• Ernesto’s
    Authentic-tasting, generously portioned combination platters are sure bets. The tomatillo sauce is much-praised.
    244-8889
    $ | Middletown/Eastwood | Mexican/Southwestern
  • La Bodega
    This offshoot of Louisville’s only Spanish restaurant De la Torres, La Bodega offers a tapas-only menu of hot and cold items in a cozy space next door to its Highlands progenitor. Appetizer-size portions of roasted red peppers and eggplant, mussels picante and other traditional dishes allow for easy mixing and matching.
    456-4955
    delatorres.com
    $$ | Highlands | Bistros
  • Annie Cafe
    Annie’s place is fast becoming a favorite in the Vietnamese community for authentic, high-quality food. Try the popular pho or vegetable tofu with steamed rice.
    363-4847
    anniecafe.com
    $ | South Louisville | Vietnamese
  • Blue Dog Bakery & Cafe
    Blue Dog serves locally beloved artisan bread baked in a wood-burning oven, as well as brunch and sandwiches that resemble what you might find in a Parisian cafe.
    899-9800
    bluedogbakeryandcafe.com
    $ | Clifton/Crescent Hill | Cafes
  • Pesto’s Italian Restaurant
    Through the week, this spot in the heart of the downtown business district serves Italian cuisine for lunch. For weekend dinners, the menu shifts to Persian fare.
    584-0567
    pestositalian.com
    $$ | Downtown | Italian
  • Vietnam Kitchen
    This cherished South End eatery is still a place you go to make discoveries. Recommended: the Vietnamese pancake appetizer and the beef marinated with lime juice as well as anything over rice vermicelli. Don’t neglect the list of traditional Vietnamese dishes at the back of the menu.
    363-7535
    vietnamkitchen.net
    $$ | South Louisville | Vietnamese
  • Caffe Classico
    Sample European cafe-style fare at this charming spot in Clifton. Try an espresso or cappucino for a morning pick-me-up. The lunch and dinner menus include salads and fresh-made paninis, steaks, pastas and grilled salmon, along with an assortment of pastries and authentic gelato. Whatever you do, don’t miss the pommes frites.
    895-0076
    caffe-classico.com
    $ | Clifton/Crescent Hill | Cafes
  • Maker’s Mark Bourbon House & Lounge
    An inventive menu offers complex taste sensations with an emphasis on Kentucky regional cuisine. The bar is stocked with 70-plus bourbons from Kentucky distilleries — some of which find their way into dishes and desserts like the Maker’s Mark bourbon balls.
    568-9009
    makerslounge.com
    $$$$ | Downtown | Bistros
  • Game

    The ideal place to satisfy your inner-carnivore. Game features, well, game — everything from elk to kangaroo, antelope to wild boar. And, yes, you can get a "regular" burger, too.

    618-1712
    louisvillehammerheads.com/game
    $$ | Lexington Road/Grinstead | Upscale Casual
  • Simply Splendid Salads
    Choose from signature salads like tuna nicoise or asian shrimp, or craft your own salad from the long list of fresh ingredients. In addition to salads, it offes a tempting list of savory crepes.
    426-3373
    www.sssalads.com
    Hurstbourne Corridor | Cafes