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The Eater Louisville Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

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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: MilkWood, Game.
Removed: 610 Magnolia, Hammerheads

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

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Seviche: A Latin Restaurant

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Anthony Lamas's Nuevo Latino restaurant is in its seventh year. But it's still as hot as some of its blistered shishito peppers.
Called "an icon in the making," in April 2012 by LEO Weekly, this modern American restaurant is still winning over skeptics a year later.

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."

The Silver Dollar

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Open for barely a year, this East End honky-tonk, "centered around Bakersfield Sound music and Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey" already has spawned one local imitator.

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.

St. Charles Exchange

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Located in one of downtown's oldest buildings, its list of craft cocktails is almost as long as its bar. And executive chef Patrick McCandless must have sold his soul for that deviled eggs recipe.

Harvest

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Two newer restaurants (Decca and Rye) have opened just down the street, but Harvest's commitment to all-things local still attracts Louisvillians to dine under the eyes of the watchful farmers.

Holy Grale

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Sure this converted Unitarian Church is more bar than restaurant, but its elevated pub food (like the cassoulet dog) attracts even teetotalers. Insider tip: eat a hamburger to get a base in your stomach, drink beers, eat another hamburger to sober up, thank Eater.
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.

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).

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.

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.

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 and as experimental as Pinter.
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...

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Seviche: A Latin Restaurant

Anthony Lamas's Nuevo Latino restaurant is in its seventh year. But it's still as hot as some of its blistered shishito peppers.

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.

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."

The Silver Dollar

Open for barely a year, this East End honky-tonk, "centered around Bakersfield Sound music and Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey" already has spawned one local imitator.

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.

St. Charles Exchange

Located in one of downtown's oldest buildings, its list of craft cocktails is almost as long as its bar. And executive chef Patrick McCandless must have sold his soul for that deviled eggs recipe.

Harvest

Two newer restaurants (Decca and Rye) have opened just down the street, but Harvest's commitment to all-things local still attracts Louisvillians to dine under the eyes of the watchful farmers.

Holy Grale

Sure this converted Unitarian Church is more bar than restaurant, but its elevated pub food (like the cassoulet dog) attracts even teetotalers. Insider tip: eat a hamburger to get a base in your stomach, drink beers, eat another hamburger to sober up, thank Eater.

Relish

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.

Feast BBQ

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).

Guaca Mole

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.

Mussel & Burger Bar

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.

MilkWood

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 and as experimental as Pinter.

Game

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...