GIE+EXPO 2017: A Guide to Downtown Louisville Dining Favorites

What GIE+EXPO attendees need to know about places to go aside from the show

By Amy Perkins

Downtown Louisville is the place to be after hours each evening during the Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO), which will be held Wednesday, Oct. 18 (Dealer Day), as well as Thursday and Friday, Oct. 19-20 (all industry participants), at Louisville’s Kentucky Exposition Center. When the lights go down on the show floor, they will come up at Fourth Street Live! But, after a long day of walking the aisles and test-driving equipment, you’ll want to refuel before heading to the free concerts.

Noted by USA Today for having one of the “Nation’s Best Local Food Scenes,” downtown Louisville is teeming with great dining options and unique dishes. A few hometown favorites you might want to seek out are bourbon, the hot brown, and fried chicken.

Bourbon on the menu

When you’re in bourbon country, you can expect the area’s restaurants and bars to be serving up this spirit in all kinds of creative ways.

With a name like Bourbon Raw, you’d better believe this Fourth Street Live! restaurant boasts bourbon in just about every form. It’s in the BBQ sauce and some salad dressings, and don’t miss the bourbon-smoked tomatoes that make an appearance in several dishes.

Bourbon is all over the menu at Bristol Bar & Grille too. After dining on Kentucky Bourbon Shrimp and Grits, the BBQ Bourbon Chop or a steak topped with Maker’s Mark or Wild Turkey, you can end your meal with the Bourbon Pecan Torte.

If sandwiches and burgers are more your style, Troll Pub Under the Bridge is a cool spot tucked away (as the name implies) under the Second Street Bridge. The onions on their Fleur de Lis Dip are caramelized with brown sugar and Old Forester bourbon.

For barbecue lovers, Feast BBQ is one of the hottest tickets in downtown’s NuLu neighborhood. And, their bourbon slushy is a must try.

If you’re looking for bourbon treats to take home, check out a local candy shop for some bourbon balls or truffles. Art Eatables, Muth’s Candies and A Taste of Kentucky are great sources for these unique treats.

A true Louisville original

An iconic Louisville meal, the hot brown is an open-faced sandwich piled with turkey, bacon, tomato and cheese sauce that’s been described as hot and hearty, saucy and savory. While it originated at the Brown Hotel in downtown Louisville — and you can still find the original sandwich at the hotel’s J. Graham’s Café — many restaurants, diners and bars now have their own take on the hot brown.

A short stroll south of Fourth Street Live! you’ll find Sicilian Pizza & Pasta and their Hot Brown Pizza, which combines all of the tasty aforementioned ingredients on a New York crust. There’s also a Fourth Street Bourbon Pizza if I’ve already gotten your mouth watering for something bourbon inspired.

Back down by the Second Street Bridge, Sidebar at Whiskey Row serves up Hot Brown Fries that are piled high with roasted turkey, bacon, tomatoes and melted beer cheese. And, if that doesn’t fill you up, they have some amazing burgers on the menu.

If you like to start your day with a hearty breakfast before heading to the show, Wild Eggs has several locations around town, and their Kelsey “KY” Brown is topped with a fried egg.

For a list of nearly 50 restaurants that are dishing up their own take on this culinary delight, check out the Hot Brown Hop at www.tiny.cc/hotbrown. While in Louisville, post a picture of your meal with #HotBrownHop and you could win a cool T-shirt!

Get your fried chicken fix

You could say that Louisville knows a thing or two about fried chicken. But, this city’s appreciation for crispy, breaded poultry extends beyond a certain white-suited Kentucky gentleman — Col. Harland Sanders, who founded Kentucky Fried Chicken. Whether you want fine dining or fast food, here are some favorite spots.

Royals Hot Chicken, in the NuLu neighborhood, serves a chicken plate with spice levels that range from classic fried to Gonzo. Scratch-made sides and milk shakes will round out your meal — and cool the heat, if needed.

The Dixie Chicken Sandwich at Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar requires two hands and a few napkins. It’s that good!

But, if you’re hankering for some true southern fried chicken, Sway, located in the Hyatt Regency, is your spot. Served with mashed potatoes, chicken gravy and southern greens, they say the chicken falls right off the bone. While there, make a stop next door at the Louisville Visitor Center and take a selfie with the Colonel himself.

Very important badges

Be sure to take along your GIE+EXPO or Hardscape North America (HNA) badge when you’re out and about in Louisville. Many local restaurants, bars and entertainment venues offer discounts through the “Show Us Your Badge” program. Check out the list of participating businesses at http://tiny.cc/LouBadge.

Amy Perkins is the communications coordinator for GIE+EXPO.