By Minda Reves
Louisville is possibly this country’s most saturated city when it comes to restaurants, but 50 percent of restaurants don’t make it in this food-frenzy town. So, here are some I hope will keep on kickin’ into the future. My top five favorite restaurants (and I’ve eaten all over this city):
Third Avenue Cafe
1164 S. Third St.
Price Range: $10-$15
Third Avenue Cafe reserves a special place in my heart because I love restaurants with one-of-a-kind decor. After all,they do have a life-sized Elvis replica. Third Avenue Cafe also offers live local music on weekends. It’s fairly close to campus and is a great place to catch a meal with a classmate.
Recommended Item: The portabella burger received rave reviews from my sister, who is a vegetarian.
Maido’s Essential Japanese Cuisine and Sake Bar
1758 Frankfort Ave.
Price Range: $10 and under
Maido’s offers two settings: you can sit outdoor in the gravel pit (not recommended in heels) under an umbrella and watch people pass by, or nestle inside the cozy little restaurant. Maido’s service is exceptionally friendly, which is very helpful at a sushi bar, since people tend to be curious about the menu items. Since the interior is cozy, I would not recommend Maido’s for a large group, but rather for a third or fourth date, since the seating lends itself to quiet, intimate conversation.
Recommended Item: The sunshine roll boasts among its ingredients lemon zest and mango. Maido’s menu offers the most interesting pieces of sushi in town.
Thai Smile 5
5800 Preston Highway
Price Range: $10-$15
Be sure to show up at Thai Smile 5 with a massive appetite and a hankering for heat. Their menu operates on a five-star system: the more stars, the more blaze they throw onto your dish. However, you can order your dish devoid of spice if you’ve got a weak stomach. Thai Smile 5 is not stingy with the portions – in most cases you will need a to-go box.
Thai Smile is about 15 minutes from campus and will break up the monotony of fast-food Chinese.
Recommended Item: The Pad See Jew is a delicious dish with flat noodles, eggs and crushed peanuts. Try to stop in for lunch time, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., to get the lunch special so you can eat more items at one sitting.
Spinelli’s
614 Baxter Ave.
Price Range: $10 and under
Keep your eyes peeled when you’re breezing down Baxter or you’re liable to miss Spinelli’s. Spinelli’s arrived on the scene last fall. They quickly became popular among college kids because they deliver their pizzas to campus and are open until 5 a.m. Spinelli’s supports the arts by hanging funky, original artwork on its walls, achieving an overall awesome atmosphere.
Recommended Item: Their Philly Cheesesteak hits the spot at 2 am. Ample amount of cheese and steak – they treat you right at Spinelli’s.
Cheddar’s Casual Cafe
10403 Westport Rd.
Price Range: $8-$15
Cheddar’s is the perfect place to go when the entire gang gets together. There’s something for everyone on the menu: good portion sizes, a diverse array of drinks and college-student-friendly prices! Every time my friends and I eat at Cheddar’s we always have a great time. I also recommend Cheddar’s for a first date because the prices are so manageable and they are on par with O’Charley’s.
Recommended Item: I order the Texas cheese fries every time I eat at Cheddar’s. They’re steak-cut fries loaded with bacon and cheese with a rich ranch dipping sauce. It’s the true definition of carboloading!
