Zaytun Mediterranean Grill

http://consuminglouisville.com/2009/03/where-to-eat-in-louisville-zaytun-mediterranean-grill.php

While trying Zaytun based on two friends recommendations, we found the restaurant empty on a Thursday night. The emptiness of the place had scared us away once before when we were walking by at the lunch hour, but saw no one inside. Not to compare the place to La Bamba on Bardstown Road, but we were wondering about the quality of the food if no one was around.

Before our food came a couple of Kroger shoppers came in and got to-go orders and two couples came in and sat down. Our food came out beyond quickly – our salad came immediately and our entrees followed soon after. I was impressed by the ambiance in the place: the color tones are chic and inviting, you get to look out large store-front windows onto Bardstown Road, you can kinda see back into the kitchen, they have televisions and pop music playing to delight your eyes and ears. The restaurant could use a tinge more warmth added to it, though. For instance the walls are a little shiny and abrasive. They could be warmed by some velvety furniture or more carpet coverings on the floor.

One part of the meal that was sub-par was our wait staff. They were attentive, but awkward as could be. My waitress spilled water all over my jeans and then wanted to blot it up with napkins. I kindly refused this weird offer and she disappeared and we found ourselves with a new waiter.



Inside of the Restaurant (from Aaron M.'s Yelp.com posting)














On to the important part: we ordered a hero gyro with standard toppings (tomatoes, onions, lettuce), a house salad, and a sampler plate of the vegetarian items (Egyptian-style hummus, baba ganoush, and falafel). The food was unique above all and very tasty. The bread and pita that came with the gyro and sampler plate was warm and sweet and one of the highlights of the meal. The meat was zesty and very flavorful and I would put it second to none; however, to me it tasted as if it was made good by the fattiness of the items (or rather adding butter or grease to them in key spots). The difference between this meal and a meal at Yafa’s, for example, is that Yafa’s never leaves a sour feeling in my stomach – Yafa’s can’t, it’s just fresh food always. Here I was glad and very surprised I didn’t burp my brains out when I went to the gym for my 8-miler afterwards.

Regarding our vegetarian sampler, nothing was lacking in terms of flavor or complexity. However, nothing was outstanding. The baba ganoush, which I had already had some of Yafa’s tops ganoush earlier in the day, was fresh but not quite as tasty. The Egyptian hummus I liked, but had that odd oxidized taste to it that kind of drives me bonkers (is it just a lot of lemon, or what?). The salad we had was phenomenal. It’s dressing was simply unbeatable – it was a simple salad, though, not too much outside standard Greek salad toppings.

There is a constant debate among middle-eastern and Mediterranean foodies about where to find the best falafel in town. My high school French teacher and agree that you can find them at Yafa’s at Theatre Square on Fourth Street; however, Zaytun did offer up some fresh and tasty falafel. I admit I am not partial to their style which tends to be more cooked than not, but their seasoning was scrumptious and their presentation amongst the other items on the plate was perfection! The appearance of the falafel itself is a little questionable: it looks more like a hushpuppy than anything... it’s like a big fried dough ball. But the innards are yummy and warm and the taste is there.

Mojito Tapas

http://mojitotapas.com/

Mojito Tapas restaurant strikes a chord of elegance in dining and presentation that I think is unmatched in similar, middle-end locales. I affentionately refer to the restaurant as "mojito's" and have their number listed as such on my speed dial. The cuban cousin of Havana Rumba restaurant is always booked and allows for thirty minute call-ahead seating arrangements, which is great.

Their menu has, well, everything on it. Soups, salads, tacos, cheeses, tapas, desserts, flatbreads, sandwiches, traditional cuban, barbecue, and even pasta. All are served inexpensively and in a traditional tapas style meaning that they are meant to share. Thus, if that is not your persuasion it is important to keep that in mind when entering the restaurant as goers will want to share (even between tables).



Recently when dining there I had the opportunity to sample the guacamole, queso fundido, tabla de chimichurri, ropa vieja, shrimp pot,  pina colada, mojito, and churros. My recommendations, based on the food here and the same recipes that appear at Havana Rumba are as follows: the caesar salad is always excellent, ditto the guacamole. The restaurant is supposed to be based off "mama's cooking"-type recipes and homemade cuisine with no artificial ingredients or additives. I'd say it works pretty darn well! Drinks are excellent and include fresh mint, sugar cane, and pineapples!

I just love getting a plate of tacos or the beef empanadas here and was pleasantly surprised this past visit by the ropa vieja. I've had it before at Havana Rumba and have been disappointed; however, at Mojito Tapas it was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. Skirted meats sometimes dry out, but this meat was moist, not fatty, and full of flavor. The rice, beans, and plaintain chips it was served with topped it off.

Admittedly, I don't think I would order the shrimp if I went here again. I was hesitant in ordering it and rightfully so. The smell of the shrimp, its sauce, or something always wafts around the restaurant and it never smells fresh. I wish I could definiteively say that it's not the meat that is smelly and sour, but the taste of that dish was just off. My friend enjoyed it as she always does, but I will not order it again.

Additionally the churros were a little plain for my taste as well as the queso. I've had the queso before and been disappointed, though their cheese plates and cheese selection are both exquisite. For example their goat cheese is downright divine and very well-plated (served with bread or honey, depending on the cheese). I think if I went back to mojitos I would spring for a fish taco of some sort and an empanada - go Cuban!

The decor in the place is chique and offers a wide selection of places to sit: inside, outside, bar, glass interior. The lights inside are dim, which allows for a very cool mood! The patrons of the restaurant are mostly older locals, so it wouldn't exactly house a bar in which a young person would want to look for a date. Our service was prompt and reliable; however, I think our waitress was waiting for us to leave at 9pm, as she jetted out the door herself after we got up.

For a fun reading on how "tapas" originated, check out the LEOs new review of Mojitos, which ran the same week we dined there: http://leoweekly.com/dining/small-plates-add-big-meal-mojito

Winston’s Restaurant

www.sullivan.edu/winstons

Last Saturday evening I dined in the calm ambience of Winston’s restaurant, part of the Sullivan culinary school. Chefs serve up plates at Winston’s before graduated from the school and matriculating into real world fare. Our meal on Saturday was nothing less than excellent.

The menu features two types of items: small plates and large plates. As shared appetizers several of us ordered some small plates and sides to share. These included the pave beet salad, truffle fries, sweet potato fries, scallops, scotch egg, and the half not brown. All were decadent and good. I highly recommend the scallops, truffle fries and scotch egg especially.

The scotch egg was a hardboiled egg seasoned and served in a flavorful, but not spicy cream sauce. The egg was encrusted in a panko bread crumb mix before frying and had some country ham around it (what’s known as country ham sausage). It was one of the more unique and tasty items on the menu.

The truffle fries consisted of little potato fries cut into tiny pieces and salted, then served with a truffle mayonnaise. These fries were different from other truffle fries I’ve sampled in that they were not sprinkled with truffle oil, but came with what’s known as a truffle emulsion that was mixed with a mayo-like aioli (it was aioli, but more like mayo in texture and taste). All the sauces they served with items scallops, fries, and sweet potato fries were divine! Accept their offer to bring you some sauce with your fries, should you dine there.

Finally the scallops I had were excellent. They didn’t compare with scallops at limestone and weren’t quite as large or flavorful as those at bonefish, but were served in a lobster butter sauce that wasn’t overpowering and was just right. They also came with a spicy sauce and a ginger sauce, both of which were fresh and exquisite, but neither quite hit the spot like the butter sauce they were drizzled in. I would definitely make a return trip for the scallops!

For our entrées we dined on the mojo risin’ meat mixture served in a plastic bag, vegetarian stack, not brown, and pan seared salmon. I enjoyed my pan seared salmon – the cream sauce, again, was stellar. But the salmon itself lacked in flavor. I want to think that I don’t have to garner anything from a rich sauce to enjoy my meat or fish, but in this case I did. So in that aspect my meal was subpar. However in the sauce were yellow bell peppers and new potatoes that were cooked perfectly, as well as country ham that was a little too salty for my taste. I don’t think I’d order this entrée again even though the sauce was very fresh and yummy, just because its “meat” was lacking in flavor – and it was probably fatty!



The not brown and vegetarian stack disappeared from our table quickly, as did the mojo risin’. However, I thought the whole concept behind the mojo risin was weird. Sure it makes sense that you should bake these meats together (shrimp, lobster, crab) in a sauce and seal in the flavor. But it looks very unrefined to serve someone a plastic bag. Maybe if we were trick-or-treating and begging for food…

For dessert we tried the crème brule, cheesecake, and orange-chocolate cake. All were excellent yet my favorite was the cheesecake (no surprise here!). Good cheesecake gets me every time. It was served with a strawberry sauce that was sweet as well as with fresh strawberries on top. The crème brulee was a little too grainy and not creamy enough for my tastes. The chocolate cake was whoaaaa decadent, but gets high marks! I loved the mixed custardy orange center. That cake can show up in my fridge anytime!

Our wine favorites for the evening consisted of all reds: I picked the mysterious Chilean’ “Chono” wine, which was a hit, while others tried its white sibling and a cabernet sauvignon called “canyon road.” I think the cab was my favorite wine of the evening. It was well balanced and flavorful without being too fruity or front-of-the-mouth.

To all current and former Sullivan students: Wow! You really got a lot going for ya. Eat on!

Sergio's World Beers

http://sergiosworldbeers.com/

For some, the butchertown area off Story Ave. and Washington Streets is nothing more than a mix of industry and beautiful brick sidewalks showcasing historic shotgun houses. In this day, you can find fun times at Vernon Lanes or good eats at the Blind Pig between Story and Washington. For the past two years, there has been one more local find lurking in the back alleys of butchertown: Sergio's World Beers.

Sergio, a fun-loving Shelbyvillian who originates from Brazil, knows too many languages for me to remember. He along with his son Eric, Cory, Alex, and Rafael often run Sergio's World Beers. Unmarked and sitting just before the intersection of Story and Frankfort with flags in the windows, Sergio's bar is one-of-a-kind. The interior could very well be the innards of a 1970's hot dog shop, rollerdome dining area, or retro cafeteria. Instead it's a bar... of sorts. His house is shotgun-style and there are just fridges lining the walls with beers from all around the world. While Sergio will readily admit (and you can tell from his tap list) that he favors Belgium and American brews, he has Russian, Asian, Central American, and beers from all other parts of the world. It's truly a unique experience to enter Sergio's World Beers!

He claims to have over 1,000 beers, but I'm sure that number surpasses 1,100. He keeps a rotating list of the 80-or-so beers he keeps on tap, which always includes chimay.



My top beer picks include: recommended winter ales, chimay, valdieu (his birthday beer), and hopslam (also on tap). Beers in the bottle run at around 4.50 and on top at around 7.50. Pricey? Yes. You can put away beer and food for 20 dollars quite easily and more on a bigger night.

Sergio's also offers something special: a large food menu. This is more than just your average bar food, as Sergio used to run a Mexican restaurant down in Shelbyville. He has seviche, soups, mexican food, cheesesteaks, gyros, and several other fun and obscure offerings on the menu. I highly recommend the guacamole and the mexican pizza, which is a fried tortilla with beans, beef and cheese. It's done perfectly everytime. Skip the cheese dip!

When I enter the bar, I always sit one of two places: at the bar with a handfull of people or in the back in the corner table with a larger group. One word to the wise is that on slow evenings you'll have to literally screw in the lightbulb above your table to provide litting for your friends. I guess it keeps the costs down ;)

When you enter for the first time, don't hesitate to ask Sergio for a brief tour or explanation of the location of the fridges with beverages from different regions in them. He can be very informative on locale and taste via his website, but in person I think it's rare that he would fail to recommend a specific beer (save bud light).

All-in-all, Sergios is a worthwhile visit because - frankly - where else can you find the quaint ambience, bizarre mix of food and beverage and gentile bargoers that Sergio's has to offer?

Café Cubana

This is a new Cuban bistro located at the corner of Clifton Ave. and Frankfort Ave. right by the railroad tracks intersection on Frankfort Ave. The location was the former locale of Lynn Winter’s “Lynn’s Paradise Café,” the restaurant that achieved so much success that it had to move to its bigger and more accommodating Barrett Avenue location. Lynn’s Paradise was noted for its unconventionality in restaurant theme and recipe creations – they were home to the first espresso machine in Louisville and still today their time-tested unique creations top those of food network “Cook-off” challenger Bobby Flay.

Café Cubana takes a different route. Instead of being known for ingénue, I would declare their restaurant to be the most copy-cat of a restaurant I have ever been to… bar none! Their menu is an exact replicate of Havana Rumba, plus a few unique items. They’ve got miles to go before they score originality points the way Rumba did with its homemade cuisine; nonetheless, with a kiss of luck from the prior building owner Café Cubana has a few pennies in its pot of goodness towards becoming an established local eatery.

Their menu is seemingly the same as Havana Rumba; however, it’s more colorful and visually appealing. The dinner prices of many of the items are either the same or a dollar less, which makes dining on fish that much more yummy. Their grilled grouper with cilantro is what we always order at Havana Rumba. I tried it there last night to be eagerly disappointed – it had no flavor and was under cooked L Two weeks ago I tried the same dish at Café Cubana and was pleasantly surprised, at lunchtime no less, to find it flavorful and delicious! They had fresh salt sprinkled on top and the cut of fish itself was thick and tasted excellent. The sides were very flavorful as well – rice, beans, and some gooey plantains.  At the time I think my mind was surprised: “is this more flavorful than Havana rumba?” I caught myself wondering.

Besides the items being a little dryer than those at Havana Rumba, I would give it a 5/5 instead of 3.5/5 on the fish delicious-o-meter 1-on-1 test. (Maybe I should give both a second try, but for the moment that’s where I stand.)

The interior décor at Cubana could not have been more pleasant. When you enter you are greeted with windows on all sides of the restaurant, an elegant view of the glimmering bar, and a mysterious, winding staircase that goes up to the second floor. I would say that few restaurants could rival the intriguing visual that the Cubana provides.

While the walls at Café Cubana were bright, colorful, and fun, their waitstaff knew no English whatsoever. They were literally impossible to understand… Also, I know that they could afford to have some more clientele. However, their operating location makes that a little bit tough. They need to find a niche environment further from other grand ethnic eateries such as Grape Leaf, Shiraz, El Mundo, and Irish Rover.

Bluegrass Brewing Company

http://www.bbcbrew.com/


I have always had a stigma associated with the BBC. Growing up, their rootbeer wasn't quite as good as IBC's and their pizza was never sensational to me in my middle-school mind. They always seemed to get my father's order wrong and had to comp our meal... every single time we went there. These days, however, times have changed.


Saying that one is going to the BBC conjures up thoughts of freedom and relaxation because at the BBC you're skipping an American stone of yore. You can order any type of food. Be at any one of four locations (3 eateries and one tap room). Choose to imbibe, or not to imbibe. Spelling B-B-C is spelling a good time, whomever you're with.


Their food menu includes a wonderful ricotta and goat cheese dip, which is a staple with my coworkers. It is served with an endless supply of pita bread, to help counter the gurgantuan bowl of dip with onions, pesto and some marinara sauce on top. They also sport a pretzel and beer cheese appetizer, which turns out to be an excellent, fresh-made doughy pretzel with a premade tub of cold beer cheese. The flavor isn't lacking but the show is on the beer cheese (it's kind of flourescent and groudy-looking).


Their salads are a scrumptious delight. They aren't overpriced and their selection of salads is plentiful. For about 4 dollars you can get a good wedge salad that is huge, a bluegrass salad that is kind of like a caesar with parmesaen and tomatoes and different dressing and lettace, or several others including a caesar or ahi tuna salad. They have a full burger and sandwich menu, which include delectable meat and vegetarian options including a veggie and spinach burger. One item I would say is worth skipping over are their quesadillas. Having gotten a sour stomach from them before - and knowing that they don't taste all that great - I wouldn't recommend anyone get the quesadilla of the day.


They also offer - ta da! - pizza. Last time I was at the BBC, I got the lunch buffet for $8.99. The buffet runs through 2pm and gives you unlimited pizza, soup, and salad. It's quite nice because you can actually have them make any pizza you'd like whether it's on the menu or off. When I was there I got a sausage and tomato pizza that was delectable. Their crust and their sauce, I admit, are a little bit bland and generic. However, the overall experience of beer + their pizza = a good time.


Oh yeah. Their beer. The BBC has award winning brews that they concoct right here in good 'old Louisville. Their cherry lambic (usually available bottled only) just won eighth place in a cherry beer competition. They usually have about 8 or more of their brews on tap and offer still more in bottled form. They willingly give samples of the brews so you can try before you buy. Showcasing a full bar in addition, why wouldn't you want to come here to chase your bourbon with some excellent bourbon barrel ale. Hmm?


I have yet to try the desserts. I have yet to travel the desert. There are many things I have yet to do in life. But the BBC helps me start to explore some of the nooks and crannies Louisville has cultivated through the years - a culture of fine, lively enjoyment of moderate alcohol consuption and legitimate tasting experiences.

Addendum: for an article that showcases JJ on the BBC (the other BBC) check out number 26 here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12384236 Why is this in my blog? I get most of my new local eat ideas from the LEO.. as they often sample food before the courier journal has the chance. Enjoy!

Limestone Restaurant

http://www.limestonerestaurant.com/

Wow. Savoring every bite. By far the best dining experience in Louisville… and continental cuisine anywhere.

Limestone Restaurant is a hidden gem that steps under the radar of many Louisville gourmands, I am sure. I didn’t venture out to the new –ish restaurant (now five years old perhaps) until just a year ago, but was absolutely blown away by the dining experience. I had quite simply the best tasting scallops my taste buds would ever know.

The mixed grill there is downright killer! There is a white wine sauce with some green beans and carrots, mashed potatoes, and roasted cauliflower, which is downright scrumptious. And –oh yeah – let’s not forget the main items! Two wonderful cuts of salmon, two scallops, and shrimps. Wow! The preparation shows off the beauty inherent in the freshness and locality of the seafood (they are reportedly raised in Oldham county). Just some butter, white wine, spiciness, and pepper. Wow! – is it perfection.

For the first time the other night I sampled the shrimp and grits appetizer and was blown away by the sauce. I am not sure what was in that sauce, but it was slightly sweet and included several fresh herbs. It was by far one of the best sauces I had ever encountered. The sauce was poured over a grits cake and several shrimp. The grits cake was very good and sweetened and flavored just slightly so that it wasn’t boring nor overwhelming.

I have yet to venture into “meat-land” at this restaurant, but I’m sure its local picks are likewise stellar. I have had, though, the trio of soups, the Bibb lettuce salad, some samples of various items, and a Shirley temple! She was stellar, too.

Dessserts at 8 dollars a pop sound scrumptious, though I’ve never had them. Three types of crème brulee served together: vanilla bean, amaretto, and mixed berry. The description of their dark and white chocolate mousse makes my mouth water. It’s served with pomegranate raspberry sorbet and fresh fruit. Oh how divine!

The service there is always very overdone. We would like to eat and drink without being asked if we are done for a little while longer. And no, we do not want desert with our three course meal, thank you. My waistline has suffered a blow there despite the items being local and healthy, the preparations are not exactly.


The decor is very fun! Fish tanks are abundant and the lighting is low and picturesque. Take a glimpse of the wine cellar as you walk to the bathroom.. Also noteable is the bar. It's rich cherry wood appearence is very elegant. It's clear this is a place of charm and class. Southern.

The head chef, Jim Gerhardt, apparently dines out at either Havana Rumba (and orders the fish there) or Mayan Grill (also known for excellent fish) when he goes out. Good picks!

Head over to Limestone near the industrial park on Husrtborne Lane as soon as you can – and can budget for. It’s well worth the trip if you want to treat your tastebuds right and enjoy a Southern spin!

River Bend Winery

http://www.riverbendwineryky.com/

Rarely do I think a mistake is made in deciding to be adventuresome. Eating out based on the review of the LEO Alternative Weekly or google.com reviews (which compiles  reviewers input from other sources such as Yelp.com and urbanspoon.com) is always a hit. I have found scrumptious eats at Eiderdown, Mr. Pollo, Café Istanbul, and other local gems that represent a worldly, varied, yet inexpensive local dining experience. When I ventured out to River Bend Winery last Saturday evening I had high hopes of a wonderful time – and with reason! I was going with a large group of friends, it’s a winery so we’re drinking wine and therefore going to be jovial. However, I was met with some of the most inconsistent service and worst wines I had ever had in my entire life. This is coming from someone who has sampled homemade Kentucky wine, been wine tasting at three other local wineries, and who traveled to Beaune, France to travel the “gold coast” of wine making in the Bourgogne/Champaign region of France. I know my white Gewürztraminer’s from my Liebfraumilch’s, my red Cote-Du-Rhône’s from my Tempranillo’s.

While I am known for my affection towards sweet white wines, the white wines I tried at River Bend Winery were all disgusting. The ones that weren’t sweet (KY Lady and Trifecta) were dead in terms of depth of flavor. They tasted like water with a slight floral motif. The sweet wines don’t deserve to be commented on – the Rhubard, Riesling, and the dessert “ice” wine, as well as the Rosé. They are overly sweet and have some yucky after-tastes.

The winery was out of the bourbon barrel red, one of their two reds so we gravitated towards the Meritage. Little did we know – as it does not indicate on the menu, as they did not state in person, or write on their website – that they would charge mandatory gratuity on our going up to their in-house “store” and grabbing the bottle of red that we paid for at our dining table. A very bizarre policy not written up anywhere. Hmm.

The food there was good – we had the Pork Osso Bucco, which was tender and flavorful. Other people didn’t care for their crab cakes as much or lobster bisque, but the appetizer items and the salads disappeared!

This restaurant/winery simple needs to screw its head on its shoulders correctly. You can venture to the Bristol, to 732 Social, to the Blind Pig (as we did afterwards) and find sensational, local brews of all sorts at a much more reasonable price. I place this spot on the “to be missed” list of Louisville eateries and wish the owners luck in recharting the wine-recipes, making explicit its silly tipping policy (since when do you walk up and buy something and are charged a mandatory tip on it!), and getting servers who pay attention to when you are finished with an item or would like to pay your own bill.

For some hot nods to a good wine, visit Michael's blog at: http://michaelholladay.blogspot.com/2011/01/look-at-those-legs.html?showComment=1296490563256#c7775275020894367285 He reviews a Cabernet Sauvignon called Guenoc. Enjoy!

Holy GrAle

http://consuminglouisville.com/2010/12/holy-grale-now-open.php

It’s an honor to be guest posting as a fellow around-the-world eater (although I mainly just eat around Louisville and write short reviews on Yelp). Several of us from the office have been meeting out after work once or twice a month and yesterday’s expedition was to the brand new Holy Grale beer bar (behind the KFC at the Bardstown/Baxter split). While Claire had helped organize the event, she herself had conflicting plans and couldn’t join us.

Before walking into the bar, I had already glanced at [Consuming Louisville’s photos and overview] on their blog—the two photos of the bar and entrance basically cover the entire seating area. The photos, and of course the name of the establishment itself, suggest the atmosphere of a medieval place of worship. Sure enough, even as you approach the entrance, the shell of a former church embodies this ancient character. It wasn’t dark enough yet when we were there, but I can even imagine faux candelabras lighting the interior. I did notice one votive candle. The music was also very quiet—they may have been playing organ music for all I could tell.

I was expecting a larger seating area when I walked in, but at a glance, it looked like they had room for less than 50 people to sit. By 5:15, when most of us had arrived, the seats were almost full already. We lucked out when four bar seats opened up all at once. There are no waiters there, so it worked out perfectly as we could sit, drink and order our meals right at the bar. I should use “meals” in the lighter sense of the word as they technically only serve appetizers (Consuming Louisville also lists their menu). Most Americans wouldn’t be satisfied with the portion size if they wanted something substantial to eat on its own, but this birdlike eater was extremely pleased with the locally-made brat on pretzel bread. As Michael (one of the members of our motley crew who tried a taco dish) mentioned, they made up in flavor what they lacked in quantity.

The beer itself also made up for the lack in quantity of food. I don’t think they offer anything by the bottle, but they keep their rotating list of 20 generally-rare selections on a prominent board behind the bar. I like that they sort it by AVB. Most were served in 12-oz glasses around $5 to $8. There were pint glasses on the top shelf, but one of the bartenders did mention that many of the glasses were only for display. They don’t offer a flight, but I did try a third beer in a $3 sample glass (I picked it mainly because it had a long and interesting name that I forget now). I’m sure I’ve already demonstrated that I’m not an aficionado, but I always enjoy trying darker beers, like the barley wine they offered and my local favorite KY Bourbon Barrel Ale—I even got Jacob to try the latter and he declared that it was the best beer he’d ever tasted.

The bartenders there are very friendly, although I failed to get their names. Our main help came from the man I’ll refer to as Beard (his wasn’t out-of-control Grizzly, but he was definitely a Louisville Beard cardholder). He was constantly busy, but we never had to wait more than a minute or two to get our orders in. Michael got shafted a couple times, though—Beard didn’t seem to realize that Michael existed most of the evening. Hannah seems to think maybe it was because Beard thought Michael was her date and was a little jealous and bitter about it. She’s quite a catch.

The Holy Grale is a great place to meet up with a couple of friends and try new beers. It’s like Nach Bar transplanted to the Highlands (minus the band, jukebox, and patio) but with food and a better ambiance.

- J.J. (of http://zepfanman.com/) 

Ramsi’s Café on the World

http://www.ramsiscafe.com/

This is a stellar restaurant nestled in the heart of the highlands supporting a range of clientele (from late night goers drinking the P.B.R. on tap and eating dessert to after-church brunchers enjoying a decadent buffet on Sunday mornings). The mowhawk-haired walk by as the mowhawk-hatted sit inside enjoying seviche, fish tacos, or lamb shanks.

The menu is endless and offers many items from all over the world. There are several asian dishes that include both Thai and Indian fare. There is traditional American continental cuisine that is outstanding (think the biggest ribs you’ve ever seen and excellent salads that are cheap and fresh and unique).

This past Sunday I went there to get their Sunday brunch, which I’ve had twice. For 14 dollars you get a breakfast bar of croissants, Indian naan, pita, French toast made on sourdough with cinnamon, pancakes, fresh fruit galore, grits and oatmeal. The dinner buffet includes the vegan queso and regular queso that scrumptiously accompanies the CuBean burrito from the dinner menu. The homemade tortilla chips are to die for as well. The tortellini from the evening as well as the gorgonzola chicken round out the buffet offerings as well. The bbq ribs and jerk chicken is present too. The spinach salad and mixed greek salad is also there. It’s tough to pass up the queso, for me at least, on my many rounds through the buffet.

The buffet also includes a dessert bar, omelet bar and coffee and orange juice in its price. These items are all difficult to consume alongside the gorging that you would have just endured from the rest of the place. I approached the dessert table on my “round two” to the buffet this weekend, saying that I don’t think I could stomach any dessert. A larger woman serving herself cheesecake said, “oh trust me, honey. You will.” And I did find room for mousse and cheesecake in the hours that we spent chatting and indulging at Ramsi’s.

The décor is interesting. There are four dining areas. An outside only area that isn’t open in the winter, a plastic enclosed heated outdoor area that is offered in the winter, a large secondary room that is a lightly lit, and then a smaller main room that I am used to eating in from my childhood. We used to go there for the burrito, which is only a mass of black beans and queso and their goat-cheese dip. This room has a wonderful bar to the right and is decorated to be somewhat like the inside of a 17^th century sugar cane plantation in the West Indies.

I would not hesitate to dine at this underpriced invitation to the world’s table-of-a-restaurant any day.

Dejlah Bistro

Well it seems like I should review it… now that it’s burned down. Dejlah Bistro was located on Oeschli road at a locale that could never stay afloat. It hosted a mediteranean restaurant with horrible seafood for about the past year and before that an Indian restaurant that was not too bad. Restaurants in that locale simply cannot bring in the customers – none waft over from Havana rumba, at least.

So finally something moved in worthwhile, at least to Robin Garr’s palate. He reviewed the café, that was Persian in cuisine, in the leo and gave it a rating as good as Saffron’s (he stated that it was the Iraqi counterpart to the local Iranian restaurant). The ironic thing about the place is that the restaurant’s chef apparently fixed food for Sadaam Hussein during his regime… and some none-too-shabby potatoes, too!

I dined there one time with a coupon with my family and we had an excellent meal. We ate potatoes in two forms: chunked new potatoes that were out of this world and French fries that were extremely well seasoned and cooked as well. Our meat there was excellent - I believe we ordered some lamb and chicken, both of which were good, but the chicken was outstanding.

We were wanting to go back, had another coupon, but then someone burned the place down and grafitied something inside that was racist… some comment.

Anyway, here I am blogging about it. I guess I’m not too disappointed, seeing as other restaurants around town fill the same niche well, but man were those some good taters!

Kayrouz Café

When I was young I often entered the grand Kayrouz café located at the end of willis ave. in a huge, wooden dining room filed with ceiling fans, a secluded bar, deli, and lots of rooms for private parties. I remember well the crackers I’d eat as an appetizer before the meal, the corn pudding, the club sandwiches, the excellent creamy cole slaw, and the Shirley temples.

Today you can’t find the smells, ambience, or old cigarette machine sitting by the door of the establishment, but you can still find an establishment with the same, older crowd sitting around waiting for excellent sandwiches.

While I’ve only ever ventured to try the Nova Chicken Sandwich or caprese salad at the new location, a review entered the leo a few weeks ago of their pork sandwich, so I had to venture there to try it. It came with apples, seasoned mayo, bacon, a side, a pickle, and a large hunk of pork. There was some wonderful melted cheese on top as well. However good it was, I don’t think it competes with the Nova sandwich which beautiful melds the molten flavors of carmelized onions, bacon and chicken in your mouth with some avocado.

I recommend you indulge in a Kayrouz visit because the warmth and peace that can be found in the environment that pumps in wonderful Christmas tunes via a TV and sweet heat while you glance out the window at snow falling is priceless.

Their beers are cheap – about three dollars for a blue moon  - and wines cheap still – about five dollars a glass. They have happy hours for a dollar off drinks on Friday and Saturday nights, which means that they must really cater to their older crowd to be offering such specials those nights in particular. They offer desserts too, which I was told are good, but didn’t indulge in. They had a hot brown special and lots of seafood on the menu that I’d be intrigued to try.

This is the perfect neighborhood hangout. Replacing it these days would have to be the less personal Café Lou-lou down the block. They pack in the crowds like Kayrouz used to on a winter day!

Eiderdown

http://leoweekly.com/dining/double-down-germantown-eiderdown-and-danny-mac%E2%80%99s

(no website, so here's a link to the LEO's review article, which includes a description of several of the entrees.)

Go there... now!!! I don't care if you don't like or have never had or never thought you'd like the smell of chopped ham and sauerkraut. That's not what it's all about.

Eiderdown is the restaurant offspring (literally) of NachBar, located in Germantown. The food combines local cuisine (recipes such as country ham sandwich and foods such as local veggies) and continental cuisine (think spaetzle und sauerbrauten und der list could beginnetagainundagain). Three friends and I dined a two-course meal with beers quite enjoyably for around fifty dollars.

We enjoyed the potato soup - well didn't really eat too much of that, my friend got it and I don't think she liked it, the cornbread - better than the red star tavern's cornbread as proclaimed by us, the cornbread officianados of the universe due to its widespread use of heavy butter, chocolate stout and gouda dip - say what? but even the cheese dip hater among us enjoyed this delicacy that had a consistency of mustard and a taste that is undescribable. For our entrees we had a country ham sandwich, which was accompanied by a warm potato salad and some wonderful calming sauces on the sandwich itself which made it less salty. The bread on the sandwich was a pugliese roll cut open from blue dog bakery. The size was massive: enough to feed a small army of 22-year old men.

The chicken soldier sampler, or whatever that ess-alliterationed dish was called, was excellent - and made perfect by its accompanying grits. Oh my god. They melted in my mouth. They were full of a light, juicy meaty flavor that made them the transcendent grits I have waited all my life to eat (yum, yum, yum!). Anyway the chicken and the veggies were good too, although the veggies were seasoned a little too strong with vinegar and the chicken was a little underdone. However, I should mention that the chicken was full of flavor and not too juicy, fatty, salty, shifty, cookie, spooky, or chinese. It was just downright smart!

The atmosphere of the place is what will have us coming back... I think it is unmatched in louisville. A dark, unlit room with only table candlelit to guide your path. The ambience is similar to the whistle stop in glendale, kentucky except a lot more open and closer to home. The restaurant was packed with people, yet we could all hear one another and felt as if we were in our own little enclosed box. The restaurant has all kinds of people - mostly looking older and upper-middle class - and the waitstaff is uber-friendly (stimmt!) and surprisingly attentive.

I cannot wait to take more family and friends to eiderdown to eat some good germanish grub! Yum! I have yet to also try the newfound Louisville German staple of Erica's on Hurstborne Lane. Maybe I should stop by there for a comparison!

Bristol Bar & Grille

http://www.bristolbarandgrille.com/

During my youth upon entering a catered event and seeing a shining steel tray of the Bristol’s green chili wontons, I think I probably had a miniature foodgasm in my mouth. The Bristol is just that good. In high school there was one local hangout – which JS always makes fun of our friends for – that I would always gladly gravitate towards with friends and family. For Christmas brunches, for late-night friend get-togethers, with friends named Sarah Jessica-Parker and with just my parents I always gladly dined at the Bristol Bar and Grille. The location on Bardstown Road near Longest Ave. is my original favorite, but today I like dining at the chic downtown locale or the peaceful Hurstborne Lane location. I have even stolen a bite at the Jewish Hospital hotel location!

A true meal for me always starts off with the green chili wontons, filled with mozzarella and green chilies. The recipe for these guys, according to the courier journal’s website, packs one pound of mozzarella per batch, which is a lot, and a ton of oil. Nonetheless, this is fried goodness, a half order of which is not worth passing up. I should note that the wontons come with a side of guacamole, which isn’t really guacamole so much as it is green-colored zesty mayonnaise with some fresh parsley sprinkled on top. It’s good and worth saving (or ordering more of) to eat with the free French bread mini-loaves that come before your meal.

All meals come with a house salad with an excellent homemade blue cheese, mix dressing and bread. The salads are always fresh and include specs of cottage cheese, which I don’t even like but lovvvvve mixed with this salad dressing.

For the main course as a kiddo I always went for the freddi’s noodles (alfredo pasta). Let’s hope I never ate the free crayons! As I grew older the Caesar salad beckoned, as well as pork dijonaise with homemade skillet fries (unlike anything you’ve ever eaten), Bristol burger, pharoah’s revenge (i.e., the middle eastern grilled cheese made of havarti, spinach, and onions in a phyllo dough shell), and, of recent, Theresa’s sweet linguine. This last dish has taken my tastebuds by storm continuously for the past five years! It’s in a sweet cream sauce, that has a mysterious Cajun, beet flavor (that I love even though I don’t like beets) that makes the dish simply irrestiable. It features chicken, parmesan, and shredded beets on the top. If only I could figure out who Theresa was!

Their wine selection is great – last time there I had a sensational merlot – and the desserts are very good too and decently priced. The raspberry chocolate moose is fabulous! If you’re wanting an intimate setting, reasonable prices, a lot to eat, and dependabley good food, dine at the Bristol. For a lunch, sandwich shop version of the Bristol that infuses creative-genius into the menu, try Meridian Café.

Cafe Lou-Lou

http://www.cafeloulou.com/main/

So this is surprising. A good, local Italian restaurant that opened up in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and is N'Orleans themed... that I don't frequent. Hmmm. Goat cheese pizza, good desserts, why don't I go there more?

There is something about stuffing food that keeps me away. Indian I do. Italian's just downright addicting. When I eat Italian, for some reason, pizza does not appeal to me unless if it's extremely thin crust and has italian sausage with big fennel stuck in it. I wholeheartedly love pasta. Enough busywork trying to make sense of why I haven't been to Cafe Lou-Lou in a year!

The place is good! They use fresh, local ingredients and their prices aren't exhorbitant. They offer a warm environment with a bar section (where you're likely to bop into folks you played sports with in high school) and a loud, bright atmosphere in the family-style seating section. As far as the fare goes, I’ve only ever had the pizzas and calzones there (and maybe a salad once). I’ve eaten there twice since it’s moved (i.e., not much). It’s not a spot I think of. But after eating there last time, I completely fell in love with it.

I’ve had the pizza with goat cheese (always good) and that used to be my go-to. But last time I went with a health-conscious, ex-personal trainer friend of my parents. He got feta cheese, chicken pizza perhaps with tomatoes or spinach on top. It was either no sauce or low sauce, but the point is that it was exquisite! The feta and the chicken there on pizza is unbeatable. Something about the chicken – I think it is local and low-fat – made the chicken taste out of this world, and I’m not even a chicken person (except I find myself saying that a lot these days). Anyway, I would recommend anything there.

However, if you're looking to not be stuffed, steer clear of the calzones!! If you care to dine on simply wonderful Italian fare that comes from a - shutter - chain restaurant that I actually really enjoy (though have only been to twice), dine at California Pizza Kitchen!

Mr. Pollo

http://leoweekly.com/dining/mr-pollo-restaurant-offers-simple-and-safe-taste-peru

(Mr. Pollo is currenlty sans website, so I will defer you to the source that originally offered me a waft of Mr. Pollo)

No, you cannot find Peruvian food at my friend's, Will's, house. You may find it in Louisville - and only in one place in Louisville - at Mr. Pollo, a peruvian chicken and chips shop located off Klondike Lane. Assimilated poorly into its surroundings as it sticks out like a green egg, it features roast chicken, roast chicken, and roast chicken as its entree options. I am not a fan, generally-speaking, of roast chicken; however, the rub on this chicken is so spectacular that I become a fan yesterday evening (it gave me thoughts of the distant Rollo Pollo that used to be situated by the mall that I would frequent in my middle school years). The rub was a spicy jamaican sort of rub that needed no sauces.

The chefs do give you two sauces with your meal, though: a yellow and an orange. The orange is spicy and amazing - I would literally put that sauce on anything. The yellow is more buttermilky and celery like - good but not clearing my taste bud hurdles of amazingness. Our family meal (number 6) was served with rice and beans and a whole chicken. The rice and beans weren't up to Havana Rumba standards, but were a nice accompinament to the main show.

The restaurant offered many drink and dessert options, which looked yummy. The chef asked us if it was our first time there, to which we responded yes. He gave us all small, appetizer portions of the house's soup. Soooo exquisite! It reminded me of indian cuisine in its spice-choice and had little bits of rice mashed up in it (which, texture-wise, I love for some reason). I would definitely come back again just to get soup or a chicken.

While Mr. Pollo is located near tons of ethnic groceries and restaurants on Klondike Lane, its building is small and hard to find. It's a shot-gun, hole-in-the-wall that's painted an ugly dark blue. Several families of teenagers came in to eat while we were there, but we saw one car of upper-middle class males pull up and then away from the restaurant after deciding it looked too shady. It was simply splendid (but probably did a number on my sodium count!).

I'm going to go re-heat and re-eat it in the lunch room right now. Smells like a plan!

This restaurant should be put on your list of Louisville must-eats. It's inexpensive (six dollars for a meal) and completely different and better than all other roast chicken in town. When a restaurant serves me a dish that offers my tastebuds something completely novel and completes the meal with other suburb items, it gets a must eat recommendation from me. Go there now!!!!! (I will leave you with no culinary alternative on this posting! Do it!)

Joe Huber's Family Farm and Restaurant

http://www.joehubers.com/

Huber’s is good country cooking. Plain and simple. Huber’s in its entirety is an orchard, store, winery, several restaurants, petting zoo, play ground, donkey ride, hay ride, u-pick patch, garden jazz eatery, fishing hole, and so much more. What can you not do at Huber’s these days?

Well you probably can’t move if you go there right now. Just before Halloween is when parents from the city and nearby countryside flock to the Indiana farm-o-polis to pick some friggin’ pumpkins. It’s a zoo, I’m sure. This was always when I went when I was a kid. Recently I’ve been going in the wintertime and it’s soooo peaceful there! Taking friends from college there is always a treat – who doesn’t love watching goats frolic while very full and slightly toasted from a free wine tasting?

The eatery itself offers many options of salads, sandwiches and entrees at somewhat expensive prices. The side orders are my go-to items now. They are about three dollars and absolutely huge. They include the typical: cole slaw, mashed potatoes, chicken and dumplings (what I always get!), and sweet potatoes (yummy too!). I also must say that the catch with hubers – and what has always been the catch besides the good fried chicken – are the rolls. They serve these desserty, dumpling-like roles as appetizers along with an apple spread that is killer! Oh my, I could eat a lot of those. They are also good for feeding ducks or stray dogs after your meal, if you ask your waitress for a second or third serving.

Fifteen big ones is the price for the family style meal that includes lots of chicken (cuts and preparation of choice) and unlimited family-style sides. Warning: you will walk away full.

On one side of the room, which is more like an amphitheatre, is a row of several tables strung together for large parties to sit at. As a youngster, we’d sit over there with our school group (~70 people). Today I’ve seen some companies take their workers out to eat at Huber’s and sit over there. Maybe if you had enough offspring in your family who didn’t die of coronary failure before the age of four, you could all eat over there. The dining setup still confuses me.

On the other side of the acres of land is the winery’s tasting room. It’s in the upstairs to this building that sits across from one of the country stores down from the petting zoo. On the second floor is a room just sheerly for tasting wines. Now they always have free wines to try, but you have to be careful about how you go about tasting the “free” wines because they continuously change their policy (perhaps to charge those who haven’t yet gotten their degrees in drink mooching or who pre-gamed their entrance to the tasting room).

If you’re looking for some even better home cooking, try Colonel Sander’s place – the Colonel’s Lady (now known as Claudia Sanders). It’s worth the drive out to Shelbyville, Kentucky!

Grape Leaf

http://www.grapeleafonline.com/

My father always revels about the breakfasts the grape leaf now serves (they’re even open before 8am on Sunday morning!). This is the local Greek original, and to me, steadfast staple of an aware Louisvillian’s palate. The shwarma, the lamb, the Spanish burrito, the salads (oh my!), and the hummus are all part of the experience. I can still remember bringing my high school’s cultural awareness club to the Grape Leaf and downed a lamb gyro. The bliss my peers and I experienced was rather extreme. It was an excellent bonding experience of joy and warmth.

Last week I went there and tried out a new dish for me – chicken sumac. I had recently discovered sumac at Saffron’s Persian cuisine on Market Street. They sprinkle it all over the humus served there and include it as a rub on meats. It’s rare to find and expensive to buy, but armed with a good recipe can do wonders in a simple fashion to any meat. At Grape Leaf the chicken was fried with vegetables and had an excellent, unified taste. The server was smart enough to bring out our Greek salads (like the house except served with feta cheese) before the meal so that we could enjoy some early yummyness. The salads include lots of romaine leafs, cut up fresh fruit (pineapple and melons), some craisins or pomegranate seeds, big almonds, and a wonderful vinaigrette dressing applied liberally. Wow! Everytime I eat that salad I’m reminded of just how wonderful a creative salad – and healthy – can be.

Recently I also ventured to try something known as the Spanish burrito. It’s pinto bean madness with gooey cheese. I don’t remember much else about it except that it was served with very good pico de gallo and was enough for three people. It was extremely good as well!

The ambience of the restaurant I should note as well. It used to be a well-lit, smelly hole in the wall. Since it expanded into the beauty shop the owner’s wife owned next door they have upgraded the interior. It’s now calming and quiet, complimented by a waterfall, and wonderful bathroom – but odd floor-length mirror on the way there. There is also a patio area for dining with large grape leaves covering the latticework hanging above. Trains occasionally pass and surprise rains also occasionally ruin the blissful moments spent in the outdoors, but otherwise dining outside is not to be missed!

Next time you’re looking for limitless Greek choices and the best ambience in town, come to the Leaf! For a cheaper, speedier Mediterranean experience walk a block west to Shiraz on Frankfort Ave.

To try this week or next...

In the coming weeks, I hope to sample the likes of:

Angio’s Italian on Old Bardstown Rd.

Dejlah Bistro on Oeschli Rd.

Little India Café on Breckinridge Rd.

Some Peruvian Pollo spot on Klondike Rd. or something that was written up in the paper recently

Saigon by Trinity

Simply Thai by Rainbow Blossom St. Matthews

This week you can hope to find reviews of: Market on Market (on Fourth Street in downtown Louisville) and the Uptown Cafe, located on Bardstown Road in Louisville. Perhaps Huber's deserves a review as well!

The Comfy Cow

http://thecomfycow.com/

Wow! Cinnamon, that beloved flavor of my days of yore that I can still not spell correctly, is currently one of the rotating flavors available at the comfy cow, located on Herr Lane in the new Westport Village.

Anyway, the comfy cow is a new business establishment that actually fulfills what the homemade pie and ice cream kitchen claims. Having tried both their ice cream and their ice cream pies, I am qualified to say that the boundless options that comfy cow offers are unprecedented in their flavor. For instance, when eating their peanut butter flavor it actually tastes like distinctive, homemade goodness in a cone, not some singular Reese’s taste that is not a novel experience on your taste buds. The butter pecan is fabulous, as is the peanut butter ice cream cake. The thing about their creations is that none of them are just filled with simply one thing, but rather a combination of flavors that the owners take seriously in their design and formulation.

The options at the comfy cow are endless: they have many ice cream flavors, ice cream pie flavors, frozen banana sprinklings, cookie and regular dessert options, tea flavors, and soft drink options. Their most recent flavor creation, one that pays tribute to the great Steely Dan song, Pretzel Logic, purported combines their signature vanilla ice cream chocked full of chocolate covered pretzels, Reese’s peanut butter chips and a decadent peanut butter swirl. While this concoction of flavors leaves me speechless, all that one can add to this posting is that life is too short for you to not know – and I mean really know through and through – what each of the ice cream flavors at comfy cow tastes like.

PostScript: I read in the paper yesterday that they are to open a second location on Frankfort Avenue where Ginny’s Diner used to be. Yes please!

PostScript 2: How many followers do I have? This is an Xplosion!