Best Contemporary American Restaurants in Downtown Louisville

A first class experience in the historic Brown Hotel. The food was excellent all the way from the Burger to the sea scallops. The service was great and very responsive to our needs. We had a wonderful dining experience and would go back again.

What can I say other than WOW! We are in from Indianapolis for the weekend and wanted some seafood. Open table recommended Brendon’s Catch 23 and we decided to give it a try. We were greeted immediately and seated at our table and our server Ross greeted us within 30 seconds. I of course liked him instantly because his name is from one of my shows, Friends. Ross is incredible! He knows everything about the entire menu as well as the cocktails. He guided us to the crab in warm butter with sourdough bread for the starter and it is divine! Definitely order that! I have an obsession with Cauliflower steak and it was really good. I loved how they seasoned it with steak seasoning. It had a small warm green salad and a corn and bean side to accompany. I really liked this dish. My husband had the shrimp and grits and it was delicious. Perfectly cooked and tender shrimp but it was a lot of food! Definitely a dish that could be shared. We were given 2 corn bread muffins with a honey cinnamon butter that was the perfect accompaniment to our dishes. I ordered the Beignets for dessert and if you get anything GET THOSE! They were perfectly cooked , crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They Came with two dipping sauces, and we’re so large we took two home! Ross even brewed a fresh pot of decaf for me as I love coffee with my dessert. Ross was very attentive to our dining needs and really made us feel welcome. He always had a smile on his face every time I saw him and he truly went above and beyond and made our dining experience even more enjoyable. Thank you Ross for the incredible time and for making us feel like Friends!!!! We Will definitely be back and asking for Ross!  

What a WOW view from one of the rotating dining rooms! We thoroughly enjoyed splurging for our anniversary dinner at Swizzle. The calamari appetizer was excellent, as was the wedge salad which they kindly split for us. And basket of warm bread - yum! My husband now lists their Tomahawk Pork Chop in his top ten - super tender, perfectly cooked. I had the scallops - also perfectly cooked with the grits, peas, and fried onions accompaniments - wonderful. Considering it was a super busy night at the restaurant, we felt very well taken care of by the wait staff. Also, if you aren't staying at the hotel or Ubering, use the restaurant valet for $10.00. A great deal for parking, and our car was waiting for us at the curb when we were done with dinner.

What a menu! Make sure to start with the amuse bouche, the mini arancini was perfect. The mushrooms appetizer is unlike any I've had; warm, cold, crispy, umami, tangy, creamy. The trout was warm and briney but offset by a beautiful char on the skin. Fantastic dining experience, exceptional vibes. Can't wait to come back next time I'm in Lousiville.

The food was good and the server was excellent. The time it took to get the food was painfully slow.