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The Eater Louisville Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

by Steve Hacker
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by Steve Hacker

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, which favorite chef just launched a sophomore effort, where to sip the latest, greatest cocktail creation. Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change often to highlight where the Louisville crowds are flocking to at the moment. (The restaurants are listed by geographic location, not by merit.)

This month's Heatmap has only a couple of changes:

Added: Atlantic No. 5, El Camino.
Removed: Relish, Havana Rumba Express.


Have any suggestions? Any vital omissions? Leave 'em in the comments.



Eater Louisville Heatmap history

·Dec 6, 2012: Initial Eater Louisville Heatmap
·Jan. 3, 2013: Added Feast BBQ, Guaca Mole and Relish
·Feb. 7, 2013: Added Mussel & Burger Bar
·March 7, 2013: Added MilkWood and Game, removed 610 Magnolia and Hammerheads
·April 4, 2013: Added The Exchange Pub + Kitchen
·May 2, 2013: No changes
·June 6, 2013: Removed St. Charles Exchange
·July 11, 2013: Added La Coop: Bistro à Vins
·Aug. 1, 2013: Added Garage Bar
·Sept. 5, 2013: No changes
·Oct. 3, 2013: Added Havana Rumba Express & Tapas Bar. Removed: Garage Bar, Harvest, Holy Grale, Proof on Main, Seviche: A Latin Restaurant.

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The Exchange Pub + Kitchen

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Rave reviews in LEO Weekly and Louisville Courier-Journal help explain why this New Albany gastropub is drawing big crowds, even in the middle of the week.
118 West Main Street, New Albany, IN 47150

Feast BBQ

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Dishes like its barbecued tofu and brisket provide a reason to ford the Ohio (other than to play the slots or see the naked ladies, of course). Tater tots, vinegar slaw and collard greens sides pair well with everything.
116 West Main Street, New Albany, IN 47150
(812) 920-0454
(812) 920-0454

Atlantic No. 5

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Chef Tyler Morris has moved from Rye on Market to this lunchbox-decorated Main Street café, and now presents "an Innovative take on lunchtime classics and a full selection of coffees by local roasters." The bacon & egg sandwich is excellent for either breakfast or lunch, as is the coffee.
Louisville, KY

MilkWood

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The "comfort bar food with an Asian pantry" at Edward Lee's Actors Theatre spot appeals to diners with tastes as traditional as Shakespeare (go with the burger) and as experimental as Pinter (the scallop and pork belly entree).
316 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202

Decca

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A San Francisco transplant, chef Annie Pettry's NuLu kitchen has quickly impressed in Louisville with its "commitment to locally farmed and small production ingredients."
812 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 749-8128
(502) 749-8128

Rye On Market

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"We would love to establish ourselves based on our chef-driven menu and ingredient-focused philosophy," Rye's general manager wrote recently in an email. Based on the crowds at this NuLu new American restaurant, however, it's already done so.
900 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 749-6200
(502) 749-6200

La Coop: Bistro à Vins

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Its Southern twist on traditional French cuisine, paired with the deep wine list you'd expect, made this Green Building spot Louisville Magazine's readers' choice for the best new restaurant.
732 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 410-2888
(502) 410-2888

The Silver Dollar

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This East End honky-tonk, "centered around Bakersfield Sound music and Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey," was named one of the top 10 whiskey bars in America by GQ. It's also a hot spot for brunch.
1761 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 259-9540
(502) 259-9540

El Camino

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A mashup of Mexican street food stall, surf punk shack and tiki bar has landed on Bardstown Road. So far, the locals seem intrigued.
Louisville, KY

Game

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The Hammerheads' guys' February 2013 opening is just another burger joint off the highway. Except for the kangaroo meat. And the ostrich meat. And the wild boar meat. And the...
2295 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40206

Mussel & Burger Bar

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This February 2013 opening, one of the few reasons to eat in Jtown, has quickly thrust itself into "best burger in town" conversations.
9200 Taylorsville Rd., Louisville, KY 40299
502-499-7666
502-499-7666

Guaca Mole

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Our experts called this Mexican restaurant, best known for its namesake dish, one of the city's top newcomers in 2012—and Urbanspoon proclaimed it among the best in the nation.
9921 Ormsby Station Road, Louisville, KY 40223
(502) 365-4822
(502) 365-4822
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The Exchange Pub + Kitchen

118 West Main Street, New Albany, IN 47150
Rave reviews in LEO Weekly and Louisville Courier-Journal help explain why this New Albany gastropub is drawing big crowds, even in the middle of the week.
118 West Main Street, New Albany, IN 47150

Feast BBQ

116 West Main Street, New Albany, IN 47150
Dishes like its barbecued tofu and brisket provide a reason to ford the Ohio (other than to play the slots or see the naked ladies, of course). Tater tots, vinegar slaw and collard greens sides pair well with everything.
116 West Main Street, New Albany, IN 47150
(812) 920-0454
(812) 920-0454

Atlantic No. 5

Louisville, KY
Chef Tyler Morris has moved from Rye on Market to this lunchbox-decorated Main Street café, and now presents "an Innovative take on lunchtime classics and a full selection of coffees by local roasters." The bacon & egg sandwich is excellent for either breakfast or lunch, as is the coffee.
Louisville, KY

MilkWood

316 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202
The "comfort bar food with an Asian pantry" at Edward Lee's Actors Theatre spot appeals to diners with tastes as traditional as Shakespeare (go with the burger) and as experimental as Pinter (the scallop and pork belly entree).
316 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202

Decca

812 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40206
A San Francisco transplant, chef Annie Pettry's NuLu kitchen has quickly impressed in Louisville with its "commitment to locally farmed and small production ingredients."
812 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 749-8128
(502) 749-8128

Rye On Market

900 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40206
"We would love to establish ourselves based on our chef-driven menu and ingredient-focused philosophy," Rye's general manager wrote recently in an email. Based on the crowds at this NuLu new American restaurant, however, it's already done so.
900 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 749-6200
(502) 749-6200

La Coop: Bistro à Vins

732 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40202
Its Southern twist on traditional French cuisine, paired with the deep wine list you'd expect, made this Green Building spot Louisville Magazine's readers' choice for the best new restaurant.
732 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 410-2888
(502) 410-2888

The Silver Dollar

1761 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
This East End honky-tonk, "centered around Bakersfield Sound music and Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey," was named one of the top 10 whiskey bars in America by GQ. It's also a hot spot for brunch.
1761 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 259-9540
(502) 259-9540

El Camino

Louisville, KY
A mashup of Mexican street food stall, surf punk shack and tiki bar has landed on Bardstown Road. So far, the locals seem intrigued.
Louisville, KY

Game

2295 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40206
The Hammerheads' guys' February 2013 opening is just another burger joint off the highway. Except for the kangaroo meat. And the ostrich meat. And the wild boar meat. And the...
2295 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40206

Mussel & Burger Bar

9200 Taylorsville Rd., Louisville, KY 40299
This February 2013 opening, one of the few reasons to eat in Jtown, has quickly thrust itself into "best burger in town" conversations.
9200 Taylorsville Rd., Louisville, KY 40299
502-499-7666
502-499-7666

Guaca Mole

9921 Ormsby Station Road, Louisville, KY 40223
Our experts called this Mexican restaurant, best known for its namesake dish, one of the city's top newcomers in 2012—and Urbanspoon proclaimed it among the best in the nation.
9921 Ormsby Station Road, Louisville, KY 40223
(502) 365-4822
(502) 365-4822