There are many restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky, that are unique to the area. Among the many Louisville-original restaurants you can find classy upscale restaurants, as well as many casual family dining restaurants. So what are my top three Louisville original restaurants for casual family dining?
Kingfish Restaurants
The first Kingfish Restaurant was opened on Derby Day in 1948 in what I have quite often heard my grandparents refer to as a “shack” which pretty accurately describes the building that the owners, Russell Austin and Henry Burns, built by hand at Fourth Street and River Road. The first restaurant was stocked with a refrigerator of fish, two fryers, and a cooler of beers. From this a Louisville legend was born.
Today the menu features a wide variety of seafood for its customers to choose from, you can find anything from shrimp, to frog legs, to Alaskan King Crab Legs, to Lobster tail on the Kingfish menu. The Sweet Homemade Onion Rings, and the Derby Pie are items that you must order. Entrees range in price from $7 to just over $20 depending on the market value of seafood at the time. There is a Kid’s Menu that offer choices for kids ranging in price from $3.49 to $4.99, and include a child’s size drink.
Currently there are three Kingfish Restaurants in the Louisville area, one on Blankenbaker Parkway, another on Zorn Avenue, and a third just across the river in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The Blankenbaker Parkway location is the only location of the three that is not located directly on the river.
For more on Kingfish Restaurants and to view their menu you can visit their website.
Lynn’s Paradise Café
Lynn’s Paradise Café is quite a sight, it features the most ostentatious wacky décor, and is full of bold, bright colors that make you feel the urge to put on your sunglasses. A visit to Lynn’s Paradise Café always promises a fun time.
Lynn’s serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day of the week, with a large crowd for each. The breakfast menu is available all day long, and features a variety of omelets, pancakes, BLT Fries, and even oatmeal. The Lunch and Dinner Menu feature entrees such as Home Roasted Turkey, Mom’s Meatloaf, the Paradise Hot brown, and the Fried Green Tomato BLT. If down home country cooking is what you are looking for Lynn’s is the place to find it.
Lynn’s Paradise Café is located in the Highlands at 984 Barret Avenue. For more on Lynn’s and to view their menu you can visit their website.
W.W. Cousins
W.W. Cousins is located on Breckenridge Lane and features Build Your Own Hamburgers. Customers can choose how which burger they want, how they want it cooked, and then can dress it themselves with fixings from the huge bar full of toppings. The casual dining room reminds you of a backyard patio, complete with a huge tree inside the restaurant. A kid’s menu is available, with meals that include child size drinks. On Monday’s and Tuesday’s after 4 PM one child eats free with each adult entrée purchased. W.W. Cousins does not have a website, but you can reach the restaurant by phone at (502) 897-9684.
