3 New Louisville Restaurants to Try this Month (+2 New Menus!)
Louisville’s dining scene keeps expanding with bright concepts and bold flavors. From Southern-inspired Italian fare to New England-style seafood platters, these are the new restaurants you need on your radar. Image: Frankie Cole for Heidi Harris Photography
Long summer days in Derby City bring plenty of reasons to get out and about, and the local food and drink scene is keeping pace. A neighborhood bar, a New England-style seafood truck, refreshed brunch menus, and a creative spin on pizza are generating plenty of local buzz. Stop in for a bite before an outdoor movie, art fair, or evening in the park, and see why we think they are destined to become your favorite new Louisville restaurants.
Big Rock Bar & Brew
Neighborhood: Deer Park
More Info: bigrockbarandbrew.com
Inspired by the Big Rock landmark in Cherokee Park, this Bardstown Road spot delivers a cozy, neighborhood bar atmosphere that feels like home. Founded by Bellarmine alum Nik Heberlein — a former minority owner of Great Flood — Big Rock Bar & Brew celebrated its grand opening on April 22, serving house brews, rotating local favorites, wine, cocktails, and bites.
The menu’s “Rock Solid Eats” includes everything from starters like chips and dip, edamame, and smoked wings, to a selection of sandwiches served with chips. Try the Rock Hard Bologna, made with a stack of thick-cut, house-smoked bologna covered in molten American cheese, glazed in smoky-sweet barbecue sauce, and served with crisp pickles on the side.
Vegetarian and vegan guests will appreciate the Smoked Mushroom, featuring house-smoked portabella mushrooms layered with garlic aioli and crisp slaw for a smoky, savory, crave-worthy bite. Leashed dogs are welcome on the patio seven days a week, and trivia is offered every Thursday.
Cipollini
Neighborhood: Deer Park
More Info: cipollinilouisville.com
The latest concept by South Carolina native and James Beard-nominated chef Dallas McGarrity — who is also behind New American eatery The Fat Lamb — began welcoming diners in March. The name “Cipollini” comes from the Italian word for “little onion,” which Dallas and partner Tarerk Hamada say reflects their philosophy of using simple, thoughtfully layered ingredients.
The upscale dinner blends classic Italian cooking with Southern influences and Kentucky-sourced ingredients, creating a menu that ranges from bucatini and meatballs made with Berry Beef to a Frenched veal chop marsala featuring Frondosa Farms mushrooms. Reservations are highly recommended.
Cousins Fried Seafood
Neighborhood: varies
More Info: cousinsfriedseafood.com
The cousins who founded Cousins Maine Lobster — a brand that launched 14 years ago after a landmark “Shark Tank” deal — just debuted their newest concept, Cousins Fried Seafood. The truck landed at McMahan Plaza in Louisville and will make its way across Kentuckiana, bringing a lineup of hand-breaded, cooked-to-order New England fried seafood platters to customers throughout the region.
Signature items include split Maine lobster tails; sweet, tender, and golden fried scallops; and Fisherman’s Platters, which offer hearty combinations of haddock, shrimp, lobster, and scallops. The menu also features The Cousins’ Famous Fried Fish Sandwich, served on a brioche bun and customizable “Jim’s Way” or “Sabin’s Way,” with extras like shrimp and chicken tenders.
TRIED AND TRUE WITH SOMETHING NEW
Ciao
Neighborhood: Irish Hill
More Info: ciaolouisville.com
Italian eatery Ciao recently debuted a completely revamped brunch menu, available Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fans of the dinner menu will appreciate savory midday offerings such as pasta alla carbonara, chicken marsala pot pie, spaghetti, and lasagna. For those who enjoy more typical brunch offerings, there are frittatas, Belgian waffles, and two sweet pancake options.
Sink your teeth into s’mores pancakes, topped with torched marshmallow, then finished with a graham cracker crumble and dark chocolate sauce for a nostalgic flavor profile. Or try the tiramisu pancake, a fluffy housemade pancake topped with mascarpone zabaglione, cacao powder, and espresso syrup that owner and head chef Emil David describes as a deconstructed version of the iconic Italian dessert.
Emmy Squared
Neighborhood: NuLu
More Info: emmysquaredpizza.com
Over the past decade, what began as a pizza parlor in New York in 2016 has spread to several spots across the country — including East Market Street, where it opened in May 2020. Since then, the NuLu spot has served its signature rectangular pizzas with thick, crispy, and chewy crusts. But as of April, the popular pizzeria began offering the Skinny Square, a lighter take on the brand’s signature Detroit-style pies.
Featuring a thinner crust and a value-driven price point, it’s an ideal pick for those craving the full flavor of Emmy Squared in a slimmer slice. Each one features half the dough — but all the toppings — and is priced $2 less than the standard pizza. All pies can be made as Skinny Square, and/or gluten-free. Try the Nashville Hot Chicken, featuring ‘Bama white sauce and chopped pickles; or the Angel, a vegetarian option made with ricotta, truffle cream, mushrooms, and parsley pesto.
Craving more? Keep scrolling for previous installments of New Restaurants!
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UPDATES FROM APRIL 2026
Derby season is officially underway, and the Louisville restaurant scene is rising to the occasion, offering new spots to enjoy between festivities. You might opt for a quick, counter-service stop to maximize your track time, or settle in for a one-of-a-kind multi-course dinner worthy of an entire evening. Either way, there’s no shortage of ways to eat well this time of year!
The Deli
Neighborhood: St. Matthews
More Info: thedelilou.com
The space formerly occupied by Kayrouz Café — which closed in January after more than 20 years — is now home to a build-your-own sandwich spot dubbed The Deli. Bruce White & Julie Erwin (of Cookie Cabin food truck fame) opened The Deli on March 16, and it’s already becoming a local fave.
Promising classic sandwiches without any fuss or frills, Bruce and Julie offer two primary menu options: the $8.95 Build-Your-Own, which invites guests to get creative with a variety of breads, proteins, cheeses, toppings, and condiments. There’s also the Pick-Two combo, a weekly-rotating half-sandwich /soup combo for $9.50. The Deli is open for lunch Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Dining Room at Murray’s Creole Pub
Neighborhood: Deer Park
More Info: murrayscreolepub.com
As of April 9, the second floor of Murray’s Creole Pub offers a chef-driven concept centered around a seasonal, multi-course tasting menu. The refined, intimate experience draws from James Beard semifinalist Chef Lawrence Weeks’ Creole roots.
Guests can expect dishes like the Coal Grilled Daube, featuring dry-aged Princeton beef that’s slow-braised in marchand de vin, black garlic tare, pommes purée, and wood-roasted apples; and the Maque Choux Risotto, made with Anson Mills heirloom rice, fire-roasted sweet corn, Creole trinity, locally grown mushrooms from Frondosa Farms, and Viet-Cajun curry.
House cocktails range from Creole coffee and a dirty rice martini to peanut punch and a banana old-fashioned. And don’t skip dessert — we like the sticky toffee pudding with dates, butterscotch, and whipped cream. (SB Tip: Limited seating is available, and reservations are recommended.)
Trellis Foods
Neighborhood: Smoketown
More Info: trellisbrewing.com
Trellis Brewing — a local brewery that sources its malt exclusively from Kentucky and Indiana — is expanding its taproom experience with the launch of Trellis Foods. The new, in-house kitchen opened on April 10 and features a menu by Chef James Andrews, formerly of Red Hog Restaurant & Butcher Shop. It emphasizes locally sourced ingredients, with products from Fischer Farms in Indiana and Rootbound Farms in Crestwood.
“Our goal wasn’t to open a restaurant inside a brewery,” says Kyle Jahn, owner of Trellis Brewing. “It was to build food that actually belongs here. Everything on the menu is designed to work with the beer, not distract from it.”
Offerings include starters like housemade beer cheese with pretzel chips, chili cheese fries, and rotating frito misto; and main dishes such as steak frites and a variety of hot dog options. Dinner is served Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Brunch is also served on weekends, with picks like the Monte Cristo Dog, featuring layers of French toast batter, gruyère, and raspberry jam; and the Breakfast Dog, with egg, cheese, and sausage.
SAME VIBES, NEW ADDRESS
Cultured
Neighborhood: Butchertown
More Info: culturedcheeseshop.com
Jessica Mattingly closed her charcuterie shop and tasting room in March 2026 and reopened at Copper & Kings in April. A continuation of the Mattingly family’s dairy farm in Austin, KY — well-known around the Louisville restaurant scene as the producer of Kenny’s Farmstead Cheese — Cultured offers more of a complete meal than a typical meat and cheese snack tray.
Jessica’s boards boast hefty amounts of fruits and veggies, now served with a rooftop view and access to a variety of brandy-based craft cocktails and other tasty concoctions. Cultured’s new dine-in hours are Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. To-go orders are still available, too.
Eden & Kissi
Neighborhood: Newburg
More Info: edenandkissi.com
What began 14 years ago as a booth at the Flea Off Market grew into a food truck and, finally, a brick-and-mortar location. And after six years at its original spot, Eden & Kissi has moved to 6006 Shepherdsville Road. Guests can now find all their Afro-Caribbean favorites — like curry chicken, jerk wings, oxtails, and more — in a fresh space with more parking, additional seating, and large barbecue pits that smoke all day.
Try the top-selling, fully loaded jerk chicken pita, stuffed with jerk chicken, mayo, yellow rice, lettuce, pico de gallo, plantains, and a special sauce; or pop in for one of the daily specials. Wash it down with a fresh, made-from-scratch hibiscus, ginger, or mango hibiscus juice and taste why it earned a Kentucky Proud product distinction!
Craving more? Keep scrolling to see more recent restaurant openings!
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UPDATES FROM MARCH 2026
The warm-weather days of spring are an open invitation to get out and about around town. In between the festivals, fairs, and sporting events, be sure to check out some of these new Louisville restaurants — and new menus at old favorites. From fresh empanadas to a new take on omakase, there’s a little something for every craving.
Clifton Tavern
Neighborhood: Clifton
More Info: Instagram
After roughly 14 years in business, Hilltop Tavern shut its doors in September 2025, leaving yet another gap on the once-bustling Clifton corner. Thankfully, the space has since been revived. Former Hilltop Tavern employee Dan Regneri and longtime friend Britton Richardson opened Clifton Tavern in early March, bringing back affordable drinks and bites to the spot on the corner of Frankfort Avenue and Pope Street.
Open daily from 5 p.m. to midnight, Clifton Tavern serves a variety of appetizers, salads, sides, and smashburgers, as well as sandwiches and tacos made with smoked-in-house meats. House cocktails include an Old Fashioned, an Astral Margarita, and a Lemon Drop. Keep an eye on social media for their latest food and drink specials.
Helm & Honey
Neighborhood: Cherokee Triangle
More Info: Instagram
The space formerly occupied by La Chasse is now home to the upscale eatery Helm & Honey. Jesse Helm Jones opened the restaurant in mid-March alongside Chef Erik Abraham, promising a sophisticated yet soulful exploration of modern Southern cuisine. The menu celebrates Kentucky’s rich heritage with an emphasis on hyper-local sourcing and seasonal ingredients.
Here you can enjoy elevated classics like a 50-layer lasagna with wagyu bolognese, mornay sauce, and stracciatella. Or dive into a dry-aged brisket burger made with DKenny’s cheddar, aioli, and Habagardil relish, made with Habagardil pickles — a unique brand of Pops’ Pepper Patch gourmet bread-and-butter that blends habañero peppers, garlic, and dill. The brand-new dinner destination is accepting reservations on OpenTable, with seatings filling up fast.
Lucia’s Cafecito y Mas
Neighborhood: Cherokee Triangle
More Info: luciascafecito.com
The former Drip N Dough space on Bardstown Road is now Lucia’s Cafecito y Mas, a coffee shop and café that opened at the end of February. The spot is owned by Ecuador native Melina Seifried, whose parents previously operated an Ecuadorian and Colombian restaurant in New York.
Melina’s menu focuses on coffee and light cafe fare with a Latin/Spanish-inspired angle. Offerings include coffee drinks, along with bagels, doughnuts, teas, croissants, and empanadas. Try one of the specialty bevvies, like the banana, cookie butter, or raspberry latte, or the Spanish latte, which boasts more espresso than a traditional latte for a stronger, richer flavor.
Oma
Neighborhood: Shelby Park
More Info: omatable.com
A culinary journey dubbed “hombrekase” — a Latin omakase experience — has arrived on Logan Street. The spot is owned and operated by Adam Burress, who is also known for Hammerheads, Migo, Game, and Ostra. Adam’s 14-seat dining experience features an ever-changing menu that draws from Latin coastal and equatorial flavors in a live-fire tasting format.
Nightly seatings are available at 5:30 and 8 p.m., with each course prepared and plated in front of guests at the chef’s table for an intimate, immersive dining experience.
Recent offerings have included everything from West Coast oysters with coconut and shoyu pearl to bison tartare in pani puri, and a duck confit enchilada wrapped in kimchi. Prepaid reservations of $110 per person are required in advance, and spots fill up quickly — so book early!
TRIED AND TRUE WITH SOMETHING NEW
Con Huevos
Multiple Locations
More Info: conhuevos.com
Beloved Mexican brunch spot Con Huevos has been serving favorites like tres leches pancakes for more than 10 years, but this spring brings even more to enjoy! Beginning in early March, all five of the restaurant’s Louisville locations debuted new spring specials. New offerings include the sweet berries-and-cream French toast and the savory enfrijoladas con huevos, a dish made with tortillas dipped or coated in a bean sauce and served with eggs. Wash it all down with the new strawberry cold foam matcha.
Crave Wave
Neighborhood: Shelby Park
More Info: Instagram
Food truck Crave Wave opened its permanent spot at Atrium Brewing last fall, giving brewery guests the chance to enjoy innovative pours — like Spicy Meatball, Apple Cider Donut, and Peach Melba Mama’s Boy — with tasty Crave Wave bites. The menu features appetizers like fries, wings, and dips, plus smashburgers, sandwiches, and street tacos — with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free substitutions available. Customers can check Instagram for weekly specials and new menu debuts, including one just announced on March 10.
The eatery launched nearly a dozen new offerings, including the French Onion Smash, made with Swiss cheese, grilled onions, crispy fried onions, and French onion aioli on a toasted brioche bun; and the Crave Chopped Cheese, a seasoned beef sandwich with grilled onions, American cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, and Crave Sauce on a toasted hoagie.
Dig in, Louisville!
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Lennie Omalza
Originally from Hawaii, Lennie Omalza is a Louisville-based freelance writer of over 18 years. Lennie is a yoga-loving foodie who travels as often as she can and enjoys writing about food, homes, and weddings. You can find more of Lennie's work at Eater, Hawaii Home & Remodeling, and The Louisville Courier-Journal.
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