91. Check’S Café
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (502) 637-9515
Address: 1101 East Burnett Ave.
Description: Established in 1944, Check’s is a Germantown tradition that has been family operated for three generations. The atmosphere is that of a friendly neighborhood saloon, and it’s the kind of place that seems to be dark even on a sunny day. That aside, Check’s has been said to have some of the best home-cooked bar food in the ‘Ville. In addition to burgers, bean soup, chili, chicken, fish, homemade soups, and hand rolled oysters, you’ll find bratwurst and other German-American favorites. Check’s Café is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. The closing time varies depending on the crowd.
92. Doe Run Inn
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (270) 422-2982
Address: 500 Doe Run Hotel Rd.
Description: This rustic old mill turned country inn, located about 40 miles outside of Louisville, is famous for its hearty country cooking, among other things. The cast-iron fried chicken is worth the drive alone, but there’s a lot more by way of good food and rustic surroundings. The Greer family serves up generous helpings of standard restaurant fare with lots of Kentucky specialties such as trout with tomatoes and molases, champagne cider chicken, country ham biscuits and smoked port loin. For more information on this historic Kentucky eatery, read the description on page 25 in the History chapter.
93. Ruth’S Chris Steak House
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (502) 479-0026
Address: 6100 Dutchmans Lane
Description: The world’s largest fine-dining company, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, has more than 100 franchises around the world; one of them is in Louisville, off the Watterson Expressway. Serving up pricey prime steaks and chops since 1965—when Ruth Ann Udstad bought a New Orleans steak restaurant that had opened in 1927 at the corner of Broad and Ursuline—this tony restaurant chain is known for appetizers such as its barbecued shrimp and crab-stuffed mushroom, in addition to sides like creamed spinach and Lyonnais potatoes.
94. Toast On Market
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (502) 569-4099
Address: 736 East Market Street
Description: Closed on Monday, Toast on Market opens at 7 a.m. six days a week for breakfast, lunch, and brunch. For lunch, they offer a wide variety of salads and sandwiches, including four versions of the grilled cheese; breakfast—served all day—includes different preparations of pancakes, french toast, omelets and other other egg dishes like the “drowned egg” in tomato cilantro sauce. During the week, Toast on Market closes at 2 p.m.; they stay open till 3 p.m. on the weekends. A second location is at 141 East Market in New Albany. Call (812) 941-8582 for more information.
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Address: 3985 Dutchmans Lane
96. Blue Mountain Coffee House
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (502) 582-3220
Address: 400 East Main St.
Description: Closed on Sunday, the Blue Mountain Coffee House serves a variety of Jamaican imports as their standard brews. They also serve tapas and light fare in addition to a nice wine selection, but the main draw is their good coffee drinks. Trendy with somewhat of a beach theme, this newcomer arrived on the Louisville coffeehouse/wine-bar scene in 2007. The ambience is pleasing to the eye, and a portion of the wine bar is actually a large, curved tank full of beautiful exotic fish. Situated on Main Street, just across from Slugger Field, this is the place to stop before a game for a nice espresso, or during the afternoon when you’re looking for a break. There’s free Wi-Fi, but when ordering, you need to get a pass code to use it.
97. Derby City Espresso
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (502) 442-0523
Address: 331 East Market St.
Description: A coffee shop that sells beer; no wonder this trendy gallery district cafe is popular with the afternoon and nighttime crowds. A laid-back coffeehouse/bar with interesting found art and even more interesting customers, Derby City Espresso features a variety of beans from Sumatra, Colombia, Yemen, Java, Ethiopia, and India. Every one of the single shots uses at least 14 grams of coffee in a double shot basket. And in addition to hot and iced espresso drinks, there are also many kinds of tea to choose from. Closed on Sunday, Derby City Espresso opens at 11 a.m. daily, Monday through Saturday.
98. Mrs. Potter’S Coffee
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (502) 581-1867
Address: 718 West Main St.
Description: Mrs. Potter’s Coffee is a locally owned shop located in the heart of downtown Louisville on Museum Row. They offer espresso, loose-leaf teas, real-fruit smoothies, and shakes, in addition to breakfast and lunch, which is served all day long. Mrs. Potter’s Coffee offers free Wi-Fi and indoor/outdoor seating, making it a popular place to take a break when you’re in the downtown area. Artwork from local creative types hangs on the walls, and every month a new artist is showcased. You can view the artwork during regular store hours, or stop by the first Friday of every month for the First Friday Trolley Hop, when they are open until 10 p.m. Open daily, Mrs. Potter’s closes at 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
99. Seattle’S Best Coffee At Borders Books
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (502) 562-2100
Address: 400 South Fourth St.
Description: There are a number of Borders Books in Louisville, but the shop located at the entrance to Fourth Street Live!, Louisville’s premier entertainment district, is one of the most popular. The attractive two-level store has a knowledgeable, friendly staff ready to help find the perfect book, CD, or movie, and there’s also a Seattle’s Best Coffee that offers lunch and desserts in addition to a good cup of joe. The children’s department is very popular, and this centrally located bookstore also boasts the largest selection of African-American fiction in Kentuckiana.
100. City Cafe
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (502) 459-5600
Address: 1250 Bardstown Rd.
Description: In addition to daily specials priced at only $6.85 that highlight cuisines from around the world, this popular lunch spot at the Mid-City Mall has a variety of coffee drinks and beverages. Open daily at 11 a.m., the Highlands City Cafe is located next to the Baxter Avenue Cinemas. City Cafe also has locations at 505 West Broadway (502-589-1797), open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and at 500 South Preston (502-852-5739), open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
101. Coco’S Chocolate Café
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (502) 454-9810
Address: 1759 Bardstown Rd.
Description: It’s chocolate heaven at Coco’s Chocolate Café, where you can stop by and indulge in a sweet treat at a reasonable price. In addition to coffees, drinking chocolate, and other beverages, there’s an assortment of truffles, dipped chocolates, mousses, cakes, and more—all made from the finest and richest ingredients. Coco’s is also the perfect place to pick up a special gift for your next holiday party or family event.
102. Day’S Espresso & Coffee
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (502) 456-1170
Address: 1420 Bardstown Rd.
Description: Open at 6:30 a.m. during the week and at 7 a.m. on weekends, Day’s is one of the more-popular Bardstown Road coffeehouses. And although they’ve gained a faithful following since opening in 1994, they’ve resisted attempts to branch out, maintaining the single location in the middle of the Highlands. Paintings and prints for sale by local artists hang on the walls, and there’s a nice selection of fair-trade items, hand-bagged beans, and loose-leaf teas in addition to good coffee and espresso.
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1140 Bardstown Rd.
104. Krispy Kreme
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (502) 451-4880
Address: 3000 Bardstown Rd.
Description: In 1937, Vernon Rudolph brought a secret recipe from a French chef to North Carolina and created a glazed donut that would start a craze. It quickly spread to neighboring Kentucky, and today, Krispy Kreme’s offerings have evolved past the original recipe to include a variety of treats, from apple fritter to New York cheesecake donuts. The location on Bardstown Road still has that old-fashioned donut-shop feel to it, attracting hordes of fans in search of hot donuts straight from the fryer. The coffee is good, too.
105. Quills Coffee
City: Louisville, KY
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (502) 742-6129
Address: 930 Baxter Ave.
Description: A trendy Highlands hangout with old hardwood floors, exposed brick, and hip artwork on the walls, Quills has dedicated and talented baristas who make a mean cup of coffee. The coffee shop is housed in a rehabbed old building, and with two rooms upstairs, it’s not a problem to find a place to sit down and enjoy a latte or cappuccino. In addition to an assortment of baked goods to go along with your cup of coffee, you can also choose from a variety of Cellar Door chocolates. Try the red latte, a drink made from steamed milk and tea espresso that has 5 times more antioxidants than green tea, and 10 times more than most other teas.