50 Best American Restaurants in Louisville

“We were greeted by friendly service,, and the food was delicious.“

“I moved away from Chicago almost 20 years ago. this brought me right back. I haven't had a real combo beef since I left. this wasn't just wet, it had a full on baptism! well be back soon!“

“This was THE BEST GRILLED CHEESE I've ever tasted! Now I'm searching for Lil Cheezers in the daytime with a flash light🤪🫠😁 Seriously, they used fresh wheat bread, gourmet cheese, fresh crispy bacon, a delicious pickle and chips for ONLY $10! The actual sandwich was a pretty nice size too, it might feed 2. These guys are highly recommended 5 🌟 👍🏾“

“Very good place to go for a good meal. Take a jacket or sweater if you are cold nature like me, reason I was cold but I had two cups of coffee.
I will be back love the place.
Just a hint I noticed outside dining maybe consider making it screened in. The Pork Loin, Prime rib, Salmon, broccoli, smashed potatoes, baked potatoes. And our appetizer was the Mexico City Spinach Con Queso with tortilla chips.

Parking: Very good spacious parking no steps.“

“It's rare that we have a date night on a weekday with two young children, but tonight was the exception. When I realized our anniversary was falling on a Wednesday, Perso was the first place that came to mind. Perso's Prix Fixe Menú is available every Sunday through Wednesday and offers a three course meal for $29. It's no secret that I'm a fine dining enthusiast; but who doesn't love a bargain? If you're looking for a nice night out without breaking the bank, this is your spot. Perso sits at the corner of Oak and Shelby in the same location as the former Square Cut Pizza. The giant windows in the front provide an abundance of natural light. The interior has a modern industrial vibe with painted exposed brick, plants, and Edison bulbs hanging on pendants. One wall with wooden slats gives a Scandinavian feel to the main dining area. It's a small-ish intimate space with a beautiful patio. For my first course, I chose Crostino Di Tonno- olive oil poached tuna, stracciatella, pickled celery, and Calabrian chili. I followed my first course with olive oil poached swordfish, corn chowder, and golden zucchini scapece. For dessert, I had the chef's choice: apple strudel with whipped cream cheese. My husband chose heirloom tomato with roasted eggplant, bagna couda, and fine herbs. For his main course, he had pork tenderloin with edamame, beef dashi, and fine herbs. We both opted for the chef's choice for dessert. I tasted each of his courses and they were every bit as delicious as my own. The edamame provided the perfect texture and his tenderloin dashi tasted gravy-esque without being overly heavy. Mostly notable, besides the insane deal for such decadence, was the fresh flavor combinations throughout. Our table had fresh rosemary as a centerpiece. The corn chowder was right up my alley. I could've licked my bowl if I wasn't trying to pretend to have a bit of class. The swordfish was tender, juicy, and not overly fishy. The tuna flatbread was the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The mint on top of my whipped cream cheese truly set it apart. My lavender Manhattan was earthy and smoky, not just in flavor. It was literally smoking. My husband had an old-fashioned. Neither of us were disappointed. Our server, Amanda, was phenomenal. She offered recommendations. She visited our table to ensure we were satisfied the perfect number of times. Her warm demeanor was professional while also being personable. She was everything we hope for in a server. Perso's Sunday through Wednesday Prix Fixe Menú is hands-down one of the best opportunities for an affordable night out. That being said, once you get a taste of what they have to offer, you'll be sold on splurging any day of the week.“

“Such a great experience with impeccable food and service! Small touches (Locally made plates from Louisville Stoneware...where my father has designed their creations for over 50 years!) and attentive service from the moment you step into the front door, to the moment you leave. We came for our 20th anniversary and could not have been more pleased by so many small kindnesses from every person we encountered. We celebrated two decades at Decade and hope it is here for many many more!“

“Great food. Great atmosphere. Loved it“

“Menu is small, but "bourbon and the bird" sandwich was delicious. Great sauce and great texture/breading for the seitan chicken. The owner was funny and personable too. Very casual, order at the counter place. Updated from previous review on 2025-01-03“

“Tried this for the first time today and loved it! Just when I felt there were no new interesting spots in downtown Louisville, a friend recommends InSeason. Yes! Wonderfully flavored and very friendly service by all. They moved fast and kept the place hopping. Very clean, too! Love the farm to table options. We will be back!“

“My filet was perfection the crust on the exterior was a great compliment to the medium rare interior, the flavor so very good. Dessert was a Raspberry Coulis and cream covered melt in your mouth masterpiece. I will definitely go there again.“

“Highly recommend this iconic place! We celebrated our anniversary last night and had a wonderful time. Great food and service! I had the chicken and my husband had the pork chops both delicious. The drinks were made well and our dessert was the flourless chocolate blood orange cake. The evening was perfect!“

“We took our out of town guests yesterday. Our server Jessica was amazing! She really made our night! (If you are reading this Jessica, y’all/yins did a great job! Lol.) Everyone loved their cocktails. The pork chop was very tasty and perfectly cooked, loved the shrimp and grits… so flavorful! The salmon was also delicious! We had the cheese and hummus plate as a starter and I was not a fan. The hummus was gummy and had an odd flavor. The rest of our group didn’t mind it. I could have had the bruschetta as my meal… yum! For dessert we had the bread pudding and asked to have some bourbon to pour on top (so good!), the lava cake (wow) and the brûlée (coffee flavored and very nice). We were the last to leave and Jessica and the rest of the staff treated us if we had all the time in the world. We so appreciated that! Our experience was so special! Thank you!“

“So glad we happened upon this wonderful gem!“

“Great service, management is top tier here and it shows in staff morale! Thank you for quality service and attention to detail! The food is quite tasty!“

“It was my first time ever being there and it was actually one of the best restaurants I've been to in a very long time. The food, service and atmosphere was just 5 star all the way around. I'll definitely be back! Prices were not bad either. $15.99 was the most expensive thing I saw which was not even bad considering it was a ribeye!“

“Food and service were great! We had the ribeye and the chicken fried chicken, both seasoned well and cooked to perfection. Sides were just as good. We will definitely return!“

“Their food is good but I’m disappointed that the cheese sauce recipe has changed. It was one of my favorite parts of the meal 😢“

“Great food and service every time. Only disappointment was they were out of one of my favorite menu items. But love everything I have ever gotten there“

“Incredible Brunch & Even Better Hospitality! We stopped into Lindsey’s Kitchen for the first time today for brunch, and WOW—we were absolutely blown away! From the moment we walked in, we felt so welcomed, like we were part of the family. The hospitality here is something you simply can’t teach—it’s genuine, warm, and unforgettable. Not only did my fiancé and I feel right at home, but our 8-month-old stole the show! The staff was beyond sweet, practically competing over who got to hold him, and it was the cutest thing ever. It’s rare to find a restaurant where you feel this valued as a guest. As for the food? Flawless. I ordered the steak and eggs, and my fiancé had the country fried steak—both were absolute perfection. My steak and eggs were cooked exactly to order, and the country fried steak was so tender, it barely needed a knife. We couldn’t find a single thing to complain about! We’ve officially found our Saturday breakfast spot. Huge thanks to the entire team working on 3/22/24—I wish I had gotten everyone’s names because each of you deserves a personal shout-out. You made our day, and we can’t wait to be back! ❤️“

“Absolutely amazing lunch in Louisville!! Very friendly and kind people! The food is all from scratch and locally grown. I’ll definitely be back!“

“Great pizza and friendly staff, thank you.“

“Drake's - St. Matthews 0:03 View all Drake's - St. Matthews 4.3 (1.6K) $10–20 Restaurant OVERVIEW MENU DIRECTORY REVIEWS PHOTOS BY OWNER ABOUT Reviews from the web 3.8/5Facebook · 686 votes Google review summary 5 4 3 2 1 4.3 (1,612) Reviews All Service Meal Price sushi86 bartender34 trivia16 sports12 +6 Sort by Most relevant Newest Highest Lowest Janene Jacobs 1 review Delivery | Lunch | $10–20 OMG!! I work at a company down on Frankfort Ave and we placed a pretty large order on Thursday. I ordered the little 3 fish sandwich sliders and fries. The fish was OUTSTANDING!! This is the first time that I've actually eaten everything in … More Caitlin Moorman 15 reviews·13 photos 3 months ago Dine in | Lunch | $10–20 This was the first time I ever went to Drake's, and I will definitely be returning. The food was delicious. I loved the array of different foods you could get; it's not like a regular bar. I had the teriyaki chicken bowl and LOVED it. Our … More 1 Indiana and Beyond Local Guide·133 reviews·3524 photos 6 months ago Dine in | Dinner | $10–20 Had a pleasant experience here as it was our first time and went with a party of 6. Our food was great, from the appetizer to the main dish. Can't wait to come back to this location or one of the others around the state. Highly recommend stopping here! … More +12 Business AsUsual Local Guide·436 reviews·468 photos 9 months ago Dine in | Dinner | $10–20 My second time at this location, great spot. Server was good, knowledgeable, and funny. Food was good, drinks were good, was able to see tho NFL draft, would have been cool to hear the first few picks. Awesome atmosphere, not a bad seat to … More ORDER DELIVERY Janene Jacobs Delivery | Lunch | $10–20 OMG!! I work at a company down on Frankfort Ave and we placed a pretty large order on Thursday. I ordered the little 3 fish sandwich sliders and fries. The fish was OUTSTANDING!! This is the first time that I've actually eaten everything in an order since I started there 6 months ago. They regularly order from various restaurants up and down Frankfort Ave and for me, its always disappointing...but not this time. As we unpacked entree after entree everything looked and smelled WONDERFUL! This was the first time eating from DRAKE'S...but it won't be my last. I highly recommend the fish!! So for Lent right now... DRAKES cannot be beat for their FISH! Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5“

“Absolutely fabulous food. We loved the chicken salad, reuben sandwich and broccoli soup. Portions are very generous. Atmosphere is very unique and quaint. The reason for a line when you come in the door is the owners personal touch while taking your order. Don't let a line scare you away because food is prepared fresh for each order.

If I could give six stars I would.“

“our server Brandon was excellent. Very attentive and friendly. food was great and service was fast.“

“Very very friendly staff & excellent food! Would highly recommend it to others!“

“I first tried Barry’s Cheesesteaks four years ago when we moved to Louisville and am so glad I did. In all my travels, including Philadelphia, I’ve never had a cheesesteak than can begin to compare to Barry’s. The amount of meat and toppings used is double the amount you’d get anywhere else and the bread is always fresh. The staff is very accommodating and friendly. Barry’s is at the top of my list of restaurants to take all my out of town guests to. Barry’s story is so inspiring and I love the Christian atmosphere of his restaurant. 5 stars at every visit!“

“Our office had the best holiday get together at Molly Malone’s today. We reached out just a couple of weeks ago and asked if the kitchen could accommodate various dietary restrictions, and you guys totally came through for us. I had the best vegan shepherd’s pie of my life and can’t wait to come back for more. Thank you all so very much for making today go great for us. Everyone raved about the food. Thanks again, and we’ll be back soon!“

“Really enjoyed our visits at the bar here. Mike was an excellent bar tender, and went above and beyond. He also has a great personality, and we really enjoyed talking to him! Bourbon selection was excellent, and Mike went the extra time to make our bourbon sipping very enjoyable. Our light bites were decent, though not anything to write home about. I would continue to come back for the atmosphere, bar selection, and for Mike!“

“Exceptional Management, service and food. Can not recommend this restaurant enough. Please go eat! 5 stars“

“It’s Father’s Day and we decided to go to the blind squirrel. It busy and we knew it may be a minute. Our food took a little longer than expected but nothing crazy. Some sweet man from the kitchen brought our food out and apologized for the wait and told us that the food was on him. Such a generous gesture. I would highly recommend eating here. The food was good and the service was excellent!“

“Excellent service and the food and ambiance was great“

“Consistently great food, drinks and service. Definitely a top 5 in Louisville.“

“Love the vibe, service, quality of food and the value!

Dallas made my experience wonderful. She suggested adding onions and cheese to the chili and it was super good!

Beer, bourbon and chili for around $25! (Plus tax and tip of course.)“

“We had an excellent experience at drakes. our server was excellent. Olivia was sweet and helpful and just over all a very good server. she is an asset to the restaurant. we had the chicken sandwich, the fish tacos and the Buffalo mac and cheese. it was served quickly and was very good. we finished it off with a cookie and ice cream. it was all so good. such a good meal, we will absolutely be back. highly recommend this place.“

“This place is awesome!! The food is great the vibe is also but the people are even better!! My server Jolene was just perfect very attentive and on top of it!! Will for sure be coming back!!“

“We went here Saturday night visiting from Nashville. Seemed like the best views. We sat at the bar and Sam served us. He was fantastic. The crab tartar was ok. Didn’t have alot of flavor but was still good. I can’t wait to drive back up and eat on the rotation dining area. Ps. Tell Sam the girl who wanted the SNACKS says hi. 🤣“

“Great food, even better owners and staff. Our favorite spot in the city hands down. Nothing more to say besides 10/10 across the board!“

“This place is awesome and I hope they consider coming to Fort Wayne, Indiana!!💜💜“

“Delicious! First time here since they opened in Louisville years ago. Ordered the northern cod meal. The next week I ordered the cod sandwich with premium chili - oh my! Tasty! Plus, the cookies and cream dessert made the rating more than five stars! Absolutely Dynamite!
I Will be back!“

“My family and I went for Thanksgiving. The meal, from salad to dessert, was exquisite—amazing. The staff was friendly, kind, patient, and downright nice to share our holiday with. The staff helped bring the eclectic environment to life. The whole family enjoyed the evening wholeheartedly.“

“Great service. Food was amazing!“

“We went there for the first time. The wait at 1 pm was only about 10 minutes for 5 people. The crab Benedict was sooooooo good! Delicious! Also had the Mushroom Omelet , it was delicious. And the Avocado BLT. Food was great, mimosas and Bloody Mary were great. Our waitress was so nice, attentive and so sweet! We will definitely return!!“

“So we came out to Bud’s Tavern JTown last night with our children(9 and 13) and about 10 other people all the way from Bloomfield, Ky to sing some Karaoke. The KJ(Mike Boughey) informed my wife that he wouldn’t let kids sing. Finally my daughter was allowed to sing. I just thought it was very unprofessional that the KJ was picking and choosing who was allowed to sing. We have traveled to all kinds of venues for karaoke, and this was the first time this has ever happened. Karaoke isn’t about have just top notch singers! It’s about having a good time, and it shouldn’t matter if you’re a great singer or not! The food was great! But as I stated the KJ was unprofessional!“

“We had heard of The House of Marigold from one of my daughter’s friends and it did not disappoint at all. We had the most amazing server named Ashley who walked us through the whole menu so we knew what we wanted. Please if you are in Louisville then stop in and try this awesome restaurant.“

“Fun, clean, safe atmosphere! Great place to grab a bite with the kids and then a beer (or several) later on. TV set up is solid, great bar games (Pool, Golden Tee) and it has the #1 ranked burger in the city of louisville!“

“Fast service. Food was amazing!! Try it!!“

“Tyler and his staff are the best! He makes the best handmade chicken salad and oh those yummy homemade chips “amazing”!!! Everything I’ve had at Kayrouz has been wonderful! Served in a nice friendly atmosphere! Love it here so accommodating! And they cater too. He has catered several events for our family and friends and I always get rave reviews about his food!“

“The owner and his staff are very friendly. The restaurant is really clean on the inside. The first time I ordered, I got a rib tip dinner with greens and Mac and cheese. The second time, I only ordered rib tips and one of the staff asked me did I want sides. I told them no because I had sides at home. I let them know that the Mac and cheese was not so great and the owner came out and apologized for that and gave me a free slice of cake to make up. I thought that was really nice of him. He told me that he appreciated my feedback. I still visit every weekend and I get rib tips, greens and potato salad now and a slice of cake but I gotta get it early before it sells out.“

“I had not eaten here in over 20 years. Meatloaf: spectacular as always. Chocolate brownie torte: The best there ever was. Thank you very much Ditto's for still being amazing.“

“This place is a 10/10! The atmosphere and staff were AMAZING!! We came to Louisville for the day to find my wedding dress. After I said yes to the dress we decided to try Mussel and Burger Bar! They made my day 1000x extra special, took care of my food and drinks, and even gave me a platter of desserts to try! We are coming back to Louisville for my bachelorette and we will definitely be visiting this place again! The seafood burger was also delicious!“