space, you can get your day going with eggs or omelets or bread pudding French toast. Lunch on salads, sandwiches or burgers or choose a dinner entrée (meatloaf, say, or chicken and waffles) any time of the day or night. $ B Br L D pf
Eric Morris in the kitchen, serving an eclectic menu, including rotisserie chicken and duck, braised short rib spring rolls, rosemary pesto pasta with grilled prawns and wild mushroom polenta. Along with a full bar. Much fun. $$ L D p
DITTO’S GRILL 1114 Bardstown Rd., 581-9129. This informally whimsical Highlands space masks the work of classically trained owner-chefs Dominic Serratore and Frank Yang. Sure, take note of the fanciful artwork adorning the exposed brick walls and the gargoyles in the ceiling. But don’t overlook Serratore’s “gourmet casual” menu of New England crab cakes, fanciful salads and Sunday brunch egg dishes. $$ Br L D hpf
LOUVINO 1606 Bardstown Rd., 365-1921. Travis Rockwell, longtime executive chef at Equus/Jack’s Lounge, has crafted the small plates menu offered at this immediately popular Highlands wine bar. Look for duck fat frites, loaded baked potato tots, shrimp and grit cakes with spicy tomato jam, hot brown mac and fried chicken tacos. $$ Br D pfe
EGGS OVER FRANKFORT 2712 Frankfort Ave., 7094452. Husband and wife team Jackson and Cortney Nave used a lot of recycled materials in changing what was the Fat Jimmy’s Pizza in Crescent Hill into a “very traditional” breakfast spot. Its menu includes omelets, eggs Benedict, waffles and oatmeal, as well as salads and sandwiches for lunch. $ B EXCHANGE PUB + KITCHEN 118 W. Main St., New Albany IN, 948-6501. Owner Ian Hall has made his gastropub in a sumptuously renovated historic building a fun place to sit and sample the eclectic bistro-style menu. Try the Korean BBQ or jalapeño fritters, steak frites or cider-glazed chicken. Wash things down with something from its substantial beer, wine and cocktails list that even includes house-made ginger ale. $$ L D hpfe FOUR PEGS BEER LOUNGE 1053 Goss Ave., 634-1447. Four Pegs has settled in nicely to the Germantown scene. Twelve craft beers on tap and a 30 bottle beer list brings 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 bacon-fried green tomatoes and beer sauce. $ D h f GRALEHAUS 1001 Baxter Ave., 454-7075. In the house behind the Holy Grale’s beer garden is Gralehouse, a café and deli. Its breakfast and lunch menu includes biscuit and duck gravy, an openface short rib sandwich, crepes, and a coffee bar, with house-made sodas, shrubs and kombucha. Also beers on tap and in the cooler. $$ B Br L f HAMMERHEADS 921 Swan St., 365-1112. One of the more unusual restaurant spaces in town, Hammerheads is also one of the hippest. Adam Burress and Chase Murcerino, who share owner and chef duties, fire up their BBQ smoker streetside, and fans far and wide flock to the semibasement space on the edge of Germantown to partake of pulled pork and beef brisket, pork and lamb ribs, roasted duck sandwiches, pork belly BLTs and soft shell crab tacos. $ D h HARD ROCK CAFÉ 424 S. Fourth St. (Fourth Street Live), 568-2202. Louisville’s Fourth Street Live echoes with a bang amid hammering guitars and happy throngs at the local branch of this popular shrine to rock. The music scene is the draw, but you’ll have no com plaints about Hard Rock’s standard American cuisine. $$ L D hpfe HOLY GRALE 1034 Bardstown Rd., 459-9939. There are a lot of places to quaff craft beers in town, but Holy Grale’s frequently changing draft selection is among the most esoteric. Couple that with the seasonally adapted menu of chef Joshua Lehman and the oddity of being housed in a renovated church (the upstairs bar is aptly named “The Choir Loft”) and you have a unique dining and drinking experience. $ L D he JACK’S LOUNGE 122 Sears Ave., 897-9026. A sophisticated, elegant bar associated with the Equus restaurant next door, Jack’s offers a short but excellent menu featuring appetizers and light bites, along with a drinks list beyond reproach. $ D pf LOOP 22 2222 Dundee Rd., 882-3279. This is the third venture from the guys at Hammerheads and Game. 54 Winter 2014 www.foodanddine.com
MAJID’S ST. MATTHEWS 3930 Chenoweth Sq., 6182222. In the four years at his classy Chenoweth Square location long-time restaurant entrepreneur Majid Ghavami has moved his emphasis to continental cuisine, offering classic dishes from different parts of Europe, with the backbone of the menu focused on Mediterranean cuisine. Look for well-prepared standards like duck with orange sauce, and, of course, Majid’s signature rack of lamb. In the sophisticated lounge, choose from a lively small plates menu while listening to jazz standards most every night. $$$ Br D pfe 7 MANNY & MERLE 122 W. Main St., 290-8888. Tony Palombino’s latest addition to his eclectic local empire serves up contemporary Mexican street food (Mod Mex) and a funky bar menu that highlights an impressive collection of tequilas and Bourbons. A major C&W music venue, with live acts most nights of the week, featuring Nashville bands as well as local talent tending to the rawer, honkytonk end of the country spectrum. $ L D hpe 7 MARKETPLACE RESTAURANT AT THEATER SQUARE 651 S. Fourth St., 625-3001. Going to the opera, a concert at the Palace or a show at the Mercury Ballroom? Chow down first at Marketplace, right in the middle of the now-hopping Theater Square. The elegant decor, whether at the circular bar, in the serene dining room, or any of the three outdoor spaces will get you in the mood, and Chef Dallas McGarity’s seasonal Italian influenced southern cuisine (panzanella salad, ricotta gnocchi, shrimp and grits, hot sauce fried chicken) will get you to the curtain well fed indeed. $$ L D hpf MATCH CIGAR BAR 207 Spring St., Jeffersonville IN, 725-7475. This classy cigar and Bourbon lounge specializes in elegant cocktails, premium cigars and offers a small menu including Bourbonmarinated steak, grilled chicken, burgers and cheeses. $$ D p MUSSEL & BURGER BAR 9200 Taylorsville Rd., 384-4834. Guaca Mole’s Fernando Martinez and his family stretch their ambitions and imaginations with an affordable “American bistro concept” featuring mussels with six different sauces, and 12 clever twists on burgers. Located in a strip mall just beyond the Hurstbourne Lane -Taylorsville Road intersection, it is worth seeking out, both for the food and for the comfy bistro atmosphere created in the cavernous space tricked out by former owners. L D hpe NORTH END CAFÉ 1722 Frankfort Ave., 896-8770, 2116 Bardstown Rd., 690-4161. Both locations of this long-time favorite offer hearty and unusual breakfasts, satisfying lunches and dinners. With an eclectic menu of diverse tapas and interesting entrées, it’s an appealing, affordable place to dine. $$ B Br L D hpfe OLD 502 WINERY 120 S. Tenth St., 540-5650. The wine here is made on site from grapes grown primarily in central Kentucky. The tasting room serves locally made Kentucky Proud snack food to enhance the wine, so stop in at lunch or weekends and sample their wares. A recent partnership formed with Falls City ensures its brews are on tap here, and a large event space for parties and receptions is available for rental. $$ L D hpe
OLIVE LEAF BISTRO 130 W. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville IN, 913-1252. Walk over the Big Four bridge for a meal that draws on the rich food traditions of countries ringing the Mediterranean. Olive Leaf Bistro serves everything from tagines to chicken Forestiere, oysters Rockefeller to eggplant Napoleon, and Greek salad to paella. $$$ L D
hpf RAMSI’S CAFÉ ON THE WORLD 1293 Bardstown Rd., 451-0700. The beating bohemian heart of the Highlands. Ramsi Kamar brings a wonderfully eclectic spirit to the environment and to his menu, with Cuban, Jamaican, Greek and Middle Eastern dishes. Moderate prices, a weekend brunch and late night hours add to the draw. $$ L D hpf 7 RIVER CITY WINERY 321 Pearl St., New Albany IN, 945-9463. Ten of owners Gary and Melissa Humphrey’s wines medaled in the June 2011 Indy International Wine Competition. Their honest, straightforward wines and Italian-inspired menu, featuring brink-oven pizzas, draw appreciative crowds. Don’t miss the crab cakes with black-eyed pea salsa. $$ Br L D e SIDEBAR AT WHISKEY ROW 129 N. Second St., 384-1600. 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. $$ L D hpe THE SILVER DOLLAR 1761 Frankfort Ave., 259-9540. The old firehouse in Clifton is now a honky tonk bar and restaurant, the music (all on vinyl) focused on the “Bakersfield sound” — a fusion of Mexicali and American roots music. The southern country-style menu with sophisticated nuances has been an immediate hit. Choose from more than 80 Kentucky Bourbons, ryes, tequila and mescal, but no “foreign whiskey” like Scotch. $$ Br L D hpf VILLAGE ANCHOR PUB & ROOST 11507 Park Rd., 708-1850. In the heart of Anchorage at the old train station is this two-level Euro-village inspired concept. On the upper level, a French bistro a la Moulin Rouge 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, well-selected wine list and ambitious beer list with more than 50 craft and import choices accompany 55 Bourbons to boot. $$$ Br L D hpf
ALLEY CAT CAFÉ 11804 Shelbyville Rd., 245-6544. This suburban Alley Cat is a cozy and bright little place, and the lunch-only menu is affordable and appealing. $ L THE ANCHORAGE CAFÉ 11505 Park Rd., 708-1880. Upscale Anchorage has an eminently suitable place for breakfast, lunch and brunch — as well as a takeout bakery offering quiches, scones, pies, and cookies. For breakfast try oatmeal or toast and jam; for lunch, a soup, salad or sandwich, all made with local seasonal ingredients. $ B Br L D f AROMA CAFÉ Horseshoe Casino Hotel, Elizabeth IN, 888-766-2648. 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 hp ATLANTIC NO. 5 605 W. Main St., 883-3398. Michael Trager-Kusman, owner of Rye, was inspired by the name of long-ago iron workers’ lunch boxes when he named his new West Main Street place, a mashup of a deli and a bistro. The menu plays off what was offered by their favorite New York places: sandwiches, salads, rotisserie chicken, smoked fish, pork, lamb, house-made charcuterie and bagels at breakfast. $ B Br L pfe
RED = Advertiser B = Breakfast Br = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner
h = Late Night