Atlantic No. 5 is one of my favorite spots for lunch and coffee in Louisville! So, when they contacted me to see if Bob and I would be interested in taking in their new dinner concept, I accepted within, roughly, 1.5 seconds. (Pretty sure I hit a new personal best in email turnaround!)

Over the next few days, ANo5 is transforming itself into an Izakaya, which is kind of like a Japanese pub -- a casual spot for after-work drinking and dining. Think drinks and small plates. Very, very good drinks and small plates.

The concept here is casual fun. The curated playlist was old-school hip-hop, heavy on the LL Cool J. The wine list was no-frills. You aren't buying a label, just the description of a wine's tasting notes. The vibe was fun and casual.

We started with the Ahi tuna, which was served on a bed of burrito with pickled pear and celery leaf and drizzled with olive oil and freshly cracked pepper. The tuna was insane -- the best quality I've found in Louisville. The pear was delightful, and the cheese was creamy. I felt the oil overpowered the flavors a bit, but it was overall quite good.

Next came the Hoisin Pork Toast, with cilantro and radish. Bob was enchanted by this one. It was hearty and delicious. My impression was that it tasted like the best pot roast you'd ever eaten, if the pot roast included Hoisin sauce...

Next came a smoked peanut soup with crab, coconut, curry, and black rice. This is a unique soup for a cold day. The black rice was amazing; my only wish was that the crab had shone through a little more. It was very good, especially when paired with a dry red wine.

Our final dish was by far our favorite. The Ramen Carbonara came with miso cream,  quail and crow eggs, and salmon roe. Every bite was an amazing taste explosion. The salmon roe was intense and rich. The eggs were delicate, and the cream had the perfect hint of miso. Bob and I simply loved this dish!!

Cheers to Atlantic No 5 for an incredible dining experience!!

Thanks so much to Atlantic No 5 for the invitation and the fantastic meal! I hope to see y'all there soon! The Izakaya Pop-up continues this week on November 5, 6, and 7 and the new dinner menu will launch on November 12. For more information on reservations visit www.A5onmain.com or call 502-883-3398