3 New Louisville Restaurants to Try (+2 New Menus!)
Summer sweet treats are what’s in store for the Louisville dining scene this month! Enjoy the warm weather with a cool Filipino drink, fresh-baked cookies, or a delicate French macaron in hand. Image: Facebook / Mixmix Cafe
Summertime calls for a celebration — and what better way to cool down in the heat than with a sweet treat? These new Louisville restaurants boast everything from fruit-filled desserts and soft sugar cookies to tasty espresso brownies and one-of-a-kind cakes. Grab a drink and a bite, then head outside to enjoy some sunshine!
Mixmix Cafe
Neighborhood: Highlands Douglass
More Info: mixmixcafe.com
This Filipino coffee shop and café recently opened its doors, offering a coffee-forward menu featuring Filipino-inspired desserts, ube specialties, and, of course, halo-halo, which means “mix-mix” in Tagalog.
This popular Filipino dessert features finely shaved ice, evaporated or sweetened milk, and layers of sweetened fruits, beans, and other toppings. The Mixmix version is crowned with leche flan and ube, then finished with milk. As the name suggests, the entire treat is meant to be mixed, so every layer becomes one.
You can also enjoy a variety of sandwiches served on toasty sourdough or flaky croissants, as well as waffles, croffles, and affogato. The shop connects to My Tindahan, a grocery store that offers kitchen staples, snacks, and drinks from the Philippines — so you can try your hand at making some of your favorite Filipino treats at home.
Norma Jean’s Baked Goods
Neighborhood: New Albany, IN
More Info: normajeansbakery.com
Jerrica Tinsley opened Norma Jean’s Baked Goods, a brick-and-mortar located just over the bridge in Indiana. Named after her grandmother, the shop offers banana pudding cookies, caramel cake, cobblers, chess bars, and cakes by the slice, among other treats. In addition to tasty offerings, you can expect a retro, mid-century vibe, with Jerrica often dressing in vintage-inspired attire.
The weekly menu is usually announced on social media and includes $8 cake slices, $6 brownies, and $6 peach cobblers, which are available on Fridays. Pro tip: Arrive early! There’s often a line down the street, and many desserts sell out within a few hours.
Secret Recipe
Neighborhood: Downtown
More Info: secretrecipellc.com
Tucked into a small spot on West Market Street, Secret Recipe promises made-from-scratch desserts worth driving across town for. The one-of-a-kind spot was opened by chef Brenna Peters, who has been operating Secret Recipe out of her home for the past year. Her Derby City Lofts brick-and-mortar location offers everything from thick sugar cookies topped with rich buttercream to delicate French macarons with crisp shells and soft, flavorful centers.
The shop also serves a variety of specialty cookies, custom cakes, and other exclusive items, including bourbon balls, espresso brownies, and cinnamon rolls. If you want a little sip with your sweets, the bakery features a secret door leading to the future speakeasy Sole, a nod to the historic building’s previous life as a shoe store. Once opened, Sole will serve a variety of cocktails perfect for pairing with your favorite dessert.
TRIED AND TRUE WITH SOMETHING NEW
Con Huevos
Neighborhoods: multiple
More Info: conhuevos.com
One of Louisville’s best brunch spots, Con Huevos, recently unveiled its summer menu, featuring three fun new dishes and two refreshing beverages. For a savory morning meal, try hot honey chicken and waffles or the sweet potato hash, made with sweet potatoes, chorizo, peppers, queso fresco, eggs, and avocado mousse.
Those with a sweet tooth — and all fans of the original tres leches pancakes — will enjoy the matcha version, served with bananas, strawberries, and pistachios. Wash it all down with a mojito, an Aperol spritz, or a coconut cloud matcha.
The House of Marigold
Area: Middletown
More Info: thehouseofmarigold.com
Another popular brunch spot, The House of Marigold, added a few new dishes to its offerings, including a veggie hash, collard green gumbo, shrimp and grits, and the Greenhouse Frittata, which features goat cheese, roasted tomato, pink peppercorn aioli, arugula, citrus, and collard greens.
Adrienne Cole, who co-owns the eatery with her husband, Kris, says dishes like the collard green frittata are playful takes that they expect to carry over to the dinner menu at their soon-to-open NuLu location. The restaurant also recently installed a can-sealing machine, so guests can now order freshly sealed iced coffees, matchas, or cocktails to go.
Still hungry? Keep scrolling for more recent openings!
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MAY 2026 UPDATES
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 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. It 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, 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, cocoa powder, and espresso syrup, which 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.
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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