I haven't been to KT's restaurant, located at 2300 Lexington Road, since I was a teenager, so I decided it was time to go back. You know, for a local restaurant, this place feels about as corporate as you can get. It's like walking into an O'Charley's, to be honest. The decor is similar, with its booths, lots of green plants, and non-descript "artwork", but it has a comfortable feeling. The hostess was young and smiling and took me to a booth. A server promptly greeted me, perhaps a little too enthusiastically, but that's okay, and I ordered a water. He flitted back quickly with it and asked if I had any questions about the menu. I did not. I swear it was like looking at an O'Charley's menu, but I was fine with it because I knew I'd be able to find something.
I chose the American Melt, char-broiled chopped steak, sauteed onions, and American cheese on toasted rye bread, and I ordered the steamed veggies as a side (broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots). When it came, it looked like a sandwich I'd ordered from a diner. No presentation whatsoever. It was just sort of there. It doesn't get much better from here. The chopped steak was overcooked and chewy, the onions obviously weren't sauteed to order (probably had been prepared earlier in the day), and the American cheese was...well...American cheese. Oh, and the veggies were soggy. I ate close to half of it because I was starving, and I let the server take the rest away.
There's a reason I don't come here, and it's a shame because this place really could be good. It definitely needs a makeover.
My total bill came to $9.00 even, and I left my server $2 (it's not his fault the food sucks). Maybe I'll try again in another 15 years.
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch
Friday, April 16, 2010
Cafe Lou Lou
I've been to Cafe Lou Lou, located at 106 Sears Avenue in St. Matthews, several times, and I gotta say, I love it. I haven't had a lot of items on the Louisville/Louisiana inspired menu, but I've loved the dishes I've tried thus far.
That being said, I stopped in for lunch last week after the lunch rush was over. I like a less crowded restaurant experience. The hostess greeted me warmly, and seated me at a high-top table in the bar. I have to add that this place displays a ton of local artwork, which is really cool in my book. The bartender greeted me promptly, and I ordered a water to sip on while I perused the menu. I usually get pasta, which I thought would be a nit heavy for lunch, so I looked over the sandwiches instead. They have like ten sandwiches to choose from, by the way.
I settled on the Grilled Chicken Roll, with roasted red peppers, feta cheese, mixed greens, tomatoes, pesto aioli, rolled in flat bread. It's basically a wrap. I ordered the sauteed veggies as a side. You get your choice of Cajun crisps, pasta salad, or the veggies.
Um, it came out lightning fast! That's the advantage of a late lunch, I'm telling you. It was nice and warm, and the first bite afforded me a taste of just about all of the ingredients. The peppers were slightly sweet, and the feta cheese tasted nice and creamy. The pesto aioli complemented it well, and the chicken was seasoned with what tasted like Cajun spices because it had a bit of a kick to it. Delicious! The sauteed veggies were zucchini, yellow squash, onions, and peppers and could have been salted a little more. All in all, it was very tasty, and I only ate half of the wrap, so I had some to take home with me.
My total bill came to $9.80, and I left my server $2. I recommend this place for it's fun atmosphere and interesting dishes. I'll definitely be back.
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch
That being said, I stopped in for lunch last week after the lunch rush was over. I like a less crowded restaurant experience. The hostess greeted me warmly, and seated me at a high-top table in the bar. I have to add that this place displays a ton of local artwork, which is really cool in my book. The bartender greeted me promptly, and I ordered a water to sip on while I perused the menu. I usually get pasta, which I thought would be a nit heavy for lunch, so I looked over the sandwiches instead. They have like ten sandwiches to choose from, by the way.
I settled on the Grilled Chicken Roll, with roasted red peppers, feta cheese, mixed greens, tomatoes, pesto aioli, rolled in flat bread. It's basically a wrap. I ordered the sauteed veggies as a side. You get your choice of Cajun crisps, pasta salad, or the veggies.
Um, it came out lightning fast! That's the advantage of a late lunch, I'm telling you. It was nice and warm, and the first bite afforded me a taste of just about all of the ingredients. The peppers were slightly sweet, and the feta cheese tasted nice and creamy. The pesto aioli complemented it well, and the chicken was seasoned with what tasted like Cajun spices because it had a bit of a kick to it. Delicious! The sauteed veggies were zucchini, yellow squash, onions, and peppers and could have been salted a little more. All in all, it was very tasty, and I only ate half of the wrap, so I had some to take home with me.
My total bill came to $9.80, and I left my server $2. I recommend this place for it's fun atmosphere and interesting dishes. I'll definitely be back.
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch
Monday, April 5, 2010
Molly Malone's Irish Pub - St. Matthews
I went to the new Molly Malone's for lunch last Friday and actually got a sunburn (!) while enjoying my lunch on the patio. I'm starting to wonder if Summer kicked Spring's butt and decided to move in early. I'm not complaining.
So, Molly Malone's is located at 3900 Shelbyville Road in St. Matthews Station, and it's huge. I walked in last Friday and noticed that there's an upstairs area inside for additional seating on the weekends. The place is a lot larger than the Highlands location. The first floor is open and spacious, with the main bar located in the center of the room. There's also a smaller bar in the corner next to the door leading out to the patio. I asked the hostess if I could sit outside, and she obliged my request. Before I talk about my lunch, I have to comment that the overall attitudes of the employees on this particular day weren't too great. I don't think I got a smile from one person while I was there. Being a server/bartender myself, I thought this was really lame. If you hate your job that much, find something else to do instead of making everyone around you suffer as well. Ok, I've said it. Moving on.
The weather was amazing, so my mood immediately improved. I ordered a water from my surly server and looked over the lunch menu. I chose the Blackened Tuna Sandwich, a filet of blackened tuna, pan-fried, served on a bun, with a side of remoulade. I ordered the cole slaw as my side. It came pretty fast, and aside from the fact that the slaw was more like a soup, I really enjoyed it. I ordered the tuna medium, and it was cooked perfectly. The blackening was plentiful and spicy. Instead of lettuce, it had a mound of spring mixed greens, as well as tomato and onion. And, it was a big sandwich. I only ate half of it and got a box for the rest. The tuna filet was so moist and yummy, I ate the other half of my sandwich for dinner that night.
My total bill with tax was $9.49, and I left the guy a $1 because he just wasn't very nice. The food was good, but I'm not sure I'll go back. Service with a smile really does leave a lasting impression.
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch
So, Molly Malone's is located at 3900 Shelbyville Road in St. Matthews Station, and it's huge. I walked in last Friday and noticed that there's an upstairs area inside for additional seating on the weekends. The place is a lot larger than the Highlands location. The first floor is open and spacious, with the main bar located in the center of the room. There's also a smaller bar in the corner next to the door leading out to the patio. I asked the hostess if I could sit outside, and she obliged my request. Before I talk about my lunch, I have to comment that the overall attitudes of the employees on this particular day weren't too great. I don't think I got a smile from one person while I was there. Being a server/bartender myself, I thought this was really lame. If you hate your job that much, find something else to do instead of making everyone around you suffer as well. Ok, I've said it. Moving on.
The weather was amazing, so my mood immediately improved. I ordered a water from my surly server and looked over the lunch menu. I chose the Blackened Tuna Sandwich, a filet of blackened tuna, pan-fried, served on a bun, with a side of remoulade. I ordered the cole slaw as my side. It came pretty fast, and aside from the fact that the slaw was more like a soup, I really enjoyed it. I ordered the tuna medium, and it was cooked perfectly. The blackening was plentiful and spicy. Instead of lettuce, it had a mound of spring mixed greens, as well as tomato and onion. And, it was a big sandwich. I only ate half of it and got a box for the rest. The tuna filet was so moist and yummy, I ate the other half of my sandwich for dinner that night.
My total bill with tax was $9.49, and I left the guy a $1 because he just wasn't very nice. The food was good, but I'm not sure I'll go back. Service with a smile really does leave a lasting impression.
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch
Zaytun Mediterranean Grill
Um, could the weather be any nicer for alfresco dining?
I totally took advantage of outdoor seating last week.Zaytun Mediterranean Grill is located at 2286 Bardstown Road in the Highlands and has a couple tables outside on the sidewalk, so I asked my server (there wasn't a hostess, and I'm guessing it's because the place is so tiny) if I could sit outside. It was late afternoon on a weekday, so I missed the lunch rush and both sidewalk tables were empty. My cheerful server said he welcomed the opportunity to be able to come outside and take care of me. How nice.
There was a speaker playing music outside, but I could barely tell because the traffic on Bardstown Road is so loud. The gorgeous weather made up for it though.The somewhat short menu is comprised of gyros, falafel, salads and appetizers. There was a fried fish sandwich as well. I settled on the Euro-Style Chicken Caesar Wrap, sauteed chicken breast chunks served over romaine with Caesar dressing and shredded paremsan cheese on top of euro-style flat bread. I was only one of three people in the place, so it arrived quickly. It's a warm wrap, by the way, and the flat bread was delicious. It was soft and moist and slightly buttery. The Caesar dressing wasn't overdone, which I like because I hate when I order a Caesar salad and it's drenched. The chicken was seasoned well, but it was just a tad on the dry side. The romaine lettuce was crisp and there was plenty of shredded parmesan. Pretty darn good, I gotta say.
The wrap was $7.50, and with tax, my total bill came to $7.95. I left my server $2, and thanked him for the polite service. I think I'll come here for dinner next time because I noticed a decent selection of wine on the wine menu, including bottles under $20. Sweet!
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch
I totally took advantage of outdoor seating last week.Zaytun Mediterranean Grill is located at 2286 Bardstown Road in the Highlands and has a couple tables outside on the sidewalk, so I asked my server (there wasn't a hostess, and I'm guessing it's because the place is so tiny) if I could sit outside. It was late afternoon on a weekday, so I missed the lunch rush and both sidewalk tables were empty. My cheerful server said he welcomed the opportunity to be able to come outside and take care of me. How nice.
There was a speaker playing music outside, but I could barely tell because the traffic on Bardstown Road is so loud. The gorgeous weather made up for it though.The somewhat short menu is comprised of gyros, falafel, salads and appetizers. There was a fried fish sandwich as well. I settled on the Euro-Style Chicken Caesar Wrap, sauteed chicken breast chunks served over romaine with Caesar dressing and shredded paremsan cheese on top of euro-style flat bread. I was only one of three people in the place, so it arrived quickly. It's a warm wrap, by the way, and the flat bread was delicious. It was soft and moist and slightly buttery. The Caesar dressing wasn't overdone, which I like because I hate when I order a Caesar salad and it's drenched. The chicken was seasoned well, but it was just a tad on the dry side. The romaine lettuce was crisp and there was plenty of shredded parmesan. Pretty darn good, I gotta say.
The wrap was $7.50, and with tax, my total bill came to $7.95. I left my server $2, and thanked him for the polite service. I think I'll come here for dinner next time because I noticed a decent selection of wine on the wine menu, including bottles under $20. Sweet!
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch
El Tarasco - St. Matthews
Admittedly, Mexican food is one of my favorites, so it'd have to be really screwed up for me to not like it. Therefore, this post may be a bit biased to begin with.
El Tarasco, located at 110 Fairfax Avenue in St. Matthews, has all your typical Mexican fare, or at least what we Americans expect going into it. There's a Speedy Gonzales dish on the menu, which I'm pretty sure is a staple of every single Mexican restaurant of this type in the area. I stopped in for lunch on a weekday and was greeted in halting English by a cheerful, if seemingly uncertain, server. I sat down in a cozy booth, and he immediately took my drink order (water) and hussled back with it and some chips and salsa. I munched on the warm chips, which I added a bit of salt to, while I checked out the menu. By the way, there are eight dishes on the lunch menu that are only $4.99. Jackpot!
I settled on #3, one enchilada with rice and beans, and I asked my server to bring me a side of sour cream as well. I busied myself with checking and responding to text messages and watching Spanish soap operas on the television bolted above the door. My food literally arrived in five minutes. Speedy Gonzales, indeed.
You know, what did I really expect? It was fine. Not amazing, not terrible. I'd ordered a beef enchilada, and the beef was noticibly seasoned, which I've found not to be the case in many restaurants. The enchilada sauce was ever so slightly spicy. I added some hot sauce and sour cream, which helped out quite a bit. The beans looked like baby food, as usual, and the rice needed salt. These are all things I knew going into it, and I'm okay with it. I will say that on occasions when I've come here for dinner and ordered something a little more adventurous, I haven't been disappointed.
Twenty minutes later, I paid my check, which came to $6.34 with tax. I left my server $2 and was on my way. Was is stellar? No. Will I go back? Of course. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood for surprises.
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch.
El Tarasco, located at 110 Fairfax Avenue in St. Matthews, has all your typical Mexican fare, or at least what we Americans expect going into it. There's a Speedy Gonzales dish on the menu, which I'm pretty sure is a staple of every single Mexican restaurant of this type in the area. I stopped in for lunch on a weekday and was greeted in halting English by a cheerful, if seemingly uncertain, server. I sat down in a cozy booth, and he immediately took my drink order (water) and hussled back with it and some chips and salsa. I munched on the warm chips, which I added a bit of salt to, while I checked out the menu. By the way, there are eight dishes on the lunch menu that are only $4.99. Jackpot!
I settled on #3, one enchilada with rice and beans, and I asked my server to bring me a side of sour cream as well. I busied myself with checking and responding to text messages and watching Spanish soap operas on the television bolted above the door. My food literally arrived in five minutes. Speedy Gonzales, indeed.
You know, what did I really expect? It was fine. Not amazing, not terrible. I'd ordered a beef enchilada, and the beef was noticibly seasoned, which I've found not to be the case in many restaurants. The enchilada sauce was ever so slightly spicy. I added some hot sauce and sour cream, which helped out quite a bit. The beans looked like baby food, as usual, and the rice needed salt. These are all things I knew going into it, and I'm okay with it. I will say that on occasions when I've come here for dinner and ordered something a little more adventurous, I haven't been disappointed.
Twenty minutes later, I paid my check, which came to $6.34 with tax. I left my server $2 and was on my way. Was is stellar? No. Will I go back? Of course. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood for surprises.
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Kayrouz Cafe
Kayrouz Cafe is located in St. Matthews at 3801 Willis Avenue. It's a teeny-tiny place, and I sat at a small table for two by a window on the afternoon I visited the cafe for lunch. The interior is bright and cheery, but I'll be glad when it's just a little warmer because I would much rather have been able to sit at one of the umbrella-ed tables outside and people watch. Anyway, so the dining room is small. Also, the door to the bathroom is right there in the dining room, not down a hallway, so needless to say there was one patron visit too many that effectively ruined my meal, if you know what I'm saying. Up until the offensive odor, I was pretty satisfied, so here's the rundown:
This really is a cozy little salad and sandwich joint, with its warm colors and personal touches. There are little reminders everywhere in the decor that you're in a restaurant in Louisville owned by a family that has had a long history here. I could definitely envision lunches with the girls, or my mom, or even a beau for my next visit.
So, my server greeted me cheerily and offered me an iced-tea or a soft drink, but, of course, I opted for a water. As I began to peruse the menu, I noticed the Vegetarian Reuben sandwich, which quite frankly I thought was total blaspheme, but luckily I saw that there was a traditional Reuben as well. I knew that was what I should be ordering, but then I saw the burgers. I don't know about you, but sometimes I get an overwhelming desire for a burger that cannot be squashed or ignored. It happens. I decided to splurge on the Crabby Joe (8 oz. sirloin burger topped with lump crab meat, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, bleu cheese, lettuce, red onion, and spicy mayonnaise) simply because it sounded so bizarre. A burger with crab meat on it? Really? I ordered it medium and sat back and relaxed.
I people-watched for a little bit before my server brought out my burger. It looked interesting, I must say. There was an ample bit of crab meat sticking out from the bun. The first couple of bites were odd, and it certainly took a moment to decide whether I appreciated the flavor combination or not. The mayo was peppery and complemented the lump crab nicely, but the sun-dried tomatoes were just strange. I couldn't get past the texture. The rest of it worked though, as odd as it sounds. The bleu cheese, which I always love on burgers, went well with the crab too. It was most certainly flavorful with the touch of garlic, as well as the crunchy red onions. I enjoyed the different textures, with the exception of the tomatoes. Unfortunately, I ordered the burger medium, but it came out close to well-done. I would have sent it back, but I didn't have the time to wait.
About halfway through my meal I began to notice the offending odor wafting over from the bathroom, so I asked my server for a box and the check. The total with tax was $10.55, and I left my server a 15% tip. It wasn't his fault the burger wasn't cooked to the correct temperature, plus I never pointed it out.
I will return because it's a nice atmosphere and everyone has an off day from time to time, but next time I will definitely sit outside.
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch
This really is a cozy little salad and sandwich joint, with its warm colors and personal touches. There are little reminders everywhere in the decor that you're in a restaurant in Louisville owned by a family that has had a long history here. I could definitely envision lunches with the girls, or my mom, or even a beau for my next visit.
So, my server greeted me cheerily and offered me an iced-tea or a soft drink, but, of course, I opted for a water. As I began to peruse the menu, I noticed the Vegetarian Reuben sandwich, which quite frankly I thought was total blaspheme, but luckily I saw that there was a traditional Reuben as well. I knew that was what I should be ordering, but then I saw the burgers. I don't know about you, but sometimes I get an overwhelming desire for a burger that cannot be squashed or ignored. It happens. I decided to splurge on the Crabby Joe (8 oz. sirloin burger topped with lump crab meat, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, bleu cheese, lettuce, red onion, and spicy mayonnaise) simply because it sounded so bizarre. A burger with crab meat on it? Really? I ordered it medium and sat back and relaxed.
I people-watched for a little bit before my server brought out my burger. It looked interesting, I must say. There was an ample bit of crab meat sticking out from the bun. The first couple of bites were odd, and it certainly took a moment to decide whether I appreciated the flavor combination or not. The mayo was peppery and complemented the lump crab nicely, but the sun-dried tomatoes were just strange. I couldn't get past the texture. The rest of it worked though, as odd as it sounds. The bleu cheese, which I always love on burgers, went well with the crab too. It was most certainly flavorful with the touch of garlic, as well as the crunchy red onions. I enjoyed the different textures, with the exception of the tomatoes. Unfortunately, I ordered the burger medium, but it came out close to well-done. I would have sent it back, but I didn't have the time to wait.
About halfway through my meal I began to notice the offending odor wafting over from the bathroom, so I asked my server for a box and the check. The total with tax was $10.55, and I left my server a 15% tip. It wasn't his fault the burger wasn't cooked to the correct temperature, plus I never pointed it out.
I will return because it's a nice atmosphere and everyone has an off day from time to time, but next time I will definitely sit outside.
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Cafe Meridian
I stopped by Café Meridian for a quick lunch last week, and I have to say, it’s a quirky, fun little place. Located at 112 Meridian Avenue in St. Matthews, Café Meridian resides in a two-story house, and although it’s small, I didn’t think it was overcrowded. There was ample space between tables for customers and servers to navigate through without knocking into each other. This is a big plus with me, as I’m of the “that’s your dance space and this is mine” variety. Everything in the place is mismatched. Seriously. Mismatched tables and chairs, even the salt and pepper shakers for the most part. The décor is sort of like Lynn’s Paradise Café but without the wacky, kooky, acid-trippy element.
As I entered, I was invited by a busy but cheerful server to have a seat anywhere. The same server showed up just a few moments later to take my drink order. Hmm, what will it be? Water. I took a few moments to look over the entire menu, which even though it contained mostly sandwiches, had quite a variety. There are plenty of selections for the herbivore and the carnivore. Incidentally, Café Meridian serves breakfast and lunch. Ok, so after a pretty serious internal struggle over the Gourmet Grilled Cheese sandwich (three cheeses, bacon, avocado, and tomato on whole wheat) and the Greek Wrap (Bibb lettuce, Roma tomato, feta, cabbage, olives, and capers with sun-dried tomato vinaigrette on a spinach wrap), I chose the grilled cheese with a side of pasta salad (penne pasta, fresh veggies, in a basil- balsamic vinaigrette with feta cheese). Yes, I’m aware that’s a lot of cheese, but….it’s cheese.
It was crowded for lunch, and my sandwich took a little while, but I busied myself reading a copy of the LEO. My food arrived, and after the first couple of bites, I kind of felt like this was a grilled cheese sandwich I could have made at home. Maybe it was because I’d hoped for a little more of a smoky flavor from one of the cheeses, but I wasn’t too impressed. The pasta salad was fantastic though. It wasn’t drowning in vinaigrette like most pasta salads I’ve encountered. I finished up pretty quickly and asked for my bill, which came to $9.28. I left a 15% tip and was on my way. I enjoyed the atmosphere, and I’ll probably return sometime, but I’ll definitely order something else next time.
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch
As I entered, I was invited by a busy but cheerful server to have a seat anywhere. The same server showed up just a few moments later to take my drink order. Hmm, what will it be? Water. I took a few moments to look over the entire menu, which even though it contained mostly sandwiches, had quite a variety. There are plenty of selections for the herbivore and the carnivore. Incidentally, Café Meridian serves breakfast and lunch. Ok, so after a pretty serious internal struggle over the Gourmet Grilled Cheese sandwich (three cheeses, bacon, avocado, and tomato on whole wheat) and the Greek Wrap (Bibb lettuce, Roma tomato, feta, cabbage, olives, and capers with sun-dried tomato vinaigrette on a spinach wrap), I chose the grilled cheese with a side of pasta salad (penne pasta, fresh veggies, in a basil- balsamic vinaigrette with feta cheese). Yes, I’m aware that’s a lot of cheese, but….it’s cheese.
It was crowded for lunch, and my sandwich took a little while, but I busied myself reading a copy of the LEO. My food arrived, and after the first couple of bites, I kind of felt like this was a grilled cheese sandwich I could have made at home. Maybe it was because I’d hoped for a little more of a smoky flavor from one of the cheeses, but I wasn’t too impressed. The pasta salad was fantastic though. It wasn’t drowning in vinaigrette like most pasta salads I’ve encountered. I finished up pretty quickly and asked for my bill, which came to $9.28. I left a 15% tip and was on my way. I enjoyed the atmosphere, and I’ll probably return sometime, but I’ll definitely order something else next time.
Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch
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