Fall 2020 (Vol. 68)

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contents FA L L 2 0 2 0 | VO LU M E 6 8

RESTAURANT GUIDE

40 | Dining Guide 74 | Maps

Our comprehensive listing of over 1,300 area restaurants, complete with reviews.

(RESTAURANT LOCATOR)

Find all of the restaurants in our Dining Guide on these user-friendly maps — a unique resource you can’t find elsewhere.

FEATURES

16 | 22| 30 |

FEATURE | The Truth about Delivery Apps The dark side of delivery apps affects restaurateurs, delivery drivers and customers.

PROFILE | Matt Winn’s Steakhouse Though he isn’t as well-known as he should be, Matt Winn shaped Churchill Downs into an international icon. The new steakhouse that bears his name blends local ingredients, an indie service vibe, and globe-spanning culinary ideas in a grand location that will be open all year-round.

PROFILE | Tandoori Fusion A farm-to-table restaurant takes Indian cuisine back to its roots.

COLUMNS Starters

8| 12 |

COMINGS & GOINGS A summary of changes in the local restaurant scene — with openings, closings, changes and more.

BAR BELLE | Last call 2020 Survival strategies and recommended openings from our witty and resilient correspondent!

Liquids

14 | 20 |

HIP HOPS | Coping with COVID Three outstanding local brewers offer insights into how their operations have coped with COVID.

BOURBON | Oldies are most certainly goodies Bourbon is as old as Kentucky, and though many new brands have cachet, some of the finest spirits are classics unashamed to call themselves “Old.”

Food

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Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

28 |

COOKING WITH RON | When fall comes to the garden

36 |

EASY ENTERTAINING | Lobster Feast

Though the season may be coming to a close, the final weeks of the harvest offer riches for the home gardener (or farm market shopper). Ron offers recipes for the moment.

Our experts take the fear out of cooking lobster, and the reward is well worth the effort.

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starters | from the editor

From the Editor We’re back. Since the summer of 2003, F&D has been the authoritative source for comprehensive and insightful coverage of the best of Louisville’s dining scene. We are proud to have reported on the restaurants, chefs, and culinary trends that have shaped Louisville’s remarkable culinary scene through the years. We are proud that our coverage has grown richer over the years — and that each year an increasing number of readers rely on the quality of our work. You can review our legacy by clicking the archives link at foodanddine.com.

We continue to build on that legacy.

This was no ordinary year. In the face of the novel coronavirus epidemic we decided, for the first time in our history, to suspend print publication for one issue.

But we didn’t stop working. In fact, we ramped up our daily coverage of Louisville’s food scene to help customers and restaurateurs navigate through the crisis.

We partnered with Louisville Tourism to build and maintain a comprehensive web-based guide to every restaurant offering pickup or delivery service in the Metro area during the mandatory shutdown — a guide that we updated daily in real-time throughout the worst of the shutdown.

On the web and on social media we published a daily stream of breaking news and trend stories — like Michael L. Jones’ study of the darker aspects of corporate delivery apps and their negative impact on local restaurants (an updated version of that story appears in this issue on page 16).

Prompted by that story, F&D partnered with the web design firm Mr and Mrs Smith to pioneer a free online custom ordering platform designed for restaurateurs who needed assistance bypassing the corporate sites and connecting directly with their customers. You can find the story on our website (foodanddine.com) by searching “online ordering.”

Our experienced print journalists tripled our online coverage and offered constantly updated news and perspectives during the most unpredictable periods of the crisis.

It was a big shift for a quarterly magazine. And it was helmed by our indefatigable web editor — and always fascinating commentator — Roger Baylor, who wrangled the writers and orchestrated a complicated weekly onslaught of stories.

In addition to Roger’s trenchant pieces, we offered contributions by Jones, our resident spirits writer Susan Reigler; and cook, raconteur, and former F&D editor-in-chief Ron Mikulak.

Now we’re back. This issue is filled with new photos by Pulitzer-Prize winning Dan Dry, the wit and wisdom of Louisville’s one and only Bar Belle, Sara Havens, interesting features and profiles.

And, of course, our monthly compendium of Comings & Goings.

This is a pivotal moment in the history of the city, the nation, and the world.

In the grand scheme of things, perhaps Louisville’s dining scene is just “a hill of beans,” as Bogart said to Bergman in “Casablanca.” But it’s our hill of beans, and we take it seriously.

For two decades we’ve kept track as restaurants opened and closed across the Metro.

For this installment of Comings & Goings, Ron Mikulak and our Publisher, John Carlos White, were determined to get it right. So over the last eight weeks, the two of them have either spoken to or physically visited every one of the 1,467 restaurants listed in our Spring issue. And, of course, we have meticulously monitored openings throughout the interval.

So at press time, this listing offers the most comprehensive and accurate picture of what has transpired over the last six months.

We’re not through this yet. But this is the state of play. And I think you’ll agree that Louisville restaurateurs are proving to be a resilient and creative group.

FALL 2020

PUBLISHER JOHN CARLOS WHITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MARTY ROSEN EXECUTIVE EDITOR RON MIKULAK WEB EDITOR ROGER BAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHERS DAN DRY ANDY HYSLOP COLUMNISTS ROGER BAYLOR SARA HAVENS RON MIKULAK SUSAN REIGLER FEATURE WRITERS MICHAEL L. JONES MARTY ROSEN ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS-AT-LARGE TIM & LORI LAIRD GRAPHIC DESIGN & PRODUCTION ED ROTHER / ER GRAPHICS JOHN CARLOS WHITE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES KAREN SHANE

Food & Dining Magazine® P.O. Box 665, Louisville KY 40201 502.509.EATS (3287)

www.foodanddine.com socialmedia@foodanddine.com facebook.com/foodanddine @FoodAndDining

For advertising information call 502.509.3287 (EATS) Food & Dining Magazine® is published quarterly by Louisville Dining Magazine, Inc. P.O. Box 665, Louisville KY 40201 The publisher and advertisers are not responsible or liable for misprints, typographical errors or misinformation. The opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher. *Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved.

ON THE COVER

Marty Rosen 6

Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

Red Eye S’more from Matt Winn’s Steakhouse (page 22). Photo by Dan Dry.

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www.foodanddine.com Fall 2020

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starters | comings & goings

comings & goings

BY RON MIKULAK

Let’s start with some surprisingly good news. Among the

lic health officials. The shape or direction of that realign-

many strange details we have to share in this column is

ment remains to be seen as the Louisville area continues

that despite all the disruptions and uncertainty afflicting

to cope with this pandemic.

the Louisville restaurant industry during the pandemic, we

The scope and direction of any realignment of the

are pleased to report on 49 restaurants that have opened

restaurant industry in Louisville and Southern Indiana is

(or are just days away from opening) in the last six months.

likely to be led by the surprising number of restaurants

Over the last eight weeks, we have either spoken to or

that have soldiered on. Some closed only briefly and

physically visited almost every one of the 1,467 restau-

reopened, or remained serving throughout, by simplifying

rants listed in our Spring issue’s restaurant guide. It is pos-

their menus to adjust to the needs of carryout diners or

sible that some restaurants we found open when we

delivery services, or reconfiguring their dining rooms to

called in late July and throughout August may have

meet new, drastically lower occupancy rates, or increasing

encountered recent changes in circumstances that may

their outdoor seating capacities on sidewalks, patios or

have caused them to reconsider operation.

parking lots. Many restaurants have been ingenious in

Sadly, we can confirm that 92 restaurants have perma-

finding ways to operate with diminished clientele.

nently closed their doors. Another 58 restaurants have

But surely the willingness of Louisville/Southern Indiana

temporarily closed, unable to operate profitably under the

diners to keep supporting their favorite restaurants

current public health restrictions, and plan to resume

through carryout and delivery orders, or by abiding by

business when those restrictions are lifted.

social distancing and mask-wearing mandates for in-

We hope that eventually those businesses will open

restaurant dining, has been a major factor in keeping so

their doors again, but we realize not all will be able to do

many businesses alive. Those 49 restaurateurs who have

so. But until a final outcome is known, we will continue to

opened are surely counting on the commitment of

list these temporarily closed businesses in our guide.

intrepid diners to continue to support the growth and

There is bound to be a realignment of the restaurant

diversity of local restaurants. Here are the newest addi-

dining world as a result of the strictures imposed by pub-

tions to F&D’s listings.

NEW TABLES

and still serving oversized burritos, tacos, quesadillas and tortas. Further down Bardstown Road (where Stout Burgers used to be) Eric Morris (Hull & High Water, Gospel Bird) has opened Faces Bar/Bistro (1604 Bardstown Rd.), a neighborhood bar with sophisticated bar food — yucca fries, pastrami panini,Thai curry spaghetti squash, that sort of thing.

Other new bars with varying food options include Toasty’s Tavern (1258 S. Shelby St.) offering burgers, breakfast sandwiches and a vegan hot dog; Off the Rails Tasting Room & Wine Depot (2118 Bruce Ave.) offers wine, craft brews and bourbon from across Kentucky; Expo (114 W. Main St.) strives to be ecologically aware of food waste and socially progressive in terms of inclusivity and fair wages; and Gold Bar (1601 Story Ave.), now open in the former site of Butchertown Social, also focuses on sustainable practices, such as biodegradable straws and menus on LCD screen displays, not paper.

Patrons of Buck’s Restaurant in Old Louisville have enjoyed Rick Bartlett’s piano playing and song stylings for many years. Now Bartlett has opened his own supper-club style restaurant, Ricky B’s Club Café (2901 Brownsboro Rd.), where he is serving eclectic international cuisine and entertaining diners.

Those who have felt deprived of Spanish cuisine since Miguel and Maggie de la Torres closed their eponymous Highlands restaurant a few years ago can find paella, Serrano ham croquettes and albondigas at Barcelona Bistro Bar (10415 Taylorsville Rd.). Also new to Jeffersontown is Moya’s American Kitchen (10000 Linn Station Rd.) which serves up fried green tomatoes, smothered pork chops, meatloaf and other American comfort foods.

La Bamba (1237 Bardstown Rd.) is open again in spiffy new quarters 8 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

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comings & goings | starters The last new bar we need to mention is Gallant Fox Brewery (2132 Frankfort Ave.), tucked behind Varanese Restaurant (across the tracks and at the corner of Frankfort Avenue and New Main Street) in Crescent Hill. Among their first brewing efforts were a blood orange blonde ale and a mango-guava pale ale. Guest taps feature regional brews.

Across the river, in New Albany, you can find Fistful of Ale and its sibling Fistful of Tacos (both at 2708 Paoli Pike). The bar serves 20+ “strong flavored” beers (IPAs, stouts, unusual lagers), which can wash down tacos with intriguing names – The Good, The Bad, The Vegan and several others.

In downtown New Albany Board & You Bistro & Wine Bar (434 Pearl St.) serves cocktails, charcuterie, small plates and desserts.

The popularity of the Big Four Bridge continues to inspire new Jeffersonville dining and entertainment ideas. Union Restaurant & GameYard (115 W. Chestnut St.) serves burgers, sandwiches and appetizers and offers a range of seasonal indoor and outdoor games.

A new attempt to revive the old Coyote’s Corner entertainment space (113 W. Liberty St.) has been undertaken by the ambitious folks behind Jeffersonville’s Parlour with a dual restaurant concept. One Thirty Three is a bourbon-centric bar with an upscale casual menu, and its BBQ-focused sibling Smoked on Second will host live music. Both are slated for a mid-October opening.

Not far away, another dual concept business has revived another downtown space. Deke’s Bar (301 W. Market St.) occupies the right side of the corner building, and The Sauce, a casual BBQ place, is in the adjacent dining space, which serves, along with the well-made usual fare, smoked turkey legs. There the casual ambiance celebrates local sports, focusing on UofL, where the owners’ Randy and Sheritha Towns’s son David Johnson is a point guard.

Two tea bars have opened recently. Fun Tea (1613 Bardstown Rd.) offers bubble tea and other tea-based drinks, slushies and smoothies. In New Albany Fresco Tea Bar (216 Pearl St.) is now open inside MESA. There you can get hot and cold drinks, bubble tea, and grab-and-go food items.

Several new pizza joints join the crowded field, each offering pizza styles associated with different American cities. Legacy Pizza and Bakery (1001 Vincennes St.) in New Albany, bakes New York-style pizzas, as well as calzones and strombolis. Jake & Elwood’s (2230 Frankfort Ave.) concocts Chicago-style deep-dish pies; also on the menu are sausages, Italian beef sandwiches and wings. And West Point Pizza (9100 Dixie Hwy.), which does not promote one culinary pizza style over another, has reopened after a year’s hiatus in new digs closer to town.

A couple of chicken-centric restaurants have opened. The food truck POLLO (1991 Brownsboro Rd.) has settled down in Clifton. It is run by the same folks who operate Six Forks Burger Co. in Shelby Park.

Choose from fried or roasted chicken, mac & cheese, or vegetarian dishes. In Jeffersonville you can choose between 13 styles of chicken salad served as a scoop or in a sandwich at Chicken Salad Chick (1520 Veterans Pkwy.).

Several new restaurants have re-conceived previous dining locations.

The cute little bungalow in Clifton that had a reasonable run as The Italian Table was quickly transformed into the uber-cute Christmas Morning Café ( 2359 Frankfort Ave.) where year-round you can have breakfast, brunch or lunch amid a congeries of Christmas-themed decorative items.

The owners of Mac’s Dough House have turned their pizza business into Gaslight Diner (10509 Watterson Tr.) The name pays homage to

J’town’s annual Gaslight Festival and the family-friendly menu will have an all-day breakfast focus when they open in October.

Riot Café (574 S. Fourth St.) is the latest venture of entrepreneur Olivia Griffin, who operates The Limbo Tiki Bar and The Mysterious Rack hat store. Griffin has taken over the space recently occupied by Craft(s) Gallery & Mercantile where, beginning in October, she will be serving a selection of grab-and-go sandwiches, pastries and drinks inspired by Asian cuisines, and working to make her new undertaking a venue for constructive dialogue for social change in Louisville.

Several small restaurants featuring distinctively regional cuisines have recently opened. We’ll include Po-Z’s Kitchen (6801 Dixie Hwy.) in that category; its soul food offerings – wings and fried fish, sweet baked beans and banana pudding are rooted in American vernacular cuisine.

Eden & Kissi (3912 Bardstown Rd.) is an Afro-Cuban spot in Buechel serving up jerk chicken, pineapple shrimp and jollof rice. Sonal’s Kitchen (3741 Pamela Rae Dr.) serves vegetarian and vegan dishes of South India.

Fresh Out the Box (1001 Logan St.) is a new addition to the dining aisle at Logan Street Market, serving Asian fusion street food and Korean dishes. Syrian Grill Abu Abdu (3325 Bardstown Rd.) gives a Syrian slant to familiar Middle Eastern cuisine. La Que was sold and has become JujuBe at La Que (1019 Bardstown Rd.). The new owners of have kept much of the pan-Asian menu choices of the previous owners, but with a greater emphasis on familiar Chinese dishes.

The South End, St. Matthews and NuLu each have new coffee shops/quick breakfast spots. Golden Gate Donuts (8605 Smyrna Pkwy.) is where you can get savory breakfast sandwiches as well as donuts, bear claws and apple fritters. The coffee at Abol Café (102 Cannons Ln.) is from Ethiopia, as are items on its brunch menu.

Pregame Coffee (723 E. Main St.) melds the interests of sports fans with the vibe of a coffee shop. There is a small food menu and an extensive list of coffee drinks, and teas and chais too. And over in Jeffersonville, Funky Waffle Co. (1410 Charlestown-New Albany Rd.) serves up sweet Belgian waffles that can be eaten as breakfast or as dessert. The store also sells cheesecake, banana pudding, brownies and cupcakes — any of which can be added to the waffle as a topping.

Several existing restaurants expand their presence in the market by adding additional locations. To the delight of fans, El Mundo (1767 Bardstown Rd.) has opened a second location in the multi-level space that once was Asiatique in the Highlands. Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant (307 Central Ave.) now has a second location near Churchill Downs. Old School NY Pizza’s second location just landed in Norton Commons (10600 Meeting St.), and Cattleman’s Roadhouse (3500 St. Joseph Rd.) has opened its third location in New Albany.

Four more coffee houses have opened. Coffee Crossing has quickly expanded its presence on the Southern Indiana coffee-house scene with three recent shops; 410 Patrol Rd. in Jeffersonville; 805 Talaina Pl., New Albany, and 8105 Hwy. 311 in Sellersburg. Ntaba Coffee Haus (1860 Mellwood Ave.) has its second location in the Mellwood Arts Center.

MOVES & CHANGES

In the midst of the turmoil, several restauranteurs with multi-restaurant concepts have reshuffled their locations’ focus. The owners of Hearth on Mellwood (1765 Mellwood Ave.) have rebranded the location as Chik’n & Mi while closing the original Chik’n & Mi (2319 Brownsboro Rd.). A second Hammerheads (2222 Dundee Rd.) has replaced Migo in the Highlands. Parlour (2636 Frankfort Ave.) has www.foodanddine.com Fall 2020 9

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starters | comings & goings expanded to a second location in the building that had housed Crescent Hill Craft House. Wiltshire Pantry Bakery & Café (6301 Moonseed St.) has moved its Logan Street Market location out to Norton Commons.

JoJo Jack’s (2240 Frankfort Ave.) replaces Lola’s Kitchen after the owners decided to cease serving Filipino cuisine and simply change their focus to American comfort food. CASK Southern Kitchen & Bar (9980 Linn Station Rd.) is the new name for SOU! Southern Kitchen & Bar after a shuffle in ownership (Chef James Moran departed) and a new focus on Southern cuisine. Eighth Street Pizza (411 E. Spring St.) is keeping their name the same after a move from their original Eighth Street location. And Eiderdown (983 Goss Ave.) is no longer a traditional restaurant. It has shifted from restaurant service to catering and call-in orders.

CLOSINGS

In our Winter 2019 issue’s installment of this column, I noted that the end of 2019 marked the 16th straight year our restaurant growth had greatly outpaced any decline. That streak continued in our most recent Spring 2020 issue.

That is not the situation we have to report in this issue. Our assiduous efforts to ascertain the status of the restaurants in the market resulted in figures that are both dismaying and strangely encouraging.

As of this writing, in early September, we have determined that 92 restaurants are permanently closed. That total nearly doubles the number (49) of openings. But given that before the upheavals caused by the pandemic, F&D listed close to 1467 places to dine, 92 closings represent less than 7% of the total of the restaurant business — a number that suggests remarkable resilience in the face of anticipated hardship. Granted, restaurants that have remained in business have had to do so with diminished customer traffic and dicey cash flow, but the willingness to adapt and try their damnedest to carryon should be an inspiration to others struggling to get through these difficult times.

Nonetheless, we have to mournfully note the demise of several institutions on the local dining scene. Arguably the most prominent is the closing of Lilly’s and La Peche Gourmet to Go (1147 Bardstown Rd.). Considered by many to be the Godmother of Louisville’s dining scene, Kathy Cary has been a fixture in the business since the late 1970s, when she began to make her mark in the kitchen of The Fig Leaf, one of the city’s first cutting-edge restaurants. Her Highlands operations have been mainstays for relaxing lunches, classy dinners showcasing local food producers and the source for high-style takeout for elegant dining at home. Cary’s decision to retire may have been incentivized by recent events, but her many fans should take it as the completion of a remarkable career.

Clarksville Seafood (916 Eastern Blvd.) had been around since the ‘70s. It was the last incarnation of the once-popular Cape Codders chain (whose majority stockholder was Harlan Sanders) that dotted the area.

Another longtime Southern Indiana restaurant, Kobe Japanese Steakhouse (301 S. Indiana Ave.), has closed in New Albany. As well as entertaining diners with the table-side grilling, Kobe was among the first to offer sushi to the local dining scene.

And Ole Hickory Pit Bar-B-Que (6106 Shepherdsville Rd.), which had been smoking some serious barbeque for 31 years, stopped stoking the grills for the last time.

10 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

Other restaurants that have left their mark that we bid farewell to include Harvest (624 E. Market St.) which was shuttered after a tenyear run. Harvest’s efforts to source 80% of its ingredients from local food suppliers and farmers within a 100 mile radius did much to bring public attention to the high quality of local foods, and the need to support local farmers and food producers. Dish on Market (434 W. Market St.) also had a long run as a downtown staple. Proprietor Marshall Grissom will be missed, as will his take on the Hot Brown.

Also among the old-timers to close is Spring Street Bar & Grill (300 S. Spring St.), a neighborhood bar that over the years attracted fans from far and wide. North End Café (1722 Frankfort Ave.) had been pleasing its fans for almost two decades, but it had been coping with a number of internal issues; the pandemic was the final straw hastening its closure.

Downtown has been hit particularly hard with closings. Among those problems we have to recognize is the disruption to normal downtown business caused by the side-effects of the pandemic. The downtown lunchtime and after work happy-hour clientele has been diminished by work-from-home mandates. Restaurant trade that depended on diners coming downtown for plays or concerts, and on tourist and convention traffic, has dried up. And the physical and psychological effects of the ongoing protests for racial justice have simply made coming downtown to dine an iffy decision. About twenty percent of the listed closings are in various parts of downtown Louisville.

They include Eddie Merlot’s (Fourth Street Live) which was vandalized and looted during the early days of the Breonna Taylor protests; El Taco Luchador (500 W. Jefferson St.); Saffron’s (131 W. Market St.); Spinelli’s Pizzeria (239 S. Fifth St.); Rye (900 East Market St.); China Inn (1925 S. Fourth St.); Old Louisville Chili Bowl (501 W. Oak St.); Chopsticks (416 E. Broadway); Pizza Bar (Fourth Street Live); 321 Deli (321 W. Main St.); Zoup! (318 S. Fourth St.); Peppers Bar and Grill (320 W. Jefferson St., Hyatt Regency); Please and Thank You (252 E. Market St.); Red Hot Roasters (1007 E. Market St.); and both Scarlet’s Bakery locations (200 S. Fifth St. and 741 E. Oak St.).

Haymarket Bistro (300 E. Market St.) has stopped serving to the public; The Common Table (2234 W. Market St.) is just doing catering now, and is continuing with their culinary workers’ training program. Milkwood (316 W. Main St.) is now McAtee Community Kitchen, providing meals for the needy in the West End and training culinary workers.

Other parts of town have suffered loses as well. West of Downtown saw the departure of Aspire Café (418 S. 18th St.), Dino’s Food Market (2601 W. Broadway), and Family Ties (1809 W. Jefferson St.).

In the East end, Backyard Burger (1800 Priority Way); Verbena Café (10639 Meeting St.); and Johnny Brusco’s Pizza Parlour (10600 Meeting St.) are no more. Scattered about are closings of Buckhead Mountain Grill & Bar (3020 Bardstown Rd.); The Cozy Kitchen (1554 Bardstown Rd.); and Dixie Chicken (8118 Preston Hwy.).

Several pizza joints have folded: Topp’t Pizza and Salads (323 W.Cardinal Blvd.); Momma’s Pizza (1611 Charlestown-New Albany Pike) in Jeffersonville; Wick’s Pizza Parlour (225 State St.) in New Albany; two Little Caesar’s Pizza (1985 Brownsboro Rd. and 12418 Lagrange Rd.), and the final two outlets of Old Chicago Pasta & Pizza stores (9010 Taylorsville Rd. and 10601 Fisher Park Dr.).

Among the ethnic restaurants that have called it quits are The Golden Wall (3201 Fern Valley Rd.); La Hacienda Guadalajara (4132

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comings & goings | starters Outer Loop); China King (3000 Hikes Ln.); El Tarasco (9901 Lagrange Rd.); Mi Sueno (4214 Bishop Ln.); and Señor Iguanas (4000 Dutchman’s Ln.). Ernesto’s American Bar & Grill (5501 Valley Station Rd.) has closed, as have Africa House Lounge & Café (2816 Crums Ln.); Mango’s Bar & Grill (6201 Dutchman’s Ln.), and El Sinaloa Mexican Restaurant (111 W. Market St., ) in New Albany.

Three of Logan Street Market’s (1001 Logan St.) vendors have closed their shops there. These include Louisville Vegan Food, Bramble and Crème de Lou. A number of chain restaurants have retracted their presence in the market but maintain other locations. These include Panera Bread Co. (1534 Bardstown Rd.); Firehouse Subs (13301 Shelbyville Rd.); Raising Cain’s (12009 Shelbyville Rd.); Breadworks (11800 Shelbyville Rd.); O’Charley’s (4801 Outer Loop); and Applebee’s (3030 Grant Line Rd.) in New Albany. But Quizno’s Subs retreated the most with three locations closing — 223 S. Fifth St.; 11803 Shelbyville Rd.; and 220 S. Indiana Ave., in New Albany.

Three chains that tried to crack the Louisville market have given up. Romano’s Macaroni Grill (401 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy. ) has moved out, Ruby Tuesday (11701 Bluegrass Pkwy.) is no more, and Hopcat (1064 Bardstown Rd.) which invested heavily to renovate a Highlands commercial building that included multiple floors and large party spaces, perhaps overestimated its ability to attract a large enough clientele that had a lot of similar, locally-owned places to choose for burgers and craft beer.

Two locally-owned restaurants have shuttered one of their stores each. Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen (12531 Shelbyville Rd.) and Liège & Dairy Ice Cream & Waffles (12003 Shelbyville Rd.) both closed their Middletown outposts.

And finally, over in Indiana, we say goodbye to eight restaurants; 410 Bakery (140 E. Main St.); New Albany Roadhouse (1702 Graybrook Ln.); Creekside Outpost & Café (614 Hausfeldt Ln.) and Roadrunner Kitchen (37 Bank St.) all in New Albany. In Jeffersonville, Café on Meigs (425 Meigs Ave.) and Riverside Café (700 W. Riverside Dr. Sheraton Hotel) have closed. In Clarksville, we say goodbye to Logan’s Roadhouse (970 E. Lewis and Clark Pkwy.) and Sweet Frog (1401 Veterans Pkwy.). F&D www.foodanddine.com Fall 2020 11

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starters | bar belle

Last Call 2020 You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.

BY SARA HAVENS

I hereby declare 2020 the White Claw of years.

It took us all by surprise, and it brought nothing to the table. Its vapid, virus-y flavors robbed us of all our joy, all our plans for an enjoyable summer and fall, and for a time, we couldn’t even find solace with our buddies at the neighborhood bar!

We had to grieve 6 feet apart as our worlds were turned upside down.

Some, like me, lost employment. Everyone else had to transform their man caves and broad bunkers into makeshift offices while also playing teacher, preacher, chef, maid and court jester to those in their quarantine pods.

The only ones happy about this forced family bonding are the pets. My dog is getting way too comfortable having me home at 5 o’clock, as I’m itching for a happy hour and barking at the unfortunate news that our numbers continue to climb.

I’ve learned a few things about myself these last couple months, and 12 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

the main one is I don’t like drinking alone. At my house. With only my dog, Netflix and a Fruit Rollup to entertain me. And I don’t like drinking on a Zoom call, staring at my Brady Bunch of friends as they talk over one another, the loudest always getting the last word.

Don’t get me wrong — I have ample supplies of beer, bourbon and gin & tonics to keep me lit through Christmas. It’s just not as satisfying ordering Taco Bell at midnight from Uber Eats as it is chomping on chicken wings in a booth at The Back Door.

And speaking of my supply, I have increased the beer-storing capacity in my lady lair thanks to Shenanigans. (That’s what she said?) It was right near the beginning of the quarantine quagmire, when all the bars and restaurants in the area only offered carryout. The fine folks at Shenanigans Irish Grille posted on Facebook that they had some cases of St. Patrick’s Bud Light aluminum cans to get rid of, and they offered a deal I couldn’t resist.

I quickly jumped in my car, threw on my mask and steered my ship to the Highlands to pick up my green booty of beer. I assumed the bottles would not be chilled and that I could just keep most in storage, but of course I was wrong. The beer was so cold that I almost had to crack one open right then and there, but I decided I didn’t want to be on the news that night.

The thing is — and I learned this quickly in college — once beer is cold, you don’t want to let it get room temperature again. It’ll get skunked and taste like, well, White Claw actually. I remember relocating beer from my mini fridge to the closet so many times in my dorm room freshman year to avoid getting busted by Jerry the RA, that my friends and I had to hold our noses and chug just to get it down. Those were the days.

Fast-forward to 2020, and I’ve got 24 16-ounce cans of ice-cold beer and absolutely zero room in my refrigerator because I’m hoarding chicken, cheese, sour cream, sweet tea, eggs, Vernors Ginger Ale and whipped cream for my best quarantine/unemployed life. And I don’t want my girlfriend to think I have a problem. So I had to think fast.

Should I have a party? Andy says I can’t be doin’ that. Should I go on a binger starting right this minute? My liver says I can’t be doin’ that. Should I jump on Facebook and see if anyone has an extra mini fridge? Bingo!

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bar belle | starters So $100 (mini fridge) + $30 (mini fridge stand) + $20 (surge protector plug) later, my $30 beer bargain wasn’t quite the deal I thought it was, but my ma’am cave has become the perfect spot to chill with a chilled beverage.

Let’s just say I’m ready for whatever 2020 vomits at us next. Anyone else willing to forgo Halloween and Christmas and just skip to New Year’s?

Despite dismal days, new bars emerge

When the smoke clears — or rather, if the smoke clears — from this pandemic, Louisville’s nightlife landscape is going to look a whole lot different.

We’ve already witnessed some change with the closing of beloved bars/restaurants like Dish on Market, Rye, North End Café, Lilly’s, Eddie Merlot’s and HopCat, to name a few.

We knew some wouldn’t survive and, unfortunately, there are still more closures ahead. But somehow, in the midst of all of this — of 25% capacity limits, mandatory facemasks and widespread fear — a few brave establishments have actually dared to open. And they’re succeeding.

I’ve been trying to get to as many as possible despite following my own precautions of avoiding this virus and also making sure I share funds with my familiar favorites. And I’ve come to a conclusion. If there is a silver lining to any of this, it’s that bars have had a chance to tidy up, they’ve expanded their patios (if possible), they’re hyper-focused on cleanliness, and — thank the stars! — I can finally order a margarita to-go!

Pivot is a good word for 2020.The bars that’ll succeed are the ones that are most flexible. You used to do it this way? Great, now do it that way. You used to be a beer bar? Great, that worked then, but now you’re killing it with to-go rum buckets for $5.

This won’t last forever, and the beer drinkers will return when the sports

do. But for now, we pivot.

Here are a couple of new bars I’ve checked out for myself and highly recommend, and I look forward to swinging by many others in the future.

Toasty’s Tavern (1258 S. SHELBY ST.) — Toasty’s is the newest bar to open in Shelby Park, right down the street from Trouble Bar. The dive-bar décor is a throwback to the ’60s, and it made me want to perch myself at the bar for the night. Unfortunately, no bar seating is currently allowed, but that’s a good thing, as management is following all guidelines. I tried the fried mushroom planks and loved the homemade ranch they served to dip.

Gold Bar (1601 STORY AVE.) — Gold Bar opened July 10 in the former Butchertown Social spot, and it gets a gold star for its chill ambiance, welcoming staff, charming menu that includes corn dogs and fried pork rinds, and its fierce commitment to following all social distancing guidelines. The patio is on the smaller side, but I felt comfortable at a spaced-out table inside. Plus, a Lou City FC game was on the large TV, so I couldn’t miss that!

El Mundo Segundo (1767 BARDSTOWN RD.) — Ever since I moved to Louisville in 1999, I’ve begged for one thing: For the love of God, can you please make El Mundo bigger? Well, my wish was finally granted, albeit in the middle of a pandemic. A second (and muy grande) El Mundo opened in late July in the former Asiatique spot in the Highlands. I know firsthand they spent a lot of time rehabbing the space to make it their own, and it shows. I only spent time at the fabulously dark and comfy bar — does that shock you? — and can attest that the margaritas are spot-on (try the Mosquito). F&D

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liquids | hip hops

On April 3, beer writer Andy Crouch issued a thought-provoking pandemic tweet: “Liquor stores are filling growlers out of kegs in the back of a truck in customers' driveways,” Crouch observed. “There are no liquor laws anymore. How we go back to ‘normal’ after all of this is beyond me.”

BY ROGER BAYLOR

Coping with Covid in the

Craft Beer World M

e, too. Literally overnight, the regulatory statutes of a lifetime evaporated. In effect, Indiana’s governor said we could freely improvise during an unprecedented emergency, and so I walked to the pub each morning and pre-poured growlers (half-gallon jugs) of draft beer for curbside carryout sales later in the day, something our license ordinarily precludes.

At night, after I’d consumed my own take-home container of Pay Packet Ale, there’d be uncomfortable dreams about misplacing my facemask, running out of hand sanitizer, and being visited by the excise police asked why I was pouring growlers without the requisite permit.

It’s been surreal, disorienting and humbling; verily, whatever normality looks like, this isn’t it. Out of curiosity, I asked three of my longtime friends from Louisville’s craft brewing collective to reflect about their own work experiences since the curve-flattening “shutdown” began in March.

Apocalypse Brew Works (1612 Mellwood Ave.) For part-owner and head brewer Leah Dienes, locking down to focus solely on curbside sales meant cutting back and expanding hours.

“We furloughed our small staff – even the brewery cats went on “fur”-lough. Just my business partner and I have been running the taproom and brewery.

“For the last eight years, the Fallout Shelter (our taproom) has been open Friday through Sunday. I always wanted to be open more days, so we immediately changed to five days a week for limited hours, early enough in the day to accommodate folks working from home who wanted to make small runs for supplies.

“We made adjustments as Kentucky started opening restaurants and bars for limited seating. There’s a large outdoor seating area, so folks can feel comfortable coming here, although heat and rain are real factors for a venue that’s now outdoors only.

Sam Cruz and Jessy Harding from Against the Grain

14 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

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hip hops | liquids “I've been appreciative and overwhelmed by the support and generosity of our community. We make a re-assessment every few weeks to keep ourselves going and loyal customers satisfied.

“We named our brewery ‘Apocalypse,’ so we were built for this time; our hashtag is #DrinkBeerTilTheEnd.”

Mile Wide Beer Company (636 Barret Ave.) According to Scott Shreffler, one of Mile Wide’s four owners/managers, the brewery began the lockdown period by listening to its customers.

“Out of necessity we learned to completely shift our approach to what we were brewing.

We'd been a production brewery mostly focused on core brands, but we switched to brewing and canning more of our one-off/limited release beers, because those were what people were really looking for.

“We’ve pushed boundaries, too, with bigger dry-hop charges in some of the IPAs, as well as our first two double dry-hopped Northeast IPAs, DDH Force Ghost and DDH Tessie. We’re working to expand our Quiet Science sour series in similar ways.

“Our biggest insight, especially when limited to carryout sales only, is just how supportive and generous the local beer community can be.

We've always known it, but people really showed up for us, and they were exceedingly generous to our bartenders. We didn't have to lay off anyone from bar staff.

“That wouldn't have been possible without the community's support.”

Against the Grain (three locations) The pandemic posed a unique set of challenges to Against the Grain. The minor league baseball season’s cancelation led Against the Grain to temporarily close its original Brewery & Smokehouse location at Louisville Slugger Field, shifting dine-in operations (with requisite capacity restrictions) to the far smaller Public House

by Against the Grain (1576 Bardstown Road).

The production brewery continued as before.

Part-owner Sam Cruz generally serves as Against the Grain’s spokesman.

“If one thing stands out, it's simply how fragile the craft beer market is. We’re a midsized brewery, with quite a bit of market share in both our restaurant businesses locally, and beers distributed to bars and restaurants near and far. You’d think there would have been some insulation to the economic shutdown.

“Not the case. In fact, it was a double whammy. Not only did our restaurant business fall off, but so did nearly half the market in distributed beers, gone overnight. We felt the squeeze immediately.

“It’s a painful and vulnerable time for craft beer. We’re reliant on our small community of customers, our niche. At Against the Grain, we leaned on our previous successes to help us weather the current storm.

“The good news is by nature, we are innovative. We’re always seeking new and improved ways to be the best stewards for our industry, products and brands, and to get our beers to you. We’ve embraced this challenge. Just give us a little help, and meet us halfway.”

T

he breweries run by Dienes, Shreffler and Cruz are of different size, with unique operational strategies, and yet revealingly, each of the owners point to the loyalty of their local customer bases as the foundation for pandemic coping strategies. That’s the key, and British beer writer Pete Brown doubtless would approve.

Brown spent the early weeks of London’s lockdown writing (later self-publishing) a book called Craft: An Argument: Why the term ‘Craft Beer’ is completely undefinable, hopelessly misunderstood and absolutely essential, in which he jettisons the agitprop of “craft” beer, examining the term “craft” in light of its traditional non-brewing uses, and concluding with a handful of revised “craft beer” tenets.

These include the pillar of motivation, or why beer drinkers are drawn to craft beer: emotionally; for connection, community and continuity; for something to believe in and belong to. In a July blog post, Brown extrapolated.

“Craft brewers — rightly or wrongly — are generally perceived as, among other things, smaller and more independently-minded, more progressive in their attitudes, kinder, friendlier and more collaborative than their corporate, industrialized rivals, more face-to-face in their communications, more physically engaged with both the nature of their work and the communities they exist within and do business with. All of this has become more appealing as a result of lockdown.

The future — eventually — will be bright.”

I agree completely with Brown’s viewpoint.

Now more than ever, whether you’re buying craft beer from the back of the mysterious truck cruising the neighborhood or curbside at the brewery’s usual taproom, please support your local brewer.

We will get through this together. F&D www.foodanddine.com Fall 2020 15

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feature | delivery apps

BY MICHAEL L. JONES

In the spring, when Covid-19 forced the first wave of restaurant dining room shutdowns, food delivery services seemed like a lifeline, both for consumers and for local restaurants. But it wasn’t long before stories started to surface suggesting these services were actually exacerbating the plight of Louisville’s restaurant community. In a three-part series of online articles, Food & Dining Magazine’s Michael L. Jones examined in real time how the pandemic was changing the power dynamics between restaurant owners and the companies who own the food delivery platforms. As the crisis continues, we’re reprinting his story in this issue.

16 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

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delivery apps | feature

A

fter Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear ordered bars and restaurants to close in March due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Bridgette Pizzonia scrambled to setup curbside pickup at Ciao Ristorante, the Italian restaurant she operates in

the Irish Hill neighborhood. Despite the many hurdles, Ciao continued to serve cus-

tomers. So, Pizzonia was surprised when some of her regular customers started calling to let her know the online delivery platform GrubHub was listing Ciao as closed.

Not long after Pizzonia opened Ciao in 2016, she told me in an interview, delivery drivers from GrubHub, DoorDash, Postmates, and UberEats began picking up orders from the restaurant. She was told the services had automatically added her restaurant to their platforms once they received a certain number of order requests. She didn’t mind this informal arrangement because it was free to her: the companies simply added a delivery fee, usually about $10, to the customer’s bill when they ordered through the platform.

Although she did not sign a contract with any of the services, Ciao built a brisk business with all of them. She could not imagine why any of them would list her as closed.

What she did not realize was that in 2017 GrubHub had signed a long-term partnership with Yelp, the crowd-sourced social media website that has become one of the nation’s most widely-used sources for restaurant listings and reviews.

In 2018 Yelp integrated GrubHub’s online ordering services into its listings platform in exchange for a 15 to 20 percent referral fee.

This is the reason that when someone searches for the phone number of their favorite restaurant on Yelp, they get two numbers.The one listed for general questions is the direct line to the restaurant. But if you want “Delivery or Takeout” it goes to a GrubHub controlled phone number.

It seems that when customers tried to order delivery from Ciao, they saw the closed listing.

After many attempts to reach someone at GrubHub, Pizzonia got a hold of a sales representative who told her she needed to sign a contract to get Ciao in the company’s network.

The deal contract, she learned, required exorbitant delivery and marketing fees.

“They wanted 25 to 30 percent of your ticket,” said Pizzonia. “I refused, so they said, ‘You could mark up your prices.’ I don’t agree with that either. I just don’t. They are making this [delivery fee] zero for the customers. But the customers didn’t care about paying $10 for me.

I just think it is a shame that once the Covid hit the $10 wasn’t good enough for them anymore,” Pizzonia explained.

The Counter (thecounter.org), a nonprofit online news source that covers the politics and

economics of the food industry, reported in June 2019 that GrubHub had purchased more than 23,000 web domain names associated with existing restaurants — which prevented the owners of the restaurants from purchasing their own URLs. In addition, the article found, GrubHub and one of its subsidiaries acting without permission had set up large numbers of shadow websites that linked to existing restaurant websites. Said the article: ”…it appears GrubHub has set up several generic, templated pages that look like real restaurant websites but in fact link only to GrubHub. These pages also display phone numbers that GrubHub controls.

The calls are forwarded to the restaurant, but the platform records each one and charges the restaurant a commission fee for every order…”

Those practices precede the Covid-19 pandemic. But the shelter-at-home orders that began in March, and the restaurant capacity limits that followed, have increased the power that delivery services wield over small, independent restaurants. According to the business data service Second Measure (secondmeasure.com), which analyzes consumer purchasing behavior, twenty-nine percent of American consumers became first-time users of a food delivery service in April. The biggest companies in the business — DoorDash and GrubHub – were the biggest beneficiaries of this explosive increase in deliveries. Second Measure reported, “DoorDash and its subsidiaries earned 45 percent of U.S. consumers’ meal delivery sales in April, while GrubHub and its subsidiaries, which include Seamless and Eat24, took in 23 percent.”

That has led to record sales and record profits for these firms. In the first quarter of 2020, GrubHub reported revenues of $363 million, a 12 percent year-over-year increase from $324 million in the same period in 2019. UberEats’ first-quarter revenue rose by more than 50 percent to $819 million. DoorDash has not gone public but it was valued at $13 billion before the surge in sales. Postmates, which delayed its IPO last year, was at the time valued at $2 billion. In July of this year, Uber announced that it had purchased Postmates for $2.65 billion.

Even before the social, economic and political disruptions following the COVID-19 out-

break, the delivery business was in flux. Major increases in revenues and profits reflected consumers’ rapidly growing embrace of delivery services — and the convenient app-based logistics of getting pretty much anything delivered to a home or office. Mergers and acquisitions news began to proliferate — and big businesses began to get bigger.

In terms of their business goals, those large, anonymous firms have little in common with indie restaurants that flourish by building strong relations in their community. And in the wake of the outbreak, as delivery services exploded, the fissure between local restaurants and global delivery firms widened.

Most of us intuitively think of companies like DoorDash and GrubHub as delivery services, but at root they are technology, social media, and logistics companies that have more in common with firms like Amazon, Zappos, or Facebook than with your favorite Thai restaurant. Online delivery services portray themselves as straightforward marketplaces where restaurant owners, customers, and drivers can connect with one another.

But there’s more to it than that. All these firms are in the information business.

Of course from a consumer standpoint there may seem to be a difference between ordering a package of books, electronics, or shoes as opposed to a freshly prepared bowl of gumbo. But from a privacy standpoint, there’s no difference: according to a Washington Post report, a former GrubHub executive named Collin Wallace (the firm’s former “head of innovation”) said the big delivery services are keeping track of what we eat.

Indie restaurateur Pizzonia might remember your favorite wines or dishes — because she’s in the hospitality business. Tech giants run by venture capitalists don’t have a restaurateur’s perspective. In fact, the agreement that DoorDash makes with its contractors emphasizes that. It states explicitly something that seems quite obvious: “Doordash is not a restaurant, food delivery service, or food preparation business.” And according to Wallace, since the outbreak, the fissures between the restaurateurs and the big delivery firms have become clearer.

“COVID-19 is exposing the fact that delivery platforms are not actually in the business of delivery,” Wallace wrote in a comment on a huge discussion thread at the online business newsletter Margins. “They are in the business of finance. In many ways, they are like payday lenders for restaurants and drivers. They give you the sensation of cash-flow, but at the expense of your long-term future and financial wwwfoodanddine.com Fall 2020 17

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feature | delivery apps stability. Once you ‘take out this loan’ you will never pay it back and it will ultimately kill your business.”

And as reported in The Washington Post, Wallace argues that these firms are harvesting customer information from small businesses — then using it to set up their own shadow websites or selling the information to other dining firms.

Local Alternatives

Tommy Wheelock, Delivery.com

Ramsi Kamar, Ramsi’s Café on the World

Still, there are delivery firms that are taking a difference course.

Several years ago, a Louisville entrepreneur named Kela Ivonye started a hyper-local delivery firm called Arrow Food Couriers, that lasted only a few years, but hinted at the potential for a more indie-style approach to delivery services.

And these days, an emerging delivery model fuses national-scale resources with local management and focus.

Delivery.com is an example. It’s a 16 year-old, New York-based delivery firm that has expanded around the country to some 1800 cities — but describes itself with the hashtag #localfirst and states that its corporate creed is, “Your Neighborhood Delivered.”

The Louisville outpost of delivery.com is headed up by Tom Wheelock (previously of TakeOut Taxi). According to Wheelock, the pandemic accelerated a cultural trend that was already in full swing. “Everyone is doing delivery now,” he says. “Walmart, Whole Foods. People like the convenience of being able to get what they want without leaving the house. More people were already using online food delivery before the pandemic, but Covid-19 just pushed those on the fence to try it too. Once people start to use delivery, I think they’ll keep using it. Food delivery is here to stay.”

Wheelock has been in the online food delivery business since late 1990s. He managed Takeout Taxi in Louisville before purchasing the business from his bosses in Knoxville.That company then merged with Mr. Delivery — which was acquired by Delivery.com last year. Delivery.com’s goal is to expand to 38 states and reach more than 1,800 U.S. cities.

But despite its scope and reach, Wheelock says the company differentiates from other delivery services by being actively community-minded, by having set fees for restaurateurs — and by being more focused on assuring a good customer experience for diners.

“What sets us apart,” said Wheelock, “is local ownership and local management. We’re all about helping local restaurateurs and being part of a team. Right now we have an offer that gives restaurants a chance to sign up and pay no commission for thirty days. And even though our drivers are independent contractors, all of them are uniformed. My managers have meetings with my drivers, and we train them before they go out, unlike some of the companies that just throw an app on their phone and send them out to deliver.”

Most importantly, said Wheelock, “We care about food quality. This is one thing we have over the big boys. All of our restaurants have a manager’s phone number they can call if they field any complaints. We obviously have a corporate end that takes care of customer service on the first step if people call in, email or text. But we also offer a personal touch to make sure everyone is happy.”

Hidden Costs

Joseph Montgomery, J. Gumbo’s

Daniel Borsch, Old Louisville Tavern

When the COVID-19 outbreak hit in March, many of the delivery platforms made offers to restaurants that superficially seemed like a form of relief. For instance, GrubHub (which Uber had targeted for acquisition before finally purchasing Postmates) made a highly publicized pledge to offer a hundred million dollars in relief to the nation’s restaurants.

But restaurateurs around the country quickly determined that Grubhub’s offer was a trap rife with small print that promised only a temporary deferral of marketing payments and no relief from Grubhub’s practice of charging exorbitant fees to restaurants. And it required participants in the program to obligate themselves to long-term contracts with the delivery firm.

For many Louisville restaurants, the business practices of the third-party delivery services abruptly came to light when the coronavirus outbreak hit.

Ramsi Kamar, owner of Ramsi’s Café on the World, said delivery went from 6 percent of his business pre-Covid to 55 percent in March, after the state-ordered closing of restaurants. In response, he let his front of the house staff go, but he had promised jobs to the kitchen staff no matter what, and he kept them on to service carry-out and deliv-

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delivery apps | feature ery customers. But suddenly, Kamar said, the he said, is that, “drivers come here to pick up an delivery services made it harder on him by uni- order that is ready.Then two more orders come in laterally changing the way they reimbursed him at the same time and the driver will claim them because he is here. That’s great, but I have a bunch for online orders.

“We work Sunday through Saturday,” he said. “But I have to wait until the following Friday to get the money for my online sales.” “It wasn’t like that before. I’d get it at the end of the week. Now, I have to pay my employees and wait for money. I know this situation caught everyone by surprise, but I need to get that money quicker.”

Structurally, the delivery platforms have two revenue streams: customers pay a delivery fee, and restaurants pay a percentage of sales as well as additional marketing fees. As delivery orders skyrocketed, those tandem costs have increased pressure on restaurants.

Joseph Montgomery, co-owner of J. Gumbo’s franchises on Grinstead Drive and Frankfort Avenue, acknowledged that income from the delivery services has been a lifeline in the first few months of the pandemic. He estimates that he’s made from $200 to $500 a day more in delivery sales than before the shutdown.

He’s also seeing some increased traffic to his own online ordering system. Those Bridgette Pizzonia, Ciao Ristorante revenues enable Montgomery to cover his employee cost. Nevertheless, he said, the marketing campaigns and fees that the plat- of other customers ordering food, too. So, that guy, whose food was ready, is moved to the back of the forms require gobble up his already slim profits.

“If I want to get business from DoorDash,” line because has to wait for the other orders to be said Montgomery, “I have to run a marketing ready. And when it’s cold he blames me.”

Hiran Barreiro, who was formerly a driver for feed. I give the customer $10 off if they spend $30. That’s one. Then I have to give DoorDash 36 Lyft, knows first-hand the pressures that drivers percent — and also give them another 10 per- face. In March, when ride-hailing business plumcent for marketing. And If I decide not to run the meted in the wake of the outbreak, he started marketing feed, I won’t get as many customers.” running deliveries for DoorDash. In those first Montgomery said he is running the campaigns months of the pandemic, he was making $100 to because he hopes that new customers will dis- $150 a day. cover his restaurants and continue to frequent Barreiro said the scenario that Montgomery them after pandemic has ended. But Montgomery described happens quite often because drivers also has another serious concern about the third are trying to maximize their time. He acknowlparty delivery services. He says his restaurants edged that he, himself had claimed multiple often get blamed for mistakes and bad service orders at a restaurant, then had to cancel some that are actually the fault of the delivery services. of them because he didn’t have time to make the And those problems reflect the fundamental deliveries. In those cases, the food sits until anothnature of the delivery workforce. Drivers are inde- er driver claims the order.

“You just get overwhelmed sometimes,” pendent contractors, part of the gig economy, who receive no benefits.They are usually compen- Barreiro said. “The company doesn’t pay you a sated only for the time they wait in the restaurant lot, so you want to get as many tips as possible.” and their mileage. The majority of their money Montgomery is sympathetic to the drivers, comes from customer tips. And that incentivizes and understands that they are hustling — but he them to make as many deliveries as they can. feels customers perceive them to be restaurant Montgomery cited Postmates as an example. employees. And that perception may have been “They are really good about coming to get the bolstered after the shutdown orders when the food and delivering it,” he said. But what happens, platforms started running ads telling customers

to help save local restaurants by ordering online.

Daniel Borsch, who operates a portfolio of restaurants (Old Louisville Tavern, Burger Boy Diner, Burger Girl Diner, Toonerville Deli and Hillcrest Tavern), says that not all his restaurants use delivery services but some of them do because it is better than not being able to serve customers.

From his perspective, the drivers are as much victims as the restaurant owners.

“The delivery companies do seem to take advantage of some of the employee rules. I don’t know how much the drivers are making and how many hours they are working. I hope it’s a fair system, but I don’t know that it is,” he added.

Around the country, some cities and states are now starting to rein in some of the power wielded by the third-party delivery services through regulations.

In May, the New York City Council passed two coronavirus relief measures.

The legislation capped the firms’ commissions and stopped the companies from charging restaurants for phone calls that don’t end in a sale. San Francisco and Seattle implemented similar emergency fee caps to help their local restaurant owners. And the state of California has also made attempts to reclassify gig workers as employees.

But such regulations have yet to spread around the country. And indie restaurateurs are still mostly on their own in addressing these challenges and finding ways to help themselves.

The New Normal

After Bridgette Pizzonia got GrubHub to change the listing for Ciao, she started having her dishwasher make deliveries within 10 miles of the restaurant for a $5 convenience fee. But Ciao also continues to use Postmates — the only online delivery service still willing to work with the restaurant without a contract.

Looking forward, Pizzonia says that once the state lifts its limits on restaurant capacity, she will probably stop having her employees making deliveries except to area businesses. “I need my dishwasher back in the kitchen,” she said. “I’ll probably keep using Postmates, but I’m not going to sign any contracts. I’m not going to boost my prices 25 to 30 percent to pay a delivery service. I know that there are some people who are doing it, but I don’t believe in it.”

As the seasons change, and the pandemic persists, the crisis in the indie restaurant community requires restaurateurs to be resilient and innovative — and consumers to be thoughtfully supportive of these crucial local businesses. F&D wwwfoodanddine.com Fall 2020 19

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liquids | bourbon

For

Bourbon Lovers

in the Know,

Oldies

are Most Certainly

Goodies

BY SUSAN REIGLER | PHOTO BY DAN DRY

20 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

Over the past decade, the booming bourbon market has seen a rise in consumers who covet The Unicorns. Those are the bottles, most famously any with the seemingly spellbinding words “Van Winkle” on their labels, that have a limited production, are close to impossible to find on retailers’ shelves, and that can sell for absurdly inflated prices on the secondary market. Indeed, they often command crazy amounts of money from buyers who are more interested in some perceived notion of “prestige” associated with having acquired a precious rarity, than in actually drinking the whiskey.

But real bourbon aficionados, the people who want to drink a good bourbon, know that they neither have to unleash the bourbon bloodhounds, nor take out a loan to stock their home bars. The magic word they often look for on flavorful bottles of bourbon that sell for under $25 is “Old.” Here are half a dozen everyday bourbons (presented alphabetically) that more than hold their own in providing a good drink, whether neat or mixed in a cocktail. Prices are those common for 750 ml bottles in Kentucky

stores and may vary up or down by a dollar or two.

■ Heaven Hill Old Style Bourbon

90 proof, 6 years old, $17 Heaven Hill makes a lot of bourbon. Indeed, only Jim Beam has more aging bourbon sleeping in Kentucky than Heaven Hill. The fact this is such a solid sipper at a great price must certainly have to do with the economy of scale.

Here’s the catch: It’s only sold in Kentucky. Lucky (Heaven Hill Distilleries, Louisville KY)

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bourbon | liquids us! It delivers loads of caramel corn, cinnamon, light vanilla, and very ripe apple notes on both the nose and the palate and wraps up with a soft, sweetly oaky finish. Honestly, don’t tell anyone else about this gem.

[Editor’s note: Oops! Too late!]

■ Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond

100 proof, at least 4 years, $24 The Willett Distillery, like Heaven Hill, is family-owned. In fact, both went into business just after Prohibition. But Willett, which overlooks Heaven Hill’s warehouses, is a fraction of the size. It’s premium brands rightly command the prices charged, but this one is an excellent value. Vanilla, nutmeg, and cherries on the nose, leading to caramel apples with a little cocoa powder on the palate.The finish is long and smooth. Sip neat. Or perhaps with a bit of water to amplify the fruit.

(Willett Distillery, Bardstown KY)

■ Old Charter 8

80 proof, no age statement, $15 The number eight in the name is a relic of when this whiskey had an 8-year age statement. It’s a younger bourbon now. It’s also not especially complex, but the flavor elements it has are beautifully balanced. The sweet corn, vanilla, and nutty flavors combined with the low proof make this a good “beginner’s bourbon.” More advanced aficionados will be happy to keep it on hand as a warm weather whiskey. It also makes a lovely, ingredient in a vinaigrette for a Bibb lettuce salad garnished with pecans.

(Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort KY)

■ Old Forester

86 proof, no age statement, $21 This is a classic in so many ways. It’s the brand that launched whiskey giant BrownForman in 1870 and is the only bourbon brand still being made today by the same company that made it before Prohibition. It’s terrific for cocktails, especially the Old Fashioned and the Manhattan. And it’s the bourbon used to make mint juleps at Churchill Downs. A caramel bomb with fruit notes of banana, cherries, and a bit of citrus, it gets a spicy kick from cinnamon.

Sweet oak notes provide the scaffolding for all the other flavors. So, it’s excellent neat, as well. If you want a bit more muscle, try Old Forester Signature (100 proof), which retails for about $25.

(Old Forester Distillery, Louisville KY)

■ Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond

100 proof, at least 4 years, $24 This is also available in 80 and 114 expressions, but the bonded may be the most versatile. Add just a couple of drops of water and orange peel, cherries, cinnamon, and nutmeg emerge on the nose. These persist on the palate along with plenty of caramel and some chocolate. Sip this with a chocolate dessert for a perfect end to dinner. (Or lunch, for that matter.) Old Grand-Dad is lower in corn and higher in rye than most other bourbons which is most apparent in the long, spicy finish of peppery oak. Makes a very fine Old Fashioned, too.

(Jim Beam Distillery, Clermont KY)

■ Very Old Barton

100 proof, no age starement, $17 For more than a decade after World War II, this was the largest selling bourbon in Kentucky. It was “very” old because it used to carry a six-year age statement when most bourbons were aged three or four years. The medley of vanilla, cherries, caramel corn, honey and new leather combine for a complex nose and flavors. The finish is notably long, with a fruity beginning that fades into a very pleasant oaky sweetness. Sip a glass while you are cooking with it. It’s perfect for bourbon cream sauces and a friend of mine uses it in is baked beans, the best I have ever tasted. Also available in 80, 86, and 90 proof expressions, but stick with the 100 proof.

I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention another historic “oldie.” The Beam name is, for good reason, a prominent one in the bourbon industry.

Eighteenth century German immigrant Johannes Jacob Boehm Americanized his name to Jacob Beam and was making whiskey in Kentucky by 1795. The seventh and eighth generations of his decedents are still making bourbon, at both Limestone Branch Distillery and, of course, Jim Beam Distillery. The brand made by 19th century Beams was Old Tub, a reference to whiskey being sold mostly in barrels from which customers would fill their own vessels. James “Jim” Beam (greatgrandson of Jacob) sold it in bottles from the 1890s until his distillery was closed by Prohibition.

Today you can buy Old Tub, which is bottledin-bond, in a 375 mL format ($16). It has an aromatic nose of vanilla, buttered popcorn, leather, and tobacco leading to a palate of caramel and fruit cake. Its finish is oaky with black pepper, but smooth, not hot. This summer Beam released a special, limited 750 mL bottle ($24) that is nonchill filtered, a nod to the pre-Prohibition style.

Well worth buying. If you can find it. — Uh oh, Unicorn Alert! F&D (Barton 1792 Distillery, Bardstown KY)

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profile | matt winn’s steakhouse

The first restaurant open year-round at Churchill Downs in 145 years

BY MARTY ROSEN PHOTOS BY DAN DRY

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In my experience, the first question posed by out-oftown visitors arriving in Louisville for the first time is, “Can we go to Churchill Downs?” Many of those visitors have never seen live horse racing, or bought a pari-mutuel ticket, but it doesn’t matter. The mystique and romance of the world’s most storied race track has a global magnetic pull.

And of course it’s always possible to “go” to Churchill Downs, to see the imposing structure from the outside, to visit the Kentucky Derby Museum, which has been a tourism draw since 1985 (and which offers excellent tours of the facility).

But except during the racing dates, it’s always been hard for visitors (or locals) to just settle into the romanticized spirit of the track.

That has changed with the recent opening of a new flagship restaurant (with adjoining speakeasy) that pretty much instantly joins the ranks of Louisville’s flagship dining venues: Matt Winn’s Steakhouse.

Matt Winn is a name to conjure with — it should be a household name in Louisville. But since it isn’t, a few words about the man before we discuss his namesake.

One single fact is cited to explain Winn’s legacy: he saw the very first Kentucky Derby in 1875 — and then kept going without fail until 1949, when he presided over the 75th installment of the classic race. He died later that year.

That may be a record for longevity, but it pales next to his accomplishments.

In 1902, Churchill Downs was a respected track, and the Kentucky Derby, 27 years of age, was already a venerable institution. But the track

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was under financial duress, and the competition among race tracks was brutal. The Kentucky Derby purse was a respectable $6,000. But that same year Chicago’s Washington Park track slated a race called the American Derby — with an eye-catching purse of $25,000. The American Derby drew the best horses in the country. The Kentucky Derby attracted a field of four horses.

Over the next three years, Winn, Churchill Downs, and a handful of other race tracks fought a pitched battle (one newspaper described it as a “turf war of extermination”) with the powerful metropolitan tracks that ruled the Western Jockey Club, which regulated racing dates and was systematically starving out many of the tracks in the Midwest and South.

Winn and company eventually won that war after adroitly maneuvering with eight other tracks that in 1905 formed an independent upstart organization called the American Turf Association.

Winn became its first President that year. That same year he moved up from Vice President of Churchill Downs to President.

And over the next four decades, Winn would continue to build Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby into international fixtures in the world of sport.

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profile | matt winn’s steakhouse

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like a locally owned indie restaurant. That’s largely because of charismatic Executive Chef David Danielson, and Vice President for Hospitality Richard Sutton. The former is a gregarious tattooed wizard who is about as far from being a buttoned-down corporate chef as you can imagine. The latter has brought together a crackerjack staff.

And talking to either of them you get the sense that Matt Winn’s is a passion project that they’ve been imagining for a long time. Everybody we encountered during our visit conveyed the sense of personal pride, ownership, and confident knowledge that I would expect to find during a soft opening in any well run locally-owned bistro. If you’ve spent a lot of time in Louisville’s indie restaurants, you may be delighted to recognize some members of the front-of-house staff.

General Manager Jamie West is directly in charge of front-of-house operations. And it was clear that everyone who interacted with diners were committed to learning and transparency. Every question we asked — whether about the menu or about the all-important safety protocols — elicited either a ready answer or a quick investigation and a thorough response. I’ve been covering restaurants for a couple of decades, and I’ve never encountered a staff that exhibited such a clear and urgent responsiveness to any and all questions.

And every detail — simple matters like refilling glasses and removing plates — seemed to be under close scrutiny. The attention to detail was at once comforting and an eerie and useful reminder that although we were having a good time and an entertaining conversation over an array of fine food, things are not normal and attention must be paid to the details.

Before turning to the food, it’s worth noting the staggering breadth of the beverage program at Matt Winn’s (and The Speakeasy, a very alluring bar area that wasn’t operating during our visit). No doubt the headline news about beverages will be the flights and pours of rare spirits that will cost more than a flight to Europe (at some point in the future, that is). For me, it might be enough just to actually see the label of a 1967 bottling of Old Grandad ($200 for a half-ounce; $600 for two-ounces), and I could make do with just a quick whiff from the nozzle of one of the 150 bottles ever produced of the 1977 Dumbarton Single Grain Scotch. Whiffs, alas, aren’t available — but the 2 ounce pour runs $990.

Those beverages won’t be on my menu. But neither will I ever own an original canvas by Jacob Lawrence. Even so, I take some pleasure in knowing that such wonders exist. They’re probably as much fun to contemplate as to consume. And besides, the fact is that the beverage program at Matt Winn’s is extensive enough and varied enough in price to meet the needs of anyone who frequents steakhouses and wants a cocktail, a bottle of wine, or a beer.

But it’s the kitchen at Matt Winn’s Steakhouse that excites me most.

It’s an honest name, and it is an honest steakhouse, with all that “steakhouse” implies: filets, strips, ribeye, porterhouse. And of course luxurious adornments and accompaniments abound.

If you want your filet bedecked with butter-poached lobster tail and black truffle compound butter, go for it. Or if you’d like your bone-in ribeye served with our local favorite, Henry Bain’s sauce, you can do that. Or, you can dress it up with an inventive charred scallion chimichurri. There is a daily assortment of raw bar offerings — oysters on the half shell, tiger shrimp, king crab, and the chef ’s daily offering of fish and seafood tartare, ceviche, or crudo. And of course there is an assortment of appetizers -- crab cake with a spring onion remoulade,

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Winn’s legacy is formidable, and Matt Winn’s Steakhouse lives up to it. Everything about it — location, design, menu, execution, and thoughtful intelligent service even in the midst of a pandemic — signals a commitment to creating a dining experience that fuses Kentucky traditions and the exciting flavors of a global palate.

It’s pretty evident that Matt Winn was the right person in the right place at the right time.

And for a variety of reasons. Matt Winn’s is the right restaurant at the right place at the right time.

These days, “service” standards are more complicated than ever. All the usual expectations — grace, efficiency, knowledge, awareness — are still important. But the first thing on any diner’s mind is safety.

My friend Wayne and I visited Matt Winn’s during its extended soft opening in mid-August. We drove separately, but sat together. Wayne is a physician, cautious, and knowledgeable about Covid. For both of us, it was our first time being seated in a restaurant since March. Prior to going, we had agreed that if either of us felt unsafe at any time, we would leave.

In fact, Matt Winn’s front-of-house operation is extraordinarily insightful, creative, and meticulous. When our reservation was confirmed, we were directed to a dedicated Matt Winn’s parking lot.

Upon arrival, we were checked in at an outdoor tent, then given the option of walking or riding a cart to a dedicated elevator where an operator whisked us to the appropriate floor, and a waiting greeter escorted us to our table in one of the most prestigious sections of Churchill Downs, the sixth floor area adjacent to the Mansion long known as “Millionaire’s Row.” Throughout this process Wayne and I were basically isolated in a bubble of two, and everyone we met was masked.

The dining room was rich in shades of wood and bronze and dashes of crimson. And at first we were surprised to see glittering settings on nearly all the tables. But that, it turned out, was artifice. Most of the tables are used to create generous spaces between the tables where diners are seated. If you look closely at a photo of the empty dining room you’ll see that some of the tables have not been dressed.

Those are the actual guest tables — and they are not set up until guests check in upon arrival.The other tables create a kind of negative space — but also convey an optimistic, cheerful look.

I didn’t measure, but by now I have a sense of what six feet looks like (and it never looks far enough to me). My impression was that all the occupied tables were very generously spaced — far more than six feet apart, and seated parties were configured in ways that enhanced both the appearance and the reality of distance. In fact, as currently configured, Matt Winn’s may have the advantage of offering one of the quietest dining experiences in the city — a fine thing for those of us who actually enjoy being able to hear one another at the table.

In terms of safety, service — both communication and the serving of food — was meticulous. And my impression was that servers had been assigned only a limited number of tables, which seems also a reasonable precaution at this time.

It takes both extraordinary resources and visionary planning to pull this off, and Matt Winn’s benefits from both.The restaurant is operated

by Levy Restaurants, a global behemoth that operates everything from stadium food programs to luxurious Michelin-starred restaurants. Levy, in fact, operates all of Churchill’s dining services.

But notwithstanding its grandeur and ambitions, Matt Winn’s feels

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matt winn’s steakhouse | profile

The Bourbon Room

The Wine Cellar

The exclusive Speakeasy

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profile | matt winn’s steakhouse Shelby County’s Freedom Run Farm supplies heritage Katahdin lamb for Chef Dailey’s dramatically perched Lamb Rack en Persillade, served with a crushed pea salad. A potato gratin is enriched with bacon from Broadbent Farm and Kenny’s Reserve White Cheddar.

And a Bourbon-smoked, dry-aged pork chop is served with Weisenberger grits and country ham au jus.

The coffee, after-dinner drinks, dessert wines, and dessert offerings are about as indulgent as you can imagine, and maybe beyond — unless you’ve already imagined Red Eye S’more crafted from an espresso marshmallow, Rye whiskey chocolate cremeux, a country ham crumble, and, of course, a Graham cracker. Baked Kentucky promises to be a favorite — sweet corn sponge cake, peach ice cream, Copper & Kings Brandy, and blackberry.

But perhaps the best closing feature during an evening visit is to take advantage of the location. Matt Winn’s sits high, overlooking the Clubhouse Turn. On our visit, we stood on the balcony at dusk, watching as shadows fell over the legendary track and the quiet barns. If you were entertaining visitors from out of town who wanted to experience the track, that might be the scene you’d want to share. I can imagine it on a moonlit winter night when snow is falling on the ground, or on a crisp fall or spring evening. Or really, pretty much any time.

If you are apprehensive about finding your way or giving others directions, take comfort in knowing the folks at Matt Winn’s have thought of everything, and are way ahead of you on that problem.

They’ve even given the restaurant parking lot its own distinct street address — 750 Central Avenue. Put that into your GPS and you are good to go. F&D

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quail egg, and roasted garlic relish; roasted bone marrow spiced up with the classic heat of Calabrian Nduja, and more — and an assortment of salads. If you’re avoiding red meat, offerings include cedar plank salmon, heritage roasted chicken breast, and ricotta gnocchi.

On our visit, the kitchen’s execution was impeccable. Roasted asparagus is sauced with a lemony hollandaise. Pommes frites are amped up with the aroma of rosemary and smoked salt. Pickle-fried cauliflower is both familiar and eccentric, accented with goat cheese, brown butter vinaigrette and hazelnut. Harissa-spiced carrots with pistachio Romesco and feta is a fine riff on classic Tunisian cuisine.

What’s cool about Matt Winn’s kitchen, though, is the way it melds traditional steakhouse staples with global touches that reflect Churchill’s international appeal, and also makes use of both regional culinary ideas and locally-sourced ingredients.

It turns out that both Executive Chef Danielson and Chef de Cuisine Jeff Dailey are knowledgeable and passionate advocates not only of vernacular cookery but of sourcing as many many regional farm-to-table ingredients as they can.

If you’re familiar with Louisville’s indie restaurant scene, you’ll recognize that Chef Dailey is a veteran of two important kitchens: the late Dean Corbett’s flagship restaurant, Corbett’s – An American Place; and Harvest, which was arguably the city's preeminent farm-to-table restaurant until its recent closure.

It wasn’t that many years ago that major restaurants dared not feature farm-to-table cuisine because of inconsistent and unreliable supply chains. So the fact that Matt Winn’s has made a major commitment to using regional ingredients on its opening menu seems like a watershed moment. And in a phone interview, Chef Dailey suggested that once all the opening wrinkles have smoothed out he expects to start rotating in special seasonal offerings from local crops as opportunities arise.

The opening menu, though, already highlights some regional classics.

Highlights of the starting menu include meatballs made from Wagyu beef raised at Princeton, Kentucky’s Black Hawk Farm and served with ham bone tomato gravy, crispy shallots and mozzarella. And there is a wonderful Kung Pao-style calamari starter with peanut, celery, lime and, in an unusual Kentucky touch, sorghum-chili sauce. A baby beet salad uses Capriole Farm’s Old Kentucky Tomme. French onion soup is amped up with Copper & Kings Brandy. Even the wedge salad goes regional, with candied Broadbent bacon.

(below, from left) Chef de Cuisine Jeff Dailey; Filet of beef with lobster tail. (opposite page, top from left) Chef David Danielson (left) and Hospitality Vice President Richard Sutton; rack of lamb with crushed pea salad; jumbo lump crab cakes with quail egg. (opposite page, center from left) Roasted bone marrow with a deviled egg mousse; king crab, oysters and shrimp from the raw/chilled seafood bar; roasted baby beet salad. (opposite page, bottom from left) Dry-aged pork chop and grits; roasted asparagus; red eye s’more with a country ham crumble.

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food | cooking with ron

BY RON MIKULAK | PHOTOS BY ANDY HYSLOP

A

utumn has long offered inspiration and images to poets seized by fits of melancholy as they

ponder the transience of life, the rhythm of nature’s cycles and the impermanence of beauty. The falling of leaves, the dying of flowers, the shortening of daylight and the first chilling northern winds all find their way into somber autumnal poetry.

For the gardener — or the frequenter of farmers’ markets — autumn brings joy and excitement at the abundance of the end of summer — and perhaps a tinge of dismay at the prospect of making something new or interesting from yet more zucchini, or slicing one more cucumber for salad, or discovering that by now you have actually had your fill of tasty, vine-ripened tomatoes. (I have never felt that way, and I try to eat tomatoes at least twice a day during the local season, but I imagine there might be someone who is sated with tomatoes long before the first frost. I don’t understand such people, but I guess there might be some out there.)

Experienced gardeners here in the Ohio Valley generally try to get their tomato plants in the ground by the first week of May, as their early plantings of radishes, lettuce and greens are nearing an end, in the usually frustrated hope of having homegrown slices on burgers on the 4th of July.

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Too many vegetables?

Try something new

Seasonal weather is always a challenge for growers of vegetables, whether backyard gardener or farmer. This summer (as I write in August) the weather gods have been benign, and occasionally beneficent.This part of the Ohio Valley has had regular rainfall, few and brief dry spells, few storms with heavy winds and slashing rains that can level carefully tended vegetable beds.

The result of reasonable weather, hard work in garden or field and a merciful stretch of sunny, but not unbearably hot days is an abundance of fresh vegetables that continue to beg to be eaten. But abundance can eventually pall; that is the paradox of human nature: we are desperate when we have not enough, and dissatisfied when we have more than we need. What else can I do with yet more tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants? Here are a few ideas, a bit different perhaps from how one might normally treat these vegetables.The recipes are not difficult; the results are tasty indeed.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––– Eggplant rollatini (cheesestuffed eggplant slices)

Eggplant rollatini

adding sautéed chopped spinach to the ricotta filling, using salsa of your preferred spice level as the sauce, adding a mixture of fresh herbs to the filling. This recipe gives the basic concept, but feel free to improvise.

2 large Italian eggplants, tops and bottoms cut off and sliced length-wise into ¼ inch thick slices (each eggplant should make around 6-7 slices) Kosher salt 16 ounces Ricotta cheese 1 cup shredded Romano or Parmesan cheese, divided 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese, divided ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper ½ cup chopped fresh parsley and/or basil 1 egg 2 cups tomato sauce (Using your favorite bottled pasta sauce makes this dish easier to prepare.

You may, of course, make your own sauce.)

(Serves 4 as a main course) You may add meat to this by sautéing ground beef or veal and mixing it into the cheese filling, or you can make a meat sauce. But this is very filling as a vegetarian dish. Many variations are possible:

Salt the eggplant slices well on both sides and place in a colander for about 30 minutes. Rinse well to remove salt and exuded moisture, and pat slices dry.

Heat the broiler and line a sheet pan with foil.

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–––––––––––––––––––––––––– Hot and sour cucumbers (Serves 4 as a side dish) Samuel Johnson, the 18th century wit and dictionary maker, opined that “a cucumber should be well sliced and dressed with pepper and vinegar and then thrown out, as good for nothing.” This reclpe, which takes the unusual step of cooking cucumber, might have changed his mind. But since he was British, and this dish is both spicy and piquant, perhaps not.

This recipe, which I found some time ago in a cooking magazine, called for a sauce made with fresh jalapeño, vinegar, and brown sugar. Here I used instead the Green Chili Jam restaurateur Tony Palombino has concocted and bottled. I think the result is appropriately complex in its tastes, and a couple of steps easier than the original.

Tomato galette Lay eggplant slices in a single layer on the pan and brush (or spray) both sides lightly with olive oil.

Sprinkle with black pepper to taste and broil each side briefly (2-3 minutes or so) to soften the slices.

Do not char. Remove from broiler and let cool. Heat oven to 375 degrees.

To make the cheese filling: In a large mixing bowl combine Ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup shredded Romano cheese, 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese, black pepper, chopped parsley or basil (or a mixture of both), and the beaten egg. Stir well until fully combined.

Spread 1-2 ladles of sauce in a thin even layer in the bottom of a 9" x 13" pan. Divide cheese mixture between each eggplant slice, placing around 2 tablespoons on the wider side of the slice. Starting on the wider side carefully roll the eggplant slices over the cheese filling and carefully place the rollatini seam-side down into the prepared 9" x 13" pan, lining them in two rows, one row on each side of the pan. (If you have more cheese filling than eggplant slices, save and use as a pasta sauce, thinned with a little Italian white wine.) When the pan is full, ladle remaining sauce evenly over the rollatini.

Bake for 35-40 minutes, until sauce is bubbly.

Top with remaining Romano and Mozzarella cheeses and return to the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese. Serve immediately.

1 ¾ ¾ ¼ 3

prepared 10-inch pie crust cup grated Mozzarella cup grated Fontina cheese cup basil leaves, cut into slivers ripe firm tomatoes, sliced Salt and pepper

In a bowl, combine the two grated cheeses and basil strips, tossing well to combine. On a floured work surface, roll out the dough to about a 12-inch circle. Carefully transfer to a baking sheet. Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Sprinkle the cheese and basil mixture in a circle on the dough, leaving a cheese-free border of about 2 inches. Place tomato slices on top of cheese, overlapping slightly. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the uncovered edge of the dough over the tomatoes, pleating or folding it as needed to make it fit neatly, leaving the center of the tomato filling uncovered.

Bake until golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool briefly, slide onto a serving plate, and slice.

2 2 1 4

tablespoons toasted sesame oil garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced teaspoon minced fresh ginger ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps sliced ¼ cup (or more) Green Chili Jam 3 cups sliced cucumber, cut ½” thick on the diagonal 1½ teaspoons fresh lemon juice Kosher salt In a large nonstick skillet, heat sesame oil until shimmery. Add the garlic and ginger and cook over moderately high heat, stirring until fragrant, 30 seconds or so. Add the mushrooms, stirring until the mushrooms start to soften, about two minutes. Add the cucumbers, Green Chili Jam and 2 tablespoons of water and stir to coat everything in the sauce. Cover and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the cucumbers are tender and the sauce is thickened, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and season with salt. Taste and adjust with more lemon juice, or salt, and a shake or two of hot sauce if more spiciness is desired. Serve warm. F&D

Hot and sour cucumbers

–––——————––––––––––– Tomato galette (Serves 4 as a light main course with bread and salad, or 6 to 8 as a first course) A commercially prepared refrigerated piecrust makes this dish both easy to prepare, and very pleasant to eat. I like to use differently colored tomatoes, just for fun.

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profile | tandoori fusion

BY MICHAEL L. JONES PHOTOS BY DAN DRY

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tandoori fusion | profile urna Veer is the founder and president of V-Soft Consulting, a Louisville-based company that provides technology staffing and consulting services throughout the U.S. and abroad. But outside of the office, his interests are decidedly less high tech. Veer and his physician wife Radhika own 90-acres of land in Smithfield, Kentucky where they operate Veering Creek Farm and the Pravasa Vineyard & Winery.

The Pravasa wines are sold exclusively at Tandoori Fusion, an upscale Indian restaurant the couple opened three years ago in the Chamberlain Pointe strip mall off Chamberlain Lane. Veering Creek Farm also grows most of the vegetables used at Tandoori Fusion. Purna Veer says the restaurant still purchases rice and some vegetables from food distributors, but he hopes in a few years

P

to expand the vertical integration of his hospitality businesses to the point where the farm can supply nearly all of the restaurant’s ingredients.

“The whole concept of Tandoori Fusion is that the authenticity comes from the ingredients,” he explained. “Some of the vegetables that we grow, it takes a while for them to start producing. So, at some point, we’ll have a more sustainable supply of vegetables from our own farm. We want to do something for the long term.”

Pravasa is a Hindi word meaning traveler or emigrant, which perfectly describes Purna’s life story. He grew up close to Hyderabad in Southern India. As a child, Purna enjoyed helping his father work on the family’s rice farm. One of the reasons that he bought Veering Creek Farm was that he dreamed of owning land near his home as his family had in India.

“I guess you can say I had an itch. I never lost my love of farming,” Purna quipped in an interview on the patio of his restaurant in August.

4600 Chamberlain Ln. Louisville, KY 40241

502.255.2590 thetandoorifusion.com

Purna (right) and Radhika Veer

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profile | tandoori fusion Purna studied engineering at Shivaji University in India before moving to America to attend Texas A&M, where he got his master’s degree in environmental engineering. He arrived in Texas with little more than a suitcase, so eating out wasn’t an option. Purna discovered his passion for food because he was forced to cook his own meals while he was in school. He founded V-Soft in 1997 while he was still in Texas but moved the company to Louisville the following year because Radhika was studying medicine here.

Purna said he and Radhika decided to open Tandoori Fusion after years of being frustrated with the Indian restaurants in the area. “We’d make food at home most of the time because when we would go to these restaurants here the food would be modified,” he explained. “There is this perception that if you add all the spices and what not it’s going to be very hot and not edible. But that’s not true if you carefully do it and mix the spices in the proper way to bring it to the authenticity that you want.”

Tandoori Fusion has a large, modern-looking dining room that can seat up to 100 people and connects to a spacious patio. The Veers have imported tandoor ovens from India for the kitchen. The restaurant also has a full bar and a mural of Veering Creek Farm hanging on a wall. Purna said the farm is the key to the restaurant’s success.

The farm-to-table movement originated in the 1970s after a handful of chefs in Europe and America decided that locally sourced ingredients would allow them to create better tasting dishes and give them more flexibility in creating their menus. In many ways, the movement was a reaction to the increased availability of processed and frozen food that began in the 1950s. The farm-to-table concept picked up steam in the 2000s among restaurateurs who wanted to serve healthier meals, worried about food sustainability, and wanted to decrease the impact of food production on the environment.

Despite the widespread popularity of the farmto-table model, few ethnic restaurants have joined the movement until recently. There are a few Chinese restaurants that practice farm-to-table, mostly on the West Coast. Chef Niven Patel opened what may have been the first farm-to-table restaurant in America, Ghee Indian Kitchen in Miami, just three years ago. Tandoori Fusion is the only farm-to-table Indian restaurant in the Kentuckiana region and Purna could not name one

(top) Purna Veer walks his vineyard at Veering Creek Farm in Smithfield, Kentucky. (center) Veering Creek Farm’s massive greenhouse. (left) The patio at Tandoori Fusion.

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in any of the surrounding states.

Indian restaurants have been multiplying over the last two decades as the Indian American population continues to grow.

Foreign-born Indians are the second largest immigrant group after Mexicans, with more than two million in America. Most of that population growth has been fueled by students like Purna and Radhika, who came to America in search of education and stayed to pursue professional careers, especially in technology and medicine. According to the New Delhi publication The Print, more than 200,000 Indian students are studying in America at any one time.

The growth in the foreign-born Indian population — and immigrants from the United Kingdom (where chicken tikka masala was named a national dish in 2001) has led to greater demand for more authentic tasting Indian food. One of the difficulties of starting an ethnic farm-to-table restaurant is the fact that foreign vegetables are not always suited to the local climate and soil. For example, curry leaf — a common Indian ingredient — is a tropical plant that can’t stand even mild temperatures. The Ghee Indian Kitchen has the good fortune of being in South Florida where the climate is warm and humid, but Tandoori Fusion must deal with Kentuckiana’s unpredictable weather.

Veering Creek Farm sidesteps the problems caused by Louisville’s wacky weather by growing some of its crops in a greenhouse.

The vegetables it grows include moringa (drumsticks), curry leaves, mint, cilantro, squash, and several varieties of leafy vegetables for Tandoori Fusion.

When Purna and Radhika bought their farm five years ago, they were not thinking about food at all. They had alcohol on their minds.

They tend more than 1,200 grapevines in their three-acre vineyard. Their five-acre hops yard is the largest in Kentucky with more than 5,000 plants. Hops give beer its bitterness and Veering Creek Farm grows several varieties of the plant. The farm supplies hops to Goodwood Brewing Company, Apocalypse Brew Works, and Old Louisville Craft Brewery.

Purna told the Oldham County Era in 2017, “I wanted to do something different. At the

(top) Masala chicken lollipops. (center, from left) Pravasa wines from Tandoori Fusion’s winery; dal tadka. (right) A view of the dining room.

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time I was researching and there are so many craft breweries coming around the country, especially in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.” Purna hopes Tandoori Fusion will be just as innovative in the hospitality industry. He would like the restaurant to expand the perception of Indian food in America.

India is a vast subcontinent with four types of climate: tropical, desert/dry, temperate (all four seasons), and Mediterranean. These different climates impact the fruits and vegetables that grow in each part of the country and have led to a variety of regional and traditional cuisines. What most Westerners think of as “Indian food” is actually northern Indian cuisine. In the North, they traditionally eat more breads (naan and roti), meat, curries, and yogurts. Northern dishes also use many combinations of onions, tomatoes, and garlic.

These ingredients are familiar to most Western diners, who comfortably gravitate towards curries and dishes like Butter Chicken.

In Southern India where Purna is from, dishes tend to be more plant-based, and rice and lentils play key roles.

In addition, the coconut tree has a long history in India, may have originated there, and plays an enormously important role in the culture and cuisine of this part of the country. Southerners also tend to like their food spicier which could explain why Purna was so unhappy with the Indian food he found in Kentucky. Tandoor Fusion makes entrees mildly spicy unless customers specifically ask for the heat.

Eastern and Western India both have coastal areas, so seafood is incorporated in many of the dishes in these regions. Religion also has an impact on Indian cuisine. More than 90 percent of the world’s Hindu population can be found in India.The cow is sacred to them, and Indian Muslims don’t eat pork. So, the proteins in Indian dishes are usually chicken, lamb, or goat.

Tandoori Fusion has a roster of chefs that have been classically trained in both southern and northern Indian recipes. These chefs have been trained all over the world, and they even make their own spices from the ingredients Veering Creek Farm sends to the restaurant.

The Tandoori Fusion menu features a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes from all over India.

There are northern Indian staples like chicken tikka masala (oven-baked chicken cooked in a creamy tomato sauce with bell peppers and onions), butter chicken (roasted chicken cooked in a rich, buttery tomato sauce) and lamb saag (lamb cooked with fresh spinach and spices).

Biryani is a mixed rice dish that originated in India’s

(center, from left) Karvepaku Manchurian fried dumplings; andhra chicken curry with garlic naan bread. (left) Butter chicken pot pie.

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Muslim community, although it is popular throughout the country. The name means “fried before cooking” in Persian. The dish takes hours to cook and the recipes vary according to the type of meat or vegetables found in a region. Tandoori Fusion offers a variety of Biryani options that come vegetarian or cooked with chicken, lamb, or goat.

The seafood offerings at Tandoori Fusion include Malabar fish curry (fish stewed in a Kerala-style curry with coconut milk) and shrimp vindaloo (prawns made in a hot and spicy vinegar garlic sauce with Kashmiri-style chili). But fusion is in the restaurant’s name for a reason.The restaurant offers modern takes on American dishes using Indian vegetables and spices. The most popular fusion dish is probably the Double Cheese/Chicken Paneer Tikka Pizza which uses naan as its crust.The pizza includes marinated chicken, mozzarella cheese, peppers, and a robust tomato sauce. Tandoori Fusion also offers the butter chicken in a pot pie.

“Everyone that comes here, they like the food.

The repeated comment that we hear is that there is nothing like this food in the region. The main difference between us and other Indian restaurants is the farm-to-table concept. Most Indian vegetables at the other restaurants are store-bought, but ours come from our farm. We have things you can’t get at Kroger or any place like that,” Purna added.

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected Tandoori Fusion as it has nearly every restaurant in America.

The restaurant and farm were doing well before the state placed restrictions on dining establishments and the hospitality industry, which forced Purna to furlough some of his staff as the restaurant shifted to patio seating, carry-out and delivery.

Despite the setbacks, Purna and Radhika are still planning for the future of their hospitality businesses. Purna would like to start selling his wines in retail stores. And the couple has been able to retain the entire kitchen staff. Purna said their skills are too important to his business model at Tandoori Fusion.

“This is a difficult business, especially with the pandemic going on now,” he said. “When you don’t have the street visibility like this restaurant you have to double up your efforts to make it a destination place. Catering to every taste bud is a challenge. At the same time, our concept was to serve authentic food to the customers without jeopardizing the core flavors and whatnot. I think we’ve done that, and we will continue to do that.” F&D

(top, from left) Whole pomfret fish; Punjabi dal tadka (yellow lentils). (center) Lamb Vindaloo. (right) Chicken paneer tikka pizza.

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food | easy entertaining

EASY entertaining

BY TIM & LORI LAIRD PHOTOS BY DAN DRY

As anyone who has seen Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall” knows, cooking whole live lobsters can be intimidating.

After all — they’re alive!

Fall is traditionally one of the best seasons of the year for dining on lobster.

The big crustaceans are most active from late summer until the first of the year. As the weather cools and the fall holidays approach, our appetites grow, and we crave the hearty, succulent luxuries of rich, hearty foods of all kinds – but especially from the sea.

Of course, dining on lobster is usually a quintessentially social experience. It’s a food best enjoyed in convivial company.

And for many of us, it’s a food best enjoyed during an excursion to the coast, where we can dine in rustic or elegant restaurants in the company of friends.

But even in a year when many of us may not choose to travel to the coasts, there’s no reason why we can’t celebrate this grand pleasure in the friendly environs of our own homes.

If you’ve never tried to prepare lobster on your own you might have some trepidation about the process. But trust us, there are few things simpler. All you need is lots of water, a big pot, a lobster from a good source, and a hearty appetite.

Below, we’ve taken the fear out of the process by providing easy steps to properly cook lobsters, for the reward is well

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easy entertaining | food

worth the effort. Not only is lobster delicious eaten whole, its rich meat is luxurious in a variety of dishes including appetizers, soups, entrees and sides as well. We’ve included several of our favorite lobster recipes to enjoy as a full lobster-feast meal or as an accompaniment to other dishes.

––––––––––––––––––––––––

Traditional Boiled Lobster Bring at least ½ gallon of water per pound of lobster to a rolling boil in a very large pot — if it is a 2-pounder, use a gallon of water. Add in 4 tablespoons of sea salt per ½ gallon of water — that’s a half-cup for a 2-pounder.

Carefully drop in the lobsters, one at a time, headfirst into the water.

Return the water to a boil, and then start timing: 1 lb. = 12-15 min 1.5 lbs. = 15-20 min 2-3 lbs. = 20-25 min

NOTE: Determining fully cooked Lobsters ■ Lobsters will turn their characteristic bright red color well before the meat is thoroughly cooked inside.

■ Tug on an antennae or pull off one of the small walking legs. They both will come off easily when the lobster is done.

■ The meat inside will be firm, white and opaque.

■ The tomalley, which fills much of the body cavity, will be green.

■ The roe in female lobsters will be bright red and firm. If it is a dark greenish black, with an oily tar-like consistency, the lobster is undercooked.

■ The internal temperature will be 180 degrees.

■ If the lobsters will not be eaten right away, they must be cooled quickly in ice water. Drain the chilled lobsters, cover and keep refrigerated. You can keep cooked lobsters in your refrigerator for 1 or 2 days.

Lobster Primer Lobster Lingo: • Culls: lobsters missing a claw • Chickens: about 1 pound • Quarters: about 1-1/4 pounds • Selects: 1 to 2 pounds • Jumbos: over 2 pounds

Lobster Equivalents and Measures: • 1 pound cooked = about 2 cups chopped chunks • 1 (8-ounce) tail = 1 serving or 4 ounces cooked meat • 1 (1- to 1-1/2 pound) whole lobster = 1 serving or 4 ounces cooked meat

Lobster Boiling Times: • 1 lb. = 12-15 min • 1.5 lbs. = 15-20 min • 2-3 lbs. = 20-25 min

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For the Champagne dipping sauce: 1 1 1 1 4 12

bottle Korbel Brut Champagne cup fresh parsley, chopped bunch thyme, chopped bay leaf shallots, chopped tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces Salt and pepper

Pour the champagne into a medium-size saucepan. Add the parsley, thyme, bay leaf and shallots. Cook over medium heat until just 1 cup of the liquid remains, about 25 minutes.

Strain the liquid and discard the herbs.

Slowly whisk in the butter, one tablespoon at a time, over low heat. When all the butter has been incorporated, season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep the mixture warm while grilling the lobsters then divide into individual bowls for dipping.

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Grilled Lobster Tails with Champagne Dipping Sauce (Serves 6)

For the lobster tails: 3 lobster tails 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

38 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

6 skewers Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Cut the lobster tails in half lengthwise. Remove the meat from the tail shell and rub the inside of each shell with 1 tablespoon of the butter.

Replace the meat and skewer each tail to keep the meat in place and to stop it from curling while cooking. Place the tail, shell side down, on the grill and cook without flipping the tail, until the meat is opaque, about 8 - 12 minutes.

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Lobster Cocktail (Serves 6)

1 pound fresh-picked cooked lobster meat cut into bite-size pieces Chopped lettuce Remoulade Lemon wedges for garnish

easy entertaining | food

the pan from heat and add the heavy cream and Cheddar cheese. Mix well. Season to taste with salt, pepper and cayenne.

Toss the cooked pasta, cheese sauce and lobster meat together and place in a heavy oven-proof casserole dish. Sprinkle with the

grated Parmesan cheese and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 15 or 20 minutes, until the dish is bubbly and browning on top.

Remove from the oven, drizzle with the truffle oil, and sprinkle with chopped chives as garnish. F&D

Divide chopped lettuce among 6 chilled martini glasses. Top with equal portions of fresh lobster meat and spoon a dollop of remoulade sauce on top. Garnish with lemon wedge.

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Avalon’s Truffle Lobster Mac ‘n’ Cheese (Serves 8)

Avalon is long gone now, but the memory of its rich lobster mac ‘n’ cheese lingers.

F&D liked the dish so much that we featured it back in the Spring 2006 issue (available online at www.foodanddine.com).

1 2 3 5 3 ¾ 2

½ ½ 2 3

pound penne pasta tablespoons vegetable oil tablespoons butter tablespoons all-purpose flour cups whole milk cup heavy cream cups grated white Cheddar Salt Black pepper Cayenne pound lobster claw meat cup grated Parmesan cheese tablespoons truffle oil tablespoons chopped chives

Bring 1 gallon of water to a boil with ample salt to make the water "taste like the sea," as Italians say. Boil the pasta until it’s al dente, taking care not to overcook as it will cook further in the dish. Drain and rinse with cool water to stop it cooking; drizzle with a little vegetable oil and toss, to keep the pasta from sticking together.

Melt the butter in a two-quart saucepan over medium heat, and whisk in the flour.

Cook for 1 minute, then slowly pour in the milk while stirring constantly with a wire whisk. Stir vigorously to ensure that there are no lumps. Bring to a simmer, then, once the milk has thickened somewhat, remove

www.foodanddine.com Fall 2020 39

dining guide

Guide Index_Fall20_Ed-final.qxp_Layout 1 9/14/20 4:25 PM Page 40

Cuisine Style

African..............................69 Asian/Chinese..................63 Asian/Japanese. ..............64 Asian/Korean ...................65 Asian/Thai........................66 Asian/Vietnamese ............66

Bar & Grill/Taphouse........60 Barbecue .........................56 Bistro/New American .......46 Burgers/Chicken ..............50 Cafés ...............................52 Cafeterias/Buffet ..............60 Cajun/Creole....................66 Casual Dining ..................53 Coffee/Tea Houses ..........73 Cuban/Caribbean.............66 Deli/Sandwich ..................57

Alphabetical Index RESTAURANT

211 Clover Lane 21st Amendment Tavern 321 Deli 4 Seasons Restaurant 211 Clover Lane 21st Amendment Tavern 4 Seasons Restaurant 502 Bar & Bistro 610 Magnolia 78 Coffee Shop 80/20 @ Kaelin's 888 Great Wall 8th Street Pizza 8UP Drinkery A Nice Restaurant A Taste of China Abol Café Abyssinia Á-Châu Restaurant Ada's Kitchen and Catering Addis Grill Adrienne & Co. Bakery Café Adrienne's Italian Against The Grain Agave & Rye Epic Tacos Aji Sushi and Asian Cuisine Al Hamra Halal Buffet Aladdin's Mediterranean Alchemy Restaurant Alex&nder Alley Cat Café Alwatan Restaurant American Smokehouse Stadium Amici Angie’s Cafe Angilo's Pizza Angio's Italian Restaurant Annie Café Annie May's Sweets Café Annie's Pizza Anoosh Bistro Another Place Sandwich Shop Apna Café Apocalypse Brew Works Applebee's Arata Sushi Arni's Pizza Arno's Pizza Aroma Café Art Eatables Asahi Japanese Asian Buffet Asian Wok Aspen Creek Restaurant Atlantic No. 5 Atrium Café August Moon B.J.'s Restaurant & Brewhouse Babie Bac'z Good Grill Baby Mae's Bandido Taqueria Mexicana bar Vetti Baraka Restaurant Barcelona Bistro Bar Barn8 Barrelhouse on Market Barry's Cheesesteaks Baxter's 942 Bean Bean Street Café Bearno's Beef O'Brady's Bella Italia Bella Roma Bella's Diner Big Al’s Beeritaville Big Ben's BBQ Big Momma's Soul Kitchen Biscuit Belly Bistro Le Relais Bitters End Blackbeard Espresso Blackstone Grille Blaze Fast Fire'd Pizza Blind Squirrel Blue Dog Bakery Blue Horse Café Bluegrass Brewing Company Board and You Bistro & Wine Bar Bob's Steak & Chop House

RESTAURANTS LISTED ALPHABETICALLY, FOLLOWED

BY THE PAGE NUMBER OF ITS REVIEW, THE CUISINE STYLE, AND THE CORRESPONDING MAP NUMBER(S). [ ] DENOTES UNMAPPED MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.

PAGE #/CUISINE STYLE 48 54 63 76 44 50 68 46 44 73 50 63 54 44 53 63 73 63 66 60 63 72 67 62 53 64 68 68 69 46 52 68 56 67 52 54 67 66 72 54 46 57 68 62 53 64 54 54 52 72 64 63 63 53 52 52 63 60 56 56 70 67 63 68 44 60 58 60 73 73 54 60 67 67 59 60 56 60 53 67 60 73 44 54 53 52 52 62 46 49

MAP #

Fine Dining 3 Gastropub 13 Deli / Sandwich 1 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 1 Fine Dining 3 Gastropub 13 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 11 Bistro / New American 8 Fine Dining 13 Coffee / Tea Houses 1 Burgers / Chicken 2 Asian / Chinese 8 Pizza 14 Upscale Casual 1 Casual Dining 14, 16 Asian / Chinese 1 Coffee / Tea Houses 3 African 1 Asian / Vietnamese 13 Southern / Soul Food 1 African 1 Desserts / Bakery 14, 16 European / Italian 16 Microbreweries 1 Casual Dining 2 Asian / Japanese 11 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 2 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 14 Latin American 1 Bistro / New American 2 Cafes 5 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 4 Barbecue 16 European / Italian 13 Cafes 16 Pizza 13 European / Italian 6 Asian / Vietnamese 13 Desserts / Bakery 3 Pizza 9,12 Bistro / New American 7 Deli / Sandwich 1 Indian 8 Microbreweries 2 Casual Dining 11,12,13,15 Asian / Japanese 10 Pizza 14 Pizza 4 Cafes 14 Desserts / Bakery 1 Asian / Japanese 3 Asian / Chinese 14 Asian / Chinese 2 Casual Dining 3,11 Cafes 1 Cafes 5 Asian / Chinese 2 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 5 Barbecue 12 Barbecue 14 Mexican 1,13 European / Italian 1 African 1 European / Spanish 6 Fine Dining 10 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 16 Deli / Sandwich 1,2 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Coffee / Tea Houses 13 Coffee / Tea Houses 14 Pizza [14] Bar & Grill / Taphouse 5,3,14 European / Italian 16 European / Italian 14 Diner / Home Style 13 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Barbecue 16 Southern / Soul Food 9 Casual Dining 1,3,13 European / French 4 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 1 Coffee / Tea Houses 1 Upscale Casual 10 Pizza 3,5,8,15 Casual Dining 5 Cafes 2 Cafes 13 Microbreweries 1 Bistro / New American 14 Steakhouse 1

40 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

Latin American .................69 Mediterranean/Mid East...68 Mexican ...........................70 Microbreweries ................62 Pizza ................................54 Seafood ...........................48 Southern/Soul Food.........60 Southwest/Tex Mex..........71 Steakhouse......................49 Upscale Casual................44

Desserts/Bakery ..............72 Diner/Home Style.............59 Entertainment Dining .......63 European/French .............67 European/German ...........67 European/Irish .................67 European/Italian...............67 European/Spanish ...........68 Fine Dining.......................44 Gastropub ........................50 Indian ...............................68

RESTAURANT

Bombay Grill Bonefish Grill Bonnie & Clyde's Pizza Book & Bourbon Southern Kitchen Boombozz Pizza · Watch Bar Boomer's Café Boomtown Bootleg Barbecue Co. Borromeo's Pizza & Italian Borsalino Café & Deli Boudreaux's Cajun Cooking Boudreaux's Sno-Balls Boujie Biscuit Bourbon Raw Bourbon's Bistro Brasserie Provence Bravo!

Brazeiros Churrascaria Breadworks Brendon's Catch 23 Brian's Deli Brick House Tavern + Tap Bridge and Barrel Bristol Bar & Grille Brix Wine Bar Brooke & Billy’s Brooklyn & The Butcher Brownie's 'The Shed' Bruegger's Bagels Bubba's 33 Buca Di Beppo Buckhead Mountain Grill Buck's Bud's Tavern & Barbecue Buffalo Wild Wings Bungalow Joe's Bar & Grill Bunz Restaurant Burger Boy Burger Girl BurgerIM Butcher Block Eatery at High Horse Butcher's Best Butchertown Grocery Butchertown Grocery Bakery Café 157 Café 223 Café 360 Café Aroma Café Thuy Van Caffe Classico California Pizza kitchen Cancún Captain's Quarters Riverside Grille Carali's Rotisserie Chicken Cardinal Hall Of Fame Café Caribbean Café Carrabba's Italian Grill Carr's BBQ and Market CASK Southern Kitchen & Bar Caspian Grill Persian Café Cast Iron Steakhouse Catfish Haven Restaurant Cattleman's Roadhouse Cellar Door Chocolates Chamling Kitchen & Bar Champions Grille Charcoal Charlestown Pizza Co. Charr'd Bourbon Kitchen Check's BBQ & Blues Check's Café Cheddar Box Café Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Cheer King Star The Cheesecake Factory Chef's Cut Pizzeria Chicago Steak & Lemonade The Chicken House Chicken King Chicken Salad Chick Chik'n & Mi Chilakiles Oaxacan Breakfast Chili's China 1 China Bistro China Buffet China Café China Castle China Chef China Coast

PAGE #/CUISINE STYLE 68 48 55 60 55 52 53 56 55 52 66 72 53 44 46 67 45 49 72 45 58 53 46 45 47 53 49 60 58 61 67 53 44 61 50 61 50 59 59 51 61 58 47 72 52 52 52 70 66 52 55 70 48 69 53 66 67 56 60 68 49 48 49 72 68 53 68 55 45 56 59 52 53 63 45 55 58 51 51 51 66 70 54 63 63 63 63 63 63 63

MAP #

Indian 5 Seafood 5 Pizza 12 Southern / Soul Food 13 Pizza 2,5,6,15 Cafes 1 Casual Dining 14 Barbecue 11 Pizza 13 Cafes 4 Cajun / Creole 5 Desserts / Bakery 5 Casual Dining 2 Upscale Casual 1 Bistro / New American 2 European / French 5 Upscale Casual 3 Steakhouse 1 Desserts / Bakery 2,7 Upscale Casual 1 Deli / Sandwich 1 Casual Dining 6 Bistro / New American 16 Upscale Casual 1,2,5 Bistro / New American 8 Casual Dining 1 Steakhouse 14 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 6,14 Deli / Sandwich 3 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 15 European / Italian 6 Casual Dining 16 Fine Dining 13 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 6,12 Burgers / Chicken 3,5,6,8,11,12,15 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 11 Burgers / Chicken 2 Diner / Home Style 13 Diner / Home Style 3 Burgers / Chicken 3 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Deli / Sandwich 10 Bistro / New American 2 Desserts / Bakery 1 Cafes 14 Cafes 16 Cafes 2 Mexican 2 Asian / Vietnamese 13 Cafes 2 Pizza 5 Mexican 5 Seafood 10 Latin American 1,2,5,6 Casual Dining 13 Cuban / Caribbean 2 European / Italian 5 Barbecue 14 Southern / Soul Food 6 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 2 Steakhouse 16 Seafood 12 Steakhouse 6,13, 14 Desserts / Bakery 1,2 Indian 4 Casual Dining 16 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 8 Pizza 16 Upscale Casual 6 Barbecue 5 Diner / Home Style 13 Cafes 3 Casual Dining 8,13,15 Asian / Chinese 1 Upscale Casual 3 Pizza 5 Deli / Sandwich 9,12 Burgers / Chicken 14 Burgers / Chicken 1 Burgers / Chicken 15 Asian / Vietnamese 2 Mexican 13 Casual Dining 2,4,5,8,13,15 Asian / Chinese 3,5 Asian / Chinese 1 Asian / Chinese 15 Asian / Chinese 8,13 Asian / Chinese 12 Asian / Chinese 11 Asian / Chinese 13

RESTAURANT

China Dragon China Garden China King China Star China Taste Chinese Express Chipotle Mexican Grill Choi's Asian Food Market Chong Garden Chopsticks House Christi's Café Christmas Morning Café Chubby Ray's Chung King Palace Chuy's Ciao City Barbecue City Café Clay Oven Clifton Donuts Clucker's Wings Coals Artisan Pizza Coconut Beach Tacos Coffee Crossing The Coffee Zone Cold Smoke Bagels Cold Stone Creamery Come Back Inn The Comfy Cow Con Huevos CoreLife Eatery Corner Corner Café Cottage Café Cottage Inn Couvillion Crave Café & Catering Cravings Ala Carte Cricket's Café Cuba y Mas Cuban Restaurant and Bakery Culver's Cunningham's Creekside Cup of Joy Cuvée Wine Table D. Nalley's Daddy Rich's Dairy Kastle Daisy Mae's Dakshin Indian Restaurant DaLat's Gateaux & Bakery Danny Mac's Pasta & Pizza Dasha Barbours Bistro Dave & Buster's Dave & Peg's Copper Kettle Day's Espresso Decca Denny's Derby Café Express Derby City Pizza Derby Dinner Playhouse Diamond Pub & Billiards Diamond Street Grub & Hops Difabio's Casapela Dino's Bakery DiOrio's Pizza & Pub District 6 Ditto's Grill Divine Treats Dixie Chicken Dizzy Whizz Drive-In Doc Crow's Doc's Bourbon Room Donum Dei Brewery Dos Gringos Double Dogs Double Dragon Double Dragon 9 Double Dragon II Double Flame Burger Down One Bourbon Bar Downtowner Deli Dragon Café Dragon City Dragon King's Daughter Drake's Dundee Tavern The Early Edition East Star Buffet Eat A Pita Eat Your Bourbon Marketplace Eatz Vietnamese Restaurant Eden & Kissi Eggs Over Frankfort Ehrler's Ice Cream El Caporal El Frijol El Mariachi El Molcajete El Mundo El Nopal El Rinconcito El Rio Grande El Sabor de Cuba El Sazon de Abuela El Sombrero El Taco Loco El Taco Luchador El Tarasco El Torazo El Toro Cantina & Grill Endless Summer Coffee Company The English Grill Equus & Jack's Restaurant Ev's Deli Exchange Pub + Kitchen Executive Bistro Faces Bar/Bistro Falafel House Falafel Oasis Falls City Taproom Family Ties Famous Dave's Fante's Coffee Farm to Fork Café Fat Jimmy's FDKY BBQ Feast BBQ Fiesta Mexicana

PAGE #/CUISINE STYLE 63 63 63 63 63 63 70 64 63 63 52 52 55 63 71 67 56 52 68 72 51 55 70 73 73 58 72 67 72 70 54 50 52 59 59 66 52 60 52 69 66 51 48 52 47 59 51 72 60 68 72 55 60 63 59 73 45 54 52 55 63 61 61 67 72 55 50 47 72 51 51 45 50 62 70 54 64 64 64 51 50 58 64 64 64 61 61 52 64 69 54 66 66 47 72 70 70 70 70 70 70 69 70 66 69 70 70 70 70 70 70 73 44 45 58 50 59 47 69 69 61 51 56 73 52 55 56 56 70

MAP #

Asian / Chinese 12 Asian / Chinese 13 Asian / Chinese 6 Asian / Chinese 3 Asian / Chinese 16 Asian / Chinese 12 Mexican 1,2,5,8 Asian / Japanese 5 Asian / Chinese 12 Asian / Chinese 9,13 Cafes 12 Cafes 2 Pizza 6 Asian / Chinese 1 Southwest / Tex Mex 3,15 European / Italian 2 Barbecue 5 Cafes 13 Indian 5 Desserts / Bakery 2 Burgers / Chicken 14,16 Pizza 3,5,13 Mexican 13 Coffee / Tea Houses 14, 15, 16 Coffee / Tea Houses 5 Deli / Sandwich 1 Desserts / Bakery 6,16 European / Italian 1 Desserts / Bakery 2,5,13 Mexican 1,2,8 Casual Dining 15 Gastropub 1 Cafes 5 Diner / Home Style 5 Diner / Home Style 13 Cajun / Creole 13 Cafes 2 Cafeterias / Buffet 1 Cafes 15 Latin American 11 Cuban / Caribbean 13 Burgers / Chicken 6,13,15 Seafood 10 Cafes 9 Bistro / New American 8 Diner / Home Style 1 Burgers / Chicken 1 Desserts / Bakery 13 Southern / Soul Food 14 Indian 11 Desserts / Bakery 13 Pizza 2 Southern / Soul Food 1,2 Entertainment Dining 3 Diner / Home Style 5 Coffee / Tea Houses 2 Upscale Casual 1 Casual Dining 3,13 Cafes 13 Pizza 2,6,12,13 Entertainment Dining 16 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2,3 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 3 European / Italian 2 Desserts / Bakery 9 Pizza 2,3 Gastropub 3 Bistro / New American 2 Desserts / Bakery 15 Burgers / Chicken 9,12 Burgers / Chicken 1 Upscale Casual 1 Gastropub 1 Microbreweries 11 Mexican 16 Casual Dining 5 Asian / Chinese 9,2 Asian / Chinese 6 Asian / Chinese 8,11,12,13 Burgers / Chicken 12 Gastropub 1 Deli / Sandwich 1 Asian / Chinese 10 Asian / Chinese 12 Asian / Japanese 2,14 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 3,8 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 3 Cafes 16 Asian / Chinese 13 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 2 Casual Dining 2 Asian / Vietnamese 2 Cuban / Caribbean 4 Bistro / New American 2 Desserts / Bakery 1 Mexican 4,6 Mexican 2 Mexican 5 Mexican 13 Mexican 2 Mexican [22] Latin American 11 Mexican 5 Cuban / Caribbean 13 Latin American 13 Mexican 16 Mexican 13 Mexican 2,3,6,13 Mexican 3,5,13 Mexican 6 Mexican 5 Coffee / Tea Houses 1 Fine Dining 1 Upscale Casual 3 Deli / Sandwich 1 Gastropub 14 Diner / Home Style 13 Bistro / New American 2 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 2 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 1 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 1 Burgers / Chicken 9 Barbecue 6 Coffee / Tea Houses 2 Cafes 9 Pizza 5 Barbecue 6 Barbecue 1,6 Mexican 4

Guide Index_Fall20_Ed-final.qxp_Layout 1 9/14/20 4:25 PM Page 41

RESTAURANT

Fiesta Time Amigos Fiesta Time Mexican Grill Firehouse Subs First String Bar & Grill First Watch The Fish House The Fishery Fistful of Ale Fistful of Tacos Five Guys Burgers FIX Coffeehouse and Bakery Flanagan's Ale House Flo’s House of Soul Flora Kitchenette Floyd County Brewing Co. Foko Fork & Barrel Forty Acres & A Mule Restaurant Four Kings Café Four Pegs Beer Lounge Franco's Restaurant Frankfort Ave. Beer Depot Frank's Meat & Produce Fresco Tea Bar Fresh Out the Box Frontier Diner Fuji Asian Bistro Fuji Japanese Steakhouse Full Stop Filling Station Fun Tea Funmi's African Restaurant Galan's Meat Market & Deli Galan's Meat Market & Grille Galaxie Gallant Fox Brewing Galley at Goodwood Game Gander, An American Grill Garage Bar Gaslight Diner Gasthaus Gatsby's On Fourth Gelato Gilberto Geraldine's Kitchen Gerstle's Place Get It On a Bun at Booty's Gigi's Cupcakes Ginza Asian Bistro Gogi 1055 Korean BBQ Gold Bar Golden Buddha Golden Corral Golden Gate Donuts Golden Star Chinese Goose Creek Diner Gordon Biersch Brewery Gracious Plenty The Grain Haus Gralehaus Granville Inn Grape Leaf Grassa Gramma Gravely Brewing Co. Great American Grill Great Flood Brewing Co. Great Wall Green District Salads Grind Burger Kitchen Guaca Mole Gustavo's Mexican Grill Guy Fieri's Smokehouse H. M. Frank's Habana Blues Tapas The Hall on Washington Hammerheads Happy China Happy Dragon Harbor and Hops Hard Rock Café Harley’s Hardwoodz Bar-B-Q Harrods Creek Tavern Harry's Taphouse & Kitchen Harvey’s Cheese Havana Bakery Café Havana Rumba Havana Rumba & Tapas Heart & Soy Heine Brothers' Coffee Heitzman Bakery & Deli Hell or High Water Hibachi Buffet Hibachi Sushi Buffet Hideout Pizzaria Hi-Five Doughnuts Highland Coffee Co. Highland Morning Highlands Taproom Grill Highview Ice Cream & Coffee Hiko A Mon Sushi Bar Hill Street Fish Fry Hillcrest Tavern Hilltop Tavern Hitching Post Inn Holy Grale Holy Smokes Bar-B-Que Home Run Burgers Homemade Pie Kitchen Hometown Brewing Co. Hometown Pizza Honest Indian Honey Crème Donut Shop Honeybaked Café Hong Kong Fast Food Hooked on Frankfort Hoops Grill and Sports Bar Hooters Hot Box Eatery Howl at the Moon Hungry Pelican I Love Tacos IHOP Imanka Restaurant Indi's Restaurant International Tap House Iroquois Pizza Israel’s Delicias de Mexico Gourmet J. Alexander's Redlands Grill J. Graham's Café J. Gumbo's

PAGE #/CUISINE STYLE 70 70 58 61 54 48 48 62 70 51 73 61 60 72 62 70 45 60 59 50 60 56 58 73 65 59 64 64 52 73 63 58 66 50 62 56 54 54 47 59 67 54 72 59 61 51 72 64 65 61 64 60 72 64 60 62 52 55 50 61 69 67 62 61 62 64 54 51 70 70 56 50 67 50 47 64 64 61 47 56 54 61 58 67 67 67 64 73 72 61 64 64 55 72 73 52 61 73 64 48 61 61 61 47 56 51 72 62 55 68 72 58 64 48 61 51 52 63 48 69 54 63 51 61 55 70 45 52 66

MAP #

Mexican 5,11 Mexican 8 Deli / Sandwich 11 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 13 Casual Dining 3,5,6,15 Seafood 2,5 Seafood 11 Microbreweries 14 Mexican 14 Burgers / Chicken 3,5,8,11,14 Coffee / Tea Houses 8 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Southern / Soul Food 9 Desserts / Bakery 2 Microbreweries 14 Mexican 1 Upscale Casual 2 Southern / Soul Food 13 Diner / Home Style 4 Gastropub 13 Southern / Soul Food 12 Barbecue 3 Deli / Sandwich 13 Coffee / Tea Houses 14 Asian / Korean 1 Diner / Home Style 12 Asian / Japanese 12 Asian / Japanese 8 Cafes 1 Coffee / Tea Houses 2 African 4 Deli / Sandwich 9 Cuban / Caribbean 9 Gastropub 1 Microbreweries 2 Barbecue 1 Casual Dining 2 Casual Dining 5 Bistro / New American 1 Diner / Home Style 6 European / German 7 Casual Dining 1 Desserts / Bakery 8 Diner / Home Style 16 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 3 Burgers / Chicken 14 Desserts / Bakery 6,8 Asian / Japanese 5 Asian / Korean 2 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Asian / Chinese 13 Cafeterias / Buffet 4,12,13,15 Desserts / Bakery 13 Asian / Chinese 13 Diner / Home Style 8 Microbreweries 1 Cafes 2,10 Pizza 14 Gastropub 2 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 13 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 2 European / Italian 7 Microbreweries 1 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 13 Microbreweries 2,5 Asian / Chinese 2 Casual Dining 1,3 Burgers / Chicken 1 Mexican 5 Mexican 8,10 Barbecue 1 Gastropub 16 Cuban / Caribbean 14 Gastropub 1 Bistro / New American 1, 2 Asian / Chinese 6 Asian / Chinese 6 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 16 Bistro / New American 1 Barbecue 16 Casual Dining 10 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 16 Deli / Sandwich 1 Cuban / Caribbean 11 Cuban / Caribbean 5 Cuban / Caribbean 2 Asian / Japanese 2 Coffee / Tea Houses [18] Desserts / Bakery 5 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 1 Asian / Chinese 12 Asian / Chinese 11,13 Pizza 12 Desserts / Bakery 1 Coffee / Tea Houses 2 Cafes 2,3 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Coffee / Tea Houses 11 Asian / Japanese 1,5 Seafood 13 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 3 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 11 Bistro / New American 2 Barbecue 13 Burgers / Chicken 5,6,13 Desserts / Bakery [6] Microbreweries 13 Pizza 6,7,11,13 Indian 6 Desserts / Bakery 14 Deli / Sandwich 3,11,14 Asian / Chinese 13 Seafood 3 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 13 Burgers / Chicken 3,13,12,15,16 Cafes 1 Entertainment Dining 1 Seafood 11 Latin American 6 Casual Dining 6,15 African 1 Burgers / Chicken [8] Bar & Grill / Taphouse 1 Pizza 13 Mexican 14 Upscale Casual 3 Cafes 1 Cajun / Creole 2,6

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RESTAURANT

J. Harrod's Jack Binion's Steakhouse Jack Fry's Jade Palace Jake & Elwood's Jasmin Bakery Jasmine Jasmine Asian Bistro Jason's Deli Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse Jeff's Bakery Jeff's Burger Shack Jersey Mike's Subs Jersey's Café Jerusalem Kitchen Jets Pizza Jimmy John's Joe Huber Restaurant Joella's Hot Chicken Joe's Crab Shack Joe's Older than Dirt John O'Bryan's Tavern JoJo Jack's The Joy Luck J-Town Beach Jucy's Smokehouse JujuBe at La Que Jumbo Buffet Juno JW Café & Bakery Kai Lana Sushi Kansai Japanese Steakhouse Karem's Kashmir Indian Kathmandu Kitchen and Bar Kayrouz Café Kern's Korner Khalil's Kim & Bab King Donuts KingFish King's Fried Chicken Kolkin Coffee Koreana II Kuhl's Liquor and Deli L & J Asian Cuisine La Bamba La Bodeguita de Mima La Catrina Mexican Kitchen La Chandeleur La Chapinlandia La Chasse La Guanaquita La Lupita La Popular La Riviera Maya La Rosita Taqueria La Sierra La Suerte La Torta Loca La Tropicana Lady Tron's Las Americas Mexican Restaurant Las Cazuelas Las Gorditas Las Margaritas Mexican Cuisine L'bads Ice Cream Parlor Le Moo Lee's Korean Legacy Pizza & Bakery Lemongrass Restaurant Lenny's Sub Shop Levee at River House Liège & Dairy Ice Cream + Waffles Lil' Wagners Limòn y Sal Lindsay's Kitchen Ling Ling Little Caesar's Pizza Little Greek Fresh Grill Liu's Garden Logan's Roadhouse Longhorn Steakhouse Lonnie's Best Taste Of Chicago Los Aztecas Lotsa Pasta Lou Lou Food + Drink Louie's Hot Chicken & Barbecue Louisville Cream Louisville International Pub Louisville Tea Co. Louvino Lucky Burrito Lucretia's Kitchen Lueberry Acai & Superfoods Luigi's Luna's Rotisserie M&M BBQ M+A+F Gallery & Café Ma Zerella's Mack Bros BBQ Mac's Dough House Main Eatery Main Event Bar & Grill Maira Mediterranean Grill Mai's Thai Restaurant Mama's Kitchen Carryout Mango's Bar & Grill Manhattan Grill The Manhattan Project Marco's Pizza Mark T's Slabhouse Marketplace Restaurant Mark's Feed Store Martini Itialian Bistro Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint Masa Japanese Masala Grill Matt Winn Steakhouse Mattie's Kitchen Mayan Café McAlister's Deli McQuixote Books & Coffee The Melting Pot Mercato Italiano Merle's Whiskey Kitchen Mesa Mesh Metro Diner

PAGE #/CUISINE STYLE 46 49 44 64 55 72 64 64 58 49 72 51 58 61 69 55 58 63 51 48 54 61 60 64 61 56 66 64 65 52 65 65 54 68 68 53 61 61 66 72 48 51 73 66 58 64 70 67 70 47 70 44 69 70 70 70 70 71 69 71 71 58 71 71 71 71 72 49 66 55 66 58 47 72 60 71 60 64 55 69 64 49 49 58 71 58 47 56 72 61 73 47 71 60 72 55 71 57 73 55 57 55 58 63 69 66 60 71 58 50 55 57 46 57 67 57 65 69 49 60 71 58 73 46 67 47 63 46 60

MAP #

Upscale Casual 10 Steakhouse 14 Fine Dining 2 Asian / Chinese 5 Pizza 2 Desserts / Bakery 4 Asian / Chinese 5 Asian / Chinese 7 Deli / Sandwich 3,5 Steakhouse 1 Desserts / Bakery 14,16 Burgers / Chicken 12 Deli / Sandwich 5,6,8 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 15 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 13 Pizza 2,3,5,8,11 Deli / Sandwich [11] Entertainment Dining 14 Burgers / Chicken 3,5 Seafood 1 Casual Dining 5 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 12 Southern / Soul Food 2 Asian / Chinese 2,8 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 6 Barbecue 5 Asian / Vietnamese 2 Asian / Chinese 6 Asian / Japanese 13 Cafes 5 Asian / Japanese 11 Asian / Japanese 6,15 Casual Dining 8 Indian 2 Indian 4 Cafes 3 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 12 Asian / Korean 14 Desserts / Bakery 5 Seafood 7,16 Burgers / Chicken 9 Coffee / Tea Houses 14 Asian / Korean 13 Deli / Sandwich 13 Asian / Chinese 10 Mexican 2 Cuban / Caribbean 1 Mexican 14 Bistro / New American 13 Mexican 13 Fine Dining 2 Latin American 13 Mexican 15 Mexican 13 Mexican 13 Mexican 5,13 Mexican 11 Latin American 2 Mexican 13 Mexican 13 Deli / Sandwich 14 Mexican 4 Mexican 13 Mexican 11 Mexican 5, 13 Desserts / Bakery 9 Steakhouse 2 Asian / Korean 13 Pizza 14 Asian / Vietnamese 4,5 Deli / Sandwich 4 Bistro / New American 7 Desserts / Bakery 7 Diner / Home Style 13 Mexican 8 Diner / Home Style 12 Asian / Chinese 5 Pizza [10] Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 3 Asian / Chinese 5 Steakhouse 6,12 Steakhouse 6,8,13,15 Deli / Sandwich 2 Mexican 5,10 Deli / Sandwich 3 Bistro / New American 3 Barbecue 1,13 Desserts / Bakery 1 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 13 Coffee / Tea Houses 5 Bistro / New American 2,5 Mexican 2 Southern / Soul Food 9 Desserts / Bakery 1 Pizza 1 Mexican 13 Barbecue 13 Coffee / Tea Houses 2 Pizza 15 Barbecue 9 Pizza 1 Deli / Sandwich 1 Entertainment Dining 6 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 3 Asian / Thai 16 Southern / Soul Food 9 Mexican 6,13 Deli / Sandwich 1 Gastropub 2 Pizza 14 Barbecue 13 Upscale Casual 1 Barbecue 2,5,11,12,14 European / Italian 8 Barbecue 2,8 Asian / Japanese 5 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 1 Steakhouse 13 Southern / Soul Food 9 Mexican 1 Deli / Sandwich [10] Coffee / Tea Houses 9 Upscale Casual 6 European / Italian 8 Bistro / New American 1 Entertainment Dining 14 Upscale Casual 3 Diner / Home Style 11

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RESTAURANT

PAGE #/CUISINE STYLE

Mexa Tacos 71 Mexico City Tacqueria and Restaurant 71 MG's Prime Time Café 61 Mi Casita Parrilla Mexicana 71 Mi Sueño 67 Mi Tierra Mexican Restaurant 71 Mike Linnig's 48 Milantoni Italian Restaurant 68 Mimi's Café 54 Mimo's Pizzeria 55 Mirage Mediterranean Restaurant 69 Misawa Hibachi & Sushi 65 Mission BBQ 57 Mitchell's Fish Market 48 Moe's Southwest Grill 71 Mojito in Havana 67 Mojito Tapas Restaurant 68 Molly Malone's 67 Momma's Mustard, Pickles & BBQ 57 Monnik Beer Co. 63 More Shenanigan's 67 Morris Deli & Catering 58 Morton's Of Chicago 50 Moya's American Kitchen 54 Mozza Pi 55 Mr. Gatti's 55 Mt. Fuji 65 Mussel & Burger Bar 51 My Favorite Muffin 72 My Old KY Dinner Train 63 Naila's Caribbean Cuisine 67 Naïve 54 NamNam Café 66 Nancy's Bagel Box 58 Napa River Grill 46 Neighborhood Services 47 Neil & Patty's Fireside Grill 61 New Albanian Brewing Co. 55 New Direction Bar & Grill 61 New Wave Burritos 71 Nirvana 61 No Baked Cookie Dough 72 Noche Mexican BBQ 71 Noodles & Company 54 Noosh Nosh 47 Nord's Bakery 72 North Lime Donuts 72 Nouvelle Bar & Bottle 47 Ntaba Coffee Haus 73 O'Charley's 54 O'Connell's Irish Pub 67 O'Dolly's 60 Off the Rails Tasting Room and Wine Depot 48 Oishii Sushi 65 Old Hickory Inn 61 Old Louisville Tavern 61 Old School NY Pizza 55 Old Spaghetti Factory 68 Olé Frijole 71 O-Line Sports Grill 61 Olive Garden 68 Ollie's Trolley 51 One Thirty Three 46 Onion Restaurant & Tea House 64 Open Caribbean Kitchen 67 Orange Clover Kitchen 53 Oriental Café 64 Oriental House 64 Oriental Star 64 Original Impellizzeri's 55 Osaka Sushi Bar 65 O'Shea's Irish Pub 67 Oskar's Slider Bar 51 Ostra 48 Our Lady of Perpetual Hops 63 Outback Steakhouse 50 OvrDrive Games 63 P.F. Chang's China Bistro 48 Panchitos Ice Cream 72 Panda China 64 Panda Express 64 Panera Bread Co. 58 Papa Murphy's Pizza 55 Parlour 55 Parnelli's Chicago Eatery 58 Pasha's Mediterranean 69 Passtime Fish House 48 Patrick O'Shea's 67 Pat's Steak House 50 Paul's Fruit Market 58 Payne Street Bakehouse 58 Pearl Street Game & Coffee House 73 Pearl Street Taphouse 62 Pearl Street Treats 72 Peking City Express 64 Penn Station 58 Pesto's Italian 68 Philly Cheesesteak Express 58 Pho Ba Luu 66 Pho Café 66 Pho Phi 66 Pier 17 Cajun Seafood 48 Pin + Proof 63 Piña Fiesta Mexican Grill 71 Pints&Union 62 Pizza Donisi 55 Pizza King 55 Pizza Lupo 55 Pizza Place 55 Please & Thank You 73 Plehn's Bakery 72 PokeHana 65 POLLO 51 Polly Freeze 73 Ponderosa Steakhouse 50 Porch Kitchen & Bar 62 Porcini 68 Porkland BBQ 57 Portage House 54 Potbelly Sandwhich Shop 58 Po-Z's Kitchen 60 Pregame Coffee 73 Primo's Pizzeria 55 Proof On Main 46 Public House by Against The Grain 63 Puerto Vallarta 71 Pure Blendz 53 Purrfect Day Cat Café 53 Qdoba Mexican Grill 71

MAP #

Mexican 1,3 Mexican 16 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 12 Mexican 1,6 Cuban / Caribbean 4 Mexican 5,7 Seafood 12 European / Italian 6 Casual Dining 5 Pizza 14 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 13 Asian / Japanese 11 Barbecue 3,15 Seafood 8 Southwest / Tex Mex 3,6,8,11 Cuban / Caribbean 3 European / Spanish 7 European / Irish 2,3 Barbecue 3,5 Microbreweries 13 European / Irish 4 Deli / Sandwich 2 Steakhouse 1 Casual Dining 6 Pizza 5 Pizza 12,13,15 Asian / Japanese 13 Burgers / Chicken 1,6 Desserts / Bakery 5 Entertainment Dining 13 Cuban / Caribbean 15 Casual Dining 2 Asian / Vietnamese 3 Deli / Sandwich 1 Upscale Casual 5 Bistro / New American 3 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 14 Pizza 14 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 5 Mexican 13 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Desserts / Bakery 6 Mexican 2 Casual Dining 6,8,13 Bistro / New American 7 Desserts / Bakery 13 Desserts / Bakery 13 Bistro / New American 1 Coffee / Tea Houses 2 Casual Dining 3,6,8,12,13 European / Irish 11 Diner / Home Style 13

Bistro / New American 4 Asian / Japanese 4 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 13 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 13 Pizza 5,8 European / Italian 1 Mexican 11 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 8 European / Italian 6,8,11,15 Burgers / Chicken 1 Upscale Casual 1 Asian / Chinese 14 Cuban / Caribbean 13 Cafes 16 Asian / Chinese 4 Asian / Chinese 3 Asian / Chinese 13 Pizza 1,2,5,10 Asian / Japanese 1,2 European / Irish 2 Burgers / Chicken 13 Bistro / New American 2 Microbreweries 14 Steakhouse 3,8,11,13,15 Entertainment Dining 1 Bistro / New American 5 Desserts / Bakery 2,13 Asian / Chinese 10 Asian / Chinese 5,6,8,15 Deli / Sandwich [9] Pizza [8] Pizza 2, 16 Deli / Sandwich 16 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 4 Seafood 6 European / Irish 1 Steakhouse 2 Deli / Sandwich 3,4,5,7 Deli / Sandwich 2 Coffee / Tea Houses 16 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 16 Desserts / Bakery 16 Asian / Chinese 3 Deli / Sandwich [17] European / Italian 1 Deli / Sandwich 5 Asian / Vietnamese 2 Asian / Vietnamese 3 Asian / Vietnamese 3 Seafood 6 Entertainment Dining 1 Mexican 12 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 14 Pizza 13 Pizza 14,16 Pizza 2 Pizza 4 Coffee / Tea Houses 1,2,10 Desserts / Bakery 3 Asian / Japanese 1 Burgers / Chicken 2 Desserts / Bakery 14 Steakhouse 13 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 1 European / Italian 2 Barbecue 1 Casual Dining 16 Deli / Sandwich 1,6,8 Southern / Soul Food 12 Coffee / Tea Houses 1 Pizza 6 Upscale Casual 1 Microbreweries 2 Mexican 11,14,16 Cafes 1 Cafes 2 Mexican [17]

RESTAURANT

Queen of Sheba Queue Café Quick Wok Quill's Coffee Quizno's Subs Rafferty's of Louisville Railbirds Hot Chicken Raising Cane's Ramen House Ramiro's Cantina Ramiro's Cantina Express Ramsi's Café Rawnaissance Desserts Recbar Red Hog Red Hot Roasters Red Lobster Red Robin Red Sun Chinese Restaurant Red Top Gourmet Hot Dogs Red Yeti Brewing Co. Repeal Oak-Fired Steakhouse Rice Bowl Rice Box Ricky B's Club Café Riot Cafe River City Drafthouse River House Restaurant River Road BBQ ROC Restaurant Roof Top Grill Roosters Rootie's Sports Bar Roots Royal's Hot Chicken Rubbie's Southside Grill Rubbin' Butts BBQ Rumors Raw Oyster Bar Ruth's Chris Steakhouse S Bar Sabor Latino Safai Coffee Safari Café & International Kitchen Safier Mediterranean Deli Saint's Sake Blue Sakura Blue Sala Thai Sal's Pizza & Wings Salsarita's Fresh Cantina Sam's Food & Spirits Sam's Gyro Sam's Seafood & Grill Samurai Sanag Coffee Sanag II Restaurant Sante Fe Grill Sapporo Japanese Grill Sarang Sarino Savannah Restaurant Scene Schlotzky's Deli Scooter's Triple B's Sea Fresh Seafood Seafood Lady Seeds & Greens Deli Selena's At Willow Lake Tavern Senegambia African Restaurant Señor Iguana's Senora Arepa Sergio's World Beers Seviche A Latin Restaurant Shack In The Back BBQ Shady Lane Café Shahar Café Shalimar Indian Shark's Seafood Shenanigan's Irish Grille Shiraz Mediterranean Grill Shirley Mae's Café Shogun Shoney's ShopBar Shreeji Indian Vegetarian Sichuan Garden Sicilian Pizza & Pasta Sidebar The Silly Axe Café The Silver Dollar Silvio's Italian Restaurant Simple Greek Simply Thai Sir Dano's Pizza Parlor Sister Bean's Six Forks Burger Co. Skyline Chili Smashburger Smoked on Second Smokey Bones BBQ SnoWhat Sol Aztecas Somewhere Louisville Sonal's Kitchen Soul Food Dining Soupy's Southern Express Southern Hospitality Spaghetti Shop Spinelli's Pizzeria Sporting News Grill Sports & Social Club Stacey's Donuts The Standard Plate & Pour Star Sushi Starbucks Coffee Starlight Café Starlight Coffee Co. Starving Artist Café Steak & Bourbon Steak 'n Shake Steel City Pops Stevens & Stevens Deli Stoney River Storming Crab Sub Station II Sue's Touch of Country Sugar & Spice Donut Shop Summa Dat Sunergos Coffee

PAGE #/CUISINE STYLE 63 53 64 73 58 54 51 51 65 71 71 53 73 62 53 73 48 51 64 51 63 50 66 64 46 53 62 46 57 68 67 51 62 65 51 57 57 49 50 54 70 73 63 69 62 65 65 66 55 72 54 69 49 65 73 63 71 65 66 68 51 60 58 62 49 66 58 66 63 71 70 62 44 57 53 53 68 49 67 69 60 65 54 62 68 64 55 48 53 48 68 69 66 55 73 51 54 52 57 57 73 71 48 68 60 58 60 60 68 55 62 62 73 50 65 73 53 73 53 50 52 73 58 50 66 58 60 73 57 73

MAP #

African 4 Cafes 1 Asian / Chinese 1 Coffee / Tea Houses 1,2,3,13,14 Deli / Sandwich 14 Casual Dining 3 Burgers / Chicken 13 Burgers / Chicken 2,6,8,11,12 Asian / Japanese 2 Mexican 2 Mexican 16 Cafes 2 Desserts / Bakery 2 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 6,14 Cafes 2 Coffee / Tea Houses 2 Seafood 3,13,15 Burgers / Chicken 3,8,15 Asian / Chinese 4 Burgers / Chicken 13 Microbreweries 16 Steakhouse 1 Asian / Korean 14 Asian / Chinese 13 Upscale Casual 2 Cafes 1 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Upscale Casual 7 Barbecue 7 European / Italian 2 Cuban / Caribbean 1,9 Burgers / Chicken 5,8,11,12,13,15 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 8 Asian / Japanese 2 Burgers / Chicken 1,6 Barbecue 13 Barbecue 14 Seafood 5 Steakhouse 3 Casual Dining 12 Latin American 13 Coffee / Tea Houses 2 African 13 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 1 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 3 Asian / Japanese 11 Asian / Japanese 3 Asian / Thai 11 Pizza 5 Southwest / Tex Mex 3,5 Casual Dining 14 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 13 Seafood 13 Asian / Japanese 5 Coffee / Tea Houses 13 African 13 Mexican 13 Asian / Japanese 2 Asian / Korean 2 European / Italian 13 Burgers / Chicken 13 Southern / Soul Food 1 Deli / Sandwich 8 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 6 Seafood 11 Cajun / Creole 1,13 Deli / Sandwich 14 Cajun / Creole 5 African 4 Mexican 11,13,15 Latin American 1 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Fine Dining 2 Barbecue 13 Cafes 7 Cafes 2 Indian 6 Seafood 4 European / Irish 2 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 2,5,7,8,13 Southern / Soul Food 1 Asian / Japanese 6,8 Casual Dining 13 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Indian 6 Asian / Chinese 6 Pizza 1,11 Bistro / New American 1 Cafes 2 Bistro / New American 2 European / Italian 3 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 2 Asian / Thai 3,5 Pizza 15 Coffee / Tea Houses 13 Burgers / Chicken 13 Casual Dining 2,3,6,14 Burgers / Chicken 1,5,13 Barbecue 1 Barbecue 6 Desserts / Bakery 13 Mexican 2,11 Bistro / New American 2 Indian 8 Southern / Soul Food 13 Deli / Sandwich 4 Southern / Soul Food 13 Southern / Soul Food 9 European / Italian 14 Pizza 2,3 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 13 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 1 Desserts / Bakery 5 Gastropub 14 Asian / Japanese 16 Coffee / Tea Houses [36] Cafes 14 Coffee / Tea Houses 14 Cafes 5 Steakhouse 5 Burgers / Chicken 13,15 Desserts / Bakery 2,3 Deli / Sandwich 2 Steakhouse 8 Cajun / Creole 15 Deli / Sandwich 13 Southern / Soul Food 12 Desserts / Bakery 11 Barbecue 9 Coffee / Tea Houses 1,13

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RESTAURANT

SuperChefs Superior Market & Deli Sushi Master Sway Sweet Peaches Sweet Peaches 2 Roll Sweet Stuff Bakery Sweet Surrender Sweets By Morgan Swizzle Syrian Grill Abu Abdu Taco Choza Taco City Taco Tico Tacolicious Taj Palace Tandoori Fusion TanThai Restaurant Taqueria Don Juan Taqueria La Mexicana Tavern On Fourth Taylor's Cajun Meat Co. Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe Tea Station Chinese Bistro Texas Roadhouse TGI Friday's Thai Café Thai Noodles That's My Dog The Ainsworth The Back Door The Bard's Town The Black Italian The Block Gourmet Deli The Café The Celtic Pig The Champagnery The Cheddar Box The Cheddar Box Too The Chicken Box The ChillBurger The Corner The Eagle The Earl The Fat Lamb The Fudgery The Funky Waffle Co. The Goat The Hub Louisville The Irish Rover The Library The Pearl The Pine Room The Post The Sauce The Spot The Table The Water Company Thelma's Deli Thirsty Hound Sports Bar Three Brothers Tikka House Tim Tam Tavern Time 4 Thai Tin Roof TNT Chicago Style BBQ & Chicken Toast on Market Toasty's Tavern ToGo Sushi Tokyo Japanese Tomo Japanese Restaurant Tony Impellizzeri's Toonerville Deli Topp't Pizza & Chopped Salad Town Troll Pub Under The Bridge Tsubaki Sushi & Bar Tucker's Tumbleweed Tuscany Italian Restaurant Twig & Leaf Union 15 Union Restaurant & GameYard Uptown Café Varanese V-Grits Vibes Restaurant & Ultra Lounge Vic's Café Victoria Mexican Restaurant Vietnam Kitchen Village Anchor Pub & Roost Ville Chicken and Seafood Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen Vincenzo's Vindhu Bhojanam Indian Volare W.W. Cousin's Wagner's Pharmacy Walker's Exchange Way Cool Café Wei Wei Chinese Express West Point Pizza Which Wich?

Whiskey Dry Wick's Pizza Wild Dog Rose Tea Boutique Wild Eggs Wild Ginger Sushi & Fusion Williams Bakery Wiltshire at the Speed Wiltshire On Market Wiltshire Pantry Bakery and Café The Wing Zone Wingstop World of Beer Yafa Café Yamato Japanese Steak House Yang Kee Noodle Yellow Cactus Yen Ching Yoki Buffet Yummy China Yummy Pollo Zanzabar Za's Pizza Zaxby's Zeggz Amazing Eggs Ziba's Bistro Zoe's Kitchen Zombie Taco

PAGE #/CUISINE STYLE 54 58 65 46 58 59 73 73 73 44 69 71 71 71 71 68 68 66 71 71 62 66 69 64 50 54 66 66 59 46 62 63 68 59 53 67 48 53 53 52 52 56 52 62 48 73 73 62 48 67 62 62 48 56 57 54 53 62 59 62 49 68 62 66 62 57 54 62 65 65 65 56 59 56 68 62 65 54 72 68 54 56 62 46 46 60 60 53 71 66 48 49 59 44 68 68 52 60 46 53 64 56 59 52 56 73 53 65 73 48 46 53 52 52 50 69 65 64 71 64 64 64 70 62 56 52 53 63 69 71

MAP #

Casual Dining 2 Deli / Sandwich 1 Asian / Japanese 8 Upscale Casual 1 Deli / Sandwich 9 Deli / Sandwich 9 Desserts / Bakery 14 Desserts / Bakery 2 Desserts / Bakery 16 Fine Dining 1 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 4 Mexican 3 Mexican 2 Mexican 12 Mexican 14 Indian 8 Indian 8 Asian / Thai 14 Mexican 16 Mexican 13 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 1 Cajun / Creole 14 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 3,5 Asian / Chinese 8 Steakhouse 2,5,12,13,15 Casual Dining 1 Asian / Thai 7 Asian / Thai 13 Deli / Sandwich 16 Upscale Casual 3 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 2 Entertainment Dining 2 European / Italian 2 Deli / Sandwich 5 Cafes 1 European / Irish 1 Bistro / New American 2 Cafes 3 Cafes 3 Burgers / Chicken 12 Burgers / Chicken 15 Pizza 8 Burgers / Chicken 2 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 14 Bistro / New American 2 Desserts / Bakery 1 Desserts / Bakery 15 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 5 Bistro / New American 2 European / Irish 2 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 1 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 13 Bistro / New American 10 Pizza 13 Barbecue 1 Casual Dining 6 Cafes 9 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 1 Deli / Sandwich 1 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 11 Seafood 9 Indian 3 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 13 Asian / Thai 2 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 3 Barbecue 9 Casual Dining 1,14 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 1 Asian / Japanese 5 Asian / Japanese 7 Asian / Japanese 14 Pizza 14 Deli / Sandwich 1 Pizza 14 European / Italian 16 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 1 Asian / Japanese 5 Casual Dining 14 Southwest / Tex Mex [8] European / Italian 13 Casual Dining 2 Pizza 2,13 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 16 Upscale Casual 7 Upscale Casual 2 Southern / Soul Food 2 Southern / Soul Food 1 Cafes 14 Mexican 4 Asian / Vietnamese 13 Bistro / New American 5 Seafood 13 Deli / Sandwich 5 Fine Dining 1,4 Indian 5 European / Italian 2 Burgers / Chicken 3 Diner / Home Style 13 Upscale Casual 1 Cafes 1 Asian / Chinese 1 Pizza 12 Deli / Sandwich 6,8,14 Burgers / Chicken 1 Pizza 2,4,6 Coffee / Tea Houses 2 Cafes 1,3,5,15 Asian / Japanese 2 Desserts / Bakery 15 Bistro / New American 13 Upscale Casual 1 Cafes 2, 8 Burgers / Chicken 4,13 Burgers / Chicken 6,12 Gastropub 8 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 1 Asian / Japanese 14 Asian / Chinese 5 Mexican 14 Asian / Chinese 6 Asian / Chinese 6 Asian / Chinese 11 Latin American 13 Bar & Grill / Taphouse 13 Pizza 2 Burgers / Chicken 5,12,13,14,16 Cafes 5 African 1 Mediterranean/Middle Eastern 8 Mexican 1

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GUIDE KEY Average Entrée Price: $$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$

B Br L D

p

f

under $8 = $9-$14 = $15-$20 = $21 & up =

= Breakfast = Brunch = Lunch = Dinner = Full

Bar = Outdoor Dining

RED = 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

ingredients drawn heavily from the farm’s extensive gardens. $$$$ D pf BUCK’S 425 W. Ormsby Ave., 637-5284. Elegant and understated, this fine dining room in the Mayflower Apartments is overseen by Chef Allen Sims, who has kept long-standing favorites like the crispy fish and spicy Cantonese noodles but has put his own stamp on the menu with items like fried chicken livers, beet and pear salad, short ribs Wellington and prosciutto-wrapped lamb chops.

Rick Bartlett continues his long tenure at the piano during dinner. $$$ L D hpf ENGLISH GRILL 335 W. Broadway (The Brown Hotel), 5831234. Executive Chef James Adams oversees the formal dining room in one of downtown’s historic hotels. The Hot Brown is still on the menu, but new dishes tempt visitors and old timers: roasted cauliflower with quinoa and mushrooms, crispy skin duck and a vegetarian harvest plate. The chef’s table in the kitchen is still a great place for a special party. $$$ D p JACK FRY’S 1007 Bardstown Rd., 452-9244. Inside its unprepossessing exterior is one of Louisville’s longestrunning 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). $$$$ L D p LA CHASSE 1359 Bardstown Rd., 822-3963. Font-of-thehouse man Isaac Fox creates the ambience of a fine European country inn in the heart of the Highlands. The frequently-changing menu, overseen by Chef Alex Dulaney, fuses the tastes and techniques of Southern France and Northern Spain. $$$$ D p SEVICHE A LATIN RESTAURANT 1538 Bardstown Rd., 473-8560. 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. $$$$ D pf SWIZZLE 140 N. Fourth St. (The Galt House), 252-2500. The Galt House replaces Rivue, its 25th floor restaurant, with Swizzle, a retro-meets-modern redesigned room with a menu focused on steaks, chops and sustainable seafood served up from the open-concept exhibition kitchen in the middle of the restaurant, allowing diners to watch the action. The retro beverage program will focus on classic cocktails, with seasonal specials. $$$$ D p VINCENZO’S 150 S. Fifth St., 580-1350. Known for its suave professional service, high-end Northern Italian fare and many trademark dishes finished at tableside, Vincenzo’s continues to hold its own against growing downtown competition. $$$$ L D pf

211 CLOVER LANE RESTAURANT 211 Clover Ln., 8969570. 211 Clover Lane has been tucked away across the railroad tracks in St. Matthews, in the corner of a little cluster of upscale shops since 1992. Those who know how to find it enjoy drinks in a quiet elegant lounge and dine off seasonal menus. Owner Andrew Smith and his staff keep 211 Clover Lane among the town’s top tables. $$$$ D pf 610 MAGNOLIA 610 Magnolia Ave., 636-0783. Since taking over this Old Louisville landmark restaurant in 2004, Edward Lee has become a Food TV fixture and opened several new restaurants. Jeff Potteris the Executive Chef at this perennial top table and continues the adventurous prixfixe menu. $$$$ D pf BARN8 10500 W. US Hwy 42, 398-9289. The newest project of Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson is to develop their Hermitage Farm as an agro-tourism destination. Building number 8 of the historic thoroughbred stable (where Dark Star, who defeated Northern Dancer in the 1953, was foaled) is now a restaurant open to the public. Diners can choose to dine at private tables (in the stalls) or rent the Hayloft for parties up to 200. Executive Chef Alison Settle’s eclectic menu features heirloom, local and seasonal 44 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

8UP ELEVATED DRINKERY AND KITCHEN 350 W. Chestnut St. (Hilton Garden Inn), 631-4180. This rooftop restaurant and bar above the hotel at the corner of Fourth and Chestnut 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 serves fine dinners. $$$ B D pf BLACKSTONE GRILLE 9521 U.S. 42, 228-6962. Long-time restaurateur Rick Dissell’s comfortable, casual restaurant in the Prospect Center continues to please regulars and to find new fans. The menu offers sandwiches and an array of bistro entrées — pasta, seafood, beef and chicken, including fried chicken livers and “light” fried chicken. $$$ Br D pf BOURBON RAW 446 S. Fourth St. (Fourth Street Live), 5689009. This bar and restaurant in Fourth Street Live! features a raw seafood bar, an eclectic Southern menu,

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special Bourbon dinners and more than 85 Bourbons. The classy interior includes a 57-foot marble bar top, and an outdoor patio area. $$$ Br L D p BRAVO! 206 Bullitt Ln. (Oxmoor Center), 326-0491.

Management describes the Ohio-based Bravo! chain as “a fun, white-tablecloth 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. $$ Br L D pf BRENDON’S CATCH 23 505 S. Fourth St. (Embassy Suites), 909-3323. This restaurant inside Embassy Suites hotel has a strong seafood focus: “wild caught” Hawaiian tuna, king crab, Chilean sea bass, fresh oysters, black grouper, and the famous Brendon’s seafood tower. The setting is a relaxed but elegant atmosphere; other choices include steak and Low Country cuisine. $$$ D p 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 green-chile 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. Chef Raquel Romero’s eclectic menu offers Kentucky burgoo, Kentucky Kobb salad and several dishes (Buffalo Trace Reuben, Makers Mark ribs) 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 DECCA 812 E. Market St., 749-8128. Decca’s handsomely redone 19th-century building, its serene garden, its classy basement bar and breezy second-floor eating balcony are all fun. But Chef Annie Pettry’s inventive, locally-sourced menu combined with the restaurant’s wine program make it a classy place to dine. $$$$ D pf DOC CROW’S 127 W. Main St., 587-1626. Doc Crow’s solidly anchors the dining choices on Whiskey Row. Oysters from both coasts, raw and fried, fried green tomatoes, pork rinds, shrimp and grits, all served in a handsome renovation of one of Main Street’s classic cast-iron front buildings. $$ L Dp EQUUS & JACK'S RESTAURANT | LOUNGE 122 Sears Ave., 897-9721. A Louisville institution since 1985 under the ownership of the late culinary icon Dean Corbett, Jared Matthews now runs both the restaurant and Jack’s Lounge.

Matthews has made some physical updates, but has striven to keep the restaurant’s and the lounge’s classic upscale casual atmosphere and approachable menu. The signature mushroom fumé remains, along with satisfying entrées like Yankee pot roast, fried chicken with sawmilll gravy and Parmesan-crusted sea bass. $$$ D pf FORK & BARREL 2244 Frankfort Ave., 907-3675.

Chef/owner Geoffrey Heyde serves upscale modern American cuisine in upper Clifton, with an emphasis on local ingredients, craft cocktails and southern hospitality.

Look for pork shank with roasted garlic grits, buttermilksoaked and cornmeal dusted chicken livers and chocolate bourbon truffles. $$$ D p J. ALEXANDER’S REDLANDS GRILL 102 Oxmoor Court, 339-2206. This comfortably upscale venue, a Nashvillebased chain, features “contemporary American” fare with a broad menu that ranges from burgers and sandwiches to such upscale eats as grilled tuna or a New York strip steak. $$$ D p

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J. HARROD’S 7507 Upper River Rd., 228-4555. A Prospect mainstay since 1994, J. Harrod’s substantial menu—grilled steaks and chops, pasta, seafood, fried green tomatoes and chicken livers with gravy—is served with aplomb in a quiet, comfortable dining room. Comfort food Sundays and Wednesday Italian Nights brings out special dishes. $$$ D p MARKETPLACE RESTAURANT 651 S. Fourth St., 625-3001.

Going to a show downtown? Chow down first at Marketplace.

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 the seasonal Italian-influenced southern cuisine will get you to the curtain well-fed indeed. $$ L D pf MELTING POT 2045 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 491-3125. If you have pleasant memories of fondue parties of the ’70s, The Melting Pot is for you. If you can melt it and dip things in it, it’s probably on the menu. $$$ 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 of “contemporary elegance and comfort.” $$$ Br L D pf NAPA RIVER GRILL 1211 Herr Ln., 423-5822. An eclectic mix of California-inspired fusion dishes served in a clean, crisp, informally classy atmosphere have made Napa a longtime favorite. Chef Seth Butkus’s lunch offerings range from smoked salmon wontons to Vietnamese salad. The lovely patio makes for lazy summer dining on baked goat cheese, vegetable pad Thai or smoked pork shank. $$$ Br L D pf ONE THIRTY THREE 133 W. Liberty St. The downtown space that once was Coyote Corner, and more recently Griff’s has been revived by the owners of Parlour in Jeffersonville and Crescent Hill. One Thirty Three is a bourbon-centric bar, with an upscale bar menu. $$$ Br L D p PROOF ON MAIN 702 W. Main St. (21c Hotel), 217-6360.

Executive Chef Jonathan Searle has kept the bison burger

and the charred octopus, favorites from Proof’s start, even as he has put his own stamp on the menu with dishes such as chicken fried pork cheeks, hearth-roasted spaghetti squash and extensive charcuterie choices. The bar remains one of the hippest in town. $$$ 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 well-known 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. $$$ D p RIVER HOUSE RESTAURANT & RAW BAR 3015 River Rd., 897-5000. John Varanese’s river-side restaurant complex is getting more complex as he begins renovations on the upper floor to create new dining and party spaces. The elegant reimagining of the former boat dealership building befits the always interesting seafood dishes inspired by Nawlins and Charleston, where Varanese began his career. There’s an extensive raw bar, too, and dockside service for boaters. $$$$ Br L D pf SWAY 320 W. Jefferson St. (Hyatt Regency), 581-1234. The handsome dining room on the entry level of the hotel has a bar that opens to Fourth Street in good weather and a menu based on the “Southern Way,” from whence comes the name Sway. The fried chicken, cooked to order, quickly became a signature dish. $$$$ D pf THE AINSWORTH 3929 Shelbyville Rd. The owners of Sullivan’s in St. Matthews have bought into the Ainsworth chain, a high-concept sports bar redecorated with upscale rustic décor: barn wood walls, leather booths and televisions set in antique picture frames. The menu features fancierthan-usual bar food. $$$$ Br L D pf UPTOWN CAFÉ 1624 Bardstown Rd., 458-4212. The Uptown has been an excellent spot for lunch and bistro-style dinners for so long that people seem to take it for granted. Those in

the know find it an excellent value, for its Highlands location and sophisticated ambience, as well as the eclectic modern menu that includes seasonal small plate selections by longtime chef Matt Weber. $$$ L D pf VARANESE 2106 Frankfort Ave., 899-9904. Chef John Varanese’s signature restaurant (he has River House and Levee too) has a slate-backed interior waterfall and a folding front wall that opens in good weather. The lively, international seasonal menu is buttressed by frequent special wine, whiskey or beer dinners. Live jazz, contemporary art and urban style complete the mood. $$$ D pf VOLARE 2300 Frankfort Ave., 894-4446. (See review under European/Italian.)

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 19thcentury restaurant of the same name. The menu juxtaposes familiar French and American dishes — including classic Southern-style comforts like short rib hand pies and shrimp po-boys. $$$$ B Br L D p WILTSHIRE ON MARKET 636 E. Market St., 589-5224.

Understated elegance and creative dishes from Chef Rory O’Connell characterize this NuLu restaurant. The finely crafted small plates menu changes weekly to showcase the best seasonal ingredients. Start with the weekly charcuterie board or cheese plate, followed by a seasonal flatbread or salad, and perhaps a pasta dish. Open Thur.-Sun. only.

Reservations suggested. $$ D pf

502 BAR & BISTRO 10401 Meeting Pl., 742-4772. This sleek, contemporary spot in Norton Commons, has lots of TVs, but the food is several notches above the norm of sports bars. Try Chef Ming Pu’s charred broccoli soup, brown butter sage gnocchi or cauliflower steak. A full bar and signature cocktails, and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. $$ Br D pf ALEX&NDER 1121 E. Washington St., 561-0267. Dallas McGarity, owner of The Fat Lamb and Portage House, oversees the menu at the rooftop bar at Copper & Kings Distillery. Dinner is Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and brunch and dinner Saturday and Sunday. McGarity’s menu is, in his own words, “elegantly simple without being intimidating, and that can complement the outstanding drinks served in Alex&nder.” $$ Br D pf ANOOSH BISTRO 4864 Brownsboro Rd., 690-6585. Anoosh Shariat’s elegant Brownsboro Center space has an eclectic lunch and dinner menu that includes trout provençal, coconut curry tofu, grilled romaine salad, and house-made pastas and risottos. $$ L D p BOARD AND YOU BISTRO & WINE BAR 434 Pearl St., New Albany IN, 913-4109. Look for handcrafted cocktails, charcuterie boards with meats and cheeses from around the world, entrées, small plates, salads, soups and house-made desserts such as blueberry pie bar, mascarpone cheesecake and a pots de creme flight. $$$$ B L D pf BOURBONS BISTRO 2255 Frankfort Ave., 894-8838.

Located in an historic Clifton building, Bourbons Bistro stocks a selection of more than 130 bourbons, including a barrel selection program. Chef Jereme McFarland’s bourboninspired, seasonally-influenced menu recently has featured tuna poke tacos, cacio e pepe pasta and bourbon bread pudding. $$$ D pf BRIDGE & BARREL 700 W. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville IN, 206-7170. Bridge & Barrel, offering upscale Southern comfort foods like fried green tomatoes, black-eyed pea hummus, smoked pork shoulder sandwiches, fried chicken and catfish platters. Enjoy it all with sweeping views of the Ohio River and the Louisville skyline. $$ 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

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wines and a short bistro-style menu make it a welcome suburban alternative. $$ D p BUTCHERTOWN GROCERY 1076 E. Washington St., 7428315. Bobby Benjamin’s restaurant offers house-made pasta and charcuterie, a chef’s table near the kitchen, and dishes such as whole rotisserie chicken and the Grocery steak, a bone-in, 55-day dry-aged ribeye served with black truffle béarnaise. An upstairs entertainment space, Lola, has intimate seating and its own kitchen for late-night noshing. $$$ Br L D p 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 DITTO’S GRILL 1114 Bardstown Rd., 581-9129. This informal Highlands space masks the work of classically trained owner-chefs 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 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 FACES BAR/BISTRO 1604 Bardstown Rd., 742-6403.

Restaurateur Eric Morris (Hull & High Water, Gospel Bird) takes over the space most recently occupied by Stout Burgers & Beer for his newest effort, a neighborhood bar with a sophisticated bar food menu. Choose from smoked tuna dip or yucca fries, pastrami panini or honey dipped chicken sandwich, or Thai curry spaghetti squash. $$$ D p

p = Full Bar f = Outdoor Dining

RED = Advertiser

GARAGE BAR 700 E. Market St., 749-7100. Housed in a former service station in NuLu, Garage Bar serves up draft and bottled craft beers, Bourbons, seasonal cocktails and wine, pizzas from a wood-fired brick oven and Southern specialties, with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients. The ham flight is not to be missed. $$$ D pf HAMMERHEADS 921 Swan St., 365-1112, 2222 Dundee Rd., 452-9385. Hammerheads, one of the hippest of Germantown’s restaurants, now has a second location in the Highlands where Migos used to be, also run by Hammerheads owners Adam Burress and Chase Murcino.

Both locations serve BBQ beef brisket, pork and lamb ribs, roasted duck sandwiches and soft shell crab tacos. $ D 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 complaints about Hard Rock’s standard American cuisine. $$ L D pf 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 small plates and the oddity of being housed in a renovated church and you have a unique dining and drinking experience. $$ L D LA CHANDELEUR 304 W. Woodlawn Ave. The food truck offering a variety of crepes has found a home in Beechmont.

The menu has expanded to include up to 25 items, including the popular vegetarian black bean burger crêpe. $$ B Br L LEVEE AT RIVER HOUSE 3015 River Rd., 897-5000. Levee is the more casual, family-oriented component to River House, which now includes a covered patio. Small plates and other light eats are all priced under $15. The nightly live music program includes an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, salsa and even “beachy music.” And now the multi-million dollar renovation of the upstairs into an event space called Savor is complete too. $$ D pf

LOU LOU FOOD + DRINK 106 Sears Ave, 893-7776. Jared Matthews, who also operates Equus and Jack’s Lounge, continues the Café Lou Lou tradition of Nawlins-style Cajun food, but Chef Christian Garay has added other casual fare including pizza, pastas and calzones. $$ Br L D p LOUVINO 1606 Bardstown Rd., 365-1921, 11400 Main St., 742-1456. These two wine bars have become so popular that owners Chad and Lauren Coulter have opened outlets in Cincinnati and Indianapolis. The seasonal shareable small plates menu and clever organization of the wine list make this a prime spot for a night out with friends. A myriad of wines by the glass are available fresh from their winedispensing cruvinet system. $$ Br D pf 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, long-cooked 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. $$$ B L D pf NOOSH NOSH 4816 Brownsboro Ctr., 205-2888. Anoosh Shariat’s family-style eatery is close by his upscale Bistro in Brownsboro Center. Here, a rustic stone oven in an open kitchen offers “homey, comfort food.” Chef Peng Looi, of Asiatique and August Moon, cooks three nights a week. $$$ B Br L 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

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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. $$ Br D pf OSTRA 1758 Frankfort Ave., 915-0160. After a brief hiatus, this tidy, hip Clifton café is open again under Christopher deRome, one of the original owners. Oysters are still a mainstay, but focus has shifted to items like duck grilled cheese and 100% house-ground ribeye with smoked cheddar. $$ D pf P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO 9120 Shelbyville Rd., 3277707. 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

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 pf WILTSHIRE AT THE SPEED 2035 S. Third St., 634-2976.

Susan Hershberg and her team led by Chef Reed Johnson bring “artfully inspired, creative and seasonal” breakfast and luncheon fare to the Speed Museum. Open at 10 a.m. for pastries, croissants, coffee and tea, lunch is served until 3 p.m. with soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees such as buckwheat noodle salad with seared salmon. A grab-and-go counter is open until 5 p.m. And now a limited dinner menu is served Fridays when the museum is open until 8 p.m. $$ B Br L pf

BONEFISH GRILL 657 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 412-4666.

This franchise concept from the Florida-based Outback Steakhouse chain offers impressive seafood in a comfortable

KINGFISH RESTAURANT 3021 Upper 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

THE CHAMPAGNERY AT ARCHITYPE GALLERY 1764 Frankfort Ave., 896-8050. This Clifton business hosts art shows and now also has a full bar with a focus on more than 120 Champagnes and sparkling wines plus a menu of light bites – oysters, caviar, charcuterie, cheeses, fruit and desserts. $$$ D p

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

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

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HILL STREET FISH FRY 111 E. Hill St., 636-3474. This Old Louisville tradition is small and easy to miss, but it’s worth the effort to find. Its oversized fried whitefish sandwich is the flagship dish, but a varied menu is also available. $ L D f

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

SOMEWHERE LOUISVILLE 1135 Bardstown Rd., 552-6942.

Now you can dine and have some cocktails, and then slide right next door to Nowhere for late-night fun and games.

The Southern-inspired menu includes beer cheese and pretzels, smoked wings, buttermilk fried chicken and 3 varieties of flatbreads. $$ 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

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

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

THE SILVER DOLLAR 1761 Frankfort Ave., 259-9540. In this Clifton honky tonk bar and restaurant, the music, all on vinyl, is the “Bakersfield sound” — a fusion of Mexicali and American roots music. The southern country-style menu with sophisticated nuances has happy fans crowding in mosty nights. Choose from more than 80 Kentucky Bourbons, ryes, tequila and mescal, but no “foreign whiskey” like Scotch. $$ 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

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

HOOKED ON FRANKFORT 3202 Frankfort Ave., 690-9835.

The owners of Frankfort Ave Beer Depot now operate this fish house two doors away. The menu features fried fish sandwiches, fish tacos, baskets of shrimp or oysters or frog legs. Clam/conch chowder and seafood gumbo, too, or mac and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches for those who can’t do fish. $$ L D p

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 p

THE HUB LOUISVILLE 2235 Frankfort Ave., 777-1505.

Clifton has taken to this sprawling modern restaurant, cocktail bar and adult rec center with gusto. The Southerninspired small plates menu and its specials board of rotating entrees pleases multiple tastes. The bar boasts a big rum and tequila selection, with alcoholic floats a specialty. The lively patio is packed in good weather. $$ D pf

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

MITCHELL’S FISH MARKET 4031 Summit Plaza Dr., 4121818. The decor of this upscale eatery evokes the feeling of a large fish market, with an open kitchen that offers views of chefs at work. Quality seafood and service have made Mitchell’s a popular destination. $$$ L D pf

setting. Add Bonefish to your short list of suburban chain eateries that do the job right. $$$ D p CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS RIVERSIDE GRILLE 5700 Captain’s Quarters Rd., 228-1651. One of the city’s most attractive eateries for atmosphere, Captain’s Quarters matches the beautiful setting with quality bistro-style fare that won’t disappoint. Summer or winter, it’s a delightful place to dine. $$ Br L D pf CATFISH HAVEN PAY LAKE & RESTAURANT 7208 Whipple Rd., 937-7658. If you like to fish, or if you like to eat fish, you’ll likely enjoy Catfish Haven, a simple, downhome eatery in Southwestern Jefferson County. Seafood is the specialty. Fishermen will enjoy their pay-to-fish lake. $$ LDf CUNNINGHAM’S CREEKSIDE 6301 Upper River Rd., 2283625. One of the longest-lived restaurants in the city,

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. $$ L D f PIER 17 CAJUN SEAFOOD 1975 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 409-9857. The former Jason’s Deli building on the Jeffersontown side of Hurstbourne is the area’s first introduction to the Vietnamese-Cajun fusion concept of Asian-spiced seafood boils which has been rolling northward from the Texas-Louisiana coast. $$$ L D pf RED LOBSTER 4639 Outer Loop, 964-9647, 986 Breckenridge Ln., 899-3334, 951 E. Lewis and Clark Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 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

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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. $$ L D pf SAM'S SEAFOOD & GRILL 4918 Poplar Level Rd., 9666940. The choices here include jack salmon, frog legs, grouper and red snapper, as well as catfish, tilapia and shrimp. The fish-averse can fill up on chicken wings or gizzards or a range of meat-filled sandwiches. $$ L D SEA FRESH SEAFOOD 8129 Bardstown Rd., 409-5005. This Fern Creek neighborhood restaurant is hooking fans lured by its cooked-to-order fish, shrimp, catfish, oysters, grilled salmon and chicken. The fried green tomatoes starter merits special mention. $$ 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 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 VILLE CHICKEN AND SEAFOOD 4322 Poplar Level Rd., 919-8994. The name certainly reveals the focus of this wellkept little neighborhood spot that has re-worked an old Arby’s building. There are crawfish and crab legs, too, corn on the cob and very commendable real Southern sweet tea. $$ 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

p = Full Bar f = Outdoor Dining

RED = Advertiser

offers seven prime selections, from ribeye to filet to 28-oz. porterhouse. Seafood, too (crab cakes, scampi, lobster tails), and sumptuous desserts. $$$$ D p BRAZEIROS CHURRASCARIA 450 S. Fourth St. (Fourth Street Live) 290-8220. This Knoxville-based company’s first satellite location has been a downtown hit. A churrascaria works like this: You choose drinks, visit the salad bar and await visits from “gaucho chefs” who bring yard-long skewers of grilled meats (beef, lamb, sausage) to your table for slicing — as much as you wish — along with side dishes. $$$$ L D pf BROOKLYN & THE BUTCHER 148 E. Market St., New Albany IN. 590-2646. Ian Hall of The Exchange Pub + Kitchen opened this steakhouse in a renovated historic hotel with lots of cool touches: black and white tiles on floor and walls, an open kitchen and a vintage bar counter from an old local Woolworth’s store. The bar program emphasizes bourbon, Scotch and craft beers. The menu includes fresh seafood, small plates and lots of beef — New York strip, bone-in ribeye, flat iron steaks — all as locally sourced as possible. $$$ 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 JACK BINION’S STEAKHOUSE Caesar’s Southern Indiana, Elizabeth IN, 866-676-7463. After you hit it big at the tables, Binion’s has everything a high roller craves. Start with

oysters Rockefeller or shrimp cocktail, French onion soup or crab bisque. Then, choose Chilean sea bass, lobster tail, rack of lamb or a choice of prime steak, including Wagyu tenderloin. $$$$ D p JEFF RUBY’S STEAKHOUSE 325 W. Main St., 584-0102.

This Cincinnati restaurateur has made an impact in Louisville with his outstanding steaks, glittery bar, urban vibe and top-notch service. The rooms have Churchill Downs themes. The steaks take the rail with seafood and sushi coming up fast on the outside. $$$$ L D p LE MOO 2300 Lexington Rd., 458-8888. Kevin Grangier of Village Anchor & Pub in Anchorage has re-imagined the space that was for decades KT’s, creating a new interior design he calls “Paris brothel meets vintage warehouse,” a lively and amusing space with lots of steel, neon and velvet, a large bar, and an outdoor patio. The Euro-eclectic menu has an emphasis on steaks, of course, but the drag-themed brunch has gained many fans. $$ Br L D pf LOGAN’S ROADHOUSE 970 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 288-9789, 1540 Alliant Ave., 266-6009.

With more than 100 properties in 17 states, this Nashvillebased chain parlays peanut shells on the floor and steaks on the table into a popular formula. $$ L D p LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE 2535 Hurstbourne Gem Ln., 671-5350, 9700 Von Allmen Ct., 326-7500, 1210 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 284-5800, 4813 Outer Loop, 9699790. Oversize steaks and a “big sky” western theme are the draw at this chain eatery, although most of its properties are east of the Mississippi. $$ L D p MATT WINN STEAKHOUSE 700 Central Ave. (Churchill Downs) 636-4888. Churchill Downs’ Executive Chef David Danielson, with Chef Jeff Daley at his side, oversees this classic premium steakhouse on Millionaire’s Row. This new restaurant, named for Col. Matt Winn, one of the most influential figures in the history of thoroughbred racing, is open all year long, not just during the racing meets, serving

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prime beef with a choice of sauces, rack of lamb and seafood. $$$$ D pf MORTON’S 626 W. Main St., 584-0421. This below-ground temple to the red meat gods is elegant and masculine, full of wood paneling, brass rails and leather booths. Louisville reveres its home-grown restaurants but has welcomed this Chicago-based chain with open mouths. $$$$ D p OUTBACK STEAK HOUSE 4621 Shelbyville Rd., 895-4329, 6520 Signature Dr., 964-8383, 9498 Brownsboro Rd., 4264329, 8101 Bardstown Rd., 231-2399, 1420 Park Place, Clarksville IN, 283-4329. The name suggests Australia, and so does the shtick at this popular national chain, but the food is pretty much familiar American, and the fare goes beyond just steak to take in chicken, seafood and pasta. $$$ D p PAT’S STEAK HOUSE 2437 Brownsboro Rd., 896-9234. A local favorite for more than 60 years 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

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. $$ B D pf DISTRICT 6 3930 Shelbyville Rd., 873-5561. Named after the veteran restaurant owners’, the Thai family’s, native district in Saigon, District 6 features traditional Vietnamese cuisine based on their mother Nga’s recipes, updated with modern influences. Look for items like the bone-in short rib pho, spicy fried hot wings, beef lettuce wraps, red curry chicken and Vietnamese spicy street corn, as well as noodle bowls — and whole crispy fried fish. $$ L D p 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

PONDEROSA STEAKHOUSE 11470 S. Preston Hwy., 9646117. Family-style dining with the ranch theme kept alive with the open flame from the grills. An extensive cafeteriastyle buffet with hot and cold foods, salads and desserts is also available. $ L D

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 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 GRALEHAUS 1001 Baxter Ave., 454-7075. In the house behind the Holy Grale is Gralehaus, a café and deli. Its breakfast and lunch menu includes biscuit and duck gravy, crepes, and a coffee bar, with house-made sodas, shrubs and kombucha.

Also beers on tap and in the cooler. $$ B Br L f H. M. FRANK'S AN O'SHEA'S PUBLIC HOUSE 355 Spring St., Jeffersonville IN, 913-1174. Upon gutting the interior and re-building the facade of this 1880’s-era building, the original identity of H.M. Frank’s Dry Goods store was uncovered, a discovery that has given this O’Shea’s outpost its name. The bar is made from repurposed barn wood, there’s an event space upstairs, and upscale bar food is created by Chef John Knightly. $$ L D pf THE HALL ON WASHINGTON 111 W. Main St., 384-1600.

Inspired by the conviviality of German beer halls, this Whiskey Row spot serves a menu featuring small plates of sausages, charcuterie, cheeses and pickled vegetables, plus beef, lamb, chicken and seafood entrées. The full bar has dozens of rotating draft beers and ciders, canned and bottled beers. $$ L D p

REPEAL OAK-FIRED STEAKHOUSE 101 W. Main St. (Hotel Distil), 716-7372. The main restaurant at the new Hotel Distil on Whiskey Row fires the steaks over used bourbon barrel staves. If steak isn’t your dish, check out the sole meunière, the truffled spaghetti, the well-stocked raw bar, or grab a blue crab omelet at lunch. As you might expect, the spirits list is deep. $$$$ B Br L D p

THE MANHATTAN PROJECT 2101 Frankfort Ave., 7498925. This upscale gastropub has expanded, with a main room now looking out on the lively Cifton 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

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 16floor 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. $$$$ D p STEAK & BOURBON 1321 Herr Ln., 708-2196. Ole Restaurant Group has branched out with this affordablypriced premium steakhouse. In addition to the signature 24 oz. cowboy cut Angus ribeye (aged a minimum of 30 days) the menu offers pan-roasted chicken, grilled Verlasso salmon, steak & cheese hand pies, Maryland-style crab cakes and carrot cake with bourbon caramel icing. Try the House Punch or choose from over 100 bourbons, including a reserve list. $$$ L D pf

THE STANDARD PLATE & POUR 207 E. Main St., New Albany IN, 590-1055. The renovated building that until recently housed Gospel Bird is now The Standard. Owners Beau Kerley and Tim Smith characterized their new business as a “pub with elevated food.” Look for Chef Smith’s tried and true favorites – steak and eggs, tomato soup en croute – as well as house-made pork rinds, cheese fritters and beer cheese and pretzels. $$$ Br 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

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: wings and sandwiches, sure, but also chimichurri meatballs, ahi tuna poke and chipotle BBQ chicken flatbread. Its giant pretzel and beer cheese is a great shared nibbler. $$ L D pf

TEXAS ROADHOUSE 757 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy. (Green Tree Mall), Clarksville IN, 280-1103, 4406 Dixie Hwy., 4480705, 3322 Outer Loop, 962-7600, 13321 Shelbyville Rd., 253-0085, 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

21ST AMENDMENT TAVERN 1481 S. Shelby St., 654-7221.

The former Club 21 has been restored and re-imagined as a Schitzelburg neighborhood bar with a food menu that is both Kentucky-centric and a nod to long-missing GermanAmerican food. In addition to a selection of burgers, look for the baloney burger, a Neighborhood Nosh meat board with braunschweiger and pickled eggs and other retro bar favorites. $$ L D pf CORNER 102 W. Main St., 583-1888. Corner is the bar and restaurant attached to the chic, contemporary Aloft Hotel 50 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

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 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

80/20 @ KAELIN’S 1801 Newburg Rd., 200-8020. Burgers are back at the birthplace of the cheeseburger. Chef Matt Staggs's “rustic regional” menu offers 7 burgers and 7 entrées at this complete renovation of the classic Kaelin’s space. There’s a malt shop serving fountain drinks and house-made ice cream on one side, and a family-friendly restaurant and bar on the other. Seating on the spacious patio/porch, and upstairs is a large private room for parties and meetings. $$ L D pf BUFFALO WILD WINGS 6801 Dixie Hwy., 935-1997, 4600 Shelbyville Rd., 899-7732, 9134 Taylorsville Rd., 499-2356, 10206 Westport Rd., 394-9596, 12901 Shelbyville Rd., 2549464, 1112 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 283-9464, 4917 Outer Loop, 964-5803. As much a sports bar as a restaurant, this national franchise chain offers tasty snack-type fare, including the chain’s trademark Buffalo chicken wings. $$ L D pf BUNZ RESTAURANT 969 1/2 Baxter Ave., 632-1132. This little Highlands made-to-order gourmet hamburger shop

B = Breakfast Br = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner

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concocts quality burgers with a range of standard and oddball toppings. $ L D f BURGERIM 3733 Lexington Rd., 901-1101. This fast-growing California-based chain offers burgers made with beef, salmon, lamb, chicken and falafel. Chicken wings and milkshakes too. $$ L D f THE CHICKEN HOUSE 7180 Hwy. 111, Sellersburg IN, 2469485. The parking lot of this white frame building in rural Indiana is packed on weekend nights as families from throughout the area wait on delectable fried chicken. This is the very heart of American comfort food, including green beans, dumplings, and mashed potatoes. $$ 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 1520 Veterans Pky., Jeffersonville IN, 504-2360. The name says it all: here you can find a baker’s dozen styles of chicken salad, as a scoop or a sandwich, plus pimento cheese sandwiches, soups and salads. $$ L D f

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 HOME RUN BURGERS & FRIES 2723 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 409-7004, 12949 Shelbyville Rd., 384-8403, 303 W. Cardinal Blvd., 708-1818. Burgers, dogs and fries with a baseball theme highlight these suburban spots, and more than 20 toppings offer you a fielder’s choice of options to dress your burger. $ L D f HOOTERS 4120 Dutchmans Ln., 895-7100, 4948 Dixie Hwy., 449-4194, 7701 Preston Hwy., 968-1606, 700 W. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville IN, 218-9485, 941 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 284-9464. 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, 288-8980, 4590 Dixie Hwy., 447-4856, 4419 Cane Run Rd., 448-1109, 4901 Poplar Level Rd., 969-5352. Grown

CLUCKERS WINGS 4308 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 944-8100, 100 W. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville IN, 5903662. 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

DIZZY WHIZZ DRIVE-IN 217 W. St. Catherine St., 5833828. 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

RED TOP GOURMET HOT DOGS 1127 Logan St., 6402032. The journey from street cart to food truck to storefront is complete. Ryan Cohee's all beef, nitrate- and preservativefree hotdogs can be found now in Shelby Park. Bison and Waygu beef choices, as well as vegan/ vegetarian-friendly dogs. Columbus-style sauerkraut balls, too. $ L D pf

DOUBLE FLAME BURGER 5408 Valley Station Rd., 4500118. At this South End spot, you can build your own flamegrilled burgers, or opt for other sandwiches – pulled pork grilled chicken, grilled cheese or fried baloney. $ L 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

p = Full Bar f = Outdoor Dining

RED = Advertiser

POLLO 1991 Brownsboro Rd., 742-4596. The owner of Six Forks Burger Co. in Shelby Park has found a permanent location for his food truck. Here fried and roast chicken is turned it into quesadillas, gyros and tacos, not just wings and thighs, but chicken as a basis for other dishes. $$ L D pf

RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS 9870 Von Allmen Ct., 339-8616, 5000 Shelbyville Rd., 899-9001, 1354 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 948-9895. 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

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

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

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. $$ LDp

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., 409-9441. 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 Df

DADDY RICH’S 617 W. Oak St., 290-9110. The kitchen incubator Chef Space gave birth to this new Old Louisville soul food spot. Owner Rodrick Martin named it after his late grandfather, who inspired him. The limited cooked to order menu includes chicken wraps, mini-waffles and ten wing flavors.

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

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

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

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. Quality fast food and friendly service make this chain popular. $ L D f

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, 8223702, 13303 Shelbyville Rd., 244-1027. 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

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

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 JEFF'S BURGER SHACK 14126 Dixie Hwy., 384-0972. The building was once an A&W outlet; now it is a locally-owned casual fast food spot offering freshly made burgers (with a wide choice of toppings), freshly-cut fries, and milkshakes. $ L D JOELLA’S HOT CHICKEN 3400 Frankfort Ave., 895-2235, 13401 Shelbyville Rd., 254-1111. At this Nashville-style chicken emporium, diners will find traditional Southernfried chicken spiced medium, hot and hotter. House-made sides, of course, and local craft beers and wine, and freshsqueezed lemonade, too. $$ L D pf KING’S FRIED CHICKEN 1302 Dixie Hwy., 776-3013, 5603 Preston Hwy., 654-7707. $ L D

ROOSTERS 7405 Preston Hwy., 964-9464, 4420 Dixie Hwy., 384-0330, 1601 Greentree Blvd., Clarksville IN, 590-3391, 10430 Shelbyville Rd., 883-1990, 5338 Bardstown Rd., 6181128, 3601 Springhurst Blvd., 708-2798. 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, 10305 Taylorsville Rd, 749-2013. 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 Southernfried tofu are on the menu. $$L D f SAVANNAH RESTAURANT 2750 S. Seventh St., 242-5108.

This modest little, near-West End spot provides neighborhood diners with wings, fried fish, burgers and fries. $ L D SIX FORKS BURGER CO. 1270 S. Preston St., 779-1993 The name of this family-run, family-friendly spot in Shelby Park was inspired by the owners’ six children. Burgers, of course, with an expansive toppings bar. Also on the menu are a www.foodanddine.com Fall 2020

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variety of sausages and hot dogs, sandwiches and fries topped 6 ways. $ L D 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 madeto-order Angus beef burgers, and is looking to open more area locations. $ 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 CHICKEN BOX 5905 Terry Rd., 618-0430. This Pleasure Ridge Park restaurant offers six flavors of wings, all cooked to order: buffalo, extra hot, bbq, lemon pepper, hot garlic Parmesan and lemon pepper hot. The waffle biscuit has impressed fans. $ L D f 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 1314 Bardstown Rd., 498-8420. This small Cincinnati-based chain serving fried chicken, five-cheese macaroni, house-made biscuits and other comfort food, has established itself firmly in the Highlands restaurant row.

The three-season patio is a great place to enjoy the beer list. $ L D pf W.W. COUSINS RESTAURANT 900 Dupont Rd., 897-9684.

This locally owned and operated build-your-own burger joint has packed in fans at its location near Dupont Circle for over 30 years, serving substantial burgers on magisterial home-baked buns and offering more than 40 toppings on the lengthy condiments bar. $ L D WHISKEY DRY 412 S. Fourth St. (Fourth Street Live!) 7497933. Ed Lee expands his local empire to Fourth Street Live! with this casual burger and whiskey bar. The menu features a suggested whiskey pairing for each burger from among the 200 whiskeys from America, Ireland, Japan and elsewhere. $$ L D pf THE WING ZONE 905 Hess Ln., 636-2445, 3038 Hunsinger Ln., 618-0106. Wing Zone, with locations scattered across the eastern U.S., excels with jumbo wings in 25 flavors, including traditional Buffalo-style wings that range from Tame to Nuclear Habanero. Burgers, fried shrimp and sides as well. $ L D f WINGSTOP 4812 Dixie Hwy., 409-6000, 2007 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 491-7171. This Texas-based chain with 500 restaurants nationally, now reaches into Louisville. Their specialty? Wings of course, and you can get them 9 different ways. $$ L D p ZAXBY’S (9 Locations) There are now 9 outlets in Louisville and Southern Indiana. The casual dining chain cutens its menu with a lot of “z’s”: zappetizers, zalads, platterz, wingz and fingerz - that sort of thing. $ L D

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 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. $BL AROMA CAFÉ & BAR Caesar’s 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 52 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

ATLANTIC NO. 5 605 W. Main St., 883-3398. Owners Mary Wheatley and Rebecca Johnson offer fresh takes on breakfast and lunch in this sharp Main St. renovation. Eat in or take away hearty biscuits, ham slider breakfast sandwiches, bagels or house-made granola. At lunch choose simple grilled cheese or specialty sandwiches. $ B Br L pf 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. $$ B D p BLUE DOG BAKERY AND CAFÉ 2868 Frankfort Ave., 8999800. Tables are always at a premium at this popular Crescent Hill breakfast and lunch spot. And its artisanal bakery continues to produce hearty European-style breads that have set a gold standard on restaurant tables and in better grocery stores around town. $$ B L D f BLUE HORSE CAFÉ 830 Phillips Ln. (Crown Plaza Hotel), 367-2251. $$$ L D p 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 BORSALINO CAFÉ & DELI 3825 Bardstown Rd., 807-5325.

This Buechel store is somewhere between a coffee shop, a fancy bakery and a deli. You can stop in for your morning coffee and sweet bun to go, buy a cake for dessert or take away a stuffed pita for lunch. $ B L D f CAFÉ 157 157 E. Main St., 548-9114. This little café downtown serves breakfast and lunch daily except Wednesdays, dinner on Thursday through Saturday, and Sunday brunch. The menu skews to Southern comfort foods, all fresh and scratch-made, including corned beef cured inhouse. The owner ran Old Bridge Inn B&B, for many years. $$ B Br L D p CAFÉ 223 223 Pearl St., Jeffersonville IN, 285-1877. Carol and Steve Stembro, owners of Jeffersonville's Market Street Inn, have renovated a house near the Big Four Bridge, to provide sustenance for cross-river walkers and J’ville regulars, who will find baked goods and breakfast items in the morning, and paninis, salads, soups and hot and cold beverages for lunch. $ B L f CAFÉ 360 1582 Bardstown Rd., 473-8694. Highlands diners enjoy an eclectic and international menu at this friendly corner place, with Southern fried catfish and Indian lamb biryani in immediate juxtaposition. You can get it all, dinerstyle, just about 24/7. $ B L D pf CAFFE CLASSICO 2144 Frankfort Ave., 895-0076. At first a coffee bar, but over the years the classy space at Clifton and Frankfort has matured into an elegant bistro serving an eclectic menu — salmon croquettes with wasabi aioli, empanadas, an international array of salads, panini, bocadillos and pizzas. A stylish place for lunch or supper. $$ BLDf 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 familyoperated 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

cooking skills and insistence on fresh, quality ingredients to these simple, but excellent, spots for lunch. $ L 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, garlicbasil chicken pizza) and dishes like the Irish pork have won prizes at local charity contests. $$$ L D pf CRAVE CAFÉ & CATERING 2250 Frankfort Ave., 896-1488.

Experienced caterers and chefs offer casual but quality café fare in this comfortable old frame house in Clifton. $$ L D CRICKET’S CAFÉ 7613 Old Hwy. 60, Sellersburg IN, 2469339. Offering breakfasts and lunch to local Hoosiers and travelers who take exit 7 off I-65. Full breakfasts, omelets, and breakfast sandwiches. A full range of standard lunch sandwiches, with Reubens, Philly steak and cheese, and daily specials. Homemade soups and salads, too. $ B Br L f CUP OF JOY 2507 Bank St., 919-9074. This coffee shop and café, located in a former bar, 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 THE EARLY EDITION 149 Spring St., Jeffersonville IN, 5901280. Behind Dos Gringos, owners Beau Kerley and Tim Smith are operating what they call “a greasy spoon with a touch of Mexican taste.” It’s a breakfast diner serving until 11:30 am, when Dos Gringos starts its lunch service. $ B FARM TO FORK CAFÉ 2425 Portland Ave., 365-3276. Farm to Fork, for many years a premier catering company known for its Southern favorites made from scratch from regionallysourced ingredients, has moved its operations to a former Portland firehouse and has opened a café serving breakfast and lunch. The seasonal menu includes grits, biscuits, soup, salads and sandwiches. $ B L p FULL STOP FILLING STATION 1132 E. St. Catherine St., 260-8046. This former car repair shop is now a grab and go coffee shop and deli, offering locally-sourced food, coffee and a few grocery items, a limited to-go beer section and some beers on tap. Café open until 5; kitchen closes at 2 p.m. $ B L p GRACIOUS PLENTY 9207 US Hwy 42, 618-4755, 2900 Brownsboro Rd., 618-4755. Eat in or carry away fresh sandwiches, salads and soups, cookies and brownies at this Brownsboro Road deli and bakery, which also serves alcohol.

Take away meals to heat up at home for dinner, too. The Prospect location is catering and carry-out only. $ L D p 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 and vegetarian fare as well. $ B L D 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

CHRISTMAS MORNING CAFÉ 2359 Frankfort Ave., 6147409. This festive Christmas-themed café serves breakfast, brunch and lunch items year round. If you like holiday whimsy with your brunch, try the "Rudolph's fresh berry crepes,” Grandma Klaus biscuits and gravy or "Pere Noel” French toast. $ B Br L f

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

CITY CAFÉ 222 Eastern Pkwy., 852-5739. Chef Jim Henry, a long-time star in the city’s culinary firmament, brings his

JW CAFÉ & BAKERY 2301 Terra Crossing Blvd., 907-5248.

The bakery part of this East End spot offers scones and

B = Breakfast Br = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner

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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 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 PURE BLENDZ 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market), 6408668. This kiosk at the Logan Street Market offers pure, unprocessed foods in the form of superfood smoothie bowls, avocado toast, kombucha, lemonade tea fogs and more. $ L Df 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 QUEUE CAFÉ 220 W. Main St. (LG&E Building), 583-0273. $BLf 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, with Cuban, Jamaican, Greek and Middle Eastern dishes. Moderate prices, a weekend brunch and late night hours add to the draw. $$ L D pf RED HOG 2622 Frankfort Ave., 384-0795. Kit Garrett and Bob Hancock, owners of Blue Dog Bakery, now also have this butcher shop and café offering artisan cured meats in Crescent Hill. Pasture-raised pork, beef, bison, lamb and poultry are available. The café serves small plates and pizzas fired from their wood-burning oven. The bar offers craft cocktails and 12 beer taps. $$ L D pf RIOT CAFE 574 S. Fourth St., 709-5654. Olivia Griffin has taken over the Craft(s) Gallery & Mercantile space adjacent to her Tiki Bar to provide a safe space for progressive conversation and refreshment. Part bodega, part cafe and bar, and part art gallery, Griffin sets aside a percentage of sales to fund a loan program for people of color to start or grow a food or beverage business.

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 SHAHAR CAFÉ 1511 Bardstown Rd., 653-7083. Anselmo’s Italian gives way to this eclectic eatery whose owners have devised a menu of Euro-Asian entrees and snacks. The wideranging menu includes beef kabobs, Russian piroshki, samosas and poutine. Weekend entrée specials may include plov (a central Asian rice and meat dish), shashlik (similar to shish kebab), pelmeni (Russian dumplings) and borscht. $ B Br L D

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

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

THE CHEDDAR BOX 3909 Chenoweth Sq., 893-2324. Since 1975 this St. Matthews tradition has delighted ladies who lunch, hungry students who munch, and just about everyone else with their sandwiches, pasta salads and tasty desserts. It caters parties with almost 50 choices of appetizers, party sandwiches, dips, cheese rings and crostini. $ L f

ASPEN CREEK RESTAURANT 8000 Bardstown Rd., 2392200, 302 Bullitt Ln., 425-0077. 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

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 non-profit, social entrepreneurship experiment serves locally-grown, fresh food and operates under a pay-whatyou-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 VIC’S CAFÉ 1839 E. Market St., New Albany IN, 944-4338. $ LD WAYCOOL CAFÉ 120 W. Broadway, 582-2241. Wayside Christian Mission trains people here in its community reentry 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 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 913-4735. 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 now be found at this growing mini-chain’s fifth outlet. $ B Br L p WILTSHIRE PANTRY BAKERY AND CAFÉ 901 Barret Ave., 581-8561, 6301 Moonseed St., 581-8560. Caterer/ restaurateur Susan Hershberg’s popular bakery and café operation, a welcome stop for those wanting artisanal breads, scones and croissants, now serves full breakfasts (Tuscan egg sandwich, breakfast grain bowl, frittata, smoked salmon plate) as well as sandwiches and paninis, side salads and more from the cafe. $ B L ZEGGZ AMAZING EGGS 11615 Shelbyville Rd., 882-1650.

This quick-service breakfast and lunch spot offers five house omelets (plus the chance to build your own), three variations on eggs Benedict, as well as biscuits and gravy, croque madames, waffles and pancakes. Luncheon fare includes a B.A.L.T (the ‘a’ is for avocado), salads and soups. $$ B Br L pf

BISCUIT BELLY 900 E. Main St., 409-5729, 3723 Lexington Rd., 690-2945, 818 W. Kenwood Dr. (Colonial Gardens) 384-4545. Chad and Lauren Coulter, of LouVino fame, own this breakfast- and lunch-oriented eatery. You’ll find oversized 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 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. $$ L D pf BOOMTOWN 110 E. Main St., New Albany IN, 590-1314. A third restaurant takes over the former home of the legendary South Side Inn, Boomtown focuses on affordable classic dishes: several burgers, including a wild game option, steak dinner with two sides and pork chops. $$ L D pf BOUJIE BISCUIT 1813 Frankfort Ave., 269-8426. This tiny Clifton space advertises, “Scratch-made comfort food on a handcrafted buttermilk biscuit.” The menu is mostly sandwiches, served on oversized biscuits—ham and threecheese biscuit, chicken pot pie biscuit and three different burger biscuits. Every sandwich is served in a cardboard togo box, which most diners find they need. $$ B L f BRICK HOUSE TAVERN + TAP 871 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 326-3182. Brick House, a Houston-based chain, has upgraded its image with an increased focus on food. Serving brunch, lunch and dinner, with a half-dozen local beers on tap, and an unusual menu of beer cocktails. $$ L D pf BROOKE & BILLY’S BITES, BOURBONS & BREWS 751 Vine St., 583-9165. The restored 19th-century building in Paristown has a secluded patio and revamped dining room in a cool, out-of-the-way but on-the-way-up neighborhood. The menu offers an extensive selection of sandwiches and small bites, entrée salads and main dishes like lemon red snapper and six-layer lasagna. $$$ L D pf BUCKHEAD MOUNTAIN GRILL 707 W. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville IN 284-2919. The deck of the riverfront location in Jeffersonville, with its view across the river, is a great place for a lazy summer meal, when the familiarity of all-American fare like meat loaf, pot pies, steak or ribs and a couple of cold ones is all you want. Both locations house big square bars with a multitude of TV screens for excellent sports viewing. $$ L D pf

THE SILLY AXE CAFÉ 2216 Dundee Rd., 290-7197. A completely gluten-free restaurant. Most recently home to Diorio’s Pizza, Silly Axe (a play on celiac disease) has a deli counter and a selection of pre-made items for take-away. The menu offers meat, vegan and vegetarian choices, daily quesadillas and five house sandwiches. $$ L D pf

AGAVE & RYE EPIC TACOS 426 Baxter Ave., 873-5111. The fourth location of this Covington-based chain has taken over the former Ward 426 space. Offerings include tacos, bourbon, arcade games and over 70 different tequilas. What makes the tacos “Epic?” Ingredients: The Rooster has crispy chicken, mac and cheese and Nashville hot sauce; a vegge offering called “Bang Bang” is filled with crispy cauliflower, corn fritters, queso and spicy carrots. $$ L D p 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

A NICE RESTAURANT 3129 Blackiston Mill Rd., New Albany IN, 945-4321, 2784 Meijer Dr., Jeffersonville IN, 280-9160, 404 Lafollette Station, Floyds Knobs IN, 923-7770. 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

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

THE STARVING ARTIST CAFÉ & DELI 8034 New Lagrange Rd., 412-1599. $ L

APPLEBEE’S 4717 Dixie Hwy., 448-1399, 10006 Will Way, 231-1661, 4535 Outer Loop, 969-1228, 771 E. Lewis and

CHEDDAR’S SCRATCH KITCHEN 10403 Westport Rd., 339-5400, 3521 Outer Loop, 966-3345, 1385 Veterans

p = Full Bar f = Outdoor Dining

RED = Advertiser

CARDINAL HALL OF FAME CAFÉ 2745 Crittenden Dr., 635-8686. This oversize eatery at Gate 4 of the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center celebrates U of L sports with a “walk of fame” loaded with awards, photos, game balls and lots more Cardinal memorabilia. What? You want food too?

Sure! Casual American dining features everything from a “Cardinal Burger” to steaks and prime rib. $$ L D p

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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 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., 6385202, 940 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 6703000. 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. $$ L D CORELIFE EATERY 1225 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 670-5680. This Syracuse-based franchise offers vegetable and grains bowls, bone and vegetable broth, and grass-fed steak, chicken and tofu power plates. $$ L D DENNY’S 4030 Dutchmans Ln., 896-2669, 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. $$ B Br L D DOUBLE DOGS 13307 Shelbyville Rd., 244-4430. Double Dogs, a Bowling Green, Ky.-based chain with four locations, has its first Louisville-area restaurant in Middletown. Double Dogs describes itself as “a family friendly restaurant with a sports atmosphere,” serving a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers and pizza. $ L D pf EAT YOUR BOURBON MARKETPLACE 2708 Frankfort Ave., 618-0939. Owner Matt Jamie extends his Crescent Hill Bourbon Barrel Foods concept with this grab-and-go prepared foods store that uses recipes from Jamie’s "Eat Your Bourbon" cookbook: charcuterie boards, sandwiches and other prepared foods from Chef-in-Residence Michael Crouch and Butchertown Grocery Bakery. $$ B Br L D p FIRST WATCH 201 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 384-6075, 960 Breckenridge Ln., 618-1955, 1205 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN., 575-3447, 2225 Taylorsville Rd., 4447744. 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. Soups, salads and a big choice of sandwiches for lunch. $ B L GAME 2295 Lexington Rd., 618-1712. Though under new ownership, the specialties here remain the same: 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, with bun choices ranging from brioche to pretzel to Kaiser roll. $$ D f GANDER, AN AMERICAN GRILL 111 S. English Station Rd., 915-8484. Chris and Anne Mike, of Goose Creek Diner, have opened Gander, An American Grill, serving steaks, burgers, pasta and sandwiches — "a little bit of everything that makes America what it is," according to Mike. $$$ 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. $$ B L p GREEN DISTRICT SALADS 126 Breckenridge Ln., 4095293, 225 S. Fifth St., 822-3055. This quick-service restaurant focusing on build-your-own chopped salads (or select from a menu). Lunch diners can opt for house-made soups and wraps, too. $$ L D 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

54 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

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 JOE'S OLDER THAN DIRT 8131 New Lagrange Rd., 4347470. The Lyndon landmark has returned to its old spot, replacing Red Barn Kitchen, which had replaced Joe’s. The bar is rebuilt and another stuffed moose has been found. But Olé Restaurant Group remains a partner, providing the food: smoked wings, brisket chili, cheese fritters, a mac and cheese burger and a daily lunch plate, all at prices that will appeal to Joe’s original fan base. $$ L D pf KAREM’S 9424 Norton Commons Blvd., 327-5646. Karem’s Grill & Pub, one of the first restaurants to open in the village-like Norton Commons, carries the look and feel of a neighborhood watering hole inside and out. The test of a restaurant, though, is the food, and Karem’s is excellent. $$ LD MIMI’S CAFÉ 615 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 426-6588. This California chain, a subsidiary of Bob Evans, goes urban and upscale where Farmer Bob is folksy and country. This East End outlet has developed a following beyond those familiar with it from other locations. $$ B Br L D pf MOYA'S AMERICAN KITCHEN 10000 Linn Station Rd., 496-6692. This "good old American comfort food" restaurant in Jeffersontown offers fare such as jalapeño hushpuppies, fried green tomatoes, grilled cheese and tomato soup, smothered pork chop, chopped steak, meatloaf and fried catfish.$$ L D pf NAÏVE 1001 E. Washington St., 749-7856. This Butchertown vegetarian restaurant has been catering for some months in preparation for its opening as a sit-down restaurant. Its dishes include savory rice bowls, burritos, frittatas and quiches, savory toasts, salads and sandwiches. $$ D pf 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 (4 locations) 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

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., 7210093, 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 SUPERCHEFS 1702 Bardstown Rd., 409-8103. The funky comic book-themed decor in Darnell Ferguson’s Highlands restaurant celebrates super heroes during breakfast and lunch, and super villains at dinner. His menu reflects his super-sized sensibilities: the SuperChefs Omelet, the Pancake Platter, and a seafood pizza with a petite lobster tail on top. $$ B Br L pf TGI FRIDAY’S 416 S. Fourth St. (Fourth Street Live), 5853577. The original place to loosen the tie and congregate after the whistle blows. TGIF carries on its party atmosphere tradition with American bistro dining and libations. The bill of fare ranges from baskets of appetizers on up to contemporary entrées. $$ L D pf THE SPOT 9700 Bluegrass Pkwy., 690-3011. The restaurant connected with the Ramada Plaza hotel, The Spot serves breakfast through dinner: eggs and pancakes, mozzarella sticks and fried calamari, pastas, grilled chicken and seafood. $BLDp TOAST ON MARKET 620 E. Market St., 569-4099, 141 E. Market St., New Albany IN, 941-8582. On both sides of the river this breakfast and lunch favorite has gained a loyal following and tremendous word-of-mouth. Be prepared to wait for tables for weekend brunches. $ B Br L pf TUCKER’S 2441 State St., New Albany IN, 944-9999. Tucker’s gives you a little bit of everything with a down-to-earth flair, offering burgers, ribs, steaks, a variety of appetizers and pastas. $ L D p TWIG & LEAF RESTAURANT 2122 Bardstown Rd., 4518944. A popular Highlands hangout, the “Twig” is probably at its best for breakfast — whether you’re enjoying it while venturing out on a leisurely Sunday morning or heading home very late on a Saturday night. It’s a place to grab a quick, filling bite and doesn’t pretend to be more. $ B L D f

8TH STREET PIZZA 411 E. Spring St., New Albany IN, 7250004. This “boutique, pay-it-forward pizza shop and ministry” serves New York style pizza with a “pay what you can afford” concept. Pay the full suggested price, pay what you can afford to pay, or pay the full amount of the suggested meal price plus a little extra to "pay it forward”. $ LDf

PORTAGE HOUSE 117 E. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville IN, 725-0435. Dallas McGarity has changed the focus of his cozy riverfront casual restaurant to upscale bar food and sandwiches. Even simple things still have the McGarity touch: Sriracha chicken wings with cucumber yogurt sauce, Greek meatloaf & smashed potatoes with spinach and feta.

The cornmeal-coated catfish sandwich is served on buttered toast, and the black bean burger comes on a brioche bun. $$$ L D pf

ANGILO’S PIZZA 1725 Berry Blvd., 367-0580. The local favorite is the steak hoagie, dripping with pizza sauce, pickles and onions. Angilo’s also offers a wide selection of hot pizza pies and cold beer. $$ L D

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

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

S BAR 1442 Dixie Hwy., 439-6574. You can get superfood smoothies and shakes at this South End spot, but the unique draw is the selection of “spuds” — loaded baked potatoes topped with things like chicken and broccoli Alfredo, Philly cheese steak, pulled pork and Buffalo chicken. $ L D

ARNI’S PIZZA 1208 State St., New Albany IN, 945-1149, 3700 Paoli Pike, Floyds Knobs IN, 923-9805. A favorite Hoosier pizza and sandwich stop. Insist on getting the Deluxe. $$ L D

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

ARNO’S PIZZA 3912 Bardstown Rd., 384-8131.$$ L D BEARNO’S PIZZA (14 locations) What began as a simple, family-run pizzeria near Bowman Field has morphed into a local chain with, at last count, 14 locations. $$ L D f BLAZE FAST-FIRE’D PIZZA 4600 Shelbyville Rd., 895-7800, 13317 Shelbyville Rd., 822-3677, 4055 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

B = Breakfast Br = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner

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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., 458-8889, 1315 Herr Ln., 394-0000, 1450 Veterans Pkwy., Jeffersonville IN, (812) 913-4171, 1890 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 491-4111. 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 and a dedicated takeout entrance. 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 CHUBBY RAY’S 3910 Ruckriegel Pkwy., 267-1188. This family restaurant has grown from a small mostly carry-out spot to a large (400 seat) Jeffersontown institution. The menu offerings have expanded as well. In addition to signature pizzas, you can find quesadillas and rooster wings, burgers and subs, calzones, pasta and salads. $$ L D pf COALS ARTISAN PIZZA 3730 Frankfort Ave., 742-8200, 11615 Shelbyville Rd., 253-0106, 600 Terminal Dr. (Louisville Airport). Middletown and airport travelers now partake in what St. Matthews diners have enjoyed for a few years–excellent pizzas made in coal-fired ovens burning at 800 degrees F, crisping the crust in 4 minutes and “leoparding” it with black spots. Toppings are fresh and regionally-sourced. $$ L D pf 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. $$ L D DERBY CITY PIZZA 5603 Greenwood Rd., 933-7373, 2500 Crittenden Dr., 384-4777, 10619 Manslick Rd., 742-3940, 2331 Brownsboro Rd., 290-0677, 9910 Linn Station Rd., 384-8733. It is always nice when a business’s name is selfexplanatory. But the menu offers burgers and wings, too, along with toasted subs and pasta dishes. The Brownsboro Road location is carry-out only. $$ L D pf DIORIO’S PIZZA & PUB 310 Wallace Ave., 618-3424, 917 Baxter Ave., 614-8424. Residents in St. Matthews and in the Highlands can savor pizza by the slice, as well as by the mammoth 30-inch pie. Also grilled sandwiches, salads, wings, queso sticks, and a good selection of domestic and import beers. $$ L D pf FAT JIMMY’S 12216 Shelbyville Rd., 244-2500. This friendly neighborhood nook offers a cold mug of beer and a hot slice

p = Full Bar f = Outdoor Dining

RED = Advertiser

of pizza, along with sub sandwiches, pasta dishes and salads.

THE GRAIN HAUS 41 W. First St., New Albany IN, (470) 588-2337. Part of Floyd County Brewing, the separate building across the court yard boasts a wood-fired pizza oven and a rotating list of guest beers. $$ D pf HIDEOUT PIZZARIA 5620 Barrett Ln., 742-3145. This family-friendly sports bar has 12-foot TV screens, pool and cornhole, arcade games and live music, in addition to pizzas, burgers, spaghetti and an array of sandwiches. $$$ L D HOMETOWN PIZZA 4041 Preston Hwy., 363-4880, 9601 Newbridge Rd., 409-6276, 12607 Taylorsville Rd., 7428700, 11804 Shelbyville Rd., 245-4555. The four local outlets of this chain offer pasta dishes, hoagies and stromboli as well as pies like the one-of-a-kind Bacon Cheeseburger pizza. The Preston Highway location will soon open an adjacent craft brewery; the beers brewed there will be available in all Hometown locations. $$ L D p IROQUOIS PIZZA 6614 Manslick Rd., 363-3211. $$ L D JAKE & ELWOOD’S 2230 Frankfort Ave., 690-2167. The main draw to this Clifton spot is Chicago-style deep dish pizzas, but Jake and Elwood’s menu includes hot dogs and sausages, Italian beef sandwiches, wings, chili, fries and salads. $$ L D p JET’S PIZZA 101 S. Hubbards Ln., 895-4655, 3624 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 491-1700, 235 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 244-4440, 6523 Bardstown Rd., 239-0000, 2500 Bardstown Rd., 458-5387, 10494 Westport Rd., 426-1181. Now with seven Louisville outlets, this Detroit-based chain offers sitdown service and carry-out. The menu features eight crust flavors and some gourmet pizza options such as a BLT and chicken parmesan. $$ L D f

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. $$ L D NEW ALBANIAN BREWING CO. 3312 Plaza Dr., New Albany IN, 944-2577. Touting “the best pizza in Southern Indiana” is quite a boast, but pizza only tells half of this tasty story. NABC combines the fine pies of Sportstime Pizza with the pub formerly known as Rich O’s. The remarkable beer list, with more than 100 selections from around the world — plus locally brewed craft beers — has won international awards. $$ L D OLD SCHOOL NY PIZZA 12907 Factory Ln., 882-1776, 10600 Meeting St. 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., 4542711, 4933 Brownsboro Rd., 425-9080, 110 W. Main St., 589-4900, 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 four locations. $$$$ L D pf PAPA MURPHY’S PIZZA (8 Locations) There are eight locations for this take-and-bake pizza purveyor scattered around town. $$ L D

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

PARLOUR 131 W. Chestnut St., Jeffersonville IN, 914-7400., 2636 Frankfort Ave., 895-9400. This pizza and beer purveyor just over the Big Four Bridge now has a second location in Crescent Hill, in the space that had been Crescent Hill Craft House. There are 40+ beers on tap, a dozen or so New York style pizzas on the menu, and outdoor space for games like cornhole. $$ L D pf

LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA (10 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

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

LUIGI’S PIZZERIA 712 W. Main St., 589-0005. New York City-style 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

PIZZA KING 3825 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 9454405, 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

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

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

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. $$ L D p MARCO’S PIZZA 2011 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 941-1144. A rapidly growing (300+) pizza chain from Toledo, Ohio, adds to the choices of takeout pies in New Albany. Ironically, its CEO lives in Louisville and commutes to Toledo. $$ 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! $$ L D p MOZZA PI 12102 Lagrange Rd., 890-4832. Tom Edwards began MozzaPi several years ago as one of the first food trucks in Louisville. At his Anchorage pizza place he drafts artisanal pies from flour he mills himself. He makes bread too, and gives courses in artisanal baking. $$$ L D pf MR. GATTI’S 703 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 283-5005, 10035 Dixie Hwy., 632-2504, 4200 Outer Loop, 964-0933. This Austin-based chain was one of the first

PIZZA PLACE 2931 Richland Ave., 458-9700. $$ L D pf PRIMO'S PIZZERIA 2043 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 749-7072.

Based on a recent visit, this new spot is off to a great start.

There are no conveyor belts here. Well-trained pizza makers give each pie individual attention, the toppings and accents (like fresh basil) are fine quality, and the assortment of crusts — wheat, thin, rising, deep dish, cauliflower, broccoli — is first rate. The lunch special, ten bucks for a big fresh salad with a generous personal pizza is a steal. $$ L D f SAL’S PIZZA & WINGS 812 Lyndon Ln., 365-4700. In addition to generously-topped pizzas, you can find panini, subs, burgers, and fried fish at this inviting spot in a Lyndon strip mall. $$ L D pf 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 ItalianAmerican dishes. $$ L D pf SIR DANO’S PIZZA PARLOR 496 N. Indiana Ave., Sellersburg IN, 246-3346. $$ L D f SPINELLI’S PIZZERIA 614 Baxter Ave., 568-5665, 4005 Shelbyville Rd., 895-0755. This locally-owned pizzeria, www.foodanddine.com Fall 2020 55

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widely known for their Philly Cheesesteaks and massive slices of pizza has added a third location. All are open until 5 am nightly Wednesday through Saturday. $ L D THE CORNER 4111 Murphy Ln., 426-8340. $$ L D THE POST 1045 Goss Ave., 635-2020. Germantown has long needed a classic New York-style pizza joint, and this spot, in a former VFW post, has provided it. Pizza is available by slice or whole pie, mostly classic tomato sauced varieties, but a few oddities, like the chicken dinner pizza with Buffalobased sauce, chicken, cheddar, onion and ranch drizzle.

Calzones, subs and salads, too.$$ D p TONY IMPELLIZZERI’S 5170 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 949-3000. The long-time Louisville pizzamaker moves across the river to fill the cravings of Hoosiers. $$$ D TOPP'T HANDCRAFTED PIZZA 373 Professional Court, New Albany IN, 725-8891. This Elizabethtown-based fastcasual pizza and salad concept serves fast-fired (in an 800degree oven), handcrafted pizzas and made-to-order chopped salads. The thin crust dough is made onsite daily in original, wheat and gluten-free versions. One price regardless of the number of toppings. $$ L D f UNION 15 5205 New Cut Rd. (Colonial Gardens), 653-7494, 1301 Story Ave. The name of this pizza and tap house refers to Kentucky joining the Union as the 15th state. The menu includes Chicago thin crust pizza, wings and sandwiches.

The bar has more than 50 beers, wines and bourbon on tap. $$ L D pf WEST POINT PIZZA 9100 Dixie Hwy., 653-7814. Despite its move to the PRP neighborhood, West Point Pizza retains its name, and continues to serve up Chicago-style pizzas to a grateful South End clientele. A small sandwich selection too, and tacos and boneless wings. $$ D f 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

AMERICAN SMOKEHOUSE STADIUM 5580 Hwy. 62, Jeffersonville IN, 282-6700. This Southern Indiana BBQ joint does the usual stuff – brisket, pulled pork and chicken.

But also look for the smoked prime rib, burnt ends, smoked lamb gyros or fried tofu. $ L D p BABIE BAC'Z GOOD GRILL 8533 Terry Rd., 619-1873. This far South End family-owned barbecue restaurant smokes up baby back ribs and rib tips, half chickens and wings and several sandwiches, including the Bacz Attack, which combines ham, bacon and pork. $$ L D 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 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 Wild-Side shredded chicken sandwich. $$ L D f BOOTLEG BARBECUE COMPANY 9704 Bardstown Rd., 239-2722. 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

CARR'S BBQ AND MARKET 3700 Paoli Pike, Floyds Knobs IN, 728-8106. This Floyds Knobs restaurant uses locallysourced meats in its pulled pork, brisket, smoked turkey breast, chili and ribs. Choose sandwiches, plates with sides, or order by the pound. $$ L D f CHECK'S BBQ & BLUES 14049 Shelbyville Rd., 244-6868.

The owners of Germantown’s Checks Café have opened this BBQ joint in Middletown, featuring live blues bands on weekends. Some Check’s Café standards (chicken livers, fried pork chops), along with ribs, pulled pork and brisket, as sandwiches and full dinners comprise the menu. $ L D p CITY BARBEQUE 329 Whittington Pkwy., 996-8003. This Ohiobased 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 FAMOUS DAVE’S BAR-B-QUE 8605 Citadel Way, 493-2812.

This franchise chain operation may 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. $$ L D pf FDKY BBQ 9606 Taylorsville Rd., 785-4273. The logo shows that “FD” stands for Fire Department — after all, those guys know all about smokin’. Eat dinner in or order a couple of pounds of pulled pork, marinated pulled chicken, brisket or smoked sausage, firehouse chili or Res Q stew and all the required side dishes to go. Ribs on Wednesdays and Friday calls for fried fish. $$ L D f FEAST BBQ 909 E. Market St., 749-9900, 10318 Taylorsville Rd., 749-6534. Owner Ryan Rogers brings a modernist sensibility to the art of barbecue to both NuLu and Jeffersontown. 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 FRANKFORT AVENUE BEER DEPOT 3204 Frankfort Ave., 895-3223. A neighborhood bar that welcomes all comers with some of the most notable ’cue in town. The burgoo and the baked beans rank as some of the best in the city and the pulled pork by the pound is value worth taking home. And where else can you play miniature golf while waiting for the smoker to finish? $ L D pf GALLEY AT GOODWOOD 636 E. Main St., 584-2739.

Goodwood Brewing’s downtown production facility and comfortable taproom now offers a menu designed to pair with its liquid fare. Start with bowls of chili or burgoo, grab some wings or tacos, or one of the smoked meat sandwiches. $$ L D GUY FIERI'S SMOKEHOUSE 434 S. Fourth St. (Fourth Street Live!), 919-7299. The latest creation of the Food TV’s bad boy chef caused some serious musing about the meaning of “celebrity” chefs to local eating. But see the hoopla for yourself, and try some of the fried chicken brined in pickle juice, brisket with pomegranate, sorghum-glazed pork chops or Triple Crown grilled cheese sandwich. $$ 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 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 LOUIE’S HOT CHICKEN & BARBECUE 4222 Poplar Level Rd., 709-4274, 505 W. Broadway, 709-5275. The chicken here ranges through 4 levels of heat, the hottest using the notorious ghost pepper. BBQ choices include pulled pork and brisket and smoked wings. $ L D f

56 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

B = Breakfast Br = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner

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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’S FEED STORE 11422 Shelbyville Rd., 244-0140, 1514 Bardstown Rd., 458-1570, 10316 Dixie Hwy., 9337707, 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. $$ L D pf MARK T'S SLAB HOUSE 4912 Preston Hwy., 962-1069. That would be slabs of ribs, of course. A wonderfully direct name for a barbecue restaurant. Several drum-style smokers out front exude a savory cloud, attesting to the work being done inside those drums. $ L D MARTIN'S BAR-B-QUE JOINT 3408 Indian Lake Dr., 2424666, 984 Barret Ave., 242-0020. Pretty famous in Tennessee, Martin’s has 2 locations where Louisvillians can now savor the meats smoked in the open pit (the whole hogs take 24 hours). All dishes, meats, sides and even sauces are made in-house daily. For a different kind of treat, try the smoked turkey sandwich. $$ 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

p = Full Bar f = Outdoor Dining

RED = Advertiser

MOMMA’S MUSTARD PICKLES & BBQ 102 Bauer Ave., 938-6262, 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 PORKLAND BBQ 2519 St. Cecilia St., 890-5988. Created by the non-profit group, Love City, Porkland BBQ’s proceeds benefit community programs for youth and aspiring entrepreneurs. Look for pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches, fried fish, rib tips, side items and desserts. A Portland specialty, smoked bologna sandwiches, too. $ L D RIVER ROAD BBQ 3017 River Rd., 592-7065. Right next to the Water Tower, this little take-out-only place smokes brisket and pork: 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, 748-7266. 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 406 Mt. Holly Rd., 363-3227.

This Fairdale institution since 2004 smokes and serves slowsmoked pulled pork, brisket, ribs and a dozen sides (including Nanny’s potato salad) from an 1896 log house.

Specialty is hickory-grilled steaks on Friday and Saturday nights. $ L D f SMOKED ON SECOND 133 W. Liberty St. The restaurant moving into the former Griff’s space, joining the One Thirty Three bar, features typical Southern barbecue and sides and has a stage to host live music. $$ L D p SMOKEY BONES BBQ 2525 Hurstbourne Gem Ln., 4917570. This Stony Brook-area eatery combines a sports-bar with a barbecue concept. Its large and varied menu includes wings and burgers, steaks and pork chops, and several takes on mac ‘n’ cheese, as well as righteous ribs. $$ L D p SUMMA DAT 139 S. 44th St., 778-0085. $ L D THE SAUCE 638 Providence Way, Clarsville IN, 656-0941.

301 W. Market St., 690-4550. This space on the corner of 3rd and Market has had several identities over the years.

Now the bar section on the right is Deke’s Bar, and the dining room to the west is The Sauce, serving barbecue chicken, beef and pork, and smoked turkey legs. The casual ambience celebrates local sports, which is appropriate: owners’ Randy and Sheritha Towns’s son Daivd Johnson is a point guard for the University of Louisville. $$ L D pf THE WRIGHT HOUSE BBQ + EATERY 638 Providence Way, Clarsville IN, 656-0941. Dalephonia and LaFond Wright have taken over the space that had been Shawn's BBQ. Dale makes the sides while LaFond prepares the baked chicken, pulled pork and chicken, burgers, smoked sausage, pork chops and meatloaf, carrying on the cooking lessons learned from their grandmothers. $ L D TNT CHICAGO STYLE BBQ & CHICKEN 3400 W. Market St., 510-9310. $ L D

ANOTHER PLACE SANDWICH SHOP 119 S. Seventh St., 589-4115. This venerable lunch spot has been recharging the energies of downtown workers for over four decades.

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Brian Goodwin, son of the late founder and owner, has brightened and modernized the space, and overhauled the menu, looking forward to decades more of lunchtime service. $ L BARRY’S CHEESESTEAKS & MORE 1161 S. Second St., 618-2288, 2500 Bardstown Rd., 384-2430. Barry’s version of the classic Philly street food has been getting raves from self-anointed cheesesteak mavens, who approve of his meat, bread and the cheese sauce choices. $ L D 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 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 CHICAGO STEAK & LEMONADE 4501 Cane Run Rd., 3844291, 2124 W. Broadway, 450-5300. This local mini-chain 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 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market), 309-4269. Four kinds every day, with a schmear of your choice. Bagels, sandwiches and the weekend brunch highlights latkes. $ B Br L f DOWNTOWNER DELI 428 W. Market St., 822-3572. This popular nosh spot adds another choice for the working lunch crowd. The soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps have quickly made fans here as well as in its original Madison, IN. location by offering both savory tastes and worth-it portions. $Lf EV'S DELI 500 W. Jefferson St., 561-6259. 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., 3633989. 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. $$ B L D

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 4600 Shelbyville Rd., 896-0150, 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 at its multiple locations for oversize sandwiches, salads, wraps and more. $ L D f JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS AND SALADS 10266 Shelbyville Rd., 244-1991, 10519 Fischer Park Dr., 425-1025, 1983 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 384-1384. East Coast-style sub shop with local faves that include cheese, ham, prosciuttini, capicola, salami, pepperoni and fixings. $ L D f JIMMY JOHN’S SUB SHOP (11 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 KUHL'S LIQUOR AND DELI 7302 Grade Ln., 361-3608. The deli section of this South End store offers an extensive menu of breakfast dishes, appetizers, and sandwiches ranging from Philly cheesesteak to Cuban to Polish sausage. $ B L D 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 semifast food. $ L D f LONNIE’S BEST TASTE OF CHICAGO 121 St. Matthews Ave., 895-2380. This appetizing operation offers genuine Chicago style hot dogs and a taste of Chicago atmosphere for a fair price. $ 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 three-deep 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., 589-2700. Smack dab in the middle of the Main Street historic district, this fashionable deli lures the savvy business midday crowd. $ L MANHATTAN GRILL 429 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., 5610024. $ 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., 4581668. 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 NANCY’S BAGEL BOX 651 S. Fourth St., 589-4004. An outpost of Nancy’s Bagel Grounds in Clifton, this little outlet, inside Theater Square Marketplace, offers a similar mix of light fare and Nancy’s unique take on the bagel. $ B L

PAUL’S FRUIT MARKET 3922 Chenoweth Sq., 896-8918, 4946 Brownsboro Rd., 426-5070, 12119 Shelbyville Rd., 253-0072, 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 PHILLY CHEESESTEAK EXPRESS 12406 La Grange Rd., 630-2018. Lots of dedicated cheesecake fans love this suburban sandwich shop. For devotees, the availability of Cheez Whiz is a mark of authenticity. And they’ve got it! $$ LDf POTBELLY SANDWICH SHOP 302 S. Fourth St., 540-1100, 4023 Summit Plaza Dr., 420-9616, 9018 Taylorsville Rd., 290-4820. 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, 981-7849. 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 deli-style fare, with one significant improvement on the traditional deli: the servers are invariably polite. $ B LDf 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 & STEVENS 1114 Bardstown Rd., 584-3354. This authentic 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

HARVEY’S CHEESE 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market), (512) 269-8127. Lots of cheeses to choose from over the counter. At lunch, grilled cheese sandwiches (as exotic as you want) and daily blackboard specials. Call ahead to reserve an artistically-arranged and tasty party tray of cheese, charcuterie and fruit. $$ L D f

PANERA BREAD CO. (11 Locations) Warm breads finishbaked 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 LDf

SUPERIOR MARKET & DELI 307 W. Broadway, 822-3715.

Snack on sandwiches, hot dogs, doughnuts and hot pretzels – or visit the salad bar and a pizza counter. Downtown dwellers will discover a good selection of groceries, including fresh vegetables and paper products, at very unfancy prices. $ B L

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

PARNELLI'S CHICAGO EATERY 3548 E. 10th St., Jeffersonville IN, 913-0025. If you crave Windy City classics like Vienna Beef hot dogs with neon relish or wet Italian beef sandwiches with giardiniera, head to the Jeff suburbs for Chicago specialites, incuding Greektown favorites like gyros and falafel. $ L D f

SWEET PEACHES 1800 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., 356-0232.

Breakfast, sandwiches and soups are what you will find at this West End spot. And don’t overlook fresh baked goodies like brownies and cookies or the chance to wash them down with peach-flavored sweet tea. This also is the location of the monthly Sweet Peaches Poetry Slam. $ B L D

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SWEET PEACHES 2 ROLL 2900 W. Broadway (Nia Center), 302-8118. Pam Haines, owner of the popular West Louisville restaurant Sweet Peaches, has opened a quickservice version inside the Nia Center — a meeting place for the neighborhood and a city-organized workforce development center. Patrons and neighbors can meet in the lobby and enjoy coffee, sandwiches, salads and fresh pastries. $ B L

WHICH WICH? 9850 Von Allmen Ct., 290-3721, 221 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 708-2535, 13124 W. Hwy 42, 2280621, 3531 Grant Line Rd., New Albany IN, 920-0637. The concept here is “create your own sandwich” and draws on 50 toppings choices including sauerkraut, roasted red peppers, crispy onion strings, and hummus. The subs are the draw, but they also have wraps, gyros and now a variety of shakes. $$ B L D

THAT'S MY DOG 125 W. Chestnut St., Jeffersonville, IN, 7258242. This hot dog and burger joint (with meatless sausages and salads too) joins the still-growing spate of businesses near the sunny side of the Big Four walking bridge. Choose from 30+ toppings as you go through the serving line. Enjoy beer and wine too on the dog-friendly patio seating. $ L D f

BELLA’S DINER 4106 Taylor Blvd., 749-1771. $ 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 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. $$ B L D TOONERVILLE DELI 1201 S. First St., 635-6960. Here you will find a full panoply of signature sandwiches (including breakfast sandwiches), soups and salads and beer on draft, or in bottles or cans. $$ L D pf VINAIGRETTE SALAD KITCHEN 203 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 205-9933. 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

p = Full Bar f = Outdoor Dining

RED = Advertiser

COTTAGE INN 570 Eastern Pkwy., 637-4325. Longtime neighborhood fixture Cottage Inn has a bright new look, and continues happily doling out the kind of excellent downhome food it has served since 1929. $ L D D. NALLEY’S 970 S. Third St., 618-2429. The nostalgia here is almost palpable. The interior has been upgraded, but changed as little as possible. The food offerings continue to be diner standards, like what was served when it first opened 50+ years ago. $ B L D DAVE & PEG’S COPPER KETTLE 276 Main Cross St., Charlestown IN, 256-4257. $ 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

EXECUTIVE BISTRO 1930 Bishop Ln. (Watterson Towers) 365-2848. This bright little spot provides grilled sandwiches, soups, salads and snacks to office workers in Watterson Towers. $ B L

BURGER GIRL 3334 Frankfort Ave., 709-5454. Dan Borsch, who owns the Old Louisville Tavern, Toonerville Tavern and Burger Boy Diner, has expanded into Crescent Hill. Burger Girl, in the former Bluegrass Burgers space, is a 24-hour burger grill, the sister to long-time somnambulists’ favorite Burger Boy. $$ B L D f

FRONTIER DINER 7299 Dixie Hwy., 742-2478. The name “diner” says it all, and this friendly neighborhood spot on Dixie Highway delivers just what you’d expect in downhome comfort fare. The word on the street, though, is simple: Go for the pancakes. They’re worth a special trip. $ LD

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 openfaced roast beef sandwich, with mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts, is a F&D favorite. $ L D pf

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

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

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

FOUR KINGS CAFÉ 4642 Jennings Ln., 968-2930. Steamtable service featuring spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna and chicken attract a hungry lunch crowd at this casual spot, and brunch specialties are just as popular. $ L D pf

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GOOSE CREEK DINER 2923 Goose Creek Rd., 339-8070.

Goose Creek Diner offers old-fashioned comfort food, as the name “diner” suggests, but transcendently adds a gourmet taste to the down-home eats. $ B Br L D 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 destination. $ B L D p WAGNER’S PHARMACY 3113 S. Fourth St., 375-3800. A track-side institution 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. $ L BIG MOMMA’S SOUL KITCHEN 4532 W. Broadway, 7729580. Big Momma’s may be the most hospitable place in the West End to get genuine soul food. A different main course is featured daily, all home-cooked food, including such goodies as baked chicken, smothered pork chops, meat loaf, catfish … and fried chicken every day. $ L D 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

which has heaters for cooler weather and TVs for watching big games. Owner Jason Hatcher tries to do good for his community, offering food rewards to kids with good report cards. Choices include burgers, chili dogs, Philly cheesesteaks, whiting and catfish sandwiches, nachos and ice cream. $$ Br D pf FORTY ACRES AND A MULE RESTAURANT 1800 Dixie Hwy., 776-5600. $ L D FRANCO’S RESTAURANT & CATERING 3300 Dixie Hwy., 448-8044. Long-time fans of Jay’s Cafeteria (including politicians and national entertainers) are no longer bereft. Jay’s former owners serve up Southern Soul food in Shively at family-friendly prices. Look for smothered pork chops, collard greens, fried chicken, fried catfish and fruit cobbler. $ L D JOJO JACK’S 2240 Frankfort Ave., 290-6649. The Filipino restaurant Lola’s Kitchen has become, under the same owners, a Southern comfort food place. The menu now offers staples of country cooking: fried green tomatoes, collard greens, pork chops with apple chutney, fried cheese curds, country fried steak with white gravy and meatloaf. $$ Br L D f LUCRETIA’S KITCHEN 1812 West Muhammad Ali Blvd.

(Chef Space), 294-8143. It’s Wing Wednesday, Rib Tip Thursday, Fried Fish Friday and Soul Food Sunday at this ambitious little startup operating in the business incubator in the near West End. $$ Br L D MAMA’S KITCHEN CARRYOUT 603 N. 26th St., 565-5760.

This little West End order-at-the-window place serves up sandwiches, snacks (with 1 side), dinners (with 2) – things like hot dogs, pulled pork and chicken, meatloaf, smothered pork chops and fried chicken and fish on Fridays. $ L D MATTIE'S KITCHEN 1018 S. 15th St., (St. Stephens Family Life Center), 544-8954. Open Wednesdays and Fridays for lunch and dinner, and Sundays for after-church dining. The flexible menu can list fried or baked chicken, pork chops, mac n’ cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, and on Fridays, catfish is a special. $ Br L 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

cheeseburgers, fried chicken with hot water cornbread, catfish, wings and ribs. $ L D p SUE'S TOUCH OF COUNTRY 2605 Rockford Ln., 450-5059.

Sue’s provides Shively with the kind of “stick to your ribs” food you go to a country/family style restaurant for. Daily Specials, homemade desserts and breakfast served all day. $ BLD V-GRITS 1025 Barret Ave., 742-1714. Vegan food truck V-Grits has settled down in the former Monkey Wrench corner and is cooperating there with False Idol Brewers. V-Grits co-owner Kristina Addington defines her menu as “southern comfort food, stick to your ribs, healthy junk food.” $$ L D pf VIBES RESTAURANT & ULTRA LOUNGE 1346 River Rd., 568-6691. This sleek, chic, eclectic music and food venue is in the former Relish building. Vibes serves bar bites such as burgers and sandwiches, appetizers, loaded hot dogs and entrees like wings, tenders, shrimp and fish at lunch, brunch and dinner. $$ Br L D p

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 4032 Taylorsville Rd., 485-0004, 8013 Preston Hwy., 966-4970, 5362 Dixie Hwy., 447-6660, 1402 Cedar St., Clarksville IN. 258-2540. Now cafeteria style family dining at one price, all you can eat. Steaks are served beginning at 4 p.m. $ B L D

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 made-in-Nevada craft beers is dispensed, along with upscale-casual pub grub. $$ L D p BARRELHOUSE ON MARKET 1005 W. Market St., Jeffersonville IN, 590-6373. Andrew and Michelle Collins renovated a down-to-the-heels dive bar into a spiffy, lively drinking establishment and music venue with a small, tasty menu: a slider assortment, buffalo and BBQ wings, pretzels and queso. $$ D pf

SCENE 501 W. Main St. Scene is the latest dining venture in the space at the Kentucky Center for the Arts that has seen a lot of things come and go. Open before shows for drinks and small plate dining served in the fast-casual style. Flatbreads, burgers, pasta dishes, crab cakes; a small but good wine and beer selection and a full bar. $$ D p

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

BAXTER’S 942 BAR & GRILL 942 Baxter Ave., 409-9422.

Lively music offerings and excellent barbecue have made this Lower Highlands bar and grill a satisfying place to dine. The BBQ comes as pulled chicken, pork and brisket in sandwiches or full dinners. $ D pf

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, all seasoned with Shirley Mae Beard’s spice rack — salt and pepper. $ L D

BEEF O’BRADY’S 241 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 254-2322, 5628 Bardstown Rd., 239-2226, 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

DAISY'S COUNTRY COOKING 223 W. Fifth St., New Albany IN, 944-8101. Daisy’s offers southern food and hospitality. The menu includes fried chicken and cod, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, collards and pinto bean soup every day. Look for daily specials that include a regularly rotating fruit cobbler and red velvet cake. $ L D f

SOUL FOOD DINING 4900 Poplar Level Rd., 915-8239. A cafeteria-style restaurant that offers all that a soul food fan would want: BBQ chicken, meatloaf, ribs, pork chops (with or without gravy), catfish, buffalo, and whiting, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, greens, green beans, sweet potatoes and slaw. $$ L D

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

DASHA BARBOUR’S SOUTHERN BISTRO 2217 Steier Ln., 882-2081, 1300 Muhammad Ali Blvd., 749-0094. The Buechel location certainly gives the “bistro” concept a downhome Southern twist. Both locations serve familiar homestyle fried chicken and fish, a vegetable plate with three sides choices, burgers, pork chop sandwich, and chicken wings.

Sides include sweet potato casserole studded with pecans, fried corn on the cob and collard greens. $$ B L D

SOUTHERN EXPRESS 418 W. Oak St., 963-1719. 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. $LDf

FLO'S HOUSE OF SOUL 3400 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., 966-2213. You order at the window and eat on the patio,

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

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BITTERS END 101 W. Main St. (Hotel Distil), 716-7373.

Hotel Distil’s rooftop bar provides signature cocktails and shareable small plates along with expansive views of downtown and the river. Oysters, steak tartare and soybraised short ribs are on the menu, as well as intriguing beverage options like a blueberry-sage sour and a raspberrythyme Sidecar. $$$ L D pf BROWNIE’S THE SHED GRILLE & BAR 9900 Linn Station Rd., 326-9830, 826 W. Main St., New Albany IN, 9200030. 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 two sports pubs, the area’s official homes for Cincinnati Bengals fans. $ L D pf

B = Breakfast Br = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner

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BUBBA'S 33 4631 Medical Plaza Way, Clarksville IN, 2845933. The 12th location of the growing chain from the guys at Texas Roadhouse, Bubba’s is a family friendly sports bar with TVs galore and corn hole boards on the patio. The menu offers chicken with two types of bacon, chili-rubbed salmon, smoked chipotle wings, a spicy habanero burger and pizzas. $$ L D pf BUD’S TAVERN GOOD FOOD & BARBECUE 4014 Dixie Hwy., 384-9131, 9119 Galene Dr., 409-6066. This wellestablished Shively tavern has added a second location in Jeffersontown. It’s noted for excellent service and honest bar food that consistently receives high praise. Signature dishes — “gently fried” grouper, burgers (including a Reuben burger), as well as burritos and barbecue — are now available at both locations. $ L D pf BUNGALOW JOE’S BAR & GRILL 7813 Beulah Church Rd., 931-5637. A “family friendly sports bar and grill” in the Fern Creek area boasts 23 HDTVs including a 5- by 7-foot HD projector for 3D football viewing, a game room for kids, and plenty of wings, shrimp, burgers and beer. $$ L D pf BUTCHER BLOCK EATERY AT HIGH HORSE 1032 Story Ave., 690-5020. The High Horse Bar, which now occupies the home of the legendary Do Drop Inn, serves edibles from a food window dubbed Butcher Block Eatery. Allan Rosenberg, late of Butchertown Pizza Hall, supervises. His menu features crab tater tots, a pork belly grilled cheese, and tacos. Poutine, beer cheese and deviled eggs are on hand as well. $$ D p DIAMOND PUB & BILLIARDS 3814 Frankfort Ave., 8957513, 630 Barret Ave., 690-7040. St. Matthews’ newest restaurateur star, Jared Matthews, began his career here, revitalizing this neighborhood institution for a new generation. Both locations (the second at the old silos on the edge of downtown) are major music venues. The food is just what happy concert-goers look for: pizza, burgers, wings, beer cheese, sandwiches and wraps.$ L D pf DIAMOND STREET GRUB & HOPS 3920 Shelbyville Rd., 709-5113. Jared Matthews’ St. Matthews restaurant empire grows again with a cosmopolitan street food and craft beer restaurant that replaces the recently shuttered Mellow Mushroom pizzeria. Expect to find every street-style food one can think of: Thai wings, elotes, Philly cheesesteaks, a Chicagostyle hot dog called The Wrigley and Korean meatballs among other items familiar and exotic. $$ L D pf DRAKE’S 3939 Shelbyville Rd., 614-7327, 3921 Summit Plaza Dr., 384-3921. Lexington-based Bluegrass Hospitality Group has two 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. $$ L D pf DUNDEE TAVERN 2224 Dundee Rd., 458-6637. After a few flips and changes, Dundee Tavern has found its soul again as a neighborhood bar. A lot of beer choices on draft and in bottles, and a comfort food menu that includes wings and fingers, fried pickles, chili, burgers and sandwiches and Tavern Specialties like grilled flat iron steak and southernfried cod. $$ L D pf FALLS CITY TAPROOM 901 E. Liberty St., 257-7147. This historic brand that was first brewed in 1905 has been revived (2010) and re-imagined as a modern craft beer. Now you can sip on their offerings at their new taproom and beer garden operating just east of downtown where Phoenix Hill and NuLu merge. Food is also offered tableside from the adjacent Bandido Taqueria Mexicana. $$ L D pf FIRST STRING BAR AND GRILL 5921 New Cut Rd., 3660049. This South End sports bar offers pizza, baked spaghetti, fried bologna sandwiches and Cajun dry rub chicken wings. $$ 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

p = Full Bar f = Outdoor Dining

RED = Advertiser

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 GOLD BAR 1601 Story Ave., 749-0002. Taking over the space vacated by Butchertown Social, Gold Bar focuses on sustainable practices: drinks will be served with biodegradable straws and menus will primarily be on LCD screen displays. The food menu offers bar fare: burgers, wings and fries, along with multiple vegan and vegetarian menu options and rotating specials. $ 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 HARRY’S TAPHOUSE & KITCHEN 130 W. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville IN., 725-1111. Harry's, named after owner Tony Revak's son, takes over a riverfront patio (previously occupied by Flat 12 Bierwerks). Executive Chef Tyler Vogt’s southern Creole cuisine — cast iron chicken, frog legs, intercultural hybrids like a Creole catfish po’boy topped with kimchi aioli — is paired up with craft beer, Bourbon and great views. $$ L D pf HARBOR AND HOPS 3010 Gottbrath Pkwy., Jeffersonville IN, 748-2622. This expanding franchise operation offers local and regional craft beers, draught wines (served out of the barrel), hard ciders and kombucha. Let their cicerone lead you to beverage pairings with their familiar, hearty pub menu – lots of burgers, beer cheese soup, salads and sandwiches, and a limited entree selection. $$$ L D pf HELL OR HIGH WATER 112 W. Washington St., 5873057. 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. $$ D p HIGHLANDS TAPROOM GRILL 1058 Bardstown Rd., 5845222. Another nice choice for beer and bar food along the B’town Rd. corridor, but owner Tommy Clemons’ menu includes, but extends beyond, the usual beer cheese, chili and burgers. Look for the crabby patty or the French toast sausage. The pulled pork spring rolls are on their way to becoming legendary. $$ 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 100-year old bar will anchor the nostalgic ambiance. $$ L D pf HILLTOP TAVERN 1800 Frankfort Ave., 742-2908. The Skelton brothers (John is an alum of Seviche) have settled in at this prime Clifton location. Their tavern fare is focused on barbecue, with pulled pork and beer-butt chicken specialties, along with hefty sandwiches (their meatloaf is a standout). $ D p 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., 375-4667. 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 INTERNATIONAL TAP HOUSE 637 E. Main St. The St. Louis-based chain has opened on the ground floor of the Main & Clay apartment building. Not a brewery, but a purveyor of hundreds of craft beers, ciders and a limited selection of wine. Patrons are invited to bring in food from neighboring businesses. $$ p f J-TOWN BEACH 10315 Watterson Trl., 558-0881. This family fun sports complex offers sand volleyball leagues and also offers Quills coffee and Comfy Cow ice cream. $ L D pf JERSEY’S CAFÉ 1515 Lynch Ln., Clarksville IN, 288-2100.

Quality, affordable fare that goes well beyond pub grub to include an awesome smokehouse burger and barbecued ribs so tender, they say, that you can just tap the end of the bone on your plate, and the meat falls off. $ L D pf JOHN O’BRYAN’S TAVERN 4123 Flintlock Dr., 449-4940. $ BLDf KERN’S KORNER 2600 Bardstown Rd., 456-9726. This family-owned 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. $ L D pf KHALIL’S 10966 Dixie Hwy., 632-2227. A family sports bar in Valley Station boasts plenty of TVs, including some tabletop TVs in booths. Menu presents the usual bar food suspects — salads, wings, burgers — but the burgers are on pretzel buns. $ L D p 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 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 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. $$ Br L D p NEW DIRECTION BAR & GRILL 2630 Chamberlain Ln., 243-8429. $ L D pf NIRVANA 1047 Bardstown Rd., 712-0813. Nirvana has become a Highlands entertainment destination with live shows most nights. Darnell Ferguson, of Super Chefs, has taken over the kitchen, so look for his takes on the eclectic menu: bang bang cauliflower, bougie fries, dog bone wings and the McNasty sandwich. $$ L D p 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. $LDp 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: top-flight bar grub made from scratch. An expanded beer program with 16 new taps includes a selection of local and craft beers. $$ L D pf O-LINE SPORTS GRILL 2813 N Hurstbourne Pkwy., 3846171. You can watch every game, every sport all year long, they claim. While you do, you can chow down a variety of bar food, such as the juicy Lucy cheese burger or nacho burger. The kids might like the mini-footballs, franks

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encased in pastry dough, fried and served with dipping sauces. $ L 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 baconwrapped dates to corned beef grilled cheese sandwiches.

Everything is fresh and nothing is deep-fried. $ L D p f PINTS&UNION 114 E. Market St., New Albany IN., 9134647. Beer maven (and F&D contributor) Roger Baylor and partner Joe Phillips have renovated an old neighborhood bar, where the taps dispense familiar quality beers and ales, the bar crafts interesting cocktails and the bottled beer selection skews toward Belgian ales. The small kitchen offers pubinspired small plates with an Indian accent. $ L D p PORCH KITCHEN & BAR 280 W. Jefferson St. (Marriott), 671-4246. As part of the recent renovation of the Marriott, this all-day 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 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. $$ L D pf RIVER CITY DRAFTHOUSE 1574-1/2 Bardstown Rd., 6905111. Another beer joint along the Bardstown Road corridor boasts more than 20 taps focused on independent, American, craft beer (in sample, half-pint and pint sizes) and several bottled options. Its limited (for now) bar menu has garnered early praise for its wings. $$ L D f ROOTIE’S SPORTS BAR & GRILLE 12205 Westport Rd., 365-4681. The first entry of the Buffalo-based chain to open in the area. Rootie’s angle is charcoal-grilled wings with a thick, hickory-smoked spicy sauce. $ L D pf SAINT’S 131 Breckinridge Ln., 891-8883. Almost like two restaurants in one, Saints features both a small, intimate, candle-lighted room and a larger, happily boisterous main room with the look and feel of a sports bar. $$ L D pf SCOOTER'S TRIPLE B’S 3840 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 7493138. The three Bs are for burgers, beer, and ballgames.

Choose from three kinds of buns and six meat fillings. The menu includes chicken, pizza and 1/4 pound hot dogs too. $$ L D f 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

THE BACK DOOR 1250 Bardstown Rd. (Mid City Mall), 4510659. You need a bit of perseverance to track down this saloon on the back side of Mid-City Mall. When you do, you will find one of the city’s friendliest pubs, with a reputation for the best pour of drinks around. Limited bar fare, but don’t miss the chicken wings. $ D pf

music plays late into the night. The chow several days a week is created by Yeon Hee Chung, owner of the former Charim Korean restaurant. $ L D pf

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

AGAINST THE GRAIN BREWERY 401 E. Main St., 5150174. Slugger Field once again has a beer-pub. The owners, veterans of the local brewing revival, have worked out an ambitious rotating beer selection and a smokehouse theme for the kitchen, with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. $$ L D pf

THE GOAT 700 Landis Ridge Dr., 791-8325. Ohio-based LC Lifestyle Communities operates this small chain of unusually named upscale-casual restaurants. Enjoy Italian pizza rolls, stuffed potatoes, salads, “double-grind” burgers, wings, pizza, wraps and craft beer on the expansive deck or around the community pool, or join one of the competitive leagues in euchre, corn hole or volleyball. $$ L D pf THE LIBRARY 400 S. Second St., (Omni Hotel), 313-6664. By day, the Library serves coffee, lattes and tea along with freshly baked pastries. By late afternoon, it morphs into a bourbon bar with locally inspired cocktails. $ B L p THE PEARL 1151 Goss Ave., 996-7552. The Pearl aims to be a classic neighborhood pub (not unlike Pauly’s, which it replaces). It also aims to be a spirits-focused hangout, with a bar menu limited to snacks like pickled eggs, country ham and cheese sandwiches and free popcorn or roasted nuts. In the works is a permanent food truck to be parked in the rear to expand food offerings. $$ L D pf THE WATER COMPANY 400 S. Second St., (Omni Hotel), 313-6664. 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. $$ L D p f THIRSTY HOUND SPORTS BAR 7207 Fegenbush Ln., 9090922. This Fern Creek hangout offer all that a sports fan could want: wings and ribs, nachos, potato skins, fried pickles, sandwiches, pork chops and steaks. $$ L D pf TIM TAM TAVERN 1022 Clarks Ln., 883-0101. Named for the 1958 Kentucky Derby winner, the Schnitzelburg/ Audubon neighborhood bar has a new look and a kitchen that serves bar staples like burgers, fried pickles and cheese curds plus pizza from Danny Mac’s Pizza. (Dan McMahon, owner of Danny Mac’s Pizza, is a partner.) $ L D p f 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

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 BLUEGRASS BREWING COMPANY 300 W. Main St., 5620007, 660 S. Fourth St., 551-5355. BBC has reopened its Theater Square outlet, right in front of the Kindred expansion, which displaced the former restaurant/beer pub.

The Main St. location does the brewing, and upstairs boasts a Bourbon lounge. At both locations, the food is as good as the beer, and that says a lot. $$ L D pf DONUM DEI BREWERY 3211 Grant Line Rd., New Albany IN, 590-2478. Owner Rick Otey maintains that beer is a gift from god, hence the name of his craft brewery. The interior is starkly Scandinavian modern. A distilling permit has made it the area’s first “brewstillery.” $ L D p 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

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

GORDON BIERSCH BREWERY RESTAURANT 400 S. Fourth St., 589-8935. The growing national brewery and restaurant chain has become an anchor at the corner location at 4th and Liberty, brewing their characteristic German-style bottom-fermented lagers, Hefeweizen, bocks, pilsners and Schwarzbiers. The large menu offers the usual pub-grub, but touted as fresh, seasonal and made on the premises. $$$ Br L 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

GRAVELY BREWING CO. 514 Baxter Ave., 822-3202.

Gravely offers 14 draft choices, all brewed and served on site. The brewery partners with Mayan Street Food, run by The Mayan Café. Walk up to the truck and order snacks like guacamole, fried plantains, Mexican corn, salbutes or tacos.

Brunch on Sunday is provided by Commonwealth Cure with items like pork hash, Scotch eggs, or pork sliders. Plus, a full brunch drink selection. $ 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

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

GREAT FLOOD BREWING CO. 2120 Bardstown Rd, 2080882, 12717 Shelbyville Rd., 208-0882. The original Douglass Loop location is just a taproom, with no food service. The Middletown taproom occupies a former Wick’s Pizza complete with a kitchen that offers pizza and other pub fare made on site. $$ L D pf

TAVERN ON FOURTH 427 S. Fourth St. (Fourth Street Live), 588-8888. This spacious sports bar adds to the festivities at Fourth Street Live. You will find plenty of games, filling upscale bar food and lots of drink choices at the bar. $$ D pf

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

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

SHOPBAR 950 Barret Ave., 709-4696. The former gas station has been converted into a small artisanal boutique and welcoming bar with a food truck — FoodShop at the rear.

The menu rotates, but recently it included fried white fish, a pork jowl sandwich served on a pretzel bun, and mushroom tostadas. $ Br D pf THE SPORTING NEWS GRILL 6551 Paramount Park Dr. (Holiday Inn), 966-0000. Just what you want in a sports bar: seven 52-inch screens, subscriptions to all the pro and college sports networks, and hearty appetizers, Angus burgers, steaks, shrimp and salmon. $$$ L D pf

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B = Breakfast Br = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner

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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

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

MONNIK BEER CO. 1036 E. Burnett Ave., 742-6564. The gastropub style menu includes a range of Euro-inspired pub food like three kinds of double-fried fries, fried smelts, a ploughman’s plate, pork and black currant pie, sauerbraten, and burgers. The beer menu adds changing guest brews to the house menu of Mild George and King George (British style brown ales), His Dark materials (a stout) and Hauck’s American pilsner. $$ L D pf

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

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. $$ D PUBLIC HOUSE BY AGAINST THE GRAIN 1576 Bardstown Rd., 409-9866. After almost 20 years of fine craft brewing, Cumberland Brews founder Mark Allgeier has passed the taps over to the guys at Against the Grain, who have redubbed the popular Highlands space the Public House. All the taps serve ATG brews (to-go growlers are available). The menu features pub grub with a twist, including burgers, paninis, pimento cheese balls and French onion soup. Brunches promise to be destination weekend events. $$ Br L D pf RED YETI BREWING CO. 256 Spring St., Jeffersonville IN. 288-5788. This craft brewery has an ambitious kitchen touting food so fresh in concept, they have no freezer. The brisket sandwich comes with house-made chips, the pork ribs are braised in wheat ale, and desserts include funnel cake with chocolate dipping fondue and a beer float: vanilla ice cream in your choice of porter or stout. $$ 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 sing-along concept? You’ll find this 4,000-squarefoot 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. $$$ L D pf MAIN EVENT BAR & GRILL 12500 Sycamore Station Pl., 240-5555. This Dallas-based chain offers plenty of fun: bowling, laser tag, a high ropes course, billiards, video games — along with pizzas, sandwiches, full dinners and a full bar. $$ L D p

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 THE BARD’S TOWN 1801 Bardstown Rd., 749-5275. The second floor theater continues to be a top local venue for all sorts of theater, improv and silly/hilarious roasts of toys (Barbie), computer game characters (Mario) and years (2017). Downstairs, the menu offers Shakespeare-themed items such as Sir Francis BBQ Bacon Burger and The Steakspeare. $$ D pf

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 GRILL 109 S. Fourth St., 581-1011. The signage of this downtown ethnic eatery promises “Mediterranean & Ethiopian Cuisine,” but the menu offers mostly Mediterranean standbys — kabobs, hummus, baba ghannouj, dolmades, tabbouleh. $ L D BARAKA RESTAURANT 519 W. Oak St., 822-3046. This allhalal restaurant serves African, Asian and Indian dishes. At the counter you pick a meat and choose an accompaniment of rice, bread or noodles. The fish curry with chapati and chicken saqaar with rice are good examples. Goat is often available for those who want to try something different. $ L D FUNMI’S AFRICAN RESTAURANT 3028 Bardstown Rd., 454-5009. Funmi’s offers a range of dishes from North and Central African cultures. Sample goat in a soup or a thick stew. Try soya, a West African shish kebab with a spicy peanut rub or moin-moin, a savory bean cake or lablabi, a Tunisian chickpea soup. $$ L D IMANKA RESTAURANT 737 S. Eighth St., (International Mall) 210-7503. Somali immigrant entrepreneur Mohamed Abbi Abdalla and his family serve their native cuisine at the International Mall. Suggested dishes include chicken suqaar (a chicken stew-like dish) or goat seasoned with onions and green peppers. $$ L D 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 SAFARI CAFÉ & INTERNATIONAL KITCHEN 5600 S. Third St. Another choice in the growing list of African restaurants in town. The Safari is run by Somali entrepreneurs, offering inexpensive, authentic Somali, coffee drinks, and a lively atmosphere. $$ B L D SANAG II RESTAURANT 5312 S. Third St., 882-2210.

Iroquois Manor’s great selection of international dining choices expands again with the addition of this Somali eatery. Look for spiced rice dishes with goat meat, chicken sukhar, chapati with chopped chicken, and foo-foo with spinach, cabbage and carrots. $$ B L

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

SENEGAMBIA AFRICAN RESTAURANT 4109 Bardstown Rd., 491-3152. $$ L D

MY OLD KENTUCKY DINNER TRAIN 602 N. Third St., Bardstown KY, (502) 348-7300. Talk about a nostalgia trip:

ZIBA’S BISTRO 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market), 7970633. The rich cuisine of his native Burkina Faso in Central

p = Full Bar f = Outdoor Dining

RED = Advertiser

West Africa is Chef Bapion Ziba’s main inspiration, but he brings elements of European and American flavors too.

Tiguedigue chicken, cooked with vegetables in a peanut sauce, will be a signature dish. $$ 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 same, but service is now cafeteria style, not self-serve buffet, a change done with customer health in mind. $ L D ASIAN WOK 2235 Frankfort Ave., 822-3285. 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 1 123 Breckinridge Ln., 897-6511. $ L D CHINA 1 8105 Lagrange Rd., 327-6863. $ L D CHINA BISTRO 234 W. Broadway, 583-8988. $ 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. $LD 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 GARDEN 7309 Preston Hwy., 968-4672. A busy restaurant with the double pleasure of Chinese and American menu items. $ 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 CHINESE EXPRESS 3228 Crums Ln., 448-1360. $ L D CHONG GARDEN 10341 Dixie Hwy., 935-1628. $ 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. $LD CHUNG KING PALACE 110 E. Market St., 584-8880. $ L D www.foodanddine.com Fall 2020 63

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DOUBLE DRAGON 1255 Goss Ave., 635-5656, 2600 W. Broadway, 778-2573. 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 DOUBLE DRAGON 9 9501 Taylorsville Rd., 2675353.$LD 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 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 GREAT WOK 2502 Preston Hwy., 634-1918. Just about every shopping center in town has a fast-food Chinese spot, but this one stands out, generating a buzz of word-of-mouth publicity about its well-crafted Chinese dishes at a bargainbasement price. $ L D HAPPY CHINA 9106 Taylorsville Rd., 493-1001. $ L D HAPPY DRAGON 12613 Taylorsville Rd., 297-8788. You guessed it: a good, go-to standard pan-China family-style restaurant in Jeffersontown 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 5316 Bardstown Rd., 491-8228, 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. $$ L D HONG KONG FAST FOOD 5312 S. Third St., 367-8828. One of the many international eateries in Iroquois Manor, this fast-food Chinese spot offers Cantonese standards hot and fast and inexpensively. Check out the daily specials for an occasional intriguing item. $ L D JADE PALACE 1109 Herr Ln., 425-9878. Jade Palace offers familiar Chinese food choices, as well as a long list of Chef’s Specials, with names in Chinese characters as well as English (a sure sign you are in for authentic Chinese fare). Dim sum is offered daily, but on weekends it is served from a traditional rolling cart. $$ 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.

64 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

Expect the same authentic Chengdu-style Sichuan cuisine (be adventurous!) and well-executed Americanized dishes, sushi and other offerings. $$ L D p THE JOY LUCK 1285 Bardstown Rd., 238-3070, 9850 Von Allmen Ct., 618-1601. This fine Asian restaurant across from Mid-City Mall has opened a suburhan site too. Both serve familiar Chinese dishes very well done, as well as authentic Taiwanese offerings. Duck dishes are cooked in three different styles — Cantonese, Taiwanese and Beijing. $$ L D pf JUMBO BUFFET 2731 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 495-0028.

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 L & J ASIAN CUISINE 6017 Timber Ridge Dr., 228-8399.

This Pan-Asian spot in the Kroger-anchored strip center at Hwy. 42 near River Rd. offers a large familiar Chinese selection that also includes Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese dishes, and a good vegetarian selection. $$ L D f LING LING 10476 Shelbyville Rd., 245-2100. Modern and efficient in its East End shopping center location, Ling Ling is a cut above fast-food Chinese; better yet, it adds a few Vietnamese dishes to the bill of fare. $$ 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 ChineseAmerican 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 CHINA 9543 U.S. 42., 228-6400. $ 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.

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 PEKING CITY EXPRESS 4000 Dutchmans Ln., 891-0388. A lot of familiar items on the menu here, but those in the know ask for a Chinese menu, and order the dumplings or the xiao long bao (steam bun with meat filling). Dishes are handsomely presented, and servings are large. $$ L D QUICK WOK 801 W. Broadway, 584-6519. $ L D 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 wellmade dishes, plus a few Thai specialties to spice up the bill of fare. $ L D TEA STATION CHINESE BISTRO 9422 Norton Commons Blvd., 423-1202. This comfortable, sit-down Chinese

restaurant has a large and eclectic menu, with lots of spicy dishes and daily double shot specials at the inviting bar.

Now offering delivery to Norton Commons and adjacent suburbia. $$ L D p WEI WEI CHINESE EXPRESS 526 S. Fifth St., 889-0827. $ LD YANG KEE NOODLE 13301 Shelbyville Rd., 245-9264. This locally owned and operated colorful and stylish fast-casual restaurant offers an intriguing array of appealing noodle and rice dishes from all over Asia with fast-food efficiency and prices happily matched by sit-down restaurant quality and style. $ L D f YEN CHING 1850 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 491-3581. $ L D YOKI BUFFET 1700 Alliant Ave., 267-2277. A Chinese foodoriented buffet, with sushi as well, offers more options near the Jeffersontown Industrial Park along the Blankenbaker Rd. corridor. $$ L D YUMMY CHINA 6445 Bardstown Rd., 231-0393. $ L D

AJI SUSHI AND ASIAN CUISINE 5610 Outer Loop, 6181781. 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. $ LDp 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 Dp 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 CHOI’S ASIAN FOOD MARKET 607 Lyndon Ln., 426-4441.

This suburban Asian grocery now serves hot table fare to enjoy while shopping. $ L D DRAGON KING’S DAUGHTER 1126 Bardstown Rd., 6322444, 129 W. Market St., New Albany IN, 725-8600. Owner Toki Masubuchi’s eclectic and somewhat funky menu builds on traditional Japanese ingredients with unexpected twists: pizza topped with sashimi, and tacos filled with avocado tempura. $ L D pf FUJI ASIAN BISTRO 6801 Dixie Hwy., 937-0488. $$LDp FUJI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 3576 Springhurst Blvd., 339-1978. 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. $$ L D p f GINZA ASIAN BISTRO 9420 Shelbyville Rd., 749-8878. A one-stop Asian restaurant. Choose to eat from the Chinese, Japanese or Thai kitchen, or sidle up to the sushi bar for all manner of vegetarian or fish-focused rolls, or sushi combos that include miso soup and salad. A la carte sushi entrées too. $$ L D p 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, 416 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., 625-3090. Japanese-trained 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. A second location takes over the downtown space from the former Caviar. $$$ L D p

B = Breakfast Br = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner

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JUNO 5406 Antle Dr., 409-7094. A wide-ranging menu of Japanese options make this an interesting destination on the southern edge of the Metro — just off Preston Highway on the far side of the Gene Snyder. Diners have plenty of sushi options, as well as hibachi dinners, yakisoba, udon and ramen noodle dishes, tonkatsu and tempura. $$ L D p KAI LANA SUSHI 6435 Bardstown Rd., 614-7244. Fern Creek gets its own sushi bar, with generous rolls priced competitively — nothing over $12. Four levels of 13-piece, mix and match lunch specials, as well as rice, noodles and salads. $$ L D KANSAI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE 1370 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 218-9538, 1850 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 6181870. 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 MASA JAPANESE 12336 Shelbyville Rd., 409-5040.

Middletown, too, joins in the sushi expansion. Open for lunch and dinner, the standard menu is bolstered by daily chef’s specials. Lunch specials include the Japadawg, a hot dog with Japanese toppings, a range of teriyaki choices and ramen noodles, Japanese style. $$ L D f MISAWA HIBACHI & SUSHI BAR 7931 Bardstown Rd., 290-1780 The hibachi grills here are not for show, just for grilling, which keeps prices lower than other Japanese steak houses. Rodeleo See, a sushi chef with almost two decades of experience runs the sushi bar. $$ 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 SUSHI 2810 Taylorsville Rd., 365-3474. This small, attractive and popular sushi spot serves all the popular maki and nigri near Bowman Field. $$ L D OSAKA SUSHI BAR 2039 Frankfort Ave., 894-9501, 426 W. Market St., 588-8899. This long-standing Clifton favorite also has a second location downtown, serving up sushi and other Japanese dishes in a bright and cheery environment to a loyal clientele. $$ L D

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. $$$ L D p SHOGUN JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE 9026 Taylorsville Rd., 499-5700, 4110 Hampton Lake Way, 394-0123. Shogun’s decor is attractive, and quality food and service make it a pleasant dining destination. It’s unthreatening enough to appeal to those who find exotic cuisine “challenging,” but good enough to satisfy just about anyone who craves a Japanese dinner or a bite of sushi. $$$ L D p STAR SUSHI 2781 Jefferson Centre Way, Jeffersonville IN, 725-8444. Jeffersonville joins the sushi craze with its own source of yellowtail rolls, sashimi and nigiri, which is drawing fans for the freshness and flavor of its offerings, and its very fair price point. $$ 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. $$ L D pf TOGO SUSHI 700 Lyndon Ln., 883-0666. ToGo offers primarily drive-thru sushi-to-go, but it does have a five-seat bar and three two-top tables inside. Owner Chet Gurun also owns Samurai Sushi & Hibachi in Middletown and is also part owner of Oishii Sushi near Bowman Field. If sushi isn’t your thing, there are items like fried oysters, fried calamari and shrimp tempura, as well as some vegetarian options. $$ 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 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. $$ L D p WILD GINGER SUSHI & FUSION 1700 Bardstown Rd., 384-9252. This Highlands sushi and Asian fusion spot has a sushi bar up front, and a pan-Asian menu in the back dining room. Entrees include standard Japanese entrées such as teriyuaki chicken, Japanese curry, and soba and udon noodle dishes. $$ L D p 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

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 wellcrafted tacos, rice and noodle bowls and Korean dishes. $$ L D GOGI 1055 KOREAN BBQ 1055 Bardstown Rd., 747-4644.

The old neighborhood theater that recently housed Buffalo Wild Wings has become home to a grill-your-own-bulgogi table-side Korean restaurant. The interior has been gutted and redone, and gas grills at the tables will allow for tableside grilling of meat to one’s own preference. $$$$ D p

POKEHANA 436 W. Market St., 996-7994. Poke, an increasingly popular Hawaiian raw fish salad, is given a fastcasual 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.$$ L RAMEN HOUSE 1250 Bardstown Rd. (Mid City Mall), 7094374. Next to the Baxter Avenue Cinemas, Jonathan Ham, who formerly owned the popular Ramen Inochi, expanded his culinary range with a menu that includes traditional ramen, rice bowls, steamed buns and handmade gyoza. $$ 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 BLUE JAPANESE BISTRO 9326 Cedar Center Way, 708-1500. This Fern Creek restaurant brings the “fullservice” 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

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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 LEE’S KOREAN RESTAURANT 1941 Bishop Ln., 456-9714.

This little spot has been a secret since the ’70s, and it just keeps on going. Walk into what looks like a diner in an office building, but push past the counter to the back room, where you’ll find generous heaps of really authentic Korean food for next to nothing. $$ 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

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 SALA THAI 8125 Bardstown Rd., 231-1992. This entry on the growing list of Thai restaurants is gaining fans, partly because it is vegetarian- and vegan-friendly. $$ L D SIMPLY THAI 323 Wallace Ave., 899-9670, 12003 Shelbyville Rd, 690-8344. Owner Mahn Saing and his wife, a classically trained Thai chef, are pleasing diners in St. Matthews and Middletown. Their menu of traditional Thai dishes, well-made sushi and a few upscale Thai-style “fusion” dinner items use many ingredients from their small home garden. $$ L D f TANTHAI RESTAURANT 4510 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 948-2012. It’s in a strip mall, but the folks who run TanThai create a distinctive atmosphere by hanging sheer white scrims that divvy the room up into serene little chambers. The menu of Thai specialties is small — just a dozen or so entrées — but nicely executed and beautifully presented. $ L D THAI CAFÉ 2226 Holiday Manor Center, 425-4815. You’ll find this small café tucked into a corner of the “Holiday Manor Walk.” Owner Chavantee Snow and her family offer a small but well-prepared selection of authentic Thai dishes at very reasonable prices. $ L D f 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

Á-CHÂU RESTAURANT 5103 S. Third St., 364-4262. This Beechmont arrival (pronounced “Ah Chow”), proclaims 66 Fall 2020 www.foodanddine.com

“Vietnamese Street Food” in a banner over the front door of what long was Thornberry’s Deli. The menu includes noodles and soups, Vietnamese egg rolls, bánh mi, curry dishes, fresh coconut or sugar cane juice, sweet Thai iced tea and hot or cold Vietnamese coffee. $$ L D ANNIE CAFE 308 W. Woodlawn Ave., 363-4847. Annie Cafe ranks not just as one of the better Vietnamese restaurants, but one the city’s best of any variety, particularly when value and price are taken into account. Authentic Vietnamese food is made with care and served with pride. $ L D CAFÉ THUY VAN 5600 National Turnpike, 366-6959. A bit off the beaten track, this South End spot is true, authentic Vietnamese. Friendly service overcomes any language barrier, and prices are hard to beat. Don’t miss the banh mi, traditional Vietnamese sandwiches. $ L D CHIK'N & MI 1765 Mellwood Ave., 365-2239. A brief try at maintaining two locations has resulted in consolidation at the former Bistro 1860 location, which is serving the original Asian-inspired comfort foods — Laotian spiced fried chicken, hearty ramen noodle soups and an extensive selection of sake, craft beer and cocktails. $$ Br D p EATZ VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT 974 Barret Ave., 7854550. Another newcomer to the string of shotgun houses along Barret that provide a lead-in to the Paris Pointe development. Pho and Bahn mi sandwiches, of course, but also other noodle dishes, a bento box and crispy tofu in chili sauce. $$ L D pf JUJUBE AT LA QUE 1019 Bardstown Rd., 238-3981. La Que, the pan-Asian eatery on the conjunction of Bardstown and Baxter, has been sold, and now JujuBe at La Que has a rather standard Chinese take-out menu with a few of the original Thai/Vietnamese dishes rounding out the menu. $$ L D f LEMONGRASS RESTAURANT 11606 Shelbyville Rd., 2447110, 2956 Richland Ave., 614-7448. 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 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 BA LUU 1019 E. Main St., 384-6822. This Butchertown restaurant focuses on Vietnamese street food such as pho, the classic noodle soup, and banh mi sandwiches. The very cool repurposed space was once a welding shop; its large open spaces and high ceilings make for an elegant place to sip sweet iced coffee or munch on an Imperial roll or tuck into a rice or noodle bowl. Fast casual service at lunch; after happy hour the full bar and large patio have full service. $$ L D pf PHO CAFÉ 1704 Barstown Rd., 916-2129. Local restaurant veteran Tuan Phan, who worked at Asiatique for 18 years along with a stint at Dish on Market, is serving Vietnamesestyle home cooking. There is pho, of course, the signature noodle soup, as well as other noodle and rice dishes, banh mi sandwiches and a small selection of stir-fries. $$ 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. $LD

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

COUVILLION 1318 McHenry St., 365-1813. The name of Chef Paul Skulas’s Germantown restaurant, refers to the rich Cajun-style tomato-based roux broth that is the basis of his signature catfish dish. The menu features traditional Southern flavors and cooking styles of Mississippi and Louisiana. $$$ L D pf FLAVOUR 1767 Bardstown Rd., 409-6968. This Highlands space that was Asiatique has been quickly appropriated for Flavour, which features Caribbean, Creole and Southern cuisine. The menu ranges from conch fritters and Caribbeanspiced chicken pattie to fried catfish and ribs to crawfish etouffée, jerk chicken and Trinidadian oxtail stew.

J. GUMBO’S 8603 Citadel Way, 493-4720, 1616 Grinstead Dr., 873-5006, 2109 Frankfort Ave., 896-4046. Former jockey Billy Fox has come full circle with his chain of popular quick-service Cajun restaurants — his most recent outlet is in the little house near Bardstown Rd., where it all began. Among the hearty, affordable dishes that have made J. Gumbo’s a go-to spot is the drunken chicken, still a favorite. $ B L D f SEAFOOD LADY 601 E. Jefferson St., 3207 Fern Valley Rd., 907-5251. It began as a food truck, but owner Nichelle Thurston has expanded into two stores. The lure here is fresh fish, shrimp and crab legs brought up from the Gulf Coast, prepared with Cajun spices, and served simply and relatively cheaply. $$ L D f SELENA’S AT WILLOW LAKE TAVERN 10609 LaGrange Rd., 245-9004. This Cajun/Creole place in a renovated Anchorage roadhouse continues to find fans. Shrimp or fish with Manale sauce is a tribute to Pascal Manale’s in New Orleans. $$ Br L D pf STORMING CRAB 1360 Veterans Pkwy., Clarksville IN, 5903773. Seafood boil combos are the draw here, served at market price and by the pound. Several flavors (crab house Cajun, garlic butter or plain) and spice levels to take home or dump on the paper-covered tables to eat as it should be eaten. Other seafood dishes available plus Cajun items, like gumbo and crawfish etoufée. $$$ L D TAYLOR'S CAJUN MEAT CO. 3306 Plaza Dr., New Albany IN, 725-0039. A few blocks down Grant Line Rd. from I265, Taylor’s is a spic-and-span shop run by a family from Lafayette, LA. Daily plate lunches often sell out quickly. A great variety of fresh and frozen savory Cajun specialties (sausages, stuffed everything) are always available, as well as crawfish and shrimp pies, gumbo and étouffée, and special orders. This place is the real deal. $ L

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 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 EDEN & KISSI 3912 Bardstown Rd., 384-9102. Another addition to the growing ethnic food choices in Buechel, this Afro-Caribbean 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. $$ LD EL SABOR DE CUBA 7200 Preston Hwy., 618-2181. The flavors of Cuba can be found here on an ambitious menu of appetizers (tamales, croquetas and tostones), pizzas (including those topped with tuna or shrimp), Cubano (and other) sandwiches, and chicken, beef, pork and seafood entrees. $ L D p GALAN’S MEAT MARKET & GRILLE 2300 W. Market St., 618-3191. Carlos Galan, who has made a mark with his butcher shop in Portland, has opened another enterprise, in

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a former bank. His family-oriented restaurant, which has a Cuban/Puerto Rican/Caribbean menu focus, also has a meat market on site. Order breakfast, lunch or dinner inside, or from the drive-through. $ B L D f HABANA BLUES TAPAS RESTAURANT 320 Pearl St., New Albany IN, 944-9760. Owner Leo Lopez has rebooted his restaurant concept in a former bank (the safe is still there, behind the bar) and installed in the front of the restaurant is a recreation of the raft he built to emigrate from Castro’s Cuba when he was 18. Cuban-style tapas on the menu, also a half-dozen bocaditos (sandwiches) and a few dinner dishes such as paella Valenciana and arroz con pollo. Live music most nights — tango, flamenco and salsa. $$ L D pf HAVANA BAKERY CAFÉ 5510 Fern Valley Rd., 509-3410.

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). $$ L D HAVANA RUMBA 12003 Shelbyville Rd., 244-5375. A true taste of Old Havana can be found at this consistently busy Cuban restaurant. Bountiful servings of Cuban fare as good as any in Key West or Miami, not to mention a hopping mojito bar, have earned Havana Rumba a place on our short list of local favorites. $$ 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 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. $$ D pf MI SUEÑO 3425 Bardstown Rd., 709-4526. This honest little bodega and hot table restaurant serving Latin groceries and a variety of Cuban-centric Latin dishes was, as the name translates, the owner’s dream. $ B L D MOJITO IN HAVANA 3939 Shelbyville Rd., 897-1959. Longtime Louisville favorite Havana Rumba has resurfaced with a new identity in the location previously occupied by Waylon’s Food & Firewater. The roomier location of this Cuban favorite offers diners a two-tier menu that brings together the best selections from both Mojitos Tapas Restaurant and Havana Rumba. Look for some new offerings, as well, including shrimp croquettes and a selection of flatbreads. $$ B Br L D pf NAILA’S CARIBBEAN 1370 Veterans Pkwy., Jeffersonville, IN 725-0399. This little place, tucked behind Storming Crab, serves island fare like jerk wings with plantain chips, as well as Indian-inspired items like curries, and when available Trini fried whole fish. $$ L D OPEN CARIBBEAN KITCHEN 4735 Poplar Lever Rd., 6011332. Chef Space, the West End kitchen incubator, has fostered another interesting eatery. This one highlights the cuisines of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad.

Offerings include alluring options like sautéed conch ceviche, Rasta pasta, and island-style jerk chicken. $$ L D ROOF TOP GRILL 708 Louis Coleman Jr. Dr., 785-4069, 414 W. Oak St., 618-2287. This West End Jamaican restaurant serves the native cuisine of owner Courtney Johnson. Look for jerk chicken, curry with chicken, turkey, goat and rib tips, along with Kentucky favorites like fried catfish, barbecue and beef patties. $ L D

BISTRO LE RELAIS 2817 Taylorsville Rd. (Bowman Field), 451-9020. This art deco spot makes stylish use of an historic 1920s airport building to present elegant modern French cuisine. Owner Anthony Dike’s refocus of the restaurant around a bistro menu continues its popularity. $$$$ D pf

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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

GASTHAUS 4812 Brownsboro Center, 899-7177. Michael and Annemarie Greipel came here with their five kids in 1993, straight from North Rhine-Westphalia to St. Matthews. Tiny lights twinkle from strands of fake red geraniums. But the hearty German fare — schnitzels, sauerbraten and rouladen with red cabbage and dumplings — is the real thing. $$$ D f

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, 3900 Shelbyville Rd., 882-2222. A carefully constructed replica of a modern urban Irish pub, Molly Malone’s, a worthy addition to the city’s eating and drinking scene, has added a second, suburban location. Both are as authentically Irish as the Wearin’ o’ the Green. $$ L D pf MORE SHENANIGAN’S 4521 Bardstown Rd., 493-3585. $ L D pf O'CONNELL'S IRISH PUB 5520 Fern Valley Rd., 964-0040.

If you are in the mood for an Irish Car Bomb, this is the place. Guinness, too, karaoke nights and a satisfying selection of bar food. $ L D p 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 THE CELTIC PIG 217 E. Main St., 290-4846. Another food truck has found a home, this one in the Ice House downtown. Owners Sam Bracken and Melissa Ingram offer Celtic favorites with a barbecue and Southern comfort twist.

Look for shepherd’s pie and fish and chips, two styles of haggis (traditional and hillbilly), as well as pulled pork and brisket and grilled cheese. $$ L D p

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 AMICI´ 316 W. Ormsby Ave., 637-3167. Satisfying, traditional Tuscan dishes are served in this interesting Old Louisville building. Dine inside or on the romantic (and pet-friendly) patio on a lovely summer evening. The joke and pun-filled

menu, updated by new owner Don Reinhardt, is fun to read, and his dishes have been winning raves. $$ D pf ANGIO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 1915 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 451-5454. This small eatery moved from its Buechel location to the East End, still attracting a friendly neighborhood crowd with hefty subs and quality pizzas, along with cold beer. $$ L D p 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. $$$$ L D pf BELLA ITALIA 130 W. Riverside Dr., 913-1252. You can find pan-Mediterranean cuisines here, with pastas, entrées, desserts and specialty drinks that reflect ingredients and flavors from the South of France, Italy, Spain, North Africa, and Greece. $$$ 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. $$$ L D f BUCA DI BEPPO 2051 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 493-2426. Buca di Beppo’s recipe has all the necessary ingredients: huge portions of excellent food served with flair and the Buca scene is fun, a conscious parody of the exuberant decor of family Italian-American restaurants of the 1950s. $$ 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. $$$ L D pf CIAO 1201 Payne St., 690-3532. A crisp modern dining space with a menu that is a blend of familiar Italian-American family cuisine and Northern Italian dishes. Creative takes on Italian regional cuisine include salmon saltimbocca, roast chicken with lemon risotto and eggplant rollini. Unusual pizzas are topped with mushroom and truffle, shrimp scampi and butternut squash. Flavors of monkey bread, a popular appetizer, vary daily. $$ L D pf COME BACK INN 909 Swan St., 627-1777. Come Back Inn looks pretty much like any other neighborhood saloon. But unlike other neighborhood saloons, this houses a family Italian spot that wouldn’t be out of place in Chicago or Brooklyn. $$ L D p DIFABIO’S CASAPELA ITALIAN RESTAURANT 2311 Frankfort Ave., 891-0411. Reminiscent of a menu that harks back to the red-checked tablecloth and Chianti bottle era of Italian restaurants. Look for baked stuffed mushrooms and toasted ravioli, veal parmesan and chicken piccata, and your choice of pastas with your choice of sauce. $$ D f 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. $$$$ Br L D p MARTINI ITALIAN BISTRO 4021 Summit Plaza Dr. 3949797. Now locally owned, Martini’s continues to serve hearty, well-fashioned Italian entrées, pastas and pizzas, a comfortable approximation of a Tuscan trattoria. An open kitchen with wood-fired oven gives a peek at the culinary goings-on. $$$ Br L D pf MERCATO ITALIANO 10640 Meeting St., 690-3200. This Italian market and upscale casual restaurant in Norton Commons is under new ownership. Chef/owner Peter Pagano prepares lunch, brunch and dinner. Customers can buy cheeses, bread, charcuterie, sauces, packaged pastas and prepared meals for take-out in the market section. $$ Br L D p

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MILANTONI ITALIAN RESTAURANT 1600 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 742-8210. This East End restaurant serves up all you would want in a casual Italian eatery: mozzarella sticks and calamari; subs and Philly cheesesteaks; pizzas and calzones; and a dozen or so different pastas. $$ L D p 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

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. $$ B Br L D pf

THE OLIVE GARDEN 1320 Hurstbourne Pkwy., 339-7190, 9730 Von Allmen Ct., 425-3607, 4805 Outer Loop, 9682978, 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

BARCELONA BISTRO BAR 10415 Taylorsville Rd., 6146055. Jeffersontown gets a Spanish restaurant thanks to chef/owner Alba Clementson. Here she offers Catalan-style spinach with caramelized onions, roasted cashews, cranberries, and peanuts; paella; Serrano ham croquettes; and albondigas (pork meatballs in almond sauce), among other dishes. $$$ Br D p

PESTO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 566 S. Fifth St., 5840567. Offices for blocks around empty into this bustling Italian eatery for weekday lunches featuring hearty platters of lasagna, zesty salads, red wine and iced tea. On Saturdays, the kitchen switches over to a special Persian menu. $$ 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

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., 8836369. 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, cheese-stuffed rice balls, pasta fagiole, and eggplant Parmesan. $$ L D p SPAGHETTI SHOP 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. Adding an appetizing option to a stretch of the South End that hasn’t been over-served by restaurants, this goodsized storefront near New Cut Road 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

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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. $ L D p 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 HONEST INDIAN 9008 Taylorsville Rd., 690-8355. From a street cart in Ahmedabad, in western India, this chain expanded to Thailand and now to the U.S. Its menu offers abundant offerings from a variety of regional Indian cuisines.

Offerings include bhaji pav, rava dosa, uttapam, aloo mutter and various chaat. $$ L D KASHMIR INDIAN RESTAURANT 1277 Bardstown Rd., 473-8765. One of the city’s most popular Indian restaurants, Kashmir is casual, neither posh nor expensive, and it produces an extensive menu of seemingly authentic Indian fare. $$ 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 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 SONAL'S KITCHEN 3741 Pamela Rae Dr., 408-5633. This East End Indian restaurant serves vegetarian and vegan dishes from all parts of the sub-continent, with emphasis on the dishes of South India. $$ L D TAJ PALACE 2929 Goose Creek Rd., 423-9692. Focused on Northern Indian cuisine, the menu offers a wide range of chicken, lamb, seafood and vegetarian dishes. Spiciness can be decided by the customer. Lunch buffet and dinner menu. $$ L D f TANDOORI FUSION 4600 Chamberlain Ln., 255-2590. The former Zeggz's location has been quickly taken over by entrepreneur Purna Veer, who uses Indian vegetables grown on his Oldham County farm. Veer promises that his dishes will not be “watered down,” so be ready for uncommon spice levels. $$ B L D pf TIKKA HOUSE 3930 Chenoweth Sq., 749-4535. Tikka House has garnered positive notice for both its lunch buffet and a la carte dinner service. Diners have praised dishes such as lamb masala with roasted coconut, Tandoori wings, fish pakora, paneer chili, several daal preparations and saag paneer. $$ L D pf VINDHU BHOJANAM INDIAN 12412 Shelbyville Rd., 2536777. Meat dishes are an afterthought at this mostly vegetarian restaurant serving dishes from both North and South India, which also has a substantial selection of vegan dishes. $ L D

4 SEASONS RESTAURANT 8402 Hudson Ln., 749-9969.

Fern Creek boasts the first Bulgarian restaurant in town. The “Mediterranean” cuisine here ranges from the familiar (gyros and kebabs) to Bulgarian specialties kebapche (grilled meat), banitsa (stuffed bread) and shopska salad with tomatoes, cukes and salty cheese. $$ L D pf AL HAMRA HALAL BUFFET 1250 Bardstown Rd., 384-4801.

The first (that we know of) halal buffet restaurant has taken over the Asian Buffet at Mid City Mall. Over 50 choices will be on the buffet line, half cold (salads and other mezze) and half hot items. Familiar Near-Eastern foods such as kebabs, kofta and gyros will be available, but also dishes from other Muslim lands: samosas, masalas and lamb shank stew. $$ L D ALWATAN RESTAURANT 3713 Klondike Ln., 454-4406.

Classic Arabic dishes home-cooked by friendly people in a cozy environment. That’s the recipe that makes Al Watan a destination for lovers of fine Middle Eastern fare. $ L D ALADDIN’S MEDITERRANEAN 37 Bank St., New Albany IN, 489-7969. After bringing a higher level of Middle Eastern cuisine to the still-growing dining scene in New Albany, Aladdin’s has moved to the cool new Underground Station complex. You will still find well-crafted gyros, chicken shawarma, tabbouleh and hummus in their sleek new environs. Finish your meal with thick Turkish coffee. $ LD 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

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shawarma, hummus, baba ganoush, tahini salad — and baklava cheesecake. $$ L D f EAT A PITA 2286 Bardstown Rd., 473-7482. Enjoy Mediterranean-Middle Eastern favorites, as well as the addition of a few “American” sandwiches — on fresh pita, of course. $ L D FALAFEL OASIS 226 W. Broadway, 742-2030. The owner of Superior Market and Deli a few doors away has also opened this Middle Eastern restaurant, serving gyros, falafel, and other regional fare. $ L D THE FALAFEL HOUSE 1001 Bardstown Rd., 454-4407. This small Highlands spot is strategically situated to offer quick and affordable sustenance along the Bardstown-Baxter entertainment strip. Look for the usual Middle Eastern fare in a casual, quick-service setting. $$ L D f 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. $$ L D f JERUSALEM KITCHEN 4413 Saint Rita Dr., 614-6465. Little Jerusalem Café has moved from the Iroquois Manor area and moderately rebranded itself. You can still find a range of Mediterranean dishes here, shawarma and fattoush, gyros and hummus and so on. $$ 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 1907 S. Fourth St., 9635999. Owners of the popular Safier restaurant in Theater Square have opened this U of L location, serving Middle Eastern food such as shawarma, kebab, falafel, hummus, lentil soup and baklava. $ L D f MASALA GRILL 528 S. Fifth St., 562-0202. $ L

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. $$ L D TAZIKI’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFÉ 13317 Shelbyville Rd., 244-6222, 106 Fairfax Ave., 212-5373. At these Alabamabased chain outlets the food is made fresh daily with vegan and gluten-free choices. The menu includes grilled chicken roll-ups, a grilled tilapia sandwich with dill-caper sauce, gyros, a grilled vegetable and rice plate, roasted potatoes and baklava, along with beer and wine. $$ L D pf YAFA CAFÉ 612 S. Fifth St., 561-0222. This well-respected Middle Eastern lunch spot had gained a fanbase for its hummus, among other dishes, before it succumbed to the expansion of the Kindred development. Now it has reopened in a prime downtown restaurant lunch space that has seen a number of prior occupants. $$ L D f 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 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market), 619-4778. Venezuelan cuisine and Latin fusion.

Arepas, fajitas and tacos. But patacones (plantain sandwiches) too. $$ L D f CARALI'S ROTISSERIE CHICKEN 9148 Taylorsville Rd., 618-0699, 211 S. Fifth St., 654-7131, 642 Baxter Ave., 12531 Shelbyville Rd., 618-2725. You will find Peruvianstyle 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 CUBA Y MAS 5700 Outer Loop, 290-1672. Folks living in Okolona and Highview now have a nearby source of authentic Cuban dishes, such as the pargo frito (whole fried snapper) and the appetizer tamal cubano (the Cuban version of tamales). There’s a great selection of Latin soft drinks and tropical juices; try one of the tropical fruit "milkshakes." $$ LDp EL RINCONCITO 4806 Bardstown Rd., 742-9537. This Peruvian restaurant adds to the ethnic choices in Buechel.

The happy chicken logo touts the charcoal-grilled chicken, but the menu includes salchipapa (sausage and potatoes), lomo saltado (a beef stew), plantains and Peruvian green rice. $ L D 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. $$ B L D f I LOVE TACOS 9909 Taylorsvile Rd., 384-2154. Replacing the former Señor Iguanas in Jeffersontown is this new Mexican eatery. The menu’s focus expands beyond the name with traditional Puerto Rican, Cuban and Mexican dishes as well as award-winning margaritas. $$ L D pf LA GUANAQUITA 4231 Taylor Blvd., 822-1343. This South End spot serves the dishes of Guatemala and Honduras: pupusas and baleadas 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

MIRAGE MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT 4100 Preston Hwy., 363-7788. Preston Highway’s international restaurant row is enriched by this Middle Eastern eatery, run by the owners of the now-defunct Little Jerusalem. Gyros, hummus, falafel — what one would expect, but done with attention to details and a flair for flavor. $$ L D f PASHA'S MEDITERRANEAN 3904 Bardstown Rd., 4094532. You can find the usual Mediterranean fare here – falafel, baba ghanouj – but with influences of Jordanian recipes such as Kalaya, ground lamb cooked in tomatoes, and char-grilled lamb liver. Fans cite the value-sized portions. $$ 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? $ L D f 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., 919-9014, 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 locations, Shiraz shines with authentic Persian (Iranian) cooking, such as char-grilled kebabs, fine pitas and lavash. $ LDf SIMPLE GREEK 3029 Poplar Level Rd., 384-0041. This national chain offers traditional Greek and Mediterranean dishes “with an interactive concept” — patrons build their own bowls, salads, pitas and Greek yogurt with a variety of proteins, toppings and sides. $$ L D f

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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. $$$ Br D pf SABOR LATINO 1273 S. Brook St., 276-4954. A welcome addition to Old Louisville is this tiny restaurant serving a “Latin Culinary Mix,” as a sign advertises. The menu offers Cuban sandwiches, patatas bravas, burritos, quesadillas, carne asada, ropa vieja and pollo de vacaciones – a chicken stew. $$ L D f SENORA AREPA 721 E. Market St. Behind La Bodeguita, in the building that last housed Ghyslain, Olé Restaurant Group’s fast-casual restaurant features Venezuelan cuisine, focusing on arepas, a gluten-free cornmeal pocket stuffed with savory fillings. Other Venezuelan dishes are reina pepiada, stuffed baked cornmeal patties and pabellón criollo, the national dish of Venezuela, with black beans, shredded beef and plantain chips.

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

BANDIDO TAQUERIA MEXICANA 423 University Blvd., 996-7788, 905 E. Liberty St., 384-2527. These Mexican places, the first in a strip mall near U of L, the second next to Falls City Brewing in NuLu, serve California-style tacos, quesadillas, burritos, nachos and burrito bowls, with a choice of four salsas at the condiment bar. $$ L D f CAFÉ AROMA 2020 Brownsboro Rd., 618-3434. This little shop along the lower Brownsboro food corridor touts “a world of flavor with a Mexican flair.” It’s mostly Mexican and really mostly good, according to our friends in the neighborhood. Affordable, casual and filling. $ L D CANCÚN 808 Lyndon Ln., 883-1924, 9424 Shelbyville Rd., 742-3697. Now with two locations, Cancún offers familiar dishes, combination platters, and steak and seafood specialties like carne bandito and tostados de ceviche. $$ L D pf CHILAKILES OAXACAN BREAKFAST 5600 National Tpk., 632-2000. This family-run spot serves a variety of Mexican dishes from breakfast and brunch through dinner. Some of the Oaxacan specialities are not commonly seen locally, such as tortilla entomotadas, egg and black-bean enfrijoladas or pollo rostizado with a spicy guajillo pepper sauce. $$ B Br L D pf CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL 315 S. Fourth St., 584-8606, 10333 Westport Rd., 526-5170, 1075 Bardstown Rd., 4528990, 13303 Shelbyville Rd., 244-7173, 420 S. Hurstbourne Ln., 425-3017. Now with five Louisville locations, this increasingly popular Tex-Mex chain, with an emphasis on cooking with humanely-raised meat products, seems to have struck a chord with consumers. $ L D f COCONUT BEACH TACOS & CERVEZA 2787 S. Floyd St., 634-2844. The menu here is anchored by bargain-priced tacos created to lure in U of L students from nearby (the place is across from Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium), as well as burritos, empanadas and tortas. Come the weekend, the huge space is converted into a bar and dance club. $ L D pf CON HUEVOS 2339 Frankfort Ave., 384-3027, 4938 US-42, 384-3744, 400 S. Second St. (Omni Hotel). This popular Mexican breakfast and lunch spot with locations in Clifton and the Eastern suburbs has added a downtown outlet.

Expect huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, breakfast-style enchiladas (with eggs, of course), frijoladas, churros and molletes. Tortas and tacos at lunch as well. $ B Br L DOS GRINGOS 149 Spring St., Jeffersonville IN, 590-1280. In the space that for many years was Ann’s by the River, the folks who operate the 812 Pizza Company in Georgetown and The Standard Plate & Pour in New Albany have opened a bright, colorful Mexican spot featuring traditional plates and a wide selection of margaritas and tequilas. $$ L D p

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EL CAPORAL 2209 Meadow Dr., 473-7840, 1909 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 266-9605. Louisville’s growing Mexican-American community has fostered a happy trend: excellent, authentic Mexican food. El Caporal bridges the gap between the Latino and Anglo communities. $ L D p EL FRIJOL 1999 Brownsboro Rd., 742-9456. The corner space of the Clifton strip mall has been fully renovated, and the new owners present a lively, authentic Mexican menu, verified by the bustling array of Latino customers enjoying their meals.$$ B L D p EL MARIACHI 9901 La Grange Rd., 413-5770. Fans of this Mexican restaurant, situated between a bakery and an ethnic grocery, find much to rave about: tacos and burritos made with the bakery’s fresh tortillas, funky authentic fillings and quick, friendly service. $ B L D p EL MOLCAJETE 8106 Preston Hwy., 742-3485, 2932 S. Fourth St., 638-0300. You can get gringo-style tacos (with shredded lettuce, cheese & sour cream) at this south-end Mexican joint. But if you come here, why not eat like a native? Lash your pork, beef and chicken tacos with freshsqueezed lime juice and a heap of sliced radishes. Want to get truly authentic? Step up to beef tongue (lengua), intestine (tripas) or brain (sesos). $$ L D p EL MUNDO 2345 Frankfort Ave., 899-9930, 1767 Bardstown Rd., 384-5633. he crowded little Crescent Hill storefront, offering creative renditions of Mexican regional specialties that make most diners want to yell “Olé!”, now has a second outlet in the multi-level space in the Highlands that once was Asiatique. Both locations provide high-quality Mexican food and drink. $ L D pf EL NOPAL (22 Locations) These locally-owned restaurants have become a growing mini-chain, winning popularity on the basis of delicious and inexpensive Mexican fare in comfortable surroundings. $ L D pf EL RIO GRANDE 10001 Forest Green Blvd., 632-2403. A Mexican restaurant has taken over the expansive space that once was Limestone. Patrons report good experiences, with both the food and the service. $$ 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 TACO LOCO 5622 Preston Hwy., 225-7229. 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 938 Baxter Ave., 583-0440, 112 Meridian Ave., 709-5154, 9204 Taylorsville Rd., 708-1675, 5205 New Cut Rd. (Colonial Gardens), 384-8457. With the opening of the Colonial Gardens site and a store in J’town, Olé Restaurant Group now has five taquerias that all have diners lined up out the door. Familiar taco names — carnitas, carne asada — get clever riffs in the kitchen. Call it elevated Mexican street food. And do try the fantastic tortas. $LDf 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 Durangostyle 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

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., 425-9144. $ L D p 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 FOKO 1001 Logan St. (Logan Street Market), (210) 792-5858.

Chef Paco Garcia fuses his two favorite cuisines, Mexican and Southern. The result is chicken with jalapeno gravy or tortas with collard greens, among others. $$ L D f GUACA MOLE 9921 Ormsby Station Rd., 365-4822. When Fernando Martinez returned to Louisville, he started his remarkable new restaurant blitz with this East End “creative Mexican” restaurant. As the name emphasizes, the menu explores different moles, and the creativity comes with modern twists on classic Mexican dishes. Fans quickly warmed to the food and the up-to-the-minute cocktail program designed by Martinez’s wife Christina. $$ Br L D p GUSTAVO’S MEXICAN GRILL 6051 Timber Ridge Dr., 4347266, 10715 Meeting St., 690-7070. 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). $$ L D pf ISRAEL’S DELICIAS DE MEXICO GOURMET 604 E. Spring St., New Albany IN, 725-9139. Israel Landon introduced Kentuckiana to his Mexican home-style cooking at La Rosita a few years ago. Now he is moving into the former Destinatins Booksellers space by the end of March. Look for street tacos and Mayan quesadillas and weekly specials highlighting cuisine from various regions of Mexico, including seafood dishes and new desserts. $ L D f LA BAMBA 1237 Bardstown Rd., 451-1418. The revamped and updated Highlands authentic fast food place still offers burritos as big as your head, and tacos, quesadillas and tortas too. $ L D LA CATRINA MEXICAN KITCHEN 202 E. Elm St., New Albany IN, 725-8264. The owners of Señor Iguanas restaurants have opened this Mexican party food and street food restaurant in the building that Dragon King’s Daughter moved out of. Look for naked and dressed tacos, soups, salads and shareable dishes and seasonal menu updates. $$ 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 LUPITA 827 Eastern Blvd., Clarksville IN, 285-0083.

Tucked away on the back side of a strip mall, this is a new spot for authentic Mexican food. The usual stuff but also panbazos, tlacoyos, tlayudas and aguachile, all explained and illustrated on the menu. $$ 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 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

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scarf one down strikes. These little places will certainly satisfy those cravings. $ L D LA SIERRA RESTAURANT AND TAQUERIA 6501 Shepherdsville Rd., 969-7938. $

Market Street, in the area now known as NuLu. His stylish bistro serves distinctive cuisine from Ucán’s native Yucatan Peninsula. $$ 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).

MEXA TACOS 3701 Lexington Rd., 290-1334, 305 W. Market St., 822-3232. This fast-casual restaurant, now with a second location downtown, features a list of signature steak tacos customizable with house-made salsas, guacamole, peppers and other toppings, such as the special house queso made with poblano peppers. Owner Lorena Casas-Ostos is a steak taco purist, but she offers fish, shrimp and pork pastor too. $$ 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 steam-table 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

MEXICO CITY TAQUERIA & RESTAURANT 3826 Hamburg Pk., Jeffersonville IN, 283-1072. This bright little Mexican place in a Jeffersonville strip mall offers the usual, and on weekends adds traditional Mexican soups like caldos de camarones, menudo and pozole. $ L D

LAS AMERICAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT 3719 Klondike Ln., 365-2710. This Klondike-area ethnic place is a small Mexican market as well as a restaurant. You will find familiar items like flautas and burritos but also a few specials like mojarra frita (a whole fried fish). $$ L D p LAS CAZUELAS 4214 Bishop Ln., 614-8634. This unassuming strip mall eatery has amassed a dedicated local clientele with fast, friendly service, cold margaritas and wellprepared familiar Mexican fare. $$ 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 CUISINE 12220 Shelbyville Rd., 963-5503, 307 Central Ave., 690-8071. The emphasis here is on the cuisine of the Gulf coast of Mexico. You will find the familiar (tacos, fajitas) and the slightly different — caldo de pollo (Mexican chicken soup), mole poblano and salmon al ajillo (garlic salmon) and tlayollos, a variation on tamales. $$ L D p LIMÓN Y SAL 10000 Brownsboro Rd., 423-4604. This authentic Mexican kitchen offers suburbanites many choices: taquitos, bocadillos and dips to start, soups such as pozole and caldo de camarón (shrimp soup), tacos, tortas and combination dinners. $$ L D pf LOS AZTECAS 445 E. Market St., 561-8535, 1107 Herr Ln., 426-3994, 9207 U.S. Hwy. 42, 228-2450. Genuine Mexican cuisine has become a viable option in Louisville thanks to a growing immigrant community. Los Aztecas, one of the best, has moved its W. Main St. anchor store to E. Market, taking over the larger, spiffy space left by Wild Rita’s closing. It’s satellite locations are still bustling too. $ L D pf

MI CASITA PARRILLA MEXICANA 520 S. Fourth St., 3150666, 2060 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 890-3315. Enthusiastic fans of the restaurant formerly known as Mi Cocina will find the same quick and efficient lunch service and dishes executed with skill at both locations, under the new name change. The margaritas at Happy Hour are notable, and the East End location has added Sunday hours. $$ L D pf MI TIERRA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 2400 Lime Kiln Ln., 742-9142, 2610 Chamberlain Ln., 384-3101. These two clean, well-lighted places in the East End serve up familiar Mexican food – fajitas, tacos, carne asada – in a friendly, efficient atmosphere that is drawing raves from its local fans. $ L D pf

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.

Tucked in between the Time & Space bar and the Joy Luck restaurant, this new Mexican place — run by three Mexico natives — serves 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 TACO TICO 5925 Terry Rd., 449-9888. Founded in Wichita in 1962, the same year Taco Bell was born in Southern California, the Taco Tico chain had been gone locally for more than a decade. Its happy return has been drawing remarkable crowds. $ L D

NOCHE MEXICAN BBQ 1838 Bardstown Rd., 467-8015.

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. $$ D pf

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

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

TAQUERIA LA MEXICANA 6201 Preston Hwy., 969-4449.

The tacos are fine at this tiny storefront. This is seriously ethnic stuff, but Anglos are thoroughly welcome, the staff is bilingual, and they will happily provide a menu with all the English translations written in. $ L D

PIÑA FIESTA REAL MEXICAN GRILL 7895 Dixie Hwy., 995-6775. 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

VICTORIA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 2918 Hikes Ln., 7095178. $ L D f

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, quesadillas and menudo. On Saturdays & Sundays, pozole and cabo de camaron are added. $$ L D

RAMIRO’S CANTINA 2350 Frankfort Ave., 895-3333.

Ramiro Gandara’s Mexican restaurant in the heart of Crescent Hill’s restaurant row has his mom, Tina Ruton Escajeda, in control in the kitchen. Together they deliver some unique menu items, such as enchiladas verdes, lobster quesadilla, guacamole burger, and shrimp fajitas. And don’t forget Tina’s specialty: scratch-made tamales. Vegetarian choices too, and a full bar. $ L D pf

MANGO’S BAR & GRILL 4632 Hendrik Dr., 671-5291. This chain of Mexican-American restaurants serve 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

RAMIRO’S CANTINA EXPRESS 253 Spring St., Jeffersonville IN, 924-7770. Long-time restaurateur Ramiro Gandara’s second restaurant, a quick-casual version of his Frankfort Ave. spot, is now serving in Jeffersonville. Order at the counter, grab and go, or sit down and enjoy. Ramiro features his favorites: burritos, chicken bowls, nachos, tortas and tacos. A full bar, too. $ L D pf

RED = Advertiser

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

TACOLICIOUS 111 W. Market St., New Albany, (812) 7258505. In the space that most recently was El Sinaloa Mexican Restaurant, this little taqueria strives for authenticity in its fresh preparations of Mexican street foods. $$ Br L D p

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 quickservice place with hefty burritos, nicely-priced tacos, and plenty of interesting ingredients and an assortment of deftlycrafted tacos. $$ L D f

p = Full Bar f = Outdoor Dining

SEÑOR IGUANA’S (3 locations) This 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

NEW WAVE BURRITOS 3311 Preston Hwy., 963-2727. The late-night burrito delivery service that has been operating out of borrowed kitchen spaces since late 2014 has moved into its own space at the former Grind Burger location. In addition to their five signature burritos new items include tacos, tortas and chicharrones. $$ D

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

MAYAN CAFÉ 813 E. Market St., 566-0651. Chef Bruce Ucán arguably kicked off the restaurant renaissance along East

SANTA FE GRILL 3000 S. Third St., 634-3722. This tiny eatery in a century-old South End storefront near Churchill Downs never fails to satisfy with genuine Mexican tacos and other simple fare at prices that will leave you plenty of change for an exacta bet at the races. $ L D

QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL (17 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

YELLOW CACTUS 3620 Paoli Pk., Floyds Knobs IN, 9030313. A yellow neon cactus draws diners to this Indiana restaurant that offers standard Mexican cantina fare, as well as steak and chicken in both American and Mexican styles, and a few seafood dishes. $ L D p ZOMBIE TACO 100 W. Washington St. (Moxy Hotel), 7167377. This always-open walk-up taco window at the new Moxy Hotel features Taco Tuesdays specials on tacos and margaritas, a 3-taco survival 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., 491-1800, 1001 Breckinridge Ln., 893-6637, 4652 Chamberlain Ln., 425-3330, 9310 Cedar Center Way, 6147722. The food may be more fast-food Mexican-American than authentic South-of-the-Border fare, but it is freshly www.foodanddine.com Fall 2020

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made from quality ingredients and comes in oversize portions, and that’s not a bad thing. $ L D

flavors popping up all over town. And, you can now find Comfy Cow products in Krogers ice cream section. $ f

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

DALAT’S GATEAUX & BAKERY 6915 Southside Dr., 3689280. It’s a French bakery, run by a Vietnamese family, which makes perfect sense. Order French pastry, cakes and cookies as well as Vietnamese specialties. Savory choices, such as pork pate wrapped in choux pastry are also available. $

TUMBLEWEED TEX MEX GRILL & MARGARITA BAR (8 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

DAIRY KASTLE 575 Eastern Pkwy., 634-8990. A long-time seasonal favorite that has drawn celebrities (like Denny Crum and Rick Pitino) and is ever popular with Germantown folks craving cones, flurries, milkshakes, sundaes and chili dogs. Seasonal: March-November. $ f

ADRIENNE & CO. BAKERY CAFÉ 129 W. Court Ave., Jeffersonville IN, 282-2665, 133 E. Market St., New Albany IN, 949-2334. 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 one of these cozy Southern Indiana spots, with its good selection of homemade cakes and treats. $ f ANNIE MAY’S SWEETS CAFÉ 3110 Frankfort Ave., 3842667. The only gluten and nut-free bakery in the state caters to customers with dietary issues such as celiac disease and allergies. Cookies, brownies, cakes, pies, wedding cakes all made without wheat, dairy, eggs, soy or tree nuts. Arrive early, before the vegan and allergen-free oatmeal cream pie cookies sell out. $ ART EATABLES 631 S. Fourth St., 589-0210, 819 W. Main St. This chocolatier focuses on bourbon-infused and bourbonthemed candies and chocolate sold by the order or in shops featuring other bourbon-centric gifts. The small-batch bourbon truffle takes the bourbon ball to a new level. $ 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 BREADWORKS 3628 Brownsboro Rd., 893-3200, 2204 Dundee Rd., 452-1510. $ B 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 CELLAR DOOR CHOCOLATES 1201 Story Ave., 561-2940, 601 S. Fourth St., 294-3496. Erika Chavez-Graziano still makes her chocolate confections at her artsy shop in the Butchertown Market building on Story Ave., but now has a large, elegant downtown space in the Hilton Garden Inn building. $

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 DIVINE TREATS 1404 Eastern Blvd., Clarksville IN. 5901470. This Southern Indiana bakery and café provides cakes, cookies and other treats. $ B L EHRLER'S ICE CREAM 201 E. Main St., 749-2236.

Louisville’s iconic ice cream shop returns after a long hiatus.

Good, locally-made ice cream and nostalgia for the ice cream treats of childhood will be the main draws. $ f FLORA KITCHENETTE 1004 Barret Ave., 742-3843. This Germantown bakery offers vegan and non-allergenic pastries and baked goods. Selections include cake donuts, toaster tarts, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, granola and macarons. $ B Br L f GELATO GILBERTO 9434 Norton Commons Blvd., 4237751. 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 store draws fans out to Norton Commons, though owners can often be found scooping cones and cups at special events. Their store menu includes pies and crepes as well. $ GIGI’S CUPCAKES 1977 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 499-4998, 10538 Fischer Park Dr., 426-2113. This Tennessee-based chain now has two shops in Louisville, offering 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 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

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 BAKERY 5420 IN-62, Jeffersonville IN, 283-3636, 4430 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 725-7170. Donuts are the draw here at these two Southern Indiana bakeries.

Jeff concocts 40 variations, some large enough to be shared with the whole office. The Jeffersonville location is open 24 hrs. $ 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 LD L'BADS ICE CREAM PARLOR 2606 W. Market St., 8027519. In addition to ice cream treats, this West End business serves breakfast items like fried egg and cheese sandwiches, French toast and waffles, and sandwiches and pizza for lunch. $ B L D f LIÈGE & DAIRY ICE CREAM + WAFFLES 2212 Holiday Manor Ctr., 290-0065. Enjoy this shop’s locally roasted coffee and in-house crafted ice cream. Made with local honey, sorghum molasses, fruits, and non-GMO cream, Liège uses a process that creates a denser ice cream. $ L D LOUISVILLE CREAM 632 E. Market St., 882-1516. After three years as an off-the-radar caterer and pop-up seller of premium ice creams, Louisville Cream has settled down in NuLu. Co-founder Darryl Goodner offers eight standard flavors (including Camp Marshmallow, Brown Sugar Brie and Hot Fuzz, roasted peaches with charred jalapenos) and four flavors in rotation, as well as apple pies, bourbon chocolate pies and a third ever-changing pie. $ L D f LUEBERRY ACAI & SUPERFOODS 808 E. Market St., 7420640. This café serves açai bowls topped with things like goji berries, banana, chia, strawberries and coconut. Smoothies and other healthful options also available. $$ 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 NO BAKED COOKIE DOUGH 805 Blankenbaker Pkwy., 708-2656. The eggless cookie dough is scooped into cones or cups, and toppings can be added. Like an ice cream shop — only….with cookie dough. $ L D 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 NORTH LIME DONUTS 1228 S. Seventh St., 398-5739. This Lexington-based bakery has renovated a 19th-century factory building into a warm and inviting space to eat their made-on-premises donuts on the western edge of Old Louisville. Some of their unusual flavors: blueberry cheesecake, French toast and pumpkin cream cheese. $ B Lf

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

HI-FIVE DOUGHNUTS 1011 E. Main St., 409-5584.

Owners Annie Harlow and Leslie Wilson started with a food truck, and now are among the pioneer businesses in the Butcher Block on E. Main St. Customers can create their own with a choice of glazes and toppings or choose house favorites like Kentucky Fried Buttermilk Chicken Doughnut, Bourbon Caramel with Bacon, or Sugah Doughnut. $ B L

COLD STONE CREAMERY 1013 Jefferson Commons Dr., Jeffersonville IN, 913-0034, 2015 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 499-7750, 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. $

HOMEMADE ICE CREAM & PIE KITCHEN 2525 Bardstown Rd., 459-8184, 3737 Lexington Rd., 893-3303, 3521 Springhurst Commons Dr., 326-8990, 5606 Bardstown Rd., 239-3880, 3113 Blackiston Mill Rd., New Albany IN, 590-3580, 4810 Dixie Hwy., 409-6100. $ L D f

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

THE COMFY COW 1301 Herr Ln., 425-4979, 2223 Frankfort Ave., 409-4616, 339 W. Cardinal Blvd., 409-5090, 1449 Bardstown Rd., 365-2853, 13301 Shelbyville Rd., 8834128, 600 Terminal Dr. (Louisville Airport). Now fans of this “new-fashioned” ice-cream parlor can find their favorite

HONEY CREME DONUT SHOP 514 Vincennes St., New Albany IN, 945-2150. Off the beaten track, this downhomey bakery in a plain white building offers a wide selection of doughnuts, fritters and Danish that keeps the shop’s fans coming back again and again. $ B

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

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PANCHITOS ICE CREAM 8112 Preston Hwy, 890-3935, 2245 Bardstown Rd., 749-2375. Lexington-based Panchito’s now has two outlets in Louisville, offering Mexican ice cream, popsicles (paletas), tacos, quesadillas and other Mexican snacks. The new Highlands outpost is in the former Bánh Mi Hero building. $ L D

B = Breakfast Br = Brunch L = Lunch D = Dinner

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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., 4243638. 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 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 STACEY'S DONUTS 12907 Factory Ln., 409-8825. Donuts galore, just outside the I-265 Expressway. The East End clientele like these so much that Stacey’s sells out early on many days, but she does take pre-orders. $ STEEL CITY POPS (833) 588-7677, 1021 Bardstown Rd., 117 St. Matthews Ave This Alabama-based chain bills itself as a “gourmet healthy popsicle business,” with its cooling treats made from certified organic ingredients with no artificial flavors or colors. $ 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 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 SWEET SURRENDER 1804 Frankfort Ave., 899-2008. Sweet Surrender, with Jessica Haskell at the helm, has returned to its original Clifton neighborhood to provide elegant desserts. $$ f 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 FUDGERY 416 S Fourth St.(Fourth Street Live), 4097484.$ THE FUNKY WAFFLE CO. 1410 Charlestown-New Albany Rd., Here sweet Belgian waffles can be eaten as meal or as dessert. The store also sells cheesecake, banana pudding, brownies and cupcakes - any of which can be added to the waffle as a topping. $ L D f WILLIAM’S BAKERY 1051 N. Clark Blvd., Clarksville IN, 284-2867. $ B

78 COFFEE SHOP 907 E Liberty St., 290-5046. This NuLu roastery and coffee shop, with connections to the SeattleSpokane coffee culture, takes its products seriously, as it carves out its nook in the burgeoning Louisville coffee scene.

Located next to Falls City Brewery. $ 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 BEAN 1138 Goss Ave., 785-4079. $ B L BEAN STREET CAFÉ 101 Lafollette Station, Floyds Knobs IN, 923-1404. Bean Street introduced the Sunny Side to the joys of serious espresso. Like all good coffee shops, they’re not just an eatery, but a cultural hangout. $

p = Full Bar f = Outdoor Dining

RED = Advertiser

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 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 THE COFFEE ZONE 1301 Herr Ln. (Westport Village), 7854676. North Carolinian transplant Craig Bishop has established a beachhead in Louisville. In his Westport Village store he features bakery items, such as pastries, and assorted sandwiches along with good java. $ 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 collegeneighborhood coffee shop except a college near by. $ f 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 FRESCO TEA BAR 216 Pearl St., New Albany IN, 725-7691.

Inside MESA, A Collaborative Kitchen, Fresco Tea Bar offers hot and iced drinks, bubble tea, tea lattes, wellness tea and coffee. $ B L

hipster arts hub, this bookstore also has a coffee shop-café that serves higher-end coffee and teas, a selection of sandwiches, pastries and house-made vegan ice cream. $ B L D NTABA COFFEE HAUS 2407 Brownsboro Rd., 871-5082., 1860 Mellwood Ave., 749-0918. 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. A second loaction has been added in Mellwood Arts Center. $ 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 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 coffeehouse offering quiches, panini, cookies, and a hip vibe. $ B L f PREGAME COFFEE 808 E. Market St., 742-0640. 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 QUILL’S COFFEE SHOP 930 Baxter Ave., 742-6129, 327 W. Cardinal Blvd., 690-5553, 137 E. Market St., New Albany IN, 590-3426, 802 E. Main St., 473-5379, 117 St. Matthews Ave., 242-8608. Fans of this local purveyor of excellent coffee and provider of amenable working spaces can find their caffeine fix and wi-fi hotspot at any of the four 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 houseroasted coffee and refreshing coffee drinks from her drivethru location in Irish Hill. $ f

FUN TEA 1613 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

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 Lf

HEINE BROTHERS’ COFFEE (18 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

SANAG COFFEE 5324 S. Third St., 882-2210. The spiced-up flavors of traditional Somali is the main attraction at this Somali coffee shop/community center. But you’ll also find a small selection of savory sambusas (meat pies) and sweet pastries. $ B L

HIGHLAND COFFEE CO. 1140 Bardstown Rd., 451-4545.

Offering two ways to get wired, this cozy neighborhood coffee shop also functions as one of Louisville’s top Internet cafés, where you can enjoy a hot cappuccino while you surf the ’net in a WiFi hot spot. Funky Seattle-style ambience is a plus. $ f

SISTER BEAN’S 5225 New Cut Rd., 364-0082. $ f

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 KOLKIN COFFEE 2736 Charlestown Rd., New Albany IN, 920-0593. 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., 365-2516. Teas of all sorts, pastries and cookies make for a perfect morning snack the English call “elevenses.” $BL M+A+F GALLERY & CAFÉ 976 Barret Ave., 558-3031. Both an art gallery and coffee house, M+A+F has positioned itself as a quiet and esthetically pleasing spot for a vegetarian & vegan friendly lunch or a quick coffee and cinnamon roll, all made in-house. $ MCQUIXOTE BOOKS & COFFEE 1512 Portland Ave., 5309658. Located in the sprawling Tim Faulkner Gallery, itself a

STARBUCKS COFFEE (40+ locations) $ f STARLIGHT COFFEE CO. 3131 Grant Line Rd., New Albany IN, 542-1522. This sister outlet to Bean Street Coffee also produces high quality joe to those on the upper fringes of New Albany. In both you can find all the popular varieties of coffee and chai, as well as baked goods from Adrienne’s. $ f SUNERGOS COFFEE 2122 S. Preston St., 634-1243, 306 W. Woodlawn Ave., 368-2820, 231 S. Fifth St., 589-3222.

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. $ FIX COFFEEHOUSE AND BAKERY 10616 Meeting St., 4095066. Settle in with your laptop at this Norton Commons coffeehouse serving coffees, teas, pastries (including gluten free and vegan versions), and breakfast and lunch sandwiches.$ B f WILD DOG ROSE TEA BOUTIQUE 1570 Bardstown Rd., 996-7440. You can find all things New Age at this tea and book shop. In addition to dozens of teas, Wild Dog Rose stocks crystals, essential oils, books and baked goods such as scones, tea-infused truffles and muffins. Tea sold by the cup, or in bulk, and can be custom-blended to suit a customer’s preferences. $ B

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MAP # DIRECTION DOWNTOWN 1 downtown louisville NEAR EAST 2 highlands – crescent hill NEAR EAST 3 st. matthews SOUTH EAST 4 hikes point – buechel

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MAP # DIRECTION EAST 5 hurstbourne – anchorage EAST 6 hurstbourne s. – jeffersontown NORTH EAST 7 indian hills – westport FAR NORTH EAST 8 westport rd. – gene snyder

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MAP # DIRECTION WEST 9 west louisville NORTH EAST 10 prospect SOUTH EAST 11 fern creek SOUTH WEST 12 shively – pleasure ridge

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91

91 91 92

MAP # DIRECTION SOUTH 13 old louisville – airport INDIANA 14 new albany – floyds knobs INDIANA 15 clarksville INDIANA 16 jeffersonville

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93 94 95 95

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DOWNTOWN

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(NEAR EAST) HIGHLANDS – CRESCENT HILL – CLIFTON

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(NEAR EAST) ST. MATTHEWS

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(SOUTH EAST) HIKES POINT – BUECHEL

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(EAST) LYNDON – HURSTBOURNE – ANCHORAGE – MIDDLETOWN

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(EAST) HURSTBOURNE SOUTH – FOREST HILLS – JEFFERSONTOWN

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MAP • 8

(FAR NORTH EAST) WESTPORT RD – GENE SNYDER

(NORTH EAST) INDIAN HILLS – WESTPORT

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(SOUTH EAST) FERN CREEK

(NORTH EAST) PROSPECT

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(WEST) WEST LOUISVILLE

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(SOUTH WEST) SHIVELY – PLEASURE RIDGE

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(SOUTH) OLD LOUISVILLE – AIRPORT

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(INDIANA) NEW ALBANY – FLOYDS KNOBS

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(INDIANA) JEFFERSONVILLE

(INDIANA) CLARKSVILLE

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