Last Restaurant Standing

In theory, which restaurant would be the last one open in the event that the economy got bad enough to force all others to close. Again, just hypothetical but which restaurant has the right combination of food, price, atmosphere and overhead to outlast the others. Just a question to see which ones seem to be the most efficient for the current economy.

Interesting question. I think you'd have to factor in the population of the profile willing to spend the money as well. I'm guessing it would be an upper edged, lower priced sit down restaurant with a wide enough variety to make a bunch of people happy. Something like a Cunninghams or Ann's By the River.
But I'm just guessing.

I'm going to say Havana Rumba. Even as the economy has turned, gas prices are high, and being in somewhat of a "destination" spot rather than a restaurant row, they continue to maintain extremely high standards of food, cleanliness, plate presentation, ambiance and a very friendly price point.

DH watched a show on Discovery or History channel talking about the uber rich and this economy. The program indicated that that market segment is prospering as never before, so maybe the highest end restaurant in town would continue to propser. After all, those folks probably don't want to have to dine with rif-raf like me

Interesting question, though.

Shiraz.

I'm going to say Havana Rumba. Even as the economy has turned, gas prices are high, and being in somewhat of a "destination" spot rather than a restaurant row, they continue to maintain extremely high standards of food, cleanliness, plate presentation, ambiance and a very friendly price point.

You beat me to it, Leah. All of the standards you mention are key elements in survival and HR has them nailed.

Our blessing of having so many good restaurants is also a curse when a downturn occurs. You tend to fall back on the known winners when you critically examine where to spend your entertainment dollar. Tough times for a start up and even for established places.

Hasn't anyone seen Demolition Man? Taco Bell of course wins the franchise wars!

I would have to say Cafe Lou Lou for the same reasons Leah gave for HR but HR is also very very high on the list.

[Robin Garr]

I don't want to seem like the old fogey who has no sense of humor, and I'm certainly not trying to pick on Eric for starting a thought-provoking topic.

But all that said, no matter how bad the economy gets, I'd really like to hope and pray that the Louisville foodie community will find a way to keep as many as possible of our great independent restaurants standing by supporting them as often as we can.

Sorry, but I love too many of them to be able to pick just one.

And I urge you all that, even if we get to the point where we've got to watch our budgets and spend with care, set a little aside to go out and eat at our great indies as often as we can. It's important. Imagine what it would be like to come out of the recession in a year or so and find that Louisville, like a lot of other cities our size, has essentially nothing left but chains.

Though it is a chain, I believe the answer is obvious. White Castle

We will all live on Slyders and Big Red, and for under $1.50.

[Robin Garr]

Though it is a chain, I believe the answer is obvious. White Castle

I probably shouldn't even admit this, but chain or no chain, I actually like White Castle and tend to crave a bag-o-sliders if I haven't had one for a while ...

And for the first time I wish Robert was here for the Robin likes a chain statement. briefly. I used to love Slyders also back in the days when I ate meat. They still smell good. Must be the onions. I've always liked their coffee also, but not the brew it yourself version. I think it's their coffee and their mugs.

[Robin Garr]

Slyders

Just for the record, they've been known as "sliders" to hungry midnight ramblers for generations because, well, they slide right down. It's right in line with such other terms as belly bombers and gut bombs.

"Slyder" is some PR/marketing guy's bright idea of a way to clean up an old nickname and make it commercial, but I ain't buyin' it ...

Slyders

Just for the record, they've been known as "sliders" to hungry midnight ramblers for generations because, well, they slide right down. It's right in line with such other terms as belly bombers and gut bombs.

"Slyder" is some PR/marketing guy's bright idea of a way to clean up an old nickname and make it commercial, but I ain't buyin' it ...

In our youth we called 'em skillet scabs. I proudly proclaim that one of my friends camped out at the White Castle at Wesport & Hurstbourne just to have the 1st dollar over the counter. And now it's gone. Do any other of the Castles around the metro close at midnight, or is it just the one in Middletown?

Last Restaurant Standing?...Desperate times call for drastic measures...and besides who doesn't love the ultimate peasant food... especially when it's all you can eat for less than 5 bucks...

Though it is a chain, I believe the answer is obvious. White Castle

I probably shouldn't even admit this, but chain or no chain, I actually like White Castle and tend to crave a bag-o-sliders if I haven't had one for a while ...

You should try the Chicken Italiano! That and the jalapeno cheese slider are my favorites