If you had 5 days in Louisville...

Which must-visit restaurants would you take new visitors to in Louisville?

My wife and I are coming into town next week (from Maine) to scope out the area as a potential new home for us. We both love good food. Our palates can appreciate a range from street cart food to an 8-course tasting menu.

The reviews here are really helpful, but there's so much to choose from that I'd like to hear from locals what their favorites are.

Oh, we're not planning on bringing dressy clothes, so any place that welcomes a couple of pale new englanders in dockers or jeans is our kind of place.

Which must-visit restaurants would you take new visitors to Louisville?

My wife and I are coming into town next week (from Maine) to scope out the area as a potential new home for us. We both love good food. Our palates can appreciate a range from street cart food to an 8-course tasting menu.

The reviews here are really helpful, but there's so much to choose from that I'd like to hear from locals what their favorites are.

Oh, we're not planning on bringing dressy clothes, so any place that welcomes a couple of pale new englanders in dockers or jeans is our kind of place.

Saffron's, North End Cafe, Proof and Sari Sari would be a few good choices. Each represents a different style of food and ambience. I am sure you'll get dozens of answers, so I left my list short. Oh, try the local chain Moby Dick for their cod sandwich and let us know what you think.

You're going to hear many restaurants suggested and that's a good thing since Louisville has such a wide variety of great local restaurants! The ones I'm suggesting are some of our favorites but there are certainly many more equally as good. My suggestions cover the entire gambit of types.

My suggestions would include:
Proof on Main
Primo
Equus
Lily's
Mojito
Seviche (either one)
Z's
Lynn's Paradise Cafe

You probably won't make all of these but I'm sure you'll enjoy any of them you visit!

Some of my faves:

L&N wine bar
Havana Rumba
Basa
Jack Fry's
Come Back Inn
Melillo's
Napa River Grille

Steve, you may as well just move on down for at least a few years. Once you start checking out all these places you just aren't gonna want to leave.

Steve, you may as well just move on down for at least a few years. Once you start checking out all these places you just aren't gonna want to leave.

Sure, want to buy a house in Maine and/or hire an IT guy?

I've been googling reviews of the responses so far and am really thrilled at the variety. Don't get me wrong, there are some great restaurants here in Portland, but with the exception of a few stand-outs, we do run out of choices after a while. Of course a city with a population of 70,000 or so can support just so many restaurants, even with the tourists.

Two types of cuisine we don't have here in Maine are good Mexican and Greek food. Does that exist in Louisville?

My favorite place to take out-of-towners is Blue Dog, the Grape Leaf and Cliftons.

I would suggest spending some time strolling the waterfront, Frankfort Ave (specifically between Ewing and Stilz), Bardstown Road and Baxter Ave. These are some of my favorite areas in Louisville and I like to take guests walking along these spots to get a taste of great shops and restaurants and of course the beautiful waterfront park. The other parks in Louisville are worth a look too: Seneca, Cherokee, Iroquois...all gorgeous and give Louisville a real charm that other large cities aren't so lucky to have.

Havana Rumba, Primo, Seviche, Basa, and < insert Louisville Pizza Joint of your Choice > (Impellizeri's)

Drink beer at Rich-Os, Nachbar, BBC Main Street Tap Room, Brownings & Cumberland Brews
Drink espresso at Ray's Monkey House, Sunergos, DCE
Eat pizza at: Imperiazellis, Oak St. Pizza, Charlestown Pizza Co.
Eat breakfast at: North End Cafe, Lynn's Paradise, Wild Eggs
Eat BBQ at Smoketown BBQ
Don't eat the Hot Brown.

Don't eat the Hot Brown.

And for heaven's sake, don't drink a Mint Julep.

I would eat a Hot Brown at the Brown Hotel but I wouldn't drink a mint julep. What a total waste of good bourbon, or even bad bourbon for that matter.

I would eat a Hot Brown at the Brown Hotel but I wouldn't drink a mint julep. What a total waste of good bourbon, or even bad bourbon for that matter.

Agreed.

I prefer bourbon on the rocks, but I have to admit...I actually like the taste of a mint julep, especially on derby morning

Don't eat the Hot Brown.

And for heaven's sake, don't drink a Mint Julep.

Actually Hot Browns and Mint Julep's are a must for a visitor to Louisville since they're both truly unique to Louisville. Hot Browns are actually all right in my opinion at least once in awhile, but as stated elsewhere Mint Juleps are a true waste even when they're made with fresh mint.

First, there are very few places you will feel out of place in dockers or nice jeans.

One thing we don't have is a true Greek restaurant but you should try Grape Leaf, it will probably do the trick.

Others..... Seviche, Palermo Viejo, Cafe Lou Lou, Havana Rumba and Primo.

Enjoy your stay.