Get your calendars out and your appetite ready. There are lots of new restaurants in Louisville that you need to check out. Two great food trucks with loyal followings have brick-and-mortar restaurants now, and there is a new authentic Italian restaurant and two pizza places to try. Lots of great new international options are on the scene as well, including three Asian comfort food places, with new Nepalese and Indian too. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Where will your stomach take you this summer?

Cuvee Wine Table

3598 Springhurst Blvd., Louisville, KY 40241 • (502) 242-5200
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

This is more than just a wine bar, as it is led by local Master Sommelier Scott Harper, who owns the establishment along with several of his partners from the Bristol Bar & Grille. Just to give you some perspective, there are 55 wines by the glass and over 100 bottles. If you are not a wine drinker, there is a full bar as well as several craft beers on tap. You can try all of it at their daily happy hour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. As for the food, they concentrate on small plates along with a special daily entree. The menu includes five types of flatbread pizzas, which are both savory and delicious with your wine, as well as salads and appetizers. Look on their schedule for classes, seminars, wine tastings and pairing dinners, where you can learn about what you are drinking.

Geechee BAYOU Cajun/Creole Cuisine

1161 S Second St., Louisville, KY 40203 • (502) 890-6451
Hours: Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Closed Sunday through Wednesday

Located where Slice used to be, on the corner of Oak and Second Street in Old Louisville, this Cajun and Creole restaurant has garnered quite a buzz. Beyond the typical fare of étoufée, jambalaya and gumbo, diners love the crab cakes, the catfish and even the Kool Aid pickles, which are pickles soaked in Kool Aid, something we have only seen on the Gulf Coast. They are working on their liquor license so that you can round out your meal with a proper cocktail or Abita beer.

Red Herring Cocktail Lounge and Kitchen

1757 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206 • (502) 907-3800
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Located in the renovated Hilltop building next to Silver Dollar Cafe, this cocktail lounge and kitchen has over 100 cocktails on the menu. It might take you a while to get through all those, perhaps a lifetime, but be sure to order food as well. People love the crispy chicken skins brined in pickle juice and served with hot sauce, as well as the grilled cheese made with Wiltshire Bakery sourdough toast, filled with three kinds of artisanal cheese and served with truffle-salted French fries. Another popular dish is the buffalo poutine, which is French fries topped with bourbon barrel-aged hot sauce and bleu cheese. Don’t pass up the Clifton Donut shake — either as a dessert or your cocktail — with rum, ice cream, a Clifton Donut and milk. SB TIP: There is a 20% service charge automatically added to all bills.

Green District Salads

126 Breckenridge Ln., Louisville, KY 40207 • (502) 409-5293
Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

At Green District Salads in St. Matthews, there are over 10 designated salads from which to choose, with great names such as “Hide and Go Greek” and “Romaine Calm.” You can also build your own salad from scratch or choose to turn your salad into a wrap. Also on this healthy menu are daily sides such as soup, pasta salad and hummus. Who says fast food can’t be healthy?

ROC Restaurant

1327 Bardstown Rd., Louisville, KY 40204 • (502) 459-7878
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Closed Monday

There’s been a lot of buzz about ROC Restaurant on Bardstown Road, mainly because the Italian-born chef Rocco Cadolini moved here from New York City, where he was a successful restaurateur and chef. He also brought some of his Italian staff with him, making this eatery an authentic presence on the Louisville food scene. Guests rave about the grilled octopus, the handmade pastas and the caprese salad. There is a heavy emphasis on seafood, but there’s also a great entree selection of steaks, veal, chicken and pork on the menu. Though it has only been open a few months, this restaurant is popular, so be sure to make a reservation before you go.

Fork & Barrel

2244 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206 • (502) 907-3675
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Closed Sunday and Monday

Executive Chef Geoffrey Heyde, whom we have been admiring since he started at the Village Anchor, has opened Fork & Barrel with Chef de Cuisine Nick Sullivan. Heyde is a creative chef, and it shows on his menu. A favorite appetizer is the charred octopus on white beans. It will be hard to pick a salad, with house-made dressings and interesting ingredients such as the cornbread and buttermilk salad, made with buttermilk panna cotta, cornbread crumble, sweet corn and strawberries. Entrees include a filet of beef, pork shank, scallops and even a fried chicken roulade. Save room for desserts like the popular coffee and donuts — chocolate mousse, coffee mascarpone custard, rum Chantilly, espresso gelee, white chocolate milk froth and cake donuts. Yes, please.

Parlour Pizza

131 West Chestnut St., Jeffersonville, IN 47130 • (812) 914-7400
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Closed Monday

At the end of the Big Four Walking Bridge in Jeffersonville is Parlour Pizza, which is a perfect venue for enjoying a casual meal and a beer, of which they have huge selection on draft. Their tagline is “People + Pizza + Pints,” and they should have added “+ Patio” because this great space is a big part of their identity. This restaurant is bike- and pedestrian-friendly, and dogs are welcome. People rave about the garlic bread knots served with three kinds of dipping sauces and the peppercorn ranch salad. There is a pizza for everyone, but the caprese and meatball pizzas get a lot of love. Put this on your summer bucket list for sure.

Mozza Pi

12102 La Grange Rd., Louisville, KY 40223 • (502) 494-7012
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The beloved food truck, Mozza Pi, has a new home in Anchorage. They are part of a bigger artisan bakery and pizzeria, with all their ingredients locally sourced and their flour milled in house at Louismill. They serve breakfast starting at 7 a.m. every morning, with baked goods, English muffin sandwiches and great coffee and espresso. The lunch menu includes their famous pizzas, salads and sandwiches. Mozza Pi’s pizzas are works of art, with the house favorite being the sweet onion marmalade pizza with andouille sausage, bleu cheese, cherries and an onion base. Also try the spinach and ricotta, with hand-crushed tomato sauce, fresh spinach and fresh ricotta and mozzarella. You can enjoy both breakfast and lunch on their newly renovated property and patio in Anchorage.

Tikka House

3930 Chenoweth Sq, Louisville, KY 40207 • (502) 749-4535
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Housed in the former Majid’s in Chenoweth Square, this Indian restaurant serves a lunch buffet every day and an a la carte menu for dinner. The lunch buffet has many options, and for $10.99 it’s all you can eat. The most popular dishes include the chicken tikka masala, samosas and of course, the naan. Don’t ignore the large selection of chutneys and dipping sauces. Offerings are half vegetarian and half with meat, so everyone can find something they’ll enjoy. With all of the dishes to try, this buffet is definitely not a one-trip-only experience, so go hungry.

Chick’n & Mi

2319 Brownsboro Rd., Louisville, KY 40206 • (502) 890-5731
Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Asian comfort foods abound, with Laotian spiced fried chicken, both with sweet soy or hot fire sauces available. Look for great familiar starters such as spring rolls and house-made pickles, then move on to a ramen dish or even a sandwich. Sides put an Asian twist on American favorites — kimchi mac n’ cheese and bonito fries are both prime examples. And there’s a full bar with craft cocktails, beer, wine and, of course, sake.

Pho Cafe

1704 Bardstown Rd., Louisville, KY 40205 • (502) 916-2129
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This new Vietnamese restaurant on Bardstown Road has all the favorites, such as banh mi and several selections of pho. Diners claim that the pho has medicinal properties, and we believe them; the most talked about pho on the menu is the rare beef pho. But, check out the wok specialties, like the popular shaking beef or the chef’s special noodle. Finish up your great meal with a homemade cheesecake wonton with caramel sauce for dessert.

Kathmandu Kitchen

3825 Bardstown Rd., Louisville, KY 40218 • (502) 276-1527
Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to midnight; Monday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Closed Tuesday

Kathmandu Kitchen actually opened a year ago, but missed our last restaurant article, and it is definitely worth the mention. Located in Buechel, this restaurant has authentic Nepalese food that probably most of us have never tried before. It’s worth the drive to try the momos, South Asian dumplings filled with vegetable or chicken as a starter, followed by the chicken chow mein for your entree. They also serve biryani dishes, similar to Indian cuisine. Better yet, they have live music and a full bar. This is worth the drive.

Morels Cafe

619 Baxter Ave., Louisville, KY 40204 • (502) 409-5916
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Closed Monday

Morels Cafe has a great mantra: “Vegan food that doesn’t suck.” According to their diners, that is totally true. This former food truck has an established brick-and-mortar restaurant now. They have moved beyond the typical tofu and eggplant fare to offer a creative and tasty menu. They are best known for the Farby — which is a play on “Arby’s” — a vegan roast beef sandwich with (vegan) cheese and signature red ranch sauce on a homemade bun with curly fries — fast food you can feel good about. This is just one of their many tongue-in-cheek vegan offerings, such as happy meal wraps, Philly cheesesteak fries and a muffuletta. Round out your meal with a fresh glass of Kentucky kombucha, which is on tap.

Mirin

2011 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206 • (502) 742-8911
Hours: Monday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Closed Sunday

Do you miss Rumplings, the ramen house in the Highlands that recently closed? Don’t fret, this is a similar restaurant, specializing in Asian-style street food, by Rumplings’ Chef Griffin Paulin. People love their double spicy soup, the pork ramen and their Asian take on poutine. The broths for the ramen take up to 36 hours to prepare, and they are delicious. Mirin is open late, so it’s perfect for dinner or a late-night snack after a big night.

Cocoberry Pops

323 West Woodlawn Ave., Louisville, KY 40214 • (502) 822-3227
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

If you love Mexican paletas, made with fresh fruit and cane sugar, then you will love Cocoberry Pops, which specializes in handmade popsicles with just those ingredients. Flavors run the gamut and include pineapple whip, cherry limeade, blueberry cream, chocolate, avocado, coconut and sweet tea, and that’s just a sampling of all the options on this large menu. All pops are $3.

Fante’s Coffee

2501 Grinstead Dr., Louisville, KY 40206 • (502) 454-0543
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This new locally owned neighborhood coffee shop is located across the street from Cherokee Golf Course on Grinstead Drive. Proudly roasting their own coffee, the Fante’s Coffee menu features a bevy of coffee drinks, as well as tea, beer and wine, but there’s also great food — check out the breakfast pastries, sandwiches, soups and salads. This great location makes it the perfect place to meet up with coworkers and friends to study or just to relax at any time of the day.

Ready, set, eat!

**********

Check out all our restaurant reviews and recipes in our Food and Dining section on StyleBlueprint!