pizzas in Schnitzelburg.
COCKTAIL CONTESSA | Sweater Weather Cocktails
Cozy, batched cocktails take center stage as the Cocktail Contessa warms winter nights with mulled wine, spiced cider and international cold-weather sippers.
Food
LELIA’S KITCHEN | Tis the Season for Oysters
Lelia dives into oyster lore, uncovering why colder months bring peak flavor while offering holiday-ready dishes perfect for the season’s celebrations.
EASY
ENTERTAINING | Soul-Warming Soups
Two of Louisville’s reigning soup queens share six soul-warming recipes — easy, inventive, flavorful bowls shaped by years of creativity in the kitchen.
RESTAURANT GUIDE
Dining Guide
A complete list of over 1,650 eateries across the Louisville region.
Maps | Restaurant Locator
Easy-to-use maps plotting the dining scene throughout the region.
PUBLISHER
JOHN CARLOS WHITE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MARTY ROSEN
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
ROGER BAYLOR
PHOTOGRAPHERS
DAN DRY
ANDREW HYSLOP
HEATHER WIBBELS
COLUMNISTS
ROGER BAYLOR
LELIA GENTLE
SARA HAVENS
TIM & LORI LAIRD
HEATHER WIBBELS
FEATURE WRITERS
ROGER BAYLOR
CARY STEMLE
GRAPHIC DESIGN & PRODUCTION
ED ROTHER
JOHN CARLOS WHITE IN FOND MEMORY OF OUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES
WINTER 2025 ON THE COVER Varanese’s pecan crusted Hawaiian butterfish (page 24). Photo by Dan Dry
(EATS)
comings goings &
BY ROGER BAYLOR
I arrive today at the conclusion of my 2025 shift as chronicler; metaphorically bearded, wrinkled and exhausted, preparing to clock out upon the arrival of a beaming, bouncing, baby successor (the poor kid has no idea), hopefully leaving time enough to greet 2026 with a tasty Mild George at Monnik Beer Co., then get back to work.
First, the numbers. This winter issue’s tally of food and drink establishments in Louisville shows 27 openings against 25 closings, and 2025 concludes with 125 openings against 96 closings, marking 20 straight quarters of growth commencing in 2021.
Interestingly, in 2024 the ratio was 158 openings to 115 closings. The percentage of comings to goings in 2025 remained roughly the same, but there were 19% fewer start-ups in all (273 vs. 221), a sign that economic activity in general slowed this year.
Openings are becoming more compact, mobile, cost-saving and risk-reducing. Bricks ‘n’ mortar eateries are reverting to food trucks or opting for “strength in numbers” scenarios like the Mashup Food Hall. There are second or third locations, as opposed to brand new concepts — and whatever happened to superstar chef-driven hot spots?
Alas, closings grow ever more elegiac; there’ve been too many long-term, family-owned labors of love either running out of steam, labor or manageable leases. A generation is passing; enjoy them while you can.
Verily, man shall not live by bread alone, but there’s always food for thought, not to mention an evening’s parting glass of tawny port. Holiday joy from Food & Dining Magazine’s table, to yours, and thanks for reading.
COMINGS
David Danielson’s goal is unwavering: to bring people together around great food. After his evening-oriented Äta stalled during Brownsboro Rd.’s reconstruction, Danielson speedily reinvented it, pivoting to daytime brunch service with The Hen House and Provisions (4863 Brownsboro Ctr.), offering fresh pastries, breakfast and lunch dishes, salads, sandwiches and homemade biscuits — and yes, Danielson’s legendary fried chicken.
As this issue went to press, Murray’s Creole Pub was being launched at 1576 Bardstown Rd.in Deer Park.Chef,owner and James Beard finalist Lawrence Weeks, ex-Ensō and North of Bourbon, honors his family’s heritage with Creole cuisine, a cosmopolitan Louisiana amalgam of African, Native American, French and Spanish influences. A few doors down, Hurry for Curry (1582 Bardstown Rd.) seeks to be “a neighborhood spot for global taste,” with Indian, Nepali andTibetan dishes.
Mashup Food Hall (750 E. Jefferson) added three vendors to its expanding lineup.Two are from the originators of the Six Forks and Fry Daddy food trucks: Dipped & Drizzled, with various cheesecakes on a stick, topped with goodies, and Mable’s Southern Kitchen, offering the Southern comfort cuisine you need (think catfish and spaghetti).The third is Nexus Bar Bites, as Chef Ashlee Northington
of the Happy Belly Bistro food truck brings “playful” bar bites to the hall’s mix.
From the embers of the short-lived Dirty Bird in Audubon rises Papalino’s NY Pizzeria (1022 Clarks Ln.), a remake of the wellregarded former Highlands pizzeria. There’s even a Dirty Bird sandwich, which tastes like chicken. Five minutes away, Franny’s may be situated directly opposite Hauck’s Corner in Schnitzelburg (998 Goss Ave.), but conceptually it lies a thousand miles east, on a New England shore, serving seafood amid European bistro ambience.
Completing The Grales campus (for now), Grale Goods (1004 Bardstown Rd.) is a new CherokeeTriangle bakery, patisserie, coffee shop, breakfast and lunch spot. In NuLu, a second location of Haymarket by Ashbourne Farms has opened at 723 E. Main St., combining a café with coffee and pastries with grab ‘n’ go meals, groceries and gifts.
The Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning complex in Russell now houses Açaí-Ville Café and Chicago Jerk Tacos, with healthy lifestyle fare and Caribbean-style jerk American cuisine, respectively (both at 3029 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd). Maya Bagel Express’s East Coast expatriates have their NewYork-style bagels lox, pastrami and lots more at their second location in Parkway Village (2513 Preston Hwy.), and at the Nepalese-themed Phalcha Coffee’s second shop at
3900 Shelbyville Rd. in St. Matthews, distinctive coffee flights (some iced) are brewed with high-altitude Arabica beans.
The brewer-owned Atrium Brewing (1154 Logan St. in Shelby Park) has a new courtyard food truck: Crave Wave, emphasizing smash burgers and sandwiches. Big Rock Bar & Brew (2120 Bardstown Rd.) inherits the departed Great Flood Brewing Co.’s taproom space, aiming to be Deer Park’s neighborhood hangout. A kitchen is slated for early 2026. Hometown Brewing’s beers are on tap at Craft House Pizza,with a seventh location at 700 Landis Ridge Rd. by Middletown.
Dive Bar on Frankfort (2235 Frankfort Ave.) is a tad less“dive-ier” than its fabled predecessor down the street, but its lineage with HilltopTavern is comforting: same owners, same neighborhood vibe, same meatloaf and fried chicken sandwiches (and Dive Burger), and same solid craft draft beer list. Blazing a trail in the evolving Merriwether neighborhood (529 E. Burnett Ave.), Jubilee Field Bar is an adult outdoor playground with indoor-outdoor bar and revolving food trucks.
Should Louie’s Hot Chicken & Barbecue stay, or should it go? First the cult favorite Camp Taylor eatery at 4222 Poplar Level Rd. went, albeit briefly, before returning as a soup and sandwich shop, just as briefly.Then Bobby Ewing stepped out from the shower, and Louie’s reverted to spicy fowl (and BBQ) under new ownership.
Louisville Pizza King, a takeaway-oriented indie pizzeria, adds locations at 416 W. Oak St. (Old Louisville) and 300 W. Woodlawn Ave. (Beechmont).Warning: it’s not to be confused with Pizza King or Arni’s in Indiana. During kitchen hours at Portland’s 24-7 Brolly
Bodega (2441 Griffiths Ave.), substantial portions of comfort food (wings, burgers, cheesesteaks and fries) are available.The Lexington KY-based Pasta Garage in Phoenix-Lu (552 E. Market St.) is a retail pasta maker with its own on-premises restaurants.
Our quarterly surveys conclude with a glance at chain and franchise openings.The moribund Hooters in Clarksville (941 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy.) is regenerated as By Golly’s Bar and Grill, a pub-like regional sports bar chain from Cincinnati. Texas de Brazil (5000 Shelbyville Rd. in the Mall St.Matthews) is a churrasco-style Brazilian steakhouse chain that cures gaucho envy with all-you-can-eat feasts of beef, pork, chicken, lamb and sausage (and an utterly superfluous salad bar).
For polar opposites, consider Swig, the “Original Dirty Soda” chain, sans Jennifer Grey or Patrick Swayze. The metro’s second Swig decants at 4014 E. 10th St. in Jeffersonville. More sedately, a second area Barry Bagels bakery vows to have 17 varieties of bagels on hand at 10616 Meeting St. in Norton Commons.
The first Louisville BuffaloWildWings GO at 3113 S. Second St. in Wilder Park is built for walk-ups, carry-outs and delivery in proximity of the University of Louisville. Dave’s Hot Chicken dropped a second area store at 4600 Shelbyville Rd.in St.Matthews.Our tenth Chipotle Mexican Grill sprouted south of the Gene Snyder freeway (10415 Preston Hwy.), and there’s a new Panda Express in Pleasure Ridge Park (4913 Dixie Hwy.), making six of them hereabouts.
GOINGS
Lonnie’s Best Taste of Chicago (121 St. Matthews Ave.) is no more. For 22 years, Lonnie and Diane Edwards served the finest Chicago
Continued on page 10
hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches within 300 miles ofTheVille,but they have retired; while we wish them the best, these withdrawal symptoms are real. Praise the sausages and pass the Malört.
Nearby in Clifton, another long-running family eatery (since 2010) calling it a day NewYear’s Eve is Difabio’s Casapela Italian Restaurant (2311 Frankfort Ave.), with Serai Malaysian next for the historic building. Traveling westbound, The Silver Dollar’s nationwide reputation as Bakersfield-themed bourbon bar (1761 Frankfort Ave.) made it seem older than its 14 years.
Chef’s side: Edward Lee’s involvement with Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse (835 E.Main St.) effectively concluded in August,followed by the Butchertown restaurant’s demise in November. David Danielson’s Äta (4863 Brownsboro Ctr.) was reinvented as the brunch specialist Hen House and Provisions
Craft brewing is evolving. Against the Grain Public House closed its 14-year-old flagship pub at Louisville Slugger Field (401 E.Main St.), but its beer and beverage production facility in Portland is unaffected. North Carolina-based Hi-Wire Brewing’s taproom at 642 Baxter Ave. and Great Flood Brewing Co. (2120 Bardstown Rd.) both folded tents, with the latter becoming Big Rock Bar & Brew
Short-lived fried chicken purveyor The Dirty Bird (1022 Clarks Ln.) was felled by gaffes and regulatory tumult, so owners Allan Rosenberg and Fred Pizzonia speedily rebranded as Papalino’s NY Pizzeria. Then they tidied up their Schnitzelburg AFs: Breakfast AF remains, while Baked AF (1010 Goss Ave.) and Pizza AF (1008 Goss Ave.) both have closed,the latter destined for afterlife as a food truck, freeing space for the forthcoming Goss Ave Deli
In Pleasure Ridge Park, the owner’s health issues called a halt to
Gorilla Bob’s Grub Shack (8503 Terry Rd.), a claustrophobic, highvolume, mom-and-pop kitchen with lines forming for enormous hot browns, meatball sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks. Similarly, Barry Washington shuttered his The Original Barry’s Cheesesteaks (5408 Valley Station Rd.), vowing to return after much needed R & R.
“A doleful damsel I heard cry, Fizz District I hardly knew ye.”The hand-made craft “dirty” soda purveyor at 3130 Frankfort Ave. somehow made it eight months. HilltopTavern (1800 Frankfort Ave.) died so that Dive on Frankfort might reimagine it, four blocks away. Renshoku Ramen (1161 S. Second St.) had upbeat reviews and a legion of ardent fans in Old Louisville, but when a speeding driver crashed into the building and started a fire, foreshadowing boded ill.
Citing issues with its Norton Commons landlord, Blondie’s & Jim’s Bistro (10711 Meeting St.) decamped for an as-yet-undetermined new space, while in a move to add by subtracting, Brew & Sip relinquished its Okolona coffee bar at 2860 Packerland Way, with plans to add two others in Russell and Audubon.
Downtown New Albany’s Boomtown Kitchen and Boomtown Creamery (110 and 114 E. Main) reverted to“bust,” even as a 2-in-1 effort to fill the vacant Tucker’s American Favorites floor space with Pluk’d and Good Bowl failed at 2441 State St.
Buechel’s constellation of world cuisine standouts often glides beneath the radar, as with Pasha’s Mediterranean (3904 Bardstown Rd.), which was founded by a Jordanian family a decade ago and closed only recently. Las Margaritas Mexican Cuisine’s outpost in the Highlands at 938 Baxter Ave. went the way of the Guadalupe Caracara. Two Louisville locations of the indie mini-chain remain in South Louisville and Middletown. F&D
BY SARA HAVENS AKA
If there’s one thing you all know about me after all these years — other than my penchant for crappy beer and “Grease 2” — it’s that I’m down for a pub crawl any time, any place. Of course, I’ve done my fair share of Bambi Walks, Schnitzelburg Walks and the short and sweet Weisel Walk in St. Matthews back in the day. And I even ran my own Gettin’ Drunky in Kentucky Pub Crawl for 15 successful years and had to eventually hang it up because it got too massive.
Perhaps my love of pub crawls came from my time at Ohio University, which I also credit for my current occupations of Bar Belle and Director of Whiskey. We were known for our “Shuffles” down Court Street, and oftentimes they would have a dress-up theme as well. Those were the days, and there were also like 20-30 bars on the strip, so the chances of actually finishing one were slim to none. But it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey, right?
Anyway, where is my point? If I was writing for the web, I would have had to put my key words in the first sentence or else the Google gods would strike me down. But since you’re holding this fine paper publication and leisurely reading it like they did in the olden days, I’m gonna take my time.
OK, you’ve waited long enough.
Let’s talk about Bardstown, Ky., the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” Have you been lately? It’s always been a fun place to go for a bourbon tour, but unfortunately that was about all that was going on. But now, the bustling little bourbon town boasts at least a dozen bars, and not only are they cool spots, but they’re pretty much clustered around the town square — thus making it an ideal spot for a pub crawl. I’ve been many times recently for “research purposes,” so let’s map it out.
Of course, if you decide to partake in a Bardstown pub crawl, I rec-
The BarBelleBelle Buzzed in Bardstown
ommend either staying in town or having a DD. We also need to come up with a fun name for it. Any ideas? The Bard Crawl, maybe? Since I can’t think of anything better at the moment, let’s go with that. Here are the top 10 bars of The Bard Crawl …
Old Talbott Tavern, 107 W. Stephen Foster Ave. — We might as well start at Bardstown’s oldest bar, which first opened in 1779. Of course it’s haunted being that old, so hopefully we’ll get a taste of some feisty spirits to begin the festivities.
Neat Bourbon Bar, 110 W. Stephen Foster Ave. — You’re probably familiar with Neat in the Highlands, and this second location is quite similar to that: offering vintage bourbon and great cocktails. It’s dark and mysterious, the way I prefer my bars to be. And we can lounge on the comfy furniture or belly up to the bar.
Mr. Tubs, 104 N. Fourth St. — This fun little cocktail bar is located where the town laundromat used to be, hence the name. It’s got great small bites if you’re hungry, and I highly suggest the bourbon slushie made with Knob Creek and Ale-8.
Scout & Scholar Brewing Co., 112 W. Flaget St. — Mix up The Bard Crawl with a freshly made beer at this local brewery, which also has great food. And naturally, they offer a lot of bourbon barrel finished options as well. They also have cocktails, spirits and wine.
SOBA Lounge, 169 W. Mulberry Alley — We’re taking a break from cocktail bars with two dare-I-say dive bars in a row. SOBA is a great watering hole for those who just want a drink without the fuss. They’ve got a full bar and can make you anything, but think of it as more of a beer-and-a-shot kind of place.
3rd Street Tap House, 112 N. Third St. — My other favorite Bardstown dive bar, this place can get rowdy on the weekends. And the guy hosting karaoke on Tuesdays isn’t afraid to put you in your place. Think “Roadhouse,” and you get the idea.
Oak & Grape, 118 N. Third St. — This unassuming cocktail bar is tucked away off of Third Street, and it offers great drinks and friendly banter with staff, townies and tourists alike. If you tell them what you’re doing, they might join you!
THE BAR BELLE
Evergreen Liquors, 127 N. Third St. — You might be wondering why there’s a liquor store on this pub crawl, but if you’ve ever been to Evergreen in Bardstown, you know they have one of the best old fashioneds in town. Plus, they’ve got a great selection of beer, bourbon and wine by the drink as well. Don’t ask, just do.
Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium, 131 N. Third St. — Another great cocktail bar, this one might be a little fancy for a rowdy group, but they make great drinks and will welcome you regardless.
The Volstead Bourbon Lounge, 107 E. Flaget St. — I could devote an entire column to this bar, and I just might someday. It’s the closest you can come to drinking in the basement of a true whiskey collector. They’ve got so much booze on the shelves that the bar now is inundated with new releases, whiskeys from around the world and your favorite bourbons. You gotta try the famous bourbon peach slushie, too. I promise you won’t be disappointed and you may never leave.
So that’s The Bard Crawl for you, now when should we plan it? You don’t have to wait for me, but I want to be tagged in your photos. Also, if you want some extra credit points, you can always stop at the newly opened Old Steelhouse Tasting Room (124 N. Third St.) that you’ll likely pass by on your way to Evergreen. They’ll offer you tastes of some great Old Steelhouse bourbons and whiskeys and can also whip up a cocktail or two. And Chicken Cock’s tasting room, called Circa 1856 (103 E. Stephen Foster Ave.), is located on the Bardstown square and offers a full bar plus bourbon tastings and merch.
Try This Cocktail
The other night a friend talked me into having drinks at Seviche. There was no hard twist of the arm, because I dig this place. It’s just not always in my budget for everyday drinking, if you know what I mean. Not that I drink every day … OK, I’ll just stop. Anyway, I ended up trying the East Meets West Old Fashioned and highly recommend it. Made with Rittenhouse Rye, Kota Pandan Liqueur, miso demerara and Angostura bitters, the cocktail is truly a blend of Eastern influences and Western traditionst F&D
HipHops Hop Atomica Brewing, Distilling and Wood-Fired Pizza in Schnitzelburg
BY ROGER BAYLOR | PHOTOS BY DAN DRY
When you’re surveying available options for a local brewpub to become a “third space,” or that comfy sort of satellite living room providing a sociable refuge from home and work, don’t neglect a seasoned consideration of essential features like plumbing, floor coverings and interior lighting.
As for me, I’m a big fan of lights.
Maybe wi-fi matters, although social media doesn’t help a fellow to move around in the pitch black, when tables and chairs are transformed into bruising obstacles for those of us with gouty toes, especially at last call’s heated rush.
More importantly, misplacing one’s beer in an indistinct gloaming is an enduring hindrance to consuming it. The title of Ernest Hemingway’s short story wasn’t coincidental: "A Clean, WellLighted Place."
At Hop Atomica, a brewery, micro-distillery and pizzeria doing business since early 2024 in Louisville’s Schnitzelburg neighborhood, the décor is spiced with a chandelier or three displaying sphere-with-antennas, atom-tinged-tendril imagery, prompting recollections of George Jetson’s heyday.
Hop Atomica
1318 McHenry St.
LOUISVILLE, KY 40217
502.365.4676
hopatomicalouisville.com
“What we recognize today as Sputnik-style light fixtures are probably the best-known example of atomic age design,” observes Architectural Digest, to which your columnist appends, “What we recognize today as hazy IPAs and kettle sours are probably the best-known examples of post-craft age beer design.”
Road map symmetry also is important. With a name like Hop Atomica, shouldn’t we be motoring down to Oak Ridge in Tennessee, once upon a time a secret “Atomic City” for its role in the Manhattan Project? Alas, Louisville already has a Manhattan Project to call its own, in this instance an innovative bar located on Frankfort Avenue.
Best then to let sleeping analogies lie, and indulge in a consideration of Hop Atomica’s winning formula of house-brewed beers, cocktails created from spirits conjured on site, an array of tasty wood-fired pizzas, and a judicious dusting of postWWII American imperial-era “better living through mad scientist” design.
Still, the overriding motif of Hop Atomica’s surroundings doesn’t just predate World War II. It’s closer to the Spanish-American War. The brewery nestles comfortably on the grounds of the massive former Louisville Cotton Mill (1889 - 1967), a sprawling city block-sized, red-brick Victorian entity, which at its mid-century peak was the largest textile factory in Kentucky.
Consider it an offshoot of the first Industrial Revolution, long before Los Alamos lured J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Surely a sizeable percentage of the mill’s blue collar workforce resided in the surrounding residential areas of Schnitzelburg and Germantown, and walked to their jobs carrying lunch pails and perhaps rolled-up newspapers. After the closing whistle, they’d trek to nearby taverns to wet their own whistles with appropriately chilled beers from Louisville standbys like Fehrs, Oertel’s and the original Falls City, no doubt taken alongside wee nips of
(right) The Cowboy Candy — red sauce, mozzarella, chorizo, Foris Hoguera 'nduja, jalapeño and Atomica hot honey. (opposite, from far left) The King — Reese's peanut butter, bacon, marshmallows and chocolate sauce; charcuterie board; smoked wings.
Owners Paul Berrier (left) and Kenneth Suchower
Old Gentleman’s Mule Drool.
(As a side note, non-native readers are perfectly free to regard Schnitzelburg and Germantown as synonyms. It’s easier that way, and you should resist being poo-pooed.)
The cotton mill’s afterlife brought a series of ventures aimed at utilizing its immensity, first a furniture company and later an antique mall. In more recent times, the urbanist’s doctrine became “adaptive reuse.” In short, an older structure with period character, often from industrial origins, would be repurposed and retrofitted for contemporary use, incorporating design elements once discarded but now returned to voguishness.
In 2016 Underhill Associates completed massive renovations, and the Germantown Mill Lofts opened for human habitation. It is comprised of almost 200 residential units, and while I don’t know exactly how many people live there, I’m confident they make it a point each day to eat and drink. Consequently, as a walkable amenity for residents of the Lofts, Underhill positioned the mill’s former Art Deco administration building (constructed circa 1939) for use as a commercial eatery.
The first occupant was Finn’s Southern Kitchen, followed by Couvillion and Germantown Social. None stuck, and in January of 2023, two entrepreneurs planning their own project toured the premises. Paul Berrier and Kenneth Suchower each had diverse employment histories, and met while working in management at Waffle House Inc.
They were at an age when workplace independence beckoned, and both wanted to put their shoulders into an opportunity to build and connect communities at a grassroots level the time-honored way, via food and drink.
Berrier recalls, “We both were in the rat race for a really long time, doing a lot of things for larger corporations, but not able to make some of the ‘people’ decisions that we wanted to. We wanted to be a part of something we could be proud of.”
“Paul made a really good point the other day,” adds Suchower. “You can cook at home, you can drink at home. You can do it all at home. But there's something about having a place to go, with friends, with family. We wanted to make a place that people would want to come to, a place for everybody. That’s why we have such a wide variety of beers and cocktails, and great food, too.
“I don't think there are many people out there who don't like pizza.”
As their preparatory discussions intensified,
(top) The bar anchors the main dining space with warm lighting and leather stools. (center) A relaxed lounge with sofa seating creates an inviting place to gather. (left) Garage-style doors bring in natural light and open the room visually.
Suchower reconnected with Smith and Charles Matthews, friends from his college days at Georgia Tech. The Matthews brothers went on to found Hop Atomica in Savannah, Georgia, a brewery, micro-distillery and pizzeria located in a remodeled service station.
Hop Atomica took its name from beer’s multi-purpose magic cone, Humulus lupulus, while obliquely referencing the infamous 1958 Tybee Island mid-air collision between two U.S. Air Force planes, which resulted in nuclear ordinance being jettisoned into the Atlantic Ocean, never to be seen again except by fish newly aglow.
When Berrier and Suchower were ready to move forward with their food service business they consulted with Hop Atomica’s successful team in Savannah, leading to a licensing agreement for the use of the eatery’s name, recipes and intellectual property. There’d be a second Hop Atomica in Louisville, although the relationship is casual, and not restrictive as with many corporate chains and franchise agreements.
“A big part of the licensing agreement was having consultation from those guys,” says Suchower. “They've been doing it for a while. On the brewing side, we didn't need as much consultation once we got J. D., but Paul and I did not have the experience or know-how to run a brewery or a distillery.”
J. D. Angell is Hop Atomica’s brewer (and distiller), a veteran of the craft brewing scene in Northern Kentucky, North Carolina and Bangalore that’s India, to be exact, and how many Americans currently brewing India Pale Ale have so much as visited the subcontinent that named it?
Angell utilizes every square foot of floor space he’s been given toward a stated objective of keeping at least 20 beers pouring on a daily basis. Cramped logistics like Hop Atomica’s place a premium on juggling skills, at which craft brewers usually are quite adept; appropriately, one of Angell’s former employers was Bircus, a brewery founded by a former circus clown (though in Ludlow KY, not India). On-site beer consumption remains paramount, but Hop Atomica also distributes kegs locally.
At inception, floor space was reapportioned to house the brewing and distilling equipment. A 5-barrel (155-gallon) brewhouse annexes half the previous kitchen, with the mash tun and brew kettle now nestled hand-in-glove beneath a huge, pre-existing commercial exhaust hood. The main seating area separates the brewhouse from a phalanx of 10-barrel fermenters, as facilitated by lengthy food and beverage grade hoses, which arguably remain the most underappreciated performers in craft breweries the world over. Angell brews twice, and fills one fermenter.
(top) J.D. Angell, Hop Atomica’s brewer and distiller, tends a fermenter. (center) Hop Atomica currently distills seven varieties of house spirits. (right) The custombuilt wood-fired oven is the kitchen’s centerpiece.
In order to help non-geeks make their beer choices, house beers are organized into five broad categories: light, malty, hoppy, specialty, and sours & fruited. Hop Atomica is noteworthy as one of the few area breweries resolving to keep a German-style Hefeweizen pouring more often than merely a month or two in high summer; Gravely Brewing is another.
Hefeweizen typically displays flavors and aromas of banana, apple and clove, typically crowd-pleasing and appropriate for pizza. Hop Atomica’s lager is suitably clean and approachable, but my choice for “best of house” are the two everyday IPAs, West Coast-style Teen Spirit and New England-style Galactic Haze.
In October I visited Hop Atomica in the company of my wife Diana on the occasion of a stellar exhibition of photos by Dan Dry, Food & Dining Magazine’s longtime photographer of record. The evening doubled as a Happy Hour Friend-Raiser, this being a rotating event held monthly by Apron Inc., the charitable organization that assists Louisville food and drink industry workers in need.
I ordered a sampler flight of four Hop Atomic beers, later following it with another. Diana chose a similar spirits taster, and we each opted for a 10” pizza (a Plain Jane and a Funghi).
Wee nips of Hop Atomica’s London Dry Gin, Caribbean Rum and Atomica Vodka struck me as perfectly suitable foundations for cocktail construction, supporting an extensive house cocktail program (mocktails are available, too). In like fashion, the best way to surmise that a pizzeria’s specialty pies will be of good quality is when its “plain” option isn’t altogether plain at all, instead showcasing a solid combination of crust, sauce and cheese.
Joining traditional as well as creative 10” and 14” pizzas on Hop Atomica’s food menu is a selection of appetizers, including a giant pretzel with beer cheese, sandwiches and salads. When the weather permits, a spacious outdoor beer garden awaits the customer base.
“We don't have fryers,” notes Berrier. “It's all the woodfired pizza oven, though we do have a convection oven and a panini press for sandwiches. There’s a 500-gallon smoker we put out on the back patio, so if it can be smoked, we smoke it. We do everything fresh in the house.”
As the aforementioned broad beer groupings suggest, Hop Atomica house beers represent a diverse mix of beer styles, offering a choice of stylistic characteristics, and at varying alcoholic strengths. I applaud this range of options; the real fun comes from matching style to season, mood and meal. Naturally, the extent to which any brewer captures these essences is a subjective topic best discussed over the beers themselves, and as such, you can bet I’m always looking forward to further research.
Hop Atomica’s location, a half-block off Goss Avenue in Schnitzelburg, places it within steps of the Germantown, Shelby Park and Merriwether neighborhoods. Old
(top) The Classic — red sauce, mozzarella, Broadbent bacon crumble and cupping pepperoni. (center) The Verdura — mozzarella, spinach, goat cheese, wood-fired roasted butternut squash, sun-dried tomato and a touch of cinnamon. (left) mozzarella, ricotta, gorgonzola, cremini mushrooms, red onion and lemon zest.
Louisville, Smoketown Jackson, Paristown, Tyler Park and the Original Highlands are minutes away by car or bicycle.
These are rapidly changing historic districts, and from the craft beer lover’s standpoint, probably half of the working breweries in Louisville are located within a 15-minute drive of Hop Atomica, including Monnik, Atrium, Mile Wide, Trellis, Shippingport, Awry, Ten20, Butchertown, Bluegrass Brewing, Noble Funk, Hometown, Old Louisville, and others I’m probably missing.
A designated driver is a must for brewery crawls, folks. If only Louisville had a subway and I’m not talking foot-longs.
During my second visit to Hop Atomica, I opted for a full pint of Angell’s Belgian-style Witbier, a wheat ale spiced with orange peel and coriander. It was a seasonable late autumn afternoon, and I walked outside to sip the ale while contemplating the Germantown Lofts.
Wasn’t the formative history of craft brewing in the United States also characterized by principles of “adaptive reuse”?
As an example, consider brewing equipment. Prior to the 1990s, commercial fabricators were few in number. Existing companies catered to macro, not micro, economies of scale.
Aspiring brewers scoured classified ads for auctions at shuttered dairies, seeking tanks capable of being refurbished for brewing beer.
“Back to the future” largely was the original selling point of Pale and Amber ales, Stouts and Porters, and other early craft beers often bottled by means of rehabbed, cobbled-together former soft drink bottling lines snaking through long shuttered ex-ball bearing factories, in whatever down-on-its-luck neighborhood had the cheapest real estate.
As for the beers themselves, India Pale Ale started as an homage to balanced, hop-accented British brewing, only later becoming radically transformed by American brewers into the dank, hop-heavy, palate-busting paean to bitterness currently so popular that one variety or the other usually can be found even in airports and sports venues; friends, take my word for it, because that’s how you know when adaptive reuse has gone mainstream.
More than 30 years ago, the retired Flemish brewer Pierre Celis moved from Belgium to Texas and began anew, brewing traditional Belgian-style Witbier in Austin. His Celis White was sufficiently popular to attract the interest of Coors, which opened its own pilot brewpub in Denver’s Coors Field, subsequently creating the successful Blue Moon line, and in turn spawning the next generation of reinterpreters (Shock Top, Upland Wheat, Allagash, et al).
Pierre is gone now, but I bet he’d be utterly delighted that Witbier survives and thrives, as adaptively brewed and consumed in an Art-Deco building by a Savannah-influenced brewery, next to a fin-de-siècle industrial complex, amid a cantankerous old river town’s foremost revitalizing German neighborhood. F&D
(top) The Stallion — mortadella, salami, soppressata, pepperoni, provolone, lettuce, tomato, mayo and Italian vinaigrette on a toasted Legacy Bakery hoagie. (center) classic Caesar salad. (right) The Turkey — house-smoked Japanese dry rub turkey, Legacy French bread, garlic aioli, greens, tomato and smoked cheddar.
BY LELIA GENTLE | PHOTOS BY ANDY HYSLOP
Tis the Season Oysters
Often amusing but always intriguing, some foods are surrounded by legends. But are these legends really true? Perhaps they are just old myths or wives' tales? Maybe they are merely folklore? And how do these tales even get started? Many gain momentum through oral tradition and are passed down through generations. But often, there is a thread of truth at the core of the tale, and it is through telling and retelling that the legend eventually cultivates a life of its own. Take, for example, the notion that oysters should be eaten only during months that contain the letter “R.” Is that really a myth?
As it turns out, there is logic behind this presumed rumor. In reality, oysters are at their height of flavor during the colder months — September through April. So, during these cooler “R” months, waters are chillier, producing oysters that are saltier, brinier, firmer and packed with more flavor and texture
than their summer counterparts.
But during those warmer months, May through August, the months containing no “R”, there are two factors in play affecting the quality of the oysters: the waters are warmer, and the oysters are spawning. Spawning oysters tend to have a softer, milky, fatty texture and
less flavor. During the summer, they are certainly safe to eat but may not be quite as tasty.
Historically, oyster beds were closed during the summer to allow for natural replenishment, so at one time, there truly were no oysters available during those months. Fast forward to today when most oysters are farmed, meaning that harvests are carefully managed and rotated to ensure a steady twelvemonth supply.
Even with oysters now available yearround, they are at their height of popularity during the holidays — when the cold waters are yielding the best tasting oysters and folks are gathering around festive meals. Many Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s dinners often begin with a round of succulent oysters on the half shell. Also ranking high on the list of holiday favorites are oyster stews, scalloped oysters, and oyster dressing.
Traditional oyster stew is a timeless classic that can’t be beat, and I have certainly consumed my share over time. But I want to share an alternative oyster soup that has become one of my favorites, and just might become a
favorite for you as well. Years ago, a customer came into my shop, fresh from an annual oyster festival in Virginia. He had just returned from the festival’s oyster cook-off and was eager to share the prize-winning recipe. His one condition? I had to promise to make it exactly as written and to not even think about making any changes or tweaks until I tried it. I was curious, so I consented.
That very evening, I slipped into the back of our restaurant kitchen and prepared a batch of the soup, exactly as instructed. It was nothing like traditional oyster stews I had made before, but the finished product took me totally by surprise…it was just luscious! Paired with a crusty loaf from our neighbors at Lotsa Pasta, we devoured the entire pot of soup in record time. Interestingly, the soup included beef broth, something I would never have considered in a seafood dish. But the umami from the unlikely combina-
tion of beef broth and mushrooms worked brilliantly with the oysters.
Another local favorite here in Louisville is scalloped oysters — a dish I had not encountered before moving here. My first attempts at making it were mediocre at best. I thought I must be doing something wrong because so many customers raved over this dish and I was just not loving it. I did not understand the appeal. Eventually, a long-time customer, a real oyster enthusiast, shared her family recipe, and I was finally won over. Her version was so good that I took it to a large holiday potluck gathering that year. I knew the oysters were a hit when one gentleman — empty dish in hand — was wandering table to table asking who had made the oysters and could he please have the recipe?
What makes this recipe exceptional is its custardy texture. The secret? Assemble it the night before and bake it
the next day — somewhat like a savory strata or a bread pudding. And please do not try to skimp and use a lower fat milk or different crackers, it just won’t be the same. After all, it is the holidays — you likely won’t get this dish again until next year.
So remember, September through April are the prime oyster months. May, June, July and August, not so much. If you are lucky, you might even find a pearl at your holiday table. It won’t be valuable, real pearls come from a different type of oyster raised specifically for pearl production. But finding a pearl has long been considered a sign of good luck and prosperity.
But even without the supposed good fortune of finding a pearl, the rich flavor and taste of oysters is enough to make any day feel like a special occasion. Enjoy them now while the waters are cold and the oysters are brimming with flavor!
4 ounces Brie cheese, rind trimmed and cut into small cubes
2 cups half-and-half Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Chives, for garnish
Begin by reducing the cream sherry: simmer it in a small saucepan over medium heat until slightly thickened and reduced by half, about 10–15 minutes. While the sherry reduces, drain the oysters and set them aside.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, shallots, and lemon juice, cooking and stirring for about two minutes until the vegetables begin to soften. Sprinkle the mixture with flour and cook for one minute, stirring to remove the raw flour taste. Pour in the beef broth and the reduced sherry, stirring until the flour has dissolved into the liquid. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for 20 minutes so the flavors deepen. Stir in the Brie and allow it to melt smoothly into the soup. In a separate pot or in the microwave, warm the half-and-half just until hot (warming prevents curdling), then pour it into the soup. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat the mixture until very hot but not boiling. Turn off the heat, add the drained oysters, and cover the pot. Let the soup stand for about five minutes, or until the oysters are just plumped and cooked through.
Ladle into warm bowls, garnish with chives, and serve with crusty bread.
1 box salted saltine crackers, crushed into chunky pieces
Kosher salt
coarsely ground black pepper
½ cup butter
Worcestershire sauce
1 quart half and half, divided
Butter a 9×13-inch ovenproof glass casserole. Place the saltine crackers in a large zip-top bag and lightly crush them by hand, keeping the pieces chunky rather than finely ground. Assemble the casserole in two identical layers by scattering about one-third of the crushed crackers, adding half the oysters and drizzling some of their liquor over the crackers, dotting
with pats of butter, seasoning with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, and sprinkling the layer sparingly with Worcestershire sauce. Repeat the layering and finish the top with the remaining crushed saltines, then dot again with butter.
Pour half-and-half over the casserole until the mixture is just covered, gently pressing the top with the back of a spoon to be sure everything is moistened. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least six hours. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F, uncover the dish, add remaining half-and-half evenly over casserole and bake uncovered for about 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Serve hot.
Spread a 1/2-inch-thick layer of rock salt on a large baking sheet. Wash oysters well before shucking. Shuck oysters; remove oyster meat from shell, and place oysters in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate oysters until ready to use. After shucking the oysters, save the bottom side of the shells (they hold more than the top side), and nestle the shells into rock salt to stabilize; set aside at room temperature.
For the filling:
¼ cup butter
¼ cup finely chopped shallot
3 cloves finely chopped garlic
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
1½ cups chopped, cooked and drained spinach
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons Pernod Kosher salt coarsely ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika
2/3 cup buttery cracker crumbs (like Ritz or Club, crushed) divided
Melt 1/4 cup of the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally until soft and translucent, 4 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes more. Add anchovy paste, chopped spinach, parsley, Pernod and mix well. Season with salt, pepper and paprika. Remove from heat, and stir in 1/3 cup cracker crumbs. Set aside.
Assemble the oysters:
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated ¼ cup butter reserved cracker crumbs
Place one oyster in each shell. Top with about one tablespoon of the filling mixture. Sprinkle oysters evenly with remaining cracker crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Top each oyster with a dot of butter.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake in oven until edges of oysters’ curl and are plump and topping is golden and crispy around edges, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve immediately. F&D
A minor fire sparks a major reimagining at one of Louisville’s finest restaurants.
BY CARY STEMLE | PHOTOS BY DAN DRY
IIt’s the Saturday of Valentine’s Day weekend, a little after 9 p.m., and it’s storming outside. Inside Varanese Restaurant, no one seems to mind. The white tablecloth establishment is on its third seating, and everything is flowing.
In the corner of the main dining room that looks out on Frankfort Avenue, bandleader Jeff Sherman notices a little smoke coming through light fixtures. When it seeps through a doorjamb, he alerts managing partner David Allen, who traces the issue to a neon light on the façade outside.
Allen goes back inside to turn off a breaker, but it’s too late. A fire is smoldering between the roofline and ceiling. He calls the fire department and clears the restaurant.
Likely caused by a short circuit, the fire turns out to be relatively minor. But it provides the impetus for the restaurant’s first overhaul in 13 years, and within a couple months and without ever closing, Varanese has been remade with brand new interiors and a streamlined menu.
The work finally wrapped up in October. Early reviews are stellar.
Nothing was broken at Varanese. In its 18th year, the restaurant was still at the top of its game and still top of mind for Louisville foodies who love its fivestar experience at four-star prices. Diners were still posting photographs of their food on Instagram — one way Allen gauges an optimal guest experience — but maybe not quite all the time.
Regulars will notice substantial alterations. A large portrait of John Varanese in chef’s garb, with a goldembossed welcome note underneath, is among the first things guests see near the entrance. The lighting is all new, and the old orange-and-red color scheme has yielded to blues and grays. A small dining room, which formerly felt disconnected, has been remade and named for Varanese’s daughter, Capri. And in the dining area between the Capri room and the bar, now named for his son, Soran, the six-tops now feature larger bench seats.
Only two pre-existing artworks made the cut — a framed Louisville Business First story showing a babyfaced John Varanese shortly after opening, and a photograph of a horse head assemblage crafted from corks. New art leans into the restaurant’s farm-totable aesthetic, including mounted pizza plates that trace the life cycle of a bell pepper; large portraits with macro views of a beet, artichoke, oyster mushroom and romanesco; and a photograph of spoons filled with colorful spices. In a hallway past the bar, a neon wall fixture reading “Locally Sourced/Artfully Crafted/Seasonally Inspired” is mounted between two photos of Chef Varanese in action.
In the main dining room, a round mirror is framed by rolling pins, near a set of antique Turkish dough risers that resemble canoes. And the popular waterwall remains (surely, they didn’t get rid of that, one of my foodie friends opined), but now with a large copper V in the middle, new tile underneath and custom wallpaper with the chef-owner’s handwritten pork chop recipe from the early days.
The last renovations came in 2012, when leadership invested $100,000 to correct a handful of issues. “We have the food, we have the service, so it was time to bring the look up to the current age,” Allen says.
The menu updates involve a little addition, a little subtraction and a little revision. Longtime favorites like the pork chop, orange bourbon-glazed salmon, beef tips tortellini and angel hair bruschetta pasta are still anchors. A new item — prosciutto-wrapped veal stuffed with ricotta — harkens to the old prosciuttowrapped chicken stuffed with mozzarella. First offered at a Grgich Hills wine dinner, the new iteration is now on the menu by popular demand. A new
(top) Caramelized orange salmon. (center, from left) Lamb and goat cheese empanadas; warm feta cheese dip. (left) Bourbon barrel smoked pork chop with apple-bacon chutney.
feta cheese dip also reaches back in time, while the pecan-encrusted butterfish is an update on mahi-mahi, with sweet potato and sage risotto standing in for sweet potato mash. And, following current trends, the burger is now a smash burger.
“You have to listen to your customers,” Allen says.
Varanese knew the menu had grown unwieldy, but that didn’t make cutting old favorites any easier.
“The night before last,” he tells me, “I asked a table how everything was, and a woman said, ‘What happened to the sesame chicken?’ I'm like, ‘Sorry, it was a casualty.’ That's the hardest part about changing a menu.”
The deal that almost wasn’t
Given that Varanese has been one of Louisville’s top restaurants since it opened in 2007, it’s easy to forget how close it came to not happening.
John Varanese graduated from the renowned culinary program at Johnson and Wales University in Charleston and came to Louisville in 1998 to become executive chef at the now-defunct Azalea. A few years in, he stepped away to develop his own restaurant concept, which focused on the old Louisville Marina on River Road. In between, he signed onto a few local efforts, then became executive chef at the Cardinal Club for four years.
The River Road project eventually proved too ambitious, so Varanese pivoted to a plan to buy the popular Red Lounge on lower Frankfort. The deal was highly complex, with multiple lenders and plans for adding an all-season patio to the former service station, which had a historic designation. Varanese swallowed hard, leveraged everything he owned and opened on schedule.
“I paid myself $36,000 a year and ate ramen noodles for the first two years,” he said.
Making it to the top is one thing; staying there is another. Varanese’s tenacity is a key part of his success.
House cured meat and cheese tray
(left) Managing Partner David Allen and Chef/Owner John Varanese. (above, from left) Entrance to the Capri, the private dining room named for Varanese’s daughter; a view inside the Capri dining room. (below, from left) Jeff Sherman appears at Varanese six nights a week; the Soran private dining room named for Varanese’s son.
He grew up as a scrappy kid in Cleveland, and in his Scorpio view of the world, if you’re not winning, you’re losing. He’s not here for that.
He’s clearly comfortable going against the grain. He and Allen grew close when both worked at Azalea, and Allen later helped him transform the Cardinal Club into a destination dining spot. Hearing of the Red Lounge plan, Allen flatly said it was a bad idea.
“I told him not to do it, because everything on Frankfort is on the other side of the railroad tracks,” he recalled.
Varanese was right, of course, and within a year, Allen had rejoined his old friend as managing partner. He runs the front of the house.
“Chef John is absolutely brilliant,” Allen says. “There are amazing chefs all over the country, but if you can’t manage your labor costs, your food costs, you can’t stay in business. He works six days a week, 10-hour days. He’s great at managing food; he doesn’t have waste. He’s back in that walk-in, touching everything, figuring out how to cross-utilize, how to put it into a special. He knows exactly what he has, what he needs to prep for the next day, what he’s getting low on, what he needs to move out. He has command of every little thing.”
Varanese strives for continuity. Bartender Rory McAllister, whom Allen calls his right-hand man, joined within the first year. Dishwasher Mariana Rosales has been there since day one. So has Maricella Ramirez, the head line cook.
“(Maricella) is the only person who does the bulk of prep work, whether it's making the breadsticks or many of the menu items, so it's consistent. It's one person with their one interpretation of a recipe versus having five or six different prep people who all have a different interpretation.”
Says Varanese: “If you can't grow and build teams, I don't think you execute as well as you can.”
He never gave up on the River Road site, and in 2016, his second restaurant, River House, opened there. Focused on seafood, it’s larger and easy to find off I-71 at Zorn Avenue, making it ideal for out-of-towners and the business crowd.
By contrast, Varanese is nearly hidden in the Clifton neighborhood, along a corridor packed with independent businesses. The customer base is local, and longterm relationships are formed. “When Rory sees you come in the door,” Allen quips, “he’ll have your drink ready before your butt hits the seat.”
Open seven days a week for dinner, Varanese takes on a stunning range of things to create a sustainable whole. Years ago, at the Cardinal Club, John Varanese bumped into Sherman, who was there to perform at an event. The young chef told the Louisville jazz guitar legend that
one day he would hire him for a regular gig — and he did. Sherman — in duo or trio form —appears at Varanese six nights a week (and sometimes twice on Sundays).
Monthly prix fixe dinner events — one built around wine and another highlighting bourbon — typically sell out. Martini Mondays, featuring $5 martinis, have been around a while, as has Service Night Sunday when their industry friends get discounts after 8 p.m. Rehearsal dinners? Check. Need a turducken for the holidays? Look nowhere else.
Get out those phones
After speaking with Varanese and Allen, it was time to see what chef de cuisine Ken Barnett and sous chef Jared Ingram had cooking. I snagged an early Friday night reservation, joined by wife Andrea and neighbor Denise and feeling pretty sure I was about to get lucky, culinarily speaking.
In black pants and black shirt with a tucked red tie, our server Drew could tell we were the joking sort, so he met our silliness with a proper mix of seriousness and repartee, advising on dishes that could be veganized. We awakened our palates with a plate of bruschetta (complimentary, something many restaurants have moved away from), then shared an appetizer — a huge batch of scrumptious Brussels sprouts with pickled red onions that lasted through the main course.
Varanese is Denise’s favorite local restaurant, and she confidently went for the salmon. “Perfectly cooked,” she reported, and added that the accompanying cream cheese grits created “a perfect juxtaposition of tastes.”
The kitchen happily modified Andrea’s grilled vegetable entree, adding smoky, crunchy potatoes and asparagus to a vibrant plate of spinach, peppers and squash. I liberated her mushrooms (wink) and added them to my angel hair pasta, which included a generous amount of squash with an impeccable tomato reduction.
The food, service and ambiance were perfect, and a rich cup of delicate espresso was a great complement for off-thecharts mocha crème brulée and chocolate lava cake. As we settled up, I finally reached the bottom of the burnt lemon Old Fashioned I’d nursed all night and giddily munched down the Morello cherries waiting there — a fine way to cap off an amazing 90 minutes.
On the way home, Denise gave the new Varanese experience two thumbs up, and I thought about something Allen recounted from his corporate days at TGI Friday’s:
“A senior VP once told me a restaurant doesn't fall apart in one day,” Allen said. “It falls apart a little at a time. You start buying cheaper ingredients, and it’s one little piece of that dollar bill. Then you're skimping on silverware or glassware because you didn't want to buy another case. Your staff isn't as friendly as they were when you opened. Everything's a tiny piece. Suddenly, you say, ‘What happened? We used to do all these numbers, and now we're ready to close?’ And it's about making sure you don't forget what got you there.”
So long as Chef Varanese is at the helm, there seems to be little chance of that happening. So, when you go (and I can’t recommend it heartily enough), be sure to charge your phone, because you will definitely want to take pictures .F&D
STORY AND PHOTOS BY HEATHER WIBBELS
TurnItUp
Warming Cocktails for Sweater Weather
When the temperature drops, I want nothing more than a cozy house, a hot drink to warm my fingers, and a few friends nibbling on sweet, seasonal snacks. Batching warm cocktails for those chilly days perfumes the house with spices and spirits - and those rich scents and tastes? They’re best shared. I’ll bring the recipes, you bring the company.
My parents, both handweavers, hosted an annual home show for friends and customers. My mom always made sure the house smelled like her legendary hot wassail: apple cider, cranberry juice, a heavy dose of spices, and so much sugar it made your teeth ache. With '70s and '80s styles trending again, it feels like the right moment to bring back slow cooker cocktails. They're easy to prepare, effortless to garnish, and perfect for keeping warm all evening. You can batch them ahead, leave them on WARM, and spend your night curled up with friends, books, or even your favorite furry companions. Bonus: they store well, make great gifts, and reheat beautifully. Even better: they are easy to save and store in the fridge to heat up again for quiet winter nights.
There are always a few gotchas when working with cocktails to make sure they’re at their best. Warm cocktails are no different. First, keep all the ingredients and the glassware warm. A cold mug turns the hottest toddy into a tepid disappointment. Warm glassware in a heat cycle in your dishwasher or keep them in a warmed (but turned off) oven. Second, don’t simmer or boil your hot drinks. Alcohol evaporates below water’s boiling point; you’ll cook off the spirit, leaving a sad excuse for a cocktail. Finally, choose medium proof spirits for hot cocktails. Anything over 95 proof makes the spirit hot and aggressive, even diluted in a cocktail. Steer towards mid and lower-proof spirits for warm drinks.
This season’s recipes lean international: a chili-laced Mexican spiced coffee, a citrusy Britishstyle toddy, a German Glühwein riff, a caramelboosted American cider, and a coconut creamy Indian chai latte. So get out your slow cooker or large saucepan and let’s heat it up.
Add sugar, cider, thin orange peel (no pith), juice from the oranges and spices to a saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a slow cooker on LOW and add wine. Heat to steaming and turn the slow cooker to WARM. Do not boil after adding the wine to preserve flavor and alcohol. Serve with an orange wheel and cinnamon stick as garnish.
Add cider, spices, and orange slices to a slow cooker. Heat on LOW until steaming, stirring occasionally. Switch to WARM, stir in spirits and bitters, and serve in warmed mugs with an orange wheel or cinnamon stick.
2 Tbsp ancho chili powder (or sub mild chili powder or chipotle powder)
¼ tsp salt
9 oz dark chocolate (70%+ dark chocolate)
5 cups strong coffee
1¾ cups reposado tequila
½ cup creme de cacao or coffee liqueur
Garnish: whipped cream, grated chocolate, or cinnamon stick
Add milk, piloncillo, spices, chili, and salt to a slow cooker. Heat on LOW until steaming, about 45 minutes, stirring often but not boiling. Strain if desired, then add chopped chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Add hot coffee, switch to WARM, stir in tequila and liqueur, and serve topped with whipped cream, grated chocolate, or a dusting of chili powder.
7 cups strong brewed hot tea (Earl Grey, ginger, or cinnamon)
2 cups Irish whiskey or bourbon (80 proof)
½ cup honey
½ cup lemon juice
Garnish: Lemon twists or cinnamon sticks
Combine hot tea and honey in a slow cooker on LOW. Stir until the honey dissolves and it’s steaming. Switch to WARM and add whiskey. Serve hot in mugs (about 7 oz each) with optional garnish.
Garnish with cinnamon stick, star anise, optional whipped cream and spice dusting. Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker and heat on LOW until steaming. Switch to WARM for service. Ladle into warmed mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick or star anise. F&D
Feliz Mocha-dad
Chailicious
oki Masubuchi brings her Osaka roots to the Highlands, sharing the flavors that shaped her life.
BY ROGER BAYLOR | PHOTOS BY DAN DRY
I’ve been thinking about a holiday in Osaka, and you’re invited to join me.
There’s a castle and a Shinto shrine; the Dotonbori entertainment district; plenty of history to explore; and enough surrounding countryside to roam on a day trip outside the urban mass.
We’ll need between 19 and 25 hours to fly from Louisville to Osaka, and not exactly at an inexpensive price point, so let’s avoid quibbling. Just put it on your credit card, and I’ll pay you back in takoyaki once we’re on the ground.
Most flights arrive in the evening, and we’ll be deposited at our hotel utterly exhausted, ready for an immediate 12-hour power nap before rising refreshed and enthused in the morning, eager to see all the sights with the timely assistance of Osaka’s extensive public transportation network.
But first, about that persistent, assertive rumbling noise. It sounds like distant thunder, or the sound the dog makes when the mail carrier comes around; maybe it’s the low end of Japan’s inevitable J-Pop, or the faint echo of otohime, a word that means “sound princess” (now, run off and Google it).
Or, maybe the percussion is our stomachs serving notice that it is past time for them to be refilled, hence the reason why we came to Osaka in the first place, because the city is known as “Japan’s Kitchen,” also boasting the best-ever civic mantra for food lovers: "Kuidaore," which can be translated as "eat until you drop" or "eat yourself bankrupt."
Verily, it’s my kind of place.
Chef & Owner Toki Masubuchi
Osaka’s municipal menu card is extensive, accessible and pervasive: street food and izakayas (casual pubs serving drinks and small dishes), conventional restaurants specializing in familiar items like ramen, soba and udon, steakhouses offering Wagyu beef grilled over charcoal, and of course sushi. Osaka is noted for box sushi (pressed, not rolled), and conveyor belt sushi actually was invented there.
Theoretically, we might even opt for burgers, pizza, or tacos. They’re available, but why go all the way to Osaka to eat the same way we already do in Louisville? The whole point of traveling is to dine and drink like the natives, which in the case of Osaka suggests consuming dishes like okonomiyaki, kushikatsu and yakitori, and chasing them with sake.
(The aforementioned takoyaki? They’re octopus balls, another Osaka specialty, and no, it’s not what you think. The octopus is minced and rolled into what we might call croquettes or hush puppies.)
Better still, as we plan this journey to Osaka pennies having been abolished, our piggy banks are suitably morose it is possible to do much of our culinary homework right here in Louisville, where Osaka-style fare is being served at a new eatery in Tyler Park called HaiFry, as devised and dished by a bona fide native of Osaka.
All except the takoyaki, that is. Might catfish be substituted for octopus?
If you’ve been reading this magazine the past two decades, you’ll already have guessed the restaurateur’s identity: Toki Masubuchi. She debuted HaiFry in June, 2025 in the very same building that originally housed her Dragon King’s Daughter eatery.
When I asked Masubuchi to describe HaiFry in a single sentence, she barely hesitated: “It’s regional soul food where I am from, in Osaka.”
Guide Who Knows the Way
If it were possible, I’d happily enlist Masubuchi to guide us during the Japan trip, seeing as she’s experienced showing Americans around her home land. In the run-up to HaiFry, she again took her staff members to Osaka so they could see the city’s food and drink scene for themselves; the first field trip was a few years back, when DKD changed locations in New Albany.
Cultural education in the workplace? It’s another reason why we might as well designate Masubuchi as a one-woman Osaka consulate in Louisville, as well as further corroboration for
the airtight case I’m building that if Louisville ever inaugurates a restaurateur’s hall of fame, she’s in it.
Masubuchi came to Kentucky from Osaka in the early 1990s to learn English, attend college and study communications. Like young people everywhere, what she wanted most of all was to find out who she really was, and to make her own place in the world.
Her culinary career began serendipitously in 2001, when she first started crafting take-out sushi atop a back counter at the old Bardstown Road Seafood Connection. Not long after that, in 2004, Masubuchi opened the storied Maido Essential Japanese on Frankfort Avenue, introducing Louisville to her own interpretations of traditional izakaya-style eateries, and winning acclaim for superb sushi, small plates and outstanding beverage offerings.
In 2009 came the first iteration of Dragon King’s Daughter in the Highlands. There Masbuchi displayed a flair for adventurous fusion cuisine, while remaining linked with Japanese traditions. She sold Maido in 2010 (it closed two years later) to focus her attention on DKD, which by 2013 had expanded to New Albany. The cool quasi-Osaka-dive bar Kaiju followed in Germantown.
In 2018, when Masabuchi relocated New Albany’s Dragon King’s Daughter to the heart of the city, it was immediately obvious that her vision had taken another quantum leap with the addition of a traditional Japanese robatayaki (or robata) area, where customers watch as meats, fish and vegetables are charcoal-grilled before their eyes.
Honestly, it floored me.
The room seemed under-decorated, defined by shades of black and gray: lacking ornamentation apart from strategically placed house plants. Normally such darkness restricts. But here it felt spacious, perhaps owing to the absence of wall hangings. It gradually dawned on me that Dragon King’s Daughter’s customers were intended as the décor: all the better to encourage a communal vibe.
In late 2022, the original Dragon King’s Daughter in Louisville moved four blocks down into the extensively remodeled former quarters of Café Mimosa in Bonnycastle, paving the way for the complete overhaul necessary to launch HaiFry.
HaiFry’s relatively compact floor plan is defined by large windows that reveal the constant motion of Bardstown Rd.’s streetscape. Lower walls are wainscoted in glowing white tile, accented in wood; upper walls are painted a soft green, with vintage advertisements in Japanese atmospherically posted around the room. Menu items written in Japanese have been nicely printed, framed and mounted on wooden placards, arranged along one wall. Lines are clean, and the overall feeling is efficiently minimalist but comfortable.
According to Masubuchi, the number of HaiFry’s Japanese customers continues to nudge up, some of
them traveling regularly to Louisville from surrounding states. It’s hard to imagine a more meaningful seal of approval.
It is my belief that Masubuchi has been playing a long game of cultural and culinary acclimatization from the start, preparing us in gradual stages over a quarter century’s time for fruition in the form of HaiFry (the name might mean, “Hello, we’re frying,” or it might not) as our Osaka-away-from-home. It makes me want to travel there all the more.
First, let’s have a look at what’s for supper.
oul Food, Osaka-Style
“I had a time in my life when I wasn’t able to go out to eat,” Masubuchi told me. “I didn’t have the extra money, and when you can't enjoy things because of financial burdens, you become withdrawn and depressed.
“So, I just want to be the place where you can go casually, anytime you want. I want to be the place, like if you’re broke, you can still come in, spend $10 and then go home uplifted. And then I really do feel that it’s my way of creating something good for the community.”
The goodness begins with Kushikatsu, Osaka’s deepfried, panko-breaded skewers. At HaiFry, these skewers generally come with three bite-sized chunks of meat, seafood or vegetables impaled on each stick (conversely, an asparagus stalk serves as its own skewer).
Edibles range from the basic (chicken, shrimp, onion or mushroom) through the slightly more exotic: quail eggs, mochi, tofu or cream puffs, the latter doubling as
(top) Negiyaki. (center) Curry Fried Rice. (below, from left) Fried oysters with a frozen citrus chuhai; butatama; Sho Chiku Bai Classic Junmai sake.
the menu’s only dessert items. The adventurous may opt for omakase, implying the chef’s choice; it means “I’ll leave it up to you.” Kushikatsu also can become Bento Box components.
And, if you’re like me and drink ice water with most meals, five omakase skewers for $8 each and a 25% gratuity total…that’s right, ten dollars.
HaiFry’s small plates and shareables are gathered together as Otsumami, a dozen small dishes to accompany drinks, similar to Spanish tapas. Among these are asparagus gomae in sesame sauce, fried oysters, grilled yamaimo (mountain yam) and doteyaki, simmered beef tendon.
Japanese curry sauce is milder and sweeter, with a brownish-hued, gravy-like consistency. HaiFry serves Curry Rice steamed, straight up with sauce or as Katsu Curry, adding a panko-fried pork cutlet.
Fried Rice is stir-fried with butter and soy, with five variants: veggie, kimchi, curry, tarako (pollock roe) or soba meshi (chopped yakisoba noodles and yakisoba sauce).
As a main course, Yakisoba is stir-fried noodles with cabbage, carrot and spinach, finished with aonori (seaweed flakes), benishoga (pickled ginger), and katsuobushi, an umami-generating super garnish of simmered, smoked and fermented skipjack tuna, shaved so thin that it literally writhes in the slightest of breezes. Top with a sauce (soy & butter, yakisoba or shio), and consider an add-on protein.
Okonomiyaki, the famous Osaka-style savory pancake, is prepared with dashi batter, cabbage, green onion, benishoga, egg and tenkasu (crunchy bits of tempura batter). Dashi is a soup stock made from katsuobushi and kombu (dried kelp), stirred into okonomiyaki’s flour base. The batter and ingredients are mixed, and they hit the griddle together; when the pancake is finished, it’s time to consider add-ins and toppings. Conversely, there are four HaiFry signature pancakes: The Osaka (basic), Butatama (with pork), Negiyaki (extra green onion) and Modanyaki (yakisoba noodles).
There are more than 50 eateries in metropolitan Louisville that serve sushi — but HaiFry doesn’t. Masubuchi’s intent with HaiFry is to illustrate the theory and practice of konamon, Osaka’s flour-based cuisine, and sushi doesn’t fit the paradigm; after all, there’s always DKD for those craving Tofoo Fighters roll.
HaiFry’s bar area is visually pleasing, albeit decidedly modest compared with many around town (those elegantly clean lines again), as equipped with a few stools, four draft lines, and a sleek dispenser for Suntory Toki (“time”), a premixed Japanese highball with blended whisky, soda water and ice. Alas, the dispenser recently has been incapacitated, so it’s back to a bartender’s hand-made cocktail.
Shôchû is a beverage distilled from combinations of rice, barley, sweet potatoes, buckwheat and brown sugar; chûhai
is the abbreviation for a shôchû highball. Sake is more familiar to Western ears. It is a traditionally fermented alcoholic beverage made from rice by means of a process similar to brewing, using yeast and a mold called koji. Then there’s junmai genshu, draft sake with a higher alcohol content.
As for conventional beer, Japanese brewers come as close to technical perfection as any in the world, and HaiFry’s house flagship, Kirin Ichiban Lager, is clean, crisp (and as the kids say), crushable. Lately one of the other beer taps has been held by an Awry Brewing–HaiFry collaboration India Pale Ale.
eeping Louisville Weird – And Well-Fed
Masubuchi remains bullish on Tyler Park and the “Highlands,” which much of the time is better regarded as an allegorical term, as opposed to the geographical.
“We wanted to do this in the Highlands,” Masubuchi said, “and at this location, because it’s the original DKD. We had other ideas, like fast food kinds of things, and we discussed them. But it’s in the Highlands, and we wanted to make it unique to Louisville, and the region – you know, like keeping it a little weird.”
In this context, “weird’ and “unique” are synonyms; “Keep Louisville Weird” is a slogan associated with the Louisville Independent Business Alliance (LIBA).
At a time when locally-owned businesses are facing significant challenges, including escalating operating costs, labor fluctuations, competition from corporate chains and franchises, and generalized economic uncertainty, the pursuit of weirdness is absolutely critical; if anyone can keep the Highlands unique, it’s our favorite Osaka transplant and Louisville food and drink hall-of-famer, Toki Masubuchi.
In closing, just for fun, examine the following list of world cities and consider a question: Which quality unites these otherwise disparate destinations?
Take your time and think about it; cue the music from Final Jeopardy. If you wish to spin an old-fashioned spherical globe while contemplating, that’s even better, as it always reminds us of Charlie Chaplin’s brilliant satire, The Great Dictator.
Each of these cities is third-largest in population within its current geopolitical configuration, but more importantly, each city is considered a, and perhaps “the,” culinary capital of its nation. Chengdu is the gateway to Sichuan cuisine, and Naples a springboard for pizza.
Concepción is renowned for fresh seafood, and Chicago the sort of place where Old Style beer and loaded hot dogs go together like stockyards and angioplasty.
Osaka?
It’s a port city that benefited from seaborne trade, as well as proximity to agricultural lands. During the Edo period, Osaka enjoyed privileged status as a merchant city, eventually becoming home to the first futures market in the world. For all of this, Japanese outside Osaka occasionally malign the city as fat, sassy, and too obsessed with eating for its own damn good.
Be still, my throbbing heart. When’s our flight? F&D
entertaining EASY
BY TIM & LORI LAIRD PHOTOS BY DAN DRY
STis the Season for Recipes to warm your soul
oup is winter’s embrace in edible form. It is the season’s most faithful comfort — a quiet ritual that warms both hands and spirit. From silky tomato bisque to hearty vegetable stew to a deeply satisfying chicken noodle, a steaming bowl offers warmth from the inside out. The gentle rise of aroma, the soft fog of heat against your face, the first slow spoonful — all signal the sense of ease we crave when the cold settles in.
Soup’s beauty lies in its range. It can be nourishing or indulgent, brothy or velvety, simple in its purity or layered with slow-building flavor. It adapts effortlessly, equally suited for a quiet night in or a table surrounded by friends.
To bring this seasonal comfort to life, we asked two guest chefs who truly know their way around a bowl of soup to share three unique recipes each — the kind most home cooks may have never tried, but will instantly want to recreate.
Shannon McDonald-Foster of Crave Café brings 35 years of experience to her kitchen, where more than 40 rotating soups shape a menu rooted in scratch cooking and genuine hospitality. Her selections reflect her signature warmth — thoughtful, flavorful, and deeply satisfying.
Balancing that grounded approach is the expressive creativity of Angie Marshall of Starving Artist Café. Now in its 24th year, her restaurant is fueled by instinct and imagination,
guided by the 145 soup recipes she carries entirely in her head. Her soups feel bold, personal, and joyfully unpredictable.
Together, these chefs offer a delicious spectrum of inspiration — bowls that celebrate both comfort and curiosity.
The Perfect Winter Duo: Soup & Grilled Cheese
Few culinary comforts rival the timeless pairing of warm soup and grilled cheese. Together, they form a simple winter ritual — crisp, golden bread alongside a steaming bowl of comfort. Familiar and satisfying, it’s a duo that never loses its appeal.
A grilled cheese may be deceptively simple, but its potential is undeniable. Golden, crisp bread yielding to a molten center makes it the perfect companion for soup.
For gatherings, turn this classic into an experience with a grilled cheese station where guests build their own. Offer breads such as sourdough, brioche, or multigrain, paired with cheeses like cheddar, Gruyère, mozzarella, or Gouda. Add proteins like bacon, ham, salami, and pepperoni, and finish with toppings such as tomatoes, roasted peppers, green apple, and pear to bring contrast and creativity.
Paired with a chef-crafted soup, this interactive setup becomes a natural gathering point — warm, casual, and perfectly in tune with the spirit of the season.
Combine the chopped celery, onion, minced garlic, salt, pepper, onion powder, granulated garlic, and chicken broth in a large stockpot and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Once they’re soft, remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheese tortellini and fresh spinach. Cover the pot and allow the tortellini to cook gently in the residual heat of the broth until the pasta is tender and the spinach has fully wilted.
In a large pot, combine the butter, chopped portabella mushrooms, minced garlic, beef base, marsala cooking wine, and enough water to cover the mixture. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender. Whisk in the flour until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken, then season with the celery salt, black pepper, granulated garlic, and onion powder. Pour in the heavy cream and half & half, reduce the heat to medium, and continue cooking—stirring frequently—until the bisque thickens to your desired consistency, about 30 to 40 minutes.
(above, from left) Tim and Lori Laird, Angie Marshall of Starving Artist Café and Shannon McDonald-Foster of Crave Café
1 cup flour
1½ cups chopped lettuce
1½ cups chopped tomatoes
1½ cups chopped bacon
4-5 cooked red potatoes
1 pound cooked ground beef
16 ounces Velveeta cheese
1 quart heavy cream
1 quart half & half
1 tablespoon celery salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon granulated garlic
1 tablespoon onion powder
In a Dutch oven or stock pot, combine the diced carrots, onion, red bell pepper, jarred jalapeño with its juice, minced garlic, chicken base, beef base, ham base, and water. Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are tender. Whisk in the flour and continue stirring until the mixture thickens. Add the chopped lettuce, tomatoes, and bacon, stirring to combine. Stir in the cooked red potatoes and ground beef, then add the Velveeta cheese along with the heavy cream and half & half. Continue stirring until the cheese melts and the soup becomes smooth. Season with the celery salt, black pepper, granulated garlic, and onion powder. Increase the heat to medium-high and whisk frequently, allowing the soup to thicken, about 45 minutes.
1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked and chopped
Salt, to taste
½ cup coconut milk
Optional additions: 2 cups cooked rice or egg noodles
Optional finish: ½ cup milk, tempered
In a large pot, bring the chicken stock to a boil and stir in the curry powder. Add the chopped onion, diced apples, carrots, chicken, and salt, then simmer over medium-high heat until the apples are tender but not mushy. Stir in the coconut milk and, if you like, add cooked rice or egg noodles. If using milk as a finishing touch, warm it gently to temper it before stirring it into the soup just before serving. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, and serve hot.
½ bag egg noodles (fromastandard 12–16ozbag;use6–8oz)
1 bag fresh spinach (typically6–10oz; eithersizeworks)
Salt, to taste
In a large pot, combine the soy sauce, Thai paste, sugar, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for several minutes to develop flavor, adding a splash more water if the broth becomes too strong. While the broth simmers, sauté the sliced mushrooms until tender and lightly browned, then add them to the pot and return the mixture to a boil. Stir in the egg noodles and fresh spinach, cooking until the noodles are tender and the spinach has fully wilted. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding salt if needed, and serve hot.
1 pound boneless, skinless smoked sausage, cut into chunks
1 tablespoon dried tarragon
Bring the water to a boil in a large pot and stir in the chicken base along with salt and pepper. Add the diced red potatoes and drained carrots, simmering until the potatoes are fork-tender. Stir in the smoked sausage pieces and the dried tarragon, then bring the stew back to a gentle boil. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, or chicken base if needed. Serve hot, with crusty bread for dipping if you like. F&D
Portobello Mushroom Bisque Smoked Sausage Stew
dining guide
Cuisine Style
African..............................65
Asian/Chinese..................65
Asian/Filipino...................66
Asian/Japanese...............66
Asian/Korean...................67
Asian/Thai........................68
Asian/Vietnamese............68
Bar & Grill/Taphouse........60
Barbecue.........................57
Breakfast .........................53
Burgers/Chicken/Dogs.....51
Cafés...............................53
Cafeterias/Buffet..............60
Cajun/Creole....................68
Casual Dining..................54
Coffee/Tea Houses..........76
Cuban/Caribbean.............69
Desserts/Bakery..............75
Diner/Home Style.............59
Alphabetical Index
Restaurants Listed Alphabetically — Followed by PAGE NUMBER, CUISINE STYLE, MAP NUMBER(s) [ ] denotes unmapped multiple locations.
Entertainment Dining.......64
European/French.............69 European/Irish.................69 European/Italian...............69 European/Spanish...........70 Fine Dining.......................46
Gastropub........................51 Health & Wellness............54 Indian...............................70 Latin American .................71
Wild Hops Bourbon Bar & Lounge64Microbreweries / Wine Bars13
Wild Swann48Upscale Casual1
Williams Bakery76Desserts / Bakery16
Wiltshire Pantry Bakery and Café53Cafes1, 2
Wingstop52Burgers / Chicken / Dogs4,10,12
Witches Brew Coffee77Coffee / Tea Houses2
WNB Factory52Burgers / Chicken / Dogs3
Wologisi Restaurant65African9
World of Beer51Gastropub8
YachtSea62Bar & Grill / Taphouse1
Yamato Japanese Steak House67Asian / Japanese15
Yellow Cactus74Mexican2,10,15
Yen Ching66Asian / Chinese10
Yi Omakase67Asian / Japanese2
Yoki Buffet66Asian / Chinese10
Yonutz76Desserts / Bakery4
Yummi Thai Restaurant68Asian / Thai15
Yummy Bowl67Asian / Japanese10, 16
Yummy Pollo71Latin American13
Zanzabar63Bar & Grill / Taphouse13
Za's Pizza57Pizza2
Zaxby's52Burgers / Chicken / Dogs4,8,12,14,15,18
Sarino70European / Italian13
Schlotzky's Deli58Sandwich / Deli8
Scooter's Coffee77Coffee / Tea Houses4,12,13,14
Seasoned Pub & Grill62Bar & Grill / Taphouse5
The Fishery50Seafood11
The Food Peddler60Southern / Soul Food15
The Fox Den62Bar & Grill / Taphouse3
The Goose59Diner / Home Style4
Ziba's Bistro49New American / Bistro13
Zoe's Kitchen71Mediterranean/Middle Eastern8
Zombie Taco74Tacos / Burritos1
GUIDE KEY
Average Entrée Price:
$$$$ = under $10
$$$$ = $10-$15
$$$$ = $16- $24
$$$$ = $25 & up
=
= Advertiser
ALL RESTAURANTS ARE LOCATED IN LOUISVILLE, KY
(unless noted otherwise)
All phone numbers in KENTUCKY use area code 502
All phone numbers in INDIANA use area code 812
211 CLOVER LANE RESTAURANT 211 Clover Ln., 8969570. Tucked away since 1993 across the railroad tracks in St. Matthews amid a little cluster of upscale shops, the throwback 211 Clover Lane rewards those in the know with quiet drinks in an elegant lounge (or the outdoor patio) and impeccable seasonal menus served atop genuine white tablecloths. $$$$ D pf
610 MAGNOLIA 610 Magnolia Ave., 636-0783. Since taking over this Old Louisville landmark restaurant in 2004, Edward Lee has become a Food TV fixture and opened several new restaurants. Jeff Potter the Executive Chef at this perennial top table and continues the adventurous prix-fixe menu. $$$$ D pf
BARN8 10500 W. US Hwy 42, 398-9289. Laura Lee Brown’s and Steve Wilson’s newest project is an ongoing refashioning of their Hermitage Farm as an agro-tourism destination. Building number 8 of the historic thoroughbred stable (where Dark Star, who defeated Native Dancer in the 1953, was foaled) is now a restaurant open to the public. Diners may choose to dine at private tables (in the stalls) or rent the Hayloft for parties up to 200. An eclectic menu features heirloom, local and seasonal ingredients drawn heavily from the farm’s own extensive gardens. $$$$ D pf
BUCK’S 425 W. Ormsby Ave., 637-5284. This elegant, understated dining room has been an upscale lunch and dinner destination since 1992, an Old Louisville institution that draws patrons from across the city. The lavish white flowers in the bar remain, as does the crispy fish and spicy noodles on the menu. Also on the menu are well-made traditional dishes: fried chicken livers and shrimp cocktail, Bibb lettuce salad, filet mignon and seafood rigatoni. $$$ L D pf
DECADE 1076 E. Washington St., 749-0110. Former Decca coowner Chad Sheffield, Executive Chef Andy Myers, and Chef de Cuisine Matt Johnson got the band back together, reworking the old Butchertown Grocery premises and branding their project as Decade in a purposeful nod to their collective past in NuLu. The motif is American fine dining with myriad international influences, boasting an upstairs event space dubbed “b side.” $$$$ D pf
HEIRLOOM CHEF’S TABLE 9448 Norton Commons Blvd., 822-1184. There are only 6 tables at this suburban outlet for United Catering. Chef Ryan Smith creates multi-course meals for small groups, emphasizing foods from local purveyors. $$$$ D p
JACK FRY’S 1007 Bardstown Rd., 452-9244. Inside its unprepossessing exterior is one of Louisville’s longest-running top tables. Seating is tight but the food is consistently excellent. Chef Duncan Williams has continued classic menu items that regulars love (crab cakes, shrimp and grits) and
worked in newer items (braised pork shank, squash risotto). $$$$ L D p
SEVICHE A LATIN RESTAURANT 1538 Bardstown Rd., 4738560. Chef Anthony Lamas’ menu offers an eclectic range of Latin American dishes in addition to its namesake, the Latino seafood dish “cooked” in tart citrus juices. Continuing to get notice throughout the Southeast for his imaginative cooking, he is setting a standard of cool for the Bardstown Road eating scene. $$$$ D pf
SWIZZLE 140 N. Fourth St. (The Galt House), 252-2500. The Galt House replaces Rivue, its 25th floor restaurant, with Swizzle, a retro-meets-modern redesigned room with a menu focused on steaks, chops and sustainable seafood served up from the open-concept exhibition kitchen in the middle of the restaurant, allowing diners to watch the action. The retro beverage program will focus on classic cocktails, with seasonal specials. $$$$ D p
VINCENZO’S 150 S. Fifth St., 580-1350. Founded in 1986 and known for its suave professional service, high-end Northern Italian fare and many trademark dishes finished at tableside, Vincenzo’s continues to hold its own amid a constantly changing downtown scene. Those hits (Toasted Ravioli Diavolo, Pasta Cacciatore, Crepes Agostino) just keep on coming, along with a regular garnering of plaudits: the 50 best Italian restaurants in America list (Yahoo, 2020) and a 2022 AAA Four Diamond Award, among others. $$$$ L D pf
THE 1894 LODGE 409 E. Main St., New Washington IN, 6289006. This ambitious restaurant, housed in a historic building a not-too-distant trek up State 62, offers two different dining rooms and a bar area. The menu has some typical bar fare (burgers, chicken tenders, sandwiches), but also some less usual items: Korean salmon, bone-in pork chop, Cajun pasta. $$$ D pf
8UP ELEVATED DRINKERY AND KITCHEN 350 W. Chestnut St., 631-4180. This rooftop restaurant and bar above the Hilton Garden Inn has three elegant areas - an upscale casual dining room, the bar with a separate kitchen and menu, and an expansive outdoor patio that overlooks downtown. The bar kitchen’s two wood-fired ovens offer small plates to nibble while sipping; the main kitchen overseen by Executive Chef Henry Wesley serves fine dinners. $$$ B D pf
ASPEN CREEK RESTAURANT 8000 Bardstown Rd., 2392200. A lodge-style restaurant that invokes the rustic feel of the Rockies, and offers a menu of pastas, burgers, and poultry at prices that aren’t mountain high. $$ L D p
BEYOND THE SUN 1023 Bardstown Rd., 384-1433. Highlands restaurant and lounge from Amet Bullaudy and the team at Sol Aztecas, features American and international cuisine
(burgers, tacos, wings and more), 50 draft beer lines, cocktails, a second-floor patio and nightly entertainment. $$$ D pf
BLACK RABBIT 122 Sears Ave., 897-9721. Using the longtime Equus in St. Matthews as a springboard, Black Rabbit changed ownership in 2024 but remains a speakeasy-themed “behind the bookcase” experience, serving small plates, main courses, flatbreads and desserts, along with craft cocktails, top-end bourbon and an extensive wine list. $$$ D pf
BLACKSTONE GRILLE 9521 U.S. 42, 228-6962. Long-time restaurateur Rick Dissell’s comfortable, casual restaurant in the Prospect Center continues to please regulars and to find new fans. The menu offers sandwiches and an array of bistro entrées — pasta, seafood, beef and chicken, including fried chicken livers and “light” fried chicken. $$$ Br D pf
BRAVO! 206 Bullitt Ln. (Oxmoor Center), 326-0491. Management describes the Ohio-based Bravo! chain as “a fun, whitetablecloth casual eatery … positioned between the fine-dining and casual chains.” A Roman-ruin setting houses abundant Italian-American style fare. We particularly enjoyed appetizers and first-rate grilled meats. $$ Br L D pf
BRISTOL BAR & GRILLE 1321 Bardstown Rd., 456-1702, 300 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 426-0627, 614 W. Main St., 582-1995. A cornerstone of Louisville’s restaurant renaissance, Bristol started three decades ago on Bardstown Road. Now, with three venues around town, diners can always find dependable pub grub, eclectic entrées, and evergreen standards like the greenchile won tons and the Bristol Burger. $$ Br L D pf
CHARR’D BOURBON KITCHEN & LOUNGE 1903 Embassy Square Blvd. (Marriott Louisville East), 491-1184. The J’town Marriott Hotel’s restaurant is on the Urban Bourbon Trail. The eclectic menu offers classic American and Kentucky fare with many dishes that incorporate some of the bar’s 75 offerings of Bourbon. $$$ Br L D p
THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY 5000 Shelbyville Rd. (Mall St. Matthews), 897-3933. One of 175 outlets of the Californiabased chain, this popular restaurant maintains a large and diverse menu that entices and satisfies a wide range of diners. Food quality is above average for this kind of restaurant chain, though its namesake cheesecakes are baked in California and North Carolina. $$$ Br L D pf
COPPER & KINGS ROOFTOP RESTAURANT 1121 E. Washington St., 561-0269. Up on the third floor of the distillery, with a fine view over the city, you can find a menu of cocktails using Copper & Kings distillates, and a food menu that ranges from the familiar (pimento cheese, Caesar salad) to the unusual (salmon tartine, sesame scallion pancake). $$$ Br L Dpf
CULTURED CHEESE, CHEERS, AND CHARCUTERIE 1007 E. Main St., 409-8706. Made-to-order charcuterie boards, including some with vegan and vegetarian options. Cheese selections showcase the owner’s family’s Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese and other mainly local food products. $$ L D p f
DITTO’S GRILL 1114 Bardstown Rd., 581-9129. This informal Highlands space masks the work of classically trained ownerchefs Dominic Serratore and Frank Yang. Don’t overlook Serratore’s “gourmet casual” menu of New England crab cakes, fanciful salads and Sunday brunch egg dishes. $$ L D pf DOC CROW’S 127 W. Main St., 587-1626. Doc Crow’s solidly anchors the dining choices on Whiskey Row. Oysters from both coasts, raw and fried, fried green tomatoes, pork rinds, shrimp and grits, all served in a handsome renovation of one of Main Street’s classic cast-iron front buildings. $$ L D p
HOUSE OF MARIGOLD 10310 Shelbyville Rd., 384-3767. A husband-and-wife catering team has repurposed an eatery on the west side of Middletown into “a little bit of Nashville, a little bit of Naples, a little bit Beverly Hills Hotel,” offering fullservice breakfast and lunch (“seasonal comfort food,” sourced locally) with a cocktail bar, in addition to event hosting.$$$ B Br L p f
J. ALEXANDER’S REDLANDS GRILL 102 Oxmoor Court, 339-2206. This comfortably upscale venue, a Nashville-based chain, features “contemporary American” fare with a broad menu that ranges from burgers and sandwiches to such upscale eats as grilled tuna or a New York strip steak. $$$ D p LEVEE BOURBON LOUNGE 3015 River Rd., 897-5000. John Varanese’s riverside music bar has been redesigned and rebuilt as a Bourbon-centric bar and lounge, with Bourbon barrel
tables, sofas and easy chairs in the lounge, artwork and decor made from barrel tops and staves, and, of course, a large, eclectic selection of over 200 Bourbons (and other spirits). Order from the River House menu while you sip: sautéed mussels, grilled octopus, a charcuterie tray or any of the delights on the raw bar. $$$ D pf
LOU LOU FOOD + DRINK 106 Sears Ave, 893-7776. The original Lou Lou in St. Matthews retains its casual setting and a culinary focus on Nawlins-style Cajun and Creole dishes like gumbo, jambalaya and etouffe, while in recent years incorporating Mediterranean and Italian influences, including a strong selection of pizza, pasta and calzones. There’s a solid sandwich list, too, and the muffuletta, gyro and Cajun short rib melt are unique to the St. Matthews location (as of 2023, Lou Lou on Market is open in NuLu). $$ Br L D p
LOU LOU IN MIDDLETOWN 12717 Shelbyville Rd., 861-1078.
Owner Jared “Lou Lou” Matthews, a Louisiana native, continues his crowd-pleasing pursuit of Cajun and Italian culinary fusion vibes – witha comfortable Bourbon Street feel – in Middletown, incorporating elements of the menus and décor from his successful Lou Lou eateries in St. Matthews and NuLu. It’s a neighborhood-oriented place for family fun or date nights, and a new twist: Cajun brunch on Sundays.$$$ Br L D p
LOU LOU ON MARKET 812 E. Market St., 515-9699. NuLu now has its very own Lou Lou, as owner and Louisiana native Jared Matthews, whose other restaurants include Osteria Italian Seafood and The Fox Den, brings much of the suburban Lou Lou’s Nawlins-centric menu (and some of the pizzas, pasta and calzones) downtown, adding show-stoppers like blackened mahi and a low country boil. STAVE is the bourbon bar with live jazz in the basement, and an outdoor French Quarter-styled courtyard with even more live music (jazz, brass and bluegrass) is coming in late Spring. $$$ L D p f
MAYAN CAFÉ 813 E. Market St., 566-0651. Chef Bruce Ucán arguably kicked off the restaurant renaissance along East Market Street, in the area now known as NuLu. His stylish bistro serves distinctive cuisine from Ucán’s native Yucatan Peninsula. $$ D pf
MELTING POT 2045 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 491-4762. If you have pleasant memories of fondue parties of the ‘70s, The Melting Pot franchise is for you. If you can melt it and dip things in it, it’s probably on the menu (make mine Classic Alpine, please). A major remodeling has opened up the floor plan, enhanced bar seating and added a group party area. $$$ D p
MESH 3612 Brownsboro Rd., 632-4421. The lush modern building and the casual/elegant menu have made a strong presence in the neighborhood. The cosmopolitan menu includes kung pao calamari, beet salad, Amish chicken and mushroom strudel, all served in an atmosphere. $$$$ Br L D pf
MUSSEL & BURGER BAR 9200 Taylorsville Rd., 384-4834, 113 S. Seventh St., 749-6451. The unusual combination in the name sparks immediate interest; the consistently excellent offerings of both shellfish and meat patties keeps satisfied customers coming back. Choose from six different sauces for the mussels, and 12 clever twists on burgers. The downtown venue has an expanded menu and a handsome outdoor courtyard. L D pf
NIC & NORMAN’S 108 W. Washington St., 963-5654. Greg “Nic” Nicotero and Norman Reedus, alumni of “The Walking Dead” television series, teamed up to create their own restaurant concept, and the fifth one in this series is located at Whiskey Alley downtown, emphasizing Southern-inspired entrées (homestyle meatloaf, whiskey citrus salmon, Coca-Cola braised pork shank) plus a selection of salads, soups, gourmet burgers and flatbreads, with signature cocktails and craft beer from local breweries. $$ Br L D pf
NORTH OF BOURBON 935 Goss Ave., 749-3305. New Orleans and the Deep South converge in Germantown with inventive lunch, brunch and dinner menus from Chef Lawrence Weeks, focusing on traditional and heirloom ingredients, with dishes like Shrimp Yakamein (a New Orleans fusion dish said to cure hangovers), Crawfish Boudin Balls and Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. The bar features more than 300 bourbons and a range of bourbon cocktails. $$$ L D pf
PASEO 900 Baxter Ave. (The Myriad Hotel), 632-7935.In Spanish, “paseo” implies a leisurely stroll; in Louisville, it’s a Mediterranean- and Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant in The Myriad Hotel amid the walkable Highlands, where diners can experience casual ambience as they enjoy Chef Richard Sible’s locally-
sourced dishes like Lamb Arancini, Wood Fired Pork Chop and Rigatoni Pomodoro. $$$$ Br L D pf
PERSO 741 E. Oak St., 290-5721. Italian-trained chef Emil David deploys an open kitchen layout to bring classic regional Roman cuisine to Shelby Park, emphasizing seasonal ingredients, thin crust/square cut pizza and house-made charcuterie, with 3-course Prix Fixe options available Sunday through Wednesday. $$$ D p f
PROOF ON MAIN 702 W. Main St. (21c Hotel), 217-6360. The 21C Museum Hotel’s longstanding downtown restaurant, currently under the stewardship of chef Cody Stone (an original 2005 sous chef there), remains one of Louisville’s finest tables, offering creatively reimagined Southern farm-to-table cuisine in a uniquely artistic atmosphere. The charred octopus appetizer and bison burger are among the city’s modern-era “greatest hits.” $$$$ B Br L D pf
RICKY B'S CLUB CAFÉ 2901 Brownsboro Rd., 333-0110. This vaguely Moorish-style building that has housed several restaurants over the years is now a supper club run by the wellknown pianist Rick Bartlett. His “world fusion” eclectic menu includes short ribs, fettuccine Alfredo, sea bass, “mystical” fries and Bartlett’s signature Bouncin' Back Burger. Bartlett, along with others, will entertain diners. $$$ D p
RIVER HOUSE RESTAURANT & RAW BAR 3015 River Rd., 897-5000. Chef John Varanese’s riverside restaurant complex never ceases to evolve. His elegant reimagining of a former boat dealership building befits the always interesting seafood dishes inspired by Nawlins and Charleston, where Varanese began his career. There’s also an extensive raw bar, dockside service for boaters, the adjacent Levee Bourbon Lounge, event space upstairs (Savor at River House) for 300 of your closest friends, and to seal the deal, in 2022 River House was named one of the 100 Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in America by OpenTable diners. $$$$ Br L D pf
SWAY 320 W. Jefferson St. (Hyatt Regency), 581-1234. The handsome dining room on the entry level of the hotel has a bar that opens to Fourth Street in good weather and a menu
based on the “Southern Way,” from whence comes the name Sway. The fried chicken, cooked to order, quickly became a signature dish. $$$$ D pf
THE CHEF’S TABLE VIP CLUB 501 W. Main St. (Kentucky Center for the Arts), 584-7777. The Lexus Lounge provides food (small plates, charcuterie, mini-sandwiches) and bar service two hours prior to performances at the Kentucky Center. The Chef’s Table functions as an all-inclusive pre-show and intermission food and beverage experience, added on to admission tickets for selected shows and events. $$$$ L D p
THE FAT LAMB 2011 Grinstead Dr., 409-7499. The first of Chef/owner Dallas McGarity’s dining properties, this comfortable, classy Highlands bistro serves lunch and dinner, focusing on small plates such as onion and chive hushpuppies, lamb meatballs, curry-seared salmon, tandoori-seared scallops and ricotta ghnocchi with truffled mushroom cream. $$$$ L D pf
UPTOWN CAFÉ 1624 Bardstown Rd., 405-8898. The iconic Highlands restaurant re-opens under new ownership, with an updated kitchen and a renovated interior, but with many of the former kitchen crew and staff (including Chef Matt Weber), with a menu re-creating many fan favorites, and some new additions. $$$ L D pf
VARANESE 2106 Frankfort Ave., 899-9904. Chef John Varanese’s signature restaurant (he has River House and Levee too) has a slate-backed interior waterfall and a folding front wall that opens in good weather. The lively, international seasonal menu is buttressed by frequent special wine, whiskey or beer dinners. Live jazz, contemporary art and urban style complete the mood. $$$ D pf
VILLAGE ANCHOR PUB & ROOST 11507 Park Rd., 7081850. In the heart of Anchorage is this two-level Euro-village inspired concept. On the upper level, a French bistro with an outdoor terrace. Downstairs at The Sea Hag the ambience is a British pub. The hearty upscale comfort food-style menu is served lunch and dinner with weekend brunch. A short, wellselected wine list and ambitious beer list with more than 50
craft and import choices accompany 55 Bourbons to boot. $$$ Br L D pf
WALKER’S EXCHANGE 140 N. Fourth St. (Galt House Hotel), 272-1834. The Galt House’s Kentucky-style brasserie, located in the West Tower, is styled after a 19th-century restaurant of the same name. The menu juxtaposes familiar French and American dishes — including classic Southernstyle comforts like short rib hand pies and shrimp po-boys. $$$$ B Br L D p
WATCH HILL PROPER 11201 River Beauty Loop 230-1982. This new “Premiere Bourbon Club” in Norton Commons houses one of the largest selections of American whiskeys in the world. It is membership-based, but open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. The interior has an old-world country club vibe with overstuffed leather seating and warm woods throughout. Chef Michael Crouch, long-time Louisville veteran, helms the menu of shareable small plates. $$$$ D pf
WILD SWANN 601 W. Main St., 434-3777. The boutique Grady Hotel downtown named its restaurant/bourbon bar for two previous occupants of the building: a 19th century medicinal whiskey distiller and Derby hat maker. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, with a focus on small plates and shareables, as inspired by Louisville’s Southern heritage. $$$ B L D p
NEW AMERICAN / BISTRO
BOURBONS BISTRO 2255 Frankfort Ave., 894-8838. Located in a historic Clifton building, Bourbons Bistro has become one of the prime bourbon bars in the America, with its stock of more than 130 bourbons, including a barrel selection program. It was this almost two-decade devotion to bourbon that has earned Bourbons Bistro “Bar of the Year” in 2022 by Whisky Magazine Chef Jereme McFarland’s bourbon-inspired, seasonally-influenced menu recently has featured spicy fried oysters, Prince Edward Island mussels and a charcuterie board as appetizers. Entrées include shrimp and grits, and a bourbon chop. Dessert choices include, of course, bourbon bread pudding. $$$ D pf CAFFE CLASSICO 2144 Frankfort Ave., 895-0076. At first a coffee bar, but over the years the classy space at Clifton and Frankfort has matured into an elegant bistro serving an eclectic menu — salmon croquettes with wasabi aioli, empanadas, an international array of salads, panini, bocadillos and pizzas. A stylish place for lunch or supper. $$ B L D f DRAKE’S 3939 Shelbyville Rd., 614-7327, 3921 Summit Plaza Dr., 384-3921, 2651 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 409-6130, 1520 Veterans Pkwy. Jeffersonville IN, 812-913-5060, 3501 Outer Loop, 885-5550. Lexington-based Bluegrass Hospitality Group has four local outlets that offer twenty-four craft beers on tap to wash down the traditional pub grub of tacos, ribs and — these days — sushi. Family-friendly by day and a hoppin’ spot at night, with music videos and a DJ. $$ L D pf
GARAGE BAR 700 E. Market St., 541-7124. Housed in a former service station in NuLu since 2011, Garage Bar was sold in mid-2025 to Todd Moore, owner of the TAJ bar, who closed it temporarily during summer for renovations. At press time the bar had reopened but the kitchen hadn’t, and an anticipated new menu is still a few weeks out. What is to become of the wood-fired pizza oven and awesome ham flights? We’ll know soon, and update this listing. $$$ L D pf
HAMMERHEADS 921 Swan St., 365-1112. Hammerheads, one of the hippest of Germantown’s restaurants, run by owners Adam Burress and Chase Murcino, serve BBQ beef brisket, pork and lamb ribs, roasted duck sandwiches and soft shell crab tacos. $ D p f
HOLY GRALE 1034 Bardstown Rd., 857-7457. Holy Grale This renovated church is Louisville’s essential visit for beer aficionados; the selection consistently ranks as the city’s best, whether rotating drafts or a flawlessly chosen collection of international bottles. The seasonally varied menu of small plates is calibrated for specialty beers. Across the Gralegarten outdoor seating area lies Gralehaus a café and espresso bar in a century-old Victorian home, offering breakfast and lunch fare. A few steps away, Bar Grale (1036 Bardstown Rd.) is a cozy, top-shelf wine bar with small plates and a Sunday brunch of champagne and oysters. Completing The Grales campus will be Grale Goods (1004 Bardstown Rd.), a retail food and drink outlet (expected autumn 2025). $$ L D
MERLE’S WHISKEY KITCHEN 122 W. Main St., 290-8888. Tony Palombino’s popular Whiskey Row food and music spot
across from the KFC Yum! Center offers live music on a regular basis and a menu that emphasizes tacos and Southern fried chicken. Sides offered include sweet potato casserole, longcooked green beans and a candied bacon appetizer. 100 bourbons are currently on offer, including handpicked private barrels from Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey and others. $ L D pf
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES 400 S. Second St., (Omni Hotel), 313-6664. This casual eating option in the Omni hotel serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers relaxed indoor and outdoor dining. Enter from the hotel or street. $$$ B L D pf
NEXUS BAR BITES 750 E. Jefferson St. (Mashup Food Hall). Chef Ashlee Northington, operator of the Happy Belly Bistro food truck, brings her popular fusion of globally-inspired flavors to a bricks ‘n’ mortar food hall in the form of “playful” bar bites. $$ L D pf
NOOSH NOSH 4816 Brownsboro Ct., 205-2888. Named for its founder and former owner, Louisville culinary legend Anoosh Shariat, this family-friendly eatery in Brownsboro Center is built around a rustic stone oven in an open kitchen, offering “homey comfort food” influenced primarily by Mediterranean and Italian cuisine: flatbreads, pizzas, sandwiches, pasta and shareable small plates. $$$ B Br L D pf
SIDEBAR AT WHISKEY ROW 129 N. Second St., 630-2012. On the west side of Whiskey Row, above Troll Pub under the Bridge, Sidebar focuses on burgers, Bourbon and beer, a potentially boffo combo for those going to or coming from the Yum! Center across the street. The emphasis is on craft cocktails served alongside a short but bold selection of sandwiches, appetizers and desserts. $$ L D p
THE FAIR 141 E. Market St., New Albany IN, 812-590-1171. The Segoviano family (Senor Iguana’s; La Catrina) sumptuously remodeled the former premises of Toast in downtown New Albany and opened their first non-Mexican restaurant, offering “elevated” American and international cuisine: escargot, shrimp cocktail, steaks, chicken, pork chops, pasta and seafood (with an oyster bar), as well as a full drinks program. $$$ D p
THE MANHATTAN PROJECT 2101 Frankfort Ave., 749-8925. This upscale gastropub has expanded, with a main room now looking out on the lively Clifton streetscape. The new menu includes short rib sliders, chicken and waffles and four kinds of fries. Mac ’n’ cheese has its own menu section listing almost a dozen possible adds ons—from bacon to crab to pork cheek to grilled chicken. TMP has become popular for its brunch, tacos & trivia Tuesdays, and the original space in the rear is a great sports watching or special party venue. $$ Br L D pf
THE PINE ROOM 6325 River Rd., 528-4422. Augusta Holland is behind the modern incarnation of this classic Prospect restaurant, in the space that most recently was Cast Iron Steakhouse. Start with, perhaps, the chicken liver lettuce wraps, or sweet potato falafel. Then go for the blackened pork chop or the grain bowl. The buttermilk fried chicken is a dining favorite. $$$ Br D pf
ZIBA’S BISTRO 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market), 9991441. Chef Bapion Ziba’s successful first stint at Logan Street Market ended in 2022 when Ziba moved, but in early 2024 his Southern-accented West African-French cookery returned. The burgers are legendary; other signature dishes include catfish & grits, jerk chicken pasta and black-eyed peas de tiare $$ L p f
BONEFISH GRILL 657 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 412-4666. This franchise concept from the Florida-based Outback Steakhouse chain offers impressive seafood in a comfortable setting. Add Bonefish to your short list of suburban chain eateries that do the job right. $$$ D p
BRENDON’S CATCH 23 505 S. Fourth St. (Embassy Suites), 909-3323. This downtown upscale seafood restaurant’s fish menu depends on what has come in fresh that day. The 2 and 3 tier seafood towers are a fun shared appetizer for a group. Other choices include lobster mac ’n’ cheese, cornmealcrusted salmon, and wild-caught grouper and sea bass. There is a substantial steak selection as well. $$$ D p
CADILLACS CHICKEN AND FISH 7105 Fegenbush Ln., 2873437. This family-operated food truck has found a permanent
space, where you can find catfish, codfish plates, chicken tenders and fish tacos, with simple sides of fries, coleslaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, onion rings and hushpuppies. $$ L D p
CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS RIVERSIDE GRILLE 5700 Captain’s Quarters Rd., 228-1651. One of the city’s most attractive eateries for atmosphere, Captain’s Quarters matches the beautiful setting with quality bistro-style fare that won’t disappoint. Summer or winter, it’s a delightful place to dine. $$ Br L D pf
CUNNINGHAM’S CREEKSIDE 6301 River Rd., 228-3625. One of the longest-lived restaurants in the city, Cunningham’s has had several incarnations since 1870, and now pulls in old timers and new fans at its Harrod’s Creek location. There you can find fine fish sandwiches and pub grub, and absorb some of the nostalgia associated with this long-time favorite. $ Br L D pf
THE FISH HOUSE 1310 Winter Ave., 568-2993. Louisville is as overflowing as a well-stocked lake with fish-sandwich houses, and The Fish House is right up there with the best. Crisp breading laced with black pepper is the signature of Green River fried fish from Western Kentucky. And on weekends the space morphs into Café Beignet, serving hearty breakfasts and New Orleans-style beignets. $ Br L D pf
FRANNY’S 998 Goss Ave., 350-9952. New England-style seafood amid European bistro ambience in the epicenter of newly cosmopolitan Schnitzelburg: clams, oysters, chowder, fish and chips and more. $$$ L D pf
HUNGRY PELICAN 5412 Bardstown Rd., 239-7145. The sole remaining representative of a quite popular chain still keeps up the tradition. The cooks and servers are old-timers who understand the intricacies of getting perfectly fried seafood to customers in timely fashion. Generously-filled rolled oysters, too. $$ L D pf
JOE’S CRAB SHACK 131 River Rd., 568-1171. The setting on the edge of Riverfront Park is bright, noisy and fun, with a wraparound deck providing a panoramic river view. $$ L D pf
KINGFISH RESTAURANT 3021 River Rd., 895-0544, 601 W. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville IN, 284-3474. Fried fish in a family dining setting has made Kingfish a popular favorite for many years. Aficionados of rolled oysters and frog legs can find both here, as well as a large selection of fried and broiled seafood, as dinners and sandwiches. Both locations boast river views. $$ L D pf
MIKE LINNIG’S 9308 Cane Run Rd., 937-9888. This popular riverside restaurant has been dishing up tasty fried fish and seafood at family prices since 1925. There’s indoor seating and a bar, but the picnic grove with its giant shade trees makes Linnig’s a special place in season. Out of season — Nov. to Jan. — the family shutters the place and takes a nice vacation. $ L D f
OSTERIA ITALIAN SEAFOOD 1211 Herr Ln., (Westport Village), 423-5822. Restaurateur Jared Matthews lovingly recast the long-running Napa into an East End “osteria” (in Italy, a tavern or roadhouse with food and wine). Italian-American dishes headline lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch: traditional pastas (Spaghetti Vongole, Cacio e Pepe), soups and salads, and varied oceanic treats, including Seared Scallops, Halibut Agrodolce, and Shrimp Fra Diavolo. Filet mignon, wagyu and grilled steakhouse chicken provide protein balance, and there’s a full range of shareable appetizers—and nothing (nothing!) beats Tiramisu and Tawny Port. $$$ Br L D pf
OUTCAST FISH & OYSTER BAR 207 E. Main St., New Albany IN, 812-770-4315. New Albany’s popular The Exchange and Brooklyn & The Butcher are joined by a seafood-themed restaurant reflecting owner Ian Hall’s lifelong love of South Carolina-style seafood specialists. The elegantly remodeled space features an interactive oyster bar and an atmospheric outdoor patio. The happy-hour-priced oysters are a bargain. $$$$ D p
PASSTIME FISH HOUSE 10801 Locust Rd., 267-4633. If you are looking for an honest fish sandwich and a cold beer, with no frills, this Jeffersontown tavern is just the ticket. Belly up, place your order, and be sure to have cash — no credit cards accepted here. $$ L D f
PIER 17 CAJUN SEAFOOD 1975 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 4099857. Pier 17 introduced Louisville to the Vietnamese-Cajun fusion concept of Asian-spiced seafood boils (which originated on the Texas-Louisiana coast); in addition to the now familiar meals in boil-in bags, the menu offers fried fish, soft-shell crab, oysters, shrimp, po’ boys and gumbo, with rice, fries, slaw and other sides. $$$ L D pf
RED LOBSTER 986 Breckenridge Ln., 899-3334, 4639 Outer Loop, 964-9647. 951 E. Lewis and Clark Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 812-285-0444. Consistent quality and moderate prices have maintained this seafood chain’s popularity in the casual dining category since its founding more than fifty years ago. Periodic promotions please repeat customers and draw new folks into the fold. $$$ L D pf
RUMORS RESTAURANT & RAW BAR 12339 Shelbyville Rd., 245-0366. Visualize Hooter’s without the scantily-clad waitresses, and you’ve drawn a bead on Rumor’s, the original Louisville home of the bucket-of-oysters and impressive raw bar. $$ L D pf
SAM'S SEAFOOD & GRILL 4918 Poplar Level Rd., 966-6940. The choices here include jack salmon, frog legs, grouper and red snapper, as well as catfish, tilapia and shrimp. The fishaverse can fill up on chicken wings or gizzards or a range of meat-filled sandwiches. $$ L D
SHARK’S SEAFOOD 3099 Breckenridge Ln., 450-5775. Several types of crunchy-breaded fried fish - white fish, shrimp, catfish, salmon - to choose from, as well as wings and side dishes like fried mushrooms and fried okra. $ L D
STORMING CRAB 1360 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 5903773, 4801 Outer Loop, 999-9998. Here you can get market price seafood boils in several spice levels and flavors (crab house Cajun, garlic butter and plain) to take home or dump on paper-covered tables to eat as they should be eaten. Other Cajun dishes too, like gumbo and crawfish etouffé. $$$ L D
THE FISHERY 3624 Lexington Rd., 895-1188. This fried-fish eatery has been popular in the St. Matthews neighborhood since 1983. The Fishery remains justly popular for its quick, sizzling hot and affordable fish and seafood meals. $ L D f
THREE BROTHERS 2001 Seventh Street Rd., 409-7447. The menu of this Algonquin neighborhood fish house includes Chicago-style fried perch, cod, salmon and catfish, the best seller. $ L D
BOB'S STEAK & CHOP HOUSE 400 S. Second St., (Omni Hotel), 313-6664. The signature restaurant located off the lobby in the Omni Hotel offers refined service and a decor focused on American thoroughbred racing. A steak menu offers seven prime selections, from ribeye to filet to 28-oz. porterhouse. Seafood, too (crab cakes, scampi, lobster tails), and sumptuous desserts. $$$$ D p
BOURRÉ BONNE STEAKHOUSE 143 W. Market St. (Canopy Hilton), 874-0520. Pronounced burr bon (in French, the “good stuff”), it might also be a polyglot’s “spirited” wordplay. The eponymous downtown hotel’s upscale steakhouse boasts an “if you know you know” menu of French-influenced classics: king crab sucette, lobster pillow, lobster bisque tarragon crème fraîche, wagyu pichana and mushroom conserva terre et mer the latter strictly reserved for accoutrement only, pal. $$$$ L D p
BRAZEIROS CHURRASCARIA 450 S. Fourth St. (Fourth Street Live) 290-8220. This Knoxville-based company’s first satellite location has been a downtown hit. A churrascaria works like this: You choose drinks, visit the salad bar and await visits from “gaucho chefs” who bring yard-long skewers of grilled meats (beef, lamb, sausage) to your table for slicing — as much as you wish — along with side dishes. $$$$ L D pf
BROOKLYN & THE BUTCHER 148 E. Market St., New Albany IN. 590-2646. Ian Hall of The Exchange Pub + Kitchen opened this steakhouse in a renovated historic hotel with lots of cool touches: black and white tiles on floor and walls, an open kitchen and a vintage bar counter from an old local Woolworth’s store. The bar program emphasizes bourbon, Scotch and craft beers. The menu includes fresh seafood, small plates and lots of beef — New York strip, bone-in ribeye, flat iron steaks — all as locally sourced as possible. $$$ D pf
CAST IRON STEAKHOUSE 1207 E. Market St., Jeffersonville IN, 590-2298. Buck’s owner Curtis Rader also operates this riverside eatery where the kitchen cooks steaks and sides in cast iron pans at moderate prices. The ambience is upscale with “no peanuts on the floor, antlers on the wall or country music,” Rader promises. $$$ D pf
CATTLEMAN’S ROADHOUSE 2001 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 384-7623, 139 Historical Trail, 543-3574, 3500 St. Joseph Rd., New Albany, 725-7166. These local outlets of the small regional chain offer mid-priced beef choices and starters such as fried pickle chips and jalapeño poppers, grilled chicken, salmon, and plenty of sandwiches. $$$ L D pf
CONNORS STEAK & SEAFOOD 615 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 812-1122. The Hurstbourne corridor (ex-Mimi’s Cafe) is the home of the first Louisville location for this purveyor of aged, mesquite-grilled steaks and seafood, with pastas, salads and sandwiches filling out the menu. $$$$ L D p
DEL FRISCO’S 101 Whittington Pkwy., 897-7077. This longtime St. Matthews steakhouse resumed operation and has settled in at the former location of Z's Oyster Bar & Steakhouse. The high-end menu offers steaks, a variety of surf ’n’ turf selections, seafood and, of course, its famous spinach dish, green phunque. $$$$ D p f
GORDON RAMSAY STEAK 11999 Casino Center Dr. SE (Caesars Southern Indiana), Elizabeth, IN, 866-676-7463. Caesars welcomes the renowned, multi-starred Michelin chef’s signature steakhouse concept, emphasizing dry-aged beef, lamb, seafood, and appetizers like smoked beef tartare and Kurobuta (“black hog”) pork belly. Ramsay’s famed Beef Wellington and Sticky Toffee Pudding are both on the menu, accompanied by an extensive wine and bourbon lists, and hand-crafted cocktails. $$$$ D p
HIGH STAKES GRILL 710 E. Jefferson St., 901-9355. Chef Kathryn Fink leads this rooftop restaurant (indoor and outdoor seating) at the Tempo by Hilton in NuLu, emphasizing classic American grilling traditions for brunch and dinner: ribeye, steak frites, salmon and pork schnitzel. Signature main courses include Lobster Scampi Bucatini and Filet Oscar, and there is a broad selection of popular starters, salads and sides. $$$$ D p
JEFF RUBY’S STEAKHOUSE 325 W. Main St., 584-0102. From its 2006 debut, the Cincinnati restaurateur’s Louisville eatery has become a local culinary standard-bearer, renowned for a glittery bar, urban sensibility and top-notch service. Dry-aged USDA prime steaks and a concise selection of wagyu beef are complemented by seafood dishes, sushi rolls and a raw bar; a multimillion-dollar interior renovation in 2023 revamped the existing floorplan and added a 50-seat private dining room. $$$$ L D p
LE MOO 2300 Lexington Rd., 458-8888. Restauranteur Kevin Grainger has created a lively and amusing space with a decor that delights in lots of steel, neon and velvet. The menu has some unusual choices: a filet “flight” of choice, prime and wagyu beef; sliced loaded baked potato; drunk-cut fries; chicken and waffles; and drinks like the Moohatan or the Le Mule. The Sunday drag brunches have become a thing. $$$$ Br L D pf
LOGAN’S ROADHOUSE 1540 Alliant Ave., 266-6009., 5229 Dixie Hwy., 448-0577. With more than 100 properties in 17 states, this Nashville-based chain parlays peanut shells on the floor and steaks on the table into a popular formula. $$ L D p
LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE 2535 Hurstbourne Gem Ln., 671-5350, 9700 Von Allmen Ct., 326-7500, 1210 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 284-5800, 4813 Outer Loop, 969-9790. Oversize steaks and a “big sky” western theme are the draw at this chain eatery, although most of its properties are east of the Mississippi. $$ L D p
MALONE'S 4370 Summit Plaza Dr., 618-0702. This Lexingtonbased restaurant serves lunch and dinner. Menu choices include various cuts of prime steaks, fish and seafood, including sushi, and house favorites, such as bottomless salad and bread. $$$ L D p f
MONK’S ROAD BOILER HOUSE Log Still Distillery’s two-level showcase chophouse “by the bridge” on Whiskey Row – note the handy valet parking option – honors a bygone era of fine dining by fusing prime strip, ribeye and tomahawk steaks with
fresh seafood (oysters, scallops, salmon) and house-made cavatelli, pappardelle and mezzalune pasta, alongside salads, appetizers, sides and extras. Monk’s Road Bourbons and Gins, and Rattle & Snap Tennessee Whiskeys, are the obvious bar focus; an exclusive single-barrel, 120 Proof High Rye bourbon is available only here. $$$$ D pf
MORTON’S 626 W. Main St., 584-0421. This below-ground temple to the red meat gods is elegant and masculine, full of wood paneling, brass rails and leather booths. Louisville reveres its home-grown restaurants but has welcomed this Chicago-based chain with open mouths. $$$$ D p
OLIVER’S CHOP HOUSE & BOURBON BAR 4520 Poplar Level Rd., 961-7686. The former Louisville Downs harness racing track, resurrected by Churchill Downs as Derby City Gaming Hotel, boasts this classic steakhouse experience named after jockey Oliver Lewis, winner of the Kentucky Derby in 1875, with steaks, seafood, desserts and an Old Fashioned (or Pinot Noir for the grape-inclined). $$$$ D p
OUTBACK STEAK HOUSE 6520 Signature Dr., 964-8383, 9498 Brownsboro Rd., 426-4329, 8101 Bardstown Rd., 2312399, 1420 Park Place, Clarksville IN, 283-4329. The name suggests Australia, and so does the shtick at this popular national chain, but the food is pretty much familiar American, and the fare goes beyond just steak to take in chicken, seafood and pasta. $$$ D p
PAT’S STEAK HOUSE 2437 Brownsboro Rd., 896-9234. A local favorite since 1958 and as traditional as a steakhouse gets. Pat Francis, like his father before him, cuts the meats himself. Its combination of quality beef and hospitality rank it among the best steakhouses in town. $$$$ D pf
REPEAL OAK-FIRED STEAKHOUSE 101 W. Main St. (Hotel Distil), 716-7372. The main restaurant at Hotel Distil downtown on Whiskey Row fires its steaks over used bourbon barrel staves, but there’s more to the menu than beef, like sole meunière, truffled spaghetti and a well-stocked raw bar. $$$$ B Br L D p
THE TERRACE AT REPEAL, a climate-controlled outdoor area with views of Whiskey Row’s historic facades. $$$$ B Br L D p
RUTH’S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE 6100 Dutchman’s Ln., 4790026. The long-standing Louisville location of this New Orleans-based international chain is perched atop the 16-floor Kaden Tower. Ruth’s Chris serves excellent steaks, chops and seafood in an atmosphere of elegance that will make you feel pampered, at a price to match. $$$$ D p
STEAK & BOURBON 1321 Herr Ln., 708-2196, 115 S. Fourth St., 708-2196. Ole Restaurant Group has branched out with this affordably-priced premium steakhouse. In addition to the signature 24 oz. cowboy cut Angus ribeye (aged a minimum of 30 days) the menu offers pan-roasted chicken, grilled Verlasso salmon, steak & cheese hand pies, Maryland-style crab cakes and carrot cake with bourbon caramel icing. Try the House Punch or choose from over 100 bourbons, including a reserve list. $$$ L D pf
STONEY RIVER LEGENDARY STEAK 3900 Summit Plaza Dr., 429-8944. Stoney River in the Springhurst shopping center is one of the chain’s first properties outside its Georgia home. It draws big crowds with its memorable steaks and trimmings, with extra points for friendly service and a comfortable atmosphere. $$$$ Br D p
TEXAS DE BRAZIL 5000 Shelbyville Rd. (Mall St. Matthews), 401-1711. The Dallas-based churrasco-style Brazilian steakhouse chain cures gaucho envy with an all-you-can-eat feast of beef, pork, chicken, lamb and sausage (there also is an enormous salad bar, but why?) Consumers govern the flow with cards colored green (for “more meat”) and red (“I’m in the weeds”). There is no yellow “caution” flag. $$$$ D p
TEXAS ROADHOUSE 757 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy. (Green Tree Mall), Clarksville IN, 280-1103, 4406 Dixie Hwy., 448-0705, 3322 Outer Loop, 962-7600, 13321 Shelbyville Rd., 2530085, 5055 Shelbyville Rd., 897-5005. The spirit of the West sets the theme for this popular steak house. Salads, vegetables and breads with hearty side dishes round out your meal options. This is family-style dining, with no tray sliding — service at your table. $$ L D p
THE CAPITAL GRILLE 7600 Shelbyville Rd., 653-4373. Dryaged steaks (curated by an on-site butcher), seafood, shellfish
and an extensive wine list, including rare and allocated selections, are hallmarks of the high end at this Darden Restaurants property on the north side of Oxmoor Mall, which also boasts private event space and an in-house events coordinator to help with patrons’ planning. $$$$ L D p
CORNER 102 W. Main St., 583-1888. Corner is the bar and restaurant attached to the chic, contemporary Aloft Hotel downtown. The emphasis here is on the bar, with a wine and cocktail menu longer and more creative than the food side. Still, there are solid bar munchies, from dips and deviled eggs to sandwiches, salads and tacos. $$ B D pf
DOC'S BOURBON ROOM 129 W. Main St., 742-2449. Doc Crow’s has taken over the space next door to create what they say is “the nation's biggest whiskey bar.” It carries thousands of Bourbons and other whiskeys, served as flights, tastes, pours and cocktails. Menu items include beef tartare, lamb flatbread, fingerling poutine and fresh-baked pretzels. A coffee bar is open early in the morning. $$$ D p
DOWN ONE BOURBON BAR & RESTAURANT 321 W. Main St., 566-3258. Situated down one flight below street level, this cool, shaded watering hole stocks 150-plus Bourbons, local craft beer and serves wines by the glass. Well-priced bar food like biscuit sandwiches, tacos and Frito Pie make for a quick, satisfying lunch. Bluegrass music several times a week too. $$ L D pf
EXCHANGE PUB + KITCHEN 118 W. Main St., New Albany IN, 948-6501. Owner Ian Hall has made his gastropub in a sumptuously renovated historic building such a fun place to sit and sample the eclectic bistro-style menu that he has had to expand his dining room and patio. Wash things down with something from its substantial beer, wine and cocktails list that even includes house-made ginger ale. $$ L D pf
GALAXIE 732 E. Market St., 690-6595. The guys behind RYE just down the street now have the Green Building space for a bar dedicated to moderately priced drinks ($7 cocktails are what they are shooting for) and a bar menu of “internationalinspired street food,” which was described as “easy to take with you,” so you can nosh as you imbibe. $$ L D pf
GAME 2295 Lexington Rd., 618-1712, 117 E. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville IN., 812-725-0099. The original Louisville flowering of Game brought us sliders, meatballs and burgers made from ground exotic meats. Start with bone marrow or fried frog legs, try some wild boar chorizo sliders, or build your own burger from kangaroo, venison or alpaca. A second iteration, Game on the River, plays the same game but adds “seafood flair with water animals” (translation: fish) to capitalize on the riverside location in Jeffersonville. $$ D f
GRALEHAUS 1001 Baxter Ave., 857-7457. Gralehaus has fully reopened its cafe for coffee, breakfast and lunch and a new concept, Grale Goods, will open next door to Holy Grale in early 2022, selling beer and other foodstuffs. The new concept, Gralehaus and Holy Grale are collectively known as "The Grales.” $$ B L f
H. M. FRANK'S AN O'SHEA'S PUBLIC HOUSE 355 Spring St., Jeffersonville IN, 913-1174. Upon gutting the interior and re-building the facade of this 1880’s-era building, the original identity of H.M. Frank’s Dry Goods store was uncovered, a discovery that has given this O’Shea’s outpost its name. The bar is made from repurposed barn wood, there’s an event space upstairs, and upscale bar food is created by Chef John Knightly. $$ L D pf
HAUCK'S CORNER 1000 Goss Ave., 384-9374. Hauck’s Handy Store, a humble corner grocery, closed in 2019 after 107 years as a Schnitzelburg neighborhood icon. The late George Hauck is revered locally for reviving the tradition of Dainty, an immigrant German street game. Hauck’s Corner has now reopened with a bar and restaurant in the comprehensively remodeled building, with voluminous outdoor seating. Chef Allan Rosenberg developed the new menu —which proudly proclaims the return of the famous Hauck’s bologna sandwich. $$ L D pf
RED HOG 2622 Frankfort Ave., 384-0795. Crescent Hill butcher shop and café committed to sustainable, humane and ethical farming practices. Cured meats and pasture-raised beef, bison, pork, lamb and poultry are among the specialties, with the café serving small plates and pizzas fired from a wood-burning oven. The bar offers craft beer and cocktails. $$ L D pf
WORLD OF BEER 9850 Von Allmen Ct., 690-4280. This Florida-based chain serves a wide variety of craft beers and sports a tavern menu that is a few notches above the usual bar food: $$ L D pf
BURGERS / CHICKEN / DOGS
80/20 @ KAELIN’S 1801 Newburg Rd., 200-8020. The original Kaelin’s, with its dubious history of inventing the cheeseburger, underwent several incarnations before current owners Bill DuBourg and Matt Staggs revived its nostalgic charm. There’s an indoor/outdoor rectangular bar, a fenced-in wraparound patio and an adjacent malt shop and ice cream parlor. The restaurant menu features burgers, of course, as well as salads, sandwiches and dinner entrées.$$ L D pf
BILLION BURGER 1812 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. (Chefs Space), 440-8550. Flying under the radar in Russell at the Chef Space kitchen incubator, Billion Burger enjoys a cult following for its dozen ample signature burgers, along with wings, fries and sides like battered mushrooms and cheese sticks. $$ L D
BOBBIE’S SON CATERING 317 W. Oak St., 614-8900. The Old Louisville caterer—creator of Fry Pressure seasoning and claimant to the much-debated title of the city’s best chicken wings—now offers a lunch buffet and limited dine-in seating. $ L D
BOURBON & BURGERS 117 St. Matthews Ave., 795-3995. Ole Hospitality Group has a knack for reinventing successful concepts, and this St. Matthews spot is no exception. It combines the Steak & Bourbon libation model with Mussel & Burger Bar’s signature sandwiches, adding wings and upscale bar fare to the mix. $$$$ D pf
BUFFALO WILD WINGS 4600 Shelbyville Rd., 899-7732, 9134 Taylorsville Rd., 499-2356, 10206 Westport Rd., 3949596, 12901 Shelbyville Rd., 254-9464, 1112 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 283-9464, 4917 Outer Loop, 964-5803. As much a sports bar as a restaurant, this national franchise chain offers tasty snack-type fare, including the chain’s trademark Buffalo chicken wings. $$ L D pf
BUFFALO WILD WINGS GO 3113 S. Second St., 546-6533. BW3 GO is a smaller, faster concept compared with the usual sports bar setting, offering a scaled back menu, geared for walk-ups, carry-outs and delivery. $$ L D
BUNZ RESTAURANT 712 Brent St. (The Village Market).Gourmet smash burgers, a selection of sandwiches, fries, onion rings and all the fixings (Bunz relocated to Village Market after 11 years in the Highlands). $$ L D pf
THE CHICKEN HOUSE 7180 Hwy. 111, Sellersburg IN, 2469485. The parking lot of this white frame building in rural Indiana is packed on weekend nights as families from throughout the area wait on delectable fried chicken. This is the very heart of American comfort food, including green beans, dumplings, and mashed potatoes. $$ L D
CHICKEN KING 639 E. Broadway, 589-5464. Spicy, crunchy and sizzling hot fried chicken is the primary draw on a short, affordable menu. $ L D
CHICKEN SALAD CHICK 12009 Shelbyville Rd., 842-4341, 7706 Bardstown Rd., 653-0050, 1520 Veterans Pky., Jeffersonville IN, 504-2360, 7900 Shelbyville Rd. (Oxmoor Center), 901-3132. The growing franchise’s name says it all, because here you will find a baker’s dozen styles of chicken salad (savory, traditional, fruity & nutty), as a scoop or sandwich, along with pimento cheese sandwiches, soups and salads. $$ L D f
CLUCKERS WINGS 4308 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 944-8100, 100 W. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville IN, 590-3662, 10966 Dixie Hwy., 308-4000. At this growing chain, you can get your wings doused in an array of sauces, from honey barbecue to spicy garlic barbecue to sweet Thai chili to inferno — a habanero-based sauce that has a legit name. Also breaded and grilled tenders, chicken sandwiches, appetizers and salads. $ L D pf
CM CHICKEN 2223 Frankfort Ave., 365-1907, 9422 Norton Commons Blvd., 423-1202., 6600 Bardstown Rd., 290-3327. The Virginia-based, Korean (style) fried chicken chain (the acronym KFC was apparently already taken) presents the bird sauced one of several ways, or you can try tikku-dak – fried, coated and then baked. Also with Korean street food, shaved ice and boba tea. $$$ L D pf
CRAVE HOT DOGS AND BBQ EXPRESS 7101 Cedar Springs Blvd., 963-5724. Not to be confused with Louisville’s indie Crave Café, this fast casual chain’s “express” configuration is being rolled out in Walmart stores nationwide. Look for loaded designer dogs and an array of barbecue items formatted by themselves, or as nachos, sandwiches or appetizers. $ L D
CRAVE WAVE 1154 Logan St. (Atrium Brewing). Atrium Brewing’s food truck is parked permanently in its outdoor courtyard. Crave Wave, the current concessionaire, boasts a sizeable menu of appetizers, smash burgers, sandwiches and baskets; veggie options include hummus-based creations and a noncarnivorous sloppy joe. $$ L D pf
CULVER’S 4630 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 671-2001, 1555 Veterans Pkwy., Jeffersonville IN, 913-0810, 11801 Interchange Dr., 618-0838. When the signature item is called a “ButterBurger” and frozen custard tops the dessert menu, you know you’re not in for diet fare. $ L D f
DAVE’S HOT CHICKEN 4600 Shelbyville Rd., 826-8042, 4125 Town Center Blvd., Jeffersonville IN, 812-913-6110. Hot chicken might well be a Nashville TN tradition, but this franchise concept derives from a street stand operated by four buddies in Hollywood, California. The menu is built around aggregations of chicken tenders and chicken sliders, with nary a chicken bone in evidence. Sides include mac ‘n’ cheese and kale slaw; also featured are enormous “top-loaded” shakes. $$ L D f
DIXIE CHICKEN 1785 W. Oak St., 690-2748, 3947 Dixie Hwy., 448-2102. A growing fried chicken spot that serves up honest fried chicken and good, standard sides at reasonable prices. $$ L D
DIZZY WHIZZ DRIVE-IN 217 W. St. Catherine St., 583-3828. This neighborhood eatery, an institution that goes back more than 70 years, hasn’t changed much. It opens early, stays open late and offers good value for what you’d expect. $ L D f
DOG HAUS BIERGARTEN 415 Bank St., New Albany IN. 812900-7677. Hailing from Pasadena, this particular house features sausages, as in an array of elaborately customized hot dogs, plus bratwurst, Italian sausage and kielbasa – but there’s much more, including burgers, sliders, chicken sandwiches, breakfast burritos and desserts. Handcrafted cocktails and a 24-tap selection of local and regional beers headline the bar program. $ L D p f
DOUBLE DOGS 13307 Shelbyville Rd., 244-4430. Double Dogs, a Bowling Green, Ky.-based chain with four locations, has its first Louisville-area restaurant in Middletown. Double Dogs describes itself as “a family friendly restaurant with a sports atmosphere,” serving a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers and pizza. $ L D pf
FAMILY TIES 1030 Cecil Ave., 907-6548. This West End convenience store also has a vibrant carryout business offering a family-friendly menu of burgers, wings, rib tips, hot dogs and brats. $ B L D
FIVE GUYS BURGERS & FRIES 2221 State Street, New Albany IN, 944-9958, 4116 Summit Plaza Dr., 426-1702, 4226 Shelbyville Rd., 891-8848, 4917 Outer Loop, 822-3702, 13303 Shelbyville Rd., 244-1027, 1500 Veterans Pkwy., Jeffersonville IN 812-913-4820. Based in Virginia, this burger chain invokes the early days of fast food with freshly-grilled burgers, big smoky kosher dogs, enough condiments to satisfy any craving, fresh-cut fries and a cheery rock’n’roll sensibility. $ L D
GET IT ON A BUN AT BOOTY’S 822 State St., New Albany IN, 292-3800. Another successful food truck finds a permanent home. Booty’s made their name with the Booty Dog, Booty Burger and chili but the menu now ranges from jerk chicken to pulled pork on brioche to a meatloaf cupcake. $$ L D
GRIND BURGER KITCHEN 829 E. Market St., 851-7333. Owners Liz and Jesse Huot are firmly established now in NuLu, giving them much-needed parking, as well as a full bar. In addition to their signature burgers, the Huots have a chopped chicken sandwich, an “adult” grilled cheese made with Brie and Gruyere and a couple of salad choices. $$ L D f
GUS’S WORLD FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN 117 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 509-0146. This fried chicken chain grew from the Bonner family’s outlet in tiny Mason, Tennessee establishes a presence in the East End, daring chicken-loving Louisvillians
to compare Gus’s closely guarded spice combination with the slightly more famous one touted by Colonel Sanders. $$$ L D
HOME RUN BURGERS & FRIES 2723 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 614-5232, 303 W. Cardinal Blvd., 614-5035, 5608 Outer Loop., 409-4141. Burgers, dogs, and fries with a baseball theme (meals for kids are called Bat Boy Baskets), and a fielder’s choice of options for dressing your burger, are highlights at this popular local chain. $ L D f
HOOTERS 4120 Dutchmans Ln., 895-7100, 7701 Preston Hwy., 968-1606. Hooter’s may draw crowds with its long-standing reputation as a party scene, but you’ll stay for the food, an appetizing selection of soups, salads, seafood and, of course, wings. $ L D pf
INDI’S RESTAURANT 1033 W. Broadway, 589-7985, 3820 W. Market St., 778-9099, 2901 Fern Valley Rd., 969-7993, 5009 S. Third St., 363-2535, 2970 Tenth St., Jeffersonville IN, 2888980, 4590 Dixie Hwy., 447-4856, 4419 Cane Run Rd., 4481109, 4901 Poplar Level Rd., 969-5352. Grown from a tiny West End takeout spot to a mini-chain, Indi’s vends a variety of affordable soul food and barbecue specialties to take out or eat in. $ L D
INKREDIBLES BURGERS & SHAKES 1506 Dixie Hwy., 6181217. Angus burgers, chicken sandwiches, hand-spun milkshakes and express breakfast items are among the options at this family-owned eatery housed in a former chain restaurant structure in the Algonquin neighborhood. $$ B L D f
JAGGERS RESTAURANT 6464 Dutchmans Ln., 242-9311, 10690 Westport Rd., 576-4867, 13801 English Villa Dr., 7680203. Louisville’s homegrown Texas Roadhouse chain created this fast-casual, made-to-order restaurant offshoot, offering hand-breaded chicken sandwiches and tenders, burgers and sandwiches, fresh salads and scratch-made dressings, shakes and sweets. $$ L D f
JOELLA’S HOT CHICKEN 3400 Frankfort Ave., 895-2235, 13401 Shelbyville Rd., 254-1111, 1225 Veterans Pkwy, Clarksville IN, 913-7555. You can find Nashville-style hot chicken – medium, hot and hotter – at all three locations. House-made sides local craft beers and wine and freshsqueezed lemonade as well. $$ L D pf
J-TOWN BIG BITES 10224 Taylorsville Rd., 365-3424. Truly a restaurant most fowl, filling a vacated WNB Factory building in Jeffersontown, and specializing in chicken tenders, chicken burgers, chicken salads, chicken nuggets and chicken wraps. Non-chicken exceptions include Cajun fries and two vegetarian burgers. $ L D
KING’S FRIED CHICKEN 1302 Dixie Hwy., 776-3013 $ L D
OLLIE’S TROLLEY 978 S. Third St., 583-5214. A little piece of fast-food history remains in Old Louisville. It’s one of the nation’s few surviving trolleys of the Louisville-based chain that spread across the nation in the ’70s. Oversize burgers with a spicy, homemade flavor are just as good as ever. $ L
OSKAR'S SLIDER BAR 3799 Poplar Level Rd., 395-9010. Jesse and Liz Huot (Grind Burger Kitchen) expand on their burger concept with a new slider bar. Oskar’s (the name inspired by the Huots’ son, Oskar) offers over a dozen slider choices –chicken, fried fish and pork belly in addition to the expected ground beef mini-burgers. Fries and salads, too. $$ L D p
RAILBIRDS HOT CHICKEN 4520 Poplar Level Rd., (Derby City Gaming), 961-7600. Grab some wings or jumbo tenders at your choice of heat level or other non-spicy chicken dishes and sides like fries and slaws before you head back to the games. $ L D
RAISING CANE’S 10490 Westport Rd., 425-4040, 6811 Bardstown Rd., 654-7737, 5212 Dixie Hwy., 742-9035, 1250 Bardstown Rd., 822-1188, 1905 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 4099441. A national chain with a single core product — chicken fingers. Six locations in town now, all offering simple and straightforward fried chicken finger combos and sandwiches with slaw and fries on the side. $ L D f
RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS 9870 Von Allmen Ct., 339-8616, 5000 Shelbyville Rd., 899-9001. This Seattle-based chain serves up its well-regarded “gourmet burgers” and trimmings in two East End locations and S. Indiana. Despite a full bar, it reportedly attracts hordes of happy youngsters. $$ L D pf
RED TOP 750 E. Jefferson St. (Mashup Food Hall), 257-1226. The legendary food truck goes bricks ‘n’ mortar, with five sau-
sage-configured proteins (including a “Beyond” dog), six signature styles of toppings, along with smash burgers, loaded fries, shareables, and chopped salads. $$ L D pf
ROOSTERS 7405 Preston Hwy., 964-9464, 4420 Dixie Hwy., 384-0330, 10430 Shelbyville Rd., 883-1990, 5338 Bardstown Rd., 618-1128, 3601 Springhurst Blvd., 708-2798, 1601 Greentree Blvd., 812-590-3391. With a wide footprint in Ohio, this Columbus-based wings-and-brews chain is now spreading its franchise reach across Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky. Its six local properties have gained popularity for a lively sports bar setting and oversize wings. $ L D pf
ROYALS HOT CHICKEN 736 E. Market St., 919-7068. Ryan Rogers first pressure-fries his chicken, then, in the Nashville style, blankets it with a paste of oil and spices delivering mild to “Gonzo” heat. If you’re not in the mood for bird, salads and even Southern-fried tofu are on the menu. $$L D f
SMASHBURGER 9409 Shelbyville Rd., 326-4141, 312 S. Fourth St., 583-1500, 600 Terminal Dr. (Louisville Airport) 363-2526. A growing chain located mostly in the West and the South now has three Kentucky locations serving made-toorder Angus beef burgers, and is looking to open more area locations. $$ L D f
SMASHD ON FRANKFORT 2109 Frankfort Ave., 365-3644. The former J. Gumbo in Clifton has been converted into a quick-serve, smash(d)burger restaurant, also serving sides and milkshakes. It shares ownership with Frankfort Avenue Liquors & Wine, meaning that adult beverages are only a few yards away, with seating to consume both burgers and beer (or bourbon). $ L D f
STEAK ‘N SHAKE 4545 Outer Loop, 966-3109, 980 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy., Clarksville IN., 285-1154. One of the oldest fast-food chains in the U.S., Steak ‘n Shake traces its ancestry to an Illinois roadside stand in 1934. It now boasts 400 outlets in 19 states but still sticks to the basics: quality steak burgers and hand-dipped shakes served, if you dine in, on real china. $ B L D
THE CHILLBURGER 500 LaFollette Station Dr., Floyds Knobs IN, 728-8283; 1225 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 725-9157. These two Southern Indiana burger places tout freshly-ground USDA Choice beef, fresh-cut fries and milk shakes and sundaes from hormone-free dairy. Chicken and fish sandwiches, too. $ L D f
THE EAGLE FOOD & BEER HALL 1314 Bardstown Rd., 4988420, 7900 Shelbyville Rd. (Oxmoor Center) 515-6040. Ranked by the Travel Channel as being among America’s “10 Most Hype-Worthy Fried Chicken Restaurants,” The Eagle house-brines and hand-dredges its chicken and unspools numerous comfort-food accompaniments, including five-cheese macaroni and house-made biscuits, along with an extensive roster of sandwiches and salads. $$$ L D pf
THE WING ZONE 905 Hess Ln., 636-2445, 3038 Hunsinger Ln., 618-0106, 5210 Dixie Hwy., 409-7112. Wing Zone, with locations scattered across the eastern U.S., excels with jumbo wings in 25 flavors, including traditional Buffalo-style wings that range from Tame to Nuclear Habanero. Burgers, fried shrimp and sides as well. $ L D f
WALDO’S CHICKEN & BEER 10700 Meeting St., 434-4035. Where’s Waldo? In Norton Commons, where the Endeavor group (Big Bad Breakfast, LouVine) has introduced this Southern-style, chicken-led concept, with fried fowl “on the bone, on a bun, in a bowl, or in a basket,” and beer solemnly promised to be cold. $$ L D pf
WEEK-END BURGERS 5600 National Tpke., 994-8215. Another food truck business has gone off the wheels. WeekEnd Burgers boast their “burgers are the way burgers used to be made years, years ago, good, tasty & messy).” Philly sandwiches, too, and sides and desserts. $ L D f
WINGSTOP 4812 Dixie Hwy., 409-6000, 2007 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 491-7171, 12563 Shelbyville Rd., 856-9464. This Texas-based chain with 500 restaurants nationally, now reaches into Louisville. Their specialty? Wings of course, and you can get them 9 different ways. $$ L D p
WNB FACTORY 3733 Lexington Rd., 365-3177. Signifying “wings & burgers,” the Atlanta-based franchise’s mission statement is “to make the best darn wings & craft burgers you’ve ever had.” The menu also offers a variety of chicken sandwiches, cheesesteaks and combos, and even the stray veggie burger. $$$ L D f
W.W. COUSINS RESTAURANT 900 Dupont Rd. 897-9684. Founded in 1983 and a perennial Louisville restaurant award winner, this independent purveyor cooks 100% Black Angus burgers to order, serves them on house-baked buns, and provides a 40-plus “build your own” bar with condiments and toppings. Homemade pies and cookies? Yep, those too. $$ L D
ZAXBY’S (9 Locations) Fast casual chain specializing in chicken fingers and chicken wings (with myriad sauces), sandwiches and salads. Or, in the snaZZy Zaxby’s zee-menclature: zappetizers, zalads, platterz, wingz and fingerz. The mother tongue may suffer, but after all, z business is z business. $ L D
ALLEY CAT CAFÉ 11804 Shelbyville Rd., 245-6544. This suburban Alley Cat is a cozy and bright little place, and the lunchonly menu is affordable and appealing. $ L f
ANGIE’S CAFE 2781 Jefferson Centre Way, Jeffersonville IN, 920-0831. Angie’s cooks up a solid breakfast menu – eggs, omelets, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes – and creates hearty hot and cold sandwiches for lunch, at pleasantly retro prices. $ B L
AROMA CAFÉ & BAR Caesars Southern Indiana, Elizabeth IN, 866-676-7463. Grab a bite before hitting the casino. Sandwiches, salads, sides, cold beverages and coffee will fuel you for a night of entertainment. $$$ B L D p
ATRIUM CAFÉ 9940 Corporate Campus Dr. (Embassy Suites), 426-9191. An eclectic bistro atmosphere in the heart of the hotel. Specials run from their popular crab cakes and array of pasta dishes to a Reuben sandwich or fruit pie. $$ B D p
BLUE DOG BAKERY AND CAFÉ 2868 Frankfort Ave., 8999800. Tables invariably are at a premium at this popular Crescent Hill breakfast and lunch spot, and its artisanal bakery continues to produce hearty European-style breads for restaurant tables and grocery stores around town. An ownership change in 2023 was so seamless that six months passed before anyone knew it occurred. $$ B L D f
BOOMER’S CAFÉ 722 W. Main St., 585-4356. Named after the owner’s dear, departed beagle, Boomer’s is a popular, low-key downtown deli in the heart of the museum district. Sandwiches, burger and fries, homemade chocolate cookies, and good coffee. $ L
CHEDDAR BOX CAFÉ 12121 Shelbyville Rd., 245-2622. An attractive — and busy — Middletown lunch spot where owner Michelle Bartholmew serves popular salads, sandwiches and soups, as well as hot entrées such as lasagna and Brie and cranberry-stuffed chicken. Pick up some frozen appetizers for your next cocktail party. $ L D f
CHRISTI'S CAFÉ 12810 Dixie Hwy., 937-3110. This family-operated restaurant in Valley Station serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, all the dishes you know you want: omelets, hotcakes, wings, chili, bean soup, giant burgers, open-faced roast beef with mashed potatoes and liver and onions. $ B L D
CORNER CAFÉ 9307 New Lagrange Rd., 426-8119. This family-owned and operated, classier-than-the-average-strip mall place has quietly turned out delicious menus for better than 30 years. The Frederick family serves an eclectic menu (blackened tenderloin, Andouille-stuffed chicken, garlic-basil chicken pizza) and dishes like the Irish pork have won prizes at local charity contests. $$$ L D pf
CRAVE CAFÉ & CATERING 3703 Johnson Hall Rd.., 8961488. Quality café fare and comfort food in a casual setting at the Masonic Homes Campus, with a lengthy list of hot and cold sandwiches, wraps, salads and rotating soups; daily combos and hot plate specials; a grab-and-go section; and box lunch service (with advance notice). $$ L D
CUP OF JOY 2507 Bank St., 919-9074. This coffee shop and café is a project of Haven Ministries and run mostly by volunteers. According to founder Esther Lyon, the food is “homemade, down-home cooking … biscuits and gravy, homemade potato soup, chicken and dumplings, turnovers, pastries.” Nothing on the menu tops $5. $ B L
DERBY CAFÉ EXPRESS 704 Central Ave. (Kentucky Derby Museum), 637-1111. You can get both grab-and-go eats, and made-to-order breakfast and lunch items before or after your visit to the Derby Museum. At breakfast, choose from hot and cold breakfast items, fresh pastries and kolache. The lunch
menu offers deli-style sandwiches, paninis, soups, salads, Derby Pie (of course) and Benedictine. There is also a full bar. $ B L pf
DRIP N DOUGH 1021 Bardstown Rd., 909-553-2090. A Cherokee Triangle coffee shop with doughnuts, but also serving hot dogs with the fixings. We believe Ignatius J. Reilly would approve, even without pirate regalia (IYKYK). $$ L D
ELDERBERRY PROVISIONS 3909 Chenoweth Sq., 384-0629. The father-daughter team of Tim and Brittany Dulac fills the void left by the former Cheddar Box in St. Matthews, offering sandwiches, snacks, grab-and-go meals and baked goods for lunch and dinner, as well as catering services. $$ L D f
EST. 1927 BY MARIGOLD CATERING COMPANY 2035 S. Third St. (Speed Art Museum), 634-2700. As of 2024, the owners of The House of Marigold and Marigold Catering Co. have assumed the role of food service providers, caterers and café operators inside the Speed Art Museum in Old Louisville, replacing the long-running Wiltshire. Menus are drawn from longtime lunch and brunch favorites, so relax between viewings. $$ L pf
HOT BOX EATERY 438 W. Market St., 822-3995. Try their fresh soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and daily specials. Menu choices include a Brie and salami wrap, Indonesian chicken peanut satay, pork schnitzel, a turkey club wrap and a gyro — in other words, an appealingly diverse selection. $ L
J. GRAHAM’S CAFÉ & BAR 335 W. Broadway (The Brown Hotel), 583-1234. The home of the legendary “Hot Brown” sandwich, J. Graham’s offers a more casual bistro-style alternative to the upscale English Grill, with choice of menu service or buffet dining. $$ B L pf
JW CAFÉ & BAKERY 2301 Terra Crossing Blvd., 907-5248. The bakery part of this East End spot offers scones and cupcakes and other expected bakery treats. The café part has a variety of lunch items, including Korean specialties. The smoked salmon salad has won fans quickly. $ B L f
KAYROUZ CAFÉ 3801 Willis Ave., 896-2630. Tucked in among St. Matthews sidestreets is one of the best sandwich places in Louisville. The tuna salad, Portobello mushroom Reuben, fish, chicken and hamburger — all are innovative and all come with some of the best fries in town. $ L D f
MO MO’S CATERING & NOSHERY 619 Baxter Ave., 3652136. Expanding into a storefront, an Irish Hill caterer now has a public dining/community room for breakfast burritos, sandwiches, lunch items, daily specials, “grab’ n go” beverages, packaged items “take ‘n’ bake” frozen, homecooked meals. Suzie Brown’s Bakery rotates fresh baked goods. $$ B L D MOONSONG BAR + CAFÉ 710 E. Jefferson St., 901-9355. Ground floor breakfast and lunch provider at the Tempo by Hilton in NuLu, undertaken in partnership with Bluestone Lane, an Australian-inspired coffee roaster and café; after a midday break, Moonsong reopens in late afternoon for drinks and bites into the evening. $$ B L D p
ORANGE CLOVER KITCHEN & MORE 590 Missouri Ave., Jeffersonville IN, 282-1005. Find quick breakfast and lunch items here, such as the Orange Clover muffin: poppy seed and blood orange flavors with a blood orange drizzle, as well as a cupcake version with cranberries. Two soup specials offered every day out of a recipe rotation of 75 possibilities. $ B L
PURRFECT DAY CAT CAFÉ 1741 Bardstown Rd., 916-5051. One room is a wine bar with snacks and small bites provided by local bakeries. The other room, by reservation, is a Cat Room, populated by cats needing homes, provided by the Humane Society. Bring in a drink, and play and cuddle with kitties — and maybe take one home. $ B L D p
RAMSI’S CAFÉ ON THE WORLD 1293 Bardstown Rd., 4510700. The beating bohemian heart of the Highlands, Ramsi Kamar brings a wonderfully eclectic spirit to the environment and to his menu, where you can find Cuban, Jamaican, Greek, and Middle Eastern dishes at moderate prices. A weekend brunch and late-night hours add to the draw. $$ L D pf
SHADY LANE CAFÉ 4806 Brownsboro Center, 893-5118. This perennially popular little East End eatery, long a go-to choice for breakfast and lunch, now provides dinner on Friday nights too. $ Br L D f
STARLIGHT CAFÉ 19816 Huber Rd., Starlight IN, 923-9813. This café in the Winery building at Huber Farm provides light
lunch items such as seasonal soups, Rueben sandwiches, a turkey club, chicken salad or artisan flatbread pizza. Dine inside in the dining room or outside on the patio that overlooks the 550-acre farm. Huber wines and cocktails made from spirits distilled on the premises available too. $$ L D pf
THE CAFÉ 711 Brent St., 589-9191. The transition is complete. The Café is now across the street from its original Paristown location, in a newly renovated, airy space, part of the Paristown Pointe development. The menu, with its complement of hearty breakfast and lunch dishes, remains the same. $$ B Br L D pf
THE CHEDDAR BOX TOO 109 Chenoweth Ln., 896-1133. Cheddar Box owner Nancy Tarrant has extended her presence with a café just across the parking lot. Look for the same tasty salads, soups and desserts that have made her take-away business so popular. $ B L
THE TABLE 1800 Portland Ave., 708-2505. This West End nonprofit, social entrepreneurship experiment serves locallygrown, fresh food and operates under a pay-what-you-can model. Pay suggested prices if you can, or if not, contribute your time. Or donate more to “pay it forward.” The menu offers soups, salads, sandwiches and sides. $ L D
THE UNDERGROUND CAFÉ 110 W. Chestnut St. (Health Sciences Hall). Jefferson Community and Technical College’s culinary arts students run their own café, with a menu of burgers, sandwiches, salads, grab-and-go snacks, and more.
$ L
TOP HAT CAFÉ 1300 Muhammad Ali Blvd., 583-8822. Located inside the Old Walnut Plaza, this neighborhood coffee shop and breakfast and lunch café, named after an historic West End nightclub, is a project of the Louisville Central Community Center, in its effort to connect the Russell neighborhood to its past and to encourage fellowship and neighborhood networking.$ B L D
VIC’S CAFÉ 1839 E. Market St., New Albany IN, 944-4338. $ L D
WAYCOOL CAFÉ 120 W. Broadway, 582-2241. Wayside Christian Mission trains people here in its community re-entry program in restaurant service and management. Breakfasts for under $5; a lunch buffet is $8 for unlimited trips. A dinner menu too. It’s a do-gooder place that serves good food. $ L D WILTSHIRE PANTRY BAKERY AND CAFÉ 901 Barret Ave., 581-8561, 605 W. Main St., 749-1683, 750 E. Jefferson St., 581-8560 (Mashup Food Hall). Caterer/Restaurateur Susan Hershberg’s venerable bakery and café (founded 1989), with locations in the Highlands and two downtown, offers artisanal breads, scones and croissants, full breakfasts (Tuscan egg sandwich, breakfast grain bowl, frittata, smoked salmon plate) as well as sandwiches, side salads and paninis. $$ B L
BREAKFAST
BIG BAD BREAKFAST 984 Barret Ave., 289-8227, 5050 Norton Healthcare Blvd., 709-5420, 11615 Shelbyville Rd., 3058905. From the active mind of New Orleans-born chef John Currence has emerged the growing regional chain Big Bad Breakfast: “the most important meal of the day.” Extensive breakfast and lunch menus include Creole omelet (filled with shrimp and andouille), chicken and waffles, and huevos rancheros made with grits, chicken sausage and saucy black beans. $$ B Br pf
BISCUIT BELLY 900 E. Main St., 409-5729, 3723 Lexington Rd., 690-2945, 13301 Shelbyville Rd., 208-8722. Chad and Lauren Coulter, of LouVino fame, own this breakfast- and lunchoriented eatery. You’ll find over-sized biscuit sandwiches filled with chicken, country ham or brisket; oatmeal, hash and Nutella toast, as well as an adult beverage program that includes beers and coffee-inflected cocktails. There’s non-alcoholic coffee, too, and eggs however you like them. $$ B Br L pf
BREAKFAST AF 1008 Goss Ave., 365-4466. As what? Well, start with the owners of the Hauck’s Corner bar nearby in Schnitzelburg, then consider that breakfast can be late at night or early in the morning depending when one arrives in bed. From Tteokgalbi (a Korean short rib patty with egg) to a cornmeal pancake with pulled pork, expect “dawning” creativity. $$ B Br L pf
CON HUEVOS 2339 Frankfort Ave., 384-3027, 4938 US-42, 384-3744, 400 S. Second St. (Omni Hotel), 2125 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy, 384-2432, 10639 Meeting St., 290-4123. The hugely popular Mexican breakfast and lunch restaurant continues to expand to meet demand, adding its fifth location in the very epicenter of Norton Commons. Choose from huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, breakfast-style enchiladas (with eggs, of course), frijoladas, churros, molletes and more, and with tortas and tacos at lunch. Expect a wait on weekends – but worth it. $ B Br L
EGGS OVER FRANKFORT 2712 Frankfort Ave., 709-4452. Husband and wife team Jackson and Cortney Nave have creatively refurbished this Crescent Hill space into a “very traditional” breakfast spot. Its menu includes omelets, eggs Benedict, waffles and oatmeal, as well as salads and sandwiches for lunch. $ B Br L
EL MANANERO 916 Eastern Blvd., 812-590-1128. Clarksville’s thriving Mexican culinary community welcomes a breakfast and brunch specialist to the transformed former home of Clarksville Seafood, offering scratch-made early-day dishes, from chorizo and tamales to waffles and biscuits. $$ B L
FIRST WATCH 201 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 384-6075, 960 Breckenridge Ln., 618-1955, 1205 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN., 575-3447, 2225 Taylorsville Rd., 444-7744, 12913 Shelbyville Rd., 233-0770, 4948 U.S. 42, 242-9444, 10639 Fischer Park Dr., 410-5129, 7714 Bardstown Rd., 413-5440. This Florida-based chain offers both traditional breakfast fare (fried eggs, sausage), proprietary specials, like French toast Monte Cristo (made with ham, turkey and Swiss cheese), crepes with plenty of fillings and healthful dishes like egg white omelets and cranberry nut oatmeal. $ B L
HIGHLAND MORNING 1416 Bardstown Rd., 365-3900, 111 St. Matthews Ave., 883-0203. You can order breakfast anytime at both locations, with an eclectic menu that also encompasses brunch, burgers, soul food, Southern dishes. $$$ B L D
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES 1220 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 285-1772, 1401 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 618-2250. IHOP fans can choose to go out to the East End or
across the river to satisfy their jones for the national chain’s inimitable food. $ B L D
MORNING FORK 1722 Frankfort Ave., 830-9500. Seven-daysa-week breakfast and brunch concept in Lower Clifton from Chef/Owner Geoffrey Heyde. The varied menu offers wellmade breakfast/brunch classics alongside dishes like short ribs eggs Benedict, chilaquiles and Liege waffles. Note that dinner hours previously given over to shared sister restaurant Fork & Barrel now are devoted to private parties and special events. $$$ B Br L p f
SLEEPY ROOSTER MORNING KITCHEN 2204 State St. New Albany IN, 812-725-0814. Are you ready for the Mexicali Benedict? Churros meet corned beef hash at this New Albany spin-off from the creators of Señor Iguanas and La Catrina, fusing breakfast, brunch and lunch favorites from the American and Mexican culinary traditions. $$$ B Br L D pf
TAYLOR’S CEREAL BOWL KITCHEN 438 Spring St., Jeffersonville, IN., 812-260-1161. Taylor’s pursues an utterly unique mission among area ice cream and sweets shops, providing a safe environment suitable for autistic and neurodivergent children, complete with games, sensory toys and 3D printers. $$ L
THE HEN HOUSE AND PROVISIONS 4863 Brownsboro Ctr., 690-6585. Chef David Danielson’s goal has always been to bring people together around great food. At the Hen House, his brunch-centric restaurant in Windy Hills, this means freshly baked pastries, breakfast and lunch dishes, seasonal salads, sandwiches, homemade biscuits, craft cocktails and yes, have no fear, Danielson’s famous fried chicken is still right here. $$$ B Br L p
TWIG & LEAF RESTAURANT 2122 Bardstown Rd., 4518944. A popular Highlands hangout since 1962, the landmark “Twig” remains best known for its breakfast, which continues into the afternoon alongside a traditional diner-style lunch menu. But at night until closing, the offerings flip over to Mexican and Guatemalan, from the familiar to lesser-known items like papusas, sandwich-like griddle cakes. $ B L D f
WILD EGGS 3985 Dutchmans Ln., 893-8005, 1311 Herr Ln., 618-2866, 153 S. English Station Rd., 618-3449, 121 S. Floyd St., 690-5925, 1450 Veterans Pkwy., Jeffersonville IN, 9134735, 223 W. Fifth St., New Albany IN, 850-9453, 9010 Taylorsville Rd (Stony Brook Shopping Center), 473-5959. Specialty omelets, the “everything” muffin, spicy egg salad sandwiches — these dishes and more have made Wild Eggs a wildly popular breakfast and lunch spot. Prized seats at weekend brunch can soon be found at this growing mini-chain’s seventh outlet in New Albany, is expected to open in October. $$ B Br L p
A NICE RESTAURANT 3129 Blackiston Mill Rd., New Albany IN, 945-4321, 404 Lafollette Station, Floyds Knobs IN, 9237770. A Nice Restaurant, billed as “New Albany’s Finer Diner,” is, well, nice enough to have branched out to three locations. All specialize in simple, down-home breakfast and lunch at affordable prices. $ B L
AL’S TABLE 830 Phillips Ln. (Crowne Plaza Hotel), 367-2251. Named in honor of local developer Al Schneider, Al’s Table offers breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week at the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Expo Center Hotel (formerly the Executive West). The bill of fare features Kentucky-influenced cuisine with regional touches, and of course a full bar. $$$ L D
APPLEBEE’S 4717 Dixie Hwy., 448-1399, 10006 Will Way, 2311661, 4535 Outer Loop, 969-1228, 771 E. Lewis and Clark Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 283-3594.. This cheery national chain features an eclectic assortment of salads, steaks, ribs, poultry and pasta as well as full bar service. It’s as consistent as a cookie cutter, but competent execution makes it a good bargain for those whose tastes run to mainstream American cuisine. $$ L D p
BACK OF THE HOUSE COLLECTIVE YARD 3215 Preston Hwy. Louisville’s first designated outdoor food truck yard, located near the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center, hosting six food trucks drawn from a rotating list. Open year-round when the temperature range is between 40 - 95 degrees F., except during extreme weather. Yard games and a miniature dog park supplement the food and drink. $$ L D f
CHAMPIONS GRILLE 505 Marriott Dr. (Radisson Hotel), Clarksville IN, 283-4411. Known by locals for its Saturday night buffet of New York strip, ribeye and prime rib. Salads, sandwiches, soups and a kid-friendly menu round out the selection. $$ B Br L D p
CHEDDAR’S SCRATCH KITCHEN 10403 Westport Rd., 3395400, 3521 Outer Loop, 966-3345, 1385 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 280-9660. This popular Dallas-based chain draws big, hungry crowds with its large bar and familiar “casual to upscale American” fare. $ L D pf
CHEF SHAQ’S KITCHEN 612 S. Fifth St., 614-7527, 2300 W. Market St., 650-1783. Shaquan McDonald, a two-decade food business veteran, describes his foray into eatery ownership as “American style with a twist.” Standouts include the Smoketown Burger, Thunder Over Louisville Fries with bacon and white queso, and McDonald’s signature Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. $$ L D
CHILI’S 421 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 425-6800, 3623 Bardstown Rd., 301-8888, 11600 Antonia Way, 301-8181, 9720 Von Allmen Ct., 301-8880, 3007 Poplar Level Rd., 638-5202, 940 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 670-3000. More than just a place to chow down on baby back ribs, this national chain has a wide selection including fajitas, burgers, sandwiches and veggies. $$ L D
DENNY’S 434 Eastern Pkwy., 636-2538. What better place for travelers to get breakfast than Denny’s? This venerable chain knows its customers, pleasing them with familiar diner food in big portions. The late-night scene in this 24-hour refuge for the hungry makes for colorful fun. $$ B Br L D
EAT YOUR BOURBON MARKETPLACE 2708 Frankfort Ave., 618-0939. Owner Matt Jamie extends his Crescent Hill Bourbon Barrel Foods concept with this grab-and-go prepared foods store that uses recipes from Jamie’s "Eat Your Bourbon" cookbook: charcuterie boards, sandwiches and other prepared foods are available. $$ B Br L D p
FUZZY'S THE 15TH CLUB, FOOD & SPIRITS 4900 Water Tower Rd., Jeffersonville IN, 812-670-5713. New Albany native Fuzzy Zoeller enjoyed a successful golfing career, then launched Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka, which pours at his new branded restaurant inside the Hilton Garden Inn Jeffersonville featuring American cuisine of precisely the sort you’d expect Fuzzy and friend John Daly to enjoy. $$ B L D pf
GANDER, AN AMERICAN GRILL 111 S. English Station Rd., 915-8484. Chris and Anne Mike, of Goose Creek Diner, have opened Gander, An American Grill, serving steaks, burgers, pasta and sandwiches — "a little bit of everything that makes America what it is," according to Mike. $$$ Br L D pf
GATSBY’S ON FOURTH 500 S. Fourth St. (Seelbach Hilton Hotel), 585-3200. The casual dining space on the first floor of the Seelbach reflects its connection of the hotel to F. Scott Fitzgerald. There are two breakfast buffets, American and Continental, as well as a la carte choices from the griddle or from a “Healthy Sunrise” menu. $$ B L p
HARROD’S CREEK TAVERN 6313 River Rd., 919-8812. Commuters trundling home to the suburbs can mingle with Prospect residents, river rats and parched kayakers docking out back on Harrod’s Creek. Look for an expanded bar food menu, brown bag lunches to go and late-night food service. $ L D pf
JUBILEE FIELD BAR 529 E. Burnett Ave., 365-3572. A parklike adult playground and event space in the evolving Merriwether neighborhood, with a full indoor-outdoor bar and revolving food truck program. $$ L D pf
LOAD IT 12905 Factory Ln., 384-7589. An East End premise to be taken literally and lyrically: take a load off (these lists of proteins, toppings and sauces), and put the load right on (those spuds, tortilla chips, fries, lettuce and flatbreads). A weighty selection of 15 signature load-bearing combos (lobster mac, buffalo blitz, etc.) helpfully alleviates indecisiveness. $$ B L D pf
MASHUP FOOD HALL 750 E. Jefferson St., 992-8131. A component of the NuLu Yard development in Phoenix Hill, the food hall and its sister Genuine Work Coworking incorporate a full bar and includes these vendors: 721 Mint It! (juice bar), Barcelona Bistro, Cold Smoke Bagels, Red Top, Wiltshire Bakery & Café, Dipped & Drizzled, Mable's Southern Kitchen and Nexus Bar Bites. $$ B L D p
NOAH’S KITCHEN 9850 Von Allmen Ct., 365-1351. Chefdriven café in the East End founded by Adam Ursprung as a
non-profit outlet for his faith-based mission to “serve up love” for those in need, specializing in breakfast dishes and omelets, with sandwiches and salads served into the evening (beer and wine also are available). $$$ B Br L D
NOODLES & COMPANY 1225 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 6320102, 4302 Summit Plaza Dr., 791-9015, 319 Cardinal Blvd., 632-2846. This Colorado-based fast-casual chain offers an eclectic noodle array: Asian style (pad Thai, Bangkok curry), pastas (Tuscan fresca, penne rossa) — or select from a lineup of savory sandwiches and salads.. $ L D f
O’CHARLEY’S 1901 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 491-8372. O’Charley’s, Inc. could serve well as the picture in the dictionary next to “American casual dining.” The Nashville-based chain operates 206 properties in 16 states in the Southeast and Midwest, serving a straightforward steak-and-seafood menu with the motto “Mainstream with an attitude.” $$ B L D p
RAFFERTY’S OF LOUISVILLE 988 Breckenridge Ln., 8973900. This full-service, casual dining establishment has a hearty menu. Specialties like Red Alfredo Pasta showcase the gourmet offerings along with some of the largest and most creative salad combinations in town. $$ L D p f
SAM’S FOOD & SPIRITS 702 Highlander Point Dr., Floyds Knobs IN, 923-2323. Fans of Sam Anderson’s steaks, chicken, pizza and pasta know it is well worth the trip up into the Knobs above New Albany to enjoy the conviviality of his restaurant, and his always satisfying take on classic American steak, sandwiches and seafood. $$ L D p
SHONEY’S 6511 Signature Dr., 969-8904. For nearly 50 years, Shoney’s restaurants have been one of America’s top choices for fast roadside dining, and happily they’ve kept up with the times. $ B L D
SKYLINE CHILI 1266 Bardstown Rd., 473-1234, 340 Whittington Pkwy., 429-5773, 4024 Dutchmans Ln., 721-0093, 3505 Grant Line Rd., New Albany IN, 725-7176. Louisville’s outposts of a famous Cincinnati chili restaurant, these casual eateries offer the regional favorite (really it’s Greek spaghetti sauce, but keep it quiet) and other fast-food dishes. $ L D
THE B.A. COLONIAL 818 Kenwood Dr. (Colonial Gardens), 242-8686. Another entry into the Iroquois-area resurrection of the historic Colonial Gardens. The menu here features American casual cooking, such as freshly-ground burgers, salads and seafood. A full bar serves a five-cocktail list, margaritas, rum punches, and its own take on the Old Fashioned. $ L D p f
THE SOUTH SEAS 1301 Story Ave., 618-1301. The word “tiki” is post-war English for tropical culture in the South Pacific. It’s one thing to revive the original ‘50s’ era tiki bar concept in Butchertown, complete with fruity tiki cocktails and menu items from the “Pacific Surf Triangle,” defined as “SoCal to Hawaii to Mexico’s Pacific Coast”. But adding miniature golf simply takes matters to a whole new level. $$$$ D p f
THE STREATERY 304 W. Woodlawn Ave., 398-5777. Welcome to the diverse Beechmont neighborhood’s collective kitchen and evolving food court, as helmed by Dung Tran, whose second Fresh Out of the Box eatery (which also distributes Char’Cute’rie Creations) operates there along with Anko Sushi and Mochi Dog, and various weekly kitchen pop-ups. Tran is working toward six permanent food vendors and a full bar. $$ L D f
HEALTH & WELLNESS
721 MINT IT! 750 E. Jefferson St., 702-1271 (Mashup Food Hall). Herb and juice bar offering “a healthier way to quench your thirst,” with cold-pressed juices, smoothies, açaí bowls, nut milks, and wellness teas, stressing fresh and organically sourced ingredients. $$ B L p
ACAI-VILLE CAFÉ 3029 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., 999-1533. Fresh bases, bowls and smoothies constructed as you please, dedicated to the proposition “Eat Good, Feel Good—Live Better.” Well, what did you expect at Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning? Deep-fried Mahrs bars? $$ L D
BETTER BLEND NUTRITION 4149 Shelbyville Rd., 5305452. Numerous Louisville-area branches are projected for this Kentucky-based “health and wellness” franchise, which offers a plethora of smoothies (or “blends”), bowls and other menu items built around ingredients low in sugar, fat, carbohydrates and calories. $$ B L D
CHERRY PICKIN’ 828 E Main St., 963-5969. This “juicery” shares NuLu Marketplace patio space with The Seltzery, and featured cold-pressed juices along with breakfast and lunch options (oats, avocado toast) as well as smoothies and other health- and wellness-oriented fare. $$ L D f
CLEAN EATZ 3565 Springhurst Blvd., 653-7865, 9545 Taylorsville Rd., 790-8107. This outpost of a Wilmington, NC franchise, the first of three planned for the area, houses a café, where customers can dine or collect weekly meal plans featuring health-conscious prepared meals that can be reheated at home. $$ L D
CORELIFE EATERY 1225 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 812725-0031, 9365 Viking Center Dr., 709-7131. This Syracusebased franchise offers vegetable and grains bowls, bone and vegetable broth, and grass-fed steak, chicken and tofu power plates. $$ L D
CURRITO 6460 Dutchmans Pkwy., 883-0043. This Cincinnatibased chain offers Asian versions of grain bowls and wraps, with a choice of meat or tofu. Their signature drink is the Dreamsicle Shake. $ L D
GREEN DISTRICT SALADS 126 Breckinridge Ln., 409-5293, 225 S. Fifth St., 822-3055, 13301 Shelbyville Rd., 565-4986, 1449 Bardstown Rd., 792-9011, 4227 Town Center Blvd., Clarksville IN, (812) 712-4351, 9850 Von Allmen Ct., 9965666, 3939 Shelbyville Rd., 409-5293. This quickly expanding fast-service restaurant now has six area locations, with the latest in St. Matthews. Customers watch their salads being constructed while they wait, and house-made soups and wraps are also available.$$ L D
HONEYDEW 135 Breckenridge Ln., 963-5657. The owner of District 6 in, the popular Vietnamese restaurant in St. Mathews, now adds a smoothie bar with healthful, fresh-pressed juices, smoothies and croffles, something between a croissant and a waffle that is opular in Asia. $ B L
I LOVE JUICE BAR 13317 Shelbyville Rd., 690-9938, 10512 Meeting St., 630-2051. There are two locally-owned franchises of this regional chain, situated in Middletown and Norton Commons. Vegan and gluten-free juices and smoothies are the house specialties, but there is a full array of smoothie bowls (acai, pitaya and pb&j, among others). $$ B L
IN SEASON 324 W. Main St., 323-3200. Sourcing ingredients from his farm, owner Daniel Passafiume, offers healthy options like salads, stir fry and harvest bowls, designed with what is currently in season. The menu will rotate at least four times per year. $$ L
LUEBERRY ACAI & SUPERFOODS 808 E. Market St., 7420640, 5000 Shelbyville Rd. (St. Matthews Mall), 618-1378, 6308 Meeting St., 384-7708. These shops serve açai bowls topped with things like goji berries, banana, chia, strawberries and coconut. Smoothies and other healthful options also available. $$ B L D
PLAYA BOWLS 4600 Shelbyville Rd. (Shelbyville Road Plaza)., 882-1100., 12939 Shelbyville Rd. , 919-7075. Two Jersey Shore surfing enthusiasts have parlayed their love of acai, pitaya, chia, coconut bowls and smoothies into a nationwide chain of health food restaurants, with the first of two Louisville shops open in St. Matthews and Middletown. $$ B L D
SHAHAR CAFÉ 1127 Logan St. This plant-based restaurant is re-established in Shelby Park, offering eclectic vegetarian and vegan interpretations of varied European and Asian dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, ranging from tacos to tater tots and “impossible” burgers. $$ Br D
THE SALAD CHIC 526 S. Fifth St., 500-8202. Downtown lunch spot where customers can build their own salads, salad and fruit kabobs or wraps, or choose from a prepared salad menu and a changing daily roster of soups. $$ B L
TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ 13128 Shelbyville Rd., 2909903, 5023 Mud Ln., 709-5420, 4114 Summit Plaza Dr., 3844386, 305 W. Cardinal Blvd., 290-0008, 4024 Shelbyville Rd., 384-3732, 7714 Bardstown Rd., 384-5249, 1586 Veterans Pkwy., Jeffersonville IN, 812-920-0030. A full range of smoothies accompanies an extensive menu of flatbreads, wraps quesadillas, and other health-minded menu items, courtesy of this national chain’s “born on a beach” ethos. $$ B L D
VINAIGRETTE SALAD KITCHEN 3012 Bardstown Rd., 8745740. This Lexington-based modestly upscale salad restaurant offers locally sourced soups and salads and fresh lemonade.
The menu includes the Bluegrass Blackberry salad; chicken taco and maki shrimp salads; and soups such as creamy tomato and sausage, kale and potato. Be sure to try one of three fresh lemonades on offer daily. $$ L D
8TH DEI PIZZA 3211 Grant Line Rd., New Albany IN, 812-5902478. Previously known as 8th Street Pizza, now sharing space with Donum Dei Brewery and Distillery, specializes in madeto-order New York style pizza (build-your-own or signature pies), cheesy bread and garlic or pepperoni breadsticks; for dine-in or carryout. $$ L D pf
AAA PIZZA 1155 S. 15th St., 584-2999. Locally-owned pizza, wings, salads, subs and homemade desserts for carry-out from a corner shop in the underserviced California neighborhood near Old Louisville. $$ D
ANNIE’S PIZZA 2520 Portland Ave., 776-6400, 4771 Cane Run Rd., 449-4444. Annie’s has made-to-order pizza and a variety of stacked sandwiches such as the Big Daddy Strom with beef, Italian sausage, onions and banana peppers. $$ L D
ARNI’S PIZZA 1208 State St., New Albany IN, 945-1149. A favorite Hoosier pizza and sandwich stop. Insist on getting the Deluxe. $$ L D
ARNO’S PIZZA 3927 Bardstown Rd., 384-8131.$$ L D
BANDITZ PIZZA 712 Brent St. (The Village Market), 632-1132. This pizzeria from the creators of Bunz Burgerz has joined the roster of eateries at The Village Market Food Hall in revitalizing Paristown, promising a unique crust described as a cross between flatbread and Neapolitan, as available in both personal and shareable sizes. $$$ L D pf
BEARNO’S PIZZA (14 locations) What began as a simple, family-run pizzeria near Bowman Field has morphed into a local chain with, at last count, 14 locations. $$ L D f
BLAZE FAST-FIRE’D PIZZA 4848 Shelbyville Rd., 895-7800, 13317 Shelbyville Rd., 822-3677, 4118 Summit Plaza Dr., 915-8731, 1225 Veterans Pkwy., Clarsville IN, 406-4347. At this California-based pizza franchise you customize your own pie from a lineup of meat and vegetable toppings, cheeses and several sauces. The pie bakes in just 2 minutes in a flaming hearth oven. There are ready-to-order signature pies also for those who can’t make up their minds. $$ L D p f
BONNIE & CLYDE’S PIZZA 7611 Dixie Hwy., 935-5540. It may look like a dive that hasn’t been renovated in ages, the service can be surly at times, and you have to pay in cash, but devoted fans of its thin-crust pizzas and hoagies keep coming back and talk it up with their friends. $$ L D f
BOOMBOZZ PIZZA · WATCH BAR 1448 Bardstown Rd., 4588889, 1890 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 265-4591, 1315 Herr Ln., 394-0000, 1450 Veterans Pkwy., Jeffersonville IN, (812) 9134171. After two decades of success with his gourmet pizza stores, Tony Palombino is reimagining his brand and retooling both the decor and the menus at all of his locations. That reimagining includes audio/video enhancements, a new company logo and slogan (“Crafted for You”), an expanded wine and cocktail list. New menu items include jumbo tater tots stuffed with bacon and cheddar cheese, a cauliflower crust pizza, seasonal pizzas and game day specials. $$ L D pf
BORROMEO’S PIZZA & ITALIAN 9417 Smyrna Pkwy., 9687743. Serving up old-school thin-crust pizzas to chowhounds south of the Gene Snyder. $$ L D pf
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN 7900 Shelbyville Rd. (Oxmoor Center), 425-5125. California pizza became a trend when famous chefs gave this simple Italian fare a multi-ethnic spin with non-traditional Pacific Rim toppings. CPK successfully translates this trend for the mass market. $$ L D pf
CHARLESTOWN PIZZA COMPANY 850 Main St., Charlestown IN, 256-2699. This welcoming venue on Charlestown’s town square, a short trip upriver from Jeffersonville, is run by folks who learned their pizza and beer at New Albanian Brewing Company. That’s a fine pedigree, and it shows in impressive quality. $$ L D
CHEF'S CUT PIZZERIA 9901 LaGrange Rd., 265-1320. This reasonably priced Lyndon pizza place has sandwiches too, from chili dogs to turkey clubs, and pasta dishes. $ L D p
CLASSICO PIZZERIA 400 E. Main St. Caffe Classico in Clifton has served acclaimed pizza since its inception, and now
founder Tommie Mudd is baking his know-how and trademark continental flair into a freestanding carryout-oriented pizzeria downtown, located in same building (around the corner) as Mudd’s successful Classico Takeout Empanadas. C’mon, who else would lead with fugazzeta, an Argentinian style of mozzarella-heavy deep-dish pizza? $$ L D p f
COALS ARTISAN PIZZA 3730 Frankfort Ave., 742-8200, 11615 Shelbyville Rd., 253-0106, 600 Terminal Dr. (Louisville Airport). Middletown and airport travelers now partake in what St. Matthews diners have enjoyed for a few years–excellent pizzas made in coal-fired ovens burning at 800 degrees F, crisping the crust in 4 minutes and “leoparding” it with black spots. Toppings are fresh and regionally-sourced. $$ L D pf
CRAFT HOUSE PIZZA 4041 Preston Hwy., 363-4880, 9601 Newbridge Rd., 409-6276, 12607 Taylorsville Rd., 742-8700, 2813 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 861-1012, 5205 New Cut Rd., (Colonial Gardens) 861-1808, 1500 S. Shelby St., 861-1807., 700 Landis Ridge Dr., 861-1600. Owner Tom Brown’s pizzerias embody his move into craft beer (Hometown Brewing Co.), as brewed since 2019 at the Preston Highway location. The pizzeria menu offers pasta dishes, hoagies and strombolis as well as one-of-a-kind pies like the Bacon Cheeseburger pizza, with the tasty (and patented) innovation of crusts using spent grain from the brewhouse. In 2022, Beer Connoisseur Magazine selected Foxbody 5.0 lager as #58 in its Top 100 American beers of the year. $$ L D p
DANNY MAC’S PASTA & PIZZA 1836 Mellwood Ave., 8906331. Dan McMahon sells generously-topped pizzas at the walk-up venue in the courtyard of the Mellwood Arts Center. The choices are mostly traditional with outliers like Hawaiian and Kentucky Hot Brown. His butter-drenched garlic breadsticks, aka “Cracksticks,” are a fan favorite. McMahon’s pizzas can also be found at Tim Tam Tavern. $$ L D
DEENO'S PIZZA & WINGS 9100 Dixie Hwy., 653-7814. This ambitious little family-run place rolls and shapes house-made dough to order, and bakes, then air-fries wings before tossing them in one of 11 sauce coatings. The weekend buffet offers pizza, wings and a taco bar. $$ D f
DERBY CITY PIZZA 5603 Greenwood Rd., 933-7373, 2500 Crittenden Dr., 384-4777, 10619 Manslick Rd., 742-3940, 2331 Brownsboro Rd., 290-0677, 9910 Linn Station Rd., 3848733, 12900 Dixie Hwy., 290-2310., 412 W. Daisy Ln., New Albany IN, 812-590-6880, 2224 Dundee Rd., 458-6637, 2976 E. 10th St. Jeffersonville IN, 812-590-1213, 7207 Fegenbush Ln., 365-1766. When 15-year-old Larry Davis went to work at a local pizzeria in 1991, you might say the pie was cast. Three decades later Davis’s family-oriented local pizza chain stresses solid and reasonably priced Italian food, with seven signature pizzas as well as a build-your own; gluten free and low carb crustless options; wings, salads and toasted subs; and lasagna and spaghetti with genuinely “jumbo” meatballs. $$ L D pf
DIORIO’S PIZZA & PUB 310 Wallace Ave., 618-3424, 917 Baxter Ave., 614-8424, 7507 Upper River Rd., 618-0234. Multiple area locations serve pizza by the slice (and by the mammoth 30-inch pie); also on the menu are sandwiches, salads, wings, queso sticks, and D’s Fried (dough) Balls, alongside a good selection of domestic, imported, and craft beers. $$ L D pf
EMMY SQUARED PIZZA 825 E. Market St., 785-5800. This Detroit-style pizza chain joins a growing list of properties in the Nulu Marketplace, anchored by West Sixth Brewing. The square pizzas here share the menu with burgers, including the double-stack "Le Big Matt.” $$$ L D p f
FAT JIMMY’S 12216 Shelbyville Rd., 244-2500. This friendly neighborhood nook offers a cold mug of beer and a hot slice of pizza, along with sub sandwiches, pasta dishes and salads. $$ L D
FIRE OVEN PIZZA 313 W. Cardinal Blvd., 882-3473, 2801 Packerland Way., 384-9666. Signature pies (pepperoni, BBQ chicken, meat lover’s, Hawaiian) and build-your-own options hew to pizzeria norms, but are augmented by a short selection of locally unique Indian-inspired choices: Paneer Tikka, Chicken Tikka Masala, Manchurian, and Achari Masala. Salads, sides and wings also are available.$$ L D
GARY’S MÁKA MIA PIZZA 6614 Manslick Rd., 365-2166. Taking over for the previous tenant Iroquois Pizza, this new source of pizza, pasta, hoagies and subs is the first Louisville area licensee for Máka Mia pizza, a brand vertically integrated with
food service giants JTM and Sysco, as tailored for traditional bricks ‘n’ mortar kitchen spaces or using a “robotic” vending machine option. $$ L D p
GOODFELLAS PIZZERIA 642 Baxter Ave., 398-5704. This Lexington-based regional pizza chain, known for its large, latenight slices, is one of the early tenants in the apartment/retail development across from the entrance from Cave Hill. Pizzas are denoted by Mafia-style names: the Wiseguy, the Don, Tommy “Two Times.” $$$$ L D
HIDEOUT PIZZARIA 5620 Barrett Ln., 742-3145. This familyfriendly sports bar has 12-foot TV screens, pool and cornhole, arcade games and live music, in addition to pizzas, burgers, spaghetti and an array of sandwiches. $$$ L D
HOMETOWN PIZZA 11804 Shelbyville Rd., 245-4555. The Middletown outlet of this Kentucky regional chain offers pasta dishes, hoagies and stromboli as well as signature pies, including a trio of chicken specialties: White, Buffalo and Barbecue. $$ L D p
JET’S PIZZA 101 S. Hubbards Ln., 895-4655, 3624 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 491-1700, 235 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 244-4440, 6523 Bardstown Rd., 239-0000, 2500 Bardstown Rd., 4585387, 10494 Westport Rd., 426-1181, 1725 E. 10th St. Jeffersonville IN, 812-282-2220. This Detroit-based chain offers sit-down service and carry-out. The menu features “flavorized” crust options, gourmet pizza options (such as buffalo ranch chicken and Hawaiian), as well as the signature, deep dish, square-cut “Detroit” style. $$ L D f
LEGACY PIZZA & BAKERY 1001 Vincennes St., New Albany, IN, (812) 725-0021. This sincere little pizza joint sells New York-style pizzas, calzones, strombolis and breadsticks. $$ L D
LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA (12 Locations) This pizzeria chain lost market share in the ’90s, but business analysts say the company known for its two-for-one “pizza pizza” deal has turned things around with a renewed commitment to quality and service. $$ L D
LOCALS FOOD HUB AND PIZZA PUB 822 E. Broadway., 537-7300. An innovative business plan begins with a grocery, sourcing fresh seasonal food from Kentucky farmers and providing the Smoketown neighborhood with a service it currently lacks, then adds wood-fired pizza, salads and appetizers for on-premises consumption (or takeaway) in a refurbished historic building. $$$ L D pf
LOUISVILLE PIZZA KING 3505 Taylor Blvd., 333-0647. 416 W. Oak St., 919-5065, 300 W. Woodlawn Ave. Takeawayoriented, indie startup specializing in pizzas, sandwiches, salads, quesadillas and a Greek-influenced dish or two. Indiana readers will note that “Pizza King” in the Hoosier sense of the name is a purely idiosyncratic square-sliced pizza tradition quite different from this Louisville company’s menu. $$ D
LUIGI’S PIZZERIA 712 W. Main St., 589-0005. New York Citystyle pizza, a treat that you’ll find on just about every street corner there, has been making inroads in River City, but Luigi’s was one of the first to offer in its authentic form here. $$ L f
LUNA SOL PIZZERIA AND BAKERY 213 W. Ormsby Ave., 882-1266. An Old Louisville, firmly under-the-radar purveyor of pizza, subs, bread, turnovers and empanadas. $$ L D MA ZERELLAS 949 S. Indiana Ave., Sellersburg IN, 246-9517. A pleasant family-run-for-family-fun establishment. Pizza, pasta, salads and subs served for lunch and dinner seven days a week. $$ L D
MAC'S @ MILE WIDE 636 Barret Ave. (inside Mile Wide Beer Co.), 409-8139. Beneath the silos at Mile Wide Brewery, Mac’s offers a concise menu of personal-size pizzas with clever names, also salads and appetizers that pairs well with Mile Wide’s tap list. There’s even a Nutella dessert pizza. $$ L D p
MARCO’S PIZZA 2011 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 9411144, 8800 Dixie Hwy., 890-8266, 3831 Ruckriegel Pkwy., 416-0793, 4082 Taylorsville Rd., 694-7550. Pasquale “Pat” Giammarco, an immigrant from Abruzzo, founded this rapidly growing (1,100+ sites) pizza chain in 1978. Marco’s has added a Louisville location to its longtime New Albany kitchen, drawing plaudits for generous toppings, cauliflower crusts and pizza bowls. $$ L D
MIMO’S NEW YORK STYLE PIZZERIA 2708 Paoli Pike, New Albany IN, 945-7711. People move to the Knobs for its bucolic setting, but locals still crave their pizza fix. Mimo’s provides
that with daily specials, such as Buffalo pizza, calzones, heroes, wraps or salads. Mangia, mangia! $$ L D p
MOZZAPI 12102 Lagrange Rd., 890-4832, 1020 E. Washington St., 1400 Main St., Clarksville IN. Tom Edwards’ pizzeria began as one of the first food trucks in Louisville. At his Anchorage pizzeria HQ, he crafts artisanal pies from house-milled flour, bakes bread and gives courses in artisanal baking; today MozzaPi is featured at TEN20 Brewery’s Butchertown, Highlands and Clarksville taprooms. $$$ L D pf
MR. GATTI’S 703 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 2835005, 10035 Dixie Hwy., 632-2504, 4200 Outer Loop, 9640933, 8013 Preston Hwy., 964-0933. This Austin-based chain was one of the first national pizzerias to reach Louisville in the 1970s, and quality ingredients — plus Gattiland playgrounds for the kids — have made its crisp, thin-crust pizzas a popular draw. $$ L D
NEW ALBANIAN BREWING CO. PIZZERIA 3312 Plaza Dr., New Albany IN, 944-2577. Touting “the best pizza in Southern Indiana” is quite a boast, but pizza only tells half of this tasty story. NABC combines the fine pies of Sportstime Pizza with the pub formerly known as Rich O’s. The remarkable beer list, with more than 100 selections from around the world — plus locally brewed craft beers — has won international awards. $$ L D
NEW YORK PIZZA COMPANY 2354 Frankfort Ave., 9635756. Craving the char from the Big Apple, but in Clifton? Whole NYC-style pizzas and sizeable single slices, along with salads and desserts (the Italian ricotta cheesecake stands out). The dough is made fresh daily. $$ D pf
OLD SCHOOL NY PIZZA 12907 Factory Ln., 882-1776, 10600 Meeting St., 882-3000. You want Sicilian-style pizza, just like they make in Brooklyn? Now you can get it in these two Eastern suburbs locations. Top it with vegetables supplied by local farmers, or tie into a calzone and finish with gelato. $$ L D pf
ORIGINAL IMPELLIZZERI’S 1381 Bardstown Rd., 454-2711, 4933 Brownsboro Rd., 425-9080, 805 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 653-7243. Impellizzeri’s massive pies, loved for a generation, are the draw but there is also a full menu of Italian-inspired meals including hoagie sandwiches and pasta dishes at all three locations. $$$$ L D pf
PAPA MURPHY’S PIZZA (6 Locations) There are eight locations for this take-and-bake pizza purveyor scattered around town. $$ L D
PAPALINO’S NY PIZZERIA 1022 Clarks Ln., 290-2898. From the embers of the short-lived Dirty Bird comes an eagerly awaited revival of the legendsonetime Highlands staple pizzeria. Have a salad, sandwich, or homemade cannoli; pick from eight cheeses and 27 assorted toppings to build your own pizza; or choose one of 10 specialty pies like Hawaiian 502, Bad Hombre…and even (music swells) The Dirty Bird, which tastes like chicken. $$ L D pf
PARLOUR PIZZA 131 W. Chestnut St., Jeffersonville IN, 9147400, 2636 Frankfort Ave., 895-9400, 115 W. Market St., New Albany IN, 920-6400, 133 W. Liberty St., 888-1515, 3910 Ruckriegel Pkwy., 267-1188, 901 E. Liberty St., 2577147. They all serve topping-heavy New York pies and offer dozens of craft beers on tap (the Liberty St. shop shares premises with Fall City Brewing Co.) $$ L D pf
PIZZA AF 807 E. Market St. Formerly a short-lived bricks ‘n’ mortar pizza shop in Schnitzelburg, Pizza AF (the acronym means “audio frequency”) is now a food truck anchored permanently outside the original Taj bar in NuLu, and with shared ownership. $$ D pf
PIZZA BAR LOUISVILLE 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market), 866-763-2588. From the creators of Soda Bomb, personal pizzas (only) are made to order at Logan Street Market with your choice of toppings. All dough and sauces are made from scratch, and gluten-friendly options are available. See also Soda Bomb, the eatery’s sister market vendor. $$ L D p
PIZZA BOMB 131 W. Chestnut St., Jeffersonville IN, 914-7400, 2636 Frankfort Ave., 895-9400, 225 State St., New Albany IN, 920-6400, 133 W. Liberty St., 888-1515, 3910 Ruckriegel Pkwy., 267-1188, 901 E. Liberty St., 257-7147. They all serve topping-heavy New York pies and offer dozens of craft beers on tap (the Liberty St. shop shares premises with Fall City Brewing Co.) $$ L D pf
PIZZA DONISI 1396 S. Second St., 213-0488. Old Louisville hipsters have long needed a nearby pizza joint. Now they have it and it’s owned by Danny Fitzgerald, impresario behind Mag Bar. Get it by the slice or in whole artisan pies, along with appetizers, fried ravioli and more. $$ L D f
PIZZA JONES 126 Breckinridge Ln., 437-4992. Carry-out and delivery pizza in St. Matthews, also incorporating a ghost kitchen for separately branded wings, spuds, hot dogs and desserts to please non-pizza eaters; also featuring Alton Strasse, a line-up of relabeled Goodwood Brewing house beers brands in cans only. $$ L D
PIZZA KING 3825 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 945-4405, 1701 E. 10th St., Jeffersonville IN, 282-8286. The pizza is baked in a sturdy, stone oven and hand-tossed with thinner crust where the ingredients go all the way to the edge. We heartily recommend the barbecue pizza. $$ L D
PIZZA LUPO 1540 Frankfort Ave., 409-8440. Max Balliet, the owner of Holy Molé taco truck, now also has Lupo, a casual Italian restaurant where he bakes up pizzas on a fire-enginered wood-fired oven. Along with pizza, Lupo offers a variety of handmade pastas in a restored 19th century Butchertown building. $$$$ D pf
PIZZAVILLE 2901 Goose Creek Rd., 754-3001. Owner Todd Case once was a pizza scientist, overseeing corporate pizza dough varieties. His own versions of New York-style handtossed and Detroit deep dish pizzas have become so popular that Pizzaville is expanding into an adjoining Westport Plaza (East End) business suite formerly occupied by Bandido Taqueria. $$ L D
RAPID FIRED PIZZA 1645 Veterans Pkwy., Jeffersonville IN, 812-725-1151. From Dayton, Ohio hails this franchise pizza operator boasting sophisticated oven technology that bakes individual pizza orders in three minutes, with a dozen sauces and 35 toppings to choose from, along with no-dough, glutenfree and vegan crusts. Also available are salads, appetizers and desserts. $ L D f
SICILIAN PIZZA & PASTA 629 S. Fourth St., 589-8686, 8133 Bardstown Rd., 491-3663. Ready for takeout or eat-in, both the downtown storefront and its suburban sister site offer good, standard pizza and other familiar Italian-American dishes. $$ L D pf
SPINELLI’S PIZZERIA 614 Baxter Ave., 568-5665, 895-0755, 574 S. Fourth St., 861-0900. Since 2004, a locally-owned and Philadelphia-inspired pizzeria, featuring massive single slices of New-York-style thin crust brick oven pizza and Philly cheesesteaks, and open late for the night owls among us.$$ L D THE POST 1045 Goss Ave., 635-2020, 1759 Bardstown Rd., 406-2024. Germantown’s classic New York-style pizza joint (rooted in a former VFW post), offers one of the city’s most creative and well-executed arrays of whole pies and slices, subs, and brews. A second location, in the Highlands between next to Darling’s, is takeout only, with a scaled-back menu. $$ D p
WHEATED LOUISVILLE 1553 Bardstown Rd. Louisville branch of a Brooklyn pizzeria known for sourdough crust (plus a riff on high-temp “char” baking), upscale cocktails and (the local twist) bourbon. The double-edged name refers both to wheated bourbon and the blend of flour. Signature pizzas are named for neighborhoods in Brooklyn: Flatbush, Gravesend, Canarsie and others. $$$$ D pf
WICK’S PIZZA PARLOR 975 Baxter Ave., 458-1828, 3348 Hikes Ln., 907-5542. Wick’s wins popularity with a welcoming mix of good pizza, a quality beer list and a friendly neighborhood feel at both of its eateries. The pies are straightforward, made with ample toppings. “The Big Wick” is a favorite. $$ L D pf
ZA’S PIZZA 1573 Bardstown Rd., 454-4544. $$ L D
the late, lamented Jimbo's Bar-b-Que spot near Iroquois Park. In addition to the expected pulled pork and chicken, brisket and sausages, burnt ends are available Friday and Saturday. $$ L D f
BACK DECK BBQ BAR AND LOUNGE 1601 Story Ave., 7057662. Pitmaster Chan Nelson has established a branch of his popular South End barbecue operation in Butchertown, with a menu reformatted to better fit the bar and lounge feel of a space that previously hosted Butchertown Social. Choose handheld, two hands, deck specials and “being vegan” options, along with the requisite appetizers, salads and sides. $$ L D f
BARREL 33 TAVERN & GRILL 14049 Shelbyville Rd., 2446868. This Middletown outpost has a long menu of betterthan-the-usual pub grub (barbecue, chicken made several ways, tacos), salads, wraps and sandwiches (including a Kentucky Cuban, made with country ham and pimento cheese). The bar runs a robust bourbon program. There’s a lively atmosphere all nights, and live music on weekends. $$ L D p
BIG BEN’S BBQ 600 Quartermaster Center, Jeffersonville IN, 284-4453. This family run BBQ joint is now at the Quartermaster Center, smoking up a storm and impressing locals who recommend Johnnie’s Smokin Ribs, Joecille’s Backbone (brisket tips), Big Ben’s shredded pork sandwich and Alvin’s WildSide shredded chicken sandwich. $$ L D f
BOOTLEG BARBECUE COMPANY 9704 Bardstown Rd., 2392722. Bootleg Barbecue offers a touch of rusticity and a good helping of country hospitality, as it dishes out hearty portions of well-prepared and affordable smoked meats and fixin’s. It’s one of the few places in Louisville where you can get Western Kentucky-style mutton barbecue. $ L D f
CITY BARBEQUE 329 Whittington Pkwy., 996-8003, 4027 Poplar Level Rd., 206-6085. This Ohio-based BBQ chain specializes in brisket, but doesn’t neglect pulled pork (served with slaw on top) and St. Louis ribs. It also smokes turkey breast, chicken and sausage. $$ L Dpf
DICKEY’S BARBECUE PIT 10318 Taylorsville Rd., 365-2791. Since its founding in Dallas in 1941, more than 500 locations of Dickey’s have appeared throughout America. Pit-smoked meats and wings, combos, sandwiches, sides and loaded potatoes headline the menu; ironically, Dickey’s occupies the same floor space in Jeffersontown once used by local purveyor Feast BBQ. $$$ L D
FAMOUS DAVE’S BAR-B-QUE 8605 Citadel Way, 493-2812. This franchise chain operation maderby cityderbuyy be based in the twin cities, but it looks like a Georgia gas station with its exuberant, if tongue-in-cheek faux country decor. The important thing, though, is the food, and Dave’s excels with genuine, hickory-smoked barbecue. $$ L D pf
FEAST BBQ 909 E. Market St., 749-9900. Owner Ryan Rogers brings a modernist sensibility to the art of barbecue to NuLu. He has formulas for brining times and uses a high-tech smoker to keep the temps low and the smoke from overwhelming the meats. $ B L D pf
FOUR PEGS BEER LOUNGE 1053 Goss Ave., 634-1447. Twelve craft beers on tap and a 30 bottle beer list bring in the fans, who also appreciate the award-winning veggie burger and other well-priced pub grub such as a chicken and waffle sandwich and an estimable burger with fried green tomatoes and beer sauce. $ D f
FRANKFORT AVENUE BEER DEPOT 3204 Frankfort Ave., 895-3223. The aroma greets you as soon as you get out of your car when the smokers are fired up out front. FABD is a neighborhood watering hole that welcomes all comers with some of the most notable ’cue in town. The pulled pork ranks as some of the best in the city. The ribs, smoked salmon and fried fish sandwich are hits too. $$ L D pf
barbecue sauce. A menu specialty: smoked chicken white chili. $ L D
HOLY SMOKES BAR-B-QUE 7508 Preston Hwy., 968-5657. The former Bootleg Bar-B-Q franchise on Preston Hwy. has become Holy Smokes Bar-B-Que. Owner Mark Weatherholt smokes his wings for three hours, his ribs and chicken for five, and his pork lingers overnight. He does brown sugar wings, too. $ L D
JUCY’S SMOKEHOUSE BAR-B-QUE 7626 New Lagrange Rd., 241-5829. Jucy’s offers exceptionally good Texas-style barbecue from a little wooden shack that looks just like a country BBQ joint should. Highly recommended. $$ L D f
KHALIL’S BBQ 712 Brent St. In Paristown at The Village Market food hall, Khalil Batshon revives his former eatery Khalil’s on Dixie, with a barbecue-centric menu that includes his signature pulled pork and beef brisket, as well as the Italian hoagie and chicken sandwich, along with numerous sides. $$ L D p f
LOUIE’S HOT CHICKEN & BARBECUE 4222 Poplar Level Rd., 709-4274. Following a strange “one-night stand” incident with soup and sandwiches in 2025, Louie’s changed ownership and the new/old pit master retrofitted the eatery’s traditional meal tickets: hot chicken (four levels of heat, the highest grade driven by ghost peppers), along with pulled pork barbecue, brisket and chicken and smoked wings. $$ L D f
M&M BBQ 1401 Bluegrass Ave., 996-0163. The Ekklesia Christian Life Ministries operates this BBQ joint that offers rib tips, meat loaf, an assortment of traditional sides, and keeps a limited schedule (Tuesday-Friday, 11:30-7). The food is popular enough that they sometimes sell out, so get there early. $$ L D f
MACK BROS BBQ 2700 Rockford Ln., 384-4590. This family owned and operated restaurant serves ribs, rib tips, chicken and sides, including a fan favorite: cornbread salad. $$ L D
MARK T'S SLAB HOUSE 4912 Preston Hwy., 409-7366. That would be slabs of ribs, of course. A wonderfully direct name for a barbecue restaurant. Several drum-style smokers out front exude a savory cloud, attesting to the work being done inside those drums. $ L D
MARK’S FEED STORE 11422 Shelbyville Rd., 244-0140, 10316 Dixie Hwy., 933-7707, 3827 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 285-1998, 6501 Bardstown Rd., 442-0808. Mark’s routinely takes local honors for its sauces, sandwiches and its meaty baby-back ribs. And don’t miss the smoked take-home turkeys at Thanksgiving. $$ L D pf
MARTIN'S BAR-B-QUE JOINT 3408 Indian Lake Dr., 2424666. Pretty famous in Tennessee, but Louisvillians can now savor the meats smoked in the open pit (the whole hogs take 24 hours). All dishes, meats, sides and even sauces are made in-house daily. For a different kind of treat, try the smoked turkey sandwich. $$ L D pf
MISSION BBQ 4607 Shelbyville Rd., 206-3331, 1213 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 269-3860. The National Anthem is played every day at noon at this Baltimore-based chain, which makes a point of supporting soldiers, firefighters, police officers and other first responders. Look for Texas-inspired brisket, smoked turkey, pulled chicken and pork, and even smoked salmon. There are also ribs, of course, sandwiches and scratch-made sides. $$ L D pf
BABY MAE'S 1817 Graybrook Ln., New Albany IN, 914-7040. Barbecue and soul food in the old Mom & Pop’s Cone Corner building. Baby Mae’s reasonably priced menu includes everyone’s comfort foods: ribs, pulled pork, smoked turkey, mac and cheese, home fries and the “grandaddy of chili dogs.” $ L D
BACK DECK BBQ 801 W. Kenwood Dr., 705-7662. What began as a popular barbecue food truck has settled down at
GUY FIERI'S SMOKEHOUSE 434 S. Fourth St. (Fourth Street Live!), 919-7299. The latest creation of the Food TV’s chef caused some serious musing about the meaning of “celebrity” chefs to local eating. But see the hoopla for yourself, and try some of the fried chicken brined in pickle juice, brisket with pomegranate, sorghum-glazed pork chops or Triple Crown grilled cheese sandwich. $$ L D pf
HARLEY’S HARDWOODZ BAR-B-Q 1703 Charlestown-New Albany Pk., Jeffersonville IN, 284-4490. Owner Frank Harley said “I found my calling, which is barbecue.” He smokes up barbecue pork, chicken and brisket, marinated in Harley’s own
MOMMA’S MUSTARD PICKLES & BBQ 102 Bauer Ave., 9386262, 119 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 290-7998. The St. Matthews spot garnered so many barbecue fans that a second outlet opened in the East End for the overflow. Knot on your bib for Kansas City-style smoked pork and beef ribs (a house specialty), brisket, chicken, pulled pork and all the standard sides. Their wings are a contender for best in all the city. Momma's “2% for Louisville” program steadily donates 2% of earnings to local charities. $$ D f
RIVER ROAD BBQ 3017 River Rd., 592-7065. Right next to the Water Tower, this little take-out-only place now has seating inside and out. Smoked brisket is the house specialty with pulled pork close behind. Some days one sells out, on other days the other. Winter hours are 11-6 or until the meat runs out. Potato salad, slaw and drinks. Buy it by the sandwich or by the pound. $ L D
RUBBIE’S SOUTHSIDE GRILL & BAR 6905 Southside Dr., 367-0007. This South End family knows how to do BBQ. It
may be off the beaten path for some folks but here you’ll find a bounty of secret BBQ recipes. $ L D pf
RUBBIN’ BUTTS BBQ 8007 Highway 311, Sellersburg IN, 7487266. Up the road a ways you will find this “traditional” BBQ joint with some house specialties not so traditional: smoked deviled eggs, BBQ pork queso and their signature, the BBQ Pig-E-Chonga, a flour shell stuffed with baked beans, cheese, and pulled pork, then deep fried and smothered in queso and BBQ sauce. $ L D
SHACK IN THE BACK BBQ 10706 W Manslick Rd., 3633227. It’s a new location for this long-time Fairdale restaurant. In addition to standards like ribs, pulled pork and chicken, you can find smoked bologna, turkey ribs and pork rinds, plain or loaded with your choice of toppings. $ L D f
SMOKEY BONES BBQ 2525 Hurstbourne Gem Ln., 491-7570. This Stony Brook-area eatery combines a sports-bar with a barbecue concept. Its large and varied menu includes wings and burgers, steaks and pork chops, and several takes on mac ‘n’ cheese, as well as righteous ribs. $$ L D p
BOONE’S DELI 10414 Watterson Trail, 398-6086. Filling 3rd Turn Brewing’s former Social Room on Gaslight Square in Jeffersontown, this carryout-oriented deli specializes in sandwiches (signature or build your own), salads and nightly loaded mac ‘n’ cheese specials. There’s a roomy outdoor garden, and you can take the food to 3rd Turn for beery accompaniments. $$ L D f
BRIAN’S DELI 531 S. Fourth St., 561-0098. Between Chestnut Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Brian’s services the downtown lunch crowd with soup, salads, sandwiches and snacks. $ B L
BROLLY BODEGA 2441 Griffiths Ave., 963-5180. A “bodega” is a small store or shop. This one runs 24-7 in the Portland neighborhood, with daily kitchen hours for substantial comfort food like wings, burgers, cheesesteaks and fries. $ L D
BRUEGGER’S BAGELS 119 Breckenridge Ln., 618-1158. The bagel/sandwich chain has set up shop in the middle of St. Matthews, offering another quick breakfast and lunch option. Choose from bagels and breakfast sandwiches, muffins, panini, salads and soups. $ B L f
BUTCHER’S BEST 9521 US Hwy. 42., 365-4650. This fullystaffed meat store in Prospect offers custom-cut beef, lamb, pork, bison, chicken and veal, plus a well-stocked deli and specialty foods, with skilled butcher Jimmy Mike at the helm. $ L D f
CHARLEYS CHEESESTEAKS 3408 Preston Hwy., 689-3296. A discarded Taco Bell has become home to the Columbus, Ohio chain’s first standalone area restaurant, with signature cheesesteak variants (Philly, Buffalo Chicken, Veggie) predictably taking top billing, but also offering loaded fries, kids meals and non-alcoholic drinks. $ L D
CHICAGO STEAK & LEMONADE 9015 Galene Dr.,7421381. This local spot serves a variety of Philly cheese steaks, gyros, lemon-pepper fish dinners and wings. The lemonade comes in a passel of different flavor combos. $ L D
COLD SMOKE BAGELS 750 E. Jefferson St., 438-8289 (Mashup Food Hall). Sasha Chack’s loving tribute to the vibrant flavors of Eastern European Jewish cuisine, as they were adapted to the New York City food scene: bagels and lox, egg and cheese on challah, latkes, sour pickles, cream cheese schmears, and marinated herring. $$ B L p
EV'S DELI 500 W. Jefferson St., 614-6300. A cozy downtown deli located in the Hilliard-Lyons building. Open for breakfast and lunch, it offers a good selection of sandwiches, panini and wraps at budget prices. $ L
FIREHOUSE SUBS 215 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 365-3473, 4905 Outer Loop, 749-4257. This national chain touts that they steam their meat and cheese sandwiches. Specialty subs carry out the Firehouse theme and the kids meals include a little fire helmet. $ L D
FRANK'S MEAT & PRODUCE 3342 Preston Hwy., 363-3989. Frank’s has been around a long time, treating those in the know to piled-high deli sandwiches for prices so reasonable it might seem you stepped into a time warp. There are steaks
and chops and produce and other groceries, but it is best known for lunchtime service, where the long lines move fast, and the constant turnover ensures freshness of sandwiches and soups. $ L D
GALAN'S MEAT MARKET & DELI 2801 W. Market St., 6148514. This old-school butcher shop also offers piled-high deli sandwiches and sides such as German potato salad or sour cream macaroni and cheese salad. Eat-in at the handful of small tables or take away. $$ L D
GARDEN GATE FRUIT MARKET & DELI 4411 Breckenridge Ln., 499-5275. Longstanding local produce market incorporating a deli counter, featuring a small selection of sandwiches (among them Italian and fried bologna), a cheesesteak, sides, and also grab ‘n’ go options. $ L D f
GOOD BELLY 2216 Dundee Rd., 322-0300. Riffing off a New York Jewish deli motif, features include pastrami, corned beef and Reuben sandwiches as ex-food truck operators refashion a Douglass Loop storefront. $$ L D
HAYMARKET BY ASHBOURNE FARMS 3020 River Rd., 5765760, 723 E. Main St., 576-5671. Marketplace and urban farm outlets selling produce, baked goods, meat and grab-and-go food items, and with a focus on local agriculture and sustainable sourcing. $$ B L D f
HONEYBAKED CAFÉ 4600 Shelbyville Rd., 895-6001, 6423 Bardstown Rd., 239-9292, 3602 Northgate Crt., New Albany IN, 941-9426. Before holidays, you go in and carry out huge spiral-sliced hams or turkey breasts or beef roasts for your own parties. In the off season, you sit down in the café and order generous, filling sandwiches made from those same meats, served on rolls or croissants, cold or with a hot cheese melt. Soup and salads too. And cookies. $ L D f
JASON’S DELI 410 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 412-4101. Don’t look for a New York kosher-style deli at this Texas-based chain, but suburbanites are lining up here for oversize sandwiches, salads, wraps and more. $ L D f
JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS (8 Locations) East Coast Italian-influenced submarine sandwich shops, grown from a single location in 1950s New Jersey into thousands of franchises in North America. Popular choices include Turkey and Provolone, the Club Sub, the Club Supreme, the Original Italian, and Mike's Famous Philly.$ L D f
JIMMY JOHN’S SUB SHOP (15 Locations) This national sandwich-shop chain offers a wide selection of over stuffed subs that benefit from fresh quality ingredients. But what sets them apart from the rest is their value — and they deliver. $ L D f
KAYROUZ DELICATESSEN 3202 Frankfort Ave., 290-9268. A familiar family name in Louisville culinary circles since the Roaring Twenties, now renewed as (Christopher) Kayrouz returns to service with soups, sandwiches and desserts at the former Hooked on Frankfort premises in Crescent Hill, bringing some signature items into town from the deli-rich East Coast, and preparing others (roast beef, corned beef) on site.
$$$ L D pf
LADY TRON’S 147 E. Market St., New Albany, IN 725-9510. Owner Summer Seig has created an eclectic sci-fi theme for her soup and sandwich diner. Outside is Lady Tron, a smiling robot with red hair and a yellow apron; inside, you can find seasonal soups and sandwiches. $ B L D
LENNY’S SUB SHOP 3942 Taylorsville Rd., 454-7831. Another semi-national chain, covering mostly the South and Midwest, brings a selection of familiar subs, sandwiches and salads to Louisville diners eager for more standardized semi-fast food. $ L D f
LOTSA PASTA 3717 Lexington Rd., 896-6361. This familyowned pioneer in gourmet cheeses, oils, dips, hummus and, of course, pasta has been in operation for 37 years now. They are mainly an eclectic specialty-food store but fans stand threedeep at the sandwich counter every afternoon. And next door is a comfy café, to eat that deli sandwich, or get coffee and dessert. $ L D f
MAIN EATERY 643 W. Main St., 589-7200. Smack dab in the middle of the Main Street historic district, this fashionable deli lures the savvy business midday crowd. $ L
MAYA BAGEL EXPRESS 3029 Poplar Level Rd., 883-2333., 2513 Preston Hwy. Launched by savvy expatriates from the East Coast, Maya’s has eager customers lining up to nosh on
New York-style bagels, including widely praised lox and pastrami equipped varieties. $ B L
MCALISTER’S DELI (10 Locations) Emphasizing quality customer service, this delicatessen ladles up such soups as gumbo and chicken tortilla along with cutting board favorites. They have a special way with a tumbler of sweet iced tea. $ L D
MORRIS DELI & CATERING 2228 Taylorsville Rd., 458-1668. Many locals still know this small, popular Highlands deli as Karem Deeb’s after its longtime previous owner. Mostly for takeout — it packs in a few crowded tables — it’s known for high-quality, hand-made deli fare. $ L
PANERA BREAD CO. (11 Locations) Warm breads finish-baked on the premises make a tasty base for a variety of sandwiches. Soups, salads, coffee drinks and a free WiFi hotspot make Panera’s outlets popular gathering places. $ B L D f
PAUL’S FRUIT MARKET 3922 Chenoweth Sq., 896-8918, 4946 Brownsboro Rd., 426-5070, 12119 Shelbyville Rd., 2530072, 3704 Taylorsville Rd., 456-4750. One of Louisville’s popular sources for produce, cheeses, deli items, and the like. Deli sandwiches and salads are available (takeout only). $ L D
PAYNE STREET BAKEHOUSE 225 S. Spring St., 895-8323. Nancy’s Bagel Grounds has remodeled the space that had been Willingers Beer Depot after moving from its longtime digs on Frankfort Ave. Despite the name change, you can still get bagels and cream cheese with your coffee or juices as well as a breakfast sandwich called The Willinger. $ B L
PENN STATION (17 Locations). Billed as the East Coast Sub Headquarters, this sandwich kitchen does a brisk business here in the Louisville area. $ L D
POTBELLY SANDWICH SHOP 302 S. Fourth St., 540-1100, 4023 Summit Plaza Dr., 420-9616, 9018 Taylorsville Rd., 2904820. This local outpost of the Chicago chain offers substantial sandwiches, salads and even breakfast sandwiches and oatmeal both to the downtown lunch crowd along Fourth St., and out at the Summit in the eastern suburbs. $ L D f
QUIZNO’S SUBS 4212 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 9817849. Toasted breads, a sandwich selection of meats, veggies and fish are built to fight hunger. Fresh soups are available daily, from chili to chowder; so are salads and desserts. $ L f
SCHLOTZSKY’S DELI 10531 Fischer Park Dr., 425-8447. The original Schlotzsky’s offered just one kind of sandwich — “The Original” — when it opened its first eatery in Austin, Texas, in 1971. Now this national chain vends a full selection of delistyle fare, with one significant improvement on the traditional deli: the servers are invariably polite. $ B L D f
SEEDS AND GREENS NATURAL MARKET & DELI 207 W. First St., New Albany IN, 944-3800. Browse among the organic vegetables and health foods, and stop by the deli for soups and salads, hot and cold sandwiches, vegan, vegetarian and omnivore preparations. $ L D
SOUPY’S 3027 Hunsinger Ln., 451-5325. Back in 1987, Danny Bowling’s mother-in-law, Bette, started making pots of soup in a corner of Bowling's Meats & Deli, a family courtesy that led in 1995 to Soupy’s. Now it’s about 2 million cups of soup later, by Soupy’s estimate, all using Bette’s recipes, cooked up in small batches daily. Salads, sandwiches (including veggie burgers) and sweets as well. $ L D
STEVENS DELI 1114 Bardstown Rd., 584-3354. This New York-style deli occupies the rear third of the Ditto’s space in the heart of the Highlands. Take out or eat in one of the booths, you’ll get piled-high pastrami, brisket and corned beef and you’ll love lox and a schmear on your bagel — even if you don’t know what a schmear is. $ L
SUB STATION II 3101 Fern Valley Rd., 964-1075. The hardy No. 19, a six-meat-and-cheese super sub, keeps the store buzzing. An array of sandwiches, salad sides and desserts fill out an appetizing menu. $ L D
THE BLOCK GOURMET DELI 14041 Shelbyville Rd., 7854689. A husband and wife team with considerable experience in restaurants runs this Middletown deli. Fans report excellent thick sandwiches, fresh salads and homemade soups. Box lunches and catering also available. $$ L D
THE STARVING ARTIST CAFÉ & DELI 8034 New Lagrange Rd., 412-1599. Sandwiches named for artists and rock stars (from Georgia O’Keefe to Eddie Van Halen — but where is
SANDWICH / DELI
Captain Beefheart?) are the draw at this longstanding cult favorite Lyndon daytime eatery, along with four or five soups (and chili) from a list of 145, prepared fresh daily, and homemade desserts. $ L
THELMA’S DELI 140 N. Fourth St. (Galt House), 589-5200. Located in the glassed-in walkway (conservatory) between the two hotel towers, Thelma’s provides breakfast items, coffee, sandwiches and snacks 24/7 for Galt House guests and anyone else who needs, say, a pizza at 3 a.m. $$ B L D
TORINO'S SANDWICH BAR 821 E. Market St., 785-6800. Torino’s is one of two additions to NuLu Marketplace. An Italian-style deli, Torino’s offers Italian, roast beef and meatball subs, artichoke & eggplant panini, salads, deli counter items, and grab & go items. It is also a front for its sister business, Gertie’s Whiskey Bar. $$ L p
WHICH WICH? 9850 Von Allmen Ct., 290-3721, 221 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 708-2535, 13124 W. Hwy 42, 228-0621. The concept here is “create your own sandwich” and draws on variety of proteins and over 30 toppings choices. The subs are the draw, but they also have wraps, and now a variety of shakes. $$ B L D
BURGER BOY 1450 S. Brook, 635-7410. For a real slice of Louisville life, this weathered greasy spoon at the corner of Brook and Burnett is the real thing. Neighborhood denizens drink coffee and chow down on burgers and breakfast until the wee hours (the joint is open 24 hours). If Louisville is home to a budding Charles Bukowski, there’s a good chance he’s sitting at their counter right now, recovering from last night’s excesses. $ B L D
BURGER GIRL 3334 Frankfort Ave., 709-5454. Dan Borsch, who owns Burger Boy Diner and Neon Pizza, has expanded into Crescent Hill. Burger Girl is a 24-hour burger grill, the sister to long-time somnambulists’ favorite Burger Boy. $$ B L D f
CHECK’S CAFÉ 1101 E. Burnett Ave., 637-9515. You can whiff a scent of Louisville history coming off the old walls of this quintessential Germantown saloon. The bar food here is about as good as bar food gets, and that’s not bad. The open-faced roast beef sandwich, with mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts, is a F&D favorite. $ L D pf
COTTAGE CAFÉ 11609 Main St., Middletown, 244-9497. This nostalgic old house in the countryside offers a taste of Kentucky-style cookery in an array of lunch specials that range from homemade soups and sandwiches to the traditional Hot Brown. $ L
DAVE & PEG’S COPPER KETTLE 276 Main Cross St., Charlestown IN, 256-4257. Rustic small town storefront diner boasting home cooking (pork tenderloin, fish sandwiches, meatloaf), with breakfast served all day. $ B L D
GASLIGHT DINER 10509 Watterson Trl., 694-2322. The owners of Mac’s Dough House did some research and decided that one more pizza place was more than J’town needed, so they have converted their space to a diner: all day breakfast, lunchtime specials and comfort food dinners to appeal to all ages. $$ B Br L D f
GERALDINE’S KITCHEN 402 Wall St., Jeffersonville IN, 9247707. Geraldine is the late mother of owner/chef Bob Hoyland; Geraldine’s Kitchen is a tribute to her sense of hospitality. Breakfast and lunch are served in an inviting, homey atmosphere. $ B L
LIL' WAGNERS 4520 Poplar Level Rd., (Derby City Gaming), 961-7600. A sit-down restaurant when you need a break from betting. Burgers and sandwiches (including fried bologna), starters like nachos, fried pickles and crab cakes, and soups and salads. Also a grab-and-go menu of wraps, sandwiches and desserts. $ L D
LINDSAY'S KITCHEN 5300 Cane Run Rd., 384-4823. Good ol' southern hospitality and home-made food are the draws at this modest place in the far southwest of the city. The menu includes chicken-fried steak, meatloaf and liver and onions. $ B L D
METRO DINER 4901 Outer Loop, 357-0767. The first local outlet of this Florida-based chain features "classic comfort food with flair.” Harking back to the glory days of diners, Metro Diner offers breakfast, lunch and dinner menus all day long.
Signature dish is fried chicken and waffles, with burgers, seafood and salads also available. $$ B L D
O’DOLLYS 7800 Third St. Rd., 375-1690. Homestyle steamtable favorites, available from breakfast to dinner, not to mention full bar service that makes O’Dollys a Southwest Louisville favorite. $ B L D p
PARKWAY DINER 570 Eastern Pkwy., 632-1612. Restaurant veteran Christopher Seckman has converted the historic Cottage Inn into a synthesis of his previous popular breakfast and lunch spots, with egg dishes, pancakes, and corned beef hash; also shrimp and grits, sandwiches and salads. Vegetarian and vegan options. $$ B L
THE GOOSE 812 Lyndon Ln., 339-8070. “Re-Make/Re-Model” in Lyndon, where the renamed former Goose Creek Diner has new digs at the former Sal’s Pizza Pub; a refocused, baroriented neighborhood hangout approach; and a menu adding new shareable items while retaining previous favorites like fried green tomatoes and salmon croquettes. $ B Br L D
WAGNER’S PHARMACY 3113 S. Fourth St., 375-3800. A track-side institution for over 100 years that has as much history as the nearby Twin Spires of Churchill Downs. Soups, sandwiches, shakes and an early bird “trainer’s” breakfast can be enjoyed all year round. Racing history on the walls and servers who’ll call you “hon.” $ B L
ADA'S KITCHEN AND CATERING 214 W. Broadway, 5613762. The late Ada Smith’s astounding half-century of community culinary service lives on at Smith’s namesake eatery downtown, where her children and grandchildren continue to prepare “your first choice in home-style cooking,” with soul food staples like fried chicken and fish, meatloaf, pork barbecue and “Kentucky oysters” (chitterlings), along with all the sides, including mashed potatoes, mac ‘n’ cheese and baked beans. $ L
BOOK & BOURBON SOUTHERN KITCHEN 600 Terminal Dr. (Louisville Airport). This library-themed concept at this
upscale, airport dining venue offers more than 100 bourbons, along with a classic craft cocktail list. The food menu tweaks Southern comfort food with items such as fried green tomato Benedict and buttermilk fried chicken and waffles. $$ B L D p BRUNCH & SOCIAL 516 S. Eighteenth St., Suite B., 210-8282. Owner/chef Aaliyah Richmond’s eatery in Russell serves a compact and diverse Southern-styled breakfast, lunch and brunch menu Wednesdays through Saturdays, yielding to a full blown “Soul Sunday” menu of the comfort food classics: meatloaf, pot roast, turkey ribs, fried and more, with plenty of sides (green beans, sweet potatoes, baked beans, etc.) $$$ B Br L
CASK SOUTHERN KITCHEN & BAR 9980 Linn Station Rd., 614-6499. The former SOU! Southern Kitchen & Bar has been reconceptualized as, as one customer called it, a “Bbq plus restaurant.” Gumbo, Brunswick stew, grit fritters and pulled pork nachos, dry rubbed oak-smoked ribs, smoked meatloaf sandwich (served hot or cold) and buttermilk Southern fried chicken sandwich are among the new items on the menu. $$$ D p
DASHA BARBOURS SOUTHERN BISTRO 217 E. Main St., 882-2081. This peripatetic, family-owned restaurant with a fine reputation settled anew, moving from Buechel to downtown, into the former Celtic Pig. Dasha’s certainly gives the “bistro” concept a down-home Southern twist. The menu is Southern comfort food: excellent fried chicken, pork chops, sweet potato casserole, and mac and cheese. $$ B L D p
DELREY’S SOULFOOD 4104 Murphy Ln., 594-8570. Providentially, soul food and Southern comfort cuisine can be found in the East End near Springhurst, in a welcoming atmosphere, with large portions of the meats (fried chicken, ribs, rib tips, fried catfish) and sides like mac & cheese, candied yams, collard greens $$$ L D
FRANCO’S RESTAURANT & CATERING 3300 Dixie Hwy., 448-8044. Long-time fans of Jay’s Cafeteria (including politicians and national entertainers) are no longer bereft. Jay’s former owners serve up Southern Soul food in Shively at family-friendly prices. Look for smothered pork chops, collard greens, fried chicken, fried catfish and fruit cobbler. $ L D
LUCRETIA’S KITCHEN 617 W. Oak St., 294-8143. Granddaughter of West End hickory-smoked royalty (re: Mister Thompson's Old Recipe Style Bar-B-Que, and his famous Liquid Gold sauce), Lucretia Thompson keeps tradition alive at her soul food emporium, now cooking in Old Louisville, with crowd favorites Wing Wednesday, Rib Tip Thursday, Fried Fish Friday and Soul Food Sunday.$$ Br L D
MABLE’S SOUTHERN KITCHEN 750 E. Jefferson St. (Mashup Food Hall). Chicken tenders and catfish fingers; catfish and spaghetti, or chicken with waffles; also collard greens, mac ‘n’ cheese and grilled corn. It’s the Southern comfort cuisine you need, from the originators of the Six Forks and Fry Daddy food trucks. $$ L D p
MATTIE'S KITCHEN 1018 S. 15th St., (St. Stephens Family Life Center), 544-8954. Open on Sundays at the St. Stephen Family Life Center for after-church "Sunday Soul Food," including fried or baked chicken, fried fish, mac n’ cheese, meatloaf; collard greens; cabbage; sweet potatoes; cornbread; pototo salad and more.$ Br L
PLATFORM DINING & LOUNGE 145 E. Main St., New Albany IN., 812-590-1115. Describing itself as an “elevated soul food restaurant, bar, and lounge,” Platform takes over for Double Barrel across from City Hall in New Albany, with a range of grilled and fried starters and entrees (including catfish and chicken); also soups, salads and vegan/vegetarian options. $$ L D p
PO-Z'S KITCHEN 6801 Dixie Hwy., 883-0073. Pleasure Ridge Park residents in need of chicken wings, fried fish and side dishes like fried cabbage, mixed greens and sweet baked beans can find them here. Desserts too, like banana pudding and honey bun cake. $$ L D p
SAM’S SOUTHERN EATERY 1718 E. 10th Street, Jeffersonville IN, 812-913-0026. This chain specializing in Southern “comfort” cuisine originated in Shreveport, offering affordably priced fried green tomatoes, cheddar poppers, po’boys, fish and shrimp platters, seafood, chicken (wings, gizzards and livers), and sides from okra to mac ‘n’ cheese. $$ L D
SHIRLEY MAE’S CAFÉ 802 Clay St., 589-5295. This Smoketown institution draws hungry locals as well as celebrities in town hungry for the soul food of their youth. BBQ ribs and hot-water cornbread cooked in a cast iron skillets. Pig’s feet and chicken wings and collards too. $ L D
SOUTHERN EXPRESS 418 W. Oak St., 742-5456. This wellknown West End carryout spot has moved into a sit-down location in Old Louisville. There, classic soul food is served for eat-in or takeout and at rock-bottom prices. Diners build their own meal at $1 per item. Choices vary daily, but look for fried chicken, cooked cabbage, fried whiting, pork roast, fried or smothered pork chops, mac and cheese and rib tips. $ L D f
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY 3402 W. Broadway, 822-1474. A family sports bar that satisfies all ages with its homey atmosphere and its well-crafted familiar food like double cheeseburgers, fried chicken with hot water cornbread, catfish, wings and ribs. $ L D p
SUMMA DIS SUMMA DAT 2536 W Jefferson St., 617-2007. Colorful, reasonably priced comfort “soul” food in the Russell neighborhood, including favorites like smoked wings, rib tips, Philly cheesesteaks, onion rings and a very popular grape lemonade. $$ L D
THE FOOD PEDDLER 2602 Charlestown Rd., 812-590-1404. Family-run food truck, now with bricks and mortar, and serving ample portions of Southern American comfort (soul) food on New Albany’s north side: ribs, pot roast, meatloaf, fried chicken and fish, mac ‘n’ cheese, collards, slaw, sweet potatoes and more. $$ L D
THE KITCHEN TABLE 522 Happy Hollow Rd., Clermont, KY 347-2920. Jim Beam Distillery’s on-site restaurant serves highquality traditional Kentucky dishes (burgoo, fried catfish, fried chicken) and interesting variations (dick poppers, hot smoked trout). Bourbon balls, of course, are among the dessert choices $$$ L pf
THE SERVICE STATION 208 E. Burnett Ave., 365-1902. A former Old Louisville gas station transformed by Chef Kendell Shepherd and The Food Peddlar’s owner Kevin Brackens into a restaurant, gathering space and late-night scene. The kitchen reimagines Southern flavors: St-Louis-style pork ribs, meatloaf, Cajun shrimp & grits; accompaniments like roasted sweet potatoes, collards, coleslaw; and more. $$ L D
TINO'S TASTE OF HEAVEN 1800 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., 356-0232. The inheritor of the ex-Sweet Peaches space in the West End, Tino’s has been offering lavish “Soul Food Sunday” spreads (Noon to 4:00 p.m.) in preparation for a resumption of daily business hours. $$ D
CRAVINGS ALA CARTE 101 S. Fifth St. (National City Tower), 584-6846. This thrifty deli offers a variety of build-your-own sandwiches, a soup-and-salad bar and specialty bars featuring baked potatoes and a monthly ethnic creation. $ L
GOLDEN CORRAL 1402 Cedar St., Clarksville IN. 812-9137577, 4032 Taylorsville Rd., 883-5700. All you can eat cafeteria style family dining at one price very resonable price these days. If the quantity doesn’t surprise you, the food quality will. Steaks are served beginning at 4 p.m. $ L D
ABOUT TIME BAR AND GRILL 12406 La Grange Rd. At this suburban sports bar and grill you can find casual fare like fried cod, fish and steak tacos and Philly cheesesteaks. The bar serves an extensive cocktail menu, beer and wine. $ L D p f
B-SIDE 1076 E. Washington St., 749-0110. Available as a flexible event venue on the second floor above the Decade restaurant in Butchertown, B-Side also operates under the same management as a free-standing bar and stage on weekends, so named after the “flip” side of pre-digital vinyl 45 rpm records. $$$$ D p
BACKSIDE AT WHISKEY ROW 108 W. Washington St., 6302012. Taking over the space near the Yum! Center that had briefly held The Hall on Washington, Backside’s menu leans toward American dishes: burgers, chicken sandwiches, honeybutter biscuits and salads. The restaurant is also adding bourbon flights to qualify for a listing on the Urban Bourbon Trail. $$ L D p
BAR AT HOTEL GENEVIEVE 730 E. Market St. (Hotel Genevieve), 586-7049. For afternoon and evening hours, the Hotel Genevieve’s upper floor bar offers libations with light culinary fare inspired by Mediterranean-influenced French street food, as created by Chef Ashleigh Shanti Indoor and outdoor seating come with a panoramic view of the city. $$ D pf
BEEF O’BRADY’S 241 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 254-2322, 2392226, 3101 S. Second St., 637-3737, 11324 Preston Hwy., 969-5559, 105 LaFollette Ct., Floyds Knobs IN, 923-1316. If you think your basic sports pub is only suitable for guys guzzling beer, take another look: Beef O’Brady’s puts the “family” in “family sports pub,” offering a wholesome environment. $ L D f
BIG AL’S BEERITAVILLE 1715 Mellwood Ave., 893-4487. Good people, good food, cold beer: The sign out front says it all, and we might add “cool atmosphere” in praise of this small but friendly Butchertown oasis. $ L D pf
BRASS SOCIAL 11800 Electron Dr., 614-5952. Located within the Next Level Ranges in Jeffersontown you’ll find burger-centric, “elevated” bar food with locally-sourced ingredients (like Spencer County beef), craft cocktails and local draft beers. $$$ L D p
BRICK HOUSE TAVERN + TAP 871 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 326-3182. Brick House, a Houston-based chain, has upgraded its image with an increased focus on food. Serving brunch, lunch and dinner, with a half-dozen local beers on tap, and an unusual menu of beer cocktails. $$ L D pf
BROWNIE’S THE SHED GRILLE & BAR 9900 Linn Station Rd., 326-9830. Restaurant owner and namesake Keith Brown used to host neighborhood gatherings in a shed at his home. Now he brings the same sociable concept to his sports pub, the area’s official homes for Cincinnati Bengals fans. $ L D pf
BUBBA'S 33 4631 Medical Plaza Way, Clarksville IN, 284-5933. 10435 Southpointe Blvd., 874-4245. The late Kent “Bubba” Taylor founded Texas Roadhouse; “33” refers to the end of Prohibition; and Bubba’s is a family-friendly sports bar concept with TVs galore. The menu offers chicken with two types of bacon, chili-rubbed salmon, smoked chipotle wings, a spicy habanero burger and both signature and build-your-own pizzas. $$ L D pf
BUD’S TAVERN GOOD FOOD & BARBECUE 4014 Dixie Hwy., 384-9131, 9119 Galene Dr., 409-6066. This well-established Shively tavern has added a second location in Jeffersontown. It’s noted for excellent service and honest bar food that consistently receives high praise. Signature dishes — “gently fried” grouper, burgers (including a Reuben burger), as well as burritos and barbecue — are now available at both locations. $ L D pf
BUNGALOW JOE’S BAR & GRILL 7813 Beulah Church Rd., 931-5637. A “family friendly sports bar and grill” in the Fern Creek area boasts 23 HDTVs including a 5- by 7-foot HD projector for 3D football viewing, a game room for kids, and plenty of wings, shrimp, burgers and beer. $$ L D pf
BUZZARD’S ROOST WHISKEY ROW EXPERIENCE 624 W. Main St., 315-8688. An educational Whiskey Row sampling and sales venue showcasing expressions of master blender Jason “Bourbons Bistro” Brauner’s award-winning Buzzard’s Roost whiskies, and also incorporating classes designed by F&D contributor Heather Wibbels. Ask about reserving the “Sipping in Secret” tasting room/speakeasy experience. $$$ L D p
BY GOLLY’S BAR AND GRILL 941 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy., Clarksville, IN, 812-590-1224. Longtime Hooters location, now a pub-like chain concept from the Cincinnati area (founded in 1983) purveying burgers, wings, waffle fries, and numerous other sports bar-style menu items. $$ Br L D p f
CLOVERLEAF BAR AND GRILL 1423 Culbertson Ave., New Albany IN., 812-725-0800. Quintessential back-street tavern with a griddle, offering a short menu of appetizers (chili, poppers, fried pickles, et al) and sandwiches: a house favorite cheeseburger, the chicken club and fried bologna, among others. $$ L D p f
DAGGER’Z BAR AND GRILL 1551 E. Tenth St., Jeffersonville IN., 812-590-1469. From Kickoff Queso to Touchdown Wings and the MVP Burger (but why not Slap Shot Caesar Salad?), the greatest hits of sports bar fare are here, along with all the games, karaoke, DJs and live music. $$ L D p
DIVE BAR ON FRANKFORT 2235 Frankfort Ave., 365-1220. Just a tad less deep-dive atmosphere than its fabled predecessor down the street— but the conceptual lineage with the departed Hilltop Bar is direct and comforting: same owners, same neighborhood vibe, same meatloaf and fried chicken sandwiches (and Dive Burger), and a solid craft draft beer selection happily extending “beyond the Bud.” $$ D p f
FALLS CITY KITCHEN 826 W. Main St., New Albany IN, 812590-2469. Seemingly positioned as a satellite Falls City Brewing outpost and sports bar astride the route to Caesars Southern Indiana casino, with eight of the brewery’s beers kept on tap, and specializing in “smashburgers,” wings and other popular pub bites. $$ L D pf
FIRST STRING BAR AND GRILL 5921 New Cut Rd., 3660049. This South End sports bar offers pizza, baked spaghetti, fried bologna sandwiches and Cajun dry rub chicken wings. $$ L D p
FLANAGAN’S ALE HOUSE 934 Baxter Ave., 585-3700. Gourmet pizzas, hoagies, and an enormous beer selection draw Highlands folks to this cozy neighborhood pub. For a late night pizza (the kitchen’s open until 2 a.m.), it’s one of the best options in the city. $$ L D pf
GERSTLE’S PLACE 3801 Frankfort Ave., 742-8616. A popular St. Matthews neighborhood tavern since 1924. Although dining is secondary to booze and sports here, the food goes well beyond mere pub grub. $ L D pf
GOODBOUNCE PICKLEBALL YARD 1515 River Shore Dr., 290-2730, 1220 Main St., Clarksville IN, 812-590-3488. If pickleball is inevitable, you might as well accompany all that exercise with food and drink, provided on site in Louisville by Dave’s Grill with Angus beef burgers, a chicken breast sandwich, sides, and grab-and-go deli sandwiches. A full bar available. The Clarksville location currently is beverage-only, although eateries are located nearby. $$ L D pf
GRANVILLE INN 1601 S. Third St., 636-2748. A longtime gathering place for U of L students, faculty and fans, this sturdy redbrick tavern just north of the university campus offers a good variety of bar munchies, sandwiches and simple grilled fare plus pizza. It’s perhaps best known, though, for the signature Granville Burger, widely reputed as one of the best burgers in town. $ L D p
GREAT AMERICAN GRILL 2735 Crittenden Dr. (Hilton Garden Inn), 637-2424. Salads, burgers, pastas and sandwiches are available for the casual diner; main entrées include New York strip, filet of salmon and more. $ Br D pf
HARBOR AND HOPS 3010 Gottbrath Pkwy., Jeffersonville IN, 748-2622. TIn 2020 the Brown family localized and rebranded their erstwhile franchise operation, emerging with the largest selection of draft beer in Southern Indiana (85 taps) plus draft wines, hard ciders, kombucha and hard seltzer. The hearty pub menu is familiar and comforting – lots of burgers, beer cheese soup, salads and sandwiches, and a limited entree selection. $$$ L D pf
HARRY’S TAPHOUSE & KITCHEN 130 W. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville IN., 725-1111, 5580 Hwy. 62, Jeffersonville IN, 812-595-1545. Originating as a family-friendly riverside spot with stellar views of the Ohio, Harry’s also has an “inland” location nearer the River Ridge Commerce Center. At both, you can chow down on well-crafted bar food – fried pickles or jalapeño cheese balls; harvest apple salad; a chicken wrap, Philly cheesesteak or grilled bologna sandwich; baby back ribs, or a half-pound burger. $$ L D pf
HAUCK’S SPORTS LOUNGE 1002 Goss Ave., 384-9374. The burgeoning Germantown family of Hauck’s Corner bar category tie-ins (Baked AF, Breakfast AF, Pizza AF) welcomes into the fold this adjacent space for watching all the games. There’s a bar with fan-friendly beverages; food from Hauck’s and the “AF” trio can be brought inside. $$ L D pf
HELL OR HIGH WATER 112 W. Washington St., 587-3057. The entrance is through Hello Curio, an ostensible arts and crafts gallery. Downstairs is the main bar in a two-story library with a mezzanine floor, looking out onto a small live entertainment area. Craft cocktails are bourbon-focused but not exclusively. There is a small bites menu, but drinks are the center of the “speakeasy” experience. $$ D p
HIGHLANDS BAR & GRILL 2280 Bardstown Rd., 963-5956. Two regular customers of the former Diamond Station have taken over the premises on Bardstown Road, with a “bar food” menu of sandwiches, salads, and burgers. House-made sauces and dressings are derived from venerable family recipes. $$ D p f
HIGHLANDS TAPROOM GRILL 1058 Bardstown Rd., 5845222. Another nice choice for beer and bar food along the B’town Rd. corridor, but owner Tommy Clemons’ menu includes, but extends beyond, the usual beer cheese, chili and burgers. Look for the crabby patty or the French toast sausage. The pulled pork spring rolls are on their way to becoming legendary. $$ L D pf
HILLCREST TAVERN 3212 Frankfort Ave., 290-6917. Dan Borsch, who runs several Old Louisville spots like Burger Boy Diner and Old Louisville Tavern, has expanded into Clifton with this renovation of a long-time neighborhood watering hole. The menu mirrors that of Old Louisville Tavern, with burgers, sandwiches, appetizers and a few entrée items. A vintage 100year old bar will anchor the nostalgic ambiance. $$ LD pf
HITCHING POST INN 7314 Fegenbush Ln., 239-4724. In addition to its full bar and beer garden, and lively conversation, the Hitching Post Inn offers an array of pub grub, including burgers, chicken tenders, and sandwiches. $ L D pf
HOOPS GRILL AND SPORTS BAR 6733 Strawberry Ln., 3754667. The name says it all: sports, casual dining and good things to drink all find their natural meeting place at this friendly neighborhood spot that boasts 3 different steak sandwiches, along with pizza, burgers and chicken. $ L D pf
HOOPSTERS SPORTS BAR & GRILL 830 E. 10th St. Jeffersonville IN, 812-914-7101. Downtown Jeffersonville sports bar, locally owned and operated since 1994, with all the drinks and televisions, as well as a comprehensive food menu that virtually guarantees no fan is left behind: wings, pizza, sandwiches, salads, burgers, fish and wraps. $$ L D p f
JOE'S OLDER THAN DIRT 8131 New Lagrange Rd., 4347470. Founded in 1937, the landmark Lyndon neighborhood bar famed for its impassive stuffed moose was restored to independent local ownership in 2023 when Olé Restaurant Group divested its stake. Regular customers enjoy the same food, including burgers, sandwiches, wings, flatbread pizza and plate lunch specials, with domestic and craft beers, and nightly live music. $$ L D pf
JOHN O’BRYAN’S TAVERN 4123 Flintlock Dr., 449-4940. “Where Fish Is My Friend,” an unobtrusive local watering one
block off Dixie Highway in Pleasure Ridge Park that has been packing them in for fried fish sandwiches since 1988 (also burgers and an assortment of sandwiches). Long hours; cash only. $$ B L D p
KAREM’S 9424 Norton Commons Blvd., 327-5646. Karem’s Grill & Pub, one of the first restaurants to open in the villagelike Norton Commons, carries the look and feel of a neighborhood watering hole inside and out. The test of a restaurant, though, is the food, and Karem’s is excellent. $$ L D
KERN’S KORNER 2600 Bardstown Rd., 456-9726. This familyowned tavern, a popular neighborhood pit stop since 1978, offers freshly made ham, chicken salad sandwiches and soups. The hamburgers, though, might be the best unpretentious burgers in town: freshly ground daily, always cooked perfectly, and served on a toasted bun. The chili ranks among the top in the city too. $ L D pf
LOBBY BAR & GRILL AT THE BROWN HOTEL 335 W. Broadway (Brown Hotel), 583-1234. A quintessentially gilded “grand” hotel lobby setting suitable for F. Scott Fitzgerald excels for guest-watching with snacks and a bourbon flight, or comfortable dining from a compact evening menu (steak frites, duck breast, shrimp and grits) that includes the Brown Hotel’s legendary Hot Brown. We recommend an Old-Fashioned with that, and maybe Derby Pie™ for dessert. $$$ L D p
LOSERS812 1005 W. Market St., Jeffersonville IN, 812-9131414. Two local musicians who saw an unfilled market niche for rock and roll in all its many permutations put their money where their chords are, and the result is live music seven days a week, a late-night kitchen, full bar, billiards, a small arcade, and corn hole. The Jeffersonville venue lies in the shadow of the Clark Memorial Bridge. $ L D pf
LOUISVILLE INTERNATIONAL PUB 5343 Mitscher Ave. 384-3952. A neighborhood bar with an international focus. Eclectic bar food options cover the globe with dinner and sandwich options like nachos, chili, falafel, poppers, burgers, kabobs, and shawarma.$ L D p
MERCURIO’S MUSIC & RESTO BAR 72931 Richland Ave., 451-2237. Owner Matt Mercurio is a longtime supporter of local music and musicians, informing his Hikes Point estab-
lishment’s stage and live performances, accompanied by the drinks you’d expect, as well as a diverse menu of sports barstyle fare (burgers, wings, pasta, sandwiches and salads) in addition to locally-renowned pizza. $$ L D pf
MG'S PRIME TIME CAFÉ 7017 Global Dr., 333-0719. If you find yourself hungry on the far Southwest side of town, this café can satisfy with appetizers like jalapeño poppers or fried pickles, burgers built your way, or an range of sandwich options. $ L D pf
NEAT BOURBON BAR & BOTTLE SHOP 1139 Bardstown Rd., 690-3254. This Highlands vintage Bourbon bar takes advantage of the Kentucky vintage spirits law that allows bar owners to buy, sell and trade on the secondary market. The result is Neat’s focus on old and rare bottles that people have collected over the years and now want to sell or trade. $$ L D p
NEIL & PATTY’S FIRESIDE BAR & GRILL 7611 IN 311, Sellersburg IN, 246-5456. A family owned and operated outpost up the road a piece, long known for their warm and welcoming, down-home atmosphere, has expanded their craft beer selection. The local cognoscenti know they can also find excellent pastas, steaks, seafood, and salads. Homemade soups are created daily. Breakfast served until 2 p.m. $$ Br L D p
NEW ALBANY TAVERN 114 E. Market St., New Albany IN., 290-6917. The owners of Old Louisville and Hillcrest Taverns bring their neighborhood-oriented ethos (and popular burgers, sandwiches, appetizers and salads) to downtown New Albany. Expect food, drink, the big games and conviviality –it’s a tavern, after all. $$$ L D pf
NEW DIRECTION BAR & GRILL 2630 Chamberlain Ln., 243-8429. $ L D pf
OLD HICKORY INN 1038 Lydia St., 634-3011. John Murrow, long involved with Check’s Café, has re-opened this iconic Germantown bar, setting out to return the troubled property to its historic role as a quintessential neighborhood dive bar. $ L D p
OLD LOUISVILLE TAVERN 1532 S. Fourth St., 409-6281. It’s risen from the ashes, the interior gutted and redone, a new kitchen installed, but the menu is the same as before: topflight bar grub made from scratch. An expanded beer program with 16 new taps includes a selection of local and craft beers. $$ L D pf
PARLAY 416 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., 618-0218. $$ D p
PEARL STREET TAPHOUSE 407 Pearl Street, Jeffersonville IN, 285-0890. Located in an historic home that was saved through a preservation grant, this pub has 24 taps with a heavy focus on local breweries, with regional and national choices as well. Food choices range from pizzas to bacon-wrapped dates to corned beef grilled cheese sandwiches. Everything is fresh and nothing is deep-fried. $ L D pf
PORCH KITCHEN & BAR 280 W. Jefferson St. (Marriott), 6714246. As part of the recent renovation of the Marriott, this allday restaurant replaces Champions Sports Grill. The name reflects the intention of the new restaurant to be a homey, welcoming downtown spot. Look for American-style comfort foods and a friendly bar. B Br L D pf
RAILYARD BILLIARDS & SPORTS BAR 630 Barret Ave., 6184033. Serious pool players and rabid sports watchers will find common cause amid 4,000 square feet of fun, or put another way, 31 pool tables, three bars with craft beer and cocktails, pub fare, 26 TVs, a covered deck and live music. All this, and Mile Wide Beer Co. is just downstairs, too. $$ L D FB f
RECBAR 10301 Taylorsville Rd., 509-3033, 336 Pearl St., New Albany IN, 670-5234. Family fun is the object here, with games galore: pool and ping-pong, skeeball, arcade games (for Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Super NES) and card and board games. A full bar and pub-style food, too. $$ L D pf
RED YETI RESTAURANT 256 Spring St., Jeffersonville IN. 2885788. The small brewing system is gone; rotating craft beer taps remain, and the kitchen is as ambitious (and popular) as ever. It’s the little things, like ample street-side seating and a genuinely thoughtful kid’s menu. Appetizers like Goat Cheese Fritters and Truffle Fries lead logically to Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Brisket and a Kentuckiana Hot Brown. $$ L D pf RIVER CITY DRAFTHOUSE 1574-1/2 Bardstown Rd., 6905111. Another beer joint along the Bardstown Road corridor boasts more than 20 taps focused on independent, American,
craft beer (in sample, half-pint and pint sizes) and several bottled options. Its limited (for now) bar menu has garnered early praise for its wings. $$ L D f
SAINT’S 131 Breckinridge Ln., 891-8883. Almost like two restaurants in one, Saints features both a small, intimate, candlelighted room and a larger, happily boisterous main room with the look and feel of a sports bar. $$ L D pf
SEASONED PUB & GRILL 6021 Timber Ridge Dr., 290-6215. A quintessential sports bar with TVs galore and a classic bar menu: beer cheese, tots, onion rings or fries But also strombolis and other hot sandwiches, burgers and wings, of course, and salads. $$ L D p
SEGRETO 741 E. Oak St., 882-1221. The name means “secret” in Italian, and this late-night outdoor bar in Shelby Park derives its “garden speakeasy” imagery from the mode of access: through the Roman-themed indoor Perso restaurant. Segreto’s hours, menu and drinks are distinct from Perso, but their owners are the same. $$$ D pf
SERGIO’S WORLD BEERS 1605 Story Ave., 618-2337. Despite minimal signage, Sergio’s Butchertown digs pull in his fans, who dig the quirky website, and the whole aura of haughty mystery. What you really need when you locate the place is a desire to explore Sergio’s world beer inventory, nearing 1000 different brews. $$ D
SEVEN COCKTAILS + BOURBON 815 E. Market St., 4508488. Describing itself as an upscale cocktail bar, this recent addition to NuLu Marketplace stocks a large selection of Scotch, rum and other spirits as well as the expected array of bourbon; light bites are available (charcuterie; almonds and nuts; hummus and pita). $$ L D p
SPRING STREET BAR & GRILL 300 S. Spring St. The beloved Irish Hill eatery and watering hole closed in 2020 after a 33year run but has been seamlessly revived by the owners of High Horse bar and Darling’s. Wings remain the draw, augmented by sandwiches, soups and salads. $$ L D p
TARTAN HOUSE 1027 E. Main St. Those bars intending to swim against the rising tide of bourbonism are advised to gie it laldy, and so we enthusiastically greet a Scotch specialist in Butchertown, with the city’s largest selection of “that other” whisky, and a cocktail selection to match—or just a wee dram or three for sipping. $$ D p
TAVERN ON FOURTH 111 E. Hill St. From the owners of the Old Louisville, Hillcrest and New Albany Taverns, it’s an easier-in, easier-out way to purchase their favorite burgers, sandwiches and salads from the tavern menus, but for carry-out only; located at the former Hill Street Fish & Seafood. $$$ D pf
TAVERN TO GO 150 W. Washington St., 333-0286. On the downslope alongside the Clark Memorial Bridge, a large troll beckons the adventurous into a space excavated out of the lost space in the old whiskey warehouse. The renovation boasts lots of dark, brick-walled spaces, as well as a funky outdoor dining area in the lightwell. The menu offers stacked sandwiches, bison burgers and sweet potato tots, and ribeye steaks.
$$ L D
THE EARL 109 E. Market St., New Albany IN, 590-2611. This bar offers craft cocktails and upscale bar food such as spicy pimento cheese with pretzel bread, cheese and charcuterie boards, and roasted cauliflower with bleu cheese. $$ D p
THE FOX DEN 3814 Frankfort Ave., 742-0068. Returning to his roots in the restaurant biz, Jared Matthews has revamped the St. Matthews Diamond Billiards space into The Fox Den. Plenty of sports-oriented fun can be found here: Ample big screen TVs, 11 pool and billiard tables, darts and live music, plus a menu of elevated bar food. Open every night till 4am. $$ L D p f
THE HEREAFTER 119 S. Seventh St. (at The Misfit Lou), 3847820. Downtown in the basement below The Misfit Lou, you’ll find this comfortable old-school cocktail parlor, also offering beer, wine and small bites. Musical accompaniments might be jazz or blues, and there are movie nights. $$ D p
THE LAST REFUGE 600 E. Market St., 208-4900. Far more than another cup of coffee for the road, the NuLu “brand center” of singer Bob Dylan’s Heaven’s Door Spirits utilizes the former Refuge of Kentucky Church and includes a restaurant, extensive whiskey selection, musical performance venue and adjacent art gallery. $$$ D pf
THE LIBRARY 400 S. Second St., (Omni Hotel), 313-6664. By day, the Library serves coffee, lattes and tea along with freshly baked pastries. By late afternoon, it morphs into a bourbon bar with locally inspired cocktails. $ B L p
THE MISFIT LOU 119 S. Seventh St., 630-2238. Downtown where Another Place sandwich shop reigned supreme for decades, “a quirky, local, neighborhood beer bar, serving up mischievous sandwiches, sausages, & spirits” has taken over. $$ D p
THE PALM ROOM 1821 W. Jefferson St., 581-1251. The classic West End entertainment and dining spot is back, with a variety of special nights – Tuesday comedy, Thursday ladies’ night, Sunday brunch and jazz at night. The menu focuses on wings, salads and dinner specials. $$ D p
THE PEARL 1151 Goss Ave., 996-7552. The Pearl aims to be a classic neighborhood pub (not unlike Pauly’s, which it replaces). It also aims to be a spirits-focused hangout, with a bar menu limited to snacks like pickled eggs, country ham and cheese sandwiches and free popcorn or roasted nuts. In the works is a permanent food truck to be parked in the rear to expand food offerings. $$ L D pf
THE SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB 427 S. Fourth St. (Fourth Street Live), 568-1400. This Cordish-owned spot has four bars — including one that opens out onto the street — plenty of TVs to catch every game, and even a “stadium style sports media room.” Chow down with the usual burgers, sandwiches and wings. $$ L D pf
THE WATER COMPANY 400 S. Second St., (Omni Hotel), 3136664. There is a 3rd-floor rooftop pool at the new Omni Hotel, and this is the bar that goes with it, also offering seasonally-inspired light bites. $$ L D pf
TIN ROOF 3921 Shelbyville Rd., 895-1914. This Nashvillebased chain in the heart of St. Matthews has a split personality: a family-friendly vibe during the lunch hours; and a rockin’ juke joint at night with live music until 3 a.m. Its menu encompasses everything you expect from bar grub: deep-fried hot dogs, hot wings, quesadillas and salads for the ladies. $ L D pf
TOASTY'S TAVERN 1258 S. Shelby St., 614-7094. An addition to the Germantown bar scene, Toasty’s addresses the needs of late night hungry imbibers with cheeseburgers and breakfast sandwiches, loaded fries, and a vegan hot dog. Signature cocktails include watermelon mint margarita and flavored daiquiris. $ D pf
TROLL PUB UNDER THE BRIDGE 150 W. Washington St., 618-4829. On the downslope alongside the Clark Memorial Bridge, a large troll beckons the adventurous into a space excavated out of the lost space in the old whiskey warehouse. The renovation boasts lots of dark, brick-walled spaces, as well as a funky outdoor dining area in the lightwell. The menu offers stacked sandwiches, bison burgers and sweet potato tots, and ribeye steaks. $$ L D pf
TWIN PEAKS 302 Bullitt Ln., 907-0005. A Hooters-esque “ultimate sports lodge” projects mountain cabin imagery, gourmet burgers, wings, flatbreads and sandwiches, and 29-degree beer. Did we mention televised sports? $$$ L D pf
VERNON LANES 1575 Story Ave., 755-2695. The perennial Sloppy Joe abides, but it has been elevated, because the return of this lovingly restored cultural icon in Butchertown brings with it a chef-driven kitchen sourcing fresh local ingredients, lifting the tried-and-true alley cuisine: dogs and suds, chicken and catfish, schnitzel and spinach dip, burgers and gutter fries—ideal for bowling, drinking or just plain people watching. $$ L D p
WALK ON’S SPORTS BISTREAUX 970 E Lewis and Clark Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 812-992-9255. In college sports-speak, a “walk-on” is a non-scholarship player, and two former LSU walk-ons founded this sports bar, later welcoming football legend Drew Brees as an investor, and offering Louisiana-influenced “scratch-made dishes, wall-to-wall TVs, craft beers and cocktails.” $$$ L D p
YACHTSEA 111 N. Wenzel St. Slipping the harbor in Butchertown with dice-laden nautical word play, YachtSea is intended to be a “fun” bar, albeit not a seafood restaurant apart from oysters (as well as fancy hot dogs and a full roster of boat drinks), with pinball machines and a patio. $$ L D p
ZANZABAR 2100 S. Preston St., 635-9227. An icon of the ’70s bar scene. The stylish tile front has been recreated anew, the
arcade is stocked with vintage games and top-flight live music plays late into the night. $ L D pf
MICROBREWERIES / WINE BARS
3RD TURN BREWING 10408 Watterson Tr., 482-3373. Jeffersontown’s first brewery inhabits a repurposed 150-year-old church building, and offers an ever-changing roster of beer styles. Guests are welcome to bring their own food. 3rd Turn’s second location is Oldham Gardens at 6300 Old Lagrange Rd. in Crestwood KY, boasting an acre of indoor and outdoor space at a former garden center. $ D pf
AKASHA BREWING COMPANY 909 E. Market St., 742-7770. Rick Stidham brews a full range of craft beers. Akasha is known for variations on a theme of kettle-soured Gose, as well as the scrupulously recreated Fehr’s XL, Louisville’s celebrated pre-Prohibition Pilsner. There is no food, but numerous NuLu eateries are located within carryout and delivery distance. $ D pf
APOCALYPSE BREW WORKS 1612 Mellwood Ave., 7420090. Veteran home brewers Leah Dienes, Paul Grignon and Bill Krauth run this brewery in Butchertown, dedicated to fresh craft beer in a space that heats with solar, recycles and reuses materials and grains. Their taproom, dubbed The Fallout Shelter, serves up to 10 of their concoctions. $ f
ATRIUM BREWING 1154 Logan St., 690-3069, 11203 River Beauty Loop, 290-0501. Shelby Park’s exuberant, innovative brewery touches all points on the stylistic map, from Italian Pilsner to Hazy IPA, with renowned fruit-infused sours. A resident courtyard food truck provides sustenance. Atrium’s chic Norton Commons taproom opened in 2023, currently without food (but eateries are nearby). $ L D p f
AWRY BREWING 1025 Barret Ave., 963-5999. This five-barrel brewhouse on the disputed border between the Highlands and Germantown began life as False Idol, alchemized to Chimera (as twinned with the since relocated V-Grits vegan eatery), and now has gone completely “awry,” offering a balanced range of house beers along with nibbles like chicken tenders, street corn, and cheese curds (with varied sauces). $ L D pf
BAER’S CITY WINERY 321 Pearl St., New Albany IN, (812) 924-7348. Under new ownership, this successor to the longrunning River City Winery has the same winemaker, with Brandon Noe as the new chef. $$ L D p f
BIG ROCK BAR & BREW 2120 Bardstown Rd., 618-0101. Picking up where the former Great Flood Brewing Co. left off, Big Rock aims to be a newer-generation Deer Park neighborhood hangout, with drinks, activities and games. At press time, a kitchen was being completed, but for the moment outside food can be brought inside or delivered. $ L D p f
B.J.’S RESTAURANT & BREWHOUSE 7900 Shelbyville Rd.(Oxmoor Center), 326-3850. This Southern California chain arrived east of the Mississippi, including a large and imposing brewhouse at Oxmoor Center. A full range of madein-Nevada craft beers is dispensed, along with upscale-casual pub grub. $$ L D p
BLUEGRASS BREWING COMPANY 300 W. Main St., 5620007. BBC, one of the first, if not the first, craft breweries in town, continues to produce their beers and ales here, and to feed upscale bar food to hardy souls who come downtown for entertainment. The Theater Square outlet at 600 S. 4th St. has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic. We are delisting that outlet and look forward to reinstating that location in the future. $$ L D pf
BOARD AND YOU BISTRO & WINE BAR 434 Pearl St., New Albany IN, 913-4109. Look for handcrafted cocktails, charcuterie boards with meats and cheeses from around the world, entrées, small plates, salads, soups and house-made desserts such as blueberry pie bar, mascarpone cheesecake and a pots de creme flight. $$$$ B L D pf
BRIX WINE BAR 12418 La Grange Rd., 243-1120. The use of an obscure wine term (it’s pronounced “bricks” and refers to the sugar content of ripe grapes at harvest) hints that the proprietors of this wine bar know their vino. Interesting wines and a short bistro-style menu make it a welcome suburban alternative. $$ D p
BUTCHERTOWN BREWING 1860 Mellwood Ave., 437-9407. Small batch brewery and taproom located atThe Mellwood Arts Center, where Andy Cobb has garnered a determined cult
following for an array of fruited sours and behemoth-scale stouts like Arise, a boozy 12% barrel-conditioned Imperial Stout. No food, but Mellwood’s vendors are nearby. $ D pf
COUNTRY BOY BREWING 400 S. Second St. (Omni Hotel). At its street-level Falls City Market, the Omni Louisville brings together food and drink purveyors for hotel guests and locals alike. Country Boy Brewing’s (Lexington KY) first Louisville taproom pours house beers (Cougar Bait, Shotgun Wedding, Cliff Jumper) and bourbon, and slings pizza, subs, wings, and salads. $$ L D pf
CUVÉE WINE TABLE 3598 Springhurst Blvd., 242-5200. Scott Harper and others from the Bristol Bar & Grille organization have made this wine bar and café in the East End a fine stop for after work. Drop in to explore Master Sommelier Harper’s adventurous wine list with tasting pours and small plates of charcuterie, cheeses, salads and snacks from the kitchen. Look for regular casual classes organized on various wine themes. $$ L D pf
DONUM DEI BREWERY 3211 Grant Line Rd., New Albany IN, 590-2478. Owner Rick Otey brews and distills on-site, maintaining that beer and spirits are gifts from God, hence the Latinate names. His annual barrel-aged Drunken Unicorn release combines both his house functions. In 2024, 8th Dei Pizza (previously 8th Street Pizza) commenced operations inside Donum Dei’s taproom. $ L D p
EPIPHANY BARREL HOUSE 1525 Highland Ave., 384-5758. Craft brewing on site has been delayed (its inception TBA), but the establishment is open and slinging farm-to-bar craft cocktails, bourbon, tequila and mezcal, with guest craft beers from local breweries and bar snacks (Froggy’s caramel popcorn, Red Hog salami, Kenny’s cheese spread). $$ L D pf
FALLS CITY TAPROOM 901 E. Liberty St., 257-7147. This historic brewery was founded in 1905. It closed decades ago, but returned in 2010 as a contemporary craft brewery. Now situated just east of downtown where Phoenix Hill and NuLu merge, Falls City’s core brands and rotating seasonals can be enjoyed at its on-site Parlour Pizza branch, which doubles as the brewery’s taproom and beer garden. $$ L D pf
FISTFUL OF ALE 2708 Paoli Pk., New Albany IN, 557-0226. The bar attached to A Fistful of Tacos offers 20 or so taps of a wide variety of “strong-flavored” craft beers such as IPAs, stouts and porters, and unusual lagers. $$ D pf
FLOYD COUNTY BREWING CO. 129 W. Main St., New Albany IN, (470) 588-2337. Walk in this new brewpub and you will find what looks like a medieval banquet hall, but scaled down to a Yorkshire public house. Brewer Jeff Coe’s repertoire includes Braun Jovi (Brown Ale), Hefe’ns Gate Hefeweizen and Vlad’s India Pale Ale, which complement perfectly menu items like fish and chips and oversized turkey legs. $ L D
GALLANT FOX BREWING 2132 Frankfort Ave., 822-1988. Located in that odd Clifton intersection of Frankfort Ave., New Main St. and the railroad tracks, this brewery concocts things like blood orange blonde ale, Space Force IPA and mango-guava American pale ale. Ten guest taps feature regional brews. $$ D pf
GOODWOOD BREWING + SPIRITS 121 W. Main St., 9635096, 636 E. Main St., 584-2739. Goodwood’s short-lived predecessor on Whiskey Row helpfully paid it forward with major remodeling expenses, and now the brewery has gained a multi-level showcase for its house beer, with a full-service bar and restaurant, live entertainment, event spaces, and even an Airbnb upstairs. Goodwood’s existing brewery and tap room nearby on East Main Street remains open as before. $$ L D p
GRAVELY BREWING CO. 905 E. Main St. 822-3202. Gravely’s musically-themed taproom has shifted locations to an attractive new space on the NuLu/Butchertown line, where Eliana’s Honduran Café will continue to provide pastelitos, tostadas, tacos, burritos and quesadillas. The popular brewery continues to operate at its original site adjacent to the remnants of the legendary Phoenix Hill Brewery (the old subterranean lagering cellars lie directly beneath Gravely’s fermenters). $$ L D pf
seeds and cinnamon have been used to flavor a wide range of styles. Food prepared on-site includes smoked pork and chicken, quesadillas, loaded chips and a kid’s menu. $ D pf
HOMETOWN BREWING CO. 4041 Preston Hwy., 363-4880. Tom Brown, partner in the Hometown Pizza chain, and high school friend Mark Allgeier, owner of the now-closed Cumberland Brewery, have opened this craft brewery in the space where Brown has stored his car collection, which inspire the names of his beers. His goal is to make craft beer more accessible in small towns out in the state, where Hometown Pizza has 18 scattered locations. $$$ L D pf
HOP ATOMICA 1318 McHenry St., 365-4676. Louisville’s only brewer, distiller and wood-fired pizzeria is situated at Germantown Mill Lofts in Schnitzelburg, with two dozen house beers on tap in a variety of styles; an extensive cocktail program using house spirits like gin, rum and vodka; and sandwiches, salads and a giant pretzel with beer cheese in addition to acclaimed signature pizzas. $$ L D pf
J. BELL WINE CO. 2704 Frankfort Ave., 676-4821. Syrah’s to us! It may be a long way from Washington State, but this boutique winery has established a tasting room in Clifton, with wine served by the glass and bottles available to go. $$ D p
KYROS BREWING COMPANY 2425 Portland Ave. Three couples who bonded over homebrewing during the pandemic have joined forces and ramped up their fermenters to open this small brewery, taproom and beer garden in Portland, without food, but stressing a family-friendly atmosphere. $$ D pf
LOUVINO 11400 Main St., 742-1456. A comprehensive selection of wines by the glass in Douglass Hills, available fresh from the bottle via the Cruvinet dispensing system. A diner’s selfish joy comes from pairing these cleverly organized wines with seasonal, shareable small plates – examples include charcuterie, bacon-wrapped dates and beef sliders – as well as entrees that range from Faroe Islands Salmon to a Porterhouse Pork Chop. $$ Br D pf
MILE WIDE BEER COMPANY 636 Barret Ave., 409-8139. Mile Wide’s reputation as the Hazy/New England-style IPA champions of Louisville is both deserved and slightly ironic, considering brewer/co-owner Kyle Tavares’ brewing education in Bavaria. His lagers are great, too. Tasty Neapolitan-style pizza is served by Mac’s at Mile Wide. $$ L D p
MONNIK BEER CO. 1036 E. Burnett St., 742-6564. This popular Germantown microbrewery offers Euro-pub inspired menu includes three kinds of double-fried fries, pork and currant pie, and several burgers. Frequently changing guest taps join the house brews of Mild George and King George (British brown ales), His Dark Materials (stout) and Hauck’s American pilsner. $$ L D pf
NEW ALBANIAN BREWING COMPANY 3312 Plaza Dr., New Albany IN, 812-944-2577. NABC dates to 2002 and is the 9th-oldest Hoosier brewery in continuous operation, with two dining areas serving locally renowned pizza and pasta (see the restaurant listing under “pizza”), a games arcade, guest taps, and perennial house beers like Community Dark and Elector Ale. $$ L D p
NOBLE FUNK BREWERY 922 S. Second St., 755-2739. Louisville's newest brewery is in the massive former Old Louisville Krogers building. The 25-tap brewery also has a short wine and cocktail selection. The brewery’s sister concept, Noble Hearth Pizza, serves specials like "Date Night," topped with dates, bacon, spinach and spicy aioli, and "Pollo Diablo,” topped with house-made chicken sausage, jalapeños and spicy sauce. $$ D pf
NOUVELLE BAR & BOTTLE 214 S. Clay St., 631-9428. This French-style wine bar sells 40+ wines by the glass (in 3-, 6or 9-ounce pours) and 200 to 300 wines by the bottle, focusing on affordable, interesting wines. A selection of beers, ciders, classic cocktails, bourbons and scotches also are available to accompany cheese and charcuterie boards, along with desserts. $ L D pf
OFF THE RAILS TASTING ROOM AND WINE DEPOT 2118 Bruce Ave., 822-0738. Enjoy three favorite adult beverages at this Buechel winery – wine, craft brews, and bourbon. The wines made by owners Kenny and Denise Jewell include a Cabernet and Reisling, and several fruit blends. The beers and Bourbons are from all over Kentucky. $$ Br D pf
OLD LOUISVILLE BREWERY 625 W. Magnolia Ave., 3654886. Established in 2016 in an extensively remodeled histo-
ric structure, Old Louisville Brewery functions as a Cheerslevel neighborhood hangout where the regulars have yet to meet a stranger. There’s an eclectic selection of house beers, both traditional and experimental, but no food. $ D pf
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HOPS 300 Foundation Ct., New Albany IN. This brewery offers 12 taps (currently 8 house and 4 guest taps), as well as plenty of space for playing games like cornhole, darts, Jenga; pool, and video golf. If you work up an appetite, food trucks will tend your hunger on Friday and Saturday nights. $$ D p
ROSE HILL LAGER HAUS 1753 Bardstown Rd., 742-6564. This innovative offshoot of Germantown’s Monnik Beer Co. places the focus on head brewer Buddy McHagan’s excellent portfolio of lager beers, as brewed at cooler temperatures with bottom-fermenting yeasts, and including many Central European styles like Pilsner, Dunkel and Bock. Check out the Czech beer specialties. The Post pizzeria next door collaborates on food offerings. $$ D p
SANGRIA BAR AT UNION 125 W. Chestnut St., Jeffersonville IN, 812-725-7778. This colorful and airy weekends-only bar specializing in sangria and sparkling mimosas is freestanding, but shares ownership with the bustling adjacent Union Restaurant & GameYard, just yards from the Big Four Walking Bridge. $$ B L D pf
SHIPPINGPORT BREWING CO. 1221 W. Main St. 690-2002. Owner and brewer Amelia Pillow located her new brewery in Portland to encourage beer drinkers to venture beyond their west-of-9th-Street comfort zone. Her first brewing efforts include an American IPA, an oaked Helles Bock, a Belgian IPA and an Imperial / Double Coffee stout, among others. The food menu is geared to panini-style sandwiches and vegetable side dishes. $ L D p
TEN20 CRAFT BREWERY 1020 E. Washington St., 290-6820, 11505 Park Rd., 384-8714, 1400 Main St., Clarksville IN., 812-406-4329. From its sprawling multi-level ziggurat brewery complex in Butchertown, with food vendors on site, TEN20 offers a range of lagers and ales to an unfailingly high standard of quality and is busily establishing a network of neighborhood taprooms around the city. $$ L D p f
TRELLIS BREWING CO. 827 Logan St. This bold Smoketown brewery sources all its grains locally and revives the rare decoction mashing technique, adding rich depth to its beers, served via the traditional Central European “side pour” (foam included). Get ready to geek out, with light snacks available. $$ D pf
TURNSTATION BREWING COMPANY 10601 Worthington Ln. (Glenn Oaks Country Club), 234-1620. Refashioning the former Oldham County Brewing premises at Glen Oaks Golf Club, owner Brad Conrad has recruited brewhouse legend Leah Dienes, brewer/owner at Apocalypse Brew Works, to create golfing-friendly (read: low ABV) beers. It’s a taproom only, but food is available through the country club.
$$ D pf
UPLAND BREWING CO. 707 W. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville IN, (812) 750-1234. This Hoosier brewing operation has opened a southern outlet on the Ohio River, taking over the former Buckhead’s space, with its extensive pet-friendly patio overlooking the Louisville skyline. A full range of craft beer styles is on offer, along with a menu of hearty bar-food standards — pizza, sandwiches, burgers, wings, bison meatballs and mussels. $$ Br L D p f
VINES WINE BAR & SPIRIT SHOP 1985 Douglass Blvd., 409-5141. Since 2014, a Deer Park retail shop with in-store drinks service as well as informative tasting events. Food is not served; however, customers are welcome to order items from local restaurants and bring them in. $$ D p f
WEST SIXTH NULU 817 E. Market St., 234-4733. West Sixth Brewing's (Lexington KY) spacious local taproom in NuLu Marketplace includes a small brewery, private event space and open-air courtyard. The Galley is West Sixth’s house kitchen, utilizing window service to vend Central American-influenced tacos, nachos, sliders, wings and more. $ L D p f
WILD HOPS BOURBON BAR & LOUNGE 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market), 384-2001. The name speaks to the range of offerings at this bar inside the Logan Street Market. The on-site brewery crafts its own beer, and there is an extensive cocktail menu and a large selection of bourbons and other whiskeys. $$ B L D p f
ATOMIC SOUND CLUB & GAMEYARD 1125 Bardstown Rd., 442-5151. Highlands “gameyard” filling the interior and exterior of a repurposed laundromat. It’s an entertainment hub and sound club with cocktails, beer, games, music and dancing. We believe light snacks are available. $$ D pf
BLIND SQUIRREL 592 N. English Station Rd., 384-6761. This American-style restaurant is part of the King Louis Sports complex. The 400-seat, two-story dining facility boasts outdoor seating overlooking the sand volleyball courts, 27 TVs inside, a performance venue, a cigar humidor and outdoor smoking lounge. Chef Chris Goss serves up his take on American family standards: burgers, sandwiches, pizza and so on. $$ L D pf
DAVE & BUSTER'S 5000 Shelbyville Rd., (Mall St. Matthews), 963-0940. Fun galore with arcade, billiards, sports TVs, and a 16 page menu with surprising options for every special diet like flavorful lettuce wraps, the Impossible Burger and full entrees like steaks or salmon plus expected bar fare: nachos, sliders and wings. Desserts, beers and festive cocktails of impressive size, too. $$ L D p
DERBY DINNER PLAYHOUSE 525 Marriott Dr., Clarksville IN, 288-8281. The play’s the thing at Derby Dinner, Louisville’s long-running entry in the dinner-theater sweepstakes. The expansive seasonal buffet offerings have fans returning show after show. $$$ L D p
HOWL AT THE MOON 434 S. Fourth St. (Fourth Street Live), 562-9400. What’ll they think of next? How about a nightclub featuring a “dueling” piano bar with two pianos and a singalong concept? You’ll find this 4,000-square-foot club at Fourth Street Live on the ground level. $ D pf
JOE HUBER FAMILY FARM & RESTAURANT 2421 Scottsville Rd., Starlight IN, 923-5255. A pleasant 20-minute drive from downtown Louisville, Huber’s has built a solid reputation for simple farm fare that’s well-made, fresh and good. Some of the produce is grown on the premises in season. $$$ L D pf
MAIN EVENT BAR & GRILL 12500 Sycamore Station Pl., 2405555. This Dallas-based chain offers plenty of fun: bowling, laser tag, a high ropes course, billiards, video games — along with pizzas, sandwiches, full dinners and a full bar. $$ L D p MESA 216 Pearl St., New Albany IN, 725-7691. Mesa calls itself a “collaborative kitchen-classroom,” in which local established and aspiring chefs offer cooking demonstrations and food prep advice for a small audience, who will then eat what the chefs prepare before them. There is also a boutique selling high-end cookware and food products. $$ D p
MY OLD KENTUCKY DINNER TRAIN 602 N. Third St., Bardstown KY, (502) 348-7300. Talk about a nostalgia trip: My Old Kentucky Dinner Train offers a four-course meal during a two-hour voyage along scenic Kentucky railroad tracks near Bardstown in vintage 1940s-era dining cars. Reservations are strongly recommended. $$$$ L D p
OVRDRIVE GAMES 112 W. Jefferson St., 653-5853. Plenty of ways to have fun here: virtual reality car racing, ax throwing, rage rooms (where you can destroy TVs and home appliances), and immersive VR games. The food and beverages aren’t virtual though: made-to-order pizza, wings and appetizers, and a self-pour tap wall featuring 15 beers and 6 pre-mixed cocktail choices. $$ L D p
PIN + PROOF 400 S. Second St., (Omni Hotel), 313-6664. The Omni’s bar has a cool angle. There are four bowling lanes, as well as hors d’oeuvres to enjoy in the “the opulent and mysterious atmosphere." $ D p
PUTTSHACK 7900 Shelbyville Rd., 334-7888. Fluorescent and technology-charged indoor mini-golf at Oxmoor Center can make an Instagrammable duffer thirsty and hungry, hence a diverse array of beer, wine, cocktails, handhelds, flatbreads and shareables. $$ L D pf
UNION RESTAURANT & GAMEYARD 115 W. Chestnut St., Jeffersonville IN, 590-1285. Those wanting more fun as well as some food after strolling across the Big Four bridge can find both here, near the bridge’s Indiana-side off-ramp. Burgers, of course, and brisket, pork belly and brined chicken breast sandwiches. After eating, play iceless curling, four-way volleyball, cornhole or ping-pong. $$ L D pf
same, but service is now cafeteria style, not self-serve buffet, a change done with customer health in mind. $ L D
ABYSSINIA 554 S. Fifth St., 384-8347. This downtown Ethiopian restaurant has gained many fans with its variety of hearty stews, known as “wots,” and interesting vegetarian choices, with large portions and reasonable prices. $ L D
ADDIS ABABA ETHIOPIAN BAR & RESTAURANT 4750 Bardstown Rd., 384-6296. This modest little place joins other ethnic eating spots in the Buechel area. The menu includes a wide variety of richly seasoned Ethiopian fare including the national dish doro wat (a berbere-spiced chicken and egg stew) and many vegetarian options too. $$ B L D
ADE FOOD AFRICAN KITCHEN 113 Grant Line Center, New Albany IN. 812-913-0000. Akintola and Adesola “Ade” Fagbenro bring Nigerian and West African cuisine to a retail strip just down the road from Indiana University Southeast. Explore traditional dishes like ogbano (seed) soup, asaro (yam potage), jollof rice, asun goat, suya and much more. $$$ L D
CLARICE KITCHEN 4113 Bardstown Rd., 648-7352. Owner Charlesetta Norkeh, a native of Liberia, brings tastes of Africa to Buechel’s enduringly diverse dining scene. Main courses of chicken, lamb and tilapia; palava and okra sauces; and Liberian specialties like GB Soup and dry rice and egusi.$$ L D
FA & ADA AFRICAN CUISINE 4806 Bardstown Rd., 7777100. Senegalese cuisine represents a mélange of influences, African as well as European, and this small family-owned eatery features an enticing selection of grilled chicken, lamb and tilapia; beef and fish pie; and plassas, a lamb and spinach stew. $$ L D
IMANKA RESTAURANT 737 S. Eighth St., (International Mall) 210-7503. Somali immigrant entrepreneur Mohamed Abbi Abdalla and his family serve their native cuisine at the International Mall. Suggested dishes include chicken suqaar (a chicken stew-like dish) or goat seasoned with onions and green peppers. $$ L D
KK KITCHEN 2900 Brownsboro Rd., 290-9398. This intimate eatery in Crescent Hill offers an array of hard-to-find West African dishes from owner/chef Makissi Livingston, including jollof rice, jerk chicken, egusi soup, goat meat soup, fried fish, and palm butter soup. $$$ L D
KWELU AFRICAN CUISINE 1725 Berry Blvd., 290-7022. Family-owned East African (Congolese-Ugandan) restaurant in the South End, with goat stew, curried oxtail, cassava fries, whole baked tilapia and mackerel, and much more. The name denotes “ours” and “home.” $$$ L D
QUEEN OF SHEBA 2804 Taylorsville Rd., 459-6301. This authentic Ethiopian restaurant offers a wide selection of intriguing dishes, including a variety of vegetarian selections as well as the traditional beef and chicken specialties. Ethiopian fare is made for sharing and eating with the fingers, but they’ll gladly make forks available for the finicky. $ L D
TAMU TAMU AFRICAN BAR AND GRILL 3825 Bardstown Rd. $ D
UNICE’S KITCHEN BAR AND GRILL 3800 Shepherdsville Rd., 267-264-6852. A native of Monrovia, Liberia brings authentic West African cuisine to Buechel, including characteristic dishes like palava sauce with rice (a stew); jollof rice; torborgee (a stew of eggplant and beans); attieke with fish; and goat meat with fufu. $$ L D
WOLOGISI RESTAURANT 3707 Klondike Ln., 883-0054. The space that was Alwatan is now a Liberian restaurant (goat soup; torborgee, a bean stew; palm butter with fufu) that also tempts American tastes with items like Philly cheesesteak and gyros, as well. $$ L D
888 GREAT WALL 9464 Brownsboro Rd., 425-2811. Strip mall Chinese food is an accurate description of what to expect here. Locals from the neighborhood have said good things about the garlic chicken and their crab Rangoon. $ L D
A TASTE OF CHINA 1167 S. Fourth St., 585-5582, 8105 Lagrange Rd., 327-6863. $ L D
ASIAN BUFFET 3813 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 9451888. Competent cookery and careful management ensures food offerings here stay fresh and hot. The name remains the
ASIAN WOK 2235 Frankfort Ave., 822-3385. This pan-Asian spot offers a very large selection of Chinese & Japanese dishes in the stir-fried, hibachi-grilled and sushi categories. A lot of familiar things — Kung Pao chicken, pepper steak with onion, veggie fried rice, rainbow roll, hibachi steak, and so on. $$ L D
AUGUST MOON 2269 Lexington Rd., 456-6569. Housed in a soaring, open space with a Zen master’s style, consistent commitment from the kitchen makes it a top spot for Asian fare. A lovely patio at the rear affords a pleasant al fresco dining experience. $$$ L D pf
CHEER KING STAR 231 S. Fifth St., 587-8686. Just what downtown needed — a Chinese buffet for quick lunches. Mostly the familiar, a mix of Cantonese, Szechuan and Hunan choices for those who need a little spice to fire them up to get back to work. $ L D
CHINA 1 8105 Lagrange Rd., 327-6863. $ L D
CHINA 1 123 Breckinridge Ln., 897-6511. $ L D
CHINA BUFFET 706 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 288-8989. Chinese buffets are ubiquitous, but this one is squarely in the upper range. Regularly refreshed steam tables, attentively fried rice, and properly spicy General Tso’s Chicken raise it above the other places typical of the genre. $ L D
CHINA CAFÉ 8625 Preston Hwy., 969-9222, 9246 Westport Rd., 425-1818. $ L D
CHINA CASTLE 7420 Third Street Rd., 367-4272. $ L D
CHINA CHEF 7813 Beulah Church Rd., 384-5322. Pretty standard Chinese choices can be found at this new store in the South End. Eat in or carry out. $ L D
CHINA COAST 4952 Manslick Rd., 363-4259. $ L D
CHINA DRAGON 8507 Terry Rd., 995-9897. The far southwest corner of the city can get its Chinese table hot food fix here. $ L D
CHINA KING 3830 Ruckriegel Pkwy., 240-0500. $ L D
CHINA STAR 291 N. Hubbards Ln., 896-1818. $ L D
CHINA TASTE 135 Quartermaster Ct., Jeffersonville IN, 2845580. $ L D
CHONG GARDEN 10341 Dixie Hwy., 935-1628, 6445 Bardstown Rd., 231-0393. $ L D
CHOPSTICKS HOUSE 2112 W. Broadway, 772-3231. Fans of this somewhat funky Chinese place post positive notices about the quality of its food. No strange Asian dishes here, just familiar Chinese hot table fare that Americans recognize. $ L D
CHUNG KING PALACE 110 E. Market St., 584-8880. $ L D
DOUBLE DRAGON 1255 Goss Ave., 635-5656. Every neighborhood seems to need a Chinese steam table outlet serving up Asian dishes familiar to Americans. Double Dragon does that job for its neighborhoods. $ L D
DOUBLE DRAGON II 12480 LaGrange Rd., 241-7766, 6832 Bardstown Rd., 231-3973, 3135 S. Second St., 367-6668, 5222 Dixie Hwy., 448-1988. $ L D
DRAGON CAFÉ 13206 W. U.S. Hwy. 42, 228-1885. This Prospect-area Chinese restaurants offers many familiar dishes. East End fans say the service is quick and the food above-average tasty. $ L D
DRAGON CITY 6413 Greenwood Rd., 935-6111. It used to be First Wok. It still is a strip mall Chinese-American place with a standard menu of crab Rangoon, fried rice, lo mein dishes, and a wide variety of stir-fries. $ L D
EAST STAR BUFFET 161 Outer Loop, 368-2868. $$ L D
FIRST WOK 3967 Seventh Street Rd., 448-0588. $ L D
GOLDEN BLOSSOM BUFFET 2760 Jefferson Centre Way, Jeffersonville IN, 812-288-8616. Szechuan, Hunan and Cantonese dishes, as well as sushi. A la carte ordering, or choose from the selections at daily lunch and dinner buffets. $$ L D
GOLDEN BUDDHA 8000 Preston Hwy., 968-7700. $ L D
GOLDEN STAR CHINESE RESTAURANT 3458 Taylor Blvd., 368-1833. $ L D
GREAT WALL 1977 Brownsboro Rd., 891-8881. This Clifton restaurant ranks high up in the fast-food Chinese pack. Offering steaming-hot, competently prepared and flavorful dishes. $ L D
GREEN TEA CHINESE RESTAURANT 2206 State St., New Albany IN, 812-924-7780. Noted locally for its fresh vegetables, mei fun (rice noodles, particularly Singapore-style) and sizeable tofu portions, Green Tea does a brisk carry-out trade from its shop on State Street near the hospital and I-265 interchange. $ L D
HAPPY CHINA 9128 Taylorsville Rd., 493-1001. $ L D
HAPPY DRAGON 12613 Taylorsville Rd., 297-8788, 2600 W. Broadway, 778-2573. You guessed it: a good, go-to standard pan-China family-style restaurant that’s always there when you’re tired of cooking dinner for the clan. $ L D
HIBACHI BUFFET 5372 Dixie Hwy., 449-8688. This far South Louisville Asian buffet gets strong positives from locals who appreciate its cleanliness, its range of choices (including hibachi grilled meats to order and sushi) and a buffet bar that is kept freshly loaded. $ L D p
HIBACHI SUSHI BUFFET 5729 Preston Hwy., 969-3788. Capitalizing on two seemingly persistent trends in American dining, this hot table place offers standard Chinese buffet dishes, and standard sushi choices. Cashew chicken, shrimp with garlic sauce, Dancing Dragon roll, spring and summer maki — it is all here. $$ L D
HING WANG CHINESE RESTAURANT 2123 E. Spring St. New Albany IN, 812-542-2728. No one in New Albany can remember exactly when the unassuming Hing Wang was launched in a strip mall on the east side of town; perhaps it dates to the advent of home video, but in truth, probably around 2002. The carry-out Chinese dishes (primarily standard Cantonese fare) have been flying out the door ever since. $ L D
HONG KONG FAST FOOD 5312 S. Third St., 367-8828. One of the many international eateries in Iroquois Manor, this fastfood Chinese spot offers Cantonese standards hot and fast and inexpensively. Check out the daily specials for an occasional intriguing item. $ L D
JADE PALACE 1109 Herr Ln., 425-9878. Jade Palace offers familiar Chinese food choices, as well as a long list of Chef’s Specials, with names in Chinese characters as well as English (a sure sign you are in for authentic Chinese fare). Dim sum is offered daily, but on weekends it is served from a traditional rolling cart. $$ Br L D p
JASMINE 13823 English Villa Dr., 244-8896. Like many Chinese restaurants, Jasmine is in a strip mall, but this is not just another hot table stir fry joint. There is an American menu, but those in the know will ask for the 14-page Szechuan menu, featuring such interesting things as pig ear in sesame oil, hot and spicy intestines, spicy diced rabbit foot, frog legs, beef maw and tendon Szechuan style — one of the most popular choices, the manager said. $ L D p
JASMINE ASIAN BISTRO 2420 Lime Kiln Ln., 618-3000. The owners of Jasmine Essential Chinese on English Villa Dr. have gone more upscale with this bistro-style location. Expect the same authentic Chengdu-style Sichuan cuisine (be adventurous!) and well-executed Americanized dishes, sushi and other offerings. $$ L D p
JUMBO BUFFET 2731 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 742-8550. Housed in a good-looking dining room, high on Chinatownstyle glitz and glitter, Jumbo offers a standard all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, with a larger-than-average selection of American dishes for those who want something less exotic. $$ L D
LING LING 10476 Shelbyville Rd., 245-2100. Modern and efficient in its East End shopping center location, Ling Ling is a cut above fast-food Chinese; better yet, it adds a few Vietnamese dishes to the bill of fare. $$ L D
LIU’S GARDEN 11517 Shelbyville Rd., 244-9898. Small but charming, with white tablecloths and soft Chinese music, family-run Liu’s gains our approval with fresh, competent cookery and courteous, friendly service that makes you feel like you’re visiting a Chinese family at their home. $$ L D
ONION RESTAURANT TEA HOUSE 4211 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 981-0188. Masterful Chinese and Japanese cuisine (including magnificent hotpots, donburi dishes, and wooden-bucket steamed rice) set this airy restaurant apart from the horde of other Asian spots. $ L D f
ORIENTAL CAFÉ 3360 Hikes Ln., 451-0077. $ L D
ORIENTAL HOUSE 4302 Shelbyville Rd., 897-1017. New owners continue the tradition at this long-standing St. Matthews restaurant, featuring both traditional Chinese-American and now, authentic Cantonese, menus. $ L D p
ORIENTAL STAR 4212 Bishop Ln., 452-9898. A long-time area favorite in this heavy traffic lunch area. This establishment is quite good with Lo Mein Noodles, and Sweet and Sour Chicken. $ L D
PANDA EXPRESS 1075 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN 2880774, 1232 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 326-8430, 13311 Shelbyville Rd., 489-3980, 10600 Westport Rd., 425-1678, 4913 Dixie Hwy., 861-7178, 4010 E. 10th St., Jeffersonville IN, 812-250-1610. The Pentagon even has one of the 1500+ outlets of the nation’s largest Chinese fast food chains, and now we have four. Moderately priced chow such as orange chicken, Beijing beef, SweetFire chicken breast and honey walnut shrimp fill the menu. $ L D
P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO 9120 Shelbyville Rd., 327-7707. This Arizona-based, Chinese-themed restaurant offers a loud, happy scene with Chinese-style dishes. To its credit, everything is prepared well and service is consistently fine. $$$ L D pf
RED SUN CHINESE RESTAURANT 3437 Breckinridge Ln., 499-7788. $ L D
RICE BOX 6810 Southside Dr., 380-2209. This typical Chinese hot table provides South End residents with the kind of Chinese food you would expect at budget prices. $ L D
SICHUAN GARDEN 9850 Linn Station Rd., 426-6767. Another Asian restaurant that has stood the test of time, Sichuan Garden offers high-end Chinatown style and well-made dishes, plus a few Thai specialties to spice up the bill of fare. $ L D
SICHUAN HOUSE 7309 Preston Hwy., 968-4672. Located in Okolona near the airport, the eatery offers familiar Chinese fare, but an exhaustive listing of authentic and hard-to-find Sichuan/Szechuan regional cuisine is the real draw: dan dan noodles, tiger skin green peppers, five more intestinal prosperity, dry pot bullfrog, and more. $$ L D
YEN CHING 1850 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 491-3581. $ L D
YOKI BUFFET 1700 Alliant Ave., 267-2277. A Chinese foodoriented buffet, with sushi as well, offers more options near the Jeffersontown Industrial Park along the Blankenbaker Rd. corridor. $$ L D
ALA EH EATS FILIPINO FOOD AND SUSHI 9407 Westport Rd., 290-0211. Arguably Louisville’s first specialist in Batangueno-style regional Filipino cuisine, basically rustic comfort food made with meats like pork belly and beef offal, along with Chinese-influenced lumpia (spring rolls), noodle dishes and bone broth. The dining area is very small, and the takeout trade brisk. $$$ L D
SARAP FILIPINO EATERY 712 Brent St. (The Village Market). Filipino cuisine is under-represented in Louisville, and Sarap’s lumpia, pancit, adobo and other dishes are a welcome corrective, along with a weekend-only silog (garlic fried rice and egg) brunch. $$ L D pf
AJI SUSHI AND ASIAN CUISINE 5610 Outer Loop, 3981868. Okolona area residents can now get their sushi fix. The extensive menu offerings include egg rolls, salads and soups, noodle, rice and curry dishes, and tempura, as well as a large variety of raw and cooked sushi preparations. $ L D p
ANKO JAPANESE KITCHEN & SUSHI 304 W. Woodlawn Ave. (StrEatery), 292-7175. Veteran sushi chef Anh Le (formerly of Hiko-A-Mon) goes solo at the Louisville StrEatery food hall in Beechmont, with the expected appetizers, soups and rolls, and an acclaimed roster of sashimi. Look for the bespoke Muhammad Ali Roll with spicy crab, steak and shallots, as well as a rice-free Holiday Roll. $$ L D pf
ARATA SUSHI 9207 U.S. 42, 409-4880. Arata is a dedicated sushi place, with only a few items that fall outside of the maki, nigri and sashimi offerings. The elegant modern interior, and the commitment to the freshest ingredients have been drawing in fans from beyond the East End. $$ L D p
ASAHI JAPANESE 3701 Lexington Rd., 895-1130. This small room in St. Matthews houses a neighborhood sushi spot that also serves grilled dishes and tempura. $ L D
ASIANA SUSHI 6435 Bardstown Rd., 614-7244. This ambitious Asian restaurant in Fern Creek offers an extensive sushi selection, hibachi meals, various noodle choices and even a few Korean dishes such as bulgoki and bi bim bap. $$ L D p
BENTO ASIAN KITCHEN + SUSHI 12951 Shelbyville Rd., 822-1202. Order from an assortment of teriyaki or fried bento boxes, rice or noodle bowls, poke bowls or sushi and sashimi at this ambitious Middletown newcomer. $$ L D p f
BLUE BAY SEAFOOD & SUSHI 4322 Poplar Level Rd., 9198994. The owners of the defunct Hibachi Sushi Buffet and Ville Chicken restaurants have combined elements of their previous menus in South Louisville, offering seafood by the pound, seafood combo dinners, chicken wings, hibachi rice, sushi and even sushi tacos. $$ L D f
CHUBBY NINJA 12951 Shelbyville Rd., 290-3327. A large menu includes chashu (Japanese braised pork belly), bao, ramen and squid salad, but let’s face it, you’ve probably come down to Middletown to indulge in the Ninja’s epochal all-youcan-eat sushi. That’s two hours maximum seating time, folks. $$ L D
DAISUKI SUSHI 1604 Bardstown Rd., 434-2395. The original location in Logan Street Market has closed but a new a sitdown venue (with bar and expanded menu) has opened in the Highlands. Owner and Thailand native Nattaya Reznicek has all the rolls (try the Heart Attack), spicing the proceedings with touches of home, like red curry. $ L D p
DRAGON KING’S DAUGHTER 1534 Bardstown Rd., 6322444, 129 W. Market St., New Albany IN, 725-8600. Founder Toki Masubuchi’s eclectic flair for culinary fusion is simultaneously adventurous and rooted in tradition, and with the original Louisville DKD’s move to much larger digs in the Highlands at the former Café Mimosa, her forever creative tacos, bibimbap, quesadillas and sushi rolls have space to breathe. A full bar boasts numerous cocktail, craft beer and sake selections. $$ L D pf
FUJI ASIAN BISTRO 6801 Dixie Hwy., 937-0488. $$LDp
FUJI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 3576 Springhurst Blvd., 3391978. Part of the fun of sitting at the sushi bar is that you get to watch the chef at work. Put in your order, then sit back and sip your tea while the artist creates edible delights. This suburban sushi bar does the job well. $$ L D p f
GINZA ASIAN BISTRO 9420 Shelbyville Rd., 749-8878. A onestop Asian restaurant. Choose to eat from the Chinese, Japanese or Thai kitchen, or sidle up to the sushi bar for all manner of vegetarian or fish-focused rolls, or sushi combos that include miso soup and salad. A la carte sushi entrées too. $$ L D p
HAIFRY 1126 Bardstown Rd., 576-7777. Toki Masubuchi of Dragon King’s Daughter and Kaiju Bar fame has retrofitted her original DKD in Tyler Park. It’s now a deep dive into Osakastyle Japanese food, featuring kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers of meats, seafood, and vegetables), okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake), yakisoba (stir-fried noodles), and much more, effectively melding the Osaka izakaya with Masubuchi’s distinctive Kentucky hybrid flair. $$$ L D p f
HEART & SOY 1216 Bardstown Rd., 452-6678. To the left is Roots, a sit-down restaurant. To the right is Heart & Soy, serving vegetarian “street food,” and entertaining passers-by with a glass-walled tofu-making room. State-of-the-art equipment from Taiwan transforms organic soy beans from Ohio into soy milk and then coagulates and presses it into tofu as you watch. $ L D
HIKO A MON SUSHI BAR 1115 Herr Ln., 365-1651. Japanesetrained chef Norihiko Nakanashi brings his skills to this sushi bar and Japanese grill in Westport Village. In addition to fine dining at the bar or in traditional Japanese dining rooms, Hiko A Mon offers sushi-grade fish from a small fish market. $$$ L D p
HOKKAIDO RAMEN & SUSHI 818 W. Kenwood Dr. (Colonial Gardens), 398-5270. Named for Japan’s diverse northernmost island (the home of Sapporo beer), Hokkaido combines the best of traditional ramen, appetizers and rice dishes in a convivial setting, bringing the Izakaya – an informal pub with bites, beers and sake – to the South End. $$$ L D pf
JAYMAR JAPANESE GRILL & SUSHI 1039 Ash St., 365-3459. The Lopez brothers are from Mexico, but they’ve been in the business of sushi and Japanese cuisine (at Sake Blue and Sapporo, among others) for decades. Their expertise is gathered in Germantown at the former Six Forks, with more than 60 rolls, in addition to a short list of hibachi and noodle dishes. $$ L D p f
JIN DOSHIRAK 211 S. FIFTH ST. 211 S. Fifth St., 963-5995. Korean chef/owner Song Kim has two decades of sushi and Japanese restaurant experience in the metro, and his eatery’s name means “lunchbox” in Korean. The result is a carryoutoriented mix of the two cuisines, but dine-in is available, too. $$
JUNO JAPANESE RESTAURANT 5406 Antle Dr., 409-7094, 4110 Hampton Lake Way, 632-2777. A wide-ranging menu of Japanese options make these two restaurants interesting destinations. Diners have plenty of sushi options, as well as hibachi dinners, yakisoba, udon and ramen noodle dishes, tonkatsu and tempura. $$ L D p
KABUKI HIBACHI & RAMEN 2784 Meijer Rd., Jeffersonville IN, (812) 590-3430, 253 Spring St. Jeffersonville IN, 812924-7197, 5170 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 812-9247324. A full range of Japanese dishes include sashimi and sushi, hibachi grilled meats and seafood, ramen, bento boxes and seaweed salad. Kabuki’s third area location in downtown Jeffersonville offers expanded seating and an anime motif. $$ L D p
KANSAI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 1370 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 218-9538. Traditional Japanese dishes and sushi are available here, but like most Japanese Steakhouses, choose the grill tables with their slice-and-dice Japanese chef show for maximum entertainment. $$$ L D p
KIWAMI RAMEN 1700 Bardstown Rd., 384-6412. Filling the late, lamented Wild Ginger’s space, the chain Kiwami (billing itself as “Japanese soul food”) specializes in ramen, tonkotsu and tsukemen, but also offers an enticing selection of Japanese appetizers, including karage (fried chicken), calamari, salmon carpaccio, and a soft shell crab bun. $$ L D p f
KYUSHU JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 1850 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 618-1870. The renamed former Kansai, with traditional Japanese dishes, hibachi favorites and a wide variety of sushi in the East End. $$$ L D p
MISAWA HIBACHI & SUSHI BAR 7931 Bardstown Rd., 2901780 The hibachi grills here are not for show, just for grilling, which keeps prices lower than other Japanese steak houses. Rodeleo See, a sushi chef with almost two decades of experience runs the sushi bar. $$ L D p
MT. FUJI 309 W. Cardinal Blvd., 637-5887. The quick-eating strip on the north side of U of L’s campus needed a Japanese place to satisfy students’ sushi cravings. The menu also has tempura and Japanese noodles. $ L D p
OISHII RAMEN 12472 La Grange Rd., 365-3801. Wei Chen, who also owns Hibachi Sushi Buffet on Preston Highway, is on a mission to expand ramen’s reach into the East End, hence his Oishii (“delicious”) concept, with typical appetizers, ramen, rice dishes, boba tea, and alcoholic beverages. $$ L D p
OISHII SUSHI 2810 Taylorsville Rd., 365-3474. This small, attractive and popular sushi spot serves all the popular maki and nigri near Bowman Field. $$ L D
OSAKA SUSHI BAR 2039 Frankfort Ave., 894-9501. This longstanding Clifton favorite also has a second location downtown, serving up sushi and other Japanese dishes in a bright and cheery environment to a loyal clientele. $$ L D p
POKEHANA 436 W. Market St., 996-7994. Poke, an increasingly popular Hawaiian raw fish salad, is given a fast-casual Asian fusion twist here in the space that had been Chop Chop Salads. Choose your combination of protein and vegetables and toppings such as ginger, jalapeno and seaweed salad. Also fried rice, bibimbab and noodle-bab, made with sweet potato noodles.$$ L
RAMEN HOUSE 204 S Spring St., 357-3373. Chef Jonathan Ham’s popular eatery packs them in for traditional ramen, rice bowls, steamed buns, handmade gyoza and killer tonkatsu. In 2025, Ham moved the restaurant from Bardstown Road to Irish Hill at the former home of Gary’s on Spring, enabling an expanded experience in all respects: a larger kitchen enabling the gradual rollout of new menu items, outdoor patio seating
in season, a second-floor bar, and the benefits of enhanced walkability and bikeability. $$ D
ROOTS 1216 Bardstown Rd., 452-6688. Veteran restaurateur Coco Tran looks to seduce the vegan/ vegetarian world of the Highlands with this crisp, elegant room. Eat at tables in the front, enjoy smoothies and tea at the bar, or snuggle down in a Japanese pit table in the back. Choose from an international selection of small plates. $ L D
SAKE A GO GO 620 E. Market St., 630-6889. Exuberant sushidriven homage to Japanese culture in NuLu from prolific restaurateur Kevin Grangier (Le Moo, Village Anchor), offering the traditional (sushi, sashimi, yakitori) in a cosmopolitan “Sunset Strip” setting, with an extensive selection of sake, and a private omakase room. $$$$ L D p
SAKE BLUE JAPANESE BISTRO 9326 Cedar Center Way, 7081500. This Fern Creek restaurant brings the “full-service” Japanese restaurant experience to the southeast part of Louisville Metro. Look for hibachi grill tables and a sushi bar, along with a traditional dining room and cocktail bar. $$ L D p
SAKURA BLUE 4600 Shelbyville Rd., 897-3600. Located in elegant, upscale quarters in a St. Matthews shopping center, Sakura Blue ranks among the city’s top sushi bars. $$ L D
SAMURAI 12905 Shelbyville Rd., 253-0036. Middletown gets some artistic sushi, as well as hibachi-grilled steak and seafood. Teppan-style (food cooked on an iron griddle) lunch and dinner entrees are a specialty. $$ L D p
SAPPORO JAPANESE GRILL & SUSHI 1706 Bardstown Rd., 479-5550. The remodeled Highlands location has an expanded kitchen, new sushi bar and new fixtures, giving trendy, glitzy Sapporo new bona fides as one of the city’s top spots for sushi and Japanese fare. $$$ L D p
SHOGUN JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE 9026 Taylorsville Rd., 499-5700. Shogun’s decor is attractive, and quality food and service make it a pleasant dining destination. It’s unthreatening enough to appeal to those who find exotic cuisine “challenging,” but good enough to satisfy just about anyone who craves a Japanese dinner or a bite of sushi. $$$ L D p
STAR SUSHI 3015 E 10th St., Jeffersonville IN, 725-8444. Flying comfortably under the radar in Jeffersonville, Star Sushi caters to a local clientele with freshness, flavor and a fair price point. Sashimi, nigiri and rolls galore are only the start; appetizers, dinner entrees and desserts provide noodle, fried rice and teriyaki options. $$ L D
SUMO ALL YOU CAN EAT 3105 S. Second St., 290-1532. Sumo wrestlers must eat a lot, hence made-to-order, all-youcan-eat Japanese cuisine: Sushi, sashimi, ramen, hibachi, teriyaki, fried rice, tempura and bubble tea. Pricing is according to customer age and time of day (lunch or dinner). $$ L D
SUSHI MASTER 9415 Norton Commons Blvd., 890-5157. This traditional Japanese restaurant offers sashimi, classic sushi rolls, noodle dishes such as udon and cold soba and entrees such as teriyaki chicken, and grilled fish. A few Korean dishes such as bulgogi are on offer too. $$ L D pf
TAKASHI JAPANESE RESTAURANT 6316 Bardstown Rd., 384-3098. “Takashi” is a Japanese name derived from the words for dutiful, prosper and ambition. The restaurant in Fern Creek offers sushi, ramen, poke bowls, bento boxes and hibachi (read: surf ‘n’ turf) dinner entrees of takashi steak, filet mignon or shrimp paired with scallops, calamari, lobster and other proteins. $$$ L D
TOGO SUSHI 700 Lyndon Ln., 883-0666. ToGo offers primarily drive-thru sushi-to-go, but it does have a five-seat bar and three two-top tables inside. Owner Chet Gurun also owns Samurai Sushi & Hibachi in Middletown and is also part owner of Oishii Sushi near Bowman Field. If sushi isn’t your thing, there are items like fried oysters, fried calamari and shrimp tempura, as well as some vegetarian options. $$ L D
TOKYO JAPANESE RESTAURANT 2415 Lime Kiln Ln., 3397171. It’s appealing, pleasant in atmosphere and friendly in service, and most important, this East End sushi bar serves excellent Japanese treats, prepared with care and flair from high-quality, impeccably fresh ingredients. $$ L D
TOMO JAPANESE RAMEN SUSHI 5023 Mud Ln., 290-4725. In southernmost Louisville, an expansive and enticing array of sushi, sashimi and ramen (check out the special sushi lunch
offering), along with appetizers, hibachi, fried rice and bobo tea. $$$ L D
TOMO JAPANESE RESTAURANT 4317 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 941-0200. This Japanese hibachi steak house offers a good show of knife skills and tableside grilling, as well as sushi. Patrons seem to admire the oversize sushi rolls, the salads with ginger dressing, and the grilled chicken and scallops. $$ L D p
TSUBAKI SUSHI & BAR 13823 English Villa Dr., 244-8896. A new addition to Jasmine, many people’s favorite Chinese restaurant in town. Look for both raw and cooked two-piece nigiri and three-piece Sashimi, a variety of vegetable rolls and deep fried rolls, and special rolls almost beyond counting. $$ L D p
WHITE BUDDHA 12907 Factory Ln., 742-9719. Hence the eternal question: Can a White Buddha really sling the Blue Grass Rolls? Find out at this Japanese-style steak, hibachi, and sushi emporium in the East End, boasting a huge menu that includes a “greatest hits” card of Asian appetizers, but non-alcoholic drinks only. $$$ L D
YAMATO JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE 345 New Albany Plaza, New Albany IN, 590-1380. A lot of Japanese food preparations are on the menu at this southern Indiana restaurant, located between State Street and Green Vallley Road. Offerings include: ramen bowls and bento boxes, yaki soba and sushi rolls, and steak, chicken or seafood hibachi grilled dishes. $$ L D
YI SUSHI OMAKASE 1331 Bardstown Rd., 384-0353. Knowing that the Japanese words omakase and okonomi are opposites, meaning respectively “I leave it up to you” and “preference, what one likes,” provides the necessary insight, so select a la carte from the menu of nigari, sashimi, maki, sushi rolls (plus raw bar), or get your band back together for the Itamae’s premium, personalized choice of featured and seasonal specialties with commentary. $$ L D pf
YUMMY BOWL 2060 Hurstbourne Pkwy., 290-0307, 943 E. Lewis and Clark Pkwy. , Clarksville IN., 812-725-0005. The emerging Yummy Bowl chain advises its patrons to “build your
own bowl and feast like a Mongol.” As such, targets of potential culinary invasion are combined into a celebration of “yummy” Asian fusion, which includes examples of Mongolian stir-fry, Japanese ramen and sushi, and Korean fried chicken. $$ L D p
FRESH OUT THE BOX 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market), 303-3322. This food truck serving Asian fusion street food now has a stand in the Logan Street Market too, serving well-crafted tacos, rice and noodle bowls and Korean dishes. $$ L D
FOOD LAB 2781 Jefferson Centre Way, Jeffersonville IN, 812725-0062. Fast-casual Korean eatery in Jeffersonville from the owners of Star Sushi, stressing healthy menu options and bubble tea. The bill of fare includes poke bowls, rice bowls, ramen, and smoothies. $$ L D
GOGI 1055 KOREAN BBQ 1055 Bardstown Rd., 747-4644. The venue is an old neighborhood theater, and the bill of fare is Korean, specifically a grill-your-own-table-side eatery with a full bar (soju, anyone?) The choices are many, among them galbi, bulgogi, pork belly, squid and jumuluk, as well as varied banchan (sides). $$$$ D p
KIM & BAB 3012 Charlestown Crossing Way, New Albany IN, 725-9844. This little Korean restaurant is getting rave notices from locals who love the mandu (dumplings), japchae (a noodle dish), galbi (short ribs) and dak-kangjung (fried marinated boneless chicken in a spicy sweet and sour sauce). More familiar things like bulgogi and fried rice too. $$ L D
KOREANA II 5009 Preston Hwy., 968-9686. One of the city’s few restaurants devoted entirely to authentic Korean fare, Koreana is worth a special trip for this ethnic cuisine that offers a hearty, spicy alternative to the more familiar Chinese. $$ L D p f
KPOT KOREAN BBQ AND HOT POT 1949 S Hurstbourne Pkwy., 398-5000. Franchise concept pairing Korean BBQ and Hot Pot, the latter an all-you-can-eat dining experience of cooking meats, seafood, vegetables, tofu and noodles right at your table in infinite combinations. There’s also a full bar and a “nightlife-like” atmosphere. $$$$ L D p
LEE’S KOREAN RESTAURANT 1941 Bishop Ln., 456-9714. A warm and welcoming ambiance belies the standard-issue office block exterior of a family-owned Korean culinary haven that opened in the ‘70s. Expect traditional banchan, bibimbap and bulgogi, and traditionally warm hospitality. $$ L D
MIKI’S KOREAN RESTAURANT AND KARAOKE BAR 2230 Frankfort Ave., 708-1104. Karaoke means “hollow orchestra” in Japanese, but owner Mikyong “Miki” Miller’s formula is fully orchestrated: simple and fast Korean food (fried rice, ramen, Korean-in-a-cup), a complete bar, and an exhaustively equipped karaoke stage. $$ D pf
OHCHAE, KOREAN FUSION CUISINE 216 Pearl St., New Albany IN, 812-704-3950. Working from the Mesa storefront, OhChae combines traditional Korean dishes like kimchi soup, bibimbap, and galbi (marinated short ribs) with American-influenced fusion items, including bulgogi subs, a Korean burger, and gamja fries. $$ Br L D
RICE BOWL 3114 Grant Line Rd., New Albany IN, 590-6786. Rice Bowl is another addition to the restaurant row area near the IUS campus. It serves Korean and Asian dishes. You will find clay pot bibimbap, chicken curry rice, several varieties of ramen. $$ L D
SARANG 1908 Eastern Pkwy., 709-4282. The store on the Eastern Parkway side of the Schuster Building most recently was a Ce Fiori yogurt shop, but it now serves Korean food such as bibimbap, mandoo, ramen and dak-kangjung. Bubble tea is back, too. $ L D
TOP 1 KOREAN BBQ & HOTPOT 1801 Bardstown Rd., 2089659. In Korea, jeongol (hot pot) is the practice of cooking meat, vegetables and seasonings in a communal pot atop one’s table, not unlike an Asian fondue. Top 1’s hot pots can be found boiling at the Highlands corner fabled for its predecessors The Bard’s Town, Judge Roy Bean’s and The Fat Cat Deli & Pub. $$$ D p
Katherine “Chef Kat” Aphaivongs presides over Bangkok-style Thai cuisine (she was raised there) with a few American touches. The range embraces Pad Thai, Tom Yum Goong, Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) and the editor’s favorite, Pad Kra Prao (spicy basil). In 2025, Chef Kat unveiled The Bakery Inside, a counter with a changing selection of cakes, cookies, pastries and bread (and earlier morning business hours than the restaurant). $$$ B D pf
AMAZING THAI 12336 Shelbyville Rd., 384-1914. Authentic Thai cuisine invades Middletown, as attuned to five levels of Thai spicy heat. You’ll enjoy all the Thai favorites, emphasizing a profusion of curries (including pumpkin and massaman) and noodle dishes, like the seldom-seen Thai Boat Noodles. Another standout is the Tom Kha soup. $$$ L D
BAHN THAI 8125 Bardstown Rd., 231-1992, 2226 Holiday Manor Center, 365-2776. “Bahn” means “home” in Thai, and the Klomklao family business has two domiciles: Bahn Thai in Fern Creek (the original), and of more recent vintage, Bahn Thai & M at Holiday Manor Center, succeeding the beloved but departed Thai Café. Both locations prepare the gamut of hearty, flavorful Thai soups, salads, noodles, rice dishes and curries. $$ L D p f
MAI’S THAI RESTAURANT 1411 E. Tenth St., Jefferson-ville IN, 282-0198. With a broad range of well-prepared and authentic Thai dishes, Mai’s is the eatery to beat among the metro area’s Thai restaurants. For both authenticity and quality, it’s right up there with the top Thai places in New York, San Francisco and Seattle. $ L D
SIMPLY THAI 323 Wallace Ave., 899-9670, 12003 Shelbyville Rd, 690-8344. Owner Mahn Saing and his wife, a classically trained Thai chef, are pleasing diners in St. Matthews and Middletown. Their menu of traditional Thai dishes, wellmade sushi and a few upscale Thai-style “fusion” dinner items use many ingredients from their small home garden. $$ L D f
TAKE THAI 12908 Factory Ln., 365-3791. Thai native, chef and owner Ann Cook’s love letter to Thai cuisine “rocks the wok” in the East End. Favorites include Som Tum, Thai papaya salad (seasonal) and Pad Ka Paow (holy basil stir fry), but expect a definitive “what’s what” of Thai cooking, with curries, noodles, salads and soups. $$ L D
THAI NOODLES 5800 Preston Hwy., 961-9018. The menu covers Thai standards like pad Thai and curries, with some interesting variations, including several duck items, such as Bangkok duck and pineapple curry duck. Noodle dishes range from flat and thin egg noodle to bean thread and rice noodle. $ L D
TIME 4 THAI 2206 Frankfort Ave., 996-7899. The elegantly redone interior is matched by some unusually elegant Thai dishes, such as the volcano Cornish hen, a whole bird, marinated with Thai herbs and spicy chili sauce, which is flambéed at the table. All dishes are cooked to order, so choose your spice level. $$ L D p
YUMMI THAI RESTAURANT 4510 Charlestown Rd., 812-9482012. A northside New Albany Thai eatery previously known as Yum Mi; ownership changed in 2025, but the concise menu with popular high points of Thai cuisine remains much as before, and when you’re the only Thai restaurant in New Albany, Pad Thai continuity genuinely matters. $$ L D
DISTRICT 6 3930 Shelbyville Rd., 873-5561. Named after the veteran restaurant owners’, the Thai family’s, native district in Saigon, District 6 features traditional Vietnamese cuisine based on their mother Nga’s recipes, updated with modern influences. Look for items like the bone-in short rib pho, spicy fried hot wings, beef lettuce wraps, red curry chicken and Vietnamese spicy street corn, as well as noodle bowls — and whole crispy fried fish. $$ L D p
EATZ VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT 2244 Frankfort Ave., 7854550. This Vietnamese spot has moved from Germantown into larger quarters at the former Fork & Barrel on Frankfort Avenue. You’ll still find Pho and Bahn mi sandwiches, of course, but also other noodle dishes, a bento box and crispy tofu in chili sauce. $$$$ L D pf
LEMONGRASS RESTAURANT 2956 Richland Ave., 6147448. Lemongrass Café offers an appealing blend of Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese fare in a simple setting that transcends an obviously low budget with style and grace. $ L D
MOONDOG 1019 E. Main St., 384-6822 The former Pho Ba Luu in Butchertown was refashioned into MoonDog, which in Vietnam would be an example of quán nhậu, or a place for eating and drinking. The kitchen is open late, with dishes like phở, bánh mì and chicken wings. The bar serves beer, wine, and Vietnamese-inspired cocktails. $$ L D pf
NAMNAM CAFÉ 318 Wallace Ave., 891-8859. This small St. Matthews Vietnamese restaurant has gained many enthusiastic fans who flock there for the pho, the banh mi and other authentic Vietnamese dishes. $ L D f
PHO CAFÉ 1704 Barstown Rd., 916-2129. Local restaurant veteran Tuan Phan, who worked at Asiatique for 18 years along with a stint at Dish on Market, is serving Vietnamese-style home cooking. There is pho, of course, the signature noodle soup, as well as other noodle and rice dishes, banh mi sandwiches and a small selection of stir-fries. $$ L D
PHO PHI 4600 Shelbyville Rd., 290-3019. A Vietnamese restaurant joins the choices in Shelbyville Road Plaza, setting up shop in the former Home Run Burgers site. Phos, of course, and Bahn mis, and rich Vietnamese coffee. $$ L D
VIETNAM KITCHEN 5339 Mitscher Ave., 363-5154. This little South End storefront is well worth seeking out. The chef goes beyond the ordinary, preparing authentic Vietnamese dishes of unusual subtlety and flavor. We have yet to be disappointed with the quality of the food or service. $ L D
VINBUN VIETNAMESE BISTRO 12422 Shelbyville Rd., 7081470. Middletown now has access to the delights of Vietnamese cooking. Run by husband and wife team Vinh Nguyen and Dieu Dinh — both Vietnamese immigrants. The restaurant serves a variety of authentic Vietnamese noodle dishes, Banh mi sandwiches, salads and appetizers. This spot has already gained a loyal following for its authenticity and quality. $$ L D
BOUDREAUX’S CAJUN COOKING 11816 Shelbyville Rd. Inside the tiny Boudreaux's New Orleans Style Sno-Balls shack in Middletown, you can now find take-out only New Orleans style spicy gumbo (lunch only). Eat on the patio, or take home to reheat for supper. $ L f
ALL THAI’D UP 4812 Brownsboro Center, 653-7437. In a space old-timers inevitably will recall as the departed Gasthaus,
ANNIE CAFE 308 W. Woodlawn Ave., 363-4847. Annie Cafe ranks not just as one of the better Vietnamese restaurants, but one the city’s best of any variety, particularly when value and price are taken into account. Authentic Vietnamese food is made with care and served with pride. $ L D
CAFÉ THUY VAN 5600 National Turnpike, 366-6959. A bit off the beaten track, this South End spot is true, authentic Vietnamese. Friendly service overcomes any language barrier, and prices are hard to beat. Don’t miss the banh mi, traditional Vietnamese sandwiches. $ L D
CHIK'N & MI 1765 Mellwood Ave., 890-5731. A brief try at two locations has resulted in consolidation at the former Bistro 1860 location, which is serving the original Asian-inspired comfort foods — Laotian spiced fried chicken, hearty ramen noodle soups and an extensive selection of sake, craft beer and cocktails. $$ Br D p
FAIDODOS 7815 Hwy. 311 Sellersburg IN, 812-748-9120. An eclectic New Orleans-influenced menu markedly separates this bar/restaurant from the Southern Indiana “burgers and fries” norm, with items ranging from gumbo to spanakopita, with pepperoni pizza eggrolls and a Philly cheesesteak. $$$ D
J. GUMBO’S 1616 Grinstead Dr., 873-5006, 11604 Main St., 408-9104. Former jockey Billy Fox founded this chain of quick-service Cajun and Creole restaurants, using recipes from his grandmother’s kitchen in Grand Coteau, Louisiana to yield hearty and affordable bumblebee stew, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and étouffée – not to omit drunken chicken, a longtime customer favorite since the very start. $$ L D f
MURRAY’S CREOLE PUB 1576 Bardstown Rd., 653-7120. James Beard finalist Lawrence Weeks, formerly of Enso and North of Bourbon, honors his family heritage with a Creole concept at a familiar Deer Park address (for many years the pioneering brewpub Cumberland Brews). Creole cuisine is a cosmopolitan amalgam of African, Native American, French and Spanish influences characteristic of Louisiana. $$$ L D p f
SELENA’S AT WILLOW LAKE TAVERN 10609 LaGrange Rd., 245-9004. This Cajun/Creole place in a renovated Anchorage roadhouse continues to find fans. Shrimp or fish with Manale sauce is a tribute to Pascal Manale’s in New Orleans. $$ Br L D pf
CARIBBEAN CAFÉ 317 W. Woodlawn Ave., 434-7711. The diverse Woodlawn neighborhood welcomes the area’s first Haitian restaurant. The boldly-painted exterior is decorated with cool Haitian folk art; the menu offers generous portions of jerk chicken, fried red snapper, goat, and hearty sides of rice, beans and plantains. $ L D
EDEN & KISSI 3912 Bardstown Rd., 384-9102. Another addition to the growing ethnic food choices in Buechel, this AfroCaribbean restaurant serves several kinds of jerk chicken, chicken curry, and peri-peri wings. Daily specials include Ivory Coast style jollof rice, and a shrimp burger. $$ L D
ELLIMENT RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE 707 S. Third St., 290-3770. Owner Janice Clarke brings a menu of traditional Jamaican favorites to downtown Louisville, including “reggae” nachos and jerk chicken dishes; weekend seafood specials; soups and salad; and the requisite curried goat. A full bar offers seldom-seen sorrel, which is a Jamaican spiced punch. $$ Br L D p
HAVANA RUMBA 12003 Shelbyville Rd., 244-5375. A true taste of Old Havana can be found at this consistently busy Cuban restaurant. Bountiful servings of Cuban fare as good as any in Key West or Miami, not to mention a hopping mojito bar, have earned Havana Rumba a place on our short list of local favorites. $$ L D pf
HAVANA RUMBA & TAPAS BAR 2210 Bardstown Rd., 7494600. The Havana Rumba family brings Cuban food to the Douglass Loop, and adds a large selection of Spanish tapas as well. Fans have also spoken reverently of the mojitos and other cocktails in the stylish bar. $ L D pf
ISLAND BREEZE JAMAICAN & AMERICAN BBQ 1991 Brownsboro Rd., 290-1104. Kingston native Shyamala Mothersill’s Jamaican specialties include jerk chicken, oxtails, beef patties and curried goat. On the soul food side of the menu, barbecued ribs and fried chicken are standouts. And all at very affordable prices. $$ L D
JAMAICAN JERK CENTER 2220 Hikes Ln., 963-5799. Jamaica natives Ian and Paulene Coram began by serving tastes of home from a food truck before establishing this storefront in multicultural Buechel. Jerk chicken, oxtails and curries (chicken and goat) are among their specialties of the house. $$ L D
LA BODEGUITA DE MIMA 725 E. Market St., 690-5016. Adjacent to the AC Hotel in NuLu, this Cuban restaurant is the latest restaurant concept from Fernando Martinez and his Olé Restaurant group. Cigar lounge, rum bar, 1950s Havana décor and a menu of classics from family recipes, like Cuban tamal con Puerco, pan con bistec and some delectable desserts. $$ D pf
LA PALMA CUBAN RESTAURANT AND BAKERY 5614 Preston Hwy., 919-7074. Among the range of Latin restaurants along Preston Hwy, this unassuming place has garnered many fans, for the satisfying Cuban food in the café, as well as for its baked goods. $ B L D
MI SUEÑO 3425 Bardstown Rd., 709-4526. This honest little bodega and hot table restaurant serving Latin groceries and a variety of Cuban-centric Latin dishes was, as the name translates, the owner’s dream. $ B L D
MOJITO IN HAVANA 3939 Shelbyville Rd., 897-1959. Longtime Louisville favorite Havana Rumba has resurfaced with a new identity in the location previously occupied by Waylon’s Food & Firewater. The roomier location of this Cuban favorite offers diners a two-tier menu that brings together the best selections from both Mojitos Tapas Restaurant and Havana Rumba. Look for some new offerings, as well, including shrimp croquettes and a selection of flatbreads. $$ B Br L D pf
OPEN CARIBBEAN KITCHEN 4735 Poplar Lever Rd., 6011332. Owner/Chef Ernest Pierre is originally from Haiti, but his interpretation of “open” implies a mélange of Caribbean influences crossing national boundaries. The ingredient list for
Pierre’s popular Rasta Pasta’s (penne pasta, jerk chicken, sausage, shrimp, onions, peppers and homemade sauce) hints at the many flavor combinations. $$ L D
SWEET HAVANA 5510 Fern Valley Rd., 219-6663. This Cuban spot offers sweets and savories: tres leches cake, coquitos (coconut-caramel rolls) and flan; sandwiches or meat and fish combos (ropa vieja, albondigas, pechuga de pollo). $$ L D
BISTRO LE RELAIS 2817 Taylorsville Rd. (Bowman Field), 451-9020. This revered art deco spot makes stylish use of the historic 1920s Bowman Field airport building to present elegant modern French cuisine. In 2024 longtime owner Anthony Dike sold the bistro to close friend Amy Zinner; there will be few obvious changes, and Dike remains on board to manage a perennially superb wine list. $$$$ D pf
BRASSERIE PROVENCE 150 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 8833153. This Provençal-style brasserie serves classical and Southern French specialties, the comfort food enjoyed by owner Guy Genoud in his childhood home of Cannes, France. Dine like the French do on fish and seafood, a variety of meat and fowl, a daily "plat du jour", French cheese and charcuterie, specialty cocktails, draft beer and a large selection of French wine. $$$ L D pf
BYRDIE’S 730 E. Market St. (Hotel Genevieve), 676-7199. The husband-and-wife team of Jenner Tomaska and Katrina Bravo, originators of Michelin-starred Esme in Chicago, brings Southern-influenced French cuisine to the Hotel Genevieve in NuLu. $$$$ L D p
M. PEPPERS 1306 Bardstown Rd., 963-5091. French-style bistro at The Hotel Bellwether in Tyler Park, from the creators of Bar Vetti, intended as a tribute to French cuisine and an accessible neighborhood hangout – like back in Bordeaux. Chef Andrew McCabe is just the man for this concise menu of Gallic essentials like salade niçoise, a roasted half chicken, and the house burger drowned in au poivre, garlic and sherry aioli. But sacre bleu, the beer list needs an ambulance. $$$$ L D pf
IRISH ROVER 2319 Frankfort Ave., 899-3544. Owner Michael Reidy is the Irish rover, having come to the U.S. from County Clare in 1984. His saloon is as smooth as Guinness, as warm as fish and chips, as genuine as Scotch eggs. Serving classic Irish fare. $ Br L D pf
MOLLY MALONE’S 933 Baxter Ave., 473-1222. Molly Malone’s, as authentically Irish as the Wearin’ o’ the Green, has anchored the dining scene in the Lower Highlands for many years. You’ll find fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage, bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie, along with Irish interpretations of American bar food like wings and pretzels and beer cheese.$$ L D pf
MORE SHENANIGAN’S 4521 Bardstown Rd., 493-3585. $ L D pf
O’SHEA’S TRADITIONAL IRISH PUB 956 Baxter Ave., 5897373. The O’Shea family has been operating an Irish pub since the early 1900s. Today they have one of the most popular pubs on the entire Bardstown-Baxter corridor. Diners of all ages like its burgers, flat breads, sandwiches and fish and chips. When music fills the rooms, it’s great to be Irish, even if you’re not. $$ L D pf
PATRICK O’SHEA’S 123 W. Main St., 708-2488. This downtown Irish bar was one of the first to open in the Whiskey Row complex. Crowds have been elbowing in for upscale Irish-inflected bar food and plenty of sports talk. $$ L D pf
SHENANIGAN’S IRISH GRILL 1611 Norris Pl., 454-3919. Not just a neighborhood tavern (although it’s a fine neighborhood tavern), Irish-accented Shenanigan’s goes an extra step with an estimable selection of memorable burgers. $ L D pf
AL FORNO ITALIAN RESTAURANT 8610 Dixie Hwy., 6537609. An option for Italian cuisine in Valley Station, with specialties ranging from saltimbocca to steak marsala, alongside a large selection of seafood dishes in addition to a long list of pizzas and pizzeria-style sandwiches. $$ L D
BAR VETTI 727 E. Market St., 883-3331. The crew behind Feast BBQ and Royals Hot Chicken scored another win when bar Vetti, an upscale casual Italian eatery, opened in the 800 Building. Now moved to a larger space in the AC Hotel in NuLu, bar Vetti continues to draw fans with the smashed meatball burger, the popular eggplant Parmesan sandwich, pastas and pizza. $$$$ L D pf
BELLA ROMA AUTHENTIC ITALIAN RESTAURANT 134 E. Market St., New Albany IN, 725-9495. Bella Roma adds classic Italian-American choices in a pleasant environment in the midst of New Albany’s growing restaurant row. $$$ L D f
BELLISSIMO ITALIAN RESTAURANT 2217 Steier Ln., 6902040. In culinary terms, Bellissimo (“very beautiful”) is where Abbas Jamshidi, a native of Iran who learned to cook from Agostino Gabriele at Vincenzo’s, offer Italian favorites (alfredo and ravioli) alongside seldom seen Afghan dishes like mantu and bolani. $$ L D
BENFINITA MODERN ITALIAN 446 S. Fourth St., 290-0423. Situated at Fourth Street Live! where Bourbon Raw once lived, this concept comes from the same people who brought you Brazeiros Churrascaria Brazilian Steakhouse, promising traditional Italian cuisine with “modern twists” in a comfortable, contemporary setting. $$$$ D p
BLACK OLIVE ITALIAN RESTAURANT / EL NOPAL 2745 Crittenden Dr., 690-2014. Sharing space with the Mexicanflavored El Nopal at the former Cardinal Hall of Fame, Black Olive’s menu offers varied takes on traditional Italian-American comfort food—ravioli, parmigiana, alfredo, pesto—in addition to a more substantive collection of seafood dishes and steaks. $$ L D p
BUCA DI BEPPO 2051 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 493-2426. Buca di Beppo’s recipe has all the necessary ingredients: huge portions of excellent food served with flair and the Buca scene is fun, a conscious parody of the exuberant decor of family Italian-American restaurants of the 1950s. $$ L D p
CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL 617 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 412-2218. Not your ordinary suburban shopping-center franchise eatery. This place dramatically exceeds expectations. From warmed bread dishes with quality olive oil to first-rate Italian-American fare at reasonable prices. $$$ L D pf CIAO 1201 Payne St., 690-3532. Established Irish Hill favorite presenting an array of Italian culinary options: Crab Arancini, Calamari Fritti and Mussels al Vino for starters; Chicken Marsala, Fusilli al Pesto Siciliano and Linguine alla Vongole among the traditional main courses; along with spaghetti, meatballs, lasagna and pizza. In 2024 Emil “Perso” David acquired Ciao, retaining these favorites and adding Saturday & Sunday brunch (10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) $$ Br D pf
GRAPPA CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN 11300 Westport Rd., 742-2926. Promising secret recipes from grandmother’s files, and delivering assorted antipasti, salads, calzones, pizzas, a dozen pastas and a wide range of specialties that includes meat, vegetarian and seafood entrees. Dough, sauces and dressings are made in-house. $$ L D pf
GRASSA GRAMMA 2210 Holiday Manor Ctr., 333-9595. Kevin Grangier’s newest dining idea is his take on familiar Italian food, just like your robust Italian grandmother made, only better. There’s lasagne, of course, and spaghetti and meatballs, ravioli and gnocchi and several other pastas, but prime beef filet with Gorgonzola sauce, veal scallopini, whole roasted branzino, and pizza, too. $$$$ Br L D p
MARTINI ITALIAN BISTRO 4021 Summit Plaza Dr. 394-9797. Now locally owned, Martini’s continues to serve hearty, wellfashioned Italian entrées, pastas and pizzas, a comfortable approximation of a Tuscan trattoria. An open kitchen with wood-fired oven gives a peek at the culinary goings-on. $$$ Br L D pf
ADRIENNE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 129 W. Court Ave., Jeffersonville IN, 282-2665. A part of the dining renaissance on the sunny side of Louisville, Adrienne’s has been pleasing Indiana diners with home-style Italian dishes. The owners also operate Adrienne’s Bakery in Jeffersonville. $$ L D
OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY 235 W. Market St., 581-1070. One of the original ventures of this national firm. Bright and noisy, it offers well-made if basic Italian family fare and dishes it out for surprisingly low prices. $$ L D p
1230 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 218-8304. The top property of the Darden chain, Olive Garden now operates more than 500 properties and bills itself as the leading Italian restaurant in the casual dining industry. Hearty pastas of all shapes and sauces, appetizers and combo platters all carry the Italian theme. $$ L D p
PASTA GARAGE 552 E. Market St., 212-6454. A Lexington KYbased maker of pasta for groceries, which also operates its own on-premises eateries, such as at this one in Phoenix-Lu. Choose from appetizers, salads, “chef’s picks” (like baked ravioli and chicken piccata), and an option for diners to build their own pasta plates. $$$ L D
PORCINI 2730 Frankfort Ave., 894-8686. This anchor trattoria of the Crescent Hill dining scene has been serving up risotto, ossobuco and bistecca since 1992. Start with fried artichokes, a Roman specialty. Opt for the grilled Romaine salad, then the gnocchi with spicy sausage. The grilled veal chop is a fine choice, and finish with tiramisu. $$$ L D pf
ROC RESTAURANT 1327 Bardstown Rd., 459-7878. New York City chef/restaurateur Rocco Cadolini has transformed a Highlands building into an elegant upscale restaurant, with a handsome pergola in the front garden. The first floor has a large bar and casual dining, and upstairs sees a more formal white tablecloth space with several private dining rooms. Here you will find authentic Italian food, served with flair. Now open for lunch and the “disco brunches” are becoming legendary. $$$ D pf
SARINO 1030 Goss Ave., 822-3777. Owners and brothers, Carmelo and Michael Gabriele, the next generation of the noted Gabriele family (owners of the highly revered Vincenzo’s), have taken over the short-lived Goss Ave. Pub space for their casual, authentic Italian restaurant that emphasizes fresh pasta and Neapolitan pizza, something Germantown had been lacking. The menu also features Sicilian street fare, Italian cheeses paired with charcuterie, and traditional entrees. $$ D p
SILVIO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 104 Fairfax Ave., 883-6369. Owned by one of the Melillo family, fondly remembered for their NuLu retaurant before NuLu became popular, this St. Matthews spot evokes the classic New Jersey style Italian restaurants of the “Big Night” era: baked pasta dishes, cheesestuffed rice balls, pasta fagiole, and eggplant Parmesan. $$ L D p
SPAGHETTI JUNCTION 4510 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 944-5400. Baked pasta dishes, subs, salads and appetizers are prepared while you wait. $ L D
THE BLACK ITALIAN 2009 Highland Ave., 690-8914. Unpretentious Italian home-cooking is the style at this Highlands spot. Choose from six pasta dishes, grilled meatballs and chicken wings, and sub sandwiches. $$$ L D
TOWN 415 Spring St., Jeffersonville IN, 285-1777. The former Southern Indiana branch of the Come Back Inn has a new identity and a menu still focused on pasta dishes and pizzas with several new salads, sandwiches and a revamped appetizer selection. Other entrees include items like chicken piccata and Greek lamb pasta. $$ L D p
TUSCANY ITALIAN RESTAURANT 165 Outer Loop, 3630308, 1346 River Rd., 294-5808. Slowly expanding from its founding South End base, this concept boasts a Mexican chef who demonstrates an expert’s hand with hearty, red-sauced Italian-American fare at a price that’s right. $$ L D p
VOLARE 2300 Frankfort Ave., 894-4446. Chef and co-owner Josh Moore has revised his menu after an inspirational tour of Italy, and brings in fantastic whole fish for seafood specials on Fridays. His pasta extruder allows him to do things like squid ink fettuccine. Volare continues to be a top spot for suave Italian dining. Moore supplies his kitchen with vegetables he raises himself on his Taylorsville farm. $$$ D pf
CURED RESTAURANT & SALUMERIA 637 E. Main St., 6537411. Cuban immigrant Alvio Lapinet’s traditionally preserved ham, soppressata, guanciale, chorizo and prosciutto, accompanied by diverse cheeses and all the embellishments of the contemporary charcuterie, with crafty cocktails and wine to accompany. $$ B L D p
MOJITO TAPAS RESTAURANT 2231 Holiday Manor Center, 425-0949. An offshoot of the popular St. Matthews Cuban restaurant Havana Rumba, Mojito quickly established its own identity as the East End spot for Spanish-inspired small plates with a global taste profile. Always crowded on weekends; no reservations, but call ahead to get high on the waiting list. $$ L D pf
APNA CAFÉ 11322 Maple Brook Dr., 690-7555. This Indian café attached to the neighboring grocery offers a colorful and aromatic assortment of curries and more. $$ L D
BOMBAY GRILL 216 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 425-8892. With its broad array of Indian regional specialties including the requisite lunch buffet, this spot in The Forum on Hurstbourne is winning praise for its aromatic flavors and bountiful portions. $$ L D f
CHAMLING KITCHEN & BAR 2249 Hikes Ln., 451-2500. Another entrepreneurial immigrant family has opened Louisvillians’ taste buds to more ethnic possibilities. In the former Empress of China space, the Rai family serves standard Chinese hot table dishes, but also adds Nepalese and Indian fare.
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CLAY OVEN INDIAN RESTAURANT 12567 Shelbyville Rd., 254-4363. Northern Indian cuisine with a focus on the clay oven specialties of the region, including some Nepalese dishes, like goat curry and chicken mo-mo (a kind of chicken and dumplings dish). Also selections of lamb dishes and, of course, a large vegetarian menu. $$ L D
DAKSHIN SOUTH INDIAN RESTAURANT 4742 Bardstown Rd., 491-7412. This Indian restaurant has won many fans with its aromatic and spicy Southern Indian fare to the Buechel-Fern Creek neighborhood in the Eastland Shopping Center. $$ B L D p
EGGHOLIC 1947 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 690-2116. This small Chicago chain boasts that its dishes are just like those found on Indian lahris (street carts). The menu offers egg dishes prepared in various styles of Indian cuisine, as well as sandwiches, rice dishes and curries. $$ B Br L D p
HURRY FOR CURRY 1582 Bardstown Rd., 365-1740 Deer Park urban curry house vending Indian, Nepali and Tibetan dishes with a stated mantra of being “a neighborhood spot for global taste.” We couldn’t agree more, and those keema noodles are calling the list-keeper’s name. $$ L D p
HYDERABAD HOUSE LOUISVILLE 12412 Shelbyville Rd., 405-8788. The first of this international chain of Indian restaurants to arrive in Louisville, this Middletown restaurant boasts that its Indian food is more authentic than other restaurants, with over 200 dishes on its menu, including several biryanis, curries, masalas and naan. $$ L D p
KASHMIR INDIAN RESTAURANT 1277 Bardstown Rd., 4738765. One of the city’s most popular Indian restaurants, Kashmir is casual, neither posh nor expensive, and it produces an extensive menu of seemingly authentic Indian fare. $$ L D f
KATHMANDU KITCHEN AND BAR 3825 Bardstown Rd., 202-1481. Named for the capital city of Nepal, this crisp, modern place in Buechel serves Nepalese food (a sort-of fusion of Chinese and Indian cuisines). Expect dishes such as pakoras, biruanis and even chow mein, but also Nepali items such as pork sakuwo (spiced pork chunks cooked on skewers), fried mo-mo (a kind of dumpling with dipping sauce) and khasikomaasu ra bhata, an aromatic stew with curried accents. $$ L D pf
biryani chicken and mutton sukka (a dry curry); and “north to south” street food: Mumbai bhel chaat (spicy puffed rice and chutney); Punugulu, (deep-fried rice and urad dal balls; and guntur mirchi bajji (a mild pepper popper). Also a huge selection of vegetable-based appetizers. $$ L D
MOMO HOUSE & BAR 3952 Bardstown Rd., 398-5298. An Indian-Nepalese restaurant in Buechel with a small, predominantly Indian menu (butter chicken, mutton curry), complemented by Nepalese dishes: sukuti (dried pork), momo (dumplings) and thukpa (noodle soup). $$$ L D
MOM’S KITCHEN 1511 Bardstown Rd., 408-455-4935. It seems the owners of Jimmy’s Corner Market brought mom to Bonnycastle to expand the reach of her popular Indian cuisine, while also retaining some of the recipes of their predecessors, Koko + Rae Caribbean Kitchen. The result is a tasty multi-cultural mélange. $$$ L D f
SANKALP LOUISVILLE 9008 Taylorsville Rd., 690-8355. The Guinness Book of World Records credits a Sankalp franchise somewhere (the chain is headquartered in India) for creating the longest dosa (a type of crepe) in the world. The menu is also pretty long, with dozens of dishes, including uthappa, rava, idli, chaat and more than 35 different curries. $$ L D
SHALIMAR INDIAN RESTAURANT 1850 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 493-8899. Modern and sleek in appearance, modest in price, this restaurant has become the patriarch of local Indian restaurants. With a substantial lunch buffet and a full range of dinner items, it has built a loyal clientele. $$ L D
SHREEJI INDIAN VEGETARIAN STREET FOOD 1986 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 890-4000. The extensive, completely vegetarian menu of this East End restaurant looks to the street food of India for dishes not often seen here: a variety of chaats, masala pav, hakka, dosa and even an aloo mutter sandwich, filled with a blend of potato, peas and a balance of savory spices. $$ L D
TAJ PALACE 2929 Goose Creek Rd., 423-9692. Focused on Northern Indian cuisine, the menu offers a wide range of chicken, lamb, seafood and vegetarian dishes. Spiciness can be decided by the customer. Lunch buffet and dinner menu. $$ L D f
TANDOORI FUSION 4600 Chamberlain Ln., 255-2590. Owner Purna Veer offers authentic Indian cuisine with a locallysourced flair in the East End (tandoori, biryanis and seldomseen dumplings called Karvepaku Manchurian), using Indian vegetables grown on his Oldham County farm; the restaurant’s chicken, goat and lamb are certified Halal. $$ B L D pf
TANDOORI WINGS 5628 Bardstown Rd., 963-5866. Chef Teknath Niraula, a native of Nepal, brings more than tandooriroasted chicken wings to a former Beef O’Brady’s in Fern Creek (they’re top-selling for good reason); there’s also a full menu of Indian dishes both familiar (korma, tikka masala) and obscure like xacutti (Goa-style curry), plus Tibetan thukpa (noodle soup). $$ L D
TIKKA HOUSE 3930 Chenoweth Sq., 749-4535. Tikka House has garnered positive notice for both its lunch buffet and a la carte dinner service. Diners have praised dishes such as lamb masala with roasted coconut, Tandoori wings, fish pakora, paneer chili, several daal preparations and saag paneer. $$ L D pf
TOGO INDIA 4109 Bardstown Rd., 749-5237. Boasting “curry in a hurry,” the emphasis at this Indian-Nepalese eatery in Buechel is carryout (hence “to go,” and not Togo, a West African nation). Nepalese dishes include jhol momo (dumplings) and thukpa (noodle soup), and a range of Indian curries can be had, in a hurry, of course. $$ L D
BARCELONA BISTRO BAR 10415 Taylorsville Rd., 614-6055, 750 E. Jefferson St. (Mashup Food Hall). Jeffersontown’s atmospheric Spanish restaurant provides a rare Louisville-area glimpse into the Iberian culinary ethos, with characteristic dishes like Catalan-style spinach, lamb stew, Serrano ham croquettes, albondigas (pork meatballs) and octopus on boiled potatoes, among other items. Now with a-grag-and-go location in Mashup Food Hall. $$$ Br D p
KENTUCKY CURRY HOUSE 3927 Bardstown Rd., 491-3152. Indian-Nepalese restaurant in multinational Buechel, with a predominantly Indian menu (biryani, vindaloo, samosa) and a small sub-selection of Nepalese dishes like momo (dumplings) and chow mein. $$$ L D
LITTLE INDIA RESTAURANT 1915 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 4348930. The favorites are here, but this Jeffersontown eatery offers lesser-seen Indian dishes: entrees like gongura (sorrel)
AL SULTAN MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 8129 Bardstown Rd., 630-3334. Located in the Glenmary Shopping Center, this Middle-Eastern restaurant offers the classics — shwarma and kofta, tabbouleh. $$ L D f
CASPIAN GRILL PERSIAN BISTRO 2716 Frankfort Ave., 290-6050. Middle Eastern food of an above-average quality. Kabobs and hummus, of course, but also shirazi salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and onions in a lemony dressing, and chicken stew with pomegranate and walnuts. $ L D
CHARCOAL 2805 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 749-8888. Chicken cooked over charcoal and served with garlic sauce is just one
of the draws at this new Mediterranean restaurant. The menu also lists classics like falafel, chicken shawarma, hummus, baba ganoush, tahini salad — and baklava cheesecake. $$ L D f
EAT A PITA 2286 Bardstown Rd., 473-7482. Enjoy Mediterranean-Middle Eastern favorites, as well as the addition of a few “American” sandwiches — on fresh pita, of course. $ L D
FALAFEL OASIS 226 W. Broadway, 742-2030. The owner of Superior Market and Deli a few doors away has also opened this Middle Eastern restaurant, serving gyros, falafel, and other regional fare. $ L D
GRAPE LEAF 2217 Frankfort Ave., 897-1774. For those in the know, the Grape Leaf has long been a destination spot, well above the generic Middle Eastern eatery nich in both ambiance and quality of food. Prices remain affordable; the food and mood justify a special trip. $$ L D f
JERUSALEM KITCHEN 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market), 529-0633. Since the early 2000s and Sami Barghouthi’s arrival in Louisville, his various eateries have always taken “Jerusalem” as identifier, and his most recent iteration in Logan Street Market (“not fast food, but food fast”) happily follows suit. Appropriately, Levantine classics are the focus: shawarma, hummus, gyros, fattoush, and a half-dozen vegan entrees. $$ L D p f
KEBAB HOUSE 969 Baxter Ave., 883-0074. Area aficionados of Middle Eastern cuisine find themselves flashing back to the late, lamented Falafel House while devouring a variety of kebabs, alongside shawarma, gyros, tabbouleh, tahini and baklava. $$ L D f
LITTLE GREEK FRESH GRILL 4600 Shelbyville Rd., 6908348. This Arkansas-based chain is now serving dolmades and spanikopita, pita sandwiches and wraps, a variety of skewers and mousaka and pastitsio. $$ L D p
MAIRA MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 4000 Dutchmans Ln., 891-0388. Originally an offshoot of the popular Safier, Maira has relocated from the University of Louisville to St. Matthews, retaining its menu of popular Middle Eastern dishes: shawarma, kebab, falafel, hummus, lentil soup, baklava and more. $$ L D
MASALA GRILL 528 S. Fifth St., 562-0202. $ L
MEESHMEESH MEDITERRANEAN 636 E. Market St., 5895224. Taken from the Hebrew word for apricot, MeeshMeesh offers locally sourced menu items derived from the Eastern Mediterranean culinary traditions of Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria, as synthesized by Chef Noam Bilitzer, a native of Israel. $$$$ D pf
MIRAGE MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT 4100 Preston Hwy., 363-7788. Spanning the gamut of Middle Eastern, North African, Turkish and Greek cuisine (dare we say “comfort food”?), the daily offerings are a delightful kaleidoscope of kabobs, gyros, schwarma, hummus, falafel and much more. $$ L D f
PETRA MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT 37 Bank St., New Albany IN, 489-7969. The Sajaja family’s business has been a staple of downtown New Albany since 2013 (operating until recently as Aladdin’s), and is one of the few indie Mediterranean restaurants in all of Southern Indiana. Enjoy gyros, shawarma, mufaraka, tabbouleh, hummus, falafel, kabobs and more; finish with Turkish coffee and baklava or a Dubai chocolate pistachio strawberry cup. $$ L D f
SAFIER MEDITERRANEAN DELI 641 S. Fourth St., 5851125. You can get standard American fare at this downtown quick-eats spot, but who’d do that when you can enjoy such appetizing Arabian delights as hummus, mutabal, falafels and the gyros-like (only better) shawarma beef-on-pita sandwich?
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SAM’S GYRO 3123 S. Second St., 709-4292. This hummus and kebab joint, with its tasty food and friendly service, has moved out to the South End. The menu features everything you would expect from a typical Eastern Mediterranean menu: falafel, tabouli, gyros, baklava and spanakopita. $ L D
SHIRAZ MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 2226 Holiday Manor Center, 426-9954, 201 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 426-3440, 3521 Poplar Level Rd., 632-2232, 4614 Chamberlain Ln., 9199014, 1565 Bardstown Rd., 749-0385. From a tiny neighborhood storefront, Shiraz quickly grew out of its original location and expanded into a local mini-chain. In all its loca-
tions, Shiraz shines with authentic Persian (Iranian) cooking, such as char-grilled kebabs, fine pitas and lavash. $ L D f
SYRIAN GRILL ABU ABDU 3325 Bardstown Rd., 749-0071. This Middle Eastern restaurant, tucked away amid other businesses just past the Watterson, serves familiar Mediterranean dishes — kibbeh, shawarma, biryani — and also family size meals of mixed grill and the Syrian rice dish mansaf. $$ L D
TAZIKI’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFÉ 13317 Shelbyville Rd., 244-6222, 106 Fairfax Ave., 212-5373, 1580 Veterans Pkwy., (812) 404-1191. At these Alabama-based chain outlets the food is made fresh daily with vegan and gluten-free choices. The menu includes grilled chicken roll-ups, a grilled tilapia sandwich with dill-caper sauce, gyros, a grilled vegetable and rice plate, roasted potatoes and baklava, along with beer and wine. $$ L D pf
ZOE’S KITCHEN 4126 Summit Plaza Dr., 329-8963. This chain has been growing throughout the South and Southwest, and now has two Louisville locations. An eclectic menu offers kabobs, hummus, quesadillas, roll-ups, pita sandwiches and chicken, tuna and shrimp salads. $ L D
ALCHEMY RESTAURANT 210640 Meeting St., 619-4778. The Michelangeli family’s locally renowned Venezuelan-Latin American pepitos, patacones, arepas and empanadas put Alchemy on the map; their full-service Norton Commons eatery ups the ante with steaks, burgers and pastas. Alchemy also operates a food truck and a catering arm. $$$ L D pf
CARALI'S ROTISSERIE CHICKEN 9148 Taylorsville Rd., 6180699, 642 Baxter Ave., 290-0907. 12531 Shelbyville Rd., 6182725, 5439 New Cut Rd., 963-5698, 703 E. Lewis and Clark Pkwy., (812) 286-2900, 8129 Bardstown Rd., 290-3734. You will find Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken and other South American dishes here: lomo (grilled marinated steak), chaufa rice and various salads and side dishes (such as stuffed avocado). Sandwiches as well as full dinners, and take away half and full roasted chickens. $ L D p
CLASSICO TAKEOUT AND EMPANADAS 104. S. Preston St., 489-1380. Downtown eaters now have a way to enjoy some of the crowd-pleasing dishes of well-knonw to fans of Clifton’s Caffe Classico. Restaurateur Tommy Mudd’s new downtown kiosk will focus on hand-held takeaway choices, including his well-regarded empanadas. Espresso too, and limited outdoor seating. $$ B L p f
EL SAZON DE ABUELA 8506 Preston Hwy., 290-0030. The ethnic food choices along Preston Highway continue to expand with this Puerto Rican restaurant. Mofongo, – smashed plantains infused with garlic and seasonings – is a comfort food staple of PR cuisine made with shrimp, chicken, seafood, or veggies and broth. Breakfast dishes, burgers, and sandwiches are also on offer. $$ B L D f
FRIEND’S PERUVIAN CULINARY 4111 Murphy Ln., 3843925. A popular food truck shifts indoors along with an important point to make about Peruvian cuisine, because it’s been fusion all along, mixing Andean, Spanish and Chinese influences (among others), and leading to dishes like Lomo Saltado (beef stir fry) and Arroz Chaufa de Pollo (Sino-Peruvian fried rice). $$ L D
LA GUANAQUITA 4231 Taylor Blvd., 822-1343, 600 E. Broadway, 883-0101. Two Louisville locations are in Beechmont and Smoketown, serving dishes from El Salvador and Honduras, including pupusas, bealadas and pescado frito (fried fish), served whole, head and tail on, garnished with lime wedges and avocado slices. $$ L D
LA SUERTE 2116 Bardstown Rd., 883-1000. Owner Chris Seckman has transformed his Douglass Loop North End Café site into a Latin restaurant. Partner and Executive Chef Adrian Jimarez Neri offer dishes inspired by his mother and grandmother. The dinner menu includes pollo tostadas, shrimp a la parilla, pork posole and shrimp a la diabla. Brunch will offer molletes, migas, and jalapeño biscuits with chorizo gravy. $$$ Br D pf
NAÏVE LATIN-INSPIRED KITCHEN + BAR 1001 E. Washington St., 749-7856 The culinary focus at this Butchertown eatery has been repositioned to exhibit “shared plate” Mexican, Cuban and Peruvian influences, while retaining the essential elements of its previous farm-to-table and vegetarian essences. $$$ Br L D pf
PERÚ PERUVIAN AND LATIN CUISINE 12338 Shelbyville Rd., 365-1098. As an example of the Peruvian culinary difference, think Huancaina, a traditional cheese sauce with peppers and onions. Chicken dishes, ceviche, fried rice, and noodle dishes further testify to a national heritage of diversity – and Middletown’s much closer than Cusco. $$ L D
TRUJILLO RESTAURANT 4413 St. Rita Dr., 398-5121. It is alleged that Honduran cuisine is less spicy than Mexican. You can believe what you read, or challenge the experts by testing possible differences for yourself, right here in Okolona, starting with nacatamales (Honduran tamales), platano relleno (a stuffed plantain) and baleada sencilla (vaguely similar to a quesadilla). $$ B L D f
YUMMY POLLO 4222 Bishop Ln., 618-1400. You can get Peruvian-style charcoal roasted chicken here by the piece, half or whole bird. American-style side dishes include fried or mashed potatoes, rice, steamed vegetables, slaw and pasta salad. $ L
5 DE MAYO 5520 Fern Valley Rd., 882-1221. Beautifully plated, reasonably priced Mexican chimichangas, burritos and tacos (including a show-stopping trompo al pastor), augmented by lesser-known ceviches and seafood. Formerly El Sinaloense. $$ L D p
ABUELITAS BRUNCH & DINNER 4214 Outer Loop, 3652239. Not only does “granny” keep convenient daily morning hours in Okolona, but the breakfast menu (both American and Mexican) is available until closing. Beyond the ample breakfast and brunch menu, you’ll find a wide range of choices, from machete (a noteworthy variation on the quesadilla) and milanesa to taquitos and a Oaxacan tlayuda. $$ B Br L D pf
ADELITA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 2359 Frankfort Ave., 558-7757. With roots in Veracruz, an eatery occupying a space in Clifton remembered by many as Christmas Morning. The menu’s range is familiar but with less common dishes, among them chilposo de pollo (spicy chicken stew); puerco en salsa roja (pork cutlets in red salsa) and pipián de pollo (chicken with spicy pumpkin seed spicy sauce). $$$ L D
CAFÉ AROMA 2020 Brownsboro Rd., 618-3434. This little shop along the lower Brownsboro food corridor touts “a world of flavor with a Mexican flair.” It’s mostly Mexican and really mostly good, according to our friends in the neighborhood. Affordable, casual and filling. $ L D
COSTA DEL SOL 818 W. Kenwood Dr. (Colonial Gardens), 409-4043. This Mexican and Central American eatery in the South End (in Colonial Gardens) stands out from a crowded field with its niche Honduran menu items, including traditional dishes like baleadas – wheat flour tortillas folded over beans, cheese and other savory fillings. $$ L D p f
DANIEL’S LITTLE MEXICO 1800 Priority Way. Jeffersontown welcomes an extensive menu of burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, chicken, steaks, fajitas, tacos and seafood. Uniquely among regional purveyors of Mexican cuisine, festive occasions call for the appearance of papier-mâché mojiganga heads donned by employees in merry procession. $$$ L D p DOS AZTECAS 1107 Herr Ln. (Westport Village), 426-3994. Perfectly situated for a carryout picnic at the nearby Putney Pond and Woodlands public park, Dos Aztecas (founded 2020) is a spinoff from Los Aztecas, offering a similarly constructed menu of tacos, nachos, burritos, chile rellenos and margaritas. $$ L D pf
EL BRACERO MEXICAN STEAKHOUSE & RESTAURANT 2116 E Spring St., New Albany IN, 812-924-7127. The name means “brazier,” as used since ancient times to cook atop lighted coals. Coming on the heels of two short-lived predecessors, this particular brazier specializes in carnivore-accented Mexican main dishes, but not to the exclusion of familiar regional favorites. $$ B L D p
EL CAPORAL 1909 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 266-9605. This venerable Mexican eatery was founded by “three amigos from Jalisco” in 1990 and has been spinning off restaurateurs ever since. You know the menu like your ABCs: burritos and chimichangas; fajitas and steaks; build your own quesadillas and a taqueria menu-in-a-menu. And of course, margaritas. $ L D p
EL COMAL TAQUERIA 9609 Dixie Hwy., 632-2053. As one might expect, the main focus here is on tacos, including party
taco trays, but other choices include burritos, quesadillas and chilaquiles. $ L D p
EL MAGUEY 1015 Eastern Blvd., Clarksville IN, 812-725-0002. One of a half-dozen authentic Mexican eateries within a few hundred yards of each other in Clarksville. Portions are large; tortas, street tacos and horchatas are among the popular choices from a lengthy menu. $$ B L D p
EL MARIACHI 9901 La Grange Rd., 413-5770, 8710 National Turnpike, 515-3035. Mexican eateries with quick, friendly service and popular options including tacos, burritos, gorditas, huaraches and sopesitos; visually arresting and expansive Molcajete Norteño and Super Michelada Botana specials also are crowd-pleasers. $ B L D p
EL MEXICANO RESTAURANT 3826 Hamburg Pike, 812-2831072. Bright strip mall quarters with a strong patio game, featuring the customary Mexican favorites, and an uncommonly large choice of chicken entrees, egg plates, enchiladas and soups. $ L D
EL MOLCAJETE 8106 Preston Hwy., 289-9164, 2932 S. Fourth St., 638-0300. You can get gringo-style tacos (with shredded lettuce, cheese & sour cream) at this south-end Mexican joint. But if you come here, why not eat like a native? Lash your pork, beef and chicken tacos with fresh-squeezed lime juice and a heap of sliced radishes. Want to get truly authentic? Step up to beef tongue (lengua), intestine (tripas) or brain (sesos). $$ L D p
EL MUNDO 1767 Bardstown Rd., 384-5633. Famous since 1995 for its creative, quirky renditions of Mexican regional specialties and ample margaritas, El Mundo’s tiny original Crescent Hill storefront is closed indefinitely as of 2024, with the action shifting to its more recently established (and far larger) multi-level outlet in the Highlands, with expanded menu options. $$ L D pf
EL NOPAL (27 Locations) These locally-owned restaurants have comprised a steadily growing mini-chain, winning popularity on the basis of delicious and inexpensive Mexican fare in com¬fortable surroundings, and proliferating to the point where currently El Nopal is second only to Starbucks in number of metro Louisville locations. $ L D pf
EL PASTORCITO 4132 Outer Loop, 618-0520. El Pastorcito serves Mexican street food (tacos, sopes, tortas, etc.) and a range of Mexican/American entrées (gorditas, quesadillas, burgers and chicken tenders). $$ L D p f
EL RODEO MEXICAN 5204 Elzie Rd., 995-8722. Classic Mexican-American cuisine, serving Shively, Pleasure Ridge Park, and Valley Station since 2000, and locally renowned for its lunch buffet Monday through Saturday, featuring all the staples (tacos, quesadillas, wings, salad and even flan), with a range of margaritas to wash it all down. $$ L D p
EL SOMBRERO 2784 Meijer Dr., Jeffersonville IN, 285-0109. An Indianapolis restaurant group has taken over the old Bearno’s near Meijer in J’ville, and opened this “Americanized Mexican” restaurant. $ B L D pf
EL TARASCO 5425 New Cut Rd., 368-5628, 110 Fairfax Ave., 895-8010. El Tarasco’s take on Mexican food appeals both to the area’s growing Latino population and Anglos who want to enjoy a South-of-the-Border culinary adventure without compromise. $ L D p
EL TORAZO 1850 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 491-7272. A familyoriented Mexican restaurant offers the expected menu items, as well as some more sophisticated dishes, such as 7 mares sopa, a soup with shrimp, scallops and octopus; banderillas, a colorful beef brochette; and chuleta sabrosa, a Durango-style grilled steak. $$ L D pf
EL TORO CANTINA & GRILL 10602 Shelbyville Rd., 4893839. One of the top Mexican restaurants in the metro, El Toro earns our recommendation for food, service and environment. Tex-Mex dishes are fine, but save room for the authentic Mexican seafood specialties. $ L D pf
EL VAQUERO MEXICAN GRILL CANTINA 161 Outer Loop, 742-3030. Mexican fare near Fairdale in the South End, promising “authentic” handmade tortillas, tacos, burritos and soup, and proving karaoke on Fridays. Among the lesser seen dishes locally: guacamole culichi (with octopus and shrimp) and caldo de huachinango (fish soup with red snapper). $$ L D p
FELIPE’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 2400 Lime Kiln Ln., 7429142, 4000 Dutchmans Ln., 919-7014. The second East End location seems to show that the ethnic fare at Felipe’s is well-
made, and tasty. The menu lists 16 chicken dishes from various areas of Mexico, along with variations on fajitas and tacos. $$ L D p
FIESTA MEXICANA 4507 Bardstown Rd., 491-2922
$ L D p
FIESTA TIME AMIGOS 8133 Bardstown Rd., 231-2444, 135 S. English Station Rd., 254-7755. These traditional Mexican restaurant’s locations serve the expected things, like fajitas and burritos. But there is also an extensive grill menu, with items such as steak tampiqueño (rib-eye steak with ranchero sauce), Chile Colorado and Los Amigos cheese steak. $ L D pf
FIESTA TIME MEXICAN GRILL 11320 Maple Brook Dr., 4259144. $ L D p
FOKO 991 Logan St., 936-0307. Considerably expanded from its previous Logan Street Market footprint, the American South continues to merrily fuse with Mexico in Shelby Park for breakfast, lunch and brunch, yielding menu items like chicken with jalapeno gravy and tortas with collard greens. $$ L D f
GOOD MORNING BREAKFAST & BRUNCH 1971 Brownsboro Rd., 365-4852. Gonzalo “Chilakiles” Cruz returns along with his brothers, this time with an eatery in Clifton Heights specializing in breakfast and brunch dishes – morning tortas, anyone? – adding a menu of tried and true Mexican standbys into the evening hours. $$ B Br L f
GUACAMOLE MODERN MEXICAN 900 E. Market St., 2128225. This popular East End modern Mexican restaurant has relocated to NuLu, taking over the space that had been Rye. No Tex-Mex here, just pure Mexican: asados and moles and pibils, along with authentic variations on familiar choices such as tacos, burritos and enchiladas. The bar menu is centered on Mexican cocktails. $$ D pf
GUATELINDA TAQUERIA 8603 Citadel Way, 384-5873, 5049 Poplar Level Rd., 384-5154. Guatemalan cuisine is similar to Mexican and has strong Mayan and Spanish influences. Numerous appetizers, tortas and tacos are augmented by around twenty entrees; your best bet to determine the Guatemalan fare is to ask your server. $$ B L D p
GUSTAVO’S MEXICAN GRILL 8909 US-42, 434-7266, 10715 Meeting St., 690-7070, 401 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 420-1100. Gustavo’s offers “bold Mexican flavors.” Everything you would expect — fajitas, burritos, tacos — but also vegetarian options, house specialties like enchiladas verdes, chimichangas, shrimp tacos and pollo feliz (grilled chicken with chorizo and pineapple). $$ L D pf
ISRAEL’S DELICIAS DE MEXICO GOURMET 604 E. Spring St., New Albany IN, 725-9139. Israel Landon introduced Kentuckiana to his Mexican home-style cooking at La Rosita a few years ago. Now he is moving into the former Destinatins Booksellers space by the end of March. Look for street tacos and Mayan quesadillas and weekly specials highlighting cuisine from various regions of Mexico, including seafood dishes and new desserts. $ L D f
JOELY'S BAR & GRILL 1999 Brownsboro Rd., 742-9456. Taking over the former El Frijol location in Clifton, this Mexican restaurant serves breakfast, burritos, quesadillas, tortas and chimichangas. Dinner choices range from pollo con arroz to carnitas de puerco to seafood. $$ L D p
LA CABAÑITA MEXICAN GRILL 4900 Poplar Level Rd., 6542459. The expected broad range of Mexican appetizers, traditional plates and desserts, also with burgers and a small vegetarian selection. There is a daily emphasis on robust, meaty tacos and ample margaritas. $$ L D p
LA CATRINA MEXICAN KITCHEN 202 E. Elm St., New Albany IN, 725-8264. The owners of Señor Iguanas restaurants have opened this Mexican party food and street food restaurant in the building that Dragon King’s Daughter moved out of. Look for naked and dressed tacos, soups, salads and shareable dishes and seasonal menu updates. $$ L D pf
LA CHAPINLANDIA 1209 McCawley Rd., 384-7075. If those tiny hole-in-the-wall places are the best for real Mexican food, this little South End place will satisfy Okolona’s need for tacos and burritos. $ L D p
LA LOMA 560 Eastern Blvd., Clarksville IN, 812-283-3775. This seafood-heavy Mexican grill with all the expected menu staples takes special pride in its weekend menu, featuring menudo, barbecued lamb and shrimp broth. $$L D p
LA LUPITA 827 Eastern Blvd., Clarksville IN, 285-0083. Tucked away at an inconspicuous strip mall in a neighborhood ex-
ploding with Mexican food and drink options, this venerable Mexican food purveyor isn’t a secret any longer. The Mexican staples are here (with Oaxacan accents) pambazos, tlacoyos, tlayudas and aguachile, as explained by cheerful staffers. The owners also operate a bakery in front of the same building, featuring breads, pastries and coffee. $$ L D pf
LA POPULAR 2521 Seventh St Rd., 636-3688.$LDp
LA RIVIERA MAYA 8104 National Turnpike, 361-3566. This South End Mexican restaurant is popular with local Latinos, which is always a good sign. Look for gorditas and carne asada, as well as familiar fare like enchiladas. Word is that the horchata is rich and spiced just right. $ L D p
LA SIERRA TARASCA 6501 Shepherdsville Rd., 969-7938, 9833 Third St., 708-1178. Part Mexican eatery with a full range of a la carte dishes as well as prepared lunch and dinner plates, and part Latin American supermercado stocked with fruits, vegetables, meats and “name” brands.” If you can’t get it here, it’s unlikely to be found anywhere in Louisville. $$ B L D
LA TERRAZA FOURTH STREET 654 S. Fourth St., 409-6103. Inheritor of Bluegrass Brewing’s 4th Street satellite location, which did not return from the pandemic, La Terraza also assumes the role of a well-situated, pre-concert drinks and dinner option; several music venues are nearby. It’s Mexican cuisine, emphasizing quesadillas, taquitos, tacos and outdoor seating with a solid vantage point for people watching. $$ L D pf
LA TORTA LOCA 5213 Preston Hwy., 966-3254. This simple, strip mall eatery has been around long enough to gain dedicated fans of their well-seasoned and fairly spicy versions of familiar Mexican dishes. Some of those fans recommend the agua de Jamaica (hibiscus). $ L D p
LA TROPICANA 5215 Preston Hwy., 964-5957. This Latino grocery store has been selling a full range of fruits, vegetables, meats and grocery items for a while. Now there is a steamtable buffet with a wide range of lunch choices. It’s mostly take-away, but there’s also limited outdoor and indoor seating. $$ B L D f
LAS CAZUELAS 4214 Bishop Ln., 614-8634. This unassuming strip mall eatery has amassed a dedicated local clientele with fast, friendly service, cold margaritas and well-prepared familiar Mexican fare. $$ L D pf
LAS GORDITAS 4756 Bardstown Rd., 492-0112. As Louisville’s small, thriving Latino community grows, it’s now possible to enjoy an authentic Mexico City-style dining experience at this taco and gordita wagon that rolls up in the Eastland Shopping Center. Family owners and chefs Pat and Esperanza Costas and Ofelia Ortiz now also have a sit-down storefront just down the street. $ D f
LAS MARGARITAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT 12220 Shelbyville Rd., 963-5503, 307 Central Ave., 690-8071. If we were to draw from a random collection of Top 100 All-Time favorite Mexican dishes, odds are that 75 or more of them are represented at these eateries, and “greatest hits” menus mean there is something for everyone’s taste. Not only that, but adults can wash down the hits with an imposing Sunset Tower Margarita. $$ L D p
LIMÓN Y SAL 10000 Brownsboro Rd., 423-4604, 3900 Shelbyville Rd., 423-4604. Or, “lemon and salt,” an authentic Mexican kitchen offering fresh, spicy choices including taquitos, bocadillos and dips to start; soups like pozole and caldo de camerón (shrimp soup); and tacos, tortas and combination platters. $$ Br L D pf
LOS AZTECAS 445 E. Market St., 561-8535, 1107 Herr Ln., 426-3994, 9207 U.S. Hwy. 42, 228-2450. Founded in 1997, still bustling and one of the city’s longest tenured authentic Mexican eateries. Los Aztecas boasts a vast menu comprised of at least 100 dishes, including combos, lunch specials, specialty dinner platters and seafood. If it isn’t here, it may not exist. $$$ L D pf
LUNA'S MEXICAN ROTISSERIE 5213 Preston Hwy., 9628898. The owners came from Puebla, Mexico, but made a stop in Los Angeles before moving to Louisville and starting Luna’s Rotisserie. Their specialty is slow-cooked rotisserie chicken from the coast of Veracruz. There’s plenty more on the board, such as tamales, quesadillastarlights and menudo. On Saturdays & Sundays, pozole and cabo de camaron are added. $$ L D
MANGO’S BAR & GRILL 4632 Hendrik Dr., 671-5291. This Mexican-American restaurant chain serves a Latin lunch buffet seven days a week as well as a full dinner menu. You will find burritos, tacos and tamales, but also several steak dishes and Mexican-style desserts. $$ L D
MARISCOS LOS PLEBES 2610 Chamberlain Ln., 690-4350. $ L D
MARISQUERIA EL PUERTO DE SAN BLAS 1537 E. 10th St. Jeffersonville IN, 812-913-0070. Formerly Pelicanos and El Rayo Seafood & Grill, with a great many standard Mexican menu items but an ongoing emphasis on seafood, including enormous grilled seafood platters and a selection of ceviches and aguachiles. $$ L D p
METZTLI MODERN MEXICAN CUISINE 649 S. Fourth St., 792-6644. In the sumptuously redecorated former Sapporo space downtown, a huge and varied menu of burritos, chimichangas, tacos, enchiladas, seafood, salads and soups. In Aztec mythology, Metztli was the god (or goddess) of the moon, the night, and farmers. $$$ L D pf
MESA DE LA FAMILIA 2209 Meadow Dr., 473-7840. The Family Table, a onetime El Caporal location, appropriately includes a “family specials” menu section. There are traditional Mexican options aplenty, with especially strong enchilada and fajita contingents. $$ L D p
MEXICO LINDO 912 Eastern Blvd., Clarksville IN, 812-2888450. Another of the Mexican eateries in the Clarksville cluster, famed locally for its 20+ daily lunch combos and vegetarian options, and also presenting a wide concentration of chicken and seafood favorites. $ L D p
MI BONITO PINOTEPA 7200 Preston Hwy., 290-5328. Dishes from southern Mexico, around Oaxaca, are the focus of this Okolona strip mall restaurant. Look for Oaxacan-style tamales, various moles and tlayudos, a kind off open-faced quesadilla. $ L D
MI CASITA PARRILLA MEXICANA 520 S. Fourth St., 3150666. Enthusiastic fans of the restaurant formerly known as Mi Cocina will find the same quick and efficient lunch service and dishes executed with skill under the new name
change. The margaritas at Happy Hour are notable. $$ L D pf
MI RANCHITO GRILL MEXICAN RESTAURANT 505 W. Broadway, 333-0744. Family-owned Mexican cuisine dispensed downtown a few steps from the Art Deco-styled Courier Journal building, a renowned local architectural landmark. Birria tacos, fajita nachos and elote are among the most popular menu items, but all your favorites are available. $ L D
NOCHE MEXICAN BBQ 1838 Bardstown Rd., 467-8015, 712 Brent St. (The Village Market). Inside a de-commissioned Lutheran Church, illuminated by the large stained glass windows in the sanctuary/dining room, you can find authentic Tex-Mex barbecue. Look for brisket and pulled pork smoked with Noche’s special spice blend, fajitas, flautas, green chili macaroni and cheese and grilled Mexican street corn. Now with a small spot in The Village Market. $$ D pf
OLE FRIJOLE 5612 Bardstown Rd., 822-3388. After a bit of a hike out Bardstown Rd., you will find oversized margaritas, well-priced, nicely made familiar Mexican food, and a welcoming atmosphere. The customize-your-guacamole bar is a popular feature. $$ L D p
PIÑA FIESTA REAL MEXICAN GRILL 7895 Dixie Hwy., 9956775. Fans of Mexican food have another place to try, out along the wide, wide highway. You won’t find anything new here, but they say it will be real. $ L D p
PUERTO VALLARTA 4214 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 945-3588, 125 Quartermaster Ct., Jeffersonville IN, 2882022, 7814 Beulah Church Rd., 239-4646. $$ L D p
QUEZADILLAS BAR & MEXICAN GRILL 2300 Terra Crossing, Suite 104, 290-3506. Mexican eatery in the East End leaning heavily on grilled items, with a lengthy seafood selection and all the familiar choices you’d expect: tacos, burritos, and of course the establishment’s namesake quesadillas. $$$ L D p
RAMIRO’S CANTINA 149 Spring St., Jeffersonville IN, 812924-7770. Long-time restaurateur Ramiro Gandara closed his full-service Frankfort Ave. eatery in early 2023, speedily shifting operations to his quick-casual Jeffersonville cantina, which
moved a block south, quadrupled in size and became Gandara’s flagship. Order at the counter, grab and go, or sit down and enjoy. Ramiro’s favorites remain: burritos, chicken bowls, nachos, tortas and tacos, as well as a complete bar. $ L D pf
RAYMI PERUVIAN & MEXICAN CUISINE 10001 Forest Green Blvd., 632-2403. Peruvian cuisine offers a different Latin American twist, using native ingredients like quinoa, corn and potatoes, and less spicy than Mexican. Chicken dishes are common, and ceviche is a national specialty. Louisville’s Raymi is not to be confused with Chef Sandoval’s NYC establishment. $$ L D p
SEÑOR IGUANA’S 1415 Broadway St., Clarksville IN, 2808555, 5637 Outer Loop, 708-2165. This small local chain has gone upscale with re-designed crisp modern decor, well-prepared Mexican food, and plenty of it, in a casual, comfortable modern atmosphere. $ L D pf
SERGIO’S MEXICAN BAR AND GRILL 11470 Preston Hwy., 915-0095. Located southbound at the Bullitt County line, Sergio’s (not to be confused with the beer bar) lists the standard Mexican menu items – burritos, chimichangas, quesadillas and fajitas – along with a less common and bountiful caldo de mariscos, or seafood soup. $$ L D p
SOL AZTECAS 2427 Bardstown Rd., 459-7776. Founded by Saul Garcia down on Main St.’s museum row, his restaurant has an extensive menu that satisfies those who want standard fare like tacos, fajitas and burritos, and also offers more sophisticated fare like salmon and shrimp, steak and several Mexican chicken preparations. $ L D pf
TAQUERO MUCHO 5700 Outer Loop. 963-5469. Familyowned taqueria in Highview with an extensive array of tacos, huaraches, machetes, gorditas and house specialties, and also this vow: “If it is not on the menu and we have the ingredients, we will prepare it for you.” $$ L D p
TRES AMIGOS OF LOUISVILLE 9921 Ormsby Station Rd., 384-6525. Three Friends, certainly, but a great many more menu options, including bowls, street tacos, chimichangas, fajitas, steaks, seafood and those ubiquitous margaritas. $$ L D p
VALLARTA MEXICAN SEAFOOD AND GRILL 9874 Linn Station Rd., 290-6268. This family-owned restaurant serves freshly cooked seafood dishes in the style of Mexico’s Pacific coast, as well as more familiar Mexican fare (tacos, fajitas, burritos). Fans enjoy the large portions. $ L D p
VERONICA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 5044 Poplar Level Rd., 333-0473. Former food truck operator Veronica Cortes has launched a storefront, specializing in slow-cooked birria dishes, including tacos and – yes – an east-west fusion ramen. Fajitas, tortas and gorditas are also on the menu. $$$ L D p
VICTORIA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 2918 Hikes Ln., 7095178. $ L D f
YELLOW CACTUS 9111 Galene Dr., 749-5922, 3620 Paoli Pk., Floyds Knobs IN, 903-0313, 2350 Frankfort Ave., 749-0767. $$$ L D p
AGAVE & RYE EPIC TACOS 426 Baxter Ave., 873-5111, 324 E. Main St., New Albany IN, 993-8226. This Covington-based chain has added a second area store in southern Indiana. Offerings include tacos, bourbon, arcade games and 70+ tequilas. The Rooster taco contains crispy chicken, mac & cheese and hot sauce. The Bang Bang is a vegetarian dish, with crispy cauliflower, corn fritters, queso and spicy carrots. $$ L D p f
BANDIDO TAQUERIA MEXICANA 423 University Blvd., 9967788, 2901 Goose Creek Rd., 749-7167, 4214 Shelbyville Rd., 384-4024. These three San Diego-influenced Mexican eateries (near U of L, on Westport Road and the newest in St. Matthews) serve tacos, quesadillas, burritos, nachos, burrito bowls and salsas with California flair. $$ L D f
BUBBAKOO’S BURRITOS 12919 Factory Ln., 384-0778, 4214 Shelbyville Rd., 630-2017. This East Coast fast-casual chain offers lots of standard Mexican fare (tacos, quesadillas, nachos), along with wings and choice of six sauces. One house specialty is the Chiwawa, a stuffed rice ball, breaded and fried. $$ L D
CHICAGO JERK TACOS 3029 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. (Sports and Learning Center), 780-9410. What did you expect at Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning, Caribbean-style jerk American cuisine? Well, why not? Jerk tacos, wings, alfredo and nachos are available with chicken or steak (a vegetarian option is offered, too). For joggers, walking tacos are available. $$ L D
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL (10 Locations) Since 1993 this fast casual chain, originating in Denver and named for the ubiquitous smoked and dried jalapeño pepper, has been serving Mission-style (San Francisco) burritos, tacos, salads, bowls and more. $ L D f
CONDADO TACOS 7900 Shelbyville Rd. (Oxmoor Center), 805-8300. The Ohio-based taco chain has arrived brandish margaritas and tequila-based cocktails alongside build-yourown tacos, nachos and bowls. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options are available. $$ L D pf
EL TACO LOCO 5622 Preston Hwy., 225-7229, 9606 Taylorsville Rd., 384-4438, 2808 Patti Ln.,384-0225.This unpretentious Mexican restaurant tries to be as authentic as it can, and has persuaded many fans with its efforts. Inexpensive, freshly made tacos, quesadillas and other familiar Mexican dishes, served in value sizes. $ L D
EL TACO LUCHADOR 112 Meridian Ave., 709-5154. Olé Restaurant Group’s signature taqueria (a luchador is a Mexican wrestler) have diners lined up out the door. Familiar taco names — barbacoa, carnitas, carne asada — get clever riffs in the kitchen. Call it elevated Mexican street food. And do try the fantastic tortas. $ L D pf
FISTFUL OF TACOS 2708 Paoli Pk., New Albany IN, 5570226. This ambitious little taco joint in the Knobs offers five taco choices - The Good (chicken tinga, citrus slaw),The Bad (beef, pico de gallo), The Ugly (Bourbon pork, mango salsa), The Vegan (roasted sweet potato, black bean) and The Pesky (scallop ceviche, melon). $$ L D f
I LOVE TACOS “In Tacos We Love,” and there’s definitely something for everyone from a daily menu of 16 signature tacos (corn or flour), including meats like cocinita pibil, birria, and brisket; also seafood and meat-free options: vegetarian, tofu and cauliflower. Burritos, quesadillas and tortas are popular, too. 9909 Taylorsville Rd., 384-2154, 400 S. Second St., (Omni Hotel) 791-1537. $$ L D pf
LA BAMBA 1237 Bardstown Rd., 451-1418. The revamped and updated Highlands authentic fast food place still offers burritos as big as your head, and tacos, quesadillas and tortas too. $ L D
LA CATRINA TACOS & TEQUILA 125 W. Chestnut St., Jeffersonville IN, 812-920-0114. This downsized La Catrina Mexican Kitchen specializes in 18 styles of taco (beef, pork, chicken, seafood, and plant-based) and tequila-based cocktails along with a smaller selection of burritos and quesadillas, snacks, chips and desserts. $$ L D p
LA FOGATA TAQUERIA 3030 Grant Line Rd., New Albany IN, 812-913-0018. Strictly speaking, a taqueria specializes in tacos and burritos, but La Fogata goes far beyond this, boasting an encyclopedic six-page menu selection comprised of sopes, huaraches, gorditas, fajitas, tortas, quesadillas, seafood, chicken and yes, even tacos and burritos. Our favorite: the Burrito Hawaiiano. $ L D pf
LA ROSITA TAQUERIA 8730 Westport Rd., 618-4588, 5059 Preston Hwy., 618-2883. For those who crave genuine Mexican tacos, you want them convenient when the urge to scarf one down strikes. These little places will certainly satisfy those cravings. $ L D
LUCKY BURRITO 2118 Bardstown Rd., 883-1000. Christopher Seckman and partner Adrian Jimarez Neri morphed the Douglass Loop location of North End Café into the Modern Latin restaurant La Suerte. Now the team has added a new offering next door: Lucky Burrito is a quick-service place with hefty burritos, nicely-priced tacos, and plenty of interesting ingredients and an assortment of deftly-crafted tacos. $$ L D f
MARIA’S TACOS 825 Eastern Blvd., Clarksville IN, 812-7257705. The kitchen is in view and the atmosphere intimate at this taqueria, described by one regular customer as “just like eating at Grandma’s.” Lengua tacos are recommended, but Maria’s might be the top choice in Clarksville for tamales. $ B L D
QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL (19 locations). This chain operation extends from Louisville to Frankfort and Lexington. Fast-foodish in style, Qdoba edges out its competitors on variety and interesting salsas, plus sizable portions at a price you can afford. $ L D f
TACO CHOZA 3922 Westport Rd., 409-5080. In the heart of St. Matthews, this locally-owned taqueria also makes burritos and quesadillas, pours craft beers, and offers daily margarita specials. $ L D pf
TACO CITY LOUISVILLE 1283 Bardstown Rd., 409-9454, 11601 Shelbyville Rd., 742-1638, 3085 Breckenridge Ln., 443-4286. The trio of locations of this Mexican place — run by a trio of Mexican natives — serve tacos on homemade corn tortillas, tortas, salads and burritos, using recipes straight from Mexico like the mole sauce by the owner’s grandma. $ L D f
TACOLANDIA 5400 Preston Hwy., 702-3945. The F & D state department has posted that passports are not necessary to enter Tacolandia; visas for Okolona will do just fine, and visitors are advised to bring an empty stomach to greet a bountiful selection of burritos, quesadillas and tortas – and perhaps even the stray taco. $$$ L D
TACO RICO 519 W. Oak St., 601-2944. A brother and sister culinary team has parked the food truck and come indoors to a building in Old Louisville, where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, running the gamut from chilaquiles and huevos rancheros to tacos, burritos and burgers. $$ B L D p
TACOS D AMORE & MORE 1534 Bardstown Rd., 742-4119, 3550 Springhurst Commons Dr., 749-6847, 243 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 409-6287, 10200 Glenmary Farm Dr., 9777529, 828 E. Main St., 409-1801. The focus of Ernesto Rivera’s popular Mexican menu extends well beyond expectations engendered by its affectionate name, with an expansive (and constantly augmented) selection of appetizers, tortas, empanadas, quesadillas, salad bowls, wings and tenders. The birria taco –filled with spiced stewed beef and then crisped on a griddle –remains a signature Rivera dish. $$ L D pf
TACOS LOS GORDITOS 2017 Brownsboro Rd., 509-8676, 3904 S. Third St., 509-8676. Now with multiple area locations and slightly altered identity (“Tacos” replaces “Taqueria”), but with the requisite subliminal suggestions fully intact: “Gorditos” means “the fat ones,” which can mean whatever you wish, although in this instance it implies bulging tacos, burritos and other oversized Mexican standards. $$ L D f
TAQUERIA DON JUAN 615 Eastern Blvd., Clarksville IN, 920-1238. This addition to Clarksville’s rich array of Mexican restaurants focuses on seafood: ceviche, oysters, seafood cocktails, and caldo de camarones. But it doesn’t neglect meats. Choose tacos filled with lengua or cabeza (tongue or meat pulled from the head) as well as more familiar fixings. $$ L D p
TAQUERIA EL MEXICANO 7611 Preston Hwy., 690-4044. You can enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner at this Okolona spot. A variety of ceviche, tortas, tacos, burritos and quesadillas are available every day, but pozole and menudo are weekend specials. $$ B L D p
TEN20 TAQUERIA 1020 E. Washington St., 290-6820. Food stall (formerly Richy'$) located at the TEN20 Craft Brewery in Butchertown, serving tacos, nachos, grilled chicken and pork carnitas with homemade dips. Vegetarian options are available, and beer pairings highly recommended. $$ L D pf
TIJUANA FLATS 22105 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 362-8226. This fast casual Tex-Mex franchise concept sets itself apart with the Hot Bar, an assortment of sauces (“tangy, smoky, sweet, and spicy”) on hand to assist customers in augmenting menu items, which include tacos, burritos, flautas, quesadillas, guacamole and nachos. $$ L D
TIKKA TACOS 3311 Preston Hwy., 918-4606. Louisville greets the Bollywood Taco as “Indo-Mexi Fusion” invades Audubon Park (in the former home of New Wave Burritos), combining textures, flavors, sauces and garnishes from the subcontinent and Central America, along with more customary Indian dishes (dal, samosas). $$ B L D p
TORCHY'S TACOS 1540 Veterans Pkwy., Jeffersonville IN, (812) 645-4800. This Texas-based taco chain has expanded east to Jeffersonville. Try the "Trailer Park" taco with fried chicken, green chiles and pico de gallo, or go for a Scallywag, with coconut-battered shrimp, bacon, green chiles, and peach habanero jam. Or choose a salad, fajita or burrito, There’s a full bar featuring margaritas and specialty cocktails. $$ B L D p f
WACKY NACHOS 2736 Charlestown Rd., 812-748-2037. Take their word for it: “wacky” appears dozens of times on the menu, which is bursting with wholly or partly (entirely your choice) customizable servings of nachos, fries, wings, quesadillas, tacos, burritos – all of them eager tom be loaded. $$ L D
ZOMBIE TACO 100 W. Washington St. (Moxy Hotel), 8744331. This always-open walk-up taco window at the new Moxy Hotel features Taco Tuesdays specials on tacos and margaritas, a 3-taco survivaCIAOl box with a side of chips and salsa, and deep discounts for restaurant industry workers on Sundays and Mondays. $$ B L D pf
CHUY’S 104 Oxmoor Ct., 327-3033, 1440 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 288-2489. The Austin, Texas “unchain,” has two area locations, offering a complimentary happy hour nacho “car bar” set in the back end of a 50s era auto, plenty of Elvis memorabilia, and a wall of chihuahua photos. Oh, and Tex-Mex food at reasonable prices. $$ L D pf
MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL 2001 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 4911800, 4652 Chamberlain Ln., 425-3330, 9310 Cedar Center Way, 614-7722. The food may be more fast-food MexicanAmerican than authentic South-of-the-Border fare, but it is freshly made from quality ingredients and comes in oversize portions, and that’s not a bad thing. $ L D
SALSARITA’S FRESH CANTINA 285 N. Hubbards Ln., 8975323, 12915 Shelbyville Rd., 365-1424. Another entry in the hot “Fresh Mexican” niche that features gigantic burritos made to order. Now with two locations, in St. Matthews and Middletown. $ L D f
TUMBLEWEED TEX MEX GRILL & MARGARITA BAR (7 locations). Starting as a humble Mexican restaurant in New Albany, Tumbleweed grew to become an area favorite serving bold, southwest-inspired food such as burritos, spicy chile con queso, mesquite-grilled steaks, fish and chicken. The Margarita Bar offers two dozen tequila varieties and dozens of sweet and tangy margarita combinations. $$ L D p
ADRIENNE & CO. BAKERY CAFÉ 129 W. Court Ave., Jeffersonville IN, 282-2665. If you need something for your sweet tooth and won’t be denied, count yourself lucky if the craving strikes when you’re in the vicinity of this cozy Southern Indiana spot, with its good selection of homemade cakes and treats. $ f
B.A.D. BOYS ICE CREAM SHOP 500 Colorado Ave., 2291359. “Honesty is such a lonely word,” crooned Billy Joel, hence our new favorite sweet shop slogan: “You want nutrition, eat carrots.” Presumably as a compromise, vegan and sugar-free options are available. B.A.D. Boys is at present the only Louisville outlet for Wisconsin-based Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream. $ D f
BAE’S BAKERY 1804 Frankfort Ave., 614-5001. Abigail McGreevy filled the void left by the closure of Sweet Surrender, shifting her Old Louisville bakery to Clifton for jumbo stuffed cookies, cakes by the slice, pastries and both vegan and gluten-free treats, along with biscuits and breakfast sandwiches via an arrangement with the Susan Brown Bakery. $ B f
BARRY BAGELS 4123 Oechsli Ave., 290-0440, 10616 Meeting St., 384-0799. A family-founded Northern Ohio chain arrives in Louisville; in addition to an array of bagels (baked fresh daily on site) and all the fixings, a full listing of lunchtime sandwiches, salads and soups are available, and their catering game is strong. $ B L D
BIG NITA’S CHEESECAKES 1011 E. Main St., 883-0022. Cheesecake savant Nicole Clark, who effortlessly conjures Strawberry Swirl, Banana Pudding and many other styles, has (mostly) parked her dessert-oriented food truck and launched a wildly successful bricks and mortar shop in Butchertown. It hasn’t hurt that TikTok food influencer Luke Collins declared Clark’s cheesecake as the best in the country in a video currently with more than a million views. $ L
BORN2BAGEL 231 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 384-0619, 6021 Timber Ridge Dr., 333-0476. They had us at “lox.” New York City native Bruce Rosenblatt and wife Jennifer consulted his Grandma Ruth’s bagel recipe box, then launched a shop featuring lox (lovingly imported from NYC), bagels and all the schmears (spreads), along with coffee and a selection of breakfast and lunch edibles. $ B L
BOUDREAUX’S NEW ORLEANS STYLE SNO-BALLS 11816 Shelbyville Rd., This little family run shop offers the garishly colored shaved ice treat with all sorts of syrup flavors and toppings. $ f
BUTCHERTOWN GROCERY BAKERY 729 E. Main St., 7428315. With its move from a cramped upstairs space on Washington Street to more spacious digs on Main, Butchertown Grocery’s bakery maven Barbara Turner now offers a wide range of pastries, breads, chocolates, cookies, sandwiches, soups and take-home dinners. Good Folks coffee provides fresh-squeezed juices and local kombuchas, coffee and espresso. $$ B Br L D p
CINNAHOLIC 4204 Shelbyville Rd., 365-4119. Cinnaholic franchises are vegan bakeries, with “100 percent vegan, dairy & lactose-free, egg-free and cholesterol-free” products. The co-owners of Louisville’s first Cinnaholic in St. Matthews also are founders of the West Lou Coffee roastery, which is featured. $$ L D
CLIFTON DONUTS 2317 Brownsboro Rd., 749-6896. A family from Thailand produces very fresh donuts of all sorts daily to an appreciative crowd from the Clifton corridor. Fans favorably compare the offerings here to those at the chains, lauding freshness of product and friendliness of service. $ B
COLD STONE CREAMERY 1013 Jefferson Commons Dr., Jeffersonville IN, 913-0034, 2015 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 4997750, 976 Breckenridge Ln, 894-6292. The angle that distinguishes this ice cream chain is the long list of add-ons that fans can choose to have worked into their favorite flavor: bananas, berries, candies, cookies and nuts, to name a few. Ice cream cakes, smoothies and shakes too. $
THE COMFY COW 1301 Herr Ln., 425-4979, 13301 Shelbyville Rd., 883-4128, 4005 Summit Plaza Dr. (Paddock Shops), 423-4465, 600 Terminal Dr. (Louisville Airport). Now fans of this “new-fashioned” ice-cream parlor can find their favorite
flavors popping up all over town. And, you can now find Comfy Cow products in Krogers ice cream section. $ f
CRUMBL COOKIES 12949 Shelbyville Rd., 405-8156, 4110 Summit Plaza Dr., 509-2828, 7714 Bardstown Rd., 2511666, 291 N. Hubbards Ln., 493-6676, 4901 Outer Loop, 473-9690, 3548 E. 10th St., Jeffersonville IN, 795-0922. This gourmet cookie chain specializes in fresh-baked cookies with a weekly rotating menu that always includes a warm milk chocolate chip cookie and a chilled sugar cookie. $ B L D f
CRUST & CRUMB 6301 Meeting St., 338-9824. Noted farmers market vendor Debi Hatton’s storefront bakery café in Norton Commons specializes in breads, croissants, cookies, babka, scones and espresso drinks; also soups and sandwiches. $ B L f
CULTIVATED TABLE & SIP HOUSE 133 E. Market St., New Albany IN, 812-913-1188. A downtown New Albany bakery featuring house-made bread, breakfast items, pastries, sandwiches and coffee (including espresso drinks) during morning and afternoon hours. $ B Br L
DAIRY KASTLE 575 Eastern Pkwy., 634-8990. A long-time seasonal favorite, which marks its 50th anniversary in 2026, remains popular with Germantown folks craving cones, flurries, milkshakes, sundaes and chili dogs. Seasonal: March – November. $ f
DALAT’S GATEAUX & BAKERY 6915 Southside Dr., 3689280. New co-owners Anthony Pham and his partner Bill Ho (whose parents founded DaLat’s in 1999) renovated the bakery and café earlier this year. The business is named after Da Lat, the largest city of the Central Highlands in Vietnam, where Ho’s parents were bakers before they immigrated. The café is known for its pastries, banh mi desserts, boba tea, and Vietnamese coffee. $ B L D
DINO’S BAKERY 4162 Bardstown Rd., 493-2396. Dino Ghazawi, whose family owned a bakery in his native Jordan, has renovated space in the Buechel Plaza Shopping Center, installed three ovens for baking pita, French and Italian bread and pies. Many of those are sold wholesale, but retail shoppers can get locally made fresh pita and other Middle Eastern groceries. $ B
DIPPED & DRIZZLED 750 E. Jefferson St. (Mashup Food Hall), 779-1993. “Dipped, drizzled and topped” cheesecake on a stick, ranging from Oreo Dream to Moonlight S’mores, with ice cream nachos, cookies and floats. $$ L D p
DIRTY DOUGH COOKIES 12905 Shelbyville Rd., 205-2005. “Life gets messy (but) it’s better with cookies,” announces this new-to-Louisville chain, promising a special cookie conjuring process that adds fillings, mix-ins and layers (hence the adjective “dirty”), with decadent examples including The Muscle (fudge brownie) and Raspberry Toaster Tart. $$ L D
EHRLER'S ICE CREAM 201 E. Main St., 749-2236, 2500 Bardstown Rd., 749-2236. Louisville’s iconic ice cream shop returns after a long hiatus. Now with two locations. Good, locally-made ice cream and nostalgia for the ice cream treats of childhood will be the main draws. $ f
GELATO GILBERTO 9434 Norton Commons Blvd., 423-7751. 9434 Norton Commons Blvd., 423-7751, 2240 Frankfort Ave., 422-0908. Justin and Kristin Gilbert so loved the gelato they ate as students in Italy that they returned there after graduating to study gelato making. Their popular Norton Commons store now has a sibling in Clifton. You can get crepes at both stores as well. $
GEORGIA'S SWEET POTATO PIE CO. 1559 Bardstown Rd., 742-2852. If you watched Grace & Frankie, you know how versatile sweet potatoes can be. In addition to several variations on sweet potato pie, ice cream and cookies, you can find sweet potato-infused soy candles, room sprays and wax melts.
$ L D
GIGI’S CUPCAKES 1977 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 499-4998. This Tennessee-based chain offers a changing selection of high-end cupcakes in designer flavors — Bailey’s Irish cream, apple spice, coconut snowball, and so on. $
GOLDEN GATE DONUTS 8605 Smyrna Pkwy., 883-0012. This South End donut shop has garnered copious fans for their always freshly-made donuts and cream-filled Long Johns, French crullers, giant bear claws and apple fritters. Savory breakfast sandwiches too. $ B L
GREAT BAGEL & BAKERY 12905 Shelbyville Rd., 859-2582210. With two existing locations in Lexington, and sourcing from organic grain farms, Great Bagel has landed in Middletown with bagels, all the extras, house-baked bread, sandwiches and salads. $ B L
HEITZMAN TRADITIONAL BAKERY & DELI 9426 Shelbyville Rd., 426-7736. The Heitzman family has been baking in the Louisville area since your great-aunt was a girl ordering dinner rolls. Made fresh daily, the pies, cakes, cookies and specialty pastries provide tasty nostalgia for all who visit. $ B L D
HIGHVIEW ICE CREAM & COFFEE 7525 Outer Loop, 6183809. This suburban oasis offers coffee and specialty coffee drinks made from Sunergos beans and serves locally-made Bernoulli Small Batch Ice Cream. $ B L D f
HIP HOP SWEET SHOP 516 S. Eighteenth St., Suite A., 3980377 Owner LaFesa Johnson is sticking with the tried and true at her new digs in Russell: baked items, cheesecake, banana pudding and cobbler; homemade ice cream and water ice; and coffees, teas and boba to complement her popular slushies and milkshakes. $ L D
HOMEMADE ICE CREAM & PIE KITCHEN 2525 Bardstown Rd., 459-8184, 3737 Lexington Rd., 893-3303, 3521 Springhurst Commons Dr., 326-8990, 5606 Bardstown Rd., 2393880, 3113 Blackiston Mill Rd., New Albany IN, 590-3580. $ L D f
INSOMNIA COOKIES 339 W. Cardinal Blvd., 385-5143, 948 Baxter Ave., 665-0237. This late-night (til 3 a.m.) cookie and ice cream delivery business was so successful with U of L students that the owners opened a second location in the Highlands. You can order ice cream sandwich cookies too; drink choices are milk or chocolate milk, of course. $ L D
JASMIN BAKERY 2201 Steier Ln., 458-0013. This “Europeanstyle” bakery offers an eclectic menu of Eastern Mediterranean fare, such as gyros and baklava, as well as breads. $ B L D f
JEFF'S DONUTS 5420 IN-62, Jeffersonville IN, 283-3636, 6401 Dutchmans Ln., 365-3299, 712 Brent St. (The Village Market), 6405 Bardstown Rd., 384-4451, 1985 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 365-3162, 10513 Fischer Park Dr., 7953337. Jeff concocts 40 variations of donuts. The Texas donut (order in advance) is large enough for several people. Also available are apple and cherry hand pies, cinnamon twists and glazed honey buns. The Jeffersonville location is open 24 hrs. $ B L D
JJ BAKES & CO. 210 W. Liberty (Omni Hotel), 606-226-3566. This counter service and custom order bakery specializes in wedding cakes and spectacular desserts. Owner Jackie Joseph, encouraged by stints at The Brown Hotel and her gig cooking for the 2010 Olympic team, entered — and won — the Food Network’s “Best Baker in America” in 2021.$ B L
KING DONUT 814 Eastern Pkwy., 742-9003. You’ll find a tasty selection of donuts, along with ice cream, breakfast sandwiches and smoothies at this friendly, brightly lit neighborhood favorite on the edge of Germantown. $ B L D
KING DONUTS 608 Lyndon Ln., 890-5293. Donuts, yes, but you can also choose muffins, breakfast sandwiches and sandwiches for lunch. Healthy juices as well as coffee. $ B L D
LA MAISON AUX CREPES 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market). Eight kinds of filled crepes, savory and sweet, and two kinds of waffles are available at this addition to the restaurant row at Logan Street Market. $$ B L D p
LA PANA BAKERY 991 Logan St., 510-4281. The sister restaurant of FOKO (located around the corner in Shelby Park). Fourth-generation baker and Chef Diego Hernandez traces his culinary foundation to the Oaxacan tradition of making bread, to which he has added experience working in bakeries across Europe and South America. House best-sellers include a lechecilla (vanilla custard) doughnut, the rol de canela (cinnamon roll) and guava cream cheese empanadas. $ B L
LA PATISSERIE FRANCAISE 1355 Bardstown Rd., 777-7659. Highlands pastry shop for Francophiles, where veteran restaurateur Charles Reed (ex- Henry’s Place and Melba’s Culinary Canvas) combines elements of the Parisian patisserie (pastries and cakes are sold) and boulangerie (French-style loaves), and offers a great many gateau (sweet cakes with cream or fruit) along with other continental delights. $ B L D
LEAVEN BAKERY 1515 E. Market St., New Albany IN, 5368823. Zechariah and Kimberly Maxey, veterans of Jack Fry’s and the Brown Hotel, have opened a French bistro/bakery in a 100-year-old New Albany building. In addition to baked goods, the bakery will also serve breakfast and lunch items: eggs Benedict, omelets, mussels with spicy marinara sauce, BLTs with pork belly and other seasonal menu choices. $$ B L f
LOUISVILLE CREAM 632 E. Market St., 882-1516. Owner Daryl Goodner takes milk from grass-fed cows at JD Country Farms and makes it into small batch ice cream vended from his NuLu shop. There is a mix of classic flavors and rotating seasonal creations, including French Vanilla, Bourbon Baklava, Banana Pudding, Pistachio Honeycomb and many others. $ L D f
MOCHI WREN BOBA AND BAKERY 154 E. Main, New Albany IN, 812-221-2336. Formerly Milo’s, still “where east meets west,” brining milk and fruit (boba) teas, coffees and Asian baked goods to downtown New Albany. As an example, lattes and cakes made with ube, a starchy purple yam from the Philippines. $ B L D
MY FAVORITE MUFFIN 9800 Shelbyville Rd., 426-9645. All the muffins are made right in the store, including such popular choices as the Cinnamon Crumb and the Turtle Muffin. $ B
NORD’S BAKERY 2118 S. Preston St., 634-0931. This oldschool, family-owned bakery on the edge of Germantown has a devoted following, drawn by divine Danish, donuts, and great coffee from the nearby Sunergos micro-roastery — and if you’re a sucker for over-the-top excess, try the caramel donut topped with — yes, it’s true — bacon. $ B
NORMA JEAN’S BAKED GOODS 821 E. Broadway, 324-3338. A prolific and seemingly limitless array of cakes, cookies, brownies, chess bars, honey buns, curated at a new shop in Phoenix Hill by Jerrica Tinsley, an alumnus of the Chef Space food business incubator. $ D
NORTH LIME DONUTS 1301 Herr Ln., 963-5734. This Lexington-based bakery offers made-on-premises donuts, certain of them uncommonly flavored (blueberry cheesecake, French toast and pumpkin cream cheese) and coffee. $ B Lf
PANCHITOS ICE CREAM 8112 Preston Hwy, 554-6222, 4810 Dixie Hwy., 384-0838. The Lexington-based Mexican sweets specialist offers Mexican ice cream, popsicles (paletas), sorbets, parfaits and churros, as well as taqueria snacks like street corn, nachos and the ever popular Cheetos con Queso. $ L D PARIS BANH MI & BAKERY 1237 Bardstown Rd., 384-9676. You will find a wide variety of Vietnamese sandwiches here, as well as pastries ranging from croissants to apple turnovers and a long list of cakes, some gluten-free. $$ B L D f
PARLOR DOUGHNUTS 3060 Gottbrath Pkwy., Jeffersonville IN, 812-590-1452., 3531 Grant Line Rd., New Albany IN, 812-590-1655. Doughnut chain with a difference: layered dough, as opposed to cake or yeast doughnuts. Parlor incorporates vegan, gluten-free and keto friendly doughnuts, as well as a purpose-built Doggie Doughnut for the pups in your family. Breakfast offerings include acai bowls, avocado toast and tacos – and a whole lotta coffee. $$ B L
PEARL STREET TREATS 301 Pearl St., Jeffersonville IN. 2888850. An invigorating walk across the Big Four Bridge will bring you down very close to this family-run frozen yogurt shop that also serves soup, chili, cookies, popcorn, and frozen dog treats. Novelty soda flavors in the cooler, but they will refill your water bottle for free. $ L D
PENNY AND PEARL'S BAKESHOP 106 Fairfax Ave., 8906004. This St. Matthews bakery offers 8 to 10 flavors daily of cookies with a crispy edge and a softer middle. Look for weekly specials which include snickerdoodle with brown butter, crème brulée cookies and salted caramel pretzel ‘sammies’. $ B L
PHILLY'S BEST FROZEN DESSERTS 3912 Bardstown Rd., 996-0640, 307 Wallace Ave., 916-2022. This variation on cold summer refreshment serves water ice, a summer staple in the owners’ hometown of Philadelphia. This version of flavored water uses a process that shaves ice until it is finely textured and creamy, to which is added a variety of sweet fruit flavors. $ L D f
Founder Leydis Rodriguez began in Northfield by offering cakes and Cuban-style pastries, since extending her range to include tarts, pastries, truffles and macarons. A second location in Crescent Hill opened in 2025. $ B L D
PLEHN’S BAKERY 3940 Shelbyville Rd., 896-4438. A neighborhood institution, this bakery is as busy as it is nostalgic. Enjoy the hometown soda fountain with ice cream while you wait for your hand-decorated birthday cake, breakfast rolls or colorful cookies to be boxed. $ B
POLLY FREEZE 5242 IN-62, Georgetown IN, 945-6911. The scenic drive out Highway 62 to this Southern Indiana institution on hot summer nights has been a tradition since 1952. Soft serve ice cream in any variation (cones, sundaes, shakes, floats), a wide range of burgers, dogs, sandwiches and sides. Worth the trip. $ L D f
RAWNAISSANCE DESSERTS 1759 Bardstown Rd., 424-3638. Owner Barbora Shneydman offers “guilt-free” dessert concoctions, a variety of chocolate and fruit truffles, and cakes made with raw vegan ingredients. Everything is free of sugar, grains, soy, dairy and eggs. $ L D
RETTA’S ICE CREAM 2011 Frankfort Ave., 708-1057. Another winning mission statement: “ice cream by the scoop, whiskey by the drink,” incorporating a mélange of ice cream, desserts and cocktails, with flavors like Sweet Potato Pie, Fancy Toast, and Sour Dough PB&J, as vended in space intended as a chill neighborhood hangout in Clifton. $ L D p
ROSE BAKERY 13206 W. U.S. Hwy. 42, 365-1601. Pastry chef Lubna Altajjar offers stunning custom cakes plus croissants, pastries, muffins, cookies and coffees in an airy, pink rose-accented space in Prospect; also a concise savory selection of sandwiches and quiche. $ B L D
SNOWHAT 3801 Poplar Level Rd., 742-6080. After a hot day at the zoo, stop by this New Orleans-style snoball shop for a cooling cone. Blueberry and strawberry flavors, and for the more adventurous: lavender lemonade, watermelon basil and jalapeño margarita. $ L D
SUGAR AND SPICE DONUT SHOP 5613 Bardstown Rd., 231-1411. This Fern Creek bakery has loads of loyal fans, who often buy out their favorite donut by mid-morning. Coffee to go too, of course, and even little half-pints of chocolate milk. $ B
SWEET COLADA 1113 Logan St., 219-6663. This Cuban café in a brightly renovated Shelby Park home is operated by a daughter from the family that owns the Sweet Havana bakery in Highview. Offerings include sandwiches, snacks, croquetas, empanadas, coffee and café drinks. $ B L D p f
SWEET STUFF BAKERY 323 E. Spring St., New Albany IN, 948-2507. This long-time southern Indiana home-style bakery is noted for baked goods just like your grandmother made. Its specialty: painted sugar cookies, with designs in white chocolate that change with the seasons and holidays. Also custom cookie and cake designs. $ B
SWEETS BY MORGAN 533 Spring St., Jeffersonville IN. 7250080. Owner Morgan Coomer is dedicated to scratch baking and using real butter in her icings. Expect the usual sweet bakery items like cookies and cupcakes, along with clever specialties. $ B L D
THE BAKERY AT SULLIVAN UNIVERSITY 3100 Bardstown Rd., 452-1210. The retail extension of Sullivan’s nationally known culinary program has been reanimated as a European-style, dine-in bakery café, with coffee, sandwiches and light fare in addition to breads, sweets and baked goods to go. $ B L
THE HEITZMAN CAKE SHOP 4759 Bardstown Rd., 4521891. The renowned local baking family’s tree split long ago, and originator Charles Heitzman’s grandson owns this bakery in Buechel, specializing in wedding, birthday cakes and king cakes, and with no connections to Heitzman Traditional Bakery and Deli near Jeffersontown. $ B L
THE PEACH COBBLER FACTORY 805 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 496-4020., 1401 Veterans Pkwy. Clarksville IN, 812590-2579. This dessert café makes a dozen or so fruit cobblers served with ice cream. Cinnamon rolls and banana puddings (tricked out with added flavors) are also on the menu. $ L D f
WE SCREAM ICE CREAM 1103 Goss Ave., 991-1687. Quaint, colorful and intimate, this newish parlor embraces an olderschool philosophy of sweets on the Goss “strip” in trend-setting Germantown, emphasizing ice cream scoops, waffle cones, cake cones, and snow cones. $ L D f
WILLIAM’S BAKERY 1051 N. Clark Blvd., Clarksville IN, 2842867. $ B L
YONUTZ 12939 Shelbyville Rd., 365-2058. A Florida chain purveyor of dessert treats comes to Middletown with requisite self-confidence: “a world where the ordinary is smashed.” In essence, the result is ice cream is “smashed” between the halves of a doughnut, with numerous flavors of both available for mixing and matching. $ B L D
7 BREW COFFEE (10) 479-358-9274. This rapidly expanding Arkansas-based chain of prefabricated double-drive-thru coffee dispensaries also features tea, smoothies and infused energy drinks. Now with 10 area locations. $ B L D ABOL CAFÉ 102 1/2 Cannons Ln., 384-9430. The coffee served in this St. Matthews shop is from Ethiopia, as are many of the dishes on the brunch menu, which includes checheba (Ethiopian flatbread served with scrambled egg or honey) and quanta firfir, a dried beef and tomato stew. $ B Br L f
BAMBOO COFFEE & DONUTS 2400 Lime Kiln Ln., 3330769. Locally-owned, Asian-influenced coffee shop in Northfield offering an array of fair-trade organic coffees, coffee-based drinks, teas, chai and smoothies (try the ube latte, made with a purple yam from the Philippines), in addition to donuts both flagship and seasonal. $ B L
BAMBŪ DESSERT DRINKS LOUISVILLE 9158 Taylorsville Rd., 560-9055. Mochi waffles, anyone? This Jeffersontown chain’s motif is Vietnamese, featuring chè, which can signify a variety of traditional Vietnamese sweet beverages, puddings or even dessert soups and stews incorporating fresh coconut water and milk. $ L D
BARISTA PARLOR 500 W. Jefferson St., 615-429-3686. Emphasizing ethical sourcing, Barista Parlor’s first coffee shop outside its home of Nashville TN. Also biscuits, avocado toast and breakfast sandwiches. $ B L
BAYT AL MOCHA 327 W. Cardinal Blvd., 365-4673, 12107 Shelbyville Rd. The name of this Detroit-based Yemeni coffee chain translates as Mocha House Café. Yemeni-sourced coffee and barista treats are the fundamental building blocks, augmented by multicultural baked goodies. $ B L
BEAN 1138 Goss Ave., 785-4079. $ B L
BLACKBEARD ESPRESSO 718 W. Main St., 618-0004. Former food truck Blackbeard Espresso now has a Main St. storefront, taking over for Mrs. Potters. Look for coffee, hot and cold teas, milkshakes and smoothies, which the truck’s limited generator couldn’t handle. Baked goods include muffins and scones for those who need a carb lift with their caffeine. $ B L
BLAK KOFFEE 1219 W. Jefferson St. 290-3729, 2820 W. Broadway, 919-8111. Black-owned café businesses originating in the Russell neighborhood stressing diversity, community, quality and economic empowerment. In addition to coffee, tea and smoothies, the shop offers pastries, salads, breakfast items and sandwiches. $ B L
BOBA BUN 812-778-8008, 223 Pearl St., Jeffersonville IN, 2441 State St., New Albany IN. A successful food truck operator bought Fresco Tea Bar’s SoIN bricks ‘n’ mortar, offering multiple interpretations of boba “bubble” tea, a wide selection of wellness” teas, breakfast burritos, bagels, cookies and fudge, as well as a selection of steamed buns, waffles and noodles. $ L D f
BUBBLEVILLE 6754 Bardstown Rd., 305-6332. This Fern Creek emporium advises patrons to “Drown Your Troubles In Bubbles,” which in the current era strikes us as an excellent rationale for sampling assorted boba teas (sorry, no champagne is available), along with smoothies, ice cream and pastries. $ L D
COFFEE CROSSING (1-888-465-6067) 140 E. Main St., New Albany IN, 4212 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 410 Patrol Rd., Jeffersonville IN, 805 Talaina Pl., New Albany IN, 8105
Highway 311, Sellersburg, IN. All five locations please their Southern Indiana clientele with a full roster of coffee drinks, teas, cider and smoothies.$ B L f
CRESCENT HILL COFFEE 2714 Frankfort Ave., 742-6293. Filling the former Heine Brothers space with coffee drinks both expected and unique (cinnamon bun latte, anyone?); from afternoon until early evening, Elixir Café (no relation to Elixir Kombucha) shares the floor space, featuring non-caffeinated health tonics and “coffee” made from powdered medicinal mushrooms not to be confused with shrooms. $ B L f
DAY’S ESPRESSO AND COFFEE BAR 1420 Bardstown Rd., 456-1170. Dark and cozy, with an old-fashioned feeling, Day’s has everything you would expect in a college-neighborhood coffee shop except a college near by. $ f
DUTCH BROS COFFEE 9101 Taylorsville Rd., 877-899-2767. Forest Hills drive-through coffee chain challenging Starbucks with (a) all the coffee creations you’d expect; (b) upbeat, funky music and energetic service; and (c) “broistas,” who collect orders from waiting drivers for faster delivery at the window. $ B L D
ENDLESS SUMMER PADDLE & COFFEE COMPANY 1301 Frankfort Ave., 203-1041. Located in the Waterside Apartments, this stand-up paddleboard livery also offers a coffee shop. Fresh juice, smoothies and snacks are available for paddlers, paddleboard students, and landlubbers. $ B L
FANTE'S COFFEE 2501 Grinstead Dr., 454-0543. Owner Leo Fante has been in the coffee business most of his life, and has finally opened his own shop across the road from Cherokee Park. Fante imports his beans from small suppliers around the world, and roasts on premise. There is also a limited menu of sandwiches, soups and salads, and breakfast pastries. $ B L D pf
FLEUR DE TEA 10704 Meeting St.742-9561, 1212 S. Fourth St., 742-9561. “When the journey of life gets steep, we steep tea.” Choose from a selection of tea varieties, bubble tea, pastries and wares and bubble tea at two stylish locations in Norton Commons and Old Louisville. $ B L D
FULL STOP FILLING STATION 1132 E. St. Catherine St., 260-8046. A former Germantown gas station converted to a full-service neighborhood coffee shop and kitchen, specializing in various human fuels: An extensive coffee program; hot food for breakfast, lunch and dinner; package and draft beer (also kombucha on tap); and a small market. $ B L p
FUN TEA 1608 Bardstown Rd., 749-1376. Tea in many variations – pure tea, milk tea, tea lattes, and Taiwanese bubble tea – can be found here, along with slushies, smoothies and bubble puff cake. $ L D f
GLOW WORM CAFÉ & PLAY 962 Barret Ave., 690-4633, 11603 Hazelwood Rd., 554-3606. Calling itself “the first play café in Louisville,” Glow Worm offers three play sessions per day for children 6 and under, while parents wait, mingle or work in the full-service café. $ B L
HEINE BROTHERS’ COFFEE (15 locations) Heine Bros. continues their dominance in the local brewing scene. The stores are always friendly and affordable, with good coffee roasted on the premises and a short list of pastries, desserts and panini sandwiches. $ f
JACKDAW COFFEE & BOURBON BAR 120 S Floyd St., 9774590. The Cambria Hotel on Whiskey Row is a property of O’Reilly Hospitality Management, hence billing modern Irish “fusion” branding for its bar and restaurant, as revealed by the use of corned beef in the breakfast burrito, plus Irish bacon, a ploughman’s plate, and Irish soda bread. The cocktail list quite properly eschews Irish uisce beatha for the preferred Kentucky variant. $ B L D p
JEFFERSONTOWN HONEY DEPOT 3840 Ruckriegel Pkwy., 212-6228. Formerly Honey Depot & Coffee House, this evolving retail concept from HoneyBear Farms was relocated in Jeffersontown and renamed in 2024. It still stocks regionally-produced honey, jams and jellies and serves locallyroasted coffee on premise, accompanied by pastries (including acclaimed cinnamon rolls). $ B L f
KIWA 2235 Frankfort Ave., 888-3513. All things Korean, and “under one roof” – the word “kiwa” means both prosperity and the characteristic (also metaphorical) Korean roofing tile. The ground floor features a daily range of beverages and pastries,
expanding on weekends to offer authentic Korean home-style meals. Upstairs are explorations of Korean cuisine, art and culture. $$ B Br L f
KOLKIN COFFEE 2736 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 5998410. This family run caffeine dispensary on the north side of New Albany serves coffee from Sunergos roastery in a cheerful, inviting environment. $
LOUISVILLE TEA COMPANY 9305 New LaGrange Rd., 3652516. Teas of all sorts, pastries and cookies make for a perfect morning snack the English call “elevenses.” $ B L
MICKEY’S 624 Vincennes St., New Albany IN. Owner Mickey Ball’s former McQuixote Books and Coffee in Portland lives on as a socially conscious used bookstore and coffee shop in New Albany, with Good Folks Coffee, Elmwood Inn Fine Teas and baked goods from Viking Hat Bakery and Payne Street Bakehouse. $ B L D f
MOKA & CO. 1541 Highland Ave., 690-2113, 655 Fourth St., 963-5813. If you’re unfamiliar with the range and heritage of Yemeni coffee, consider this small chain your classroom: Mufawar, Maleki, Sana’ani, Jubani and Qishr coffees are only a start; also available are specialty lattes, chai and various refreshers and frozen blends (these shops formerly were tied to Haraz).$ B D pf
NOOK & NOWHERE 1149 S. Shelby St. Noticing the prevailing zig, the owners of Trouble Bar thoughtfully zagged, transforming their Shelby Park space into a bookstore-oriented bar and café. The menu features cocktails, including Trouble Bar favorites, alongside coffee and tea. $$ B L D p
NTABA COFFEE HAUS 2407 Brownsboro Rd., 871-5082. It is always fun to see former chain restaurant buildings repurposed. The one-time Pizza Hut in Clifton on Brownsboro Road is now a purveyor of African-sourced coffees and teas. $ B L
PEARL STREET GAME & COFFEE HOUSE 405 Pearl St., Jeffersonville IN, 648-1663. The name says it all: you can play your favorite boards games from the extensive library of such while enjoying coffee drinks, fresh fruit smoothies, lavender lattes, and sandwiches. $ B L D f
PHALCHA COFFEE 1001 Mary St., 3900 Shelbyville Rd., 6582592. Coffee from Nepal is high-altitude Arabica that yields complex flavor profiles, and this Nepalese-themed coffee shop’s name means “resting place.” Choices while recuperating range from the café’s distinctive coffee flights (including iced variants) to sandwiches, waffles and ice cream. $$ B L D
PLEASE & THANK YOU 800 E. Market St., 553-0113, 2341 Frankfort Ave., 432-8614, 9561 U.S. Hwy 42, 544-9225. This small-batch bakery and coffee house offering quiches, panini, cookies, and a hip vibe. $ B L f
PREGAME COFFEE 1737 Frankfort Ave., 645-0324. It’s a coffee shop. No, it’s a sports bar. Well, it is both. Stop in in the morning to talk about sports and order from a selection of coffee drinks, teas and beer and wine as well. Or come back during game time and watch your games in a coffee house environment. $ B L D p f
QUILL’S COFFEE SHOP 861-5947, 930 Baxter Ave., 742-6129, 802 E. Main St. 10501 Watterson Trl.,3939 Shelbyville Rd., 11213 River Beauty Loop, 2001 Frankfort Ave. Since 2007, fans of this purveyor of locally roasted coffee and pro¬vider of amenable working spaces have found their caffeine fixes, specialty drinks and tea selection—and Wi-Fi hotspots—at multiple Louisville area locations.$ pf
RED HOT ROASTERS 1399 Lexington Rd., 569-0000. Sondra Powell has closed her Butchertown Block sit down store and returned to purveying her excellent house-roasted coffee and refreshing coffee drinks from her drive-thru location in Irish Hill. $ f
SAFAI COFFEE 1707 Bardstown Rd., 384-3555, 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market). This casual spot boasts the ambiance of a friendly old-fashioned book shop, with comfortable seating, house-made crepes, and coffee roasted at the Logan Street Market, where there is a second shop. $ B L f
SCOOTER'S COFFEE 4703 Dixie Hwy., 260-8642, 11506 Shelbyville Rd., 690-6349, 9060 Dixie Hwy., 690-4042., 4036 Poplar Level Rd., 290-2329, 3410 Preston Hwy., 384-7488, 210 Market Place Dr., 277-1193. This Omaha-based chain of drive-through coffee stops has plans to add several more Louisville-area locations to its portfolio of over 300 outlets
around the Midwest. Red Bull infusions, too, and pastries and breakfast items. $ B L D
SISTER BEAN’S 5225 New Cut Rd., 364-0082. $ f
SODA BOMB 1001 Logan St., 866-763-2588. Nostalgia is the theme of this mobile concept originally from Arizona and Nevada, which custom-blends flavors into uniquely crafted sodas, now at Logan Street Market. Added attractions include milkshakes, made-from-scratch cookies and macaroons, and candies – they’re the literal namesake “bombs.” $$ L D p f
STARBUCKS COFFEE (48+ locations) $ f
STARLIGHT COFFEE CO. 3131 Grant Line Rd., New Albany IN, 542-1522, 101 Lafollette Station, Floyds Knobs IN, 9231404, 7613 Old Hwy. 60, Sellersburg IN. 748-7000. For almost twenty years this staple of the Southern Indiana coffee culture has been roasting and serving its custom-blends to happy Hoosiers. Owner Jim Book has recently expanded north to Sellersburg, where he will move the company’s roasting and wholesale operations. $ f
STOMPING GROUNDS COFFEE CO. 10019 Dixie Hwy., 996-7473. This friendly, locally-owned coffee shop serves Sunergos roasted coffees in all sorts of popular versions, hot and cold. $ B L D
SUNERGOS COFFEE 2122 S. Preston St., 634-1243, 306 W. Woodlawn Ave., 368-2820, 231 S. Fifth St., 589-3222, 1647 Norris Pl., 919-9676, 3922 Willis Ave., 936-4313. Matthew Huested and Brian Miller used to roast their own coffee beans as a hobby. Their friends said they did it so well, they should turn pro — the result is Sunergos Coffee. $
SWIG 3009 Poplar Level Rd., 654-6585, 4014 E. Tenth St., Jeffersonville, IN., 930-228-9009. The “Original Dirty Soda” chain, this hitherto unknown beverage being a creation traceable to Utah, and a desire to avoid alcohol and caffeine by artfully combining sodas, coffee creamers, and flavored syrups. Pretzels and cookies, too. $ L D
SWITCHBOARD 900 Baxter Ave. (The Myriad Hotel), 6327931. Myriad Hotel’s versatile sidekick to its main Paseo restaurant offers morning coffee-with-pastry, evening cocktails, and a Middle Eastern-influenced, day-long-small-bite menu, these nibbles ranging from olives, pickles, and labneh to a smoked fish rillette and sherry gigante beans.$$ B L
THE BEP TEAHOUSE 1702 Bardstown Rd., 657-3252. The first-ever franchise of a Houston TX bubble tea chain stressing drinks made with organic tea and tapioca balls (or “boba”). Also Vietnamese-inspired nibles (spring rolls, pot stickers) are available. $ L D pf
THE COFFEE BOXX 1512 Portland Ave., 544-5787. This new Portland coffee bar fills the former McQuixote Books and Coffee space and offers all you’d expect: a range of popular coffee drinks, teas and some specialty items such as Vietnamese coffee and caramel cream cold brew. $ B L f
THE COFFEE ZONE 9601 Whipps Mill Rd., 708-1522. North Carolinian transplant Craig Bishop has established a beachhead in Louisville. In addition to some good java, he features bakery items, such as pastries, and assorted sandwiches. $ f
THE OLD LOUISVILLE COFFEE CO-OP 316 W. Ormsby Ave. A unique worker-owned business with an ambitious agenda, including partnerships with Three Keys Coffee (Houston TX), Sis Got Tea and Kizito Cookies; a 24-hour schedule on weekends; the offering of alternatives to the bar scene for people in recovery; and serving as an LGBTQ safe space. $ B L D
TIGER SUGAR 1501 Bardstown Rd., 365-4155. It’s the first Kentucky outpost of the Taiwan-based bubble tea shop chain, which has earned its “tiger stripes” among connoisseurs worldwide via clever hand-poured syrup infusions. $ L D
WITCHES BREW COFFEE 1813 Frankfort Ave., 963-5089. Locally owned shop; all the coffee drinks and light snacks you’d expect, but possessing a singularly witchy “haunted house” vibe, with metaphysical items, tarot readings, varied performances and other aspects available nowhere else in town. Utterly unique. $ B L D
WHIRLING TIGER COFFEE 1335 Story Ave., 632-1440. With which a noted performance venue and nightlife hub in Butchertown adds daytime coffee service, sourcing locally roasted beans and adding the baristas necessary to create all the coffee shop favorites, because with espresso more things are possible $ B L p
