Mussel Burger Bar: Here it Comes

I got the rare chance to stop by last week and was inspired by Fernando and Cristina's work...

How best to put this- hmm, 'they are a crafty couple, those two.'

a) They're doing acessible fine-dining in J-Town. Perfectly cooked fois at the butt-end of Hurstbourne Ln? Seriously?

b) There's no hubris to what they are doing- just really kind people taking care of thier guests, one-at-a-time.

c) My goodness, they've got room to grow. The space downstairs would make for the best wine dinners, ever.

Seriously, the Hurstbourne Ln glass ceiling has been broken. They have done to Hurstbourne Ln what Social did to Market.

Just Saying.

I think* Im offended by the basic premise of your post.

*not really, its really hard to offend me, but I think I should be offended.

I think* Im offended by the basic premise of your post.

*not really, its really hard to offend me, but I think I should be offended.

Color me confused...

The premise was 'those are are a crafty two, Fernando and Cristina.'

And they're doing good work, mind you.

I think* Im offended by the basic premise of your post.

*not really, its really hard to offend me, but I think I should be offended.

Color me confused...

The premise was 'those are are a crafty two, Fernando and Cristina.'

And they're doing good work, mind you.

THAT premise wasnt the problem. It was the existence of some glass ceiling on Hurstbourne one.

I think* Im offended by the basic premise of your post.

*not really, its really hard to offend me, but I think I should be offended.

Color me confused...

The premise was 'those are are a crafty two, Fernando and Cristina.'

And they're doing good work, mind you.

THAT premise wasnt the problem. It was the existence of some glass ceiling on Hurstbourne one.

Dude, if you were going to pick a fight with me- this certainly wouldn't be the place.

I think* Im offended by the basic premise of your post.

*not really, its really hard to offend me, but I think I should be offended.

Color me confused...

The premise was 'those are are a crafty two, Fernando and Cristina.'

And they're doing good work, mind you.

THAT premise wasnt the problem. It was the existence of some glass ceiling on Hurstbourne one.

There is/was absolutely a glass ceiling on Hurstbourne from my POV, but I don't get out that way much because of it. To be frank before guacamole/home run burgers/Mussels&BurgerBar there was zero draw for me, but then again I rarely visit chains for enjoyment.
It should be noted that I'm not saying this is the residents of that areas fault (I was seriously looking at a restaurant space in J-Town not too long ago), rather the restaurants that have cropped up around there.

Dude, if you were going to pick a fight with me- this certainly wouldn't be the place.

I didnt know it was a fight, but I win it easily.

Fernando and Cristina have proved me right. There was no glass ceiling for them to break thru. Their success proves that there was no glass ceiling to begin with.

Geographical stereotyping BS pisses me off.

As a J-Town area resident I don't feel that there is any glass ceiling out here. Mussel Burger Bar is a just a welcome addition!
Like any other suburban neighborhood, there is an over abundance of chain eateries out this way. However if you look passed all the high priced real estate, there are a number of locally owned establishments out here doing just fine and serving great food as well. Admittedly some of the chains aren't that all that bad either.

My short list of locals around the Stony Brook-Plainview area includes:
Shalimar, Szechuan Garden Perfetto's Pizza, El Marlin(Service is admittedly spotty, but food is great!), Cattleman's Steakhouse( Love the Early Bird Special!) Home Run Burgers, Senor Iguanas and the El Nopal on the corner of Taylorsville Rd. and Watterson Trail is always consistently better than any of their other 40 locations.

A little further out to Fern Creek to the west and the Dorsey Ln. area to the north there is Guaca Mole, Sake Blue and the Hungry Pelican, which for my money is one of the best fried fish places in Louisville. The desserts are all homemade too!
Just my 2 cents.

Anyway...I concur with Dan's assessment of this area.

Living in J-town there has always been a limited choice regarding any type of restaurant ; chain or local. Most have been relegated to Hurstbourne/Taylorsville Rd near/around Stoneybrook. As time went on, it was a relief various restaurants began to pop up on the radar.Whether it be Little India Cafe (ok.It's more in Hikes Point); Homerun Burgers; and/or various chains. I welcome Mussel and Burger Bar to Hurstbourne/Taylorsville. Not only is it a great addition to J-Town , but has been talked about all over Louisville.

Fernando and Cristina have done a remarkable job turning a difficult location into a valid local establishment. I wish them nothing but prosperity and success.

I have to be with Chef Rogers on this and indeed take the optimistic viewpoint on the subject.

I think what they have done- positioning themselves just off the Hurstbourne corridor and negociating that rent was incredibly intelligent. Thier price points are phenomenal- that will keep people coming back often. Really, everything that I saw was super-crafty. Just very forward-thinking.

They will succeed. And this will encourage other restauranteurs to drop the money on that area, in ways none of us can predict. That's gonna be cool to see.

Now watch, what was once chain restaurant land is going to become spotted with local mom-n-pops. It's going to keep going- and it will start moving towards Bardstown Road. Everything develops in that direction.

I'm sorry if you take offense as a J-Towner. I'm just talking business. I love J-Town, I'm there 4 times a week, at the minimum. Nobody's trying to hurt your feelings- I'm just really happy to see the beginning of something really, really cool.

(And game-changing, IMHO)

PS. Just go and make sure you get a tour of the facillity. You'll see what I am talking about.

PPS. @Coffey: Stomping on someone else's thread with an assumed air of indignancy is bad form. Go and start your own thread.

My short list of locals around the Stony Brook-Plainview area includes:
Shalimar, Szechuan Garden Perfetto's Pizza, El Marlin(Service is admittedly spotty, but food is great!), Cattleman's Steakhouse( Love the Early Bird Special!) Home Run Burgers, Senor Iguanas and the El Nopal on the corner of Taylorsville Rd. and Watterson Trail is always consistently better than any of their other 40 locations.

It amazes me that some of you are chefs and yet eat at the places you do. I dont think I have ever been in an El Nopal and gotten food that wasnt previously frozen and reheated with a microwave. I wont ever eat in one again.
And I love that Home Run Burgers is local, but they proudly proclaim there beef is "grain fed". Uh? Thats not something to brag about. Thats just standard corporate farm produced beef then. Grass fed is better.

My short list of locals around the Stony Brook-Plainview area includes:
Shalimar, Szechuan Garden Perfetto's Pizza, El Marlin(Service is admittedly spotty, but food is great!), Cattleman's Steakhouse( Love the Early Bird Special!) Home Run Burgers, Senor Iguanas and the El Nopal on the corner of Taylorsville Rd. and Watterson Trail is always consistently better than any of their other 40 locations.

It amazes me that some of you are chefs and yet eat at the places you do. I dont think I have ever been in an El Nopal and gotten food that wasnt previously frozen and reheated with a microwave. I wont ever eat in one again.
And I love that Home Run Burgers is local, but they proudly proclaim there beef is "grain fed". Uh? Thats not something to brag about. Thats just standard corporate farm produced beef then. Grass fed is better.

It amazes me people automatically believe a restaurant is better because it's local. People have varying tastes and ones' favorite may be the next person's most despised food. So, as a rule , I don't criticize another person's food preference. Rather I may criticize the place as a whole and not limit it to just food.

I bellied up to the bar and had a burger yesterday. It was very tasty. The only complaint I have was the crappy music was so loud I could barely hear myself think.

Stopped in for lunch on Tuesday and it was delightful! We shared the lamb meatball appetizer - yum! I had the Argentinean burger and my friend had the Cuban burger. Each was cooked perfectly to our request and I liked the option of the seasonal veggie side - asparagus and Brussels sprouts. Our server was knowledgeable attentive and she made note that we we on a crunch for time so she kept our service moving along quickly without feeling rushed. We will definitely be back again soon. As a Jtown resident, I am thrilled that we have this gem in our part of town.

I see all these lists of Hurtbourne corridor restaurants, and no mention of Limestone?

IMHO, they were the ones who truly broke the glass!