Hillbilly Tea Closed

Per Business First, closed as of today.

[Robin Garr]

Per Business First, closed as of today.

The original downtown spot, though. The newer place on Baxter will stay open and expand, I think. The argument that it wasn't an ideal location, isolated from other downtown spots, made some sense to me.

The original downtown spot, though. The newer place on Baxter will stay open and expand, I think. The argument that it wasn't an ideal location, isolated from other downtown spots, made some sense to me.

Good clarification, Robin. Thanks.

Karter is going to expand the hours at the Tea Shack, open the new place in Portland (in the old firehouse), going to put a place in Funtown Mountain and is doing a new concept. Plus he is getting back into acting some. Pretty busy guy. Don't count him out by any means.

The story talked about their new concept and its "Appalachian Sushi"? That's certainly a food description I've never heard of before, maybe they use Possum and Squirrel with Ramp Sauce to Make It?

Here's the full story from insider Louisville: Downtown Hillbilly Tea Closing

[Robin Garr]

... "Appalachian Sushi"? That's certainly a food description I've never heard of before, maybe they use Possum and Squirrel with Ramp Sauce to Make It?

I think that description is just about as tongue-in-cheek as was the original name "Hillbilly" to describe a downtown eatery in a non-Appalachian city run by an African-American guy and a Hungarian chef.

I know it received favorable reviews here but our experiences with the first street location were awful.

Both visits were for Sunday brunch. The service was subpar and the food was below average and served with meager proportions. Location didn't help but it's ultimately about the food and customer service.

That was a tough downtown spot and I am surprised the kept it going as long as they did.

That was a tough downtown spot and I am surprised the kept it going as long as they did.

My thoughts, as well. On the other hand, if they could have held on, the Aloft Hotel would have generated traffic once completed.

We went several times for dinner and for drinks, and never had a bad experience. They'll be missed.

I know it received favorable reviews here but our experiences with the first street location were awful.

Both visits were for Sunday brunch. The service was subpar and the food was below average and served with meager proportions. Location didn't help but it's ultimately about the food and customer service.

We did not go to Sunday brunch, but had the same experience was similar Food, service, small portions all poor..

I'm surprised by all the negative experiences. I ate dinner there probably 5 times and thought it was great each time. I guess portions could've been bigger, but I always left happy. Huh.

[Robin Garr]

I'm surprised by all the negative experiences. I ate dinner there probably 5 times and thought it was great each time. I guess portions could've been bigger, but I always left happy. Huh.

I looked back over my last brunch review there (May 2013) realized that it hadn't stuck in my memory because, perhaps, we found it good but not great. I was kind overall, picked a few nits, and rated it 80 points: Decent, but no knockout.

http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/we-br ... lbilly-tea

Decent, but no knockout.

That's exactly how we have felt about the place. I put it in the category that we would go there is somebody we were going out with wanted to go there but it wasn't the place we would recommend to go to with somebody else.

My wife put it this way. They are (were) trying to hard.

Rough cut wood serving "plates". Creeky steps, tables and chairs. Fake patina on the silverware. The obnoxious use of mason jars.

If you go to that extreme with the small details, the food and drink need to be home runs given the asking price.