610 Magnolia is a modern southern restaurant in Old Louisville, Louisville.
Edward Lee's 610 Magnolia in Louisville runs a weekly tasting menu out of an Old Louisville Victorian, the chef's Southern-Korean flagship since 2003.
Signature dishes: Weekly changing tasting menu, Bourbon pairings
Must order: Whatever the night's tasting menu opens with, then a bourbon pairing flight from the cellar.
Tip: Book on OpenTable for parties of six or fewer. Wednesday and Thursday seats open up first.
Address: 610 Magnolia Avenue, Louisville, KY 40208
Proof on Main in Louisville pairs chef Cody Stone's Ohio Valley plates with a deep bourbon list, set inside the 21c Museum Hotel on West Main Street.
Signature: Bison burger, Seasonal Ohio Valley plates
Order: The bison burger from the local grass-fed herd, plus a bourbon flight curated by the bar team.
Tip: Walk in for the bar menu before 18:00, then dinner reservations land easier on weeknights.
Chef Noam Bilitzer's MeeshMeesh in Louisville took a 2025 James Beard finalist nod with Levantine plates from his NuLu kitchen on East Market Street.
Signature: Shefha multi-course tasting, Wood-grilled lamb
Order: The Shefha shareable tasting menu with a group of four, plus the wood-grilled lamb.
Tip: Resy opens 60 days ahead at 11:00 for dinner Tuesday to Sunday. The patio takes walk-ins in warm months.
Chef Bruce Ucan's Mayan Cafe in Louisville cooks Yucatecan plates with Kentucky farm produce, the East Market NuLu room locals recommend to first-timers.
Signature: Tok-sel lima beans, Cochinita pibil
Order: The tok-sel lima beans wok-seared with pumpkin seeds, the dish locals rave about.
Tip: Book on Resy. The new patio bar takes walk-ins for a quick plate and a mezcal before dinner service.
Jack Fry's has run on Bardstown Road in Louisville since 1933, the Highlands dining bar where the counter takes walk-ins for the full menu.
Signature: Lamb chops, Shrimp and grits
Order: The lamb chops, the dish that has anchored the menu for decades.
Tip: Book on OpenTable a week ahead. First-come bar seats turn over for walk-ins.
Lou Lou on Market in Louisville moved into the former Decca space, a New Orleans-rooted NuLu kitchen running shrimp and grits and Bananas Foster.
Signature: Shrimp and grits, Bananas Foster
Order: The shrimp and grits, the kitchen's loudest plate.
Tip: Patio seats are first-come on weekends. Book the dining room on OpenTable for Friday and Saturday.
bar Vetti in Louisville pours Italian wines and pulls house-made pasta from the AC Hotel corner of East Market and Shelby Street in NuLu.
Signature: House-made pasta, Caesar salad
Order: Whatever pasta is on the daily list, plus the Caesar salad for the table.
Tip: Book on Resy. Bar seats and the patio take walk-ins early in the evening.
