hiko-A-mon

1115 Herr Lane Louisville, KY 40222

It’s our tradition to go out for sushi on the anniversary of our first date. This past weekend, we celebrated 5 years at hiko-A-mon. We enjoyed drinks (Dragon Punch and Sapporo beer) in a large dark wood booth. Nearby there are rooms for private parties, one which has a low table where you take off your shoes and sit on the floor. You can dress up or down, which I always appreciate, and there are two TVs in the corner in case there’s a game on that you just can’t miss.

We started with our usuals: salad with ginger dressing (small hiko-A-mon salad) and  the seaweed salad. Both great portion sizes and quality for the cost.

We tried the Surf and Turf roll for the first time- spicy crab inside, topped with filet mignon. The flavors compliment each other so well, you have to try it! This roll is one of the most expensive for $13 which actually isn’t bad in comparison to some other sushi restaurants.

The Made in Japan roll, which was recommended by our waitress, was delicious! Cream cheese, shrimp tempura, and cucumber inside and topped with spicy crab, tuna, and super white tuna; need I say more? I love sushi rolls with spicy mayo or eel sauce, and even more when they’re together on the same roll. This roll was also a more expensive one for $13.

We have never had super white tuna so we wanted to try nigiri ($2.50 each). It was so fresh!

Hiko-A-mon has many other menu options if sushi isn’t you’re thing. They also serve rice and noodle dishes, and land, sea, vegetable, or combination entrees.

The service was great here! We had a reservation for 7 pm on a Saturday night and were seated promptly upon arriving. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful, providing recommendations when I asked. Our drinks then salads were quickly served before we even decided which rolls we wanted. Our sushi rolls even came out soon after ordering; even with a good crowd at the restaurant. I felt like we took our time and were still in and out in one hour.

hiko-A-mon is open Monday-Thursday 11:30-2 pm and 4:30-10 pm; Friday 11:30-2pm and 4:30-11 pm; Saturday 12-11 pm; and Sunday 4-9 pm. Their other location is downtown at 416 W Muhammad Ali Boulevard. Check out their hours and both menus on their website.

The Rudyard Kipling

422 West Oak Street Louisville, KY 40203

Guys, if you haven’t been to The Rudyard Kipling for their Sunday brunch buffet…go!! You can’t beat made-to-order omelets, hot brown casserole, bacon or chocolate chip Belgian waffles, biscuits and gravy, fried chicken, baked brie, fresh fruit, chicken salad and others, bacon, sausage, and more for $13.95. Add a coffee ($1.75) or mimosa ($2) and your brunch is complete!

Then finish off with a stop by their dessert table, featuring Nord’s doughnuts! Their banana chocolate cake and lemon raspberry cake were also quite tasty.

The Rudyard Kipling is also open Wednesday-Saturday 6 pm-12 am but I have not been there other than for brunch, and the menu isn’t posted online. Let me know if you’ve been at night!

Check out their Sunday brunch 10 am-2 pm with live music starting soon after opening. Folksy music was playing the first time I went and piano music the second time. In addition to the music, I enjoy the cozy atmosphere with eclectic decor and dishes. There has been plenty of seating when I’ve gotten there at 10 am but there’s always a good crowd. Enjoy!

Feast BBQ

909 East Market Street Suite 100 Louisville, KY 40206

I’ve been to Feast BBQ in NuLu a lot recently so I thought I should post about how much I’m loving it! Head there for a casual date or dinner with a big group. Order at the counter and seat yourself. A sandwich with one side fills me up but the plate with two sides is also a great option. The pulled pork has been my favorite and you can’t go wrong with any of their sides! They have a great craft beer and cocktail selection, including vodka and bourbon slushies! Please note the following pictures were taken on various occasions and not all were my meals. I apologize for the picture quality of some.

Pulled pork sandwich with potato salad

Half rack of baby back pork ribs with mac & cheese and sweet potato fries

Beef brisket sandwich with potato salad

BBQ Salad

I still need to try their fried pickles, tacos, and sweet sides…next time!

Feast BBQ is open Tuesday-Thursday 11 am-12 am and Friday-Saturday 11 am-2 am; closed Sunday-Monday. Their New Albany location can be found at 116 West Main Street New Albany, IN 47150 and is open Tuesday-Thursday 11:30 am-9 pm, Friday 11:30 am-10 pm, and Saturday 5-10 pm; closed Sunday-Monday. Check out their menu here.

Corbett’s

5050 Norton Healthcare Boulevard Louisville, KY 40241

I’ve heard great things about Corbett’s but it’s out off of I-265 so it wasn’t the first place I thought of when I wanted to check out a new (to me) restaurant. My friend was moving away from Louisville for new adventures in Denver, so we thought it would be a great location for a goodbye dinner!

We opted to sit in the bar area and order a variety of items from the lounge and patio menu, ranging in price $8-15, to share. The bar area is pretty small with room for 8-10 at the bar and 2-3 tables for 4 people each. We started with the appetizer special, which was gnudi cooked with bacon, cherries, pistachios, garlic, white wine, and butter. It was delicious with the perfect balance of flavors. I would also recommend the black truffle agnolotti (similar to ravioli) with roasted garlic, brown butter breadcrumbs (the perfect crunch), grana padano cheese, and crispy sage. If you’re a shrimp and grits fan, try their cajun shrimp with andoullie and roasted red pepper grits, topped with lump crab. Yum!

Gnudi

Agnolotti

Cajun Shrimp

For dessert, we tried the Woodford bourbon chocolate ice cream which was served with berries. We also had the mascarpone cheesecake with lemon curd (would have liked more than what was served on the side), raspberry coulis (ditto), and graham cracker crumble. And we loved the crisp cookie wafer! I thought both were tasty; I just wanted more! And then our bartender/server, who was awesome by the way, brought out bourbon balls and raspberry almond tarts on the house- how nice!

Woodford bourbon chocolate ice cream

Mascarpone Cheesecake

Bourbon balls and Raspberry tarts

I honestly hadn’t been to Corbett’s because I thought the menu looked pretty pricey. However, I think the bar menu was more reasonable. I would say my stomach left satisfied and I enjoyed the quality of food, but I wasn’t full like I usually am leaving a restaurant especially after paying so much. Try Corbett’s for after work drink and apps in lounge or dinner on the patio for a special occasion.

Corbett’s is open for lunch Monday- Friday 11:30 am-2 pm and dinner Monday- Saturday 5-10 pm and Sunday 5-9 pm. Check out their lunch, dinner, lounge & patio, and dessert menus.

Four Pegs

1053 Goss Avenue Louisville, Kentucky 40217

Chicken and waffles have been new to me since I moved to Louisville. I don’t know if it was moving a little South or if it was a food trend that exploded, but I like it! My favorite and most reasonably priced in town is the chicken and waffle sandwich at Four Pegs for $11. Lightly breaded and fried boneless chicken breasts (with a little kick) between 2 Belgium waffles with a buttery syrup sauce, need I say more? Oh, and they’re served with handcut fries which are the perfect level of crispy.

Chicken and Waffle Sandwich

I haven’t had much else on their menu because I want the chicken and waffles each time I go but the rest of the menu looks tasty! On this visit, we shared the smoked salmon wontons dipped in a sweet and sour sauce. We love smoked salmon, cream cheese, and the usual crab rangoon, so we enjoyed them but they’re definitely interesting! The fried green tomatoes are not pictured from a previous visit but also recommended!

Smoked Salmon Wontons

Throughout the week, they have $10 Tuesdays, $4 Pint and Game Night Wednesdays, Open Mic Night Thursdays, and Trivia Night Sundays. Check out their website for details!

Seat yourself, pick out a beer on draft or bottled from their chalkboard, and order at the bar! Four Pegs is open Tuesday- Sunday 11 am- 2 am but they stop serving food at 11 pm. Check out their food menu here.

For Goodness Crepes

619 Baxter Avenue Louisville, KY 40204

I’m so excited that this cute little crepe shop opened in my neighborhood! I actually stopped in sometimes in January when it was freakishly warm for winter after a walk with my boyfriend (now, fiance!) and my parents. It makes for a fun place with bright colors, positive quotes and messages on their walls, and games and magnetic poetry at the tables.

For Goodness Crepes has savory, breakfast, dessert, and build-your-own crepe varieties, ranging in price $5.40-9.29. We were just trying them out, so we only got two but will have to go back to check out the other kinds. Elvis with a Kick is filled with bananas, sweet peanut butter sauce, caramel sauce-all of Elvis’ favorite flavors, as well as some of mine. But I think I liked Quite the Di’Lemon more, which was made with lemon cream cheese and blueberries or strawberries (we chose blueberries). Yum! I was going to take a picture of it opened but that just doesn’t photograph well.

For Goodness Crepes is open Tuesday-Friday 11 am-9 pm and Saturday-Sunday 8 am-9 pm. Check out their Facebook page, and then go check them out in person and and let me know which crepe is your favorite!

Rumplings

2009 Highland Avenue Louisville, KY 40204

We were on our walk home from a night out celebrating our friend’s 30th birthday and walked by Rumplings, which is in the previous Baby D’s Bagel Deli location. I had seen it on fellow bloggers’ posts and I was hungry so it seemed like a great idea. And it was!

The crew inside was very friendly, telling us about the “Slurp Shop” while making their homemade ramen noodles and serving up some fresh bowls of ramen.

I was feeling cheap for my late night snack so I ordered the Rookie, which consists of hormone free organic chicken and pork broth with a tea egg and scallions for $5.50. Even with basic ingredients, the broth, homemade ramen, and egg were perfect to fill my belly.

Rookie

My boyfriend chose the Miso Honey, which includes red miso, enoki and seasonal mushrooms, red curry, almond milk, and scallions for $8, and then he added an egg for $0.50.

Miso Honey

My friend got the Banh Mi which consists of pickled tofu, carrot, daikon, celery leaf, bean sprout, and siracha for $10. We were a fan of all three and as you can see the ingredients are very fresh!

Banh Mi

Next time, I want to try a more adventurous ramen soup and a dumpling! Can’t wait to visit again!

Rumplings is open Wednesday-Thursday 6 pm-2 am and Friday-Saturday 6 pm until they’re out of food (hours found on a recent Facebook wall post). Check out their facebook page for updates.

Mussel & Burger Bar

9200 Taylorsville Road Louisville, KY 40299

I’ve heard nothing but great things from anyone I’ve talked to about Mussel & Burger Bar. So when I went last week with work friends, I had to post about it! The atmosphere and decor are a strange blend of classy and country that I actually love. It appears to be on the fancier side but then the tables are covered with brown paper and drinks are served in mason jars. The staff are wearing jeans and M&BB t-shirts, so feel free to dress it up or down!As far as appetizers, we tried the calamari ($10) and the short rib nachos ($10), which some people actually got as their meal. The calamari is lightly fried, then topped with pickled Italian peppers, capers, and green onions. The spicy sweet sauce gives it an Asian flare.  The short rib nachos were a big hit with everyone and very much recommended! The meat was perfectly tender and topped with guacamole, pico de gallo, monterrey jack cheese, pickled jalapenos, and a delicious sauce with a sour cream drizzle.

Sweet and Spicy Calamari

Short Rib Nachos

My friend and I split the seafood burger and the blue cheese beer pancetta mussels. The seafood burger is pretty much a crabcake but also with lobster and shrimp with a bit of peppers, onions, and chives. It was messy but amazingly delicious. Crabmeat aioli. Pretzel bun. Avocado. Yes, please. Most burgers, which range in price $13-16, are served with french fries. Oh sorry, pomme frites. We asked to sub for sweet potato fries which are served with a smoked pineapple sauce-yum! My non-carnivorous friend had the vegetarian burger which she highly recommended.  I’ll have to try it myself sometime because it’s made with beets and red quinoa and topped with goat cheese on a pretzel bun, all of which I’m a fan!

Seafood Burger

The blue cheese beer pancetta mussels were so good! Obviously, you have to like mussels or be adventurous to try them. If you haven’t had them, I would describe mussels as a little chewy and slimy, which is not a good description, but all I can think of to say. You can order an appetizer portion for $10 or as an entree for $13. The difference between them all is the sauce- ours consisted of pancetta, Belgium beer, blue cheese, shallots, garlic, and butter. I soaked up the sauce with the french bread, it was that good.

Pancetta Mussels

Despite our large party of 12, our server was on her game, taking orders, serving food and drinks, and getting our separate checks correct. Speaking of big groups, Mussel and Burger Bar has the space and tables to accommodate you and your family or friends. Be aware though, I hear there’s a long wait on weekend nights and they don’t take reservations.

Mussel & Burger Bar is open for lunch and dinner Monday-Thursday 11 am-10 pm, Friday 11 pm-11 pm, Saturday 12-11 pm, and Sunday 12-8 pm. Check them out on the Facebook page.

Queen of Sheba

2804 Taylorsville Road Louisville, KY 40205

If you remember from previous posts like Sari Sari (Filipino food), I like to branch out and try ethnic restaurants. So when my friends recommended Ethiopian food at Queen of Sheba, I was excited to try it out! I’ve actually been there twice now, so I must like it.

Upon entering the restaurant, you can smell the Ethiopian food filling the room. There is plenty of seating; we didn’t have to wait long to be seated at 7 pm on a Saturday night. They only take reservations for parties of 6 or more. You can get a drink while you wait at the small bar right inside the door.

Traditionally in Ethiopia, people eat with their fingers, tearing a piece of Injera (Ethiopian flat bread) to pick up their food and eat it. Food is served on a big round tray of Injera and shared with the group. Queen of Sheba will serve your meal on a separate plate and provide you with silverware upon request.

The four of us decided to order the vegetarian combo for two ($18) and the meat combo for two ($23), which was served on the large tray with each of us getting our own side salad and kik wot. Kik wot is a split lentils stew, simmered in onions, garlic, and berbere. Berbere is an Ethiopian hot spice made with red chili peppers, but my wimpy taste buds could handle it.

The vegetarian combo includes:

-Misir wot = lentil stew simmered in onions and garlic seasoned with turmeric and herbs.

-Atakilt = cooked sliced cabbage, onions, and carrots in a mild tomato sauce

-Gomen wot = cooked collard greens, onions, and potatoes in a mild sauce

The meat combo consists of:

-Doro wot = spicy chicken stew with chicken drum sticks cooked in minced onions, fresh garlic, and ginger with berbere sauce

-Sega wot = beef stew with lean cubed beef, slow cooked in minced onions, garlic, and fresh ginger with berbere sauce

-Alicha sega wot = mild tender beef stew with onion, potatoes, garlic, ginger, and turmeric

Yes, all of these ingredients were copied from their menu online because I have no idea what each word means. My favorites of the combos were the lentils, collard greens with potatoes, and both beef dishes. Each item was flavorful and the meats were all perfectly cooked. We ate it all, we were full, and we paid ~$15 per person including the cost of a drink- not bad at all!

Our waitress was meh.. She did what she had to but we felt like we waited for her to come to our table each time.

Queen of Sheba is open for lunch every day 11:30 am-2:30 pm and dinner Monday-Thursday 5-10pm, Friday-Saturday 5-10:30 pm, and Sunday 5-9 pm. Check out their lunch and dinner menus on their website.

Palermo Viejo

1359 Bardstown Road Louisville, KY 40204

I had no idea what to imagine when I made reservations at Palermo Viejo, an Argentinian restaurant in the Highlands. I had heard great reviews so I decided to take my friend visiting from home in Columbus. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner, our guest was happy, and we plan on returning!

We walk into an intimate atmosphere with exposed brick and wood accents. The kitchen is open and can be seen from our table. There’s not much seating space but there seemed to be enough to accommodate their Saturday evening crowd as there were still a couple open tables during our dining experience at 7 pm. A few people can also sit at the bar. Although the restaurant isn’t very big, they have room for a big party. Palermo does take reservations.

Our waitress was friendly and very present without hovering throughout the evening. You know I love when my servers provide their menu recommendations and hers were spot on!

My friend and I started with a bottle of reasonably priced Malbec, Misterio, for $20 which we enjoyed while my boyfriend had a bottle of BBC Amber for a great price of $3.25. Glasses of wine ranged $5.50-10. We also ordered the cocida appetizer which included grilled asparagus, smoked provolone, portabella milanesa (fried thinly sliced portabella mushrooms), roasted tomato, and sweet potato frieds with a dijon mustard dipping sauce. We enjoyed the variety for $7 while we waited for our entrees. We were also served a fluffy white bread with a good crust and whipped butter which was easy to spread.

Cocida

My friend and I split the Chupin de Pescado (tilapia) and the Pollo a la Portuguesa de Carmen (chicken) while my boyfriend had the Milanesa de Pollo with a side of whipped potatoes. I would say the price for quality and portion size is perfect here. We all had leftovers and were comfortably full after our meal. Entrees range in price $13-28. If you happen to be a vegetarian, there are 3 entree and 6 appetizer options on the menu which are labeled as such.

The chupin de pescado ($14) was our favorite. The fish was perfectly cooked and easily fell apart with a fork. The vegetables were fresh, potatoes were just right, and it was seasoned well to pull it all together.

Chupin de Pescado

The pollo a la Portuguesa de Carmen ($15) consisted of pan seared chicken breasts in a fresh tomato, yellow pepper, and onion sauce served on top of whipped potatoes. We liked this dish but the potatoes were a little overwhelming. Similar to the prior entree, the chicken was cooked well, vegetables were fresh, and overall it was seasoned well.

Pollo a la Portuguesa de Carmen

The Milanesa de pollo was melted goodness for $13. Milanesas are typical Argentinian cuisine per the menu. The steak, chicken, or portabella mushroom, whichever you choose, is breaded with garlic and parsley, pan sauteed, and served with ham, mozzarella, provolone, fresh tomatoes, oregano. This dish really reminded me of an Italian entree and was loaded with cheese as you can see in the picture. He also ordered a side of pure de papa (whipped potatoes) for $4 which are pictured below so you can see a portion of a side item. I didn’t think they were anything to write home about, but they were fine.

Milanesa de Pollo

Pure de Papa

Palermo Viejo is open Tuesday-Thursday 5-9 pm and Friday-Saturday 5-9:45 pm. Closed Sunday-Monday. They don’t have a website, but you can check them out on Facebook (which has pictures of the menu), Yelp and All Menus.