The Louis Spritz

I’m usually a little leery about hotel restaurants, but if you ever find yourself in downtown Louisville, do yourself a favor and make a reservation for the Porch Kitchen & Bar located in the Louisville Marriott Downtown. The atmosphere is very hip and vibrant, yet intimate and a great place for a date or to meet up with friends. Let’s start with the drinks. The Louis Spritz cocktail is out of this world, fresh, and not heavy or sugary. The presentation is just as nice, served in a wine glass with a decorative flower…definitely a favorite.

The Lump Crab Hushpuppies

Burnt Ends

The appetizers are quite impressive here and can be a meal in themselves. The Lump Crab Hushpuppies are delicious and definitely worth the try. They are golden on the outside, and on the inside, there is crab, jalapeno, and sweet corn along with pepper jack cheese. They aren’t greasy and are served with a side of citrus aioli that is smooth, creamy and compliments the hushpuppies. Next are the Burnt Ends … rich in flavor, tender and served in a cast iron skillet with BBQ sauce and pickled onions to garnish. Excellent! My least favorite appetizer I tried were the Loaded Brisket Nachos. When I eat nachos, I want them loaded down with cheese and all the toppings. The flavor of the nachos is good; however, the toppings definitely fell short and I expected more on the “Loaded” Brisket Nachos. I did like that you can order the nachos either half or full size.

Smoked Turkey Cobb Salad

I typically don’t eat a salad at a restaurant because I feel like it’s a waste of money for just some green roughage and some dressing. However, I did try the Smoked Turkey Cobb Salad and I can tell you I would order it again. The salad was huge and loaded with toppings which included a deviled egg. The smoked turkey was diced and the smoke flavor was definitely there, but not overpowering. Everything was fresh and the presentation was unlike any I had ever seen, with each topping layered from top to bottom across the salad.

Grilled Atlantic Salmon

If you are a salmon person, you must give their Grilled Atlantic Salmon a try. This is among my top three salmons I have eaten anywhere. It comes perfectly grilled, medium, served over a bed of quinoa pilaf and topped with roasted sweet peppers and slivered snap peas along with a brown butter mustard glaze drizzled over top. I could have used a little more glaze, which I’m sure if I asked, I could have received, but it was so delicious that I barely put my fork down before I had eaten it all. It is a little pricey; however, I can handle a little “pricey” for good, quality salmon cooked to perfection.

Bourbon Butter Cake

Let’s talk about dessert. This is one place you cannot leave without getting dessert. I’m not talking about just any dessert, I’m talking about their Bourbon Butter Cake. This dessert is a melt in your mouth cake that is so moist served warm, drenched in bourbon caramel sauce. A scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side and some candied pecans sprinkled on top, this is definitely one of the best desserts I have had anywhere. If I’m in Louisville, I’m getting me some Bourbon Butter Cake!

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-Tennessee Taster