Discussion of Robin Garr's Lynn’s Paradise Café review

[Robin Garr]

Lynn’s Paradise Café is 20 and going strong
LEO's Eats with Robin Garr

Lynn’s Paradise Café is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, meaning it has been around for a full generation, and people have been lining up and patiently waiting their turn for brunch through all those years. Think of it — kids who came in with their parents as infants in arms will be able to buy a drink there next year, and the cycle of life goes on.

I’ve been a fan since the very start, even back when its original incarnation was on Frankfort Avenue (in the building that now houses Cubana and that has been home to a number of other memorable eateries including an authentic Jamaican place, a first-rate Korean joint called Little Bit of Seoul, and the short-lived Danielle’s).

Frankly, if you had asked me, I would have guessed that Lynn’s had been around for longer — 25 years, maybe, or 30. It has become that much a landmark on the city’s casual dining scene.
And, of course, the outsize personality Lynn Winter, its proprietor since the beginning, has added a colorful dimension to the place, building a reputation that goes far beyond Louisville’s borders.

This may be attributable as much to public relations as to any exceptional awesomeness. I think I remember where it all started, with an early visit by a well-known national food writer who did his “research” by dropping by The Courier-Journal to ask for tips to iconic local places, was sent to Lynn’s, was amused by its fun mix of diner fare and abundant tchotchkes, and wrote it up. Other national media soon took notice, designated Lynn’s as a “Wacky Louisville Place To Eat,” and it has come to the point where Food Network and its like can hardly come to town without making an obligatory visit.

Read the full review on LouisvilleHotBytes,
http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/lynn% ... ing-strong

And in LEO Weekly:
http://leoweekly.com/dining/lynn%E2%80% ... ing-strong

Lynn’s Paradise Café
984 Barret Ave.
583-3447
http://lynnsparadisecafe.com
Rating: 85

Robin-
Unless it is proprietary or something, would you mind disclosing the methodology for assigning points to your reviews?
'Winger

"Little Bit of Seoul" - another place i miss.

[Robin Garr]

Robin-
Unless it is proprietary or something, would you mind disclosing the methodology for assigning points to your reviews?
'Winger

It's not proprietary exactly, Bill, but I don't really want people gaming it, so I prefer to generalize rather than to spell out exactly how I arrive at a rating.

In genral, it is based on objective criteria but then tuned subjectively, and it places primary focus on the food but takes service, atmosphere, value, quality-for-price and creativity (among other things) into account.

It's nothing so simple that it can be reduced to a chart, but in my mind it's a practical system that leaves me feeling comfortable about its validity.

It can also be understood by comparing the numerical ratings to school grades: 90s-100 = A, 80s = B, 70s = C and below 70 = Fail.

Just out of curiosity, was this question prompted by this review, and if so, did you think 85 was too high or too low for Lynn's, or about right?

Robin-
Just a general question and not related to this review.
Bill

Little Bit of Seoul" - another place i miss.

Totally, agree. I'm so busy eating atmany of Louisville's great resataurants that I don't have time to miss most that have gone with the exception ofLittle Bit of Seoul plus Nik's.

We really enjoy taking out of town guests to "Lynn's" for the "major wow factor" it provides...but honestly, when it comes to the food, I'd rather eat (breakfast/brunch/lunch) at Verbena (among others).

I'd rather eat (breakfast/brunch/lunch) at Verbena (among others).

I'm with you on that, Stevie.

[Robin Garr]

I'd rather eat (breakfast/brunch/lunch) at Verbena (among others).

I'm with you on that, Stevie.

I like Verbena and gave it a good review, but I'm not really wowed ... it sort of seems like it wants to be a local version of Panera. Also, it's in Norton Commons. On the other hand, I like but don't love Lynn's and pretty much spelled it out that their fame as a Louisville icon is largely based on it accidentally becoming a meme thanks to a particularly lazy national writer.

I'd probably choose Wild Eggs, or Meridian Cafe, or North End, or Wagner's ... hell, if you want a good brunch/breakfast around this town, there's plenty of choice.

I think Lynn's has become a caricature of itself, honestly. I went there a few weeks ago, after not having gone for years, with out of town guests -- it seems it's the only time I go -- and was surprised by how high their prices had become. I think, like others have stated, there are far better places to go for brunch. For the price, it's not worth it to me, especially when there are options with better food and lower prices in our fair city.

I'd rather eat (breakfast/brunch/lunch) at Verbena (among others).

I'm with you on that, Stevie.

I like Verbena and gave it a good review, but I'm not really wowed ... it sort of seems like it wants to be a local version of Panera. Also, it's in Norton Commons. On the other hand, I like but don't love Lynn's and pretty much spelled it out that their fame as a Louisville icon is largely based on it accidentally becoming a meme thanks to a particularly lazy national writer.

I'd probably choose Wild Eggs, or Meridian Cafe, or North End, or Wagner's ... hell, if you want a good brunch/breakfast around this town, there's plenty of choice.

Robin, I am curious as to why you dislike Norton Commons so much. I think it is one of the most sensible subdivisions created since, well, Crescent Hill. The only difference I see is mature trees.

.
Robin, I am curious as to why you dislike Norton Commons so much. I think it is one of the most sensible subdivisions created since, well, Crescent Hill. The only difference I see is mature trees.

Yeah, I kinda get that too Willie. Must be because everything is new and hasn't developed that inner-city "crust" yet...oh I'm sorry, I mean "patina".

I'm also scratching my head on the Verbena/Panera comparison...That one came out of left field (pardon the pun). I've probably eaten at both places more times than all the Food Doods in the mid-west and they are about as similar Whole Foods and Lotsa Pasta.

.. it sort of seems like it wants to be a local version of Panera. Also, it's in Norton Commons.

I'm certainly not sure where this comparison comes from? I could agree with calling Verbena somewhere to Wild Eggs are even to some extent Lynn's but I don't think it's even close to Panera! OK, they bake one kind of bread daily to serve with their meals but other than that where are the similarities? I understand being from Crescent Hill you don't find Norton Commons that attractive but in reality as it matures I can see them becoming quite similar.

Myself and several others here really think that Verbena is a real jewel in the east end! I only wish they were also open for dinner.

[Robin Garr]

[
Robin, I am curious as to why you dislike Norton Commons so much. I think it is one of the most sensible subdivisions created since, well, Crescent Hill. The only difference I see is mature trees.

Willie, I do like it better than McMansions. But it just seems faux, and I question why developers want to build a fairly pricy little "village" with an old-fashioned look in former farm fields when there's a perfectly good city with real neighborhoods just a few miles to the west.

[
Robin, I am curious as to why you dislike Norton Commons so much. I think it is one of the most sensible subdivisions created since, well, Crescent Hill. The only difference I see is mature trees.

Willie, I do like it better than McMansions. But it just seems faux, and I question why developers want to build a fairly pricy little "village" with an old-fashioned look in former farm fields when there's a perfectly good city with real neighborhoods just a few miles to the west.

Somebody probably used this argument against Crescent Hill nee Beargrass development 150 years ago.