Holy crap! how did I not know about this place?! Be sure to go on a friday or a saturday to try out kouign amann! its like a croissant but 10x better. I am in love with this place! they also have one of the best macaron in louisville. the other day i had a strawberry lemonade one....and man! was it perfect for the summer heat. I paired it with a glass on unsweet tea and instantly fell in love. If you ever get a chance to dine in, please do get the pizza with eggs and bacon. the crust was so crispy! i was already full after a slice! the price is very reasonable. overall, the place is a lovely addition to the louisville!
(5)
Heather M.
I have been dying to go to their cafe for more than a year. I always see their delicious bread around town and heard great things about the cafe. Finally today I went for lunch. Why is this place not closer to my work? I would be here all the time. I love the look of the bakery and the cafe is simple and clean. The good is excellent. This might be one of my favorite chicken salads ever. It was light, had juicy chunked chicken, grapes, nuts, lettuce, and came on the amazing croissant. The hard part was figuring out how to eat such a large croissant. The sandwich came with a side of wheat berry salad. Surprisingly good! The meal set me back $10 and was worth it!
(5)
Amanda A.
Stopped in here this morning after a failed attempt to visit Bussman's, which was inexplicably closed on a Tuesday morning. Since I was craving a baked good or two, I searched in the area and rerouted over to Blue Dog. Parking was a lot easier than I expected it to be, and I pulled up almost right in front. The shop itself was really lovely and airy with lots of windows and wood. I got the morning glory muffin and the blackberry almond croissant. The muffin was a carrot and bran blend with coconut and a streusel topping. I think I would have liked it if they'd gone a bit heavier on the nuts, but it was still very good. The blackberry croissant was really excellent and such a creative combo idea. I was a little sad whenever I got to a bite that was all croissant and no blackberry or almond, so I think just a bit more filling would be great, but I expect that also may depend on which one you get. Overall, I had a positive experience. The guy who helped me was very friendly and answered my questions while I was deciding, and the prices were pretty reasonable. Loved the shaded sidewalk tables. I'll definitely be back to take advantage of those when it's a bit cooler.
(4)
Sarah C.
I have long been a fan of Blue Dog breads! It is so nice that local restaurants and grocers around town have it for your pleasure as well. :) I can't say enough about the quality and taste of their breads...all of the ones I have had the opportunity to try. I also enjoy going in on the weekend for a breakfast pastry or sandwich. The only drawback is the wait. This place is super popular and so they fill up fast and stay full for most of the morning/early afternoon. My advice, get there early. if you are a sucker for artisan bread and french bakeries this is the spot for you.
(4)
Dione M.
What's not to love about this place? The lovely atmosphere, the fresh tasting coffee, or the sinful selection of decadent pastries? I was craving some macaroons, and this seemed to be the only place in Louisville that made them daily. I had the green (lime?) and yellow (lemon?) and they were both delicious. Will be back for sure.
(5)
Lauren D.
The cereal bread has amazing flavor that is most certainly not "Fleishman's". I asked the waitress about the yeast strain, she told me that they use "no yeast". This means that they are using the yeast that is growing (or floating) naturally here in the wilds of Louisville Kentucky. Well played Blue Dog, well played. The coffee is perfect. Really perfect. Neither too rich nor too weak. As to the unleavened, my daughter said that the croissant was the best she had ever had in her life. She went so far as to say that she had never actually tasted a croissant until today. She nibbled the flaky bits from the plate long after the croissant had disappeared. French toast brought everybody at the table to tears. Perfect custardy center surrounded with a great brown outside with a beautiful flavor. Really, we all cried. Orange notes with vanilla and fluffy egg: dear heavens. The sausage is "the real deal" according to Steiner. It smells of sage and chives. Slightly smoky. I tasted it, cried again. Not too fatty, great moisture. (The owner raises his own pigs, FYI.) "This is what they eat in heaven."-my atheist daughter. The butter offered on the table was straight off the Sysco truck. Given the care and effort put into the amazing bread, I would expect something a little better. We have many local dairies that would be honored to have their name on the butter here at Blue Dog. The decor is a blend of sand, beige, and taupe. Oddly enough so are the patrons. Really, I don't believe there is a better place in Louisville for a peaceful brunch. However, as the food disappeared from our plates a lull fell over the table. Everyone was sad that it was over. Repeat trips are assured and slight smiles returned to my sullen brunchers.
(5)
Jenny J.
These are the best muffins in the entire world. Love the blueberry especially as well as the cranberry orange. Have had the breads at several local restaurants and on a sandwich here and also delicious. Wasn't impressed with the breakfast pizza. Although the crust was delicious. I think the open faces ham sandwich is much better. It gets very busy during brunch and my last experience was terrible. The pastries in the cafe were delicious but my table service was terrible. We waited 20 minutes after we were seated for the waitress to come to our table. And she went to other ones that weren't seated as long as Us First. Then somehow a table of 6 that was seated after us Received the exact same order (breakfast pizza) as an app before we got ours. It was outrageous.
(4)
Samara M.
The crust on the pizza was flakey on the outside and chewy in the inside and so wonderfully delicious. The bread here is amazing. The egg yolk was so yummy it was kind of cheesy in its golden goodness. The bacon was crispy and salty. Yumo! JK Bizcuits had a bacon, egg, and cheese croissant and loved it. The pastry was so flakey with its buttery layers and browned to perfection. I really love this place and on a beautiful day like today you can't beat an outside spot! People watching on Frankfort avenue is great and all the dogs that stroll by are fun! I love this place and the people surrounding it. :)
(5)
Chris S.
I've been here a few times now - I can never remember the name (pronunciation or spelling) of this delicious thing I get but it starts with a K and ends with a sugar and butter induced coma. The macaroons are decent but certainly not mind-blowingly awesome (I've had better at a wedding in Saginaw, Michigan). All the brown stuff is excellent though. I'm going out on a limb here - but I'd say this is a 5 star for Louisville and a very respectable 3 star for Paris.
(5)
Brett S.
Perhaps the closest Louisville gets to a European-style cafe although Cafe Classico is right behind Blue Dog in this respect. This has been a neighborhood favorite for me and my wife for several years. The breakfast pastries and quiches are always spot on and the house-made macaroons are undoubtedly the best in town. I probably order the cold-smoked house-cured salmon tartine 90% of the time at lunch but also dabble in their pizzas. The competent staff make delicious Illy espresso beverages of your choice. Grabbing a table outside in the Fall or Spring is one of the best ways to spend your Saturday morning or afternoon. Manager Adam Grusy might be one of the friendliest dudes you'll ever meet. We've always had a stellar experience here!
(5)
Emily H.
The poached egg, bacon and arugula breakfast pizza - get it! You will not be disappointed, unless you're not a fan of pizza with an egg on top. In that case, you're not worth dining with, but will find many other wonderful things on Blue Dog's menu. Just kidding about the dining worthiness part. I guess we can still be friends. This pizza is my favorite thing on their menu. The runny egg, the buttery and flaky crust, the perfect bacon -- exquisite! And I can also attest to their coffee, which on my most recent visit I couldn't drink enough of. Blue Dog also has a wonderful bakery -- right out of a magazine. There are so many wonderful breads and treats to try. And they have great customer service. On my most recent trip, the hostess offered us water or coffee while we waited for a table, and the wait, despite the long wait list, was only 10-15 minutes.
(5)
Francesca H.
This has to be my favorite caffe on Frankfort ave. I am a bread fan. This has to be the best bread I've ever tried.
(5)
Sofia J.
This place has the worst acoustics, so this is not the restaurant to go if you actually want to hear what your dining companion is saying. If you want to eat delicious food, however, you couldn't have picked a better spot. Everything I have eaten here has been delicious: the bread, sandwiches, salads, sides, desserts. It get's crowded during lunch, as it seems to attract the ladies who lunch crowd. Oh, and the best chocolate chip cookie I have ever had was at this place, which is saying a lot.
(5)
Rachel R.
The attire is daytime dressy. It's not uncommon for women to wear wedges, nice dresses, or nice dress pants and a blouse. It's very similar to what one might wear to a luncheon at a country club. Although, I have not yet dressed that way and the food was still amazing! Go figure. For a quick --yet delightful-- outing, try the pastries, pizzas, and bread to-go or at the bar. The wait is long for the pizzas, but they are WORTH IT! We ordered the Nutella & raspberry brioche, the cherry turnover, and the arugula bacon poached egg pizza. There are no words for how delicious the food is here! You'll just have to try it for yourself! (Thank me later)
(5)
Melody N.
I visited Blue Dog Bakery on a Saturday for Brunch. It was nice weather so we were able to sit outside which was super nice. The servers were super attentive and made sure we always had what we needed. I got a breakfast sandwich with eggs, bacon, avocado and mayo on an unbelievably delicious roll. It also came with a side of black beans of some sort. Everything was delicious and I was 100% satisfied with my order. A friend of mine was with me and she got the bacon and egg pizza. Also great. I'm convinced you can't go wrong here. My only complaint would be the coffee cups. Weird, I know, but the handles were really impractical. I couldn't use it to actually pick up my mug so I ended up having to wait 10-15 mins for it to cool. All in all, I can't wait to visit again.
(5)
Dixon M.
Oh, yum! I was having a hard morning and needed to adjust my attitude. It occurred to me that breakfast might help. In my experience, Louisville hasn't been a good city for breakfast. I had really given up on finding a wonderful breakfast anywhere, and today, I almost went to one of the chains. Then a thought came to me: "Some wonderful pastry and coffee would be better than a mediocre breakfast." I've heard a lot about Blue Dog Bakery, so I looked it up on Yelp. The first review I saw was by the great Emily H, and she mentioned breakfast pizza. I decided Blue Dog would be my choice. You enter Blue Dog through a small store (where you can purchase baked goods to take with you.) The selection is not vast, but everything is lovely. Past the shop is a small cafe. Tables are close together, but it is well appointed and very comfortable. The person who seated me immediately brought coffee, water and a menu. Hooray! The coffee is Illy, brewed strong. Score! Since I trust Emily's opinion, my choice was easy: breakfast pizza. The pizza was heavenly. Perfect artisan-baked chewy crust. Four kinds of cheese. Wonderful bacon and poached eggs, all topped with spicy arugula. Throughout my visit, staff were efficient and attentive without being obtrusive. Blue Dog is a "must visit" place. For me, it will be "must visit again and again."
(5)
Toni C.
I came here for brunch today because I enjoyed their bread last night at Proof on Main. I ordered the Poached Eggs on Levain - delicious. The eggs were cooked perfectly, topped with the brightest green spinach and a sprinkling of olive oil. Excellent! Although I loved the coffee, disappointed they do not serve Splenda. There is a parking lot on the side of the building, and plenty of free street parking. As I was leaving the restaurant, I couldn't pass up a quick stop by the bakery. I took home the most delectable Pecan Chocolate Chip cookie, and the crunchiest baguette. I know exactly where breakfast will be when I return to Louisville! Yum!
(4)
Nick P.
Blue Dog Bakery and Cafe is an excellent, must try restaurant in the Frankfort Ave area. I've been to blue dog on several occasions and every time is great. They serve breakfast and lunch as well as baked goods. I had an omelette on my first visit...wow...just wow. I'm not typically a breakfast person, or an omelette person, but it was a great choice. The last time I visited I had one of their pizzas. Again, wow. I tell my wife all the time how much I want to go back and get that pizza again. They also have great coffee. And of course being a bakery the bread is excellent. To be honest one of the best parts of Blue Dog is the atmosphere. The place is beautiful and they have a great outdoor dining area which I would recommend, weather permitting.
(5)
Gabriel M.
Great all the way around. If you are a fan of quality bread and pastries, then this is a place that you will have to check out. When we are in Louisville we stop here and get some loaves of bread, pastries, and coffee to go. We once stayed to eat, it wasn't all that bad, I still prefer just the bread and other to go items. I highly recommend and will continue going whenever we are back in tow.
(5)
dawn v.
What a fantastic lunch spot! We ordered the squash and bacon pizza, poached egg, by con and aragula pizza and the black bean soup. All fantastic! way too much food for two people but will save for dinner. French macaron on the way out! yum!
(4)
Sandra P.
The food here is SOOO good! The salmon tartine is my favorite. But the service is so slow it makes an otherwise incredible dining experience really hard to get through. Zero urgency. The employees talk amongst themselves while ppl are lined up to be seated. All of the staff could use a shot of espresso.
(3)
Elanor S.
This morning as I was looking for a decent breakfast place in a land far, far away (Columbus, OH), I found myself daydreaming about a breakfast I had here several months ago. I was on a road trip with friends and we all managed to order the same thing--egg, bacon, avocado, and arugula on a fresh croissant. It was amazing. All sandwiches should be so good. Louisville, Columbus ain't got nothing on you.
(5)
Bernadette A.
Yumm! This is my second time at blue dog bakery and is quickly becoming my favorite place to grab a bite in the crescent hill neighborhood. I ordered the turkey, Swiss, Apple, bacon, mayo sandwhich and it was divine. The waitress said it's usually served cold but I asked them to grill it for me and it turned out perfect. I was pleasantly surprised how yummy their turkey was! I am sort of a turkey snob so I was a bit unsure about this sandwhich. But I'm glad I got it because their turkey was amazing. But do you know what's better than their lunch menu? Their bakery options. I ordered a cookies and create macaroon to eat and an order of their famous out meal molasses cookie for later. I highly recommend this place. The only downside to this cafe is that it is a small space so the tables are close together, meaning you can here the conversations of folks next to you. Another downside is that the service is more on the slow side. I think they only had 3 waitresses on staff constantly running around.
(5)
Todd L.
Perfect place for artisan pastries and breads. I happened to be there for just a breakfast grab. I ordered several items for my hosts to take away, but stayed to enjoy a very good coffee and a lovely, flaky croissant au frommage et jambon. It more than satisfied my morning craving for savory. As I lounged over this, I sat at the window, watched people go by, and felt at peace, especially as the space isn't too loud. My take away items were a croissant au chocolat, a croissant, and cinnamon roll, and a small cake-item I've forgotten the name of. I didn't eat the croissants, but their color was a perfect few shades past caramel and they were reported to have been delicious. I bit on the cinnamon roll and it was delicious. It was flaky, sugary, and thank heavens not overloaded with cinnamon. No icing here and none needed. The small cake-like item was reminiscent of angel food cake in taste and had an almond past and I liked it. A lot. I would knock it down a bit for being closed on Sunday, but that's more my issue than theirs.
Breakfast is amazing! The wait is sometimes long (25-35 mins) depending on the time you get there, but its definitely worth the wait. We were seated in front of the window and it made the experience even better: the view was really nice. Definitely recommend the egg pizza, their brioche loaf, and their Cappuccino is probably the best I have had in a while.
(5)
Michael S.
Food was great. Had the egg and bacon sandwich. Potatoes were salty but good. Hot chocolate was amazing. Service was decent but waitress seemed to have small tree branch lodged in rectal area. Maybe she was having a bad day. Otherwise it was a perfect Brunch. Seemed like a lot of business casual folks and people who like free wifi.
(4)
David G.
My wife and I had breakfast at Blue Dog and I was quite unimpressed. The hostess was very nice and our waiter polite, however the attention given after we were seated was very poor. It appeared with only one waiter and about 10 parties that she was simply unable to give adequate attention. I honestly get more attention and better service at Denny's. My wife requested a warm croissant but received one at room temperature. The food was overpriced, particularly paying $3 for two pieces of average bacon. Our coffee and water both ran out with 5-10 minute gaps between refills and the kitchen took 20 mins to make one sandwich. Highly disappointed with paying as much as I did for such a sub-par experience.
(2)
Megan D.
Stopped in today after seeing the great reviews, and Blue Dog didn't disappoint. I had an excellent pumpkin muffin and iced tea. The people there were really friendly and I would have loved to stay to experience the cool atmosphere more. I can't wait to visit again.
(5)
Kristen B.
Charming Frankfort ave. restaurant with delicious bread and baked goods, all freshly prepared on site. My favorite items: the chocolate chip cookie and the Turkey, Swiss, Apple, bacon sandwich. Yumm.
(5)
D. I.
3 stars because I'm not impressed with a place that pretty much closes up an hour before it closes. I could have gone somewhere else that let me sit down with my sandwich... urgh!
Delicious. The pizza was awesome. A little on the pricier side, but I'm going back for more. I've gotta try those lovely looking treats they make!
(4)
Shannon F.
As a Louisville native and restaurant junky I can't believe I haven't experienced this glorious place. Blue dog bakery has buzzed around time for sometime now- and (ashamed) it has taken me til now Things to note 1.This is a happening place, and people like to come! Diners came near and far- a few folks I chatted with had not been here, some weekenders and I noticed the locals who live within walking distance for Their routine breakfast delight ** nay-sayers be patient this is a popular spot 2. Service was above par in my book. Friendly from all staff, attentive to needs. I was solo... But it was refreshing to be asked by more than just server questions for my experience. It was heart warming to hear conversations by the staff and locals. Greeting them by name... Referencing personal things (how is so and so etc!) 3. Fresh and yummy!! Ecclectic selection but you can find something if your picky 4. You can buy a whole pig!! Ask about red hogs!! 5. Brunch really ends at noon... Dang I missed it 6. Price reasonable lunch ranges $9-12 I personally went crazy and got breakfast and lunch to go (pastry, latte and pizza=$20) More to come from me- I can't wait to come back Try the kouign amann !! Light pastry with almond paste yum yum! -Shannon
(5)
Matt R.
Here's the relevant search phrase: Bread Louisville Bread Louisville Bread Louisville Bread Louisville Bread Louisville Bread Louisville Bread Louisville. By that I mean that there's one game in town if you want a nice crusty, chewy baguette. Which isn't to say you shouldn't mix it up with the levain or cereal loaves here. In fact the levain (French for "sourdough starter") may be my favorite loaf. But the punchline is the same. Go Blue Dog or go home. We subscribe to a bi-weekly loaf through Grasshopper (CSA) and supplement mostly with loaves we can pick up at ValuMarket. To be fair, there are other options if you just want a decent sandwich loaf (and pretzel bread is a whole other category). But otherwise, for now, we've got a monopoly in town, which is much better than if we had an unfulfilled need. (Which reminds me -- please drop me a line if you can find a good pumpernickel rye!)
(4)
David M.
Try the turkey sandwich.
(4)
Mary A.
Where does the name Blue Dog come from? This Cafe - Bakery has been a stop on my Louisville visits every time I can get down in the area. Located in the spectacular quaint area of "old Louisville" this place is a hidden gem. I have asked many that live in the area and they have not yet visited. Trust me....once you do, you will kick yourself for not going sooner. The menu is very unique, and when you can order a Bloody Mary and get a beer chaser for brunch how can you go wrong? The breads are the reason the word "artisan" was created. I have yet to taste better breads with the exception of my time in Europe. If you dine alone in the morning hours there is a window bar where you can use the great wifi or chose one of the many cultural magazines they have around for your pleasure. There is nothing I can say negative about this place. I could criticize the construction on the street, but it doesn't stop me from wanting to return so who cares. This is an experience, and not one you will find often, and yes it is in Kentucky. Culture is all around....you just have to look for it. I still don't know where Blue Dog came from, unless someone was watching "Blue's Clue's" and just wanted you to look for the clues to find this place.
(5)
Amy C.
Poufy White Meringue Swirled on Top Smooth Gorgeous Lime Pool of Custard Crumbly Butter Sugar Ring of Pastry And Half White Half Dark Creamy Mousse Cookie Crumbs Espresso Bean Chocolate Layers And Six Spoons Two Plates One Blue Dog
(4)
Misha M.
Had lunch here today with my mom. We both really liked it super clean and great service although it gets pretty crowded. I had a spicy tuna sandwich and it was great! I also bought 3 peanut butter cookies, a recommendation from the waiter. Very good, shared them and everyone enjoyed them. Will for sure be back, probably not right around lunch time though.
(4)
Nora L.
Blue Dog Bakery is an adorable cafe on Frankfort Ave. I loved the vibe.. very clean and simple, yet homey. There is a bakery in the front. I didn't get to try anything but everything looked great- chocolate hazelnut croissants, fig and apple turnovers, huge macaroons. I had the smoked salmon on a baguette. Great flavors and nice presentation. I don't normally like baguettes (prefer a soft wheat bread) but the baguettes here were great- think they are likely freshly baked. Prices are fair and service is friendly. Overall, seems like a great brunch spot.
(4)
Suzanne B.
I love finding new favorite places, and Blue Dog is at the top of my list now. I've always been intrigued with the place's quaint, European look from the exterior, and after recently tasting their homemade baguette bread, I wanted to give the restaurant a try. The ambience is cozy and welcoming, with a bar just perfect for cozying up to a glass of wine while you wait for your party to arrive. I perused the menu at a window seat while I waited for my dining buddy, and decided on the Belgian Endive salad with goat cheese and Granny Smith apples. After a brief wait, we were seated, and were promptly waited on for drinks. Not too much long after, the delicious baguette arrived, with butter softened just enough to spread on each slice. The meal was delicious, and I ended up loving my friend's tuna sandwich even more than my own selection, although I would recommend either to anyone looking for something good on the menu. Presentation is also something that Blue Dog excels at, with both choices arranged beautifully on their respective serving dishes (my Endive Salad came on a type of cast-iron platter). I could have photographed either of our meals as soon as they arrived and submitted the picture to a magazine without stopping to re-arrange a single leaf of arugula. I mostly loved the European coziness, coupled with the delicious but light menu that Blue Dog offers. I will be returning and I hope you will add this to your list of places to visit as well!
(4)
Kasey C.
My experience was an odd one. I showed as they were closing. I walked in and they were cleaning and kinda seemed like they meant to lock the door but forgot. I fully expected them to tell me they were closed and send me on my way, but they didn't. I ordered a latte to go and while I wouldn't say they were friendly, they were kinder than I expected about my late afternoon need for caffeine.
(4)
Cynthia C.
I had breakfast at Blue Dog Bakery this morning with two friends and brought my 3 month old son along. At three months he doesn't do anything disruptive unless he has a pressing need (food or diaper). He had a wet diaper while we were there. I went to the bathroom to change him. There was no changing station and the "counter" for the sink was very small and cluttered. I stepped out and asked the woman working the counter where I could change him and she gestured to the air and said, "Where ever you can". The office space at Blue Dog is an open space so I laid my son with a changing pad under him on the desk and started to change him. A man in a Blue Dog t-shirt with a beard told me I couldn't change him there because of "cleanliness". I asked where I could change him. He indicated that I should change him on the floor. "The floor??" I asked. He stated that he has children and he and his wife always having a changing pad and that I could not change him on any surface in the building so... I guess if he wants to change his baby on the floor of a restaurant, that is his business but I was unwilling to do that for obvious reasons-even with a changing pad which I had with me. I went out and changed him on the front seat of the car. I was lucky that it wasn't raining and that I had friends to watch my things so I didn't have to take the car seat, diaper bag and my purse out with me to change his diaper and then bring it all back it. This is not the first time staff at Blue Dog as been rude. This experience tells me they don't really want mothers with babies for customers. I am pretty angry about this and I hope that other mothers can use this knowledge before they are put in the situation I was in and choose another eatery with a baby-friendly setup. They have also removed my posting from their facebook and made it so I cannot post (may have removed posting as an option and not only for me).
(1)
Valerie A.
Fabulous way to start Derby Day. Excellent food, a little pricey but worth every penny.
(4)
Carla L.
I am reviewing Blue Dog not Red Hog, their nightly alter ego. The pastries are delicious, very, very good. I adore their bread. Now we had wanted lunch but arrived too late so coffee and pastries it was. One latte and a few sweets later we were all digging into each others sweets. Honestly I can't remember names of the items but there were apples in some and chocolate and mousse .. oh my. I brought home the most amazing cranberry and walnut loaf. Delicious!
(4)
Gregory G.
How good are the chocolate chip cookies at Blue Dog Bakery? I went there at 7am to pick up breakfast for my bride and after loading up with more than enough food (a meat quiche, a blueberry/cream cheese/coffee muffin and a pain au chocolat) I STILL had to buy two chocolate chip cookies!! Why four stars? The chocolate chip cookies were heavenly as were the quiche and the muffin, but the pain au chocolat left a little bit to desire. Looked great, tons of chocolate but the actual bread was a little bit dry.
(4)
Shal V.
After picking up food from here for a few weeks, I thought I'd eat breakfast at Blue Dog one Saturday morning (NOTE: They only serve breakfast after 9:00am). I had the Pastrami Reuben sandwich with Gruyere, Kraut and 1000 Island dressing. It was delicious, as was the coffee I ordered. I picked up a baguette loaf and chocolate mousse on my way out, which were both excellent. I love this bakery!
(5)
kevin g.
sometimes the hype is just that... My wife and I had been wanting to go here for quite a long time but they have short hours overall so its tough with 2 careers and a 14 month old. Anyway, I am sure this place has good points but we went for lunch and were seated promptly, thats where the promptness stopped. After we were seated it took 15 minutes for someone to come over and get our drink order. Our true server never did really pay attention to us and the host that seated us wound up in the end being our only contact with the rest of the kitchen. The food was OK, the bread was fresh of course but there was not much of a selection and really for the price and all, I just felt that it was over rated. We might give t another chance but I don't think it will be a great improvement since the bread selection was limited ad the menu was so so. good luck if you venture here.
(2)
Rebeka M.
We came here for a nice breakfast and sat outside. The service was excellent and the food spectacular. They have really delicious coffee. The poached eggs with prosciutto and spinach along with the scrambled egg tacos were awesome! I would definitely come back here. They also had a lot of delicious looking baked goods, which I now regret that I didn't partake in. Maybe next time we're in Louisville.
(4)
Ka-Lin H.
After reading many yelp reviews about this place, I HAD to try this place out. I came here with a low expectation for service, but honestly it wasn't THAT bad. haha. I thought my server was pretty attentive. The cashier at the front was pretty helpful and nice when I was trying to pick out what to take back home to snack on. The food was excellent and the presentation was nice. I had the pastrami sandwich. Delicious. My boyfriend got the pork sliders. They were pretty good also. I love their coffee. I'll definitely come back.
(4)
Alannah M.
Great lunch spot!! Very tasty sandwiches!
(5)
Scott M.
Great food, great atmosphere. Breads are terrific. Needs more front of house organization - waits are much longer than they need to be. We waited 45 minutes for 3 and the table they sat us at had been open for 20-25 minutes. They sat another party of 2 at a four-top and made a party if 4 wait, when there were at least two two-tops that came available.
(2)
Harper H.
Amazing bread (literally) but the service on site can be really bad, poor/confusing layout (from a customer ordering perspective), and they can run out of popular items (quiche, bread, etc.). Service "too cool" to take your order, it seems. Coffee is below average, barista does not know how to pull a shot. Git there early, while folks still have an OK attitude! The cookies are really, really good. I think they use lard.
(3)
Carpe D.
I went there with some girlfriends for tapas one Thursday evening. Despite having the best bread in the city, the service was not only disorganized but it came with an attitude from some waitresses and the owner. I've talked to some people who have had the same experience with the staff. Their reputation for being rude is well known. Never again will i support their business. The only good thing that night, is that they forgot to charge us for the items..and that was definitely not intentional, they have no clue how to run a business.
(1)
Caren C.
French toast is amazing. The orange flavor is subtle and delicious and it's made with brioche as all good french toasts should be! The breakfast tacos were also delicious with tortillas clearly made in house and yummy black beans on the slide with lots of flavor. The sandwiches and pizzas are also good. I could live without the side salad that came with my sandwich, but otherwise one of my favorite spots in town so far.
(5)
Olivia Z.
I have been a fan of Blue Dog for years so it saddens me to say that today was the LAST day I will be giving them my business. Let me start by saying, I have never written a bad review on Yelp, but today I was shocked by the treatment I received. I came in wanting to get my favorite sandwich from there. I asked a simple question, could I get brie on my sandwich. The woman behind the counter rolled her eyes, looked at me with disgust and said "NO." Just as short and rudely as she could. I work with general public daily, so I, A- Know about how to treat customers (and her reaction is never ok to a customer) and B -Know how I would like a customer to treat/talk to me...and I am always the most polite everywhere I go. Their food has always been wonderful, but I think service takes you a long way and unfortunately this will be my last run in with Blue Dog. I do not tolerate anyone being so rude when I am giving you my business.
(2)
Carolynne M.
Get the granola. Holy crap is it good. I didnt stay to eat here but if everything is as good as that granola (you can buy it in bags to go) I am definitely coming back!
(5)
Emily J.
I went here on the only day they have ever run out of baguettes, but it was still very good! I ordered the baguette with jam and butter but ended up getting their homemade sourdough with jam and butter, equally as good I think! The place itself is super cute and a great place to grab breakfast and brunch. You feel like you are transported to a chic Parisian cafe, in the heart of Louisville. I would love to go back here and try their evening tapas menu as well as their famous baguette. Keep an eye on this place, every time you go back in there is something different!
(4)
Andrew M.
All the previous reviews about the lousy service are true. Went in this morning for a quick breakfast - name was third on the list, with four vacant tables visible. Really? Wait was advertised as 10-15 minutes?? REALLY????!!!!! They seated the two parties of ahead of us - net gain of one vacant table. Waited 15 minutes and left. The food may be good, but it's not worth the indifferent-bordering on arrogant attitude of the wait staff. Been here a couple of times before and had similar experience. Attributed it to the place being extremely busy. It wasn't this morning, so one is left to conclude that they either can't find decent employees or just don't give a damn. Never going back.
(1)
Carissa G.
They are closed on Sunday! What kind of a bakery/cafe is closed on Sunday?
(4)
David I.
Great service and great coffee. We arrived a little before 11am and they had stopped serving breakfast already. So we had coffee and left. But the coffee was very good as was the service.
(4)
Heather J.
All that I can say is....amazing.
(5)
Erin J.
Blue Dog is one of my favorite breakfast spots in Louisville. Always great service and amazing food..get the poached eggs!
(5)
Kerry D.
I was scouring Yelp for places to try during my 4 day visit to Louisville and this had great reviews. I was at the Galt and was told it would be a short cab ride...45.00 later, ahem, I think mr. cab driver took the tourist on the 'long' route. Anyway, back to the review. When I finally got there, the place was jammed and there was a lengthy line. I had a difficult time deciding what to order because so many things looked good- the woman who took my order was very helpful and steered me toward the salumi sandwich. It was good, the bread was amazing. I can understand the frustration expressed in other reviews, I got there just in time, everyone behind me was sent away empty handed. By the time I ordered, they were out of bread (somehow I got some, thank god!) and my order was the last taken around 1:00 on a weekday. I think I would have cried in the storefront if I'd taken that cab ride and was denied food. I saw a lot of complaints about service, I ordered from the counter and from all of the pictures, I can only assume the owner took my order, maybe that made a difference?
(3)
Cinimod S.
I have been going here for years and years and only recently stopped in for lunch...twice. When it comes to breads and baked goods, Blue Dog is it in Louisville. The sandwiches are made with high quality ingredients and are tasty. They have small bottles of wine and some decent beer on tap. Stop in to get takeout too. The scones and cookies are worth the trip alone.
(5)
Zach E.
We've had brought home baguettes from Blue Dog several times and they were great, so I figured I'd give it a try for lunch. My salami sandwich was good, not great. And at $9 (a steep price for Louisville), it should have been great. The service was good though.
(3)
Antonio S.
Blue dog bakery has some of the best artisan baked bread I've had in awhile. It's also some of the most expensive. As a bakery, their bread products are good, but depending on what type of bread you get, it can be very hard or chewy giving your jaw a workout. Definitely try as many types of bread as you can before making a decision on the bakery as a whole. Now, as a restaurant, Blue dog shows a lot of promise, but has a very small and limited menu that definitely needs to be expanded. We came here for brunch one morning, and were disappointed to find that the pizza had sold out. From there, the only other options are a small variety of sandwiches or salads on the one page menu. The quality of food is as high as the bread, but the menu has very little variety. I had the tuna sandwich, but was disappointed as it was very dry. The bread makes up for what the sandwich lacks, which i guess should be expected of a bakery. It's absolutely true that bread can make or break a sandwich. But in this case, putting a bit more effort into what goes into the sandwich as well as opening up the menu options further, could really give blue dog bakery a much needed boost. The ambiance of the restaurant itself is nice and quaint, but I will say that the main dining area feels a bit crowded with the number of tables set close to one another. As I pulled out my chair to sit down, I hit the chair behind me and couldn't help but be distracted by the adjacent tables' conversations throughout our meal as they were seated so close. As for the customer service, it wasn't the worst I've ever experienced, but it's also not the best. Our server got us our food in a timely manner but disappeared and didn't return until I got another server's attention to find out where ours was. On top of that, he did not bring us the basket of bread we expected until we had asked toward the end if our meal. I think the only saving grace to the blue dog bakery is it's bread products. They definitely have a ton of potential, but lack the effort and creativity needed to raise the bar and make it a true standout amongst deli type bakeries. If you're a true bread fanatic, blue dog is your spot. But if you want a better dining experience with good sandwiches, you're probably better off buying the bread yourself and putting together an awesome sandwich at home!
(2)
Erin W.
Great baguettes - right amount of crust and moistness. Staff was friendly, service was great, restaurant is cute. I was just passing through but will definitely stop again when I'm in town!
(5)
Patrick C.
This place rocks! As I am a recent California transplant, finding a place which has bread to rival Tartine Bakery or Acme Bread has been a godsend. This place offers world-class baked goods. Breakfast was solid. Their prices match the hype. Two eggs on a piece of bread and one slice of prosciutto cost $9. However, it was worth it! The service was OK. I was seated at a table where people constantly walked past both sides of my table. There seemed to be little regard for my dining experience and it drove me a bit nuts. Seriously: the best chocolate chip cookie in town. After having one of Please and Thank You's overrated cookies, I was so stoked to get such a decadent chocolatey-buttery treat.
(4)
Kathy S.
Blue Dog is such a CLASS act. The food is impeccable. The best bread in town, the pizzas, sandwiches, salads, desserts - ALL top shelf. Now that we know that they serve TAPAS on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night - we are regulars. Wonderful TAPAS. The owner raises his own pigs and the charcuterie is impressive. Cannot recommend this place enough. In a wonderful part of town.
(5)
Jeff S.
I was extremely impressed with blue dog. The night before I had gone to L&N wine bar and the bread they served was from blue dog. It was kick-astastic so of course the next day we drove over to Blue Dog for lunch. The server was pretty strange lady - I asked what is good and she started to tell me that Men like Meat and women usually order things like fish. That was good and all - in any case my friend and I split a Ruben and a Turkey/Apple/Mayo sandwich. We are both from DC - and have been to NYC - so I'm used to good breads but these sandwiches were Amazingly good. I don't know what it was but something in the turkey sandwich's bread had this nutty almondy overtone that was just amazing. The weatberry salad was also really really really good. And to top everything off they have a full bar so you can get trashed if you want ... really what else could you ask for? Price range was about $8-$9 which seems cheap for DC standards but I donno how it fairs in Louisville
(5)
Catherine S.
Love this place, but I had to deduct a star because they got rid of my favorite sandwich! The roast beef was fantastic... but now it is no longer :(. I am in love with the wheat berry salad though!... and the pizza is also fantastic!
(4)
Tony G.
Hands down, this place has the best bread in Louisville Kentucky. Great place to relax with friends for a fresh, healthy "unique" lunch. It's refreshing to enjoy food that's creative & tasty.
(4)
Mr And Mrs G.
Mr says... light, healthy but fulfilling MRS says... seems to me they change menu each month because whenever we go here, I couldn't get the same soup :) I tried the gumbo soup and it was one of the best gumbo soup i've ever had. any sandwiches compliment their soups. what i like about this place is the atmosphere. place is a little small but once you're seated, your server will tend to your every need. complete each meal with their refreshing tea either get the flavored ones like raspberry or lemonade. its really light but satisfying. don't forget to take home some of their freshly baked breads which can be easily reheated in your oven!
(4)
Joan M.
one of the most tasteful establishments in Louisville. The bread alone should give this place a 5 star rating. But the owners have made sure that you get quality. Try the pizza!! The prices are right because they use the best ingredients. Fresh and local when available. I love their beautiful light-filled dinning room. Are we in Europe?
(5)
James B.
Blue Dog is hands down one of the best Italian style bakeries in the USA. The bread is very fresh flavorful chewy. The sandwiches are tasty and unique. The pastries are better than anything this side of a trip to Europe.
(5)
Michael B.
My wife and I love this place for breakfast on Saturdays or Lunch any day they are open. Aside from the best breads in town, they nail the espresso based drinks and the food is always wonderful. The Rueben is my favorite for lunch
(5)
Alison M.
I am from Louisville and would love to give Blue Dog a better review, but their service is probably the worst I have ever experienced. The soups are some of the best I have ever tasted. Their sandwiches (when they don't run out) are quite tasty too. Unfortunately, I will probably not support this local "gem" as I cannot stand rude/slow service. Please don't let this dining experience ruin your view of customer service in Louisville!
(3)
Margaret Y.
My boyfriend kept wanting to find an upscale place to have coffee and pastry. Also someplace that might have a paper to read or just read a book. We have found Blue Dog to not just be a "bakery" but also an eatery. They have wonderful quiche. I am fond of the Morning Glory (I think this is the right name) muffins. This particular muffin is kind of like carrot cake and all things healthy. They serve a drip coffee that is to die-for (illi coffee). I am glad Blue Dog is still around after all these years, and they have OFF STREET parking!!!!
(5)
Jeremiah A.
I was in town visiting friends and family and needed some time away from people. I have always enjoyed the Frankfort ave. area and while I have known about the Blue Dog Bakery I have never made a visit. I stopped in for a quick lunch to get away. I was met at the door by a very cordial woman who let me sit in the window. The crowd was good, but the menu is great. I enjoyed a glass of wine and a turkey sandwich. The Turkey Sandwich had granny smith apple slices on it. It was really a unbelievable combination. The bread was a standard rustic variety that I really enjoyed. I recommend if you are local or in Louisville on a visit making a stop in. The staff is great and you won't be disappointed
(4)
ewa j.
The bread, I agree, is fantastic. It is the only place in town that makes a true baguette. For that reason only, I am willing to tolerate the rude treatment by the staff. It might be that my San Francisco friends and I visited the Bakery at a wrong time - Saturday morning. Maybe the staff was overwhelemed? We were told twice, that we are in a wrong line to purchase bread and pastries. It took forever to finally buy a cup of coffe and a croissant. Finally, after we convinced the staff that we are capable of finding our own outdoor seats and handle a cup of coffe at the same time, we got our delicious pastries. In short - Food - GREAT, atmosphere and service - POOR (and surprisingly arrogant for an almost 'Southern' state.)
(3)
Max K.
great food.....service???
(3)
Margot S.
We finally ate brunch at Blue Dog. We tried eating there 4 other times over the last few months and each time it was closed. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays? We tried going on other days and they were closed then too. Anyways, we went to brunch on a weekday and there were a few people in the dining area. The menu had 4 options, which was fine. It took forever for a server to come take our order. There were no servers in the dining room at all. We ordered a few things, and all the food was great. But no one came to refill our coffee or water. Then it took forever to get the check. Not sure if this is typical for the weekdays (lots of people working, no one helping customers) but it was rather annoying. I would go back, and hope for much better service.
(4)
brendan j.
i've been in food exploration mode since moving to louisville and have heard about blue dog bread from everyone i have talked to, and i was not dissapointed. well, i was a bit dissapointed that they were closed on sunday, but that seems to be common in louisville. i didn't eat at the cafe portion, only took some bread to go, but it was amazing. i had the kalamata olive loaf, pugiliese loaf, and the rustic loaf. i will be making this a weekly trek and i am looking forward to trying all thier different loaves and staying for lunch. this bread is as good or better than anything i've ever had.
(5)
Jeremy P.
I love Blue Dog's food. Their bread, sandwiches and specials are always tasty. BUT I CANNOT STAND THE SERVICE. It seems to me that the owners have passed the word along to the staff that they can take their time and ignore customers. After all, they are always packed. But it is annoying to stand and wait for 10 minutes to put my name on a list after five employees walk past several times and refuse to make eye contact. I don't care if this is how they do it in Europe, NYC or any other place of haute couture. Start paying better attention to your customers. For $9 a sandwich, you should probably rub our feet every now and then.
Mia N.
Holy crap! how did I not know about this place?! Be sure to go on a friday or a saturday to try out kouign amann! its like a croissant but 10x better. I am in love with this place! they also have one of the best macaron in louisville. the other day i had a strawberry lemonade one....and man! was it perfect for the summer heat. I paired it with a glass on unsweet tea and instantly fell in love. If you ever get a chance to dine in, please do get the pizza with eggs and bacon. the crust was so crispy! i was already full after a slice! the price is very reasonable. overall, the place is a lovely addition to the louisville!
(5)Heather M.
I have been dying to go to their cafe for more than a year. I always see their delicious bread around town and heard great things about the cafe. Finally today I went for lunch. Why is this place not closer to my work? I would be here all the time. I love the look of the bakery and the cafe is simple and clean. The good is excellent. This might be one of my favorite chicken salads ever. It was light, had juicy chunked chicken, grapes, nuts, lettuce, and came on the amazing croissant. The hard part was figuring out how to eat such a large croissant. The sandwich came with a side of wheat berry salad. Surprisingly good! The meal set me back $10 and was worth it!
(5)Amanda A.
Stopped in here this morning after a failed attempt to visit Bussman's, which was inexplicably closed on a Tuesday morning. Since I was craving a baked good or two, I searched in the area and rerouted over to Blue Dog. Parking was a lot easier than I expected it to be, and I pulled up almost right in front. The shop itself was really lovely and airy with lots of windows and wood. I got the morning glory muffin and the blackberry almond croissant. The muffin was a carrot and bran blend with coconut and a streusel topping. I think I would have liked it if they'd gone a bit heavier on the nuts, but it was still very good. The blackberry croissant was really excellent and such a creative combo idea. I was a little sad whenever I got to a bite that was all croissant and no blackberry or almond, so I think just a bit more filling would be great, but I expect that also may depend on which one you get. Overall, I had a positive experience. The guy who helped me was very friendly and answered my questions while I was deciding, and the prices were pretty reasonable. Loved the shaded sidewalk tables. I'll definitely be back to take advantage of those when it's a bit cooler.
(4)Sarah C.
I have long been a fan of Blue Dog breads! It is so nice that local restaurants and grocers around town have it for your pleasure as well. :) I can't say enough about the quality and taste of their breads...all of the ones I have had the opportunity to try. I also enjoy going in on the weekend for a breakfast pastry or sandwich. The only drawback is the wait. This place is super popular and so they fill up fast and stay full for most of the morning/early afternoon. My advice, get there early. if you are a sucker for artisan bread and french bakeries this is the spot for you.
(4)Dione M.
What's not to love about this place? The lovely atmosphere, the fresh tasting coffee, or the sinful selection of decadent pastries? I was craving some macaroons, and this seemed to be the only place in Louisville that made them daily. I had the green (lime?) and yellow (lemon?) and they were both delicious. Will be back for sure.
(5)Lauren D.
The cereal bread has amazing flavor that is most certainly not "Fleishman's". I asked the waitress about the yeast strain, she told me that they use "no yeast". This means that they are using the yeast that is growing (or floating) naturally here in the wilds of Louisville Kentucky. Well played Blue Dog, well played. The coffee is perfect. Really perfect. Neither too rich nor too weak. As to the unleavened, my daughter said that the croissant was the best she had ever had in her life. She went so far as to say that she had never actually tasted a croissant until today. She nibbled the flaky bits from the plate long after the croissant had disappeared. French toast brought everybody at the table to tears. Perfect custardy center surrounded with a great brown outside with a beautiful flavor. Really, we all cried. Orange notes with vanilla and fluffy egg: dear heavens. The sausage is "the real deal" according to Steiner. It smells of sage and chives. Slightly smoky. I tasted it, cried again. Not too fatty, great moisture. (The owner raises his own pigs, FYI.) "This is what they eat in heaven."-my atheist daughter. The butter offered on the table was straight off the Sysco truck. Given the care and effort put into the amazing bread, I would expect something a little better. We have many local dairies that would be honored to have their name on the butter here at Blue Dog. The decor is a blend of sand, beige, and taupe. Oddly enough so are the patrons. Really, I don't believe there is a better place in Louisville for a peaceful brunch. However, as the food disappeared from our plates a lull fell over the table. Everyone was sad that it was over. Repeat trips are assured and slight smiles returned to my sullen brunchers.
(5)Jenny J.
These are the best muffins in the entire world. Love the blueberry especially as well as the cranberry orange. Have had the breads at several local restaurants and on a sandwich here and also delicious. Wasn't impressed with the breakfast pizza. Although the crust was delicious. I think the open faces ham sandwich is much better. It gets very busy during brunch and my last experience was terrible. The pastries in the cafe were delicious but my table service was terrible. We waited 20 minutes after we were seated for the waitress to come to our table. And she went to other ones that weren't seated as long as Us First. Then somehow a table of 6 that was seated after us Received the exact same order (breakfast pizza) as an app before we got ours. It was outrageous.
(4)Samara M.
The crust on the pizza was flakey on the outside and chewy in the inside and so wonderfully delicious. The bread here is amazing. The egg yolk was so yummy it was kind of cheesy in its golden goodness. The bacon was crispy and salty. Yumo! JK Bizcuits had a bacon, egg, and cheese croissant and loved it. The pastry was so flakey with its buttery layers and browned to perfection. I really love this place and on a beautiful day like today you can't beat an outside spot! People watching on Frankfort avenue is great and all the dogs that stroll by are fun! I love this place and the people surrounding it. :)
(5)Chris S.
I've been here a few times now - I can never remember the name (pronunciation or spelling) of this delicious thing I get but it starts with a K and ends with a sugar and butter induced coma. The macaroons are decent but certainly not mind-blowingly awesome (I've had better at a wedding in Saginaw, Michigan). All the brown stuff is excellent though. I'm going out on a limb here - but I'd say this is a 5 star for Louisville and a very respectable 3 star for Paris.
(5)Brett S.
Perhaps the closest Louisville gets to a European-style cafe although Cafe Classico is right behind Blue Dog in this respect. This has been a neighborhood favorite for me and my wife for several years. The breakfast pastries and quiches are always spot on and the house-made macaroons are undoubtedly the best in town. I probably order the cold-smoked house-cured salmon tartine 90% of the time at lunch but also dabble in their pizzas. The competent staff make delicious Illy espresso beverages of your choice. Grabbing a table outside in the Fall or Spring is one of the best ways to spend your Saturday morning or afternoon. Manager Adam Grusy might be one of the friendliest dudes you'll ever meet. We've always had a stellar experience here!
(5)Emily H.
The poached egg, bacon and arugula breakfast pizza - get it! You will not be disappointed, unless you're not a fan of pizza with an egg on top. In that case, you're not worth dining with, but will find many other wonderful things on Blue Dog's menu. Just kidding about the dining worthiness part. I guess we can still be friends. This pizza is my favorite thing on their menu. The runny egg, the buttery and flaky crust, the perfect bacon -- exquisite! And I can also attest to their coffee, which on my most recent visit I couldn't drink enough of. Blue Dog also has a wonderful bakery -- right out of a magazine. There are so many wonderful breads and treats to try. And they have great customer service. On my most recent trip, the hostess offered us water or coffee while we waited for a table, and the wait, despite the long wait list, was only 10-15 minutes.
(5)Francesca H.
This has to be my favorite caffe on Frankfort ave. I am a bread fan. This has to be the best bread I've ever tried.
(5)Sofia J.
This place has the worst acoustics, so this is not the restaurant to go if you actually want to hear what your dining companion is saying. If you want to eat delicious food, however, you couldn't have picked a better spot. Everything I have eaten here has been delicious: the bread, sandwiches, salads, sides, desserts. It get's crowded during lunch, as it seems to attract the ladies who lunch crowd. Oh, and the best chocolate chip cookie I have ever had was at this place, which is saying a lot.
(5)Rachel R.
The attire is daytime dressy. It's not uncommon for women to wear wedges, nice dresses, or nice dress pants and a blouse. It's very similar to what one might wear to a luncheon at a country club. Although, I have not yet dressed that way and the food was still amazing! Go figure. For a quick --yet delightful-- outing, try the pastries, pizzas, and bread to-go or at the bar. The wait is long for the pizzas, but they are WORTH IT! We ordered the Nutella & raspberry brioche, the cherry turnover, and the arugula bacon poached egg pizza. There are no words for how delicious the food is here! You'll just have to try it for yourself! (Thank me later)
(5)Melody N.
I visited Blue Dog Bakery on a Saturday for Brunch. It was nice weather so we were able to sit outside which was super nice. The servers were super attentive and made sure we always had what we needed. I got a breakfast sandwich with eggs, bacon, avocado and mayo on an unbelievably delicious roll. It also came with a side of black beans of some sort. Everything was delicious and I was 100% satisfied with my order. A friend of mine was with me and she got the bacon and egg pizza. Also great. I'm convinced you can't go wrong here. My only complaint would be the coffee cups. Weird, I know, but the handles were really impractical. I couldn't use it to actually pick up my mug so I ended up having to wait 10-15 mins for it to cool. All in all, I can't wait to visit again.
(5)Dixon M.
Oh, yum! I was having a hard morning and needed to adjust my attitude. It occurred to me that breakfast might help. In my experience, Louisville hasn't been a good city for breakfast. I had really given up on finding a wonderful breakfast anywhere, and today, I almost went to one of the chains. Then a thought came to me: "Some wonderful pastry and coffee would be better than a mediocre breakfast." I've heard a lot about Blue Dog Bakery, so I looked it up on Yelp. The first review I saw was by the great Emily H, and she mentioned breakfast pizza. I decided Blue Dog would be my choice. You enter Blue Dog through a small store (where you can purchase baked goods to take with you.) The selection is not vast, but everything is lovely. Past the shop is a small cafe. Tables are close together, but it is well appointed and very comfortable. The person who seated me immediately brought coffee, water and a menu. Hooray! The coffee is Illy, brewed strong. Score! Since I trust Emily's opinion, my choice was easy: breakfast pizza. The pizza was heavenly. Perfect artisan-baked chewy crust. Four kinds of cheese. Wonderful bacon and poached eggs, all topped with spicy arugula. Throughout my visit, staff were efficient and attentive without being obtrusive. Blue Dog is a "must visit" place. For me, it will be "must visit again and again."
(5)Toni C.
I came here for brunch today because I enjoyed their bread last night at Proof on Main. I ordered the Poached Eggs on Levain - delicious. The eggs were cooked perfectly, topped with the brightest green spinach and a sprinkling of olive oil. Excellent! Although I loved the coffee, disappointed they do not serve Splenda. There is a parking lot on the side of the building, and plenty of free street parking. As I was leaving the restaurant, I couldn't pass up a quick stop by the bakery. I took home the most delectable Pecan Chocolate Chip cookie, and the crunchiest baguette. I know exactly where breakfast will be when I return to Louisville! Yum!
(4)Nick P.
Blue Dog Bakery and Cafe is an excellent, must try restaurant in the Frankfort Ave area. I've been to blue dog on several occasions and every time is great. They serve breakfast and lunch as well as baked goods. I had an omelette on my first visit...wow...just wow. I'm not typically a breakfast person, or an omelette person, but it was a great choice. The last time I visited I had one of their pizzas. Again, wow. I tell my wife all the time how much I want to go back and get that pizza again. They also have great coffee. And of course being a bakery the bread is excellent. To be honest one of the best parts of Blue Dog is the atmosphere. The place is beautiful and they have a great outdoor dining area which I would recommend, weather permitting.
(5)Gabriel M.
Great all the way around. If you are a fan of quality bread and pastries, then this is a place that you will have to check out. When we are in Louisville we stop here and get some loaves of bread, pastries, and coffee to go. We once stayed to eat, it wasn't all that bad, I still prefer just the bread and other to go items. I highly recommend and will continue going whenever we are back in tow.
(5)dawn v.
What a fantastic lunch spot! We ordered the squash and bacon pizza, poached egg, by con and aragula pizza and the black bean soup. All fantastic! way too much food for two people but will save for dinner. French macaron on the way out! yum!
(4)Sandra P.
The food here is SOOO good! The salmon tartine is my favorite. But the service is so slow it makes an otherwise incredible dining experience really hard to get through. Zero urgency. The employees talk amongst themselves while ppl are lined up to be seated. All of the staff could use a shot of espresso.
(3)Elanor S.
This morning as I was looking for a decent breakfast place in a land far, far away (Columbus, OH), I found myself daydreaming about a breakfast I had here several months ago. I was on a road trip with friends and we all managed to order the same thing--egg, bacon, avocado, and arugula on a fresh croissant. It was amazing. All sandwiches should be so good. Louisville, Columbus ain't got nothing on you.
(5)Bernadette A.
Yumm! This is my second time at blue dog bakery and is quickly becoming my favorite place to grab a bite in the crescent hill neighborhood. I ordered the turkey, Swiss, Apple, bacon, mayo sandwhich and it was divine. The waitress said it's usually served cold but I asked them to grill it for me and it turned out perfect. I was pleasantly surprised how yummy their turkey was! I am sort of a turkey snob so I was a bit unsure about this sandwhich. But I'm glad I got it because their turkey was amazing. But do you know what's better than their lunch menu? Their bakery options. I ordered a cookies and create macaroon to eat and an order of their famous out meal molasses cookie for later. I highly recommend this place. The only downside to this cafe is that it is a small space so the tables are close together, meaning you can here the conversations of folks next to you. Another downside is that the service is more on the slow side. I think they only had 3 waitresses on staff constantly running around.
(5)Todd L.
Perfect place for artisan pastries and breads. I happened to be there for just a breakfast grab. I ordered several items for my hosts to take away, but stayed to enjoy a very good coffee and a lovely, flaky croissant au frommage et jambon. It more than satisfied my morning craving for savory. As I lounged over this, I sat at the window, watched people go by, and felt at peace, especially as the space isn't too loud. My take away items were a croissant au chocolat, a croissant, and cinnamon roll, and a small cake-item I've forgotten the name of. I didn't eat the croissants, but their color was a perfect few shades past caramel and they were reported to have been delicious. I bit on the cinnamon roll and it was delicious. It was flaky, sugary, and thank heavens not overloaded with cinnamon. No icing here and none needed. The small cake-like item was reminiscent of angel food cake in taste and had an almond past and I liked it. A lot. I would knock it down a bit for being closed on Sunday, but that's more my issue than theirs.
(5)Ashley D.
After reading some reviews on Yelp saying the service was bad, but the food was good I decided to see for myself. I am thrilled that I did! When we got there I told the hostess it was our first time. She was beyond polite and informative about the menu. She welcomed us and sat us at the table we asked for outside. Our server (I wish I remembered her name) was even more friendly! She told us about the soup of the day (red and yellow bell pepper with lump crab meat- yum) and made recommendations on other items. My mom and I got the soup and it was great! I went with the server's recommendation and got the salmon tartine. Whoa, it was seriously awesome! My mom got the beet salad. It was on the small side, but she said it tasted great and the bleu cheese chunks were very filling. Throughout the meal the server checked on us and asked how we liked the food. She kept our drinks filled the entire meal without us asking for a refill. We couldn't leave a bakery without getting a dessert (also I'm a sugar/dessert junkie). I looked at the ones in their case and we went with a chocolate mousse. It was divine! Since every review I'd seen on Yelp suggested the cookies, we got those too! My mom got peanut butter and I got chocolate chip with pecans to go. They were just as good as everyone said! I am a dessert aficionado and those were some of the best cookies I've ever had! We will definitely go back! For anyone who has read the negative reviews about the staff/service, give Blue Dog Bakery & Café a chance. I'm so glad I did!
(5)Alessandra D.
Breakfast is amazing! The wait is sometimes long (25-35 mins) depending on the time you get there, but its definitely worth the wait. We were seated in front of the window and it made the experience even better: the view was really nice. Definitely recommend the egg pizza, their brioche loaf, and their Cappuccino is probably the best I have had in a while.
(5)Michael S.
Food was great. Had the egg and bacon sandwich. Potatoes were salty but good. Hot chocolate was amazing. Service was decent but waitress seemed to have small tree branch lodged in rectal area. Maybe she was having a bad day. Otherwise it was a perfect Brunch. Seemed like a lot of business casual folks and people who like free wifi.
(4)David G.
My wife and I had breakfast at Blue Dog and I was quite unimpressed. The hostess was very nice and our waiter polite, however the attention given after we were seated was very poor. It appeared with only one waiter and about 10 parties that she was simply unable to give adequate attention. I honestly get more attention and better service at Denny's. My wife requested a warm croissant but received one at room temperature. The food was overpriced, particularly paying $3 for two pieces of average bacon. Our coffee and water both ran out with 5-10 minute gaps between refills and the kitchen took 20 mins to make one sandwich. Highly disappointed with paying as much as I did for such a sub-par experience.
(2)Megan D.
Stopped in today after seeing the great reviews, and Blue Dog didn't disappoint. I had an excellent pumpkin muffin and iced tea. The people there were really friendly and I would have loved to stay to experience the cool atmosphere more. I can't wait to visit again.
(5)Kristen B.
Charming Frankfort ave. restaurant with delicious bread and baked goods, all freshly prepared on site. My favorite items: the chocolate chip cookie and the Turkey, Swiss, Apple, bacon sandwich. Yumm.
(5)D. I.
3 stars because I'm not impressed with a place that pretty much closes up an hour before it closes. I could have gone somewhere else that let me sit down with my sandwich... urgh!
(3)Janna F.
This is truly the best café and lunch spot in town. Fresh baked baguettes like you would find in France. My favorite item is the tuna sandwich as a salad or the sardine tartine. Don't forget to grab a chocolate chip cookie on your way out. They are TO DIE FOR!!! TIP: Be prepared to wait to be seated and there is no call ahead so don't even try. ;) The staff is very busy so sometimes they can come across as a bit rushed but the food is worth it! Bon Appetit!
(5)Laura B.
Delicious. The pizza was awesome. A little on the pricier side, but I'm going back for more. I've gotta try those lovely looking treats they make!
(4)Shannon F.
As a Louisville native and restaurant junky I can't believe I haven't experienced this glorious place. Blue dog bakery has buzzed around time for sometime now- and (ashamed) it has taken me til now Things to note 1.This is a happening place, and people like to come! Diners came near and far- a few folks I chatted with had not been here, some weekenders and I noticed the locals who live within walking distance for Their routine breakfast delight ** nay-sayers be patient this is a popular spot 2. Service was above par in my book. Friendly from all staff, attentive to needs. I was solo... But it was refreshing to be asked by more than just server questions for my experience. It was heart warming to hear conversations by the staff and locals. Greeting them by name... Referencing personal things (how is so and so etc!) 3. Fresh and yummy!! Ecclectic selection but you can find something if your picky 4. You can buy a whole pig!! Ask about red hogs!! 5. Brunch really ends at noon... Dang I missed it 6. Price reasonable lunch ranges $9-12 I personally went crazy and got breakfast and lunch to go (pastry, latte and pizza=$20) More to come from me- I can't wait to come back Try the kouign amann !! Light pastry with almond paste yum yum! -Shannon
(5)Matt R.
Here's the relevant search phrase: Bread Louisville Bread Louisville Bread Louisville Bread Louisville Bread Louisville Bread Louisville Bread Louisville. By that I mean that there's one game in town if you want a nice crusty, chewy baguette. Which isn't to say you shouldn't mix it up with the levain or cereal loaves here. In fact the levain (French for "sourdough starter") may be my favorite loaf. But the punchline is the same. Go Blue Dog or go home. We subscribe to a bi-weekly loaf through Grasshopper (CSA) and supplement mostly with loaves we can pick up at ValuMarket. To be fair, there are other options if you just want a decent sandwich loaf (and pretzel bread is a whole other category). But otherwise, for now, we've got a monopoly in town, which is much better than if we had an unfulfilled need. (Which reminds me -- please drop me a line if you can find a good pumpernickel rye!)
(4)David M.
Try the turkey sandwich.
(4)Mary A.
Where does the name Blue Dog come from? This Cafe - Bakery has been a stop on my Louisville visits every time I can get down in the area. Located in the spectacular quaint area of "old Louisville" this place is a hidden gem. I have asked many that live in the area and they have not yet visited. Trust me....once you do, you will kick yourself for not going sooner. The menu is very unique, and when you can order a Bloody Mary and get a beer chaser for brunch how can you go wrong? The breads are the reason the word "artisan" was created. I have yet to taste better breads with the exception of my time in Europe. If you dine alone in the morning hours there is a window bar where you can use the great wifi or chose one of the many cultural magazines they have around for your pleasure. There is nothing I can say negative about this place. I could criticize the construction on the street, but it doesn't stop me from wanting to return so who cares. This is an experience, and not one you will find often, and yes it is in Kentucky. Culture is all around....you just have to look for it. I still don't know where Blue Dog came from, unless someone was watching "Blue's Clue's" and just wanted you to look for the clues to find this place.
(5)Amy C.
Poufy White Meringue Swirled on Top Smooth Gorgeous Lime Pool of Custard Crumbly Butter Sugar Ring of Pastry And Half White Half Dark Creamy Mousse Cookie Crumbs Espresso Bean Chocolate Layers And Six Spoons Two Plates One Blue Dog
(4)Misha M.
Had lunch here today with my mom. We both really liked it super clean and great service although it gets pretty crowded. I had a spicy tuna sandwich and it was great! I also bought 3 peanut butter cookies, a recommendation from the waiter. Very good, shared them and everyone enjoyed them. Will for sure be back, probably not right around lunch time though.
(4)Nora L.
Blue Dog Bakery is an adorable cafe on Frankfort Ave. I loved the vibe.. very clean and simple, yet homey. There is a bakery in the front. I didn't get to try anything but everything looked great- chocolate hazelnut croissants, fig and apple turnovers, huge macaroons. I had the smoked salmon on a baguette. Great flavors and nice presentation. I don't normally like baguettes (prefer a soft wheat bread) but the baguettes here were great- think they are likely freshly baked. Prices are fair and service is friendly. Overall, seems like a great brunch spot.
(4)Suzanne B.
I love finding new favorite places, and Blue Dog is at the top of my list now. I've always been intrigued with the place's quaint, European look from the exterior, and after recently tasting their homemade baguette bread, I wanted to give the restaurant a try. The ambience is cozy and welcoming, with a bar just perfect for cozying up to a glass of wine while you wait for your party to arrive. I perused the menu at a window seat while I waited for my dining buddy, and decided on the Belgian Endive salad with goat cheese and Granny Smith apples. After a brief wait, we were seated, and were promptly waited on for drinks. Not too much long after, the delicious baguette arrived, with butter softened just enough to spread on each slice. The meal was delicious, and I ended up loving my friend's tuna sandwich even more than my own selection, although I would recommend either to anyone looking for something good on the menu. Presentation is also something that Blue Dog excels at, with both choices arranged beautifully on their respective serving dishes (my Endive Salad came on a type of cast-iron platter). I could have photographed either of our meals as soon as they arrived and submitted the picture to a magazine without stopping to re-arrange a single leaf of arugula. I mostly loved the European coziness, coupled with the delicious but light menu that Blue Dog offers. I will be returning and I hope you will add this to your list of places to visit as well!
(4)Kasey C.
My experience was an odd one. I showed as they were closing. I walked in and they were cleaning and kinda seemed like they meant to lock the door but forgot. I fully expected them to tell me they were closed and send me on my way, but they didn't. I ordered a latte to go and while I wouldn't say they were friendly, they were kinder than I expected about my late afternoon need for caffeine.
(4)Cynthia C.
I had breakfast at Blue Dog Bakery this morning with two friends and brought my 3 month old son along. At three months he doesn't do anything disruptive unless he has a pressing need (food or diaper). He had a wet diaper while we were there. I went to the bathroom to change him. There was no changing station and the "counter" for the sink was very small and cluttered. I stepped out and asked the woman working the counter where I could change him and she gestured to the air and said, "Where ever you can". The office space at Blue Dog is an open space so I laid my son with a changing pad under him on the desk and started to change him. A man in a Blue Dog t-shirt with a beard told me I couldn't change him there because of "cleanliness". I asked where I could change him. He indicated that I should change him on the floor. "The floor??" I asked. He stated that he has children and he and his wife always having a changing pad and that I could not change him on any surface in the building so... I guess if he wants to change his baby on the floor of a restaurant, that is his business but I was unwilling to do that for obvious reasons-even with a changing pad which I had with me. I went out and changed him on the front seat of the car. I was lucky that it wasn't raining and that I had friends to watch my things so I didn't have to take the car seat, diaper bag and my purse out with me to change his diaper and then bring it all back it. This is not the first time staff at Blue Dog as been rude. This experience tells me they don't really want mothers with babies for customers. I am pretty angry about this and I hope that other mothers can use this knowledge before they are put in the situation I was in and choose another eatery with a baby-friendly setup. They have also removed my posting from their facebook and made it so I cannot post (may have removed posting as an option and not only for me).
(1)Valerie A.
Fabulous way to start Derby Day. Excellent food, a little pricey but worth every penny.
(4)Carla L.
I am reviewing Blue Dog not Red Hog, their nightly alter ego. The pastries are delicious, very, very good. I adore their bread. Now we had wanted lunch but arrived too late so coffee and pastries it was. One latte and a few sweets later we were all digging into each others sweets. Honestly I can't remember names of the items but there were apples in some and chocolate and mousse .. oh my. I brought home the most amazing cranberry and walnut loaf. Delicious!
(4)Gregory G.
How good are the chocolate chip cookies at Blue Dog Bakery? I went there at 7am to pick up breakfast for my bride and after loading up with more than enough food (a meat quiche, a blueberry/cream cheese/coffee muffin and a pain au chocolat) I STILL had to buy two chocolate chip cookies!! Why four stars? The chocolate chip cookies were heavenly as were the quiche and the muffin, but the pain au chocolat left a little bit to desire. Looked great, tons of chocolate but the actual bread was a little bit dry.
(4)Shal V.
After picking up food from here for a few weeks, I thought I'd eat breakfast at Blue Dog one Saturday morning (NOTE: They only serve breakfast after 9:00am). I had the Pastrami Reuben sandwich with Gruyere, Kraut and 1000 Island dressing. It was delicious, as was the coffee I ordered. I picked up a baguette loaf and chocolate mousse on my way out, which were both excellent. I love this bakery!
(5)kevin g.
sometimes the hype is just that... My wife and I had been wanting to go here for quite a long time but they have short hours overall so its tough with 2 careers and a 14 month old. Anyway, I am sure this place has good points but we went for lunch and were seated promptly, thats where the promptness stopped. After we were seated it took 15 minutes for someone to come over and get our drink order. Our true server never did really pay attention to us and the host that seated us wound up in the end being our only contact with the rest of the kitchen. The food was OK, the bread was fresh of course but there was not much of a selection and really for the price and all, I just felt that it was over rated. We might give t another chance but I don't think it will be a great improvement since the bread selection was limited ad the menu was so so. good luck if you venture here.
(2)Rebeka M.
We came here for a nice breakfast and sat outside. The service was excellent and the food spectacular. They have really delicious coffee. The poached eggs with prosciutto and spinach along with the scrambled egg tacos were awesome! I would definitely come back here. They also had a lot of delicious looking baked goods, which I now regret that I didn't partake in. Maybe next time we're in Louisville.
(4)Ka-Lin H.
After reading many yelp reviews about this place, I HAD to try this place out. I came here with a low expectation for service, but honestly it wasn't THAT bad. haha. I thought my server was pretty attentive. The cashier at the front was pretty helpful and nice when I was trying to pick out what to take back home to snack on. The food was excellent and the presentation was nice. I had the pastrami sandwich. Delicious. My boyfriend got the pork sliders. They were pretty good also. I love their coffee. I'll definitely come back.
(4)Alannah M.
Great lunch spot!! Very tasty sandwiches!
(5)Scott M.
Great food, great atmosphere. Breads are terrific. Needs more front of house organization - waits are much longer than they need to be. We waited 45 minutes for 3 and the table they sat us at had been open for 20-25 minutes. They sat another party of 2 at a four-top and made a party if 4 wait, when there were at least two two-tops that came available.
(2)Harper H.
Amazing bread (literally) but the service on site can be really bad, poor/confusing layout (from a customer ordering perspective), and they can run out of popular items (quiche, bread, etc.). Service "too cool" to take your order, it seems. Coffee is below average, barista does not know how to pull a shot. Git there early, while folks still have an OK attitude! The cookies are really, really good. I think they use lard.
(3)Carpe D.
I went there with some girlfriends for tapas one Thursday evening. Despite having the best bread in the city, the service was not only disorganized but it came with an attitude from some waitresses and the owner. I've talked to some people who have had the same experience with the staff. Their reputation for being rude is well known. Never again will i support their business. The only good thing that night, is that they forgot to charge us for the items..and that was definitely not intentional, they have no clue how to run a business.
(1)Caren C.
French toast is amazing. The orange flavor is subtle and delicious and it's made with brioche as all good french toasts should be! The breakfast tacos were also delicious with tortillas clearly made in house and yummy black beans on the slide with lots of flavor. The sandwiches and pizzas are also good. I could live without the side salad that came with my sandwich, but otherwise one of my favorite spots in town so far.
(5)Olivia Z.
I have been a fan of Blue Dog for years so it saddens me to say that today was the LAST day I will be giving them my business. Let me start by saying, I have never written a bad review on Yelp, but today I was shocked by the treatment I received. I came in wanting to get my favorite sandwich from there. I asked a simple question, could I get brie on my sandwich. The woman behind the counter rolled her eyes, looked at me with disgust and said "NO." Just as short and rudely as she could. I work with general public daily, so I, A- Know about how to treat customers (and her reaction is never ok to a customer) and B -Know how I would like a customer to treat/talk to me...and I am always the most polite everywhere I go. Their food has always been wonderful, but I think service takes you a long way and unfortunately this will be my last run in with Blue Dog. I do not tolerate anyone being so rude when I am giving you my business.
(2)Carolynne M.
Get the granola. Holy crap is it good. I didnt stay to eat here but if everything is as good as that granola (you can buy it in bags to go) I am definitely coming back!
(5)Emily J.
I went here on the only day they have ever run out of baguettes, but it was still very good! I ordered the baguette with jam and butter but ended up getting their homemade sourdough with jam and butter, equally as good I think! The place itself is super cute and a great place to grab breakfast and brunch. You feel like you are transported to a chic Parisian cafe, in the heart of Louisville. I would love to go back here and try their evening tapas menu as well as their famous baguette. Keep an eye on this place, every time you go back in there is something different!
(4)Andrew M.
All the previous reviews about the lousy service are true. Went in this morning for a quick breakfast - name was third on the list, with four vacant tables visible. Really? Wait was advertised as 10-15 minutes?? REALLY????!!!!! They seated the two parties of ahead of us - net gain of one vacant table. Waited 15 minutes and left. The food may be good, but it's not worth the indifferent-bordering on arrogant attitude of the wait staff. Been here a couple of times before and had similar experience. Attributed it to the place being extremely busy. It wasn't this morning, so one is left to conclude that they either can't find decent employees or just don't give a damn. Never going back.
(1)Carissa G.
They are closed on Sunday! What kind of a bakery/cafe is closed on Sunday?
(4)David I.
Great service and great coffee. We arrived a little before 11am and they had stopped serving breakfast already. So we had coffee and left. But the coffee was very good as was the service.
(4)Heather J.
All that I can say is....amazing.
(5)Erin J.
Blue Dog is one of my favorite breakfast spots in Louisville. Always great service and amazing food..get the poached eggs!
(5)Kerry D.
I was scouring Yelp for places to try during my 4 day visit to Louisville and this had great reviews. I was at the Galt and was told it would be a short cab ride...45.00 later, ahem, I think mr. cab driver took the tourist on the 'long' route. Anyway, back to the review. When I finally got there, the place was jammed and there was a lengthy line. I had a difficult time deciding what to order because so many things looked good- the woman who took my order was very helpful and steered me toward the salumi sandwich. It was good, the bread was amazing. I can understand the frustration expressed in other reviews, I got there just in time, everyone behind me was sent away empty handed. By the time I ordered, they were out of bread (somehow I got some, thank god!) and my order was the last taken around 1:00 on a weekday. I think I would have cried in the storefront if I'd taken that cab ride and was denied food. I saw a lot of complaints about service, I ordered from the counter and from all of the pictures, I can only assume the owner took my order, maybe that made a difference?
(3)Cinimod S.
I have been going here for years and years and only recently stopped in for lunch...twice. When it comes to breads and baked goods, Blue Dog is it in Louisville. The sandwiches are made with high quality ingredients and are tasty. They have small bottles of wine and some decent beer on tap. Stop in to get takeout too. The scones and cookies are worth the trip alone.
(5)Zach E.
We've had brought home baguettes from Blue Dog several times and they were great, so I figured I'd give it a try for lunch. My salami sandwich was good, not great. And at $9 (a steep price for Louisville), it should have been great. The service was good though.
(3)Antonio S.
Blue dog bakery has some of the best artisan baked bread I've had in awhile. It's also some of the most expensive. As a bakery, their bread products are good, but depending on what type of bread you get, it can be very hard or chewy giving your jaw a workout. Definitely try as many types of bread as you can before making a decision on the bakery as a whole. Now, as a restaurant, Blue dog shows a lot of promise, but has a very small and limited menu that definitely needs to be expanded. We came here for brunch one morning, and were disappointed to find that the pizza had sold out. From there, the only other options are a small variety of sandwiches or salads on the one page menu. The quality of food is as high as the bread, but the menu has very little variety. I had the tuna sandwich, but was disappointed as it was very dry. The bread makes up for what the sandwich lacks, which i guess should be expected of a bakery. It's absolutely true that bread can make or break a sandwich. But in this case, putting a bit more effort into what goes into the sandwich as well as opening up the menu options further, could really give blue dog bakery a much needed boost. The ambiance of the restaurant itself is nice and quaint, but I will say that the main dining area feels a bit crowded with the number of tables set close to one another. As I pulled out my chair to sit down, I hit the chair behind me and couldn't help but be distracted by the adjacent tables' conversations throughout our meal as they were seated so close. As for the customer service, it wasn't the worst I've ever experienced, but it's also not the best. Our server got us our food in a timely manner but disappeared and didn't return until I got another server's attention to find out where ours was. On top of that, he did not bring us the basket of bread we expected until we had asked toward the end if our meal. I think the only saving grace to the blue dog bakery is it's bread products. They definitely have a ton of potential, but lack the effort and creativity needed to raise the bar and make it a true standout amongst deli type bakeries. If you're a true bread fanatic, blue dog is your spot. But if you want a better dining experience with good sandwiches, you're probably better off buying the bread yourself and putting together an awesome sandwich at home!
(2)Erin W.
Great baguettes - right amount of crust and moistness. Staff was friendly, service was great, restaurant is cute. I was just passing through but will definitely stop again when I'm in town!
(5)Patrick C.
This place rocks! As I am a recent California transplant, finding a place which has bread to rival Tartine Bakery or Acme Bread has been a godsend. This place offers world-class baked goods. Breakfast was solid. Their prices match the hype. Two eggs on a piece of bread and one slice of prosciutto cost $9. However, it was worth it! The service was OK. I was seated at a table where people constantly walked past both sides of my table. There seemed to be little regard for my dining experience and it drove me a bit nuts. Seriously: the best chocolate chip cookie in town. After having one of Please and Thank You's overrated cookies, I was so stoked to get such a decadent chocolatey-buttery treat.
(4)Kathy S.
Blue Dog is such a CLASS act. The food is impeccable. The best bread in town, the pizzas, sandwiches, salads, desserts - ALL top shelf. Now that we know that they serve TAPAS on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night - we are regulars. Wonderful TAPAS. The owner raises his own pigs and the charcuterie is impressive. Cannot recommend this place enough. In a wonderful part of town.
(5)Jeff S.
I was extremely impressed with blue dog. The night before I had gone to L&N wine bar and the bread they served was from blue dog. It was kick-astastic so of course the next day we drove over to Blue Dog for lunch. The server was pretty strange lady - I asked what is good and she started to tell me that Men like Meat and women usually order things like fish. That was good and all - in any case my friend and I split a Ruben and a Turkey/Apple/Mayo sandwich. We are both from DC - and have been to NYC - so I'm used to good breads but these sandwiches were Amazingly good. I don't know what it was but something in the turkey sandwich's bread had this nutty almondy overtone that was just amazing. The weatberry salad was also really really really good. And to top everything off they have a full bar so you can get trashed if you want ... really what else could you ask for? Price range was about $8-$9 which seems cheap for DC standards but I donno how it fairs in Louisville
(5)Catherine S.
Love this place, but I had to deduct a star because they got rid of my favorite sandwich! The roast beef was fantastic... but now it is no longer :(. I am in love with the wheat berry salad though!... and the pizza is also fantastic!
(4)Tony G.
Hands down, this place has the best bread in Louisville Kentucky. Great place to relax with friends for a fresh, healthy "unique" lunch. It's refreshing to enjoy food that's creative & tasty.
(4)Mr And Mrs G.
Mr says... light, healthy but fulfilling MRS says... seems to me they change menu each month because whenever we go here, I couldn't get the same soup :) I tried the gumbo soup and it was one of the best gumbo soup i've ever had. any sandwiches compliment their soups. what i like about this place is the atmosphere. place is a little small but once you're seated, your server will tend to your every need. complete each meal with their refreshing tea either get the flavored ones like raspberry or lemonade. its really light but satisfying. don't forget to take home some of their freshly baked breads which can be easily reheated in your oven!
(4)Joan M.
one of the most tasteful establishments in Louisville. The bread alone should give this place a 5 star rating. But the owners have made sure that you get quality. Try the pizza!! The prices are right because they use the best ingredients. Fresh and local when available. I love their beautiful light-filled dinning room. Are we in Europe?
(5)James B.
Blue Dog is hands down one of the best Italian style bakeries in the USA. The bread is very fresh flavorful chewy. The sandwiches are tasty and unique. The pastries are better than anything this side of a trip to Europe.
(5)Michael B.
My wife and I love this place for breakfast on Saturdays or Lunch any day they are open. Aside from the best breads in town, they nail the espresso based drinks and the food is always wonderful. The Rueben is my favorite for lunch
(5)Alison M.
I am from Louisville and would love to give Blue Dog a better review, but their service is probably the worst I have ever experienced. The soups are some of the best I have ever tasted. Their sandwiches (when they don't run out) are quite tasty too. Unfortunately, I will probably not support this local "gem" as I cannot stand rude/slow service. Please don't let this dining experience ruin your view of customer service in Louisville!
(3)Margaret Y.
My boyfriend kept wanting to find an upscale place to have coffee and pastry. Also someplace that might have a paper to read or just read a book. We have found Blue Dog to not just be a "bakery" but also an eatery. They have wonderful quiche. I am fond of the Morning Glory (I think this is the right name) muffins. This particular muffin is kind of like carrot cake and all things healthy. They serve a drip coffee that is to die-for (illi coffee). I am glad Blue Dog is still around after all these years, and they have OFF STREET parking!!!!
(5)Jeremiah A.
I was in town visiting friends and family and needed some time away from people. I have always enjoyed the Frankfort ave. area and while I have known about the Blue Dog Bakery I have never made a visit. I stopped in for a quick lunch to get away. I was met at the door by a very cordial woman who let me sit in the window. The crowd was good, but the menu is great. I enjoyed a glass of wine and a turkey sandwich. The Turkey Sandwich had granny smith apple slices on it. It was really a unbelievable combination. The bread was a standard rustic variety that I really enjoyed. I recommend if you are local or in Louisville on a visit making a stop in. The staff is great and you won't be disappointed
(4)ewa j.
The bread, I agree, is fantastic. It is the only place in town that makes a true baguette. For that reason only, I am willing to tolerate the rude treatment by the staff. It might be that my San Francisco friends and I visited the Bakery at a wrong time - Saturday morning. Maybe the staff was overwhelemed? We were told twice, that we are in a wrong line to purchase bread and pastries. It took forever to finally buy a cup of coffe and a croissant. Finally, after we convinced the staff that we are capable of finding our own outdoor seats and handle a cup of coffe at the same time, we got our delicious pastries. In short - Food - GREAT, atmosphere and service - POOR (and surprisingly arrogant for an almost 'Southern' state.)
(3)Max K.
great food.....service???
(3)Margot S.
We finally ate brunch at Blue Dog. We tried eating there 4 other times over the last few months and each time it was closed. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays? We tried going on other days and they were closed then too. Anyways, we went to brunch on a weekday and there were a few people in the dining area. The menu had 4 options, which was fine. It took forever for a server to come take our order. There were no servers in the dining room at all. We ordered a few things, and all the food was great. But no one came to refill our coffee or water. Then it took forever to get the check. Not sure if this is typical for the weekdays (lots of people working, no one helping customers) but it was rather annoying. I would go back, and hope for much better service.
(4)brendan j.
i've been in food exploration mode since moving to louisville and have heard about blue dog bread from everyone i have talked to, and i was not dissapointed. well, i was a bit dissapointed that they were closed on sunday, but that seems to be common in louisville. i didn't eat at the cafe portion, only took some bread to go, but it was amazing. i had the kalamata olive loaf, pugiliese loaf, and the rustic loaf. i will be making this a weekly trek and i am looking forward to trying all thier different loaves and staying for lunch. this bread is as good or better than anything i've ever had.
(5)Jeremy P.
I love Blue Dog's food. Their bread, sandwiches and specials are always tasty. BUT I CANNOT STAND THE SERVICE. It seems to me that the owners have passed the word along to the staff that they can take their time and ignore customers. After all, they are always packed. But it is annoying to stand and wait for 10 minutes to put my name on a list after five employees walk past several times and refuse to make eye contact. I don't care if this is how they do it in Europe, NYC or any other place of haute couture. Start paying better attention to your customers. For $9 a sandwich, you should probably rub our feet every now and then.
(3)