For once, my profession and my Louisville-food-mania have intersected. I am building a website for a national conference that is happening at the Brown in Louisville in March 2010. One of the website features will be a "where to eat in Louisville" page. Below (in italics) is what I've written so far. It is a little heavy on "expensive" options (many of the conference-goers are graduate students with limited $). Can anybody suggest some additions, especially: close to the Brown hotel and CHEAP... but also good? (Also: you can't see it here, but all of the restaurant names will be linked to the respective home pages.)
The Brown Hotel is home to two restaurants, the The English Grill and J. Graham's Cafe. J. Graham's features the legendary "hot brown," a famous Kentucky recipe. Click here to visit the Brown Hotel's dining webpage for more details.
Louisville is also known for its nationally-recognized fine-dining scene. Esquire magazine recently called Louisville "one of the emerging food destinations in the U.S." Of particular note is Seviche, a Latin restaurant located at 1538 Bardstown Road, where Chef Anthony Lamas has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation as a Rising Star of American Cuisine. Closer to the Brown Hotel is Proof on Main, a New American-style restaurant located at 702 W Main Street. Proof on Main has received national attention from Bon Appetit and Esquire magazines. Also located at Proof on Main: the 21c, a free modern art museum that can be perused before or after a meal at Proof. Other notable downtown restaurants include the Old Spaghetti Factory, a bargain at 235 W. Market St., and The Mayan Cafe (813 E. Market St), where Chef Bruce Ucan presents a modern version of Yucatan cuisine. Also nearby is Saffron (131 West Market, Middle Eastern) and Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse (325 W. Main Street). 732 Social (732 E. Market Street) is open late and is known for its farm-to-table foods, organic wines, and charcuterie plates. There are also several restaurants at 4th Street Live! (just two blocks from the Brown), including the Marker's Mark Lounge, the Ri Ra Irish Pub, J. Gumbo's (fast-food Cajun), and a budget-friendly food-court. Visit the 4th Street Live Dining webpage for more info and options.
Click here for an extensive list of Louisville Restaurants, along with reviews from Louisville food-writer Robin Garr.