Visiting September 15-18, looking for variety of dining

I am visiting from Chicago to take my first (of four? Maybe!) exams to become a Master Sommelier! Any suggestions for a Louisville newbie on where to dine? Where do all the wine connoisseurs taste?

[Robin Garr]

Douglas, I hope you enjoy your visit. I hate it that L&N Wine Bar & Bistro, with its 52-unit Cruvinet and its extensive wine list, has closed; at this point there's hope a successor will continue the wine programs, but right now it's dark.

There's plenty more to make you happy, though! Probably the first place I would send a traveling wine geek is Le Coop on East Market (trendily monikered "NuLu" neighborhood these days), where Master Sommelier Brett Davis runs a heck of a beverage program. Brett's also involved with Doc Crow's, over near the Yum Center arena, which is fine, too, but I'll rank Le Coop over it for French bistro food and mood and wine/drinks to match. Really, you could do worse than just stroll East Market (and its environs on East and West Market and Main bracketing downtown) for your entire stay: Proof on Main, Doc Crow's, Harvest, Wiltshire, Garage Bar, Rye and Decca will all make you happy for food and drink. But wait! There's more! Blind Pig and its accompanying cocktail bar, Meat, in Butchertown. Seviche on Bardstown Road is one of the city's top restaurants. In Old Louisville, 610 Magnolia. On Frankfort Avenue, Volare, Varanese or Bourbon's Bistro. In St. Matthews Equus/Jack's; out in the far eastern 'burbs, Corbett's An American Place. Back downtown, stop in at the Bristol Bar & Grille Downtown for wine, at least, where M.S. Scott Harper handles the wine program.

I know I've missed a bunch, but that ought to get you started. Stand by, I'm sure you'll have more recommendations coming in soon.

I've only

Thanks Robin, that's quite a list. Maybe I should rethink my hotel (it's on something called Kentucky Mills Drive, about fifteen minutes away) so I won't have to worry about driving back to it!

[Robin Garr]

Thanks Robin, that's quite a list. Maybe I should rethink my hotel (it's on something called Kentucky Mills Drive, about fifteen minutes away) so I won't have to worry about driving back to it!

I don't know if it's too late to change, and it might be a few farthings more, but yeah, a hotel downtown or in NuLu would be a lot more fun. By and large, with a few great exceptions like Corbett's, our 'burbs are about like any other city's 'burbs. But NuLu, Bardstown Road and Frankfort Avenue might be just barely enough to make you feel like you haven't left Chicago for the other side of the world.

Douglas,
I agree with Robin on a change of hotel to be closer to the thick of things. But know that parking prices in Louisville are FAR cheaper than Chicago ( here expensive is $12 a day ), but cabs are hard to find- you'll need someone to call you one.
Welcome!
Deb

Douglas,
If you feel like taking a trip out to the east side of town, I'd love to taste a few with you at my place, Napa River Grill. I admittedly have a majority California wine list (hence the name), but I do pour just over 40 of our wines by the glass, and I always have a few bottles set aside of some great stuff. Just ask for me if you stop in.
Another great one would be Brix, they have a retail shop attached so you can buy some goodies for later too. They are very, very close to RNDC's headquarters where you will be taking the test. I'm sure a few of the test takers will be going there after to celebrate. Whatever you choose, I'm glad you are getting to come check out our fair city, and I hope you ace the test, and enjoy some good food/wine while here. Good luck!

[Robin Garr]

If you feel like taking a trip out to the east side of town,

Good calls. Thanks, Ned.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Napa River sounds like my kind of place! I'll be sure to visit, maybe after I check into my hotel on Saturday.

Dumb question, I know, but where are some good places to watch some NFL on Sunday? And since Kentucky doesn't have their own team, who do most of the locals root for?

Dumb question, I know, but where are some good places to watch some NFL on Sunday? And since Kentucky doesn't have their own team, who do most of the locals root for?

Here's a thread where a discussion was held about which teams have fan clubs at what bars: http://forums.louisvillehotbytes.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19848&p=148570&hilit=Team#p148570