How to Eat Lunch Like a Louisville Local
"Where should I eat lunch in Louisville?"
It's probably the email, text, Facebook message, etc., question that I get the most often. What are the tried-and true favorite spots for lunch in Louisville? Where are the hottest new restaurants in the Derby City? Where can I grab a quick bite in a particular Louisville neighborhood?
That's quite a question, y'all, but I've narrowed it down to thirty of the very best. Click here to download a printable version, and let me know if you agree with my choices!
Downtown
Dine with the penguins at Proof on Main.
J.Graham’s Café at the Brown Hotel
Home of the Hot Brown.
The Brown Hotel, 335 W Broadway
Sun-Sat 7am – 3pm
Proof on Main
The best burger in Louisville.
21C Museum Hotel 702 W Main St
Mon-Thu 11am - 1 am; Fri 11am - 2 am;
Sat 12 pm-2am; Sun 12 pm-12 am
Mussel & Burger Bar
Don’t miss the truffle oil steak fries.
113 S. 7th St
Mon-Thu 11 am – 9:30 pm; Fri 11 am – 10:30 pm;
Sat 12 pm – 10:30 pm; Sun: 12 pm – 8:30 pm
Main Eatery
The Blue Plate Special is always great!
643 W Main St
Mon-Fri 11 am – 2 pm; closed weekends
Atlantic No. 5
Don’t miss the latte!!
605 W Main St
Mon-Fri 7 am – 4 pm; closed weekends
NuLu/ Butchertown
Brisket sandwich at Feast BBQ
Grind Burger Kitchen
Order the Southern Burger!!
829 E. Market St
Tue – Sat 11 am – 10 pm
Butchertown Grocery
Have the BLT!
1076 E. Washington St.
Wed – Sun: 11 am – 10 pm (Sat & Sun brunch 11 am – 3 pm); Closed Mon and Tues
Ghyslain on Market
A macaron and a French press are a must!
721 E Market St
November - March: Mon - Sun 9AM - 8PM;
April - October: Mon - Sun 9AM - 9PM
Feast BBQ
Have the pork cake appetizer, mac & cheese or collard greens!
909 E Market St
Tues-Thurs 11 am -10 pm; Friday-Sat 11am-12am; closed Sun-Mon
Royal’s Hot Chicken
Louisville’s only legit Nashville-style hot chicken. Don’t miss the fries and cheese grits!
736 E Market St
Tues-Thurs 11:30 am-10 Friday-Sat 11:30 am-11 pm; closed Sun-Mon
Royal's Hot Chicken is a Louisville can't-miss!
Old Louisville
Seafood Lady
Amazing Cajun seafood! Portions are huge!
617 W. Oak St.
Wed, Fri, and Sat: 11 am – 9 pm; closed Sun-Tues and Thurs
Buck’s Restaurant & Bar
An elegant Old Louisville institution!
425 W Ormsby Ave
Mon-Fri 11 am-3 pm, 5-11 pm; Sat 5-11 pm; closed Sun
Ollie’s Trolley
You need an Ollieburger!
Mon-Fri 10:30 am – 4:25 pm; closed Sat & Sun
Germantown
The Post
Fabulous New York Style Pizza!
1045 Goss Ave
Mon -Wed 11 am – 12 am; Thurs- Fri 11 am – 2 am; Sat 12 pm – 2 am; Sun 12 pm – 12 am
The Highlands
Bacon & Benedictine from Stevens and Stevens Deli
Gralehaus
Fabulous espresso beverages!
1001 Baxter Ave
Mon-Sun 8 am – 4 pm
Stevens & Stevens Deli
You don’t want to miss the bacon and Benedictine sandwich!
1114 Bardstown Road
Mon – Sat 10 am – 4 pm; closed Sunday
LeMoo
Reserve the Louis Vuitton booth!
2300 Lexington Road
Mon – Wed 11 am – 2 pm; Thur- Fri 11 am- 10 pm; Sat 10 am- 3pm, 5 pm – 11 pm; Sun 10 am- 3pm, 5 pm – 11 pm
El Taco Lunchador
The chicken mole taco is superb!
938 Baxter Ave
Mon- Thurs 11 am – 9:30 pm; Fri 11 am – 10:30 pm; Sat 12 – 10:30 pm; Sun 12- 9 pm.
Molly Malone’s
Famous fish and chips!
933 Baxter Ave
Mon – Sun 11 am – 4 am
Fish and Chips at Irish Rover
Frankfort Avenue
The Irish Rover
Order fish and chips and a pint or seafood pie!
2319 Frankfort Ave
Mon-Thurs 11:30 am – 11 pm; Fri-Sat 11:30 am – 12 am; closed Sun
Blue Dog Bakery & Café
Fabulous salads and breads!
2868 Frankfort Ave
Tues-Sat Bakery 7-am-4 pm; Tues-Fri Lunch 11 am – 2 pm; Sat Brunch 9 am – 12 pm; closed Sun and Mon
North End Café
Go for all-day breakfast!
1722 Frankfort Ave
Mon 8 am – 2:30 pm; Tue- Thurs 8 am – 9 pm; Fri- Sat 8 am – 10 pm; Sun 8 am – 9 pm
El Mundo
Louisville’s favorite tacos!
2345 Frankfort Ave
Mon 5-10 pm; Tues – Sat 11:30 am – 10 pm
St. Matthews
namnam cafe
namnam café
Fantastic Pho!
318 Wallace Ave
Tues – Sat 11 am – 2:30 pm, 4:30 – 9 pm; Sun 4-9 pm; closed Mon
Coals Artisan Pizza
Wood-fired pies with regionally sourced ingredients!
3730 Frankfort Ave
Mon – Thurs 11 am – 10 pm; Fri-Sat 11 am – 11 pm; Sun 12 – 9 pm
Cheddar Box
Don’t miss their country ham sandwich and pimento cheese!
3909 Chenoweth Square
Tues-Fri 9 am – 6 pm; Sat 9 am – 4 pm; Closed Sun and Mon
Local Chains
Impellizzeri's Pizza
Shiraz Mediterranean Grill
Go for the hummus!
3501 Poplar Level; 205 N Hurstborne; 2210 Holiday Manor Suite 1; 237 5th St; 4614 Chamberlin
Hours vary
Bristol Bar & Grill
The green chili wontons are everyone’s favorite!
1321 Bardstown Rd; 614 W Main; 300 N Hurstborne Pkwy
Hours vary
Impellizzeri’s
Incredible deep dish pizza!
110 W Main; 1381 Bardstown Rd; 4933 Brownsboro Rd
Hours vary
Wick’s Pizza
The calzone is amazing!
975 Baxter Ave; 2927 Goose Creek Rd; 12717 Shelbyville Rd
Hours vary
What are your favorite lunch spots in Louisville?
Louisville Stoneware Bachelor Button
The venerable blue and white Stoneware pattern has appointed homes for decades!
I think it's safe to say that I probably don't have a lot in common with Mamie Eisenhower.
Politics can be fun!
But, it turns out that Mamie and I share an everyday china pattern, Louisville Stoneware's Bachelor Button. Well, I use it now, and Mrs. Eisenhower used it in the White House in the 1950s, back when the Derby City's venerable pottery house was still known by the name of a previous owner -- John B Taylor -- and the pattern was called Cornflower. There's something pretty fascinating about a pattern that is as fun and timeless now as it was in the Eisenhower era.
The Bachelor Button pattern, created by artist Edith Ellis, is the quintessential Louisville Stoneware pattern. It's a favorite for Louisville brides, and always makes a perfect present. It's clean, simple, and elegant. And you never have to worry that your pattern will be discontinued.
Here's to the Louisville-based dish pattern that has appointed homes from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave to my far more modest St Matthews address!
A Bachelor Button mug in production, Louisville Stoneware.
Louisville's French Connection
A look at some of the symbols and stories of French influence in Louisville, KY.
Over the past few days, we've all been thinking of France. The recent tragedies in Paris have been in our hearts and on our minds. Here in Louisville, our city reflects French heritage in so many aspects of our everyday lives. Fleurs de lis adorn everything, we sip whiskey that carries the name of a French ruling house, and our city itself bears the name of a French monarch. In fact, our city was French well before it was a city or even part of Kentucky: the Falls of the Ohio were once home to an outpost of La Belle, France.
Among the earliest settlers of the areas now known as Louisville, KY and New Albany, IN were second-and third-generation American-born French, the descendants of Hugenots who had fled France in the late 17th century to avoid religious persecution. These adventurers followed René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle's expedition into the area. The next wave of French settlers included by the French military forces who'd allied themselves with American troops during the Revolutionary War. A third group of French settlers were members of the clergy and nobility who fled the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century, settling in the commercial areas known as Shippingport and Portland. The strong ties between early Americans and the French are still reflected in the heritage and branding of modern Louisville.
Fleur de Lis
When the city of Louisville was founded by George Rogers Clark in 1778, legend tells us, he carried a French naval flag bearing three fleurs de lis; until the consolidation of the Louisville metro area, our city's flag included three fleurs de lis as well. The fleur de lis icon -- the stylized lily that represents nobility in French heraldry -- is visible all over Louisville as a symbol of our city.
Fleur de lis pottery at Louisville Stoneware. Stoneware is located in the historically French Paristown Pointe district.
King Louis XVI
The area now known as Kentucky was still part of Virginia in 1780, the year in which Louisville's town charter was approved. The Virginia General Assembly named the town in honor of King Louis XVI, whose soldiers were allied with American troops in the Revolutionary War. Although the French king soon fell out of favor with his own subjects, who overthrew the monarchy in 1791, the Derby City continues to honor a leader who assisted the United States' fight for independence. In 1967, Louisville's French sister city, Montpellier, presented the city with a statue of Louis XVI.
Bourbon
Louisville isn't the only Kentucky place whose name reflects the French monarchy. Bourbon County was first established as part of Virginia in 1785 in honor of Louis XVI, a member of the royal House of Bourbon. The present-day Central Kentucky Bourbon County reflects the historical county from which it was carved. Of course, Kentucky's bourbon county is recognized as the home of bourbon whiskey, that special concoction of corn, wheat, and limestone water for which Kentucky is famous.
Here's to the French settlers who made Louisville a distinctive and charming city. Salut, y'all!
Louisville People and Lexington People
Testing the theory that Kentuckians identify with one of their two major college towns.
I've got this theory about Kentuckians.
It doesn't matter what county you grew up in, every Kentuckian identifies as a Lexington person or a Louisville person.
Oh, sure, you may live closer to cities like Cincinnati or Nashville. You may go to St. Louis or Charleston, WV or Indy or anywhere else to shop and unwind. But, when it comes down to college affiliations, sports teams, and generally which city you prefer, there can only be one. Nobody loves both cities equally. I've known plenty of people who drive from Western Kentucky to Lexington to shop, eat, or tailgate. Others may be from the Eastern mountains, but crave a steak from Mortons or Ruth's Chris or an Oxmoor Mall fix.
Of course, both cities are amazing. I've lived in Louisville and in Lexington, and have been very, very happy in each. There's no substitute for a night out on Bardstown Road, a play at Actors Theatre, or the view from River Road. But, I'm a Lexington girl at heart. I went to Transy and to UK. I grew up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. I bleed blue. And, I'll always be a Lexington girl. I start planning trips to The Track (Keeneland, duh. There is only one!) or to see my 'Cats months in advance. No matter how long my license plate says "Jefferson County", my heart will always lie a little farther east.
Are you a Louisville or Lexington person? Take our quiz and see!
- Keeneland or Churchill Downs?
- Blue or Red?
- Cats or Cards?
- Woodford Reserve or Maker's Mark?
- Ramsey's or Ramsi's?
- I-75 or I-65?
Of course, if you answers were from column A, then you're a Lexington person; if you answered mostly Bs, then you're a Louisville person!
Which one are you?
Henrietta's Louisville
Inspired by Emily Bingham's biography Irrepressible: The Jazz Age Life of Henrietta Bingham, HerKentucky editor Heather C. Watson takes readers on a photographic tour of Henrietta's Louisville.
It's been a long time since a book captured my imagination the way Emily Bingham's Irrepressible: The Jazz Age Life of Henrietta Bingham did.
There's something about a really well-crafted biography. Of course, the subject led an extraordinary life, or she wouldn't be considered for biographical treatment. But, some biographies -- and some subjects -- really inspire a reader. They carry you back to a different era, they introduce you to new ideas, they sometimes shock you, and they make you feel like you really know them. Personally, I can never get enough of stories about Kentucky's infamous madam Belle Brezing, Jazz Age darling Zelda Fitzgerald, and now Zelda's contemporary (and fellow Southern judge's daughter) Henrietta Bingham. I just couldn't resist going on a little tour of the places Henrietta knew right here in Louisville.
I wanted to start my tour where the Binghams' story began, at Henrietta's grandparents' home, the Samuel and Henrietta Long Miller House at 1236 South Fourth Street. The Miller Mansion is long gone; in its stead is The Puritan Apartments, a senior-living apartment complex.
Only a few blocks away is the original home of Louisville Collegiate School, where Henrietta matriculated and played basketball.
I then took a drive out to Peewee Valley to visit Henrietta's grandparents' summer home, where her parents lived for a while, and which has undergone significant upgrades and remodeling since Mrs. Miller sold the property in 1915.
Of course, no tour of Henrietta's Louisville is complete without a trip to the famous Pendennis Club, where she scandalized Louisville society by kissing a girl. (The same thing also happened at the Louisville Country Club, but I didn't want to sneak onto private club property to snap photos. For the same reason, I didn't head out to Harmony Landing Country Club, the site of Henrietta's former horse farm.)
Then, I traveled out Louisville's picturesque River Road to visit the homes of Henrietta's father, Judge Robert Worth Bingham. River Road is such an enchanting area; downtown Louisville seems so far away, and yet clearly visible. Indiana's shores are just across the Ohio. It's peaceful and lovely; no wonder it became a fashionable address for estates like the Binghams'.
Of course, Judge Bingham didn't live just anywhere. The private drives and secluded settings of Melcombe Bingham and Lincliff, served as a great reminder of how very sheltered and privileged Henrietta's Louisville life was. (Lincliff, where Judge Bingham made his home with second wife Mary Lily Flagler, is currently home to novelist Sue Grafton.)
Finally, I paid a visit to Cave Hill Cemetery to visit the Bingham family plots. After spending a couple of weeks under Henrietta's spell, I wanted to pay my respects. She truly led a fascinating life, and it only seemed right to take a moment to reflect on the ways in which she captured my imagination.
Rep the Cards in Style at the ACC Tournament!
It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year, y'all!
There's more basketball on TV than I can possibly watch, but I'm trying valiantly. With the Louisville Cardinals kicking off their first game of the ACC Tournament today, there are some fun, stylish ways to show your loyalty. Here are a few favorites that are substantial enough for work, stylish enough for a night out, and filled with Card spirit if you're fortunate enough to be in Greensboro this week.
These Tory Burch Flats are great for game day, driving to the game, or any other time you want to look stylish yet stay comfortable.
This Cardinals headband is so sassy!
This men's button-down would be awesome with leggings and skinny jeans; it features a fun Cardinal logo
These packable Hunter Wellies are great if the weather turns wet!
The HerKentucky Guide to Speakeasy Louisville: The Seelbach
Louisville's Seelbach Hotel was a famous gathering place for mobsters and flappers alike.
Welcome to the latest installment of the HerKentucky Guide to Speakeasy Louisville! On Thursdays throughout the fall, we'll travel back to the Jazz Age in the Derby City, when the nation's Prohibition laws didn't quench the collective thirst for Kentucky Bourbon. We'll channel our inner Daisy Buchanans and dance the Charleston at Louisville's finest establishments. And, of course, we'll take a sip or two of the native drink that kept the city's spirits high. Today, we'll visit the famous hotel that served as a playground for some of the nation's most notorious mobsters and inspired one of the seminal novels of the generation.
Seelbach Hotel, circa 1910, Library of Congress holdings of the Detroit Publishing Company Photo Collection.
The Seelbach Hotel -- "the only fireproof hotel in the city" -- was built by Bavarian brothers Otto and Louis Seelbach in 1905 at the corner of Fourth and Walnut Streets in Downtown Louisville. The hotel design was of the Beaux Arts Baroque style and reflected turn-of-the-century opulence, but the Seelbach's lasting legacy would be its ties to the Jazz Age.
Postcard view of the Seelbach's Rathskeller, the basement level restaurant and bar.
Underworld figures like Lucky Luciano and Al Capone frequented the hotel in the 1910s and '20s, drawn by clandestine high-stakes poker games and Kentucky bourbon whiskey. Cincinnati mobster George Remus found that there was a lucrative business in bootlegging the city's native spirit. The hotel's secret passageways famously helped these guests elude police and move liquor. Remus's exploits stood out to a young serviceman named Scott Fitzgerald who'd recently dropped out of Princeton, enlisted, and been stationed at nearby Camp Taylor.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's Battalion, from the May 30, 1917 issue of the Daily Princetonian. Uniforms were custom-made for the soldiers by Brooks Brothers.
Second Lt. Fitzgerald had his share of fun at the Seelbach -- he was even thrown out of the hotel after a night of merrymaking -- and drew upon his experiences in the late 1910s when writing The Great Gatsby. The title character's shadowy past is based at least in part on George Remus's bootlegging exploits, and his paramour, Daisy Buchanan, was a Louisville debutante. Of Daisy, Fitzgerald wrote:
“She had a debut after the Armistice, and in February she was presumably engaged to a man from New Orleans. In June she married Tom Buchanan of Chicago, with more pomp and circumstance than Louisville ever knew before. He came down with a hundred people in four private cars, and hired a whole floor of the Seelbach Hotel, and the day before the wedding he gave her a string of pearls valued at three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”
Over the years, the Seelbach has changed hands and even briefly closed before it was restored to its original opulence. The hotel manages to retain the elegance of bygone days while providing modern amenities. And, as you walk the halls of the grand old hotel, it's easy to imagine that, just for a moment, you caught a glimpse of days gone by -- perhaps a Big City mobster, a flapper debutante, or a young soldier with a story to tell...