Burger vs Burger: It’s a win-win at Shady Lane Cafe

[Robin Garr]

Burger vs Burger: It’s a win-win at Shady Lane Cafe

Shady Lane's Brownsboro burger, a favorite for decades through two sets of owners, won Louisville magazine's Best in City award over 34 competitors in 2013. I agree with that rating.


Ahh, Shady Lane Cafe! This lovable little East End diner-style cafe has been a popular lunch (and weekend dinner) spot since Bill Smith and Susi Wood opened it around 2004. It earned deserved popularity for its iconic Brownsboro burger and much more.

All good things eventually move on, though, and in August 2019 Bill, short-order chef and poet, and his wife Susi, amiable host and professional singer, turned the business over to another couple – Carol Reeves and Satbir “Shan” Singh – in August 2019.

The new owners have maintained the same high level of quality and popularity. When I dropped in to pick up a takeout lunch on a recent Saturday, every table in the little space was filled with apparently happy diners, and the line to the counter extended all the way back to the door.

Bill and Susi intended it to turn out that way. “It is with a profound, bittersweet sadness that Susi and I would like to announce that we will soon be leaving our little Shady Lane Cafe behind,” they wrote on social media in 2019. “We are leaving it in the hands of a wonderful young couple who are eager and enthusiastic to continue, improve. and grow on our fifteen year legacy.”

The new owners and old worked together to ensure a smooth transition, and I’m happy to report that every time we’ve dropped in since that switch, the food – especially that burger – has been on point. From one master of the flat-top short-order grill to another, with a consistent emphasis on quality and welcoming service at the counter: If only every restaurant transition could be so smooth.

So: We go to Shady Lane, we get a Brownsboro burger. That’s the rule. It’s $8.50, add half a buck if you want cheddar on top and of course we do. ...

Read the complete article on LouisvilleHotBytes,
http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/burger-shady-lane

You'll also find this commentary in LEO Weekly online later this week.
http://www.leoweekly.com/category/food-drink/

Shady Lane Cafe
4806 Brownsboro Center
893-5118
http://shady-lane-cafe.business.site
https://facebook.com/shadylanelady
https://instagram.com/cafeshadylane

Noise Level: The place was packed and filled with a happy but not painful noise.

Accessibility: The entrance and main floor appear accessible to wheelchair users.

Absolutely one of my favorite burgers in town. And like you, I don't think it's suffered at all under the new owners. I took a peek at the menu and I saw that the meatloaf sandwich is back (they had dropped it for a while at least). I'll have to see if it is as good as it was under Bill and Susi.

[Robin Garr]

... I took a peek at the menu and I saw that the meatloaf sandwich is back (they had dropped it for a while at least). I'll have to see if it is as good as it was under Bill and Susi.

Let us know, Steve!

Yo typo ... Accessibility: There are no steps at the entrance and restrooms, but wheelchair users will have to negotiate two heavy doors at the Bardstown Road entrance.

[Robin Garr]

Yo typo ... Accessibility: There are no steps at the entrance and restrooms, but wheelchair users will have to negotiate two heavy doors at the Bardstown Road entrance.

Aw, hell, that's left over from a previous review. Grumble grumble, off to fix.

[Robin Garr]

Oh, and thanks, Gary!

No big deal, just noticed it and thought you might want to fix it, old printers habit.

[Robin Garr]

Glad you did, you old printer! Fortunately, this was the only place where the previous text popped in, so it was an easy fix.