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The Eater Louisville Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

by Zach Everson
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by Zach Everson

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 it cocktail. Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change often to highlight where the Louisville foodie crowds are flocking to at the moment. (The restaurants are listed not by rank, but in the order in which this editor got around to finishing their descriptions.)

Added: None.
Removed: None

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 cha

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Seviche: A Latin Restaurant

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Ceviche is a dish best served cold. But chef Anthony Lamas's Nuevo Latino restaurant is still hot, even after seven years.
1538 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40205
502-473-8560
502-473-8560

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." As the weather gets warmer, it's spacious patio makes it even more of a draw.
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

The Silver Dollar

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This East End honky-tonk, "centered around Bakersfield Sound music and Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey," was just 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

Proof on Main

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Newish chef Levon Wallace continues to make his influence felt at this new American restaurant. And the reviews continue to say, better than ever.
702 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202
502-217-6360
502-217-6360

St. Charles Exchange

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Fresh off cooking dinner at New York's James Beard House and getting national recognition for its craft cocktails, this new American restaurant just changed both its executive chef and cocktail menu. But its roster of talent and liquors must be deep as the praise continues.
113 S. 7th Street, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 618-1917
(502) 618-1917

Harvest

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Its dedication to local ingredients makes this new American restaurant stand out, even in a neighborhood full of competitors.
624 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 384-9090
(502) 384-9090

Holy Grale

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Sure this converted Unitarian Church is more bar than restaurant, but its elevated pub food (including one of the city's best burgers) attracts even teetotalers. Plus, it just opened for lunch on Fridays Saturdays and Sundays.
1034 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204
502-459-9939
502-459-9939

Relish

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Former Jack Frye's owner Susan Seiller's ditches clubby for clean and simple (think pressed ropa vieja—Cuban-style brisket, manchego, Cuban roll) to rave reviews. It just added dinner service too.
1346 River Road, Louisville, KY 40206
502-587-7007
502-587-7007

Feast BBQ

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Dishes like its barbecued tofu provide a reason to ford the Ohio (other than to play the slots or see the naked ladies, of course).
116 West Main Street, New Albany, IN 47150
812-920-0454
812-920-0454

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

Mussel & Burger Bar

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The owners of Guaca Mole opened this American bistro to equally rave reviews (especially of its namesake dishes) in early February 2013, making it one of the few reasons to eat in Jtown.
9200 Taylorsville Rd., Louisville, KY 40299
502-499-7666
502-499-7666

MilkWood

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The "comfort bar food with an Asian pantry" at 610 Magnolia's Edward Lee's new Actors Theatre spot appeals to diners with tastes as traditional as Shakespeare (go with the burger) and as experimental as Pinter (make it the two days-cooked veal).
316 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202
502-584-6455
502-584-6455

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
502-618-1712
502-618-1712

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
812-948-6501
812-948-6501
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Seviche: A Latin Restaurant

1538 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40205
Ceviche is a dish best served cold. But chef Anthony Lamas's Nuevo Latino restaurant is still hot, even after seven years.
1538 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40205
502-473-8560
502-473-8560

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." As the weather gets warmer, it's spacious patio makes it even more of a draw.
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

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 just 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

Proof on Main

702 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202
Newish chef Levon Wallace continues to make his influence felt at this new American restaurant. And the reviews continue to say, better than ever.
702 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202
502-217-6360
502-217-6360

St. Charles Exchange

113 S. 7th Street, Louisville, KY 40202
Fresh off cooking dinner at New York's James Beard House and getting national recognition for its craft cocktails, this new American restaurant just changed both its executive chef and cocktail menu. But its roster of talent and liquors must be deep as the praise continues.
113 S. 7th Street, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 618-1917
(502) 618-1917

Harvest

624 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40202
Its dedication to local ingredients makes this new American restaurant stand out, even in a neighborhood full of competitors.
624 E Market St, Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 384-9090
(502) 384-9090

Holy Grale

1034 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204
Sure this converted Unitarian Church is more bar than restaurant, but its elevated pub food (including one of the city's best burgers) attracts even teetotalers. Plus, it just opened for lunch on Fridays Saturdays and Sundays.
1034 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40204
502-459-9939
502-459-9939

Relish

1346 River Road, Louisville, KY 40206
Former Jack Frye's owner Susan Seiller's ditches clubby for clean and simple (think pressed ropa vieja—Cuban-style brisket, manchego, Cuban roll) to rave reviews. It just added dinner service too.
1346 River Road, Louisville, KY 40206
502-587-7007
502-587-7007

Feast BBQ

116 West Main Street, New Albany, IN 47150
Dishes like its barbecued tofu provide a reason to ford the Ohio (other than to play the slots or see the naked ladies, of course).
116 West Main Street, New Albany, IN 47150
812-920-0454
812-920-0454

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

Mussel & Burger Bar

9200 Taylorsville Rd., Louisville, KY 40299
The owners of Guaca Mole opened this American bistro to equally rave reviews (especially of its namesake dishes) in early February 2013, making it one of the few reasons to eat in Jtown.
9200 Taylorsville Rd., Louisville, KY 40299
502-499-7666
502-499-7666

MilkWood

316 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202
The "comfort bar food with an Asian pantry" at 610 Magnolia's Edward Lee's new Actors Theatre spot appeals to diners with tastes as traditional as Shakespeare (go with the burger) and as experimental as Pinter (make it the two days-cooked veal).
316 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202
502-584-6455
502-584-6455

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
502-618-1712
502-618-1712

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
812-948-6501
812-948-6501