Serai Malaysian-plus to fill DiFabio's space

[Robin Garr]

Serai Malaysian-plus to fill DiFabio's space

An image of the historic Frankfort Avenue toll house (built in 1830) from the Clifton Community Council's history page.


The historic Clifton quarters being vacated by DiFabio's Casapela after its 15-year run won't stay vacant for long. Chef Sebastian Moh tells us that he is taking over the space at 2311 Frankfort Ave. to open Serai, a neighborhood restaurant featuring Southeast Asian cuisine.

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Serai will focus on Malaysian and Thai spices, herbs, and techniques, together with local seasonal ingredients and a touch of Chinese wok stir fry.

"Serai" means lemongrass in his home country, Malaysia, Moh says, and the restaurant's logo will be a hibiscus flower, the national flower of Malaysia.

Serai plans to open for dinner only, closed Sundays and Mondays.

One of the city’s oldest buildings built nearly 200 years ago, the smallish brick structure was originally a toll house along the old Frankfort Pike.

This is exciting. I know very little about Malaysian food, but I'm eager to try it. This will help fill one of the gaps in Louisville's food scene.

[Robin Garr]

This is exciting. I know very little about Malaysian food, but I'm eager to try it. This will help fill one of the gaps in Louisville's food scene.

I’ve enjoyed Malaysian eateries in San Francisco and in Amsterdam and loved it. And Sebastian Moh is good! This should be a keeper.