Bistro 301 Menu

  • Starters
  • Soups & Salads
  • Sandwiches
  • Favorites Pastas & Specialties

Healthy Meal suggestions for Bistro 301

  • Starters
  • Soups & Salads
  • Sandwiches
  • Favorites Pastas & Specialties

Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.

Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.

  • Heather G.

    Ordered the crab and artichoke dip for an app, and the crab cakes for dinner. My boyfriend ordered the tomato basil soup and the hanger steak. All items were excellent! We had a great server too-very attentive, polite, and quick with refills. Overall our experience was great, we will definitely come back!

    (5)
  • kristin p.

    came here last night with a bunch of super hungry, food-focused people in Louisville for the Ironman. Our server was super nice and attentive, the bread was plentiful and crusty/yummy, but the actual entrees were 'meh'... My Asian chopped salad had wasabi peas in it, but they were just a little too crunchy to complement the salad appropriately, and the salmon I added on top was a bit on the salty side. My mom compared here salad to one she ate at Wendy's recently and said Wendy's was better, and my dad's pasta was "ok" but nothing super special. A friend had a "hot brown" which he was all excited about, but it wasn't a classic Hot Brown, and thus measured 'just fine'. Others at the table thought their meals were fine, but nothing was extraordinary. Split a derby pie with a few people (i mean, we're racing, we need calories), and it was sooo hot, i could barely eat it. It was definitely chocolaty, but again, not a traditional derby pie, so it wasn't as great as it could be. All in all, 3 stars. average.

    (3)
  • Margaret D.

    After walking around downtown reading menus on a hot summer day, I was drawn into Bistro 301 by the heirloom tomato salad special. Wonderful multicolored tomatoes, drizzled with balsamic vinegar and accompanied by a mozarella ball covered with shredded basil. My entree was Hot Nashville Chicken, spicy fried chicken served on white bread with a pickled cucumber salad. Everything was perfectly prepared, very tasty, and presented beautifully. My server was attentive, but not intrusive, which is an art these days. Plus he had blue eyes just like Paul Newman! I will definitely return to Bistro 301!

    (4)
  • Steve D.

    We had a party of 20 that Bistro 301 was able to accommodate perfectly. Drinks were fabulous, and all of us enjoyed the meal.

    (5)
  • Trevor W.

    Stopped in after work to do the happy hour at the bar as the wife had a work function going on in the large room. The happy hour is only special on drinks (no food happy hour) so not super happy deals but $2 off draft beer and glass of wine is OK. Nice atmosphere and after work type crowd. Bartender is friendly and knowledgeable. Food selection is nice and not overwhelming with too many choices. It is a little small inside but that can be a good thing. Food was good and the wine was nice. Overall OK

    (3)
  • Donna Marie B.

    Excellent steak dinner with seasoned butter sauce and garlic mashed potatoes. Pleasant service. We were on the Urban Bourbon trail, however they h a d a specialty gin drink with fresh mint. Excellent!

    (5)
  • Heath C.

    For a while, this was mine and my girlfriends go to spot for special dinners. The atmosphere is cozy yet you still get a feeling of class and elegance. The place is always clean and tidy and for the most part we have never had trouble getting a table pretty quickly. As far as the food is concerned, I tend to gravitate towards the same meal, the hot brown. Personally, I think its the best hot brown in the city! I know that's blasphemous to some people, but their mornay sauce is to die for! Also, during certain times of the year, they have a banana bread pudding that is simply delicious! Very moist and bursting with flavor! We have had a couple of instances where the service has been a little off and slow, but for the most part the staff has been very attentive and nice.

    (4)
  • T W.

    This place is great. Big portions and good food. I had excellent service. I love the risotto . the crab cakes. The chicken salad is good and the frided chicken is good. I wasnt crazy about the french fries but you get a large portion with a sandwich or you can get a healthier side like fruit. my friend loves the shrimp and grits. This place even helps a non profit -alley cat advocates. Its great a place has great food and gives back to the community.

    (5)
  • David H.

    Three of my coworkers and I went here for lunch on a Friday afternoon. We all had sandwiches served with fries. I had the grilled portobello mushroom. The bun was excellent and the sauce was good. Service was quick which is always appreciated when you are on your lunch break! We all had the same complaint: The french fries were way too small; it looked like the fries that were at the bottom of the bag, sort of like when you buy a bag of potato chips and all the broken pieces are at the bottom. Most of the fries were only about an inch long, making it difficult to pick up and eat. So we ended up eating our fries with a fork! We also agreed that $13 for lunch was out of our price range, so we would not go back. We were going to eat at the old spaghetti factory next door but they had a 45 minute wait. I know lunch over there is cheaper and you get a four course meal.

    (3)
  • Jack J.

    This place was so good we ate there. 2 nights in a row. The shrimp and grits were over the top good.

    (5)
  • Heather D.

    Atmosphere is upscale and cozy. The servers were attentive and we were seated when we arrived though we arrived before our reservation time. I had the scallops and pork belly which were fantastic and beautifully plated. Three or four scallops with pork belly pieces on top and thin slivers of apple with wonderful seasoned sprout pieces underneath. Was flavorful and perfectly cooked. This meal looks light but is actually rather heavy. My husband had the fried chicken and Mac n cheese (which they are apparently known for). The Mac and cheese was very creamy and the taste was spot on. The chicken was perfectly cooked and moist. The pork chops are also very good, even for people who don't normally care for them. The el Diablo dish is tasty as well. The crab dip is worth ordering as an appetizer. The only complaint I have is that the dishes seem a bit heavy. This isn't something you will leave feeling refreshed from. Be prepared to spend $20 - $30 for your main meal. No salads included.

    (4)
  • Kristin B.

    Due to the poor service by Stuart I can only offer 2 stars. From the minute we sat down we felt rushed and like he was ready to end his shift, it was 8 PM on a Wednesday night! The food was okay, $25 for a pork chop, and $5 for a salad. He told my daughter not to order a side as it was too much food, judgmental!!!! When I spoke to the owner about our poor service he totally had the guys back and then whined about how tough this industry is! Poor me! After reading all the other reviews I can see the owner isn't listening to these reviews, pull your head out of the sand buddy!

    (2)
  • Melissa M.

    Met childhood friends for dinner. Ordered 3 appetizers to get the conversation flowing. The special meatballs were spicy & yummy. I ordered the NY Strip and it was cooked perfectly- with bourbon sauce! The Shrimp & Grits were gobbled down quickly and the Hot Brown shouldn't be missed. Great Food. Great Friends. Great Evening!

    (5)
  • Heather M.

    One of my favorite downtown lunch spots! I've had several things that I love. Most recently I got the tuna melt, which was the perfect meal and break from work on a cool day. The staff is friendly, and I love the exposed brick look. One time I went and they had changed their side items slightly. I mentioned how much I had liked one that was no longer on the list, and they made it for me anyways!

    (4)
  • Landon L.

    Quite possibly one of the most average/slightly below average restaurants downtown. The food was very average (but not worth $10+), and the entire place was severely understaffed. However, the inside was very clean and aesthetically pleasant. I had a portobello sandwich with fruit. The sandwich was hard to enjoy between slurping onions and making a mess. The fruit was more like honeydew with the occasional grape, which didn't matter because all the fruit tasted like honeydew.

    (2)
  • T P.

    Some friends and I stopped in for a quick drink while on the "Urban Bourbon Trail" experience. We were the only people in the place and yet we still had trouble getting our server's attention. He was busy chatting with three other people who worked there, all seated at a table in the back of the bar in which we were seated. We had a lot of questions about the historic locale and bourbon in general, which he could not answer. This being our first Trail stop, we were surprised and definitely disappointed. One is supposedly also able to write one's name on the wall, if one would like. I said I wanted to but, alas, they use white out pens, which they had none of. So, next time, if there IS a next time, I will bring my own white out pen (-;

    (2)
  • Mac B.

    Visited recently for lunch. Co-worker and I were looking for a place we hadn't been to and 301 was a place both of us had always wanted to check out. It turned out to be a good choice. This isn't your typical lunch joint. There isn't anything cheap about this place and you're going to drop over $10-15 on a decent lunch. It's well worth it. Like most "upscale" lunch joints, you're going to spend about as much as you would on a dinner. But you'll get what you pay for in the taste and service. I ended up spending about $20 on my lunch.... that may not be much for some, and too much for others. Either way, it was a well worth the $20.

    (3)
  • Lindsey B.

    This review is based mainly on the service. We were visiting Louisville on a road trip and we have had the most amazing southern hospitality the entire trip until tonight. Our server Stuart was arrogant and completely rushed us our entire meal. He didn't tell us about any specials, he rushed our drink orders and told me that I was ordering too much food. The vibe the entire meal was that he didn't want to be serving us and he wanted to go home. When we inquired about dishes such as The Hot Brown he barely took the time to explain what it was. The food was good but not amazing. Hand lotion in the restrooms instead of soap? Finally, to top it off, the owner happened to be dining and my Mother spoke to him when he stepped away and was behind the bar. He proceeded to back up the server and complain about how he had to take out a second mortgage to keep the restaurant going. Like that's our fault? So disappointing and so unprofessional.

    (2)
  • Kay R.

    I had the Nashville Hot chicken and loved it. The fried chicken was very hot and the cucumber salad was the perfect offset to the heat. Maybe the dish should be called "Hurts so Good"?!? . The service was good, everyone in my large group enjoyed their meal, all in all a great experience. The menu was very interesting, I hope I can go back and try more dishes.

    (5)
  • Sandy Z.

    Their homemade tartar sauce was orgasmic! I was here for dinner yesterday with my brother and friends and had a great time. The price is very fair for the quality of our meals. The four of us ate for around $70. The service was prompt and professional. The older gentleman was polite and funny! They had a full bar that was enticing, but did not indulge due to the 3 hour drive back to Purdue after dinner. The menu was very simple and still carried a great variety. People who wanted steak had many choices and same with the seafood. I had the fish and chips. The fish had tasty batter but it did not stick onto the fish at all. I wish they had broken it up into two pieces. The portion size was appropriate for dinner with no leftovers. I'm glad they don't pile on fries and sides like other restaurants. It provided for a clean experience. I docked one star for the fish batter being very slimy and peeling off the fish too easily and also for a very small table. The four of us had very limited table space and made the experience feel cramped.

    (4)
  • Timothy T.

    From the friendly guy @ the door, to Jessica the wonderful waitress, this is what dining out should be! The bone in chop with Mac and cheese was the winning plate in our group, but the Diablo and the pasta Primavera were excellent as well. Great food, great service, at a reasonable price!

    (5)
  • Suzanne R.

    Fantastic. Shrimp and grits for dinner with a little Mac and cheese for appetizer. Loved beer selection. Colleagues loved bourbon selection and probably chop and filet.

    (5)
  • Leigh W.

    I've enjoyed taking a break from work for lunch at this spot for years. It's predictable - delicious food, nice atmosphere, attentive staff and fair prices. It's conveniently located to most businesses in downtown Louisville and right across the street from the convention center, so it's great for "unconventional conventionalists" too. It's locally owned, which makes it a much better choice than TGIFriday's or Hard Rock, where many conventioneers might be drawn out of familiarity. I recommend the hummus and/or the fried pickles, artichokes and jalapenos for starters. The hummus app would also make a fine meal for a vegetarian. The grilled portabello sandwich on the the most decadent pretzel bun, also made locally by an authentic German baker, with the tobacco straws is a most filling lunch that will last you well into the evening. The portions are quite generous. If you've got tickets to a play at Actors or to a concert at the YUM! Center, this makes an excellent pre-show dinner spot. It's close to both venues, but not directly on Main Street where the bulk of the crowds tends to go.

    (4)
  • Mary B.

    We went there on New Year's Eve for dinner. Had reservations for 7:30 p.m. didn't seem too crowded but still had to wait a couple minutes for our table. We tried the artichoke crab dip for app was OK but my boyfriend liked it and he likes seafood. Service was good attentive with drinks and bread. Food did take awhile to come out though. Portions were BIG. I had the diablo which is a spicy pasta with sausage in it very good and he had the hot brown which was good. I had a glass of wine and my bf had a beer and our bill was close to $70. Kind of pricey but a cool atmosphere. Liked how the back dining room had prints of different Kentucky places hanging up on a brick wall.

    (4)
  • Liz M.

    Excellent service! Even better food! Tortellini Diablo was to DIE for!

    (5)
  • Terry W.

    We had a party of six, wandered in and were smitten with the cocktail menu! Try the Bluegrass Berry for a great spin on a Cosmo. The scallops, the Diablo, the shrimp/grits, and the Brown were all outstanding. The bread pudding was delightful. The staff was so much fun. We even met the chef!

    (5)
  • Naresh T.

    As a vegetarian they had a few good options. The portabello mushroom burger was superb, one of the best I've ever had. However the hummus was a bit dry and the side bean salad could have had more flavor. The service is on-point and the ambiance is nice. I'd try the place again.

    (4)
  • Teresa V.

    Great dinner of fried green tomatoes and scallops special. Yum!

    (4)
  • Kaitlin E.

    Fool me once....shame on you I've ordered delivery from here twice. Both times the food arrived 30 - 45 minutes later than they said it would. Hampton inn advertises them as room service but you'd be better off ordering elsewhere. Taste of China and Spinellis deliver fresh food, fast. By the time the food arrives its cold, soggy, and wet (was it raining!?) They include an 18% gratuity on the bill which of course they dont tell you and I didn't notice during the first delivery. That delivery walked away with a 40% tip for delivering said soggy food 45 minutes late. Awesome! The chicken lime quesadilla was horrid (see business photos). It was the least appetizing dish I received during my month long in Louisville.

    (2)
  • Carolyn H.

    Lunch or Dinner, this place delivers. It's quick service, nothing overly solicitous. There are several vegetarian and healthy options and I've been back more than once in the last 2 years with a consistently good experience. Offers some local fare and sources locally when they can which I so appreciate! I enjoy the white bean dip (large enough to split!) and the Asian Chop salad is wonderful! Very satisfying. Just had an oustanding visit today - 2/21/13 Asked the server during 12:30 lunch rush about the chinese slaw and whether it was vegan, containing any dairy at all. She assured me, no and she was right. What was impressive was that I ordered the portobello sandwich without the cheese and when she delivered the food, she announced she'd had them leave off the aioli since it had a cream base. I hadn't noticed it was part of the sandwich and would have sent it back if not for her attention to detail. Well done! Sandwich was a little dry after I messed with it so much but she brought me the same chili sauce that was on the slaw and I ate every bite. :) Very sad that the asian salad is no longer on the lunch menu but I tried the fried pickles, jalepenos, and artichokes instead. YUM!!!

    (4)
  • m m.

    Went there for lunch, since the earth friends cafe across the street seemed closed. The waitress and staff were warm, but the service was EXTREMELY slow. 30 minutes to get drinks? Granted that there was a party of nine people, who must have come just before us. This place had limited vegetarian or even vegan options. Even the soups that seemed vegetarian friendly by their names ( tomato, kale) were meat based. We were served warm bread with unsalted butter. The bread lacked flavor. It was not what I expected, especially from a bistro. I ordered the special- cavatapi pasta with chicken, cherry tomatoes, and mushroom based with a Gorgonzola cream sauce minus the chicken. The waitress assured me that since I didn't get chicken, the kitchen would substitute with a lot of vegetables. When the dish arrived, it was primarily pasta drenched in a creamy sauce with minimal mushroom and cherry tomatoes. No garlic bread to accompany this dish. Needless to say, I could have probably gotten a better Italian meal at the spaghetti factory/warehouse next door. Lesson learned - should probably order pasta dishes from an Italian restaurant instead. I would give them one star for the food. The three is for the warmth of the servers. They should hire more people, so they're not overwhelmed during lunch hour!! There seems to be an extensive alcohol list, but I didn't venture in that direction. This fare is probably best suited for those, who aren't vegetarians. One of the people I came with really enjoyed his tuna melt, and said it was worth the 45 minute wait! There you go!

    (3)
  • Jason S.

    Busy, but still fast and attentive! Awesome food!

    (5)
  • Annie S.

    Had a fantastic date night with Husband at Bistro 301. Food was great, service was excellent. French Fries weren't amazing. That would be my only complaint. Great spot!

    (5)
  • Kent H.

    Good grub! We both had the hanger steak and substituted the fries with a little less caloric roasted brussels sprouts. The meat was tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The staff was very attentive, and it was a really nice lunch experience!

    (4)
  • Tim C.

    Good food, atmosphere, and a very friendly staff. Excellent choice of beverages.

    (5)
  • Melissa E.

    We went here based on the positive Yelp reviews, and were impressed. We had the calamari, which was perfectly cooked and not too chewy. My husband's food was pretty decent, but I really liked mine. I had a spinach salad that was amazing. It came with a goat cheese crouton that was good enough to make as a meal. I wish it would've come with more of those croutons--they were out of this world. Can you make a meal out of croutons? I would've. I also had a glass of very good Spanish wine, that was worth the price. We would definitely visit this place again.

    (4)
  • Krista R.

    Service was excellent and so was the food. Was taking my 12 year old granddaughter to dinner and the Nutcracker. You can walk easily from there to the Art Center after dinner. It is a great before or after a game dinner because the location is a block from the Yum Center.

    (4)
  • Erin K.

    My parents and I went here before a concert at the YUM! Center. We were unaware that it was reservations only on that particular night but the server quickly offered us 3 seats at the bar, which was just fine! While it took a little while to get our drinks, we understood because they were very busy. I ordered the portabello burger and asian slaw. Both were very good. The portabello was full of flavor and the pretzel bun was chewy and not at all dry. I would definitely recommend Bistro 301 as a nice downton spot to grab a bite!

    (4)
  • Ashley B.

    I used to love this place and would go during lunch or before events at the Yum Center. However, the last time I ate there, I was disappointed to find they had taken the best salad off the menu (the chicken with brie, apples, grapes, and candied pecans), and all that was left were run of the mill, uninspired salads. Our first server (we had two different servers during our meal) said the owner had taken all salads with goat cheese and brie off the menu. Sounds like a cheap move and possibly signs of a restaurant in financial trouble. I ended up having the salmon burger, which, while messy, was quite good. I would have rather had the salad, though. The biggest disappointment was the service. It took over 30 minutes for the server to take our order - and this was after we had told him twice that we were ready to place our orders. Both times, he said ok and left the table without taking our order. Really puzzling. When he finally took our order, he actually made the comment "I have to go get a pen - someone's being picky." (This was in response to a vegetarian at the table asking to leave bacon off a salad) I started going to Bistro 301 about a year ago, and both the service and the menu selections have gone dramatically downhill. The food is still tasty, but I doubt I'll be back.

    (2)
  • Greg M.

    Wow, crappy service topped by even worse food. NEVER again! Something as simple as a wedge salad that only had 5 small pieces of bacon, and yes, they give you bread, but no butter. Skip this place, try elsewhere and let's let this place DIE!

    (1)
  • Stacy K.

    Went here for a late dinner on a tip from a local and wasn't disappointed. They sat our party immediately and gave us wonderful service throughout the dinner. My meal--a turkey burger with "tobacco" onions--was spot on. Heard only good feedback from the others in my party re: the quality of food, as well. The draft, craft beer selection was great--a small list, but well-curated. Good space, too. All too often, dinners out with a group can be aggravating because of poor acoustics in a restaurant, but that was luckily not the case here. Nice ambiance in general. Overall, a solid experience in a town that was strangely lacking in Southern hospitality.

    (4)
  • Megan E.

    I ate here for the first time last week. The space is very pretty - we sat in the main dining room, but I noticed the bar was very cold when we walked through. The calamari was okay - I think they had assembled a plate with different batches because some of the pieces were much paler than the rest. I had the tortellini diablo, which had nice heat and depth, but was very heavy. My dining companions had the hangar steak and pork chop special - the grits were fantastic! That said, the service was mediocre at best. I was drinking my husband's water by the end of the meal because my glass remained empty. Also, two tables around us were seated without service for at least 10 minutes. We noticed one table and told our server, however, the other got up and left.

    (3)
  • Laura A.

    Good food, warm atmosphere, and quite easy to make reservations online. The staff were inviting and accommodating. Overall great dinner!

    (4)
  • Thomas S.

    Very friendly and attentive staff. Glasses stayed full and so did our bellies after a delicious dinner. The kids menu is a bit pricey, but good lord, they provide a ton of tasty food. It's really enough for an adult. Thank you for being a part of our 1st trip to Louisville. It won't be the last.

    (4)
  • Holly H.

    While visiting Louisville, I had lunch at Bistro 301. I ordered the portabella mushroom sandwich. It was absolutely amazing. The pretzel bun with phenomenal and the sandwich couldn't have had a better combination of ingredients. My mother ordered a burger that was also very tasty with great beer cheese on it. The server was very attentive and service was great.

    (5)
  • Chance G.

    The Kentucky Club and Cardinal Club were sub-par at best. The only redeeming quality was the pretzel and ciabatta (sp?) bread, respectively, and the fries. Not impressed. Waiter had a "better-than-thou" attitude.

    (2)
  • Sarah W.

    Attention convention-goers: eat at Bistro 301! Skip the generic corporate fare at Fourth Street Live! Good food, local ingredients, prices in line with your per diem. What more could you ask for? If you are thinking you would ask for outdoor seating, fried trout, shrimp and grits, and the occasional non-profit fundraiser, they have that too.

    (4)
  • Liz C.

    Got the shrimp & grits as others on yelp have suggested & it did not disappoint! It was 1 of the best dishes ever! My spouse enjoyed the mussels & the calamari. Yes, it is busy & noisey but that's because so many folks love it! We r goin back tomorrow for a diff dish tomorrow,

    (5)
  • Asha S.

    This is a charming downtown restaurant with great service and a versatile menu that offers dishes like a pretzel bun burger, fresh St. John's river catfish sandwiches, and a creamy kick from their Tortellini Diablo. We visited for a casual downtown lunch before heading into work. The service was prompt and we especially appreciated the continuous refills of bread and butter while we waited. My husband tried the burger on a pretzel bun with beer cheese and a side of fries. It was simple and delicious, we especially liked the crunch and heartiness of the pretzel bun versus a soggy, typical bun. I had the Tortellini Diablo which was a nice melody of creamy and spicy and included sun-dried tomatoes, chicken, sausage, and mushrooms. This was a hearty dish and I could only eat about half (def boxed the leftovers!). What we also appreciated about this place was that they pride themselves on using fresh, local ingredients from KY local farmers. The atmosphere was cozy, romantic and it was nice to see the street view of Market Street downtown. Our meal was about $25 before tip which is more on the expensive side for us considering this was a lunch outing - but the food was good (and really what we ordered was more dinner-ish). Bistro 301 will be considered for a treat spot in the future!

    (4)
  • Jason H.

    Stopped here for lunch yesterday and was fairly impressed with my meal. Ordered the grilled chicken taco salad and it was very fresh. All ingredients looked very appetizing. For some reason I noticed the tortilla strips which looked liked they were made in house. Also had the cream of celery soup which I could not get enough of. The meal was so good I asked to see the menu for dinner and considered coming back. It's not often things hit me as appetizing from simple worded menus, but this thing hit the spot. Land, sea, and pasta, it all looked great so I went back. I ordered a side spinach salad and the fillet for dinner. The side spinach salad came with strawberries, candied walnuts, and a deep fried cream cheese ball. WOW that was a good salad. Moving on to the fillet, and this is the only reason the place did not get 5 stars from me. Everything to that point had been phenomenal, but the fillet came pretty straight forward. Each item I had prior seemed so unique and tasty that the fillet, though nothing wrong with it what so ever, left me looking for that uniqueness the other dishes had. The dish was simply a victim of not being as great as the other plates I experienced by comparison. Service wise, I sat in the bar area and both my lunch waiter and dinner waiter were very attentive. Great on recommendations and timeliness. I don't get into Louisville often, but next time I do, this place is on my go-to list.

    (4)
  • Greg H.

    What a gem you have Louisviller's. It was by chance that Wifey and I found this great spot. The wine list has excellent, but affordable selections (they had me at BearBoat Pinot Noir). I chose the Bagna Cauda for my entree. Spot on! Nice atmosphere. The service was a bit inattentive (you don't have to come to the table; just make eye contact so I can let you know if I need you). Good for couples.

    (5)
  • Rhea P.

    If my business cohorts choose to eat here again, I'll just have to pass for the following reasons: 1. Minimal vegetarian options. I'm so tired of hummus and portabella mushroom sandwiches!! I thought maybe I could customize some dishes but the server was not very helpful in this aspect. On the most recent visit I ended up with a side order of mashed potatoes, green beans, and non-risotto. 2. Service It was minimal and slow. The place was packed when we came, so maybe this is why the experience was so sub par. What really tipped it over was when the server dumped an order of green beans on top of my cohort's salmon. She ordered a SIDE of green beans because she did not want the beans touching her other foods. I know she's picky, but the server could have asked before sliding it over her food. 3. The non-risotto We all agreed that sheen is only good for hair. I tasted someone else's risotto which was quite lovely, and decided I wanted an order of my very own. However, what I received was not risotto at all. It was greasy, shiny, sheeny rice with onions, and it was boarderline burnt. Why would anyone even serve it? To see if it might pass? It didn't. It failed! The server asked me if it was ok when she noticed it was basically untouched. I told her , "NO, it's not, as a matter of fact" and she took it away, and that was that. 4. Shine n glow beans In addition to greasy non-risotto, I was also served greasy green beans. This I ate, along with the very bland mashed potatoes becasue i was hungry. Que lastima!! Sorry to say, I think this is the end of my long term food locationship with Bistro 301.

    (1)
  • Yummy Y.

    We were in town from San Diego for the Derby and a friend did the research and booked us a dinner at Bistro 301, we were very happy! The food was great (I had the scallops, my husband a steak, and we ended up ordering two orders of the calamari for the table because the first one was so good!) We had a large party and everyone tried a variety of menu items, and everyone was very pleased with their meals! Not only that, we left our camera by accident and I called that evening, the owner so kindly shipped the camera off to us in a FedEx padded box the next day! WOW! I was impressed with the kindness and love to support small businesses who care about their patrons! We will definitely be back the next time we are in Louisville! Thank you!

    (5)
  • Matt S.

    My wife and I visited from Ohio and this place looked good and was within walking distance from our hotel. Really glad we made the choice to try it. I had the Diablo pasta dish with chicken and andouille sausage. I was expecting the stereotypical spicy pasta, but this dish had a much more robust flavor. Very good and highly recommended. Our waiter, Charles was attentive and timely with every table check-in to see how we were doing. My only complaint (and I cannot understand why it isn't mentioned more on these reviews) is the noise level. There is a bar side and a dining side and the dining side is so loud that it was extremely difficult to have a conversation across the table. Hopefully they can work out the acoustics because for us, it was the only downfall, but is bad enough to take away a star. Next time we will ask to sit on the bar side.

    (4)
  • Tony W.

    I went I ate I enjoyed... Went with six other people. Saw a hot brown, looked good the person who ordered it ate out all, their chicken dish disappeared on another persons plate. I had the burger and tobacco onions. My only complaint, not medium rare as I ordered, more like medium well. Good bun good caramelized onions, some sort of pimento cheese, it was tasty just not cooked as ordered. There are other places in this town I will try before going back here.

    (3)
  • Rachel F.

    I chose this for a bday party and longed for more. Granted, being there on a night with a 20 top kinda screwed us for top notch service, but all in all, I just left a bit underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong. It was good. The pricing was pretty reasonable and nothing was bad. It was a solid good. The hard part is that Louisville is a solid great as far as food goes. The martinis were tasty, but no where near the brim at 7.50. The shrimp and grits had wonderful flavor, but lots of tiny shrimp and not nearly enough grits to leave feeling full. Bday boy loved his steak and I tried the Hot Brown and it was pretty good. Heartier, with more turkey than they often have. I love the location, just off the 4th street madness, right near one of the BBCs and ATL. I'll probably go back, just won't be running there. Oh, and the acoustics were TERRIBLE. We couldn't stop laughing about how it sounded like a freight train and we couldn't have a conversation, even at a 6 top round table other than with the two folks sitting next to you. It was amusing though. And they did take reservations, so that's a plus. And a really nice staff.

    (3)
  • Hope K.

    Almost 4 stars because of the outstanding service and local ingredients. I had the steakburger because I was craving one and it was good but not omg good. Fries were crisp shoe string style. I'd like to go back and try the shrimp and grits.

    (3)
  • Cindy W.

    while visiting Louisville we decided to walk from The Brown Hotel to this bistro about .7 miles away. Was well worth it! Excellent. the spinach salad with goat cheese croutons was excellent and crab cakes light and flavorful!! my companion had the shrimp & cheese grits and she loved them. a little spicy with great flavor! Would recommend !

    (5)
  • Christopher S.

    Just made it back here for dinner. I ordered the lentil Soup and Hanger Steak special. Delicous soup, almost had a chili consistency. Really good! The Hanger steak and Spinach was great. Perfectly prepared Great service. Good prive/value relationship at this establishment.

    (4)
  • Sofia J.

    When one is in louisville, one eats grits.... and anything cooked w/whiskey...or lager? Lunch: Shrimp and grits= Sauteed shrimp and creamy stone ground grits finished with a black lager sauce YUM! Prices seem a bit steep for this place, but food was good! The bread that comes before the meal is really tasty as well :)

    (4)
  • Lisa W.

    Was in Louisville for business in July 2013. Ate here twice during my stay. The mussels are scrumptious. During my second trip I had a party of 7. There was no issue eating us and everyone enjoyed their sandwiches, salads, drinks. Great atmosphere . The owner chatted with us and thanked us for stopping by. You can tell he really enjoys what he does and puts his heart into the place.

    (5)
  • Guy B.

    Don't trust the reservation system here. I've been here many times. When the service is good it's great when it's bad it's terrible. The food is consistently good. The bar is ok but can't handle more than a few customers at a time.

    (2)
  • Bon V.

    The service was OK, Mussels with fries were good but the burger was on salty side.

    (3)
  • Michael E.

    I was in town with my fiancée doing wedding planning stuff, and we dropped by this gem on Market Street after taking engagement photos downtown. The atmosphere was welcoming and the place was surprisingly available for 8 pm on a Saturday. We had the steak burger (on a pretzel bun!), hot brown, and tortellini diablo...all of which were incredible. I also enjoyed the local flavor of this place...you can pick up a Falls City beer and enjoy locally sourced meat and vegetables.

    (5)
  • Bo D.

    I'm not sure if all Hot Browns are like the one served here, but I found it dry and bland. I would have rated it 1/5 if not for the prompt service on a Friday night and the excellent sweet tea.

    (2)
  • Ryan B.

    It took quite a long time (10 min.) to get my party of six seated when we arrived to a perfectly empty restaurant. That was strange. The server was new and was friendly but left hadn't tried enough of the food to help with suggestions. The shrimp and grits was good. It was a smaller portion than I was expecting but was flavorful...and enough. I would definitely try it again though.

    (3)
  • Anissa T.

    We had a good experience both times dining here. Service was not particularly friendly, but was certainly prompt and attentive enough. We had the same waitress both times, and the second time she seemed to take particular care to us, as returning customers. Enjoyed the wine list by the glass, and the special 'dessert' martinis. My dining companion and I split an Asian chop salad, which was an improvement over that in most restaurants. I had the smoked salmon pasta dish which was very light and flavorful and she had the shrimp and grits. The second trip we had attentive bartenders who took the time to explain some of the more uncommon bourbons, and the food was also enjoyable. I will patronize again when in the area.

    (4)
  • Kevin M.

    Had eaten here many times for lunch and the food was always good. I then received a gift certificate and went for dinner and ordered more of their higher end options and was pleasantly surprised at how good everything was. Salads, steak, seafood, deserts and sides all top notch.

    (5)
  • Jim B.

    Had dinner one night with food & service was superb. I took the family (party of 5) to lunch the next day & the food was horrid and the service worse. The also charged 18% tip on a party of 4 adults & 1 child NEVER AGAIN!!!

    (2)
  • Sarah T.

    I went to dinner here last night with my parents, my in-laws, and my husband. First, the menu listed online is no longer correct. The seafood pasta and the hot brown are no longer available, replaced by the fried chicken and the pork chop. I'll start with the positives. 1) The ambiance of this restaurant is very nice 2) The mac and cheese is some of the best we had all ever had 3) My mother really enjoyed the Diablo pasta Unfortunately, the not-so-great stuff outweighs the positives. 1) The service was very slow, from greeting the table, taking our order, bringing the food, and providing refills on drinks. Since the restaurant was a little more than half full on a Saturday night, and our server seemed to have only one other table, I'm not really sure why. 2) The spinach salad was tasty, but had so little dressing on it I only ate half of it. I would have asked for more dressing, but since the server was MIA most of the time, I didn't bother. 3) Out of the 6 of us, only my mother really enjoyed her meal. My father-in-law ordered the steak burger, but said the Bristol burger is better. My mother-in-law and my father both had the crab cakes. My dad said they basically had no flavor (and he loves his crab cakes). My husband had the fried chicken with the mac and cheese (which again, was amazing). But he said the chicken itself was too salty. I ordered the salmon, which was solidly good, not amazing, but good. I'm not a big fan of cheese-covered vegetables on the side though (which seemed to inexplicably have cabbage mixed into them?) Overall, for American fare, I've had the same or better at the Bristol and Ramsi's (and believe me, I'm not huge fans of either of those places), and I didn't have to pay to park downtown. I might go back if other people insisted that's where they wanted to go, but I wouldn't make an effort to go back.

    (2)
  • Sam J.

    I was looking for a restaurant to host a business reception. While Bistro 301 couldn't host us, they did recommend several other great locations! What a helpful response!

    (5)
  • Brad S.

    A great choice!!! We had tickets to the theater, and we were worried about timing. We should have had no such worries!! The meal was great, with great service, and an even better price. They could charge twice the price, and they would still be a reasonable place. It made for a great night and we will be glad to return. If you are thinking about it, give it a try, you will not be disappointed. With two starters, two mains, dessert brownie, glass of wine, and a coffee, the bill was under 60$.

    (4)
  • Shal V.

    I went to Bistro 301 for lunch with some co-workers. The lunch special was a chorizo burger served on a pretzel bun. It sounded so delicious and unique, all of us ordered it, and we were glad we did. Excellent burger! My only complaint is the chips that I got with my burger were from a Lays packet and not cooked in the restaurant. So my suggestion is to get something else for your side. The service was great! I'd like to go back and try some of the other dishes like shrimp and grits, the Hot Brown and other appetizing-looking items on the menu.

    (4)
  • Andrew M.

    Awesome food, Great Service. Try the Shrimp and Grits, they are out of this world!

    (4)
  • claudia y.

    i was really pleasantly surprised by the food here. we came here on a saturday night and the wait was 10-15 minutes for the bar. she originally told us we wouldnt ever get a table, but i can never really believe that. the bartender/server was pretty attentive. i dont know if he intentionally left my arnold palmer off the bill, but he still offered me refills. we had the asian chopped salad to start. i thought that was ok. they split it for us. i thought the dressing was yummt but very oily. i then had the crabcake. i saw them bring it out but then they brought it back in because my sisters dish wasnt ready. when they brought it out again, the sauce on the plate had changed colors. the crabcake itself was ok. now the best part of the meal was definitely my sisters chicken risotto. the chicken was perfectly seasoned and juicy. the risotto was also delicious. we then had a brownie sundae for dessert. yum

    (3)
  • Elizabeth N.

    For my co-workers and myself who frequent Louisville 4+ times a year, Bistro 301 is always on our dinner list. Their consistency is always appreciated! This last time my co-workers and I tried their featured wine "The Left Bank" it was absolutely amazing! I've been trying to find it in GA but no one seems to carry it. One of my favorite dishes is the gorgonzola pasta. It's perfection! Like lick the plate yummy goodness! While they may not have many vegetarian options, this is hands down one of my favorite places in Louisville!

    (4)
  • Clark R.

    Filet is a great spin on the standard fare. Great cab by the glass. Try the larceny bourbon, KY goods!!! This place is legit! Ask for Euan!

    (5)
  • Tasia R.

    Excellent food. I got the cilantro lime chicken wrap, very tasty. Our server was super friendly and the beer was actually really good. Definitely will come back here when we make our way to louisville again.

    (5)
  • Mariela R.

    The service and the ambience is wonderful but I was not impressed at all with their children menu - only 4 choices! And one of them was vegetable stir fry... Really? If I'm ever in Louisville again, I don't think I'll be stopping by...

    (2)
  • Nick C.

    On our recent trip to Louisville, this was the first place we went for lunch. Not only was the food good and the beer and bourbon selection vast, but the waiter was incredibly helpful. He gave us a rundown of all the entertainment and food locations within three miles. We ended up using his advice each day of our trip and went to almost all of the places he recommended. Great time at each location!

    (4)
  • Laura S.

    This restaurant was amazing! From the atmosphere to the staff to the food. Top notch. A little snafu with our reservation was handled professionally and pleasantly. The staff was fantastic with handling the "situation". With a huge variety of beer & cocktails there was something for everyone. The appetizers were great (mussels with bacon & blue cheese...hello?!) and the entrees were large and flavorful. Everything came out quickly but we didn't feel rushed at anytime. I would highly recommend Bistro 301. Stop by for a drink or a meal - totally worth it.

    (4)
  • Pamela B.

    It was a pretty quiet night when I went so the service was prompt and polite. I eat mostly vegetarian at restaurants so I eat a lot of portabella sandwiches. 301's was definitely way above average - excellent bread, marinade for the mushroom, and delicious aioli. I was very impressed by flavors all around. Their bartender also made a pretty good martini. What really put this place above and beyond for me is that I accidentally left my leftovers in a box on the table (which I frequently do) and realized this when I got to my car. I went back in to get them, but they had already cleared the table. The host offered to make me a new half sandwich and side to take home although obviously this was 100% my fault. If you can find another restaurant that tastes this good and treats their customers this well - please contact me ASAP!!

    (4)
  • Lindsey M.

    Wow-maybe they were having an off night? I had this last night because they deliever to my hotel room and I am working long hours. I had the quesadilla which was ok. The chicken was strange like maybe it had been blanched? But it was edible, for a pedestrian quesadilla (which is what one should expect from a place that's not a Mexican restaurant!). It arrived promptly and filled me up. Tonight, however, was a whole other story. First, it took over an hour to get me my food (even though they said, and I quote 'be there in half an hour, forty minutes tops!'). I'm ok with that-I understand delivery can take a minute. BUT the type of fare they serve isn't necessarily ideal for long transit times. The food arrived, and I ordered a small spinach salad and an order of the hummus (trying to eat light!). The spinach salad was ok. The goat cheese crouton was pretty interesting. But, it was room temp and wilted (and not in the good way or on purpose like a delicious wilted spinach salad). But I was starving so I ate it. Then I opened the hummus. Now, right of the bat something smelled....wrong. But it's topped with some sort of 'olive relish' and feta so I figured it was just the olive relish. I had a bite and something was just WRONG. Since I always think I'm just being too picky and my nose is too sensitive, I tried one more bite. I almost passed out. I picked up a piece of the feta and it was RANCID. Oh wow was it rancid. Terrible! The smell it left lingering was so intense that I had to put the food back into the plastic bag and put it in a trash can far far away from me. I called and the girl was pretty nice and was very good about refunding my charges. But they weren't as concered about the rotten cheese as I thought I would have been. BUT in all fairness, maybe they were horrified and ran in the back to immediately throw out the offensive cheese. It should never be served to another customer. In all, I am sad because there goes my restaurant that delivers food other than typical pizza or Chinese fare straight to my hotel room while I work. But I honestly couldn't eat from that restaurant ever again. I had to do a one star (thought I hate doing those) because I cannot fathom a chef that would allow that to leave his kitchen. The place is far from cheap and should take a bit more pride and attention to detail to the product that they put out!

    (1)
  • Chris C.

    STAY AWAY!!! I was stuck overnight in Louisville and was looking on Yelp for a place to go for dinner. The front desk recommended this place and it got good reviews on Yelp so i decided to give it a try. I arrived early about 4:30. I sat a the bar because i was by myself. I did not even give an opportunity to try the food because the staff was totally out of control. I watch Bar Rescue and the staff reminded me of one of their bad episodes. The staff was doing shots like they wanted to get as drunk as possible before their shift started. The bartender served me a beer but never gave me any opportunity to order food. They were all talking about being on some show called Rehab and that they would be more than qualified to be on the show. It was shocking to me that any manager would let this go on right in front of customers. I will never go here again because I would have no reason to give them another shot. If the owners are reading this take my advice and fire your whole staff because they are stealing from you and they truly don't give a crap.

    (1)
  • Harsh K.

    Crappy service, but the caesar salad + anchovies and the mushroom soup were both excellent. The leaves were super fresh romaine, the dressing was pretty good, and the anchovies were 6 full tasty anchovy filets. I came here with some co-workers for lunch today and was pretty impressed with the food overall, everyone's stuff looked good, especially the french dip. The reason for only 3 stars was the abysmal service.

    (3)
  • Norm G.

    hostess was slow in seating. however, the food was good. I had fried trout. The grits were tasty.

    (3)
  • David C.

    First time at Bistro 301. Food was great, we had the market street wrap, Asian slaw, and portabello sandwich. Beer selection was large and good. Would give it 4 stars but our waitress seemed dis-interested in serving us and unfriendly.

    (3)
  • Alison C.

    I decided to eat here because the gentleman at the hotel desk said it was pretty good. I've dined here 2 times this week & am pleasantly surprised. The frito misto is good but nothing incredibly special. The breading was light and not too greasy. The chicken and gorgonzola pasta was good but too salty in my opinion. I enjoyed the chicken and brie salad very much. I could probably eat this salad every day! Over all the food is good and the service is friendly.

    (3)
  • Mike N.

    Had a great meal with a party of 8. The servings were RIDICULOUS in size. Lots of leftovers. Our waitress was wonderful, and the owner took time to give me several suggestions for the local Bourbon vendors and events. Would definitely come back and would strongly recommend. BTW - if someone claims that portions are meager here, they probably have SERIOUS weight issues. Just sayin'.

    (5)
  • Jerry W.

    Ate here recently while on a business trip. Ordered the quesa and chips as the appetizer and the Tortellini Diablo as the entree. Both were excellent. Service was friendly. Place was clean and the atmosphere was good.

    (4)
  • James B.

    Delicious food, great location, very attentive service, good selection of wines by the glass!! Slightly expensive but is priced just right for a great evening out!!

    (5)
  • Quiet R.

    Great little place for lunch. Some seating on the sidewalk out front. If you don't mind the cars driving by, it was quite pleasant. I had the blackened grouper sandwich which was fantastic. I chose coleslaw as my side (choices for sides aplenty). Delicious! My friend had a quesadilla. Also good. She did have to ask for extra pico de gallo, but they were happy to oblige. Everyone was friendly and accommodating. Perfect if you're looking for a tasty little joint right downtown.

    (4)
  • Melissa M.

    Good place for a business lunch if you work downtown. My husband and I ate here on a date night before a show and it was pretty good food. We enjoyed the hummus appetizer, but the actually meal was just ok. I would recommend this place for a girls night out, but most like won't be dining here again. We only go back to places that really wow us, and this one was just ok.

    (3)
  • Ryan S.

    There is nothing bad I can say about this place. I have ate here many times with great service and food. It is a nice, cute place for a date.

    (4)
  • Melissa D.

    This place was nice and in walking distance to my hotel. Can't say that I was blown away by my food but the scallops with porcini mushrooms and saffron fingerling potatoes was pretty tasty. Also the staff were really attentive, kind and friendly. I would recommend for a decent dinner.

    (2)
  • Jesse W.

    This bistro is great! Visited for lunch, had a wrap which was fantastic. Service was great and quick even with a party of 6 as they opened.

    (5)
  • Roney C.

    Arrived day before Derby after a long day travelling. Wanted a place for a low hassle bite and this was it. I had the crab cakes, wife the spinach salad with Brie washed down with a cold Great Lakes Brewery beer. Great food an service at the bar.

    (4)
  • Gloria L.

    i was in louisville for a conference, and galt house (where we were staying) had recommended bistro 301 for lunch and also gave us 10% coupon. i had salad, and it was really yummy... and they were very kind to let me substitute anything that i had wanted... that makes me happy!!! so if you're in the area, i would recommend it!

    (4)
  • Brian B.

    Service seems real good here, the food is average. Nothing real exciting to me however I've never had anything that I would consider bad.

    (3)
  • Bruce H.

    I have dined at this restaurant twice. The crab cakes were not very good and my Caesar salad was bland. The dressing did not have any flavor. We arrived around lunch time and it was really hard to seat 4 people. The hostess' would give different seating times for the same number of groups. The waitress was fantastic... However, the bartender was from kind. On the up side The Hot Brown was fantastic.

    (2)
  • brendan j.

    i only go for the salads and they are pretty good. i must say that the take out service isn't that great - they usually screw up my phone order, but when i dine in, the salads are always fresh and the servers are attentive. i have only eaten there so far for lunch and really haven't thought about going there for dinner.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : Yes
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Garage, Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Bistro 301

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