LEO's Eats with Louisville HotBytes.com, with Guest Critic Kevin GibsonJarfi's Bistro relocated from the Kentucky Center to the former Lentini's Little Italy location on Bardstown Road in April. While it seems an odd metamorphosis for a place that, for more than 40 years, was Louisville's epicenter of authentic Italian dining, Jeff Jarfi's stylish international bistro is right at home in its new digs.
Jarfi's menu has changed a bit (it's always evolving), but what is truly new here is the atmosphere - whereas Lentini's was upscale and old-world sophisticated, the new Jarfi's is colorful, vibrant and ethnically diverse. Under one roof, diners can encounter a French-style bistro, a Moroccan lounge, a sushi bar, traditional formal dining and a Times Square-themed dining hall.
A first visit to the new location on a recent Saturday evening revealed a bustling, busy eatery in a bright environment. The main room was packed with happy diners, and the bar area swarmed with people sipping cocktails and socializing. Fortunately, my friend Julia and I had made an online reservation, so we were seated immediately. It was a sunny and mild evening, so we requested to sit outside.
We surveyed the hustle of Bardstown Road while chatting and sipping ice water. It took quite a while for our server to find us, but she immediately apologized for the delay and offered us menus, so we selected a bottle of South African-made Man Chenin Blanc ($18) and began making our dinner decisions.
One of the most attractive aspects of Jarfi's menu is the potpourri of cuisines. One doesn't often encounter a menu that includes both a Hot Brown and tobiki (flying fish roe) nigiri.
Jarfi's Bistro
1543 Bardstown Road
589-5060
http://www.jarfis.com
LEO Rating: 90 points
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