Category Archives: Commentary

Robin Garr’s musings about food and restaurant matters that don’t fit neatly into the “review” category.

$$ Modest ($20-$40), Baxter, Bardstown, Highlands, Commentary, Ethnic & Eclectic, LEO's Eats, New and noteworthy, Pacific Rim & Other Asian

Everything is good at Ramen House

Thoughts upon eating edamame at Ramen House: If you’re supposed to get at these delicious little underripe-soybean snacks by popping the beans out of the inedible pod, what’s the point in seasoning the outside of the pod? Continue reading Everything is good at Ramen House →

Industry Standard, Marsha Lynch

Happy New Year, Alexa!

Per my request, Santa brought me an Amazon Echo Dot for Christmas, pre-loaded with everyone’s favorite virtual assistant, Alexa.

This morning as I was settling in at my writing desk, I asked: “Alexa: how many days until the Kentucky Derby 2020?”

“2020 Kentucky Derby is in 128 days, on May 2, 2020,” she replied cheerfully.

“What is the date of Mother’s Day, 2020?” Continue reading Happy New Year, Alexa! →

$$$$ Luxury ($60 and up), Bistros, Commentary, Deluxe & Four-Star, Frankfort Ave., Clifton, Crescent Hill, LEO's Eats, St. Matthews, Westport Village, and environs

Chef changes keep Mesh on tasty track

As smoothly as a runner receiving the baton in a fast relay, new hands have taken charge of the kitchen at Mesh restaurant without missing a step. If you’re looking for casual modern elegance for holiday-season dining, Mesh should definitely be on your list. Continue reading Chef changes keep Mesh on tasty track →

$$ Modest ($20-$40), Chinese, Commentary, LEO's Eats, Northeast Metro

Jasmine Bistro impresses with Chinese regional flavors

I still vividly remember the excitement of my first tastes of Sichuan cuisine. We had to travel to New York City, San Francisco or Chicago to get such goodies back in the late ‘70s, but Sichuan, aka Szechwan, fare did get to Louisville finally, and for a decade or two, these spicy regional cuisines were among the city’s most popular dining options. Continue reading Jasmine Bistro impresses with Chinese regional flavors →

$$$ Upscale ( $40 - $60), $$$$ Luxury ($60 and up), Bistros, Commentary, Hurstbourne, Middletown, Jeffersontown, LEO's Eats, New and noteworthy

However you pronounce SOU, we sure like it.

SOU might mean “South.” It could represent “soul.” Yet the proper way to pronounce the name of this new Plainview-area eatery is not “sow” or “soo” but “So-you.” Intentional ambiguity seems to lie at the heart of this upscale dining room in a thoroughly renovated former Skyline Chili parlor, and that’s all right. Continue reading However you pronounce SOU, we sure like it. →