Need Some Restaurant Recomendations

I recently started a new job manning the front desk at an extended stay hotel near the intersection of Blankenbaker Parkway and I-64. Our typical guest is in town to do a job and stays for anything from a week to six or eight months, so they have some time to explore the local eateries beyond the chain and fast food joints.

A lot of them ask me for restaurant suggestions, and I have a few, but I'd like to hear what the braintrust here at Hotbytes has to offer. As Louisville's foremost collection of foodies, I'm sure we can come up with some delicious offerings that will blow the minds and palates of the out-of-towners.

Any and all suggestions are welcome, but please remember that these people are not from around here. While most of them have cars, they don't know the area, so it would be best to stick to places that are a) reasonably close to the hotel, and b) easy to find. Also, while we have a wide variety of guests, we're not the Brown, so perhaps less expensive places might go over better. That doesn't mean cheap, just that we're not, for the most part, dealing with the fine dining crowd here.

With those parameters set, I look forward to your picks. Thanks in advance.
-John

right off the bat I would recommend:

Shalimar for Indian (in the center on Hurstbourne with Liquor Barn) - especially the lunch buffet.

Thai Orchid (Stonybrook, I think in the same center as HH Gregg) - great Thai food.

Z's Oyster Bar (Wittington Parkway behind PF Chang's, same center as Valu Market) - reasonable lunch and fantastic but pricey dinner.

Brownie's The Shed - (same center as Z's) - I hear they have great sandwiches, bar food, etc. Very casual place, good place for a beer.

Joe's OK Bayou - (Plainview Center) - Very casual but good cajun fare.

Havana Rumba, Peking City Bistro, Rumor's are all a hop, skip and jump away in Middletown and are easy to find off Shelbyville Rd. In addition to the "chain gang" on Hurstbourne, there's the afore mentioned Shalimar, Yen Chang and El Torito all right off I-64 in the Wellinghurst strip mall. Also Perfetto's Pizza, Great Harvest Bread Co. (they have awesome sandwiches), and Skyline (which I love, but others here dislike). And I only include Erica's German Restaurant because any one coming from your hotel would have to turn onto Southbound Hurstbourne off I-64, because it's impossible to get to from the northbound lanes. Otherwise my wife and I would eat there a lot more often.

Shogun
Bombay Grill
Limestone

John, awesome post. Having been one of the people you are talking about (I used to "commute" to Oklahoma City for two weeks every month) I admire anyone who is ready-willing and able to go the extra mile for their customers.

John, awesome post. Having been one of the people you are talking about (I used to "commute" to Oklahoma City for two weeks every month) I admire anyone who is ready-willing and able to go the extra mile for their customers.

Ditto. Having spent 3 months straight this year working out of town in various cities, I had to do my own research to find good local places, for the most part. Most of the staff at the various hotels pointed in the direction of the typical chain places, and were generally clueless about local recommendations.

From that hotel area is just a short drive over to Anchorage. There you have Selena's, the Village Anchor and the Anchorage Café! If they're looking for breakfast on a weekend Wild Eggs on Shelbyville road isn't that far. Another nice destination could be Norton Commons, very easy to get there by taking the Snyder from where you are and there are several dining choices there as well as some shops to explore.

Havana Rumba's Middletown place is excellent. Simply Thai will soon be opening next door.

King Fish fits the bill.

Not gourmet, but tasty, inexpensive, and... wait for it... local.

Hello John,

Bazo's Fresh Mexican Grill is a great place for fast, fresh ,healthy and affordable San Diego style Mexican fare . Our signature fish tacos are the best in town. We are conveniently located on Dutchman's lane not too far away from you! Just take 64W to 264 W and we are right there off of Breckenridge lane.

Here is a link to our locations with directions:
http://www.bazosgrill.com/locations.html

Please fell free to call us if you have any questions.

John,

You have used the best restaurant resource there is in the country as best as I can tell. LOUISVILLEHOTBYTES.COM

I guess some of your guests may not have a laptop or iPad or such but doubtful and even if they do, I bet you have a business center. Print up business cards with 'our' web site on it and tell them, you go here and read the forums. Give them click here, click there, click this last one and read instructions.

You can put three or four places on the card too.

I really do like that you are checking and learning. When I/we travel I always accost the front desk for places to go eat. Invariably they start out with the chains. I stop them and say, sorry we can't eat at any place we have in Lousiville. Where do you take your date that is not a chain place? Whats the best greasy spoon?

And the suggestions are outstanding. But I would expect nothing less from the forumites.

Richard

John,

Great request! ( this from a frequent travel who would LOVE to have you at my front desk).

Great suggestions have been made so far - I'll add another : Jamine Chinese. They have both well-done Chinese -American standards and an authentic Chinese menu ( you need to ask for it). They are very simple to get to for your visitors- 64 East to GeneSnyder- off at 60 east and 1 block from highway. Highly recommended!

Deb

Now, these aren't exactly close, but close enough to count:

Habana Blue
Goose Creek Diner
India Palace (WONDERFUL lunch buffet as well)
Bristol

Now one of my favorite chains is in the neck of the woods too, and it warrents a shout out: Macaronni Grill......

I was also going to mention Selena's, particularly the Sunday Brunch! It's easy enough to get to from that area on a Sunday morning, maybe a 15 minute drive (when it's not crazy holiday season!) and a great brunch menu!

Also, Home Run Burgers is pretty close and some of the best burgers in town if they are looking for something a little more casual.

I recently started a new job manning the front desk at an extended stay hotel near the intersection of Blankenbaker Parkway and I-64. Our typical guest ...stays for anything from a week to six or eight months, so they have some time to explore ...beyond the chain and fast food joints. A lot of them ask me for restaurant suggestions...please remember that these people are not from around here. While most of them have cars, they don't know the area, so it would be best to stick to places that are a) reasonably close to the hotel, and b) easy to find...less expensive places might go over better...doesn't mean cheap, just that we're not...dealing with the fine dining crowd here.

John,
You rock!
I retired early this year, last stint was about a dozen years in the Bluegrass Industrial Park so I know exactly the clientele you are talking about because they visited our plant all the time and many probably stayed at your current gig. Some are a bit adventureous but most are not at all. I used to make a list that I revised periodically and handed out to folks who visited us. They are not here on vacation, they are ragged out at the end of the day, not looking for a complicated trek for supper and sure don't want to waste half the lunch hour driving to and from.
The deal is you can figure they will be OK with driving on Shelbyville Road between the Gene Snyder & Hurstbourne, on Hurstbourne from Shelbyville Road over to Taylorsville Road, and then on Taylorsville Road to Watterson Trail and back towards the Industrial Park.
Some of these have been mentioned and I'm throwing in a few chain places that as far as I am concerned are worthwhile, especially if the guest is going to be in the area for some time. Recommend calling ahead in case a place is no longer around, hard to keep abreast of that:

Asian Moon 1915 Blankenbaker Pkwy 261-9998 Oriental
bd's Mongolian Grill 1890 S Hurstbourne Pkwy 499-4406 Misc
Bearno's 10117 Taylorsville Rd 267-2549 Italian
Bristol 300 N. Hurtsbourne Pkwy 426-0627 Misc
Buca di Beppo 2051 S Hurtsbourne Pkwy 493-2426 Italian
El Caporal 1909 Blankenbaker Pkwy 266-9605 Mexican
El Nopal 10500 Watterson Trial 266-5956 Mexican
El Tarasco 9606 Taylorsville Rd 297-8003 Mexican
El Toro 1810 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy (near Liquor Barn) 491-7272 Mexican
Erika's German Restaurant 9301 Hurstbourne Park Blvd 499-8822 German
Havana Rumba II 12003 Shelbyville Rd 244-5375 Latin American
Home Run Burgers 2060 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy 409-7004 Misc
Joe's OK Bayou 9874 Linn Station Rd 426-1320 Cajun
Johnny V's 10509 Watterson Trail 267-0900 Italian
Mark's Feed Store Bar-B-Q 11422 Shelbyville Rd 244-0140 Barbecue
Senor Iguana's 9424 Taylorsville Rd 425-4581 Mexican
Shah's Mongolian Grill 9148 Taylorsville Rd (@ Stony Brook Ctr) 493-0234 Oriental
Shalimar 1820 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy (near Liquor Barn) 493-8899 Indian
Shogun Japanese Steakhouse 9024 Taylorsville Rd (@ Stony Brook Ctr) 499-5700 Oriental
Sichuan Garden 9850 Linn Station Rd 426-6767 Oriental
Thai Orchids 9114 Taylorsville Rd (Stony Brook) 493-4073 Oriental
Yen Ching 1818 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy (near Liquor Barn) 491-3581 Oriental