Two new 500 seat restaurants?

I did a short interview with Dean Corbett on the WLKY 6 o'clock news and he said that Louisville had 30 new restaurants open and 13 close for a net gain of 17 new restaurants. He then went on to say that two of them had over 500 seats. I don't recall any restaurants that large opening recently, does anyone else?

Hop Cat has to be one of them.

The Levee + River House may be the other one. Levee seats 130 inside and 100 outside; River House seats 230 inside and 100 outside according to their websites.
We've been to River House and I didn't think it looked that big, but their website says 16,000 square feet.

The Levee + River House may be the other one. Levee seats 130 inside and 100 outside; River House seats 230 inside and 100 outside according to their websites.
We've been to River House and I didn't think it looked that big, but their website says 16,000 square feet.

It certainly didn't seem that large when we were there either. Not doubt in the numbers but it certainly seemed like River House would receive any more than about 200 or so inside and 60 or so outside. The levee also seem smaller than those numbers although we just took a quick look in there. I didn't think that HopCat actually would be considered a restaurant, at least in my opinion it's just a bar that happens to have some food.

2 500 seat restaurants? So THAT'S where all the line cooks went!

What about Doc's Cantina?

I looked up Doc's but couldn't find what I read earlier. 200 seats, I think. 10,000 square feet, counting both floors, so smaller than River House. Yelp is not being kind.

Red Barn Kitchen is one of the 500 seaters if you count the outside seating.

Red Barn Kitchen is one of the 500 seaters if you count the outside seating.

I didn't think about how large their outside area is you are certainly right about them having 500 seats if you count the outside area.

The Levee + River House may be the other one. Levee seats 130 inside and 100 outside; River House seats 230 inside and 100 outside according to their websites.
We've been to River House and I didn't think it looked that big, but their website says 16,000 square feet.

It certainly didn't seem that large when we were there either. Not doubt in the numbers but it certainly seemed like River House would receive any more than about 200 or so inside and 60 or so outside. The levee also seem smaller than those numbers although we just took a quick look in there. I didn't think that HopCat actually would be considered a restaurant, at least in my opinion it's just a bar that happens to have some food.

HopCat would be considered a restaurant. It's food is better (and more varied) than many of the restaurants up and down Bardstown, as much as it chagrins me to say that. I know people going back to it just for the food (specifically for the crack fries). Could just be a difference in terms -- not sure what you would consider a Buffalo Wild Wings, etc.

Could just be a difference in terms -- not sure what you would consider a Buffalo Wild Wings, etc.

I would also consider them a bar that happens to serve food.

Could just be a difference in terms -- not sure what you would consider a Buffalo Wild Wings, etc.

I would also consider them a bar that happens to serve food.

That's a bit of a stretch for a chain that literally brands itself by its food.

[Robin Garr]

Remember, definitions in this realm are important from a business standpoint: If a restaurant wants to serve alcohol - and particularly if it wants to serve liquor - it has to show that a certain percent (50 percent?) of its sales come from food. If you can't make this quota, you lose your liquor license. So it's not just a matter of saying, "Look at us, we're a restaurant!" You have to open your books to the nice man from ABC and show him that people are coming to your place for food.

Remember, definitions in this realm are important from a business standpoint: If a restaurant wants to serve alcohol - and particularly if it wants to serve liquor - it has to show that a certain percent (50 percent?) of its sales come from food. If you can't make this quota, you lose your liquor license. So it's not just a matter of saying, "Look at us, we're a restaurant!" You have to open your books to the nice man from ABC and show him that people are coming to your place for food.

For what it's worth, on the state ABC website, HopCat is listed as "restaurant, microbrewery," in contrast to Flanagan's ("bar w/ food sales") and Holy Grale ("bar with package sales").

[Robin Garr]

For what it's worth, on the state ABC website, HopCat is listed as "restaurant, microbrewery," in contrast to Flanagan's ("bar w/ food sales") and Holy Grale ("bar with package sales").

I may be mistaken - in fact, I probably am - but I think the difference might be that HopCat is selling beer only, while the other have liquor licenses, which is a far stricter setup.