What style of restaurant does this town need?

For those looking for a different sort of seafood restaurant, I stumbled across this one online yesterday: El Marlin. I've not seen anyone post on HB about this one. Only web presence I can find is Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Marlin ... 80?sk=info

and the menu is on Takeouttaxi:

http://menus.deliverycheckout.com/RDSCu ... 65m514.pdf

Looks intriguing...1850 South Hurstbourne Pkwy.

As for diners, a friend took me to this one up in Michigan. It is sort of both a diner and a dive, and one of the quintessential diner dishes, open-faced hot roast beef sandwich was REAL roast beef (not deli) and homemade mashed potatoes. The desserts were homemade and tasted like it. If any of you are ever in the Grand Rapids area, go to Rosie's.

http://www.rosiesdiner.com/

*Edited to point out the portions at Rosie's are HUGE and cheap.*

For those looking for a different sort of seafood restaurant, I stumbled across this one online yesterday: El Marlin. I've not seen anyone post on HB about this one. Only web presence I can find is Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Marlin ... 80?sk=info

and the menu is on Takeouttaxi:

http://menus.deliverycheckout.com/RDSCu ... 65m514.pdf

Looks intriguing...1850 South Hurstbourne Pkwy.

Coco Loko's old location?

Coco Loko's old location?

You would be correct. I drove past there the other day and noticed that while the forgettable "8 China" has been shuttered, something had gone in next door. I just couldn't see what it was.

We also have Tambayan Karaoke & Filipino Restaurant now open in Fern Creek (next to CVS). I haven't tried it yet either, but it's nice to see some different cuisines coming into the 'Creek.

One thing I have not seen mentioned is affordable & casual, but inventive contemporary American food. This spot was in my neighborhood in Chicago and was off the hook outstanding all day every day:

http://lulacafe.com/
Let's see...
Varanese. Lilly's. Bourbons Bistro. Majid's. Avalon. 60 West. Equus/Jack's. Jack Fry's. Bistro 301. L&N.

I think I ought to clarify my original post. I have two kids, one two year old and one five year old. My wife and I go out occasionally without them, but more often with them. Something that you don't get "on paper" (or on their website) about Lula is that it was walking distance from my home in Chicago, my kids felt welcome there, I felt welcome there with my kids, and the staff knew how to deal with a family. I can name only one place on the list you bring up that I feel that way about (Jack Fry's). Something else that isn't mentioned on their site and is not otherwise obvious is that Lula has won multiple Bib Gourmand awards from the Chicago Michelin Guide. To put this in perspective, Top Chef winner Stephanie Izzard's new restaurant The Girl & The Goat is a Bib Gourmand restaurant. The award itself may or not mean much to you, I just offer that as another way to look at what I'm talking about being lacking here. For my money, most of the restaurants listed above do not meet that standard, either because of their conception/execution of menu, service, or atmosphere, or some combination thereof. Sure there's some big city sticker shock involved in Lula's menu. But I also made double the salary I now make when I lived up there. So it was a place I could go and afford on any given weeknight, though for the record, I did not ever and would not ever pay $9 for a bowl of oatmeal. And I think I was misleading in putting out there that they were excellent all day every day. What I meant is that during their service hours (breakfast, lunch and dinner most days) they were great. Always.

I know I'll get beat up for this here, but I have to say, with the exception of two spots, I consider myself in a pizza wasteland.
I'm not sure what city you consider to have a better pizza scene than Louisville and I certainly would like to hear what two spots you like! Louisville has the most varied pizza scene I've ever seen in a city with at least a couple of places serving excellent pizza in about any style you can mention and we have a couple of our own styles. I'm not even going to start listing the number of good pizza places we have because it's so long.

Beyond the fact that I think the majority of pizza in this town is at best mediocre, I'm not going to get into it. I spent some of my childhood on the southside of Philly, lived in Chicago for 28 years, and travelled to Manhattan and Brooklyn on a regular basis for work. It's pretty much unfair to compare Louisville to any of those cities on a culinary level, much less for pizza, but I can make better pizza at home than many places that are dearly beloved on this forum and in this city in general. I'll just leave it at that.

What about the Bristol (5 locations!), KT's, Austins, Blackstone Grill or North End Cafe?

I think it's not unfair to say at least some of these spots are serving up Sysco (or that quality) product. Not for me, thanks.

Ahhhhhhhhhh Baloney (Fried please)...We've got contemporary-Italian-comfort-American-affordable-French-Bistro-Gastro-Pub-frou-frou coming out of our butts in this town. THIS is the kind of restaurant Louisville REALLY needs...and if someone finds me a spot, I'll open it.

Steve- as A dude who loves his contemporary-fusion-frou-frou-continental-bistro fare, I'll see your mug'n'bun and raise you this shot from my last trip to Chicago, (stop there whenever we can, though it's fallen off since they opened the "satellite" dining room across the parking lot):

Indy.jpg

If you need any reason to know why Chicago is the place to be, check out my man the greasefreak:

http://www.greasefreak.com/

That's my all time favorite hot dog stand on his splash page:

http://www.jimmysredhots.com/history

I think I ought to clarify my original post. I have two kids, one two year old and one five year old. My wife and I go out occasionally without them, but more often with them. Something that you don't get "on paper" (or on their website) about Lula is that it was walking distance from my home in Chicago, my kids felt welcome there, I felt welcome there with my kids, and the staff knew how to deal with a family.

Many of us who have lived in other cities understand exactly what it means to have a favorite restaurant that is not matched here. Just look at my comments in this thread. I've been back for 11 years, so the sting has dulled for me, but I remember feeling a real emotional emptiness about it. And this was returning to my hometown! It's strange that restaurants can have that strong connection with us. It was like being in mourning. Seriously.

So, my condolences on your loss. I know it's real. And good luck in your quest for that connection again.

When I moved away I really missed White Castle! They don't have them in New England or Arizona. The frozen ones don't count.

Fine dining seafood......If Indy can do it, so can we!

Z's Oyster Bar?

Seviche? Even Mitchell's?

You're absolutely right. I love dining at Seviche, but didn't think of them for some reason. I have yet to go to Mitchell's and will have to give them a try.

As for Z's; After 2 attempts at the Whittington Pkwy location, I wasn't even close to being impressed enough to justify their prices. Fine Dining prices? Yes. Fine Dining food quality and service? Not to me.

[Robin Garr]

As for Z's; After 2 attempts at the Whittington Pkwy location, I wasn't even close to being impressed enough to justify their prices. Fine Dining prices? Yes. Fine Dining food quality and service? Not to me.

I don't know what has happened over there. We went with a fair-size group the other night for a social dinner that would also be grist for a review, and we ended up quite disappointed in food quality and service, especially relative to the price.

Interestingly, Z's Fusion downtown has just been re-branded as a second Z's Oyster Bar and Steakhouse, so I guess the concept must be working for them. But we found it much less enjoyable - and more expensive - than Del Frisco's.

When I moved away I really missed White Castle! They don't have them in New England or Arizona. The frozen ones don't count.

not quite sure why anyplace would want them! They certainly don't qualify as being a culinary delight, maybe they're the reason we have so many local hospitals!

When I moved away I really missed White Castle! They don't have them in New England or Arizona. The frozen ones don't count.

not quite sure why anyplace would want them! They certainly don't qualify as being a culinary delight, maybe they're the reason we have so many local hospitals!

wrong ..... White Castle may be the perfect beer food.

A great Brewery-Pub on the Kentucky side of the river.

Ehhh.....No offense Steve but I think that maybe the last thing Louisville needs...unless it's executed to a tee (meaning not only good beer but good food (I've yet to have "return worthy" food at a Brew Pub in Lou.....but am still looking!))

Hmm, okay.

Knowing his reputation for good-natured "agent provocateur" merriment, I had resolved to let Steve's comment pass, and still do.

However, I now must ask what Jenn means by "executed to a tee." What is the expectation of food at a brew pub? Where have you been elsewhere that measured up? Details, please. This could be a good discussion, indeed.

Good question Roger, I guess I have the expectation that if a place is going to take the time and effort to brew a great beer in house and then serve food to their customers, they should take equal pride in making their food just as good as the brew. To be honest, I have a particular place in mind that really dropped the ball (great beer that had me really excited to try their food, and then when the food came, I was in disbelief that this food could come from the same place...not to mention the price I was paying for things that looked like they were slopped out of a GFS tub). I don't expect extravagant menu items from a brew pub, I actually prefer they keep it simple (huge fan of wings, house-made beer cheeses, nachos etc) but if your going to keep it simple why not make it the best it can be?

Someone had mentioned Three Floyds Brewery.... and having been there I must agree.... It's delicious... I love there beer and there food, However back to the expectation part... I don't need to have even this creative of food just something that is prepared well to go along with my well prepared beer. Perhaps there are places in Louisville that would meet my expectations, that I just haven't been to yet.... Suggestions!?

Also maybe it's just me but what's the deal with restaurants using potato/kettle chips for nachos? Is it a Louisville thing?

Many of us who have lived in other cities understand exactly what it means to have a favorite restaurant that is not matched here. . . So, my condolences on your loss. I know it's real. And good luck in your quest for that connection again.

Oh no, it wasn't my favorite (though it might have been my wife's). What I meant to imply about the comfort factor with my kids/family was that they got the hospitality aspect of the service industry and made great food that was inventive and always well executed. The last time I was in Chicago for work, I didn't even go there, though putting in 41 hours in 3 days didn't leave much time for it anyway (though I did manage to squeeze in the Publican and Urban Belly!) But yeah, definitely feeling that gap here, though we have found places we will never forego the opportunity to return to.