Norman Brinker Dies

[Robin Garr]

I believe that was Cork & Cleaver, one in a long list of similar this-&-that copycats.

Am I remembering correctly that Steak & Ale was the place with their menus printed on big, fake meat cleavers? My parents used to go to the one in Lexington in the '70s. My mother snagged one of the cleaver menus & brought it home in her purse. I think we still have it in the basement somewhere.

Just need to throw this in to remain consistent with my reputation: Brinker seems like a very interesting dude even if he is credited with inventing the fern bar.

Nonetheless: Death to Chains.

Ah, Hasenour's. I remember having frog legs there as a child! That place was an experience like few others at the time.

Great list! Thanks for the many additions!

Yes, some of those places are dated in style by modern standards. But it's worth remembering that Louisville's emergence as a "foodie" town did not begin only a generation ago. It goes back a long way, certainly to the 19th century. (Anybody ever seen historic menus from the original Galt House, where Charles Dickens stayed over?)

By the way, did the old downtown Mazzoni's have a full bar?

Bauer's
Pine Room (did it have food?)
Old House
Later, Normandy and Hearthstone
Kunz's
Casa Grisanti
Cunningham's
Min's Steak House (now Pat's)
The restaurant at the Executive Inn (Kurt Seigert (sp?) and his strolling strings)
Bill Boland's

And places not usually thought of: Country clubs; somewhat anachronistic now, but a big source of family dining with a drink for many years in the 70's and much, much earlier.

I'm not sure if Second St. had full bar but I'll always remember being served a 25 cent, little 5 or 6 oz. glass of beer at 15. Accompanied by my Dad's friend, I thought I was quite special.

Jeffrey ....Thanks for mentioning us Kunz's it seems after 114 years in business more people would remember dining with us

I remember Kunz's very well and fondly. I wish it was still around. It was one of the great downtown Louisville institutions.

Pine Room (did it have food?)

Yes it did. That was my grandfather's restaurant.