The Absolute Best Restaurants in the Highlands, Louisville, KY
The culinary scene in Louisville’s Highlands neighborhoods is a high point when dining out in Louisville, Kentucky. The Highlands is a lively, thriving neighborhood that’s famous for its walkable, charming streets and restaurants, pubs, and bars. It’s also easy to dip in for some shopping at indie boutiques in between bites on “Restaurant Row.” Take a look at the eight best places to eat in the Highlands area when visiting Louisville!
photo credit: usarestaurants.info
The Eagle
1314 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 498-8420
The menu at The Eagle always lands just right when you’re in the mood for a taste of home-cooked favorites. The fried chicken here is totally iconic. Add some biscuits, coleslaw, collared greens, and mac and cheese for an unforgettable table full of comfort food. The Eagle Ranch Water cocktail that blends Jimador blanco, cucumber, honey, lime, grapefruit bitters, and sparkling water is a hit. In addition, the blackberry lemonade and bourbon punch cocktails are both memorable.
photo credit: usarestaurants.info
Hammerheads
921 Swan Street, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 365-1112
Hammerheads has so many plates that are fun to split. In addition to being a top seafood spot in Louisville, Hammerheads is also a premier destination for plates of smoked meats. You can also get venison and elk burgers! The taco selection at Hammerhads is also delightful. Choose from pulled pork, pork belly, brisket, duck, and catfish tacos for something out of the ordinary. There’s also a robust vegetarian selection on the menu!
photo credit: courier-journal.com
Against The Grain Brewery & Public House
1576 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 409-9866
First, don’t skip the Bavarian pretzel served with pimento cheese and Dusseldorf mustard if you’re looking for something that pairs beautifully with what’s on tap. You might also want to share a plate of fried pickle chips, “kitchen sink” fries, and chicken wings. The selection of beers at this lovely pub-meets-restaurant establishment is actually one of the best in Louisville. The specialty burgers that pack on just the right blend of flavor and novelty will also knock your socks off.
photo credit: usarestaurants.info
Havana Rumbas & Tapas Bar
2210 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 749-4600
Havana Rumbas & Tapas Bar is the top place for Cuban cuisine in Louisville! Highlights on the appetizer menu include croquettes, flaky empanadas, brochetas, yuca bites, and tamales. The marinated Cuban pork dishes on the dinner menu are always crowd-pleasing favorites. You’ll also find plenty of tropical vegetarian dishes that carry all of the underlying flavors of the restaurant’s pork and chicken dishes. Don’t skip a dessert menu loaded with Cuban coffee, Cuban-style chocolate cake, flan, and tres leches cake. Of course, it’s a tragedy to leave Havana Rumbas & Tapas Bar without tasting one of the tasty mojitos on the drink menu!
photo credit: Yelp
LouVino
1606 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 365-1921
LouVino is considered a staple of the Highlands food scene because it offers consistent favorites served in a classy setting. It’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, dinner, and drinks. A dish like the scallops over fried green tomatoes shows how beautifully this restaurant adapts classic plates to have some Southern spice. The “small plate” vibe makes LouVino a great place for sharing. Just make sure to call ahead for reservations when showing up for brunch because this is one of the hottest places in Louisville on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
photo credit: usarestaurants.info
The Table
1800 Portland Avenue, Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 708-2505
The Table offers yummy, casual fare in a lovely setting. It’s considered by many to be the best place in Louisville for soups, sandwiches, and salads. Everything from the salads to the smoked-meat sandwiches contain little artisan touches that make your meal feel fresh and healthy. Of course, adding parmesan fries to whatever you order is the secret to happiness.
photo credit: opentable.com/r/holy-grale-restaurant-louisville
Holy Grale
1034 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 857-7457
Holy Grale is another restaurant that really defines the Highlands eating scene. Its location inside an old Unitarian church dating back to 1905 creates a cool atmosphere for sipping craft beers. Holy Grale offers a rotating beer menu consisting of 28 taps! You can also choose from an extensive list of bottled beers. Much of the food featured on the menu here is sourced locally. The famous pretzel bread on the menu is a must-try item. The burgers here are also beyond heavenly.
photo credit: voice-tribune.com/_/life-style-2/the-classic-charm-of-jack-frys
Jack Fry’s
1007 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 452-9244
Jack Fry’s is an upscale eatery in the Highlands area that makes you feel like you’re stepping back in time to an era of good taste. The appetizer list includes escargots, shrimp and grits, spicy fried oysters, and pimento cheese arancini. The dinner menu delights with a list of hearty entrées that includes bone-in ribeye, salmon, halibut, pork chop, beef fillet, lamb chops, and veal tenderloin. Of course, you can always order a burger here if you’re in the mood to be casual. Wrap up the evening with caramelized vanilla custard in caramel sauce, lemon cheesecake, the white chocolate bomb, key lime tiramisu, or a flourless chocolate cake.
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