This listing rates, and ranks, all the Louisville restaurants I have reviewed, using the familiar 100-point scale that many of us remember from school. A 100-point rating is perfect (and may be impossible to achieve). Ratings in the 90s are equivalent to an “A” grade and are very good indeed. Scores in the 80s represent a solid “B” and should not be overlooked in your quest for exceptional dining. Even grades in the 70s indicate a “C,” a passing grade representative of good effort. Below the passing mark, 70, suggests that an eatery, like little Johnny, “is not living up to its potential.”

Scores are based on all aspects of the dining experience, with primary consideration given to food quality but points also awarded (or deducted) on the basis of service, atmosphere, attitude and all other considerations. This approach makes it possible for a tiny storefront cafe with wonderful cooking and friendly servers to compete on even ground with elegant white-tablecloth eateries and trendy bistros, so the “A” grades may not necessarily represent the priciest or even the most famous places in town.

Needless to say, these opinions are my own, based on my experience over 20 years of writing about food and wine in Louisville. If you have a different opinion, please don’t “flame” me, but feel free to drop me a note at rgarr@LouisvilleHotBytes.com expressing your thoughts, and I’ll try to respond promptly to all sincere inquries.

“A” (90-100)

610 Magnolia 99 Le Relais 97 The Oakroom 97 Vincenzo’s 96 L&N Wine Bar and Bistro 95 Seviche 95 Jack Fry’s 94 Avalon 94 The Patron 94 Palermo Viejo 93 Ferd Grisanti’s 93 Mayan Gypsy 93 De La Torre’s 92

Havana Rumba 92 Mai’s Thai 92 Lilly’s 91 August Moon 91 Third Avenue Cafe 91 Flabby’s Schnitzelburg 91 Equus 90 Limestone 90 Westport General Store 90 Annie Cafe 90 El Mundo 90 Yang Kee Noodle 90 Cottage Inn 90

“B” (80-89)

Volare 89 Asiatique 89 211 Clover Lane 89 The English Grill 89 Sapporo Japanese Grill & Sushi 89 Shalimar Indian Restaurant 89 Sakura Blue 89 The Monkey Wrench 89 Browning’s 89 Cribstone Pub 89 Danielle’s 88 North End Cafe 88 Porcini 88 RockWall 88 Club Grotto 88 City Cafe 88 Gasthaus 88 Maido Essential Japanese 88 Park Place 88 Vietnam Kitchen 88 Lemongrass Cafe 88 Thai Taste 88 Joe’s OK Bayou 88 Jade Palace 88 Kashmir 88 Tokyo Japanese Restaurant 88 Z’s Oyster Bar & Steakhouse 87 Saffron’s 87 Bourbons Bistro 87 Baxter Station 87 Bristol Bar & Grille 87 Blue Dog Café and Bakery 87 Tologono 87 Carrabba’s Italian Grill 87 Shakertown At Pleasant Hill 87 Nord’s Brown Bag 87 Oriental Express 87 Los Aztecas 87 Napa River Grill 86 Azalea 86 Blu Italian Mediterranean Grille 86 Alley Cat Cafe 86 Cumberland Brews 86 Zen Garden 86 Erika’s German Restaurant 86 India Palace 86 El Tarasco 86 El Paraiso 86 Pat’s Steakhouse 85 Buck’s 85 Gumbo A Go-Go 85 Ditto’s Grill 85 Osaka, a Sushi Bar 85 Sala Thai 85 Joe Huber’s 85 Cunningham’s 85 Bazo’s Fresh Mexican Grill 85 Ray Parrella’s 85 Buca di Beppo 85 Mitchell’s Fish Market 85 Chez Seneba African Cuisine 85 La Herradura 85 Café Lou Lou 84 Petrus 84 Jack’s Lounge 84 Stan’s Fish Sandwich 84 Koreana 84 Artemisia 84 Bonefish Grill 84

Jay’s Cafeteria 84 Clarksville Seafood 84 Martini Italian Bistro 84 Clifton’s Pizza Company 84 Za’s Pizza Pub 84 Ken-Tex Bar-B-Q 84 Sesame Chinese 84 Emperor/Empress of China 83 Rick’s Ferrari Grille 83 Cafe Metro 83 J. Harrod’s 83 Yaching’s East West Cuisine 83 Melillo’s 83 Brendan’s 83 Double Dragon 83 Corner Cafe and Pizzeria 83 Luigi’s 83 The Fish House 83 Lynn’s Paradise Cafe 83 Goose Creek Diner 82 La Tapatia 82 Papa Murphy’s 82 Sichuan Garden 82 Rocky’s Italian Grill 82 Uptown Cafe 82 Mr. Z’s Kitchen 82 The Melting Pot 82 Great Wok 82 Los Indios Restaurante Mexicano 82 2. Hahn’s Mongolian Grill 82 Jucy’s 82 El Nopal 82 Ernesto’s Mexican 82 Benihana 82 Spinelli’s Pizzeria 81 Lonnie’s Best Taste of Chicago 81 Tacqueria la Mexicana 81 Tasty China 81 Babylon Iraqi Restaurant 81 The Fishery 81 Omar’s Gyro 81 W. W. Cousins 81 Café Emilie 81 Dillon’s Steakhouse 81 El Nopalito 81 China Town Chinese 81 Lolita’s Tacos 81 Mark’s Feed Store 81 Meridian Café 81 Firehouse Bar B Q 81 Bluegrass Brewing Co. 81 Genny’s Diner 81 Come Back Inn 81 Ramsi’s Cafe 80 Caffè Classico 80 Mike Linnig’s 80 Joe’s Crab House 80 Wick’s Pizza Parlor 80 Mexico Tipico 80 Morton’s of Chicago 80 Ollie’s Trolley 80 Ranch House 80 Polly’s Freeze 80 New World Buffet 80 Santa Fe Grill 80 Fuji Japanese Steakhouse 80 Sarajevo 80 Dynasty Buffet 80

“C” (70-79)

Maharaja 79 La Bamba 79 Mazzoni’s 79 California Pizza Kitchen 79 Kobe 78 Bootleg Bar-B-Q 78 Maracas Mexican Grill 78 Jimmy’s on the River 78 John E’s 78 Tony Boombozz Pizzeria 78 Cafe Kilimanjaro 78 Tumbleweed 78 Asian Buffet 78 Royal Garden Buffet 78 Rich O’s 77 Molly Malone’s 77 Downtown New Orleans 77 Kim’s Asian Grill 77 Carolina Shrimp & Seafood 77 River Creek Inn 77 The Widow’s Walk 77 Raw 76 Cardinal Hall of Fame 76 Thai Cafe 76 Heine Brothers’ Coffee 76 Prospect Fish Market 76 Bahama Breeze 75 Stoney River Legendary Steaks 75 Shogun Japanese Steakhouse 75 Buffalo Crossing 75 Bravo! 75 Old Spaghetti Factory 75 El Rey Mexican 75 Fat Jimmy’s Pizza 74 Behar Cafe 74

Grape Leaf 74 The Irish Rover 74 Rufad’s Kebob 74 Wang’s Wok 74 A Nice Restaurant 74 Brandon’s Barbecue 74 Sonic Drive-In 74 Double Dragon Buffet 74 Emery’s 74 Cafe Mimosa 73 Bendoya Sushi Bar 73 El Caporal 73 Great Wall 72 Twig and Leaf 72 Jalapeno’s 72 Lee’s Korean 72 Kentucky State Fair 72 Indigo Casual Gourmet Cafe 72 Abruzzi 71 Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse 71 Pit Stop Bar-B-Q 71 bw-3 Buffalo Wild Wings 71 Rudyard Kipling 71 Del Frisco’s 70 Check’s Cafe 70 China Inn 70 Dizzy Whizz Drive-In 70 Thai-Siam 70 Panera Bread 70 Harper’s 70 Lone Star Steakhouse 70 Kunz’s 70 Louisville Slugger Field 70 Mama Rosa 70

“D” (60-69)

Austin’s 69 Cheddar’s Casual Cafe 69 Nancy’s Bagel Grounds 69 Kaelin’s 68 Twice-Told Coffeehouse 68

The Star of Louisville 67 Bombay International Market 64 King Buffet 63 Captain’s Quarters 62 Colonnade Cafeteria 60

“F” (below 60)

KT’s 58

Jumbo Buffet & Grill 56

Alphabetical list | Type of restaurant
Neighborhood | Price range | 100-point grade