Category Archives: $ Budget (under $30)

Feeling the harmonious vibes

Jerusalem Cafe
Jerusalem Café, which opened in July near U of L, is the most recent entry in Louisville’s eclectic and growing collection of Middle Eastern eateries. Photo by Robin Garr

LEO’s Eat ‘n’ Blog with Louisville HotBytes
(Jerusalem Café, Kim’s no-beef burger tour)

One of the world’s most historic cities, Jerusalem is sacred to three major religions. It seems kind of pitiful that they’ve spent much of the last couple of millennia fighting over it.

Happily, though, there doesn’t seem to be any conflict about Jerusalem Cafe, the most recent entry in Louisville’s eclectic and growing collection of Middle Eastern eateries: Just about everybody agrees it’s really good. (NOTE: Sammy Barghouthi, who was chef at the time of this review in September 2006, moved to Saffron’s Buffet under its new ownership in January 2007.)

Located in the short strip shopping center just west of the University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus, Jerusalem Cafe speaks Middle Eastern with a Palestinian accent. It adds a hint of the Levant to the storefront space that used to house a branch of City Cafe, an impression not diminished by a couple of good Persian carpets spread on the white tile floor and, of course, an appetizing scent of grilling kebabs.
Continue reading Feeling the harmonious vibes

Dining among the antiques

Bluegrass Bistro
The Bluegrass Bistro recently opened inside the Derby City Antique Mall in Buechel. Photos by Robin Garr

LEO’s Eat ‘n’ Blog with Louisville HotBytes
(Bluegrass Bistro, Hippo Wings, WingZone)

If you want to find a really good lunch in Louisville for a really good price, go shopping for antiques.

Here’s my theory: People who enjoy the hunt for serious antiques and who know how to distinguish the good stuff from junque are also likely to have a well-honed skill at scouting out lunch.

Evidence abounds. One of the best lunch spots in town is The Cafe at the Louisville Antique Mall on Goss Avenue. Shelbyville’s august Wakefield-Scearce Galleries boast the memorable Science Hill dining room. Middletown’s old Main Street, a major destination for antique-hunters, is well served by the estimable Alley Cat Cafe, and the new A Little Peace Cafe is earning good reviews at the Mellwood Arts Center. East Market and Main streets and Frankfort Avenue and Bardstown Road are all famous for both their antiques and their eateries.

Now add Bluegrass Bistro to the mix. Continue reading Dining among the antiques

Earlier reviews of restaurants in the $20 and under price range

The links below go to earlier reviews:

Alley Cat Cafe
Annie Cafe
Asian Buffet
La Bamba
Bazo’s Fresh Mexican Grill
Blue Dog Café and Bakery
Bombay International Market
bw-3 Buffalo Wild Wings
Check’s Cafe
China Inn
City Cafe
Clarksville Seafood
Clifton’s Pizza Company
Dizzy Whizz Drive-In
Double Dragon
Emery’s
The Fishery
Flabby’s Schnitzelburg
Genny’s Diner
Graeter’s Ice Cream
Grape Leaf
Fat Jimmy’s Pizza
Great Wall
Great Wok
Heine Brothers’ Coffee
La Herradura
Jalapeno’s
Jucy’s

Jumbo Buffet & Grill
Ken-Tex Bar-B-Q
Lolita’s Tacos
Lonnie’s Best Taste of Chicago
Luigi’s
Mazzoni’s
Meridian Café
Mexico Tipico
Mr. Z’s Kitchen
Nancy’s Bagel Grounds
A Nice Restaurant
El Nopalito
Nord’s Brown Bag
Ollie’s Trolley
Omar’s Gyro
Panera Bread
Papa Murphy’s
El Paraiso
Petrus
Polly’s Freeze
Prospect Fish Market
El Rey Mexican
Rich O’s
Royal Garden Buffet
Rufad’s Kebob
Santa Fe Grill
Sarajevo
Sonic Drive-In
Spinelli’s Pizzeria
Stan’s Fish Sandwich
La Tapatia
Tacqueria la Mexicana
El Tarasco
Thai Taste
Tony Boombozz Pizzeria
Twice-Told Coffeehouse
Twig and Leaf
Vietnam Kitchen
Vince Staten’s Barbecue
W. W. Cousins
The Widow’s Walk