Show me a restaurant that does the small things well, and I will bet the price of a good lunch that it does the big things well too. So it is with Locals Food Hub & Pizza Pub, a combined local food market and quick-service eatery on East Broadway in Louisville’s Smoketown neighborhood.
Continue reading Doing good by eating well at Locals
Serai Malaysian-plus to fill DiFabio’s space
The historic Clifton quarters being vacated by DiFabio’s Casapela after its 15-year run won’t stay vacant for long. Chef Sebastian Moh tells us that he is taking over the space at 2311 Frankfort Ave. to open Serai, a neighborhood restaurant featuring Southeast Asian cuisine.
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Continue reading Serai Malaysian-plus to fill DiFabio’s space
Ramen House … unmalled
To be honest, news that Mid City Mall is up for sale and possible redevelopment hasn’t caused many complaints. The old Highlands spot is widely seen as, well, grungy. It’s no coincidence that local wits often call it Skid City Mall.
But within those 63-year-old walls reside a few highly regarded shops. Would the demise of the mall spell an end to popular institutions like the Highlands-Shelby Park Library, Valu Market, and Baxter Avenue Theatres? That realization can trigger the sounds of wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Continue reading Ramen House … unmalled
When is a fried egg not an egg?
Ah, the farmers’ market! Fresh local peaches, tomatoes, corn, tons of produce! But a vegan fried egg wasn’t on my bingo card. Of course I had to try it.
Now, to clarify, pastured hens’ eggs stuffed into hefty burritos are a standard feature at the St. Matthews Farmers Market and many more of the metro’s two dozen-plus farmers’ markets.
But a vegan fried egg, sunnyside up with a bright yellow yolk looking up at us from its shiny white nest, all of it based entirely on plants without an animal-sourced molecule in sight? How can such a thing even be?
Continue reading When is a fried egg not an egg?
Buffet is back (for now) at Taj Palace
Don’t stop me if I’ve told you this before, but I’m not really a big fan of restaurant buffets. Oh, the all-you-can-eat part ccan be nice, but I fret a little about freshness, serving temperature, even sanitation. Do those glass “sneeze shields” even work?
Continue reading Buffet is back (for now) at Taj Palace
Landmark Le Relais stays in the family
By Robin Garr
LouisvilleHotBytes.com
Le Relais, Louisville’s beloved French restaurant, has been a staple in the community for more than three decades. Recently it was sold to Amy Zinner, a longtime member of the team and partner of the former owner, Anthony Dike.
In this interview, Amy and Anthony talk about the restaurant’s history, the challenges of ownership, and what’s next for Le Relais.
Continue reading Landmark Le Relais stays in the family
Antidote to winter cold? Make mine Irish.
By Robin Garr
LouisvilleHotBytes.com
“My cap is frozen to my head
My heart is like a lump of lead
My shoes are frozen to my feet
With standing at your window.”
It’s been that kind of winter, all right. The traditional Irish ballad “Cold Blow and the Rainy Night” captures well the feeling of snow and ice and bone-chilling temperatures that freeze our caps to our heads and our shoes to our feet.
We’re finally enjoying a little break this week. But no one believes winter is over, or that we’ll even be out of the chill by St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. So when I’m looking for a warm, cozy place to grab a meal or a comforting drink, there’s a good chance I’ll find my way to one of Louisville’s favorite authentic Irish restaurants: Molly Malone’s in the Highlands or The Irish Rover in Clifton.
Whether you’re in the mood for a filling Irish repast, a warming glass of Irish whiskey, or a restorative pint of dark, bittersweet, well-drawn Guinness, you can’t go wrong at either of these establishments. Each, however, brings a distinctly different mood to the table.
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Our LouisvilleHotBytes reviews are reader-supported. We pay our own way and accept no gifts or gratuities from restaurants. Your subscriptions keep us independent. Please support us: Subscribe today!
Meesh Meesh chef gains Beard nomination
Congratulations to Noam Bilitzer at Meesh Meesh Mediterranean in Louisville: He has been named a Best Chef: Southeast semininalist in the James Beard Awards’ 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards.
Also a semifinalist in Best Chef: Southeast is Chef Sara Bradley at Freight House in Paducah.
Two other Kentucky entries were announced as semifinalists today: Holly Hill Inn, Midway for Outstanding Hospitality, and The Bar at Willett in Bardstown for Outstanding Bar.
Continue reading Meesh Meesh chef gains Beard nomination
Friend’s Fusion offers fine Peruvian fare with a smile
By Robin Garr
LouisvilleHotBytes.com
Not that many years ago, we didn’t have many Hispanic neighbors around Louisville, and the puny quality of our Mexican restaurant scene reflected that deficit. But times have surely changed!
Continue reading Friend’s Fusion offers fine Peruvian fare with a smile
Bellissimo brings Afghan pride to the table
By Robin Garr
LouisvilleHotBytes.com
Just about every successful restaurateur worked hard to achieve that dream, but for some of our immigrant neighbors, that’s only half of the story.
Consider, if you will, an Iranian-born chef who learned Italian cooking at Vincenzo’s, then with his Afghanistan-migrant wife bounced from the upscale Italian eatery to a popular Italian food truck and restaurant that has now expanded into Louisville’s first Afghan eatery: Bellissimo.
Continue reading Bellissimo brings Afghan pride to the table