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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 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 added The Brewery and Zäd Modern Mediterranean and removed Decca and Rye on Market.

Suggestions for next month's Heatmap will be welcomed 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.
· November 8, 2013 Added: Atlantic No. 5, El Camino. Removed: Relish, Havana Rumba Express.
· December 10, 2013 No changes.
· January 2, 2014 Added: The Monkey Wrench. Removed: La Coop: Bistro a Vins.
· February 6, 2014 Added: Loop 22, Taco Luchador. Removed: Game, Guaca-Mole.
· March 6, 2014 No changes.
· April 3, 2014 Added: The Place Downstairs. Removed: Atlantic No. 5.
· May 1, 2014 Added: The Joy Luck. Removed: Mussel & Burger Bar.
· June 5, 2014: Added: Grind Burger Kitchen. Removed: The Exchange Pub & Kitchen.

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Feast BBQ

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Until the planned Nulu outpost opens, dishes like Feast's barbecued tofu and brisket provide reasons to ford the Ohio. Tater tots, vinegar slaw and collard greens sides pair well with everything.

MilkWood

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Edward Lee's Actors Theatre restaurant offers stepped-up Southern classics, some with Asian twists, as in the "Southern Dim Sum" menu Lee recently unveiled for Sunday brunch.

The Brewery

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After spending 18 years at Jack Fry's, Chef Shawn Ward recently joined Dean Corbett of Corbett's: An American Place and others in updating this 1980s classic. Outgoing CJ critic Marty Rosen called the new menu "something of an adventure in pub cuisine." [Photo: Yelp]

Grind Burger Kitchen

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Liz and Jesse Huot's Grind Gourmet Food Truck built a fan base rabid for hand-shaped, high-quality burgers. Now the duo have opened a non-mobile restaurant with the same great burgers and an expanded menu.

Monkey Wrench

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Executive Chef Dustin Staggers has added an upgraded menu to Dennie Humphrey's newly renovated establishment, serving skillet-fried chicken, burgoo, burgers and more.

Gralehaus

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Design-forward and claiming to be Louisville's first "beer & breakfast," gralehaus (no ugly capital letters, please) serves better-designed breakfast, lunch and beer in an old house on the Baxter side of the triangle. It shares a space (and ownership) with Holy Grale (which also offers excellent food and beer). Try the biscuit with duck sausage gravy.

ZÄD Modern Mediterranean

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Nabil Al-Saba and his wife Lynley Gumaer have operated The Grape Leaf for 20 years, but recently opened Zäd as "a chance to do something different." The menu's chia-coated falafel, cilantro hummus and other "modern" takes on Mediterranean classics have been quite warmly received.

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.

Joy Luck

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Chinese food gets gourmet gloss at this Taiwanese-influenced, trendily decorated Bardstown Road restaurant. Try the Taiwanese boneless roast duck or braised pork over rice.

El Camino

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A mashup of Mexican street food stall, surf punk shack and tiki bar landed on Bardstown Road in late 2012. Brian Enyart, former Chef de Cuisine of both Topolombampo and Frontera Grill, is now Executive Chef.

Loop 22

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Adam Burress and Chase Mucerino, the guys behind Hammerheads and Game, have joined new partner Eric Morris for another meat-centric restaurant. This time mainly focused on rotisserie duck and chicken, it's expanded hours to include lunch and Sunday brunch.

The Place Downstairs

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Fernando Martinez took the space beneath his wildly popular Mussel & Burger Bar and put in an upscale, eclectic dining spot. Now joined by former Papalinos founder Allen Rosenberg, Martinez and company cook up an array of small plates, "jars" of terrine and other good things, plus entrees and desserts. Try the octopus appetizer.

Feast BBQ

Until the planned Nulu outpost opens, dishes like Feast's barbecued tofu and brisket provide reasons to ford the Ohio. Tater tots, vinegar slaw and collard greens sides pair well with everything.

MilkWood

Edward Lee's Actors Theatre restaurant offers stepped-up Southern classics, some with Asian twists, as in the "Southern Dim Sum" menu Lee recently unveiled for Sunday brunch.

The Brewery

After spending 18 years at Jack Fry's, Chef Shawn Ward recently joined Dean Corbett of Corbett's: An American Place and others in updating this 1980s classic. Outgoing CJ critic Marty Rosen called the new menu "something of an adventure in pub cuisine." [Photo: Yelp]

Grind Burger Kitchen

Liz and Jesse Huot's Grind Gourmet Food Truck built a fan base rabid for hand-shaped, high-quality burgers. Now the duo have opened a non-mobile restaurant with the same great burgers and an expanded menu.

Monkey Wrench

Executive Chef Dustin Staggers has added an upgraded menu to Dennie Humphrey's newly renovated establishment, serving skillet-fried chicken, burgoo, burgers and more.

Gralehaus

Design-forward and claiming to be Louisville's first "beer & breakfast," gralehaus (no ugly capital letters, please) serves better-designed breakfast, lunch and beer in an old house on the Baxter side of the triangle. It shares a space (and ownership) with Holy Grale (which also offers excellent food and beer). Try the biscuit with duck sausage gravy.

ZÄD Modern Mediterranean

Nabil Al-Saba and his wife Lynley Gumaer have operated The Grape Leaf for 20 years, but recently opened Zäd as "a chance to do something different." The menu's chia-coated falafel, cilantro hummus and other "modern" takes on Mediterranean classics have been quite warmly received.

The Silver Dollar

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.

Joy Luck

Chinese food gets gourmet gloss at this Taiwanese-influenced, trendily decorated Bardstown Road restaurant. Try the Taiwanese boneless roast duck or braised pork over rice.

El Camino

A mashup of Mexican street food stall, surf punk shack and tiki bar landed on Bardstown Road in late 2012. Brian Enyart, former Chef de Cuisine of both Topolombampo and Frontera Grill, is now Executive Chef.

Loop 22

Adam Burress and Chase Mucerino, the guys behind Hammerheads and Game, have joined new partner Eric Morris for another meat-centric restaurant. This time mainly focused on rotisserie duck and chicken, it's expanded hours to include lunch and Sunday brunch.

The Place Downstairs

Fernando Martinez took the space beneath his wildly popular Mussel & Burger Bar and put in an upscale, eclectic dining spot. Now joined by former Papalinos founder Allen Rosenberg, Martinez and company cook up an array of small plates, "jars" of terrine and other good things, plus entrees and desserts. Try the octopus appetizer.