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The 18 Essential Louisville Restaurants, April 2013

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Welcome to the Louisville Eater 18, our answer to any question that begins, "Can you recommend a restaurant?" This elite group covers the entire area, spans myriad cuisines and satisfies all of your restaurant needs, save for those occasions when you feel a need to slum it up (hello Twig and Leaf). Every couple of months, we'll be adding restaurants that were omitted or have stepped up their game.

UPDATE: This article has been revised. Eater's most recent list of Louisville's 18 essential restaurants is here.

These are the places that you think of when you think of Louisville. Not necessarily the newest and hottest on the block (for that, there's the Eater Louisville Heatmap), but the classics (yes, there's some overlap). And, no, the list isn't in any order.

Added: Corbett's: An American Place, Holy Grale
Removed: Dragon King's Daughter, El Mundo

For those of you readying the pitchforks because your favorite isn't included, wouldn't it just be more productive to leave your thoughts in the comments?


Eater Louisville 18 history

·January 8, 2013: Initial Eater Louisville 18
·April 9, 2013: Added Corbett's: An American Place and Holy Grale, removed Dragon King's Daughter and El Mundo

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Called "an icon in the making," in April 2012 by LEO Weekly, this modern American restaurant is still winning over skeptics a year later.

610 Magnolia

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A contender on Bravo's "Top Chef," Edward Lee's "contemporary approach to the Southern table" is among the top restaurants in his adopted hometown too.

Hillbilly Tea

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Despite having only opened in 2010, this downtown cafe—which focuses on "organic teas, mountain-inspired tea cuisine and tea hooch"—is as quintessential Kentucky as it gets.

Eiderdown

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Experience Germantown's unique flavor via spaetzle, wurst and half a litter of Spaten Pils.

The Blind Pig

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Catch a whiff of Butchertown's neighborhood slaughterhouse before entering to oink out on a pig-centric menu. (Its pork rillettes might be the best appetizer in the city.)

Proof on Main

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Because plopping a 30-foot-tall golden naked David (penis) in front of its entrance wasn't surprising enough, in August, this top Louisville restaurant changed executive chefs. While the reviews of David are mixed, Levon Wallace's menu has drawn near universal praise.

Rye On Market

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"Is Yelp Really for Morons?" Time magazine asks. That this NuLu hotspot, which emphasizes seasonal and regional cuisine, only nets 3.5 stars on that user-review site answers Time's question with a resounding "fuck yeah." Try the potato and leek fritters or meat plate.

Hammerheads

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Diners were walking into this former walkout basement for chicken and waffles before that dish was cool (again). And three of our industry experts listed it as one of their top standbys of 2012.

Jack Fry's

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If this clubby traditional American restaurant were any more quintessential Louisville, diners would eat on a thoroughbred while brandishing a baseball bat and quoting Muhammad Ali.

Bistro Le Relais

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This Bowman Field bistro's take on traditional French cuisine—a whiff of the beef bourguignon can transport you instantly to Pont Neuf—stands out in a city named for Louis XVI.

Mayan Café

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Visiting for Derby, dinner at this authentic Mayan restaurant led this then-DC-based editor to realize just what a livable city Louisville is. Start with the tok-sel lima beans.
Michael and Stephen Ton's modern Vietnamese restaurant has been a top draw since it opened in 2007.

Seviche: A Latin Restaurant

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Seviche? In Kentucky? Anthony Lamas's original take on the traditional Latin America dish proves it's possible here.

Wiltshire on Market

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It doesn't get as much press as some of its East Market neighbors, but what does the media know anyway? Its menu changes weekly but fresh and local are staples.

Harvest

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Harvest's commitment to all-things local still attracts Louisvillians to dine under the eyes of the watchful farmers.

Corbett's: An American Place

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Located in a restored 19th century mansion, the new American cuisine at the flagship restaurant of one of the city's marquee chef's draws praise from national media.

Holy Grale

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Omitted from the inaugural Eater 18 only because this converted Unitarian Church is more bar than restaurant, its kitchen (elevated pub food) just added Friday, Saturday and Sunday lunch service.

Wagner's Pharmacy

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It is what it is—a pharmacy with a lunch counter right across the street from Churchill Downs' backside—and that's Louisville.

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Decca

Called "an icon in the making," in April 2012 by LEO Weekly, this modern American restaurant is still winning over skeptics a year later.

610 Magnolia

A contender on Bravo's "Top Chef," Edward Lee's "contemporary approach to the Southern table" is among the top restaurants in his adopted hometown too.

Hillbilly Tea

Despite having only opened in 2010, this downtown cafe—which focuses on "organic teas, mountain-inspired tea cuisine and tea hooch"—is as quintessential Kentucky as it gets.

Eiderdown

Experience Germantown's unique flavor via spaetzle, wurst and half a litter of Spaten Pils.

The Blind Pig

Catch a whiff of Butchertown's neighborhood slaughterhouse before entering to oink out on a pig-centric menu. (Its pork rillettes might be the best appetizer in the city.)

Proof on Main

Because plopping a 30-foot-tall golden naked David (penis) in front of its entrance wasn't surprising enough, in August, this top Louisville restaurant changed executive chefs. While the reviews of David are mixed, Levon Wallace's menu has drawn near universal praise.

Rye On Market

"Is Yelp Really for Morons?" Time magazine asks. That this NuLu hotspot, which emphasizes seasonal and regional cuisine, only nets 3.5 stars on that user-review site answers Time's question with a resounding "fuck yeah." Try the potato and leek fritters or meat plate.

Hammerheads

Diners were walking into this former walkout basement for chicken and waffles before that dish was cool (again). And three of our industry experts listed it as one of their top standbys of 2012.

Jack Fry's

If this clubby traditional American restaurant were any more quintessential Louisville, diners would eat on a thoroughbred while brandishing a baseball bat and quoting Muhammad Ali.

Bistro Le Relais

This Bowman Field bistro's take on traditional French cuisine—a whiff of the beef bourguignon can transport you instantly to Pont Neuf—stands out in a city named for Louis XVI.

Mayan Café

Visiting for Derby, dinner at this authentic Mayan restaurant led this then-DC-based editor to realize just what a livable city Louisville is. Start with the tok-sel lima beans.

Basa

Michael and Stephen Ton's modern Vietnamese restaurant has been a top draw since it opened in 2007.

Seviche: A Latin Restaurant

Seviche? In Kentucky? Anthony Lamas's original take on the traditional Latin America dish proves it's possible here.

Wiltshire on Market

It doesn't get as much press as some of its East Market neighbors, but what does the media know anyway? Its menu changes weekly but fresh and local are staples.

Harvest

Harvest's commitment to all-things local still attracts Louisvillians to dine under the eyes of the watchful farmers.

Corbett's: An American Place

Located in a restored 19th century mansion, the new American cuisine at the flagship restaurant of one of the city's marquee chef's draws praise from national media.

Holy Grale

Omitted from the inaugural Eater 18 only because this converted Unitarian Church is more bar than restaurant, its kitchen (elevated pub food) just added Friday, Saturday and Sunday lunch service.

Wagner's Pharmacy

It is what it is—a pharmacy with a lunch counter right across the street from Churchill Downs' backside—and that's Louisville.