From Peruvian sandwiches and pizza to French burgers and fresh sushi, Derby City’s food scene always has something new and interesting to offer. Check out these four new Louisville restaurants — plus one recently reopened gem — serving up delicious dishes.
M. Peppers
Neighborhood: Tyler Park
More Info: mpeppers.com
The team behind NuLu’s bar Vetti is now serving French fare in the space formerly occupied by Nostalgic. M. Peppers (short for Monsieur Peppers, a fond nickname for co-owner Ryan Rogers’s dog). The menu features a handful of hors d’oeuvres, soups, salads, and six entrées. These include everything from Parisian gnocchi and butter-poached salmon to steak frites and Le Burger M. Peppers — a loaded, mouthwatering option made with local beef, gruyère, caramelized onions, au poivre sauce, and garlic and sherry aioli.
There’s a kids’ menu, too, and you can look forward to sipping cocktails, mocktails, beer, or wine from the extensive list. Don’t skip dessert. The crème brûlée and chocolate mousse with salted caramel and candied hazelnuts are both great!
Perú Peruvian and Latin Cuisine
City: Middletown
More Info: instagram.com
Family-owned-and-operated Peru Peruvian and Latin Cuisine offers a variety of dishes crafted from generational recipes. Those familiar with Peruvian fare will recognize huancaina sauce, a traditional Peruvian spicy cheese sauce usually served over boiled and sliced potatoes (à la the Papa Ala Huancaina) and Sopa Criolla (Peruvian beef noodle soup).
The restaurant also offers a variety of lunch specials, available Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. These include a Cuban sandwich, Pan con Chicharron (featuring deep-fried pork), and Arroz Chaufa, Peruvian fried rice with scrambled eggs, peas, and carrots. Guests can also enjoy Wing Wednesday (with $1 wings all day), live music every weekend, and other sporadic specials announced via Instagram.
Sake a Go Go
Neighborhood: Phoenix Hill
More Info: sakeagogo.com
Kevin Grangier of Belle Noble Entertainment Group (who owns The Village Anchor, Grassa Gramma, and Le Moo) has opened Sake a Go Go in the NuLu-area space that was once home to Toast on Market. Inspired by the energy of Whiskey a Go Go in Los Angeles, the Japanese restaurant fuses a rock ‘n’ roll attitude with authentic Japanese flavor, promising a bold new experience unlike any other in Derby City.
The kitchen is led by Brian Emperor, who trained in Tokyo, and it offers a menu full of fresh, wild-caught seafood flown in daily. You can enjoy sashimi, sushi nigiri, makimono rolls, and more. The dinner destination also touts the largest sake selection in the area and offers a handful of unique, handcrafted cocktails made with the Japanese rice wine.
Steakhouse Bourré Bonne
Neighborhood: Downtown
More Info: bourrebonne.com
Belle Noble Entertainment Group’s Kevin Grangier is on fire. He also has a new lodging option in Downtown Louisville, Hotel Bourré Bonne. And the new hotel happens to boast the city’s latest steakhouse. Decked out in floor-to-ceiling velvet drapes and deep blue and green furniture pieces alongside aged bronze accents, the space features ample seating, a spacious bar, and an open kitchen.
The French-inspired menu promises a blend of Southern charm and bold flavor, along with Kentucky’s finest bourbons and a one-of-a-kind wine selection. Guests can expect steak, oysters, caviar, fresh seasonal salads, and more. You can also indulge in various unique sweets by pastry chef Nokee Bucayu. We’ve got our eyes on the sweet corn pudding in pavlova, made with fresh blackberries, hibiscus and blackberry compote, and marigold confetti. Yum!
TRIED AND TRUE WITH SOMETHING NEW
Segreto
Neighborhood: Shelby Park
More Info: instagram.com
Accessible only by walking through the restaurant Perso, Segreto — the Italian word for “secret” — is a speakeasy-style garden bar. The secret spot was closed for the winter, but has reopened for spring and beyond. It features ample seating amid a garden full of veggies, herbs, and edible flowers that are used in both Perso and Segreto dishes.
Several specials are now being offered, including $10 pizzas on Tuesdays, $10 Marksbury St. Louis-style ribs every Wednesday, and $5 beer, wine, and cocktails for Thirsty Thursday. The one-of-a-kind space is also home to the occasional special event. Owner Emil David hosted an all-you-can-eat s’mores event to celebrate the restaurant’s reopening, and the sweet, wood-fired treats are now available daily.
Still hungry, Louisville? Keep scrolling for even more recent restaurant openings!
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*APRIL 2025 OPENINGS
This month, the Derby City is serving up everything from one-of-a-kind Thai dishes to Japanese-Southern fusion fare. Check out these new Louisville restaurants — and a few revamped menus — that are shaking up the local dining scene!
Ensō
Neighborhood: Clifton
More Info: ensolouisville.com
After a temporary closure due to a fire this past fall, Ensō is back — and it’s bringing even more flavor to its signature Japanese-Southern fusion menu. Everything is served à la carte and comes out as it is prepared. One fun new offering is fish and spaghetti, a ramen noodle-based dish made with tomato-basil sauce and a crispy fried catfish filet.
Chef Lawrence Weeks is also rolling out other new must-tries, including hamachi crudo with yuzu marmalade and sesame oil, a rich pork tonkatsu steak topped with Japanese coleslaw and red-eye gravy, and panko rabbit skewers served with pea purée and ginger-carrot slaw. Of course, popular picks like crispy Japanese fried chicken and our favorite matcha cheesecake are still on deck. Wash it all down with a one-of-a-kind cocktail or one of five highball offerings.
Jerusalem Kitchen
Neighborhood: Shelby Park
More Info: Facebook
Jerusalem Kitchen is back after closing its Saint Rita Drive location last year. Its new digs are in Logan Street Market, in the space formerly occupied by V-Grits. Owner Sami Barghouthi still offers his same Mediterranean eats, including falafel, shawarma, and hummus, plus daily specials. He also plans to add a few new vegan options for those missing V-Grits’s plant-powered fare!
COMING (BACK) SOON: Khao Boys at Trellis Brewing
Neighborhood: Smoketown
More Info: Instagram
Writer’s Note: After an overwhelmingly successful soft launch, the team decided to take some time to regroup operations, staffing, and strategy to ensure every guest has the best experience. They plan to reopen in mid-May, with an official announcement to come on Instagram. Here’s a preview, in the meantime!
Buds, a new incubator kitchen from James Beard Award finalist Noam Bilitzer of MeeshMeesh Mediterranean, has opened inside Trellis Brewing’s Logan Street food truck. Buds is a rotating concept space where Noam’s team can test out new restaurant ideas in a flexible, low-risk setting. The first to debut is Khao Boys, a Thai-inspired concept led by MeeshMeesh Chef de Cuisine Alex Hamrick.
The menu draws from both chefs’ time in Thailand, as Noam backpacked the country and Alex studied and cooked there. Their offerings include a flavorful, gluten-free lineup that boasts extra crispy Thai-style fried chicken (or vegan cauliflower); a Southern Thai-style yellow curry with sweet potatoes and braised cabbage; and som tum, a spicy, crunchy green papaya salad. Buds will host new culinary concepts every few weeks or months, with Khao Boys expected to stick around through summer.
FAMILIAR SPOTS, NEW OFFERINGS
Barn8 Restaurant & Bourbon Bar
City: Goshen
More Info: hermitagefarm.com
Barn8 Restaurant & Bourbon Bar keeps things fresh with a handful of new seasonal dishes that join the lineup of farm-to-table favorites. Highlights include a rich Carbonara made with house-made canestri, egg, pecorino, black pepper, and Woodland Farm pork lardons; a vibrant spinach risotto featuring asparagus, peas, Parmigiano, and a kick of chili oil; and Verlasso Salmon served with strawberry mole, marble potatoes, watermelon radish, and fresh cilantro.
In addition to the new entrées, there are even more reasons to visit the Hermitage Farm restaurant midweek: a juicy bison burger is now available every Wednesday and Thursday night.
Mileta
City: Lexington
More Info: miletarestaurant.com
Mileta, a contemporary Italian-inspired restaurant in Lexington, is now adding a new reason to visit — and it’s worth the drive. The eatery recently launched a Sunday brunch service, available weekly from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It offers a menu that blends local ingredients and bold flavors. The brunch lineup features shareable small plates, handmade pastas, and seasonal entrées that spotlight the best of the Bluegrass.
Highlights include Mixed Grain Grits finished with cultured butter, sorghum syrup, and a date-pecan relish, and Eggs in Purgatory, served in a zesty Calabrian chili tomato sauce with melted fontina and piadina flatbread. For a heartier bite, go for the Crispy Fried Chicken Thighs paired with smoked onion agrodolce and a snap pea cacio e pepe salad. Those with a sweet tooth will want to try the Local Kentucky Strawberry Shortcake, topped with honey-whipped ricotta and cream over buttermilk biscuits.
The Silver Dollar
Neighborhood: Clifton
More Info: whiskeybythedrink.com
The Silver Dollar is serving up new reasons to stop by this spring, starting with its Sunday Supper Club. Every Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., guests can enjoy a $40 prix-fixe menu that includes a choice of soup or salad, entrée, and dessert. For those who enjoy a well-paired pour, optional spirit pairings are available for an additional $30. It’s the perfect excuse to wind down the weekend with great food, drinks, and company.
For weekend cravings earlier in the day, the Slim Pickins’ menu now runs every Saturday and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ideal for a late lunch or early dinner, the selections include comfort classics including chili, chicken and waffles, the Silver Dollar’s crave-worthy Fried Chicken Sandwich, burgers, and more.
Still hungry? Keep scrolling for more recent restaurant openings.
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*MARCH 2025 OPENINGS
Limón y Sal
Neighborhood: St. Matthews
More Info: limonysal502.com
Mexican restaurant Limón y Sal has opened a new location on Shelbyville Road. The two-level space includes an upstairs private event area and interior murals by local artist Bryan Patrick Todd. There’s also an expansive patio featuring a tortilla stand where fresh tortillas will be made throughout the day.
In addition to classic dishes like fajitas, street tacos, and quesadillas, you can enjoy the eatery’s expanded brunch offerings, available daily only at this location. Options include ChorizoEgg Bites, Tres Leches Waffles, Street Corn Deviled Eggs, and more. Mimosa flights — with classic orange juice, spicy paloma, mango, and pineapple jalapeño — are available, too.
MoonDog
Neighborhood: Butchertown
More Info: Instagram
Formerly known as Pho Ba Luu, the space at 1019 East Main St. is now dubbed MoonDog, after new owner Tin Le’s late Pomsky pup. Though the restaurant still serves Vietnamese fare, the interior has been redesigned to mimic a street market in Vietnam. The tables and chairs feature warm, earthy tones and numerous multicolored lanterns from Hội An hang from the ceiling.
The menu has also been revamped and includes modern additions like Vietnamese hot chicken bánh mì, served on a baguette with house-pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, cilantro, pickled jalapeño, mayonnaise, and house-made pâté. Don’t forget to pop by the bar in the back — one-of-a-kind cocktails feature gin and amaros from Sông Cái, Vietnam’s first 100% Vietnamese-owned distillery.
We Scream Ice Cream Parlor
Neighborhood: Germantown
More Info: Instagram
If you’re looking for a place to enjoy a sweet treat this spring, We Scream Ice Cream offers a funky space with bright, bold hues. From a neon-green exterior and rainbow-topped tables to a logo with two “screaming” ice cream cones, this new spot brings all the fun vibes with various cold treats.
Guests can expect to find typical flavors like strawberry and chocolate, but there are a few unexpected offerings, too. Try something unique in your cup or cone, like a salted caramel brownie or a Dr. Pepper float. Floats, shakes, and sundaes are available as well.
FAMILIAR SPOTS, NEW OFFERINGS
Bar Genevieve
Neighborhood: NuLu
More Info: bunkhousehotels.com
‘Tis the season for seafood! Every Thursday and Friday through April 11, 2025, Bar Genevieve — with its outdoor rooftop space above Hotel Genevieve — is serving a selection of four seafood dishes.
Options include the Hushpuppies Madeline (served with butter, fried oysters made with cornmeal dredge, and Old Bay tartar sauce) Salmon Tartare (with pickled shallots, crispy capers, Dijonnaise, and crostini), and a Fried Catfish Sandwich (made with pan-fried Cajun catfish, lettuce, tomato, and Old Bay tartar sauce). You can also pair each seafood special with a $2-off beer.
Bar Nada Nada
Neighborhood: NuLu
More Info: barnadanada.com
Sarah Height and Chelsea Monsma, the pair behind Canary Club and The Breeze in Shelby Park, are also the force behind NuLu’s Bar Nada Nada, which offers natural wines, cocktails, and small bites. The constantly rotating wine list is inspired by Sarah and Chelsea’s trips through Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy, including visits to some of Europe’s best wine and cocktail bars.
In addition to constantly updated vino offerings, you can enjoy a few new menu items. These include the Alpine Cheese Dip (made with Jarlsberg, Swiss, jalapeño, and onion, served with flatbread crackers) and a tinned fish plate made with a rotating selection of gourmet conservas, crostinis, cornichons, and Tabasco. There are new cannabis cocktails as well. Try the Artet Mango Ginger Spritz or the Pamos Beach + Guava Bellini.
Dairy Del
Neighborhood: Merriwether
More Info: Instagram
This old-fashioned ice cream shop serves various frozen treats, chili dogs, chicken fingers, nachos, and more — and it has finally reopened for its annual eight-month season. Longtime fans will appreciate the orange sherbet, which has been a staple since Dairy Del opened more than 70 years ago. But the menu has come a long way since then, and the shop’s most recent offering is a weekly almond milk swirl, perfect for those looking for a cool, dairy-free treat. Check the eatery’s Instagram for flavor updates.
Seviche
Neighborhood: Highlands
More Info: sevicherestaurant.com
After serving nuevo Latino dishes to Louisvillians for over 25 years, Seviche is now offering a bar-exclusive happy hour menu for the first time. Available Monday through Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., the menu boasts mojitos, margaritas, wine, beer, house liquor, and several food items. The newest dishes include a “chef’s choice” taco de dia, guacamole a la mesa, spicy chicken empanadas, Kentucky bison empanadas, and chicharrones de calamares.
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