By Baylee Pulliam
If at all possible when visiting Ramsi’s Cafe on the World, ask to be seated outside. As you are shown to your table in the courtyard, the rustically frescoed walls, sunbathed and wrapped in climbing vines, will transport you to the Italian countryside. The sounds of traffic on Bardstown Road are replaced by the gentle trickle of the wall fountain and you might feel as though you have suddenly left Louisville completely.
Eating at Ramsi’s is an experience. It’s much more than excellent food and great service, although they do have both.
The food is eclectic. The menu, loosely based on traditional Italian fare, is laced with spices, techniques and innovations from around the world. A collage of global cuisine, the restaurant offers a dish to suit anyone’s tastes.
While most salads at the cafe are wonderful, the fattoush is by far my favorite. The crispness of the romaine lettuce – combined with onions, cucumber slices and tomatoes – makes this salad a terrific starter. The olive oil, mint and lemon juice in which the salad is tossed makes it a great way to cool off on a hot day.
If you’re in search of something a little warmer, try the medjool dates. They’re stuffed with goat cheese and served warm. Even though it sounds weird, don’t be afraid to try it. This dish isn’t one you’ll want to pass up. The bite-sized pieces have a taste and consistency similar to that of cheesecake. Set on a bed of powdered sugar, they’re the perfect marriage of salt and sweet and are sure to become one of your favorites.
The foccacia is a great dish to split with a few friends. It’s essentially a large loaf of bread, flaky and golden on the outside and soft on the inside. Blanketed in a thick layer of olive oil and basil pesto, the original version of the dish is topped with feta and ripe red tomatoes. The loaf is big enough to share, but you won’t want to.
The Ramsi’s menu also offers a whole host of other eclectic favorites. From the Indian Punjabi samosa to the Jamaican seitan, the Egyptian kitchen platter to the quesadillas, each dish is a new destination on your global expedition.
But the cafe’s menu offers more than just fashionable world cuisine. Vegetarians and vegans will feel right at home at Ramsi’s. Many dishes are labeled either “v” or “vv” for vegetarian or vegan. All in all, there are 56 menu items with this distinction. While some items marked with this label are traditionally prepared as meat dishes, the chefs are more than happy to make a vegetarian or vegan version. Rest assured, the taste will not be sacrificed.
Prices are moderate. An entree will cost anywhere from $7.29 to $18.99. But the appetizers are less expensive and are more than adequate for a meal.
The restaurant is located in the Highlands, so stop by next time you’re in the area. You may have started your meal in Louisville, but where these world-inspired dishes will take you is anybody’s guess.
