Marriott Downtown Dinner Sat PM

My great friends from Akron, Ohio are in town this weekend. We are going to dinner on Sat. I'm thinking of Lynne's, Joe's Crab, Bearrno's pizza, ...I want to be a great Louisville host !! ... any suggestions?

Saffron's is different but classic indi Louisville!

Why Joe's Crab? They can eat at one of those anywhere. I'm pretty much over Lynn's - just another tourist trap by my estimation. I'd second Saffron's if they like that type of food. Skip Fourth Street Live - nothing uniquely "Louisville" there. Plenty of indies within a few miles on either Bardstown Road or Frankfort Avenue.

If you want to stay downtown, go immediately to Mayan Cafe.

My great friends from Akron, Ohio are in town this weekend. We are going to dinner on Sat. I'm thinking of Lynne's, Joe's Crab, Bearrno's pizza, ...I want to be a great Louisville host !! ... any suggestions?

Forget Joe's Crab. They've got at least two of them in the Akron area and chances are your friends have already been there/done that. I'd also forget Bearno's or for that matter any pizza in Louisville. There is a place in Akron that your friends are probably familiar with (Luigi's) that blows any pizza in The Ville away (no slight intended, just the way it is). So no Bearno's, trust me, they won't be impressed. I'd also forgo any local "gourmet" burger joints...There is plenty of that stuff in Akron (Meinche Brothers, Whitey's Booze and Burgers, etc). We're in agreement with a previous response that we're personally "over" Lynne's but that being said it is a neat place to take guests. We always hit Lynne's when friends are in town and they've never walked away less than satisfied.

Assuming you want to show them something they don't have at home, my top choices would be:

Westport General Store. (a) it's a nice pretty drive out there in any season (b) the food is very good and the dishes have a distinct Kentucky "flare" to them and (c) if you are lucky they usually have some very quintessential (and good) Kentucky Bluegrass music.

Captains Quarters. Doesn't necessarily hit a "home run" in any particular category but definitely gets "on base" in all of them (food/ambiance/view/price/etc). Akron has nothing like this.

Cumberland Brews. Akron has a couple of good micro breweries but nothing that will hold a candle to Cumberland. A flight of Kentucky brewed beers and a bowl of Bison chili...what could be more "Kentucky" than that ?

Bourbons Bistro. A bit on the spendy side if you start hitting the wine/cocktail list too early but what (pray tell) is more "Kentucky" than a nice after dinner flight of Bourbon. We think the food is very good

Proof/21C

Great dinner, bar and museum all in one building.

Proof, Captain's Quarters (especially if the weather is nice), North End Cafe, Seviche, Jack Fry's all would certainly be on the top of my list. Joe's Crab Shack certainly wouldn't be. Lynn's is certainly a unique experience but breakfast is actually the best meal to go there for.

We took our friend from out of town to Havana Rumba and it was a big hit! Close 2nd option was going to be Mayan Cafe though!

In addition to the other suggestions, what about:

White Oak
732 Social
Palermo Viejo

Blu at the Marriott is also very good....have heard nice things about it from people at work.

Also, not exactly downtown, but one of my very favorite places these days is 60 West Bistro. Wonderful menu and Martini menu as well

[Robin Garr]

In addition to all the other good advice, consider L&N Wine Bar. Doubly so if they are interested in wine, but even if they're not!

60 West Bistro. Wonderful menu and Martini menu as well

and the martinis are 1/2 priced on Saturdays.

732 Social.....yes

If they were my friends and said, "Take me to your favorite place," I'd take them to Mayan Cafe.

...and said, "Take to to get some local brew," I'd take them to Brownings (if looking downtown).

...and said, "I'm looking for an indie ethnic spot," I'd take them to Saffron's.

...and said, "Well I want a local place, but I don't like taking huge risks," I'd take them to Baxter Station.*

* I mean that as no slight to Baxter Station. I love the place, the food, and the beer. It's my go-to place with friends/fam who live in the safe center when it comes to food, and all have loved it.

Thank you everyone!!! I wrote all suggestions down, depends on what they are in the mood for- but I'm so glad to be ready!!! Thanks Steve for reminding us of Luigi's !!! We were just there at X-mas, and thought of telling our friends to just take us back home, half my family has- or does work there!