The South - Eastern USA - page 737

half dozen oyster platters paired with a weekly charcuterie board, or go with the country
sausage flatbread, the lamb bolognese, or the seriously good veggie burger.

Eiderdown GASTROPUB$$$
( 502-290-2390; www.eiderdowngernantown.com ; 983 Goss Ave; dishes $4-17; 4-10pm Tue-
Thu, 11:30am-11pm Fri & Sat, noon-10pm Sun) When this Kentucky-born, 30-something,
French-trained chef fled the corporate confines of a local Outback kitchen, he envisioned
this exposed-brick, dark-wood destination pub suffused with the aroma of duck fat pop-
corn, cabbage, bacon, and spaetzle - a melange of root vegetables and sausage dripping
with sage butter.
It's in the still-gritty, mostly residential corner of Louisville known as Germantown.

Ghyslain MARKET CAFE$$$
( 502-690-8645; www.Ghyslain.com ; 721 E Market St; dishes $10-13; 7am-9pm) An inviting
market cafe with a menu of delectable baguettes stuffed with roast pork and broccoli, or
pesto meatballs, and it does a nice chicken curry wrapped in naan. It also simmers some
tasty gumbo (a roux-based stew) and chili. Grab a marble-table top, and finish with fine
chocolates or gelato.

Proof NEW SOUTHERN$$$

$$$
( 502-217-6360; www.proofonmain.com ; 702 W Main St; mains $17-36; 7-10am, 11am-2pm &
5:30-10pm Mon-Thu, to 11pm Fri & 7am-3pm, 5:30-11pm Sat, to 10pm Sun) Arguably Louisville's
best, and certainly its most lauded restaurant. The cocktails are incredible, the wine and
bourbon list (they're known to pour from exclusive and rare barrels of Woodford Reserve
and Van Winkle) is long and satsifying, and mains range from a bone-in pork chop, to a
succulent bison burger to a high-minded take on chicken and dumplings.
Did we mention they grow and raise some of the ingredients on their own farm? The
art is loud and inspired, the servers hip and deadly serious, and the bar crowd is well
dressed and festive.

Drinking & Entertainment
The free Weekly Leo ( www.leoweekly.com ) lists local gigs. You'll have no problem find-
ing a watering hole in the Highlands area. Check out the many galleries, restaurants and
cafes in NuLu and downtown on the First Friday Trolley Hop ( www.ldmd.org/First-Friday-
Trolley-Hop.html ; Main & Market St;

5-11pm, 1st Fri of month) .