Business First's list of top five restaurants

It appears that readers of Business First are at least 80% steak eaters. Their list of the top five upscale restaurants in Louisville includes four steak houses and 610 Magnolia! I think they need to get out a little more and explore some of louisville's other restaurants!

Here's the article: Top 5: Louisville upscale restaurants

[Robin Garr]

It appears that readers of Business First are at least 80% steak eaters. Their list of the top five upscale restaurants in Louisville includes four steak houses and 610 Magnolia! I think they need to get out a little more and explore some of louisville's other restaurants!

Here's the article: Top 5: Louisville upscale restaurants

Morton's first!? And Jack Binion's? I don't even know where that IS.

As for the rest, the emphasis on steakhouses doesn't surprise me, and at the risk of being snarky, I would guess that the author of that list is impressed more by the prices at 610 Magnolia than any real understanding of what Chef Ed Lee is up to over there.

Let's be fair, though. Would you turn to Business First for advice on where to eat?

If you noted the "survey method", they are ranked by entree cost, Not quality of dining. Hence the steakhouses being the top "ranked".

All the Business First lists rank by numbers- not favorite, most successful, etc. Last one was Top Ranked Private Schools- very misleading. The ranking was by sheer number of students, not quality of education, test scores, etc. I guess all that matters is the number of bodies...

[Robin Garr]

I guess all that matters is the number of bodies...

It's sad, Business First could have done well to build strength on the CJ's growing weakness in a niche category, but instead it seems that they've gone down a parallel track as Gannett.

I'm sure I haven't visited as many upscale Louisville eateries as many of you on this board. That said, the places I have been to include:

Ruth's Chris
Morton's
Jack Fry's
Lily's
Stoney River
Jeff Ruby's
Asiatique
Seviche
Del Frisco's

It blows my mind the number of lists I see that have Morton's as a top choice among Louisville's restaurants. I would rate it as one of the lowest of these. As for upscale chain steakhouses, Ruth's Chris would be a no-brainer pick for me given the choice between the two.

I have emailed the editor requesting a more suitable title for their article. Such as "Louisville's Top 5 Most Expensive Restaurants."
Also last time I checked 610 doesn't have an a la carte menu, therefore ranking them by "entree" price is misleading.

Morton's first!? And Jack Binion's? I don't even know where that IS.

It's over at Caesars, or should I say Horseshoe. It certainly doesn't fall into my list of top dining places!

I certainly agree with you about that listening to Business First for selecting dining places!

It appears that readers of Business First are at least 80% steak eaters. Their list of the top five upscale restaurants in Louisville includes four steak houses and 610 Magnolia! I think they need to get out a little more and explore some of louisville's other restaurants!

Here's the article: Top 5: Louisville upscale restaurants

Morton's first!? And Jack Binion's? I don't even know where that IS.

As for the rest, the emphasis on steakhouses doesn't surprise me, and at the risk of being snarky, I would guess that the author of that list is impressed more by the prices at 610 Magnolia than any real understanding of what Chef Ed Lee is up to over there.

Let's be fair, though. Would you turn to Business First for advice on where to eat?

Written by people for people on expense accounts maybe?

Written by people for people on expense accounts maybe?

Exactly what I was thinking.

When I was in the rat race and, in the fatter days of the economy, sales people would sometimes try to impress me, and colleagues, with a meal at Ruth's Chris. Sometimes I'd try to nicely educate these folks a bit on actual local places, but the upshot was their job was flying all over the country and it was easier for them to remember upscale chains that they could find in most major cities and knew what to expect. So that's what they'd do. No surprise it's mostly chains. Nothing like topping off an expense account dinner with a $150 snifter of 19th century cognac! I finally turned one of these folks down, saying "Thanks anyway but I'll pass. I'm tired of Ruth's Chris". The guy's jaw nearly hit the floor.

The article should have been titled "Top Five Restaurants To Charge To An Expense Account".

It appears that readers of Business First are at least 80% steak eaters. Their list of the top five upscale restaurants in Louisville includes four steak houses and 610 Magnolia! I think they need to get out a little more and explore some of louisville's other restaurants!

Here's the article: Top 5: Louisville upscale restaurants

Morton's first!? And Jack Binion's? I don't even know where that IS.

As for the rest, the emphasis on steakhouses doesn't surprise me, and at the risk of being snarky, I would guess that the author of that list is impressed more by the prices at 610 Magnolia than any real understanding of what Chef Ed Lee is up to over there.

Let's be fair, though. Would you turn to Business First for advice on where to eat?

Robin, you need to expand your horizons. Binion's is in the Horseshoe. Do you know where that IS ?

Admittedly, it's just another steakhouse. The original "Binion's" steakhouse in Vegas is nothing to brag about.......basically a tourist trap with mediocre steaks, but of course, the "Binion" name is not what is used to be.

Best steak in Louisville currently goes to Eddie Merlot's....... bone-in ribeye is fantastic. Morton's and Ruth's Chris are old news.

[Robin Garr]

Robin, you need to expand your horizons. Binion's is in the Horseshoe. Do you know where that IS ?

Yep! I'm not much of a fan of casino cookery, though.

I went to Ruby's when I first moved up here and was very underwhelmed.

In fairness to Business First, the list criteria is derived from the average price of the highest priced entree and the lowest priced entree, so there is not really an attempt to make a qualitative judgment on these.

This would seem to favor steakhouses over perhaps more eclectic menus with lower priced point entrees.

Agree with other posters, though, that lists like this can sometimes drive traffic to larger chains over our own very good local offerings. Still, in spirit of driving more commerce through Louisville, I do not look at lists such as these as necessarily bad as they still might provide exposure to others whom otherwise would not have known about our local places.

FYI, my personal experience is the days of expense account laden big meals are rapidly meeting their demise with corporations much stricter on travel/entertainment than they were years ago. Interested to see if restaurant owners have seen transition from more corporate based to personal based dining.

As for the rest, the emphasis on steakhouses doesn't surprise me, and at the risk of being snarky, I would guess that the author of that list is impressed more by the prices at 610 Magnolia than any real understanding of what Chef Ed Lee is up to over there.

Granted I work there, so I'm obviously biased, but I don't think that 610 Magnolia's prices are that out-of-line with any other fine dining restaurant in the city. In fact, I think they're somewhat of a bargain considering what you're getting at a fixed price: either three courses + amuse trio for $50 or four courses + amuse trio for $60. That's basically at minimum a four course meal for $50, which you'd be hard-pressed to find at most restaurants. And the food is pretty incomparable to most restaurants in town -- for instance right now we have a pancetta-wrapped halibut entree, cooked sous-vide and served with little neck clam chowder, smoked sweet potatoes, and tarragon gel. I doubt there's anyplace in Louisville serving anything like it.

[Robin Garr]

Granted I work there, so I'm obviously biased, but I don't think that 610 Magnolia's prices are that out-of-line with any other fine dining restaurant in the city. In fact, I think they're somewhat of a bargain considering what you're getting at a fixed price:

Fair enough, and let the record reflect that I consider 610 one of about five restaurants that on any given day I might rank as No. 1 in the city. I do think it has a reputation as being pricey, though. Maybe the prix fixe creates that impression, but I just don't think people see it as a venue for a cheap date. Especially if you choose wine to match the quality of the meal, and most people do.