Eddiie Merlot's Steakhouse-Another Louisville Ramada

[Robin Garr]

It's not a thing I am claiming everyone on LHB has done in the past; simply that it's one of THOSE internet statements with no bearing other than personally attacking an individual. It's the way I feel and make no apologies for it.

Okay, that's more like it. I don't do it, for the same reasons you don't. It's not forum policy, and I don't think it happens much. I was just taken aback by the way you seemed to suggest that it's a common occurrence around here. It isn't.

The people I've met who seem to "struggle" the most with Louisville are those who come from a big city and want the big city experience. We might be a big small city or a small big city, but we are not, and probably never will (let's all hope), a true big city. On the flip side, everyone I know who has moved to Louisville from a smaller city loves it.

I'd have to agree. I'm originally from Knoxville and Louisville is slightly larger with a bit more to offer. However, I lived in Detroit between the two cities and fell in love with the big city lifestyle and all the availability. Louisville was a struggle for us (partly in size, largely in the backwards economy), but the close proximity of Cincinnati and Indianapolis made it a bit easier to find some of those more elusive items. Had I moved from Knoxville to Louisville, it may have been an easier transition.

We have recently returned to Detroit and while I miss parts of Louisville, I have so many options here I wouldn't give up...unless it's to live in an even bigger city, such as DC or NYC.

Asking someone where they went to high school is not code for "where does your daddy work?" and "how big is your diamond?" It's an acknowledgment of how interconnected we are here; it's a conversation starter. The first thing to know about Louisville is that you should throw "six degrees of separation" out the window. Here, it's seldom more than two or three. When you tell someone where you went to high school, then the inevitable, "Do you know suchandsuch?" ensues. That then leads to comparing acquaintances, family, friends and neighbors, and is usually pretty fun and interesting. Phil would not have had this experience because that follow up question would not come after he tells them he didn't go to high school in Louisville, so it probably does just seem like a way to determine one's socio-economic level.

Totally agree with you and Deb. My wife is from Chicago, and when we meet people there the first question is "where did you go to high school," immediately followed by the second question, "oh, well did you know XXXX? He was a friend of my cousin, and went there."

It's just a way to start a conversation, to find something the two of you have in common and build from there. It's not even worth discussing.

Personally, I like Jeff Ruby and Morton's better than Eddie Merlot's, although Eddie's is decent and - to me - better than Ruth's Criss's (at least I don't have an 800 degree plate cooking my rare steak to medium well by the time I'm half way through).

The Okolona basement comment a few comments back is just the kind of ,how do I put it ...perceived snobbery, on this forum that keeps me away from meeting you all. I grew up in okolona don't live far from it now and it seems like most folks on here act like you will get some kind of disease if you go west of Bardstown Rd or south of the Watterson on Preston. I have tried to get my husband to go to offlines and the more I read the more I think he is right ...we would not fit in...we don't have a fancy car or any high paying job...he is a Respiratory Therapist i am a retired nurse. We love to eat out and try new places but Louisville is very notorious for separating of groups of folks based on areas they live in.

The Okolona basement comment a few comments back is just the kind of ,how do I put it ...perceived snobbery, on this forum that keeps me away from meeting you all. I grew up in okolona don't live far from it now and it seems like most folks on here act like you will get some kind of disease if you go west of Bardstown Rd or south of the Watterson on Preston. I have tried to get my husband to go to offlines and the more I read the more I think he is right ...we would not fit in...we don't have a fancy car or any high paying job...he is a Respiratory Therapist i am a retired nurse. We love to eat out and try new places but Louisville is very notorious for separating of groups of folks based on areas they live in.

I drive a 1991 Volvo and have been to many offlines. I was intimidated when i went to my first one and have made life long friends because of it. It's not a social / dating service, but an opportunity to meet the people you're talking to online. Very treasured experiences.

we would not fit in...we don't have a fancy car or any high paying job...he is a Respiratory Therapist i am a retired nurse.

06 Coralla
93 Chevy Pickup

We don't make near the money a respiratory therapist and nurse make. I have't been to any of the large offlines, but have met a large number or the forum members over the past few years. I can assure you nobody gives a damn about your job or car, unless someone was choking or having a heart attack, then the nurse thing would be very valid.

We love to eat out and try new places but Louisville is very notorious for separating of groups of folks based on areas they live in

I'm thinking there are more wings, pizza, and beer people here vs. champagne and caviar.

[Robin Garr]

..we would not fit in...we don't have a fancy car or any high paying job...he is a Respiratory Therapist i am a retired nurse. We love to eat out and try new places but Louisville is very notorious for separating of groups of folks based on areas they live in.

Bev, we've never owned a car that cost more than $14,000, and our little house in Crescent Hill cost under $100K when we moved back to twon in 1994. I've been reviewing restaurants locally since the 1980s and I've always taken pride in having no boundaries. I love finding great new places in all parts of town, and I'll drive out Preston any time for La Tapatia or Chili Pot or Rosticeria Luna or Koreana II or Thai Smile V or ... well, you get the idea.

Folks come to our offlines from all over, and we've never snobbed on anybody yet. I really wish you'd give us a try some time. We're really quite sociable, and don't require dressing up.

The people I've met who seem to "struggle" the most with Louisville are those who come from a big city and want the big city experience. We might be a big small city or a small big city, but we are not, and probably never will (let's all hope), a true big city. On the flip side, everyone I know who has moved to Louisville from a smaller city loves it.

I'd have to agree. I'm originally from Knoxville and Louisville is slightly larger with a bit more to offer. However, I lived in Detroit between the two cities and fell in love with the big city lifestyle and all the availability. Louisville was a struggle for us (partly in size, largely in the backwards economy), but the close proximity of Cincinnati and Indianapolis made it a bit easier to find some of those more elusive items. Had I moved from Knoxville to Louisville, it may have been an easier transition.

We have recently returned to Detroit and while I miss parts of Louisville, I have so many options here I wouldn't give up...unless it's to live in an even bigger city, such as DC or NYC.

Why would you want to live in the most dangerous city in the US?

we would not fit in...we don't have a fancy car or any high paying job...he is a Respiratory Therapist i am a retired nurse.

06 Coralla
93 Chevy Pickup

We don't make near the money a respiratory therapist and nurse make. I have't been to any of the large offlines, but have met a large number or the forum members over the past few years. I can assure you nobody gives a damn about your job or car, unless someone was choking or having a heart attack, then the nurse thing would be very valid.

We love to eat out and try new places but Louisville is very notorious for separating of groups of folks based on areas they live in

I'm thinking there are more wings, pizza, and beer people here vs. champagne and caviar.

Craft beer and artisan pizza (apparently with or without orange grease)

Why would you want to live in the most dangerous city in the US?

I was going to ask a similar question. I have been to Detroit on numerous occasions, as I have friends in the area. I was just there last October.

Unless she lives/works/dines in Bloomfield Hills, I'm not sure Detroit can be recognized as a paragon of cities. It's quite visible that the city was damaged tremendously by the auto industry collapse. In driving from the airport through various parts of the city, all one can see are abandoned homes, abandoned buildings (yes, abandoned RESTAURANTS by the dozen), and crumbling infrastructure. I would be reluctant to drive a SmartCar or a Mini in that city for fear of it disappearing forever into a giant pothole.

The boundary between the destruction and the wealth is quite pronounced at Bloomfield Hills. There's absolutely no transition zone.

Get outside the city, and the story remains the same-- 2 out of 3 homes on a given street for sale or obviously in foreclosure. My friends in the area are barely clinging to solvency since their income is tied to the auto industry.

I hope that Detroit can recover. There is tremendous potential for anyone with investment dollars available, but as it stands right now, Detroit is NOT a successful metropolitan entity.

I live in Fern Creek. I get a free pass.

Since our group always give the new guys a second chance, I will be trying Merlot's again next week. Our first visit Sunday night had great service but the side items were not what one would expect. The broccoli needed a steak knife to cut and the other two items were undercooked. We didn't pay much attention to the room as we were there for the food. However, I did find the atmosphere much quieter than Jeff Ruby's and the tables spaced further apart.
While most of you would enjoy "It takes a Ville" at Actors thru Saturday, I don't think Phil would appreciate the great humor and required ability to laugh at ourselves.
For me I am always proud of telling people that Eli and Peyton went to my High School in New Orleans!!

..we would not fit in...we don't have a fancy car or any high paying job...he is a Respiratory Therapist i am a retired nurse. We love to eat out and try new places but Louisville is very notorious for separating of groups of folks based on areas they live in.

Bev, we've never owned a car that cost more than $14,000, and our little house in Crescent Hill cost under $100K when we moved back to twon in 1994. I've been reviewing restaurants locally since the 1980s and I've always taken pride in having no boundaries. I love finding great new places in all parts of town, and I'll drive out Preston any time for La Tapatia or Chili Pot or Rosticeria Luna or Koreana II or Thai Smile V or ... well, you get the idea.

Folks come to our offlines from all over, and we've never snobbed on anybody yet. I really wish you'd give us a try some time. We're really quite sociable, and don't require dressing up.

Robin it was quite late last night when I made my post and I may not have made myself very clear....being as I have not met you all actually I know it is a perception on my part but it is hard to not get a bit defensive when you feel ridiculed, or at least your neighborhood ...the car thing I know is silly...but I love my noisy 89 Chevy wagon that I paid 600 bucks for 3 years ago. We call her Helga.

[Robin Garr]

Robin it was quite late last night when I made my post and I may not have made myself very clear....being as I have not met you all actually I know it is a perception on my part but it is hard to not get a bit defensive when you feel ridiculed, or at least your neighborhood ...the car thing I know is silly...but I love my noisy 89 Chevy wagon that I paid 600 bucks for 3 years ago. We call her Helga.

Helga! Great name for a car! I had an old van once named ... Vincent VAN GO!

Maybe we ought to do an Okolona offline some time, maybe at the new Mr. Pollo on Outer Loop. Get all us snooty East Enders out to the South End for the first time since we did the Taqueria Throwdown years ago. And make it easy for the Okolona and Shively and South End members to eat and drink with us without having to travel far.

Geez, I never knew I had such fancy friends! <joking!> Bev - I am a worn out Paramedic, now "training specialist", Hubby is a fish monger and son is a night stocker at Kroger and we live in the Shelby Park neighborhood - used to live in Portland- not Oregon or Maine! I have never had a person from this forum appear to judge me on my lack of going to a Louisville HS (raised in PA) or my current address. I have more comments from the folks I work with about where my house is - and all I say the house is PAID OFF, how many folks can say that?. Don't let some isolated comments keep you from meeting some fantastic people. There are so many great folks and great stories here, you really need to give us a chance - we don't bite....well...Steve P. may nibble a bit <again, joking!> (LUV YA STEVIE!!)