26 Best Southern Restaurants in Louisville

“The food here was so good! I got the Loveshack, which is an open-faced biscuit with brie cheese, raspberry and blueberry compote and jams smothered on top, with honey drizzled. YUM!I also got the lavender latte, which was really good as well!As for coming in, you wait in line, like most restaurants, and place your order with the cashier. You pay, take a number, and they bring the food to you. Pretty nice concept for a breakfast place!“

“Out of towners trying this breakfast/brunch restaurant out for the first time! outside atmosphere was adorable and gives a feel of "home". Patio seating and seats outside under a tent, where the outside bar is! The wait time was about 45 mins for a table, but that was perfectly okay because of the outside bar and porch to wait! cornhole, table jenga, and connect 4 games were also outside, so there are things to do while you wait. the food is spectacular. Try their homemade jams and hot sauce! You won't be disappointed! Service was excellent. We sat at the bar, bartender was great (Jasmine), and the wait time for our food was under 10 mins. I ordered the BIG BAD BISCUIT - Make sure you have room in your belly because the portions are extremely generous! I could only eat half of the biscuit! Very clean, "homey", and just an overall wonderful experience. Great Job!“

“Excellent food-huge scallops were delicious as were the crab cakes and short ribs. Try the frites or goat cheese spread which are both delicious. For dessert we tried the blonde brownie with Vietnamese coffee ice cream and it was wonderful. We'll definitely be back for another meal.“

“This was our first stop when we arrived late to Louisville. While their kitchen was closed we had the best time tasting bourbons with the guidance of their young bartender. He educated us on bourbon and made excellent recommendations! We had so much fun. Also recommended a late night fourth meal location that we walked too later. This bar has an extensive bourbon collection, great service, while we cannot comment on the food I am sure it's nothing short of amazing! Thanks for a wonderful experience.“

“Wow! This was by far one of the best spots I tried in Louisville. Both times I went, the pork belly tacos were simply heaven. From a unique selection of French fry flavors, to delicious Mac n cheese ball appetizers, there's something for everyone to enjoy. The service was very pleasant and friendly, definitely worth your time.“

“Hands down some of the best food and service I've had from any restaurant in a long time. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, drinks stayed filled, was very quick to bring any sauces, check how's the meal. This is the perfect place for a first date, drink with your friends, or a great meal with the wife and kids. I'm looking forward to the next time we are passing through the area to try the other items on their menu.“

“The service from Brittany on the patio was absolutely first class. We have extensive experience in Restaurant Operations and found her to be very knowledgeable and went out of her way to make our experience unforgettable. Her recommendations were on point and she genuinely took pride in work. We left reminded how rare first service. Brittany is a rock star and we highly recommend her as a server.“

“Out of towners trying this breakfast/brunch restaurant out for the first time! outside atmosphere was adorable and gives a feel of "home". Patio seating and seats outside under a tent, where the outside bar is! The wait time was about 45 mins for a table, but that was perfectly okay because of the outside bar and porch to wait! cornhole, table jenga, and connect 4 games were also outside, so there are things to do while you wait. the food is spectacular. Try their homemade jams and hot sauce! You won't be disappointed! Service was excellent. We sat at the bar, bartender was great (Jasmine), and the wait time for our food was under 10 mins. I ordered the BIG BAD BISCUIT - Make sure you have room in your belly because the portions are extremely generous! I could only eat half of the biscuit! Very clean, "homey", and just an overall wonderful experience. Great Job!“

“7/3/16 it was absolutely wonderlicious ? i had wings...cheese corn....collard greens and some spicy pickles on the side omg it was DELICIOUS! !!! service was great ! Very friendly and fast ....i will be back for sure ....i also had bread pudding alamode ?it was enough that 4 of us shared it ❤❤❤❤❤❤Update a friend and I ordered wings last night . She had never had the smoked wings before. We also got the bread pudding for dessert. It was fantastic. The wings as always were plump juicy and smoked to perfection. The side of bbq sauce was the cherry on the cake. I can't say enough about the quality. The bread pudding was delicious OMG . I AM A FOODIE/ GROUPIE AND I LOVE TURNING PEOPLE WHO LOVE GOOD WING ONTO MOMMAS. THANK YOU FOR EXCELLENT FOOD THAT NEVER DISAPPOINTS ?????5 HEAD RATING LOLOL*******************************Update 4/6/2024Very sad to say I had a bad food experience. I ordered wings green beans coleslaw and a side salad. The wings were SO salty it ruined them. The green bean were sweet?? Never have I ever had sweet green beans. The side salad was good. The slaw had to be old it had a sour outdated taste. I had diarrhea a few minutes after getting home. I'm not sure if I will ever be back to this location. Use to be one of my favorites. My waitress was very nice though.Parking: Be careful parking in Walgreens parking lot. They have tow away signs now . Also restricted on street parking loading zones 1 hour limit. A real pain !“

“Although it's usually crowded and may be a wait, it's still worth it. I would worry, if no one was ever there?. The owner and employees are nice & professional and the atmosphere feels like "community". They are worth the drive and wait.... Keep up the good service??‍?!“

“An experience that lays not just with the food, but the staff. We had to switch our birthday reservation last minute due to driving our sweet cat Luna to the animal hospital. I felt horrible. Manager Anna was not a teensy bit worried about our cancelation, but exceptionally worried about our cat. She went on to ask Luna's name and other questions. Experiencing this human kindness meant the world - especially in that moment. Anna moved our reservation to the next day and made sure we were exceptionally cared for! She paired Neve to be our server (also a cat lover). I was surprised when he asked about Luna! We went on to swap cat photos and names. It was basic human connection - that I feel is often lost in society and certainly in dining experiences. Not at 610. Expect staff to care about you. Due to the cost and the desire to tip 30%+, a meal like 610 happens once a year for us. However, after this experience, we will go to less date nights - just to experience 610 more. This is because of the kind gestures Anna and Neve provided for us during a time of great sorrow. Our sweet cat may have died, but our latest experience at 610 will last forever! Oh, and the food... when coming to view reviews of 610, we are all saying the same dang thang. Order the 5 or 7 course meal. Go with the wine pairing. Arrive hungry, and you won't go wrong. The menu continuously provides innovative flavors curated with passion. A quintessential Louisville favorite. A must. Please, book your reservation now!“

“I recently met some friends for dinner at The Eagle and our collective experience was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. From the friendly staff, to the fun atmosphere and the AMAZING food, the evening was perfect. I had the fried chicken, hush puppies and collard greens. Delish!!! I look forward to going back soon.“

“Wow oh Wow. There's a reason this place is held in such high regard. For starters, I typically don't like Japanese food but I would eat Enso's food off the floor. Yes it's that good. Food: there was not a single dish I did not enjoy. Everything I had was exploding with flavor and exceeded expectations. I was going to go into extreme detail about how much I enjoyed each and every dish but as of two weeks ago (mid March 2024) the menu was updated and a lot of the things I had are no longer available. The octopus hush puppies are still available and VERY delicious. The toppings really bring this dish over the top and make it something special. Although I am sad to see my favorite dish (creamy scallop udon) no longer on the menu, I am equally excited to have a reason to come back and try other things. Service: impeccable. My waiter was kind and helpful and well versed in the menu. If you have any questions about portions or menu be sure to ask because this group is amazing and will get you answers! Atmosphere: I came on a weeknight about 10 minutes after they opened and I was the only one there until closer to 5. The space is very simple but sleek. Price: This is where I advise to understand what you're getting into. This is not a fast casual spot and one shouldn't expect those prices. But the prices are not outrageous for the quality/quantity of food you get. It was around $100 for enough food for 2 people. Obviously this is where it can vary depending on what dishes you get, but trust me, you'll want to try a skewer or the octopus hush puppies. Overall: amazing food and I can't wait to bring my husband back for a date night.“

“Stopped in this morning and if you want a biscuit like your South Carolina grandmother made This is Your Place Honestly one of the Best biscuits I’ve had since I was a little boy knee high to my grandma. Excellent food, very friendly and helpful folks Just an Outstanding visit, We Will be Back,“

“They were out of forks and I had to eat my mac and cheese with my fingers....and I would still go back...also had Fry's and a pulled pork... everything was awesome.... I'll be back next Time I'm in town....Thanks Guys...I really enjoyed my dinner!!“

“We had a group of 21 people for the volleyball tournament in town eat lunch here. The restaurant was very accommodating with the reservation ahead of time, did a follow-up call and were very attentive to our table to get us in and out in a timely manner. This was the first time visiting this restaurant by all of family members and we all really enjoyed the food. The portions were a good size, so you may consider sharing. Staff was very friendly, and the atmosphere is very quaint. We would certainly recommend this place again.“

“Food was hot and fresh. Server was extremely friendly. Honey butter croissants are outstanding! Parking lot was a bit crowded so I assumed there would be a long wait, but we were seated and served quickly. Restaurant appeared to be well staffed, and they worked well together. Highly recommend!“

“We went for Brunch !Ryan and LeAndra were so great and took excellent care of us. They had no problem accommodating my boyfriend’s dietary restriction and were very sweet about it. Not to mention the food was fabulous. We had the Brussel sprout salad the shrimp and grits and the Croissant sandwich. It was so good we will be back !“

“This place was absolutely wonderful. We wanted really good Kentucky fried chicken, and this is the place to go. Reasonably priced, staff was wonderful and the chicken was so memorable. I've never had coleslaw on my sandwich before but it was “

“We went for lunch with 4 people on a Saturday, and we were served quickly and politely. The food was hot and the order was correct. They also had multiple TVs on with sports and entertainment channels. We go to this restaurant about once every few months and it has always been a good experience. I would definitely recommend you give it a try.“

“First of all if you are here for breakfast don't pass on the biscuit basket. Light, fluffy, crispy and buttery. Our classic breakfasts were perfect! Excellent gravy! The hashbrown casserole was delicious! What a fun place! It's an old firehouse. The stack of LP's in the corner were rotated through on the record player and kept us thinking of Marty Robbins. Staff were funny and attentive. Decently priced. Will definitely come back for lunch or dinner.“

“Oh the tacos. These gems are but one reason to visit Merle's. (Try the green chilli btw and you can thank me later.). The beer selection is pretty meek, but the live entertainment really adds to the scene, unless you are right near the stage. Open windows make the atmosphere lively. A great place to go before a concert at Yum Center. Highly recommend.“

“Amazing food! Homecooking done right be a restaurant. The dressing and yams were everything! We are not from Louisville, and we're there visiting family. We stopped at Francos before hitting the highway back home, and we will definitely be eating there at our next visit to Louisville.“

“We stopped here for breakfast on our way back home... let me say, the 3.5 stars for the reviews do not do this place justice! I was a little skeptical to try the place, but was so glad we did! The hostess was absolutely a gem. Super friendly, energetic, and personable! There was about a 20 minute wait for a table. We decided to grab coffee from the coffee shop next door while we waited. Espresso was great! Food: We ordered a lot of food, lol. We wanted to try literally everything. The hot cinnamon roll was to die for. 4 of us split one as an "appetizer" - it was rich, so I'm glad we split it! All of our food was fresh, hot, and had good flavor. Their homemade jelly was outstanding, and so was their biscuits! Can't wait to go back the next time we visit Louisville!“

“We stopped on a Monday evening after a dance lesson. I didn't realize it was spicy chicken until we were ordering. The server said it wasn't too spicy, so I took a chance. Unfortunately, it was too spicy for me. My tolerance is very low. The flavor was great, I just couldn't handle the heat! The sides were excellent though. The macaroni and cheese was moist and cheesy. The greens had great flavor - even my 13 month loved them. I jokingly told my husband if we came back I would just have to order from the kids menu.“

“The food was good (breakfast). My partner and I both had delicious omelets. I liked the breakfast potatoes. My sister and her husband enjoyed their food. We loved the waiter, Mark. He did his best, but the kitchen was very slow. Mark kept going back and checking to see whether our food was ready, but it took nearly an hour. The food was hot when it finally arrived, so we know Mark got it to us as soon as possible. Several other customers gave up and left when their food didn't arrive.“