• The Back Door
    This friendly bar on the side of Mid-Coty Mall is much larger than it appears. Along with pool tables and other games, it offers every kind of bar grub — wings, burgers, quesadillas, pizzas and more.
    451-0659
    thebackdoorlouisville.com
    $ | Bar-and-Grills
  • City Cafe
    City Cafe is a lunchtime favorite among the downtown office crowd. Its creative (and reliably good) lunches and dinners are based on cuisines from around the world. Few restaurants do more for the cause of soup.
    459-5600
    citycafelunch.com
    $ | Highlands | Cafes
  • W.W. Cousins
    This hometown favorite features hamburgers made from freshly ground USDA Choice chuck, grilled to order, served on a homemade bun and topped with your choice of more than 40 toppings.
    897-9684
    ilovecousins.com
    $ | DuPont/Hikes Point | Homestyle
  • Shiraz
    Shiraz offers fast, fresh Mediterranean food. Choose from char-grilled meat, fish, or veggies and other ala carte items like hummus or spicy avocado bruschetta.
    891-8854
    shirazmg.net
    $ | Clifton/Crescent Hill | Middle Eastern
  • Whole Foods
    This chain grocery’s extensive selection of prepared foods (sandwiches to pastas) is made without artificial ingredients or synthetic preservatives.
    899-5545
    wholefoodsmarket.com
    $ | St. Matthews | Natural/Vegetarian
  • Caffe Classico
    Sample European cafe-style fare at this charming spot in Clifton. Try an espresso or cappucino for a morning pick-me-up. The lunch and dinner menus include salads and fresh-made paninis, steaks, pastas and grilled salmon, along with an assortment of pastries and authentic gelato. Whatever you do, don’t miss the pommes frites.
    895-0076
    caffe-classico.com
    $ | Clifton/Crescent Hill | Cafes
  • Ernesto’s
    Authentic-tasting, generously portioned combination platters are sure bets. The tomatillo sauce is much-praised.
    244-8889
    $ | Middletown/Eastwood | Mexican/Southwestern
  • Toast on Market
    This eatery serves traditional breakfast and lunch fare with the flair of a gastronome. Try hearty breakfast dishes like “drowned eggs” — eggs poached and served in a tomato cilantro sauce, or decadent pancake creations like lemon souffle or bread pudding.
    569-4099
    toastonmarket.com
    $ | Downtown | Cafes
  • The Fishery
    This St. Matthews destination is best known for its fried fish sandwich, but baked scrod, salmon croquettes, pan-fried oysters and shrimp and chicken strip dinners are on the bill as well.
    895-1188
    thefishery.com
    $ | St. Matthews | Seafood
  • La Tapatia
    This no-frills grocery/restaurant offers delicious and inexpensive food, including fresh Mexican sweet-buns. No credit cards accepted.
    961-9153
    $ | Preston Highway | Mexican/Southwestern