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Name: Hammerheads
Address: 921 Swan St, Louisville, KY, 40204
Telephone: (502) 365-1112
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.51

Hammerheads

921 Swan St, Louisville, KY, 40204

(502) 365-1112
Store is closed

Hammerheads Menu

Starters

Sliders

Rosemary Lemon Hummus

Smoked Cheddar Grit Cake

Crispy Shrimp

Spring Mix Salad
Sandwiches

Pblt

Pulled Pork

Beef Brisket

Roasted Duck

Crab Cake

Soft Shell Crab

Crispy Smoked Catfish
Burgers

Elk

Venison

Housemade Chorizo

1/2 Pound Angus
Fries & Sides

French Fries

Grippo Fries

Truffle Fries

Garlic Herb Fries

Sweet Potato Fries

Pork Belly Baked Beans
Desserts

Bacon Brownie

Chocolate Brownie

Chocolate Mousse Cake

Healthy Meal suggestions for Hammerheads

Starters

Sliders [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rosemary Lemon Hummus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Cheddar Grit Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Mix Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Pblt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pulled Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Brisket [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Duck [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soft Shell Crab [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Smoked Catfish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Burgers

Elk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Venison [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Housemade Chorizo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

1/2 Pound Angus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fries & Sides

French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grippo Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Truffle Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Herb Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Belly Baked Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Bacon Brownie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Brownie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Mousse Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.

Arby’s ( 3615 Bardstown Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.

Arby’s ( 3615 Bardstown Rd )

Write An Anonymous Review

J V.

This place is located in a basement of a house in a residential neighborhood. It's everything a dive should be; gritty, unique and hosting the best food. Walking in your first thought is probably going to be "I should not be eating here". Don't listen to that first thought, we are glad we didn't. The simple, yet delicious menu, excellent beer selection and fantastic staff make this place a must. It was jam packed, and we only waited 30 minutes for a seat. The tattoo'd staff in this divey eatery operated like a well oiled machine. My husband had the venison burger and I had the angus burger. After one bite, the aioli on my burger made my eyes roll back in my head. Seriously, guys. Eat here.
(5)
Huntting B.

So, I was going to give this place 4 stars but there were a few reasons why I haven't. I went here because they had chicken and waffles. And boy howdy do they! The chicken was really good, though it was all wing, a chicken thigh or two would have been nice. Thankfully it is still dark meat but wings suck for chicken and waffles, particularly when it is served on such a small plate. That's not so bad, but the real tragedy was that the sweet potato waffle was burnt on half of it, which means that cutting through it was really difficult. They have a good selection of beers on draft here. Now, if I hadn't had the chicken and waffles I would have given this place a 4 to 4.5 star review. The pulled duck slider....was out of this world...so definitely get that and not the chicken n waffles. By the way, this is in the bottom half of what looks like a house.
(3)
Carole G.

We read the reviews and thought we would try it. Got there around 6:30pm and had a 30 to 45 min wait. It was well worth the wait. For appetizers, we had the fried Mac and cheese balls and the fried mushrooms. Oh my goodness, these were the best ever!! Husband had chicken and waffle - huge chicken wings and the most delicious sweet potato waffle I have ever tasted. I had pork soft tacos, and they were good and juicy. 13 yr old son had lamb ribs, which surprised my since he's not very adventurous. He licked them clean!! Older son had venison burger on pretzel roll, he couldn't quit talking about how great it was. His girl friend, had the chorizo burger and smoked Mac and cheese. All gone!! Nothing left, kind of like a thanksgiving dinner, we couldn't believe we ate the whole thing. Will definitely go back again!!
(5)
James S.

Hammerheads, I want to make sweet love to you.
(5)
Kiera M.

I have eaten here several times since my last review. The food is as delicious as always and the staff attitude issues have improved. Those who caused issues seem not to work there any more. The girl who has waited on me the last few times is very friendly and a great server. It still is crazy busy but that is because is is so darn yummy! The staff has been very pleasant about accommodating the large crowds and do the best to make everyone comfortable while they wait. If you're in a rush, not the best place to go. Have patients though, and it is worth your wait!
(4)
Lisa S.

Delicious and creative brew pub food. I had the soft shell crab tacos, hubby had the elk burger, and we shared a basket of the grippo fries - everything was really yummy, including the beer recs from our server. Highly recommend this spot!
(4)
Rachel M.

Every time I go there I love it. My only problem is if I want to try something new, or get what I got the previous time because it was SO good!
(5)
John M.

I live in Dallas and learned of Hammerheads from the blog "Full Custom Gospel BBQ." I agree with their review and it's what inspired me to check it out. The crew at Hammerheads turn out some of the best and most unique food in Louisville. A few of my favorites were: fried macaroni; a duck slider; fries with Grippo BBQ spice cooked in the optional duck fat. My favorite was the BBQ Lamb ribs. Amazing!
(4)
Jeff D.

Lamb. Of. God. Too bad those words were destroyed by a crappy band. Obviously, I tried the lamb ribs. Perfect. I can't imagine anything better. Brilliantly smoked and exploding with flavor. The truffle fries were a solid accompaniment to the meat. Tried my buddy's elk burger and Grippo fries and they were excellent, too. We got there right when they opened since we had seen seating was limited. Glad we did as there was already a good crowd waiting before they opened and we were the last to be seated before folks started waiting. Service was exceptionally fast and attentive. Maybe because there's limited seating they try to turn the tables over quickly. They don't sacrifice quality, however. They have a solid beer list as well in both draft and bottles. There's so much yum on the menu that I am certain to return.
(5)
Andy H.

My Louisville diamond in the rough. Love the people, food, and atmosphere. Pork belly on taco, slider, and/or burger is devine. Mac and cheese balls rock as well. Fries fried with duck fat is bomb too. Always tempted to order more than I can eat so my rec: come with friends to share dishes!
(5)
Eduardo C.

Southern Tier creme brule is the best imperial milk stout I've ever had. Ordered the specialty lamb burger with seasoned goat cheese on local pretzel bread, terrific dinner. Service is also attentive and friendly.
(5)
Jeff H.

Little hole in the wall with a waiting list. For good reason. Had duck fat fries piled high with smoked duck, lamb ribs and pork belly LT. Food coma ensued. Local beer to chase fear. Bravo Hammerheads.
(5)
Tiffany J.

Don't be fooled by the location! The food is some of the best in Louisville. The place is very small and gets cramped at times, but well worth a visit. The Grippos fries are a must! I grew up in KY eating Grippo's potato chips. The fries are exactly as amazing as the chips - not too spicy, just perfect. Try the fried mac and cheese and a bison burger. After eating tons of their delicious food, take a walk around the neighborhood. Germantown is full of cute and quirky shotgun homes.
(5)
Stephanie T.

Everything I tried here was fabulous. Lamb ribs, mac and cheese balls, truffle fries. YUM. Worth the wait. The only complaint is that it was a little smokey in there. Not cigarette smoke; cooking smoke. But oh so good.
(4)
Andy C.

Before you say "three stars?!" hear me out. The food is prabably about the best you can get. Their elk burger rocks my world everytime I get it! Their creative selection of fries is the perfect side to any and all of their amazing dishes. Obviously their food is not the problem. Sadly, the issue that I have with Hammerheads is the initial reason I came to love it- the atmosphere. I remember when it was a small somewhat secretive dive bar that just so happen to serve amazing food. It was great! You could drop in anytime of the day and get a good beer and an even better meal. It felt like my friend's parent's basement... completely chill and unassuming. My last few visits to my favorite resteraunt went as follows. First, I wait outside for about 10-15 minutes or until a few patrons leave. Then I finally get inside to a sardine-like arrangement where everyone and their entire family is shuffling around akwardly until they either get tired of complaining and leave or get seated. This cool bar with great food has transformed into "the place to go" for EVERYONE in the Louisville area. It is quickly becoming the new "Lynn's Paradise Cafe." Im sure everyone in Louisville knows what that means. Hammerheads is an amazing spot! But since it has, rightfully so, gained a lot of noteriety it has simply become too popular for me to enjoy myself as I once could. It is set up to be a small dive bar- but get's packed like a huge restaurant on main street.... an unfortunate developement.
(3)
Jessica B.

This is one place where the location really doesn't matter. True, it's in the basement of a house, the ceilings are low and the seating is limited, but one bite of their pulled pork and my surroundings disappear. Eating at Hammerheads is usually reserved for some-what special occasions. Not because of the price, but because of the wait. I don't think I've ever had to wait less than 30 minutes, but it's usually an upwards of an hour wait. There isn't any standing room to speak of so you're basically standing next to someone's table drooling over their food. You can wait outside, but if you want to order an alcoholic drink while you're waiting for your table, you'll have to stay in. I'm one of those who people who, if I find a menu item I love, I stick with it....so, basically I always order the pulled pork sliders with a side of grippo or truffle fries and some mac and cheese balls. I don't know what it is about their bbq sauce, but I crave it--it's really not anything mind blowing, but paired with the pork it is soooooo good! The fries come in baskets so I would definitely recommend ordering them with the intent to share. The mac and cheese balls are delicious and come in an order of three pretty good sized balls. My plate, or should I say wood block, is always clean when I leave. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the wait...which I'd say is a pretty good problem to have for a restaurant.
(4)
Shal V.

This place has become one of my favorite restaurants in town...possibly my favorite. I make it a point to go to Hammerheads at least once a week, which is possibly detrimental to my depleted wallet and my ever-burgeoning waistline. The last time I was here, I ordered the Baby Back Ribs, which were unbelievably delicious - moist, perfectly seasoned, fall-off-the-bones meat. Sticking with my tradition of sampling at least 2 dishes every time I go to Hammerheads (and trying to justify my being a shameless gourmand), I got the memorable Lamb Ribs again and the truffle fries. Yes, it is more food than one person needs but I'm weak - I can't help myself when I enter these hallowed grounds. The truffle fries were superlative! The Lamb Ribs did not disappoint yet again. NOTE: Saturday nights are absolutely packed so you may not get a table for a long time. Even the bar area is full. So plan on getting here early or choose another night. Also, they don't take to-go orders when they are as crowded as they get on Saturday nights.
(5)
Gabi M.

I hit my fried food quota for the year in one night at Hammerheads! I ate here last night after the New2Lou event with Rachel F and Alex K, and I'm still full! They were out of the duck and mac and cheese balls when we arrived, but there were plenty of other items on the menu to choose from. In fact, I wanted to try it all! I'm kind of regretting passing up the chicken and sweet potato waffles, but we had plenty of food without it. We started with the Mushroom Medley and the Grippo (aka barbecue flavored) Fries. Both were huge portions and ridiculously addicting. By the time our entrees arrived, my belly was busting! Somehow I did still manage to eat one of my soft shell crab tacos and several bites of a delicious brisket sandwich. Obviously, I was too full for dessert. I'm a casual kinda girl, so I love casual atmosphere at this restaurant. As mentioned in previous reviews, it's off the beaten path and it's literally in a basement of a home, which I think just gives it more of a local feel. Service was friendly and they were apologetic that they were out of a few items on the menu. I thought the prices were extremely reasonable. Hammerheads is probably not the best option if you're on any kind of a diet, but it's worth the splurge for sure. Go with an appetite and enjoy!
(4)
Shari A.

Excellent food and great service! Favs: pulled pork, garlic fries, soft shell crab and brisket. Yummy!
(5)
Steve B.

Booyah. This place is as amazing as the reviews state. Coming in from out of town, I asked for a few recommendations and kept hearing "Dude, just go to Hammerheads. If it looks like it's not a restaurant, you're there." So I came here, sat at the bar, and ate a great great meal. The lamb ribs. . .the truffle fries. . . the great beers. . . makes me a happy happy happyhappy man. If a place like this existed within a 30-mile radius of where I live, I'd be there on a regular basis. If you like good soul food, BBQ, in a divey place, come to Hammerheads for dinner. Then while your clothes still smell awesome, come back for lunch.
(5)
Ashley W.

Great Food! It was a bit of a wait (45 ish min) but well worth it! The brisket tacos were fantastic and even their fries were way above average.
(5)
Cara D.

My boyfriend and I were passing through Louisville on a cross country trip and we stopped here after seeing this mentioned by a Louisville student on reddit. Great food! I had the elk burger and he had the venison burger. Both were fantastic! The fries were really good too! Our only qualm was that the waiter insinuated that the fries came with the meal which they didn't and the additions you could put on the fries was also extra. So both of us got a $3 basket of fries with $3 of extras and that seemed really overpriced and we weren't too happy about it. The food was all great but just be careful about those sides, they up the price a lot.
(4)
Kelly Y.

I wonder if I am missing something as I write this...all these 4-5 stars...yet I can only give Hammerheads 3 stars on this visit... The food: we ordered the Shrimp & Grits, 1/2 Lamb Ribs and Angus Burger with Pepper Jack cheese. Plus, I had to have the duck fries. The crispy shrimp was by far my favorite part of the meal: very tender and very crispy. The grits....oh, the grits...while it is indeed crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside...but it was so overly salty I just could not continue to eat it no matter how much I liked its crispiness. The burger was also really salty...dont know what else to say...I'm sounding like a broken record. I did enjoy the lamb ribs...soft, smokey and fall of the bone. And the duck fat fries were good, too. Crispier than the regular fries and worth the extra few bucks. The location: it was not exactly easy to find, but hey, that is part of the fun of the hole-in-the-wall places so I did not mind. The service: it was quick, friendly and attentive, everything that makes this a great neighborhood place. Other than the saltiness, everything was still cooked with care and skill. There are still plenty of other things on the menu I must try, I will be back to try them.
(3)
Melissa D.

Okay, I'm going to admit - I was a little apprehensive at first. The place was recommended to me by a customer who warned "it's smoky and a little out of the way". Indeed, it's both. Or at least it seemed out of the way for someone out of town staying downtown. I was there with a couple coworkers that also seemed a little apprehensive. Luckily it was all unfounded. We got menus, ordered beers (draft and bottle selection is outstanding, by the way), and enjoyed the ambiance. It's a little hipster, a little bit old school neighborhood bar. It started to grow on me. The fries arrived first - 1 order of Grippo fries, 1 truffle. Both were excellent. The flavor of the truffle was subtle and addictive. Next, the meals - at our table we had the PBLT (pork belly, lettuce, tomato), brisket sandwich, and pork tacos. I personally had the PBLT and hands down, it was one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten. Overall I was very impressed. Once you get past the smokiness this is an amazing find off the beaten path. Kudos to the guy that recommended it. I should buy him a sandwich.
(5)
Jessica L.

Checking something else off my Louisville bucket list. Immediately upon walking in, the smell of meat was deliciously overwhelming. We arrived around 6:40 on a Wednesday. The couple just ahead of us got seated right away, but we had to wait a few minutes for a table. Not to worry, the bartender/host/awesomely friendly dude had us set up with a beer list and very shortly thereafter, beer. I got the Redd's Apple Ale, which was quite unique and would probably be awesome with brunch. It was only a few more moments before we were seated. To be honest, I expected to wait longer, based on what I heard. By the time we were seated, though, the smells of meat made my decision on what to eat most difficult, so we got a little of everything. To start, we shared the fried macaroni and cheese balls and pulled pork sliders. The panko crust on the mac & cheese was perfect, and the pulled pork was incredibly tender and full of flavor. After some debate, I settled on the chicken and waffles for my main course, while my husband had the garlic and herb fries with steak tacos. The chicken and waffles takes longest to cook, so I had some time to munch on the fries. I'm not a big fry person, but they were delicious. The chicken was worth the wait, though. Possibly the best I've ever had. I wish I could get a breast dipped like that instead of just the wings, though. They have the desserts on the menu, which was my downfall, because I saw the words "bacon brownie" and knew it had to be mine. Despite taking half of my meal home, I got a brownie to go. A couple hours later, I enjoyed it just as much as I thought I would. Best part of everything was probably the price. Such a great value. I just wish I had gotten here sooner.
(5)
Michael B.

It's simple. This is the best restaurant I've been to.
(5)
Brittney H.

"Whenever I go out, I order a burger probably 85% of the time. This (venison) burger is the best burger I've ever eaten." -direct quote from my brother Sometimes less is more, so I will leave it at: I concur.
(5)
Jason H.

I got the baby back ribs, which are awesome squared, but I wanted to eat my wife's chicken and waffles AND my daughter's cheeseburger. Yum!
(5)
Kristie W.

Great food. Great presentation. Nice eclectic menu selection. During my visit I tried the fried mac'n'cheese balls, bbq lamb ribs, garlic fries, and bacon brownie. Mac N Cheese balls left a lot to be desired. The noodles were bland and it wasn't cheesy. By far the least favorite part of my meal. BBQ lamb ribs were grilled to perfection and delicious. The sauce on them was not over powering. Garlic fries were hot and had a hint of garlic flavor. As far as fries go, these were pretty tasty. Now, for the bacon brownie. Sounds weird, but the flavors meshed very well. Nice, semi-dense, warm, molten brownie covered in a chocolate sauce and sprinkled with bacon crumbles. Awkwardly delicious. The only thing that would have improved the brownie, was if the bacon had been candied prior to being crumbled and sprinkled on the brownie. Overall, great dining experience. Excellent service. The restaurant is in the basement of what appears to be a house, not sure. Interesting decor. Don't let the location and decor deter you from trying this place. Next time I'm in Louisville, I plan to return.
(4)
Raquelle Z.

My daughter was nice enough to bring me a chorizo burger and fries after her recent visit to Hammerheads. It didn't matter that I received it a few hours later because it was still delicious! The fries were crunchy and so flavorful. I can't think of any other time that I could give a glowing review on cold fries, so that should indicate the quality of Hammerheads food. Next time I will visit in person, and I am certain I will enjoy whatever I select.
(4)
Allan K.

I came here at the suggestion of a bartender from some swanky bar in downtown Louisville. He had asked me if I liked dive bars and then continued on to "well, what about dive restaurants?" I'm a foodie...see that elite badge next to my name? It means I like to eat and subsequently brag about it on the interweb :D So naturally, I'm intrigued by this whole "dive restaurant" idea. I pulled up Hammerheads on my trusty Google navigation and was on my way. When I arrived, I wasn't quite sure it was the right place. Looks like a house but then notice the neon beer signs in the basement. Closer inspection revealed that the 'basement' was packed full of people and it must be the right place after all. Mind you, this was like a Wednesday or something so I knew I must be at the right place. It took a while to get a place to sit, after knocking back a beer or two I finally got a seat at the bar. Ordered a pulled pork sandwich with truffle fries. They bring your meal out on a cutting board. How charming, you're thinking, right? Everything tasted great. Truffle fries...holy crap. Get them. For an extra few bucks, they'll cook them in duck fat. I'm watching my girlish figure, so I declined but it sounded ridiculous. I also saw them scrape the pan of bacon brownies so I didn't get a chance to try them but they looked pretty damn good too. Why 4 stars? Service was way SLOWWWWWWWWWW. The person who sent me here warned me ahead of time, but I must have been sitting at the bar for at least 10 minutes before I could order anything. Sure, the place was busy but come on. Being popular doesn't give you the right to just make people wait just because. Or does it? I don't really know. Note to self: come earlier next time I'm in Louisville.
(4)
Sara C.

A trip out of town and some local friends led me to this little 'hole in the wall.' When I first saw the joint, I was understandable skeptical as it's literally in the basement of what used to be a residential house and it's loud, crowded and full of hipsters. Our wait to be seated was about 25 minutes long while the wait staff and other patrons had to maneuver around us as we waited, but at least someone brought us beers off of their extensive beer list. When we finally got seated and ordered, we were disappointed to find that they had run out of a lot of our menu selections. However, this was not unexpected as we were warned that when the run of food, they run out of food. At least I know the ingredients are fresh and purchased daily! Anyway, what we did order turned out to be spectacular and delicious - from the mac n cheese balls to the variety of meats contained within the sliders to the elk burgers. I was certainly not expecting such quality food for a place that looks like it should be specializing in frozen chicken wings and crappy beer. If I find myself in Louisville again, I will definitely be dining there.
(4)
Nicholas L.

Still trying to process what went down when I visited this place a couple weeks ago. The place was super packed at 8:00pm on a Monday night, which was good sign #1. We found a tight spot near the bar which featured some good local brews (good sign # 2). We perused the menu and saw some of the food others had ordered (good sign #3). The long wait gave us ample time to drink up and change our minds 1,000 times as to what we wanted. We settled on an elk burger (never seen this on a menu anywhere) and the chicken and waffles. Amazing as they were, they were but a mere compliment to the truffle oil fries. I can still taste these two weeks later. I know i'm having a transcendent meal when I geek out and take a picture of the food, as this happens maybe three times a year. This was one of those times. Was hoping this place had a t-shirt or pint glass or something to remember it by, but I was awarded with an olfactory souvenir that still remains with me: because of how small this place is, my peacoat still strongly smells like Hammerheads, and I have no intention of having it dry cleaned anytime soon.
(5)
Sam B.

Hammerheads might literally be my favorite place to eat in Louisville. A quintessential gastro pub, it is definitely my favorite place to take visiting friends. The food is fun, unique, and not outrageously expensive. My favorites, all of which I heartily endorse, include: the fried mushrooms, the duck sliders, the Grippo and Truffle fries, the Chicken and Waffle (best fried chicken I've ever had and the sweet potato waffle is delish), the shrimp and grits, and the PBLT (pork belly sandwich). Additionally, they always have a good albeit not extensive selection of beers on tap. It's not fancy, but the food is delicious and an evening at Hammerheads will not be quickly forgotten.
(5)
Annie S.

I am giving this restaurant a 4 ONLY because it is a very SMALL place and even on a Monday after 8PM it is difficult to get a table (we waited about 30 minutes) The wait was worth it because the food was amazing. I'm pretty sure I had the Lamb Burger and enjoyed it very much. The Mac & Cheese Balls Appetizer is amazing and the duck fat french friends are just perfect. Go. Be prepared to wait. Enjoy!
(4)
Daniel P.

We were passing through Louisville and stopped for dinner. The place was busy, but we found two seats next to the window at a high-top table/bar. Food and Drink: The beer selection was good and my wife and I were able to find something we hadn't tried before. We ordered the macaroni and cheese balls as an appetizer, the PBLT (Pork Belly version of a BLT) and the pork tacos on special for the evening. Then a side of the fries with herb seasonings. Normally, I wouldn't consume so much pork, but because they smoked it right outside the restaurant it was too tempting to pass up! Atmosphere: The feel of the place reminded of us home in Lawrence, KS. The Cheech & Chong christmas style lights added to the hipster feel the place. Even though we were from out of town, the staff made us feel right at home. For the most part the patrons seemed to be of varying backgrounds and ages, anyone would feel comfortable here. Price: The prices for everything were very reasonable. Unfortunately, the kitchen was slow on getting our basket of fries to us, so the bartender kindly offered to remove the fries from our bill. Summary: If I was a local, I'd be a regular here. Everything exceeded our expectations!
(5)
Jaimelyn C.

I've only been to Hammerheads twice but I can definitely say that this is one of my favorite restaurants in the Ville! First time I went, I had their elk burger and the second time, just their regular angus. Pretzel buns and truffle fries for both! They're to die for! I must say that I liked the elk burger better though. NOTE: Come in a bit early, especially during peak days/hours. They have a lot of customers with limited number of seats. But If you have to wait, the food is well worth it. :)
(5)
Emily S.

Hammerheads was unbelievable!! My cousin and her husband decided to take us here when we came in town. The fact that it is in the bottom of a house was definitely weird at first. You can definitely not judge this book by its cover! It looks like a dive bar when you walk in, but the food does not fit that category. We were lucky and arrived at the perfect time, and only had to wait for about 5 minutes. By the time we left, the place was stacked with people waiting. They have a great micro brew selection to pick from while you are waiting though. We ordered the duck fries to start off with, and they were delicious! For my main meal, I ordered the PBLT and it was to die for. My group also ordered the duck tacos, and one of their burgers, which everyone said was fantastic. I loved that all of the food was served on cutting boards... very unique! I would highly recommend Hammerheads!!
(5)
Andrea D.

Our family of five went on a Monday night but still had to wait for 20 minutes. It was not what we expected. Outside is not impressive at all. Our first impression was of a dumpy house with trash sitting outside. That said, the food was excellent, staff was very friendly and we ended up really enjoying ourselves.
(4)
Callie M.

My venison burger was fantastic as was the pulled pork. A definite must try if you are looking for a hole in the wall with great atmosphere and good craft beer selection.
(4)
Jason G.

Hammerheads is a restaurant I had been wanting to try for a while but always had a good suburbanite excuse not to drive all the way downtown. We finally made it out last night and were not disappointed. Once we finally found the place there was kind of a "well I guess you go in this door down here" moment, as it is pretty inconspicuous. Upon entering the bartender told us to sit where we wanted which we did. We proceeded to order each of the sliders: duck, beef and pork. We also ordered the beer cheese appetizer which came with a pretzel croissant. These were all very good, the pretzel bread itself was exceptionally delicate although I would have like the beer cheese to be a little warmer both in temperature and spiciness, although that is a personal opinion. For dinner I had the baby back ribs with Grippo fries cooked in duck fat. The ribs were very good and the bbq juice (not sauce) was different that anything I have had at a Louisville bbq joint. The fries were pretty decadent, all were crispy and I finished nearly the entire basket myself; a great compliment to the ribs. My wife had the soft shell crab sandwich on a pretzel roll which she raved about. She ordered the truffle fries which we both though were a little heavy on the white truffle oil so some of those went uneaten. I'm a pretty preppy dude so I was a little worried that I wouldn't fit in the the hipster scene here but my worries were unfounded as the dining room ran the gamut from hipster to family to date night. The beer selection was great for a dive...I had the Founder's Double Trouble IPA...but my wife was a little disappointed they didn't have a full bar. I'm guessing this is an issue with space or cost, but they should stock some Woodchuck cider or something for the non-beer crowd. Service was relaxed but very attentive. All in all I would highly recommend this local hidden gem.
(4)
David B.

this place is the best. good craft beers that are reasonably priced. everything on the menu is wonderful. i had the lamb ribs, pork belly slider, and brisket slider. i also ordered 4 craft beers and my total bill was $36.00. a bargain if you ask me. be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes and maybe up to an hour to get a table. the wait is worth it. my first impression is that this place is a pretentious, hipster place but everyone is extremely knowledgeable and very friendly and outgoing. i don't trust anyone who says this place isn't good.
(5)
Lauren D.

Lamb ribs with duck fat fries! Umm what more could you want? Well a elk burger I suppose....It was a great date night spot for the boyfriend and I. Very happy we went I love the choices on the menu that you just don't see everywhere else, and love the wood blocks they serve the food on. It's a small place but definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Jason R.

Finally gave in to the hype and it didn't disappoint. Pork belly bread pudding, unbelievable!!!! Everything was great!! The bread pudding was a special so it is not on the menu every night but I would call ahead and check. Loved the Chorizo burger and the pretzel buns. Great choices for french fries as well. My only issue with this place is that it gets really busy and it is a little small with no really great waiting area. Get there early!!
(5)
John F.

I love this place. Great food... Takes a while to get a seat but the wait was worth it.
(4)
Matt C.

This may be one of the best tiny little dives I've ever seen. Delicious food prepared by great chefs in an unassuming little corner bar boasting an eclectic and affordable beer list that has something for everyone? Yes please. The availability of meats not normally found in standard bar fare (like duck, elk and venison) further differentiates Hammerheads and lends both street and kitchen cred to the kitchen. The two big drawbacks are perhaps inevitable given the setup, but still substantial: 1) Potentially long waits in an awkwardly tight space (mostly in the winter when hanging around outside is at its least appealing) 2) They run out of a lot of ingredients as the night goes on--beyond normal dinner hours, expect a very trimmed down menu due to shortages
(4)
Jim H.

These boys really know how to cook!!! We accidentally arrived 10-minutes before they opened the doors - - - which was great timing to be seated without waiting. The service was amazing fast since the inside seating filled up within 5-minutes and everyone was placing their orders at the same time. We ate the beef brisket sandwich on a pretzel bun, french fries cooked in duck fat, pork tacos and the grippo fries. I topped it off with the bacon brownie. The food was to-die-for lick-your-plate-clean good. No question about it. I had to try the bacon brownie. I'm not sold on adding the bacon - I would have preferred ice cream or whipped cream on top of a warm, chocolate brownie. I would put this place of my list of must-eat-at diners.
(5)
Jordan M.

This is exactly what I look for in a restaurant. It is VERY unique, quirky, with some fantastic food. You have to have an open mind when eating here as their menu is full of deliciously different options. It is located in the basement of someone house. Sounds sketchy, right? It's all a part of the atmosphere. I have only eaten here once, but I tried a bit of everyone's dish and it was all heavenly. This place was enjoyable and a lot of fun. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Kristi P.

Beef brisket was amazing!! Sweet potatoe fries are the best. Get here early. It's a little hole in the wall place. But one of the best places I've been in Louisville.
(5)
Brock M.

Easily, some of the best food I have ever had in my life. Reading the reviews was the best thing to do, for going in this restaurant for the first time. I knew there would be a wait, which I was fine with going in knowing, and would wait that long every time I go back. If you don't want to wait or will complain about the wait after reading multiple reviews about warning you there will be a wait, just don't go, this place doesn't deserve negative reviews like that. The setting was very understandable once I arrived. This placed lived up to the hype/suspense, 100%. Only let down was they were out of chicken and waffles for the night, which was what I was going for. We got the Mac and cheese balls for our appetizer, they were awesome, if you like Mac and cheese. You'll love them. I got the elk burger and grippo fries for my meal, first time having elk. And it was the best burger I've ever had, hands down. The sun dried tomato aioli on it was so tasty! Fries, we're just jaw dropping. Pretty much, cannot wait to go back and try more things they have. Awesome place. The staff were nice, checked back up on us, suggested things etc.
(5)
Damian C.

It's a bar. It's a restaurant. It's in a house. Like, my dream of having a bar and restaurant inside my OWN house. It's like, you're driving down the road and looking over and are like "Who's having the block party? What are all these cars doing around here? Why are all these people walking into that house? KEGS?!?!?!" This place gets hot. Two of us arrived around 6PM and scored a 4-top in the front part of the restaurant. I mean, it was the only place to sit, and we were not about to sit up at the window. TRUTH. The menu is full of almost nothing healthy but we put in enough miles on the treadmill at 6AM so it was off to Chunky Town, population us. We ordered a couple brewskis and scoured the menu. Naturally, we couldn't pass up the mac n cheese balls. 3 huge balls. 3 huge, delicious, piping hot mac n cheese balls. Swallow your pride and open wide, people. We were not ones to pass on those and you're missing out if you do. NOM. Next came the duck tacos, which, although the more healthy option of our overall choices, were nothing short of making you feel gluttonous. The duck was perfectly crispy and well-flavored, but definitely on the small end for $12. Oh, and they snuck some sort of mayo or aioli on there. GAH! I say skip, but my co-worker liked them, so you'll have to be on your own with these. The elk burger? Showstopping. Granted, I have never had elk before, and have trouble even picture what an elk is (80% deer, 10% horse, 10% moose?! I dunno), but whoever says they don't like elk is a certifiably crazy person. Juicy, greasy, and a little bit of kick... and all topped with a salty pretzel bun. It was literally one of the top 5 burgers I have ever had. Solid truth. The winner of the show, by far, was the truffle fries. The grippo fries get an honorable mention, but damn Gina, those truffles fries. Some of the best I have ever had, and plenty I have had, of course. Beware that they come in a basket big enough for two so in actuality we ordered for four, but they are so damn good you'll wanna slam the whole basket and get all fat and stuff. Thankfully, we didn't. This place gets packed super quick and we felt a little bad (only for a brief second) that we were sitting at a 4 top while groups were standing waiting for tables. By standing I mean giving us death stares with each crunch of a french fry and sip of a delicious brew. If you plan to make a night of it score as many seats as you need for as many people in your group. People wanna eat, yo. Most awesome basement bar/restaurant ever.
(5)
Michelle C.

Hammerheads was something that people have been talking to me about for sometime now so I think I may have built it up a little too much in my head. There's no real waiting inside, but thankfully my parents had gotten there early so we didn't have to wait very long. When we were seated we got waters and ordered the macaroni balls which are gigantic. You get three and I wish we'd had six people because eating a whole one myself nearly stuffed me. They are quite tasty though. My mom and husband ordered beers that they liked but my dad and I stuck with water. I don't know if it was because it was so hot outside or what but we never got ice refills, only water. I ordered the soft shell crab tacos with jalapeÃ±o and sage aioli. They tacos were really tasty and I was glad they put the aioli on the side because it was a little much for me. Now, they do have the sides and you can get anything you want fried in duck fat. *drool* Or so has been my experience so far. They only have one duck fat frier, so anything that gets the duck fat all goes into the same place. I don't know if that was it or what, but the fries we ordered weren't the best. Over all the place was really good, I just wouldn't have a whole macaroni ball or duck fat fries next time.
(4)
Alex T.

My Favorite spot in Louisville to eat. Hard to get in on the weekends but it's worth the wait. Fried mac n cheese balls and truffle duck fat fries are a must! My favorites are the brisket or the venison burger. Love this place! Go!
(5)
Helen S.

Everyone must try Hammerheads at least once. Everyone. Plan to go early. It is a tiny place and you will wait. But totally worth it.
(5)
McKenzie I.

The food here is great, its not just your average cow/chicken. You can have duck (succulent), venison (soo savory), lamb (haven't got to try it yet, but it looks amazing), and an array of other great meats. The sides are really good, great portion size and the salads are really fresh with great dressing selections. As far as the alcohol, well... I wasn't 21 last time I was there, which was just a little while ago, but they seemed to have a great selection and everyone but me had a local brew beer. Be warned if you don't get a beer and you get a soda, it's in a can. So no refills. Coke products, always a plus. Its in a basement in a residential area. Be prepared for very cozy quarters, a long wait and you may be seated directly where people are waiting and it can get kind of uncomfortable. All in all, friendly people, great food and seemingly great booze. Enjoy.
(4)
Chris C.

The food here is probably six stars, it's that good. Four stars overall because of the location, wait times, and ambiance. They could really, really use a second location (instead of opening up other restaurants like Loop 22) that actually has a vent. I'm really not sure how this location is up to city code given you leave there smelling like the food for days. But, still... the food is really, really good.
(4)
Justin H.

Gawd, I love this place... I've taken several out of town friends, locals and family to Hammerheads and no one has ever been disappointed! I would love to comment on their menu but I've only ever had like 3 things, despite being here over 20 times. I can not get enough of their pork tacos!!!! Juicy, tender, fresh and at a great price. The mac/cheese balls is also something you MUST try. The environment/seating capacity may turn off some people but I love that it's the epitome of a hole in the wall. Their food, drink and service speaks for itself - no need to redesign the interior, move locations or focus on anything but the food. I try to go here as often as possible but in my opinion, it's best to get there before 6pm because it's pack from 6pm on. Perfect spot to start your weekend!
(5)
Landon L.

Hammerheads is one of the best dives ever, especially in Louisville. The place is easy to miss, as it's in a basement. It has a very cozy and active atmosphere, but is a bit loud and crowded. Definitely a place to let loose and have a good time (aka not recommended for older or youngsters). The service was quick and courteous and all of our food was perfect. I had the fried mushrooms, the PBLT (Pork Belly, Lettuce, and Tomato) and sweet potato fries. The fried mushrooms were the best I've ever had and had a very deep flavor and the sauce served with it made it all the better. The PBLT was succulent, flavorful, and incredibly filling for less than $10. The sweet potato fries were to die for! They struck a perfect balance between fried and sweet.
(4)
Kellee K.

Four of us had dinner, it was my husband's second visit, I had heard all about it, but I was unable to picture the drab basement serving up incredible eats. You might think you're in the wrong place when your GPS leads you to a house in this Germantown neighborhood, but once you spot the hammerhead you'll know you've arrived. The scent of smoke that permeates the air will be your second clue, and if it's later in the evening you'll surely be met by a large crowd. Upon viewing the menu, I noticed that meat dominates and prices are fair. Once I laid eyes on duck tacos ($12) there was no question what I would be having. My husband loved the lamb ribs last visit, but wanted to try something new. He had nearly decided on pulled pork but he was swayed to try the baby back ribs ($22) when our waiter mentioned that they were his favorite. The angus ($8) and elk ($12) burgers were also chosen. We ordered duck sliders ($4 ea), and mac and cheese balls ($7) to start. We shared grippo fries ($4) in duck fat ($3). The ribs were the best we've had outside of Texas. They were mighty delicious. The duck tacos did not disappoint. The sliders were weak, but it was no fault of the duck. It was the bun that was the culprit. The mac and cheese was creamy and smoky. The hollandaise didn't woo me so I wished I had ordered the side instead... Lessons for next time. The fries were seasoned with a sweet spicy BBQ seasoning. They were good, but I suspect I might like the truffle fries better. Overall, I was pleased by the quality of food. You wouldn't expect it from its divey appearance.
(4)
Jeanette G.

Usually these small neighborhood establishments are great places to eat and have a drink - but I was very unimpressed with "Hammerheads." Located in the basement part of a corner house should have been my first warning. The place is small with exposed wiring and dirty air vents. The menu was limited to mostly game selections and nothing for anyone who eats chicken. I ordered an Angus burger which was $8.00 and very small - did not even include a side item. It was served, to my complete astonishment, on a cutting board! This to me speaks volumes as far as how porous the surface of a wooden cutting board is. I immediately transferred my burger to a small appetizer plate. I felt dirty the entire time I was there - some family members I was with chose to eat here so we went along to try it out. Before they opened the doors to the waiting public outside you could see workers inside killing flies and spraying windex on the windows and tables. My husband ordered the one and only vegetarian selection on the menu - he was also unimpressed. Don't use the bathrooms unless absolutely necessary; I waited until we left and used one at a nearby fast food joint. Next day we were both experiencing stomach cramps. This place may be an establishment locals probably love, but I give it a thumbs down.
(2)
Erik H.

WOW! This venue is Amazing & It's a Great Place to try Exotic Foods that really taste Amazing! This venue sits in a residential area and is smaller than the reviews given. It's more of a dive-bar with International Class Food! We used Uberx to find this location and when we saw the venue thought we were going to a party at someone's house. The hours are only from 5 pm to 10 pm & we had the duck to start our meal. The staff made sure we had everything we needed for our meal and encouraged us to Yelp review our experience. Honestly, I would travel here just to try the foods on the menu anytime. The food is just this AMAZING! This place should be featured on the Food Network as it's one of the Best Places in the Country! "Let's Go! Make It Happen!"
(5)
John S.

Other reviews are pretty spot-on. Come here on a weeknight (besides Friday) and arrive early to beat the crowds. Have been here a few times and service and food is always spot on. Type of place you bring your friends from out of town. Whatever you order, you MUST get the truffle fries! As others have said, ceiling is low and there isn't much seating. Also, always is packed on Friday nights and the weekend and the waits can be really long
(4)
Meredith W.

Hammerheads is on our list of our top 5 favorite in Louisville! The atmosphere is unique and fun and the food is some of the best you'll find in the city. I highly recommend the duck tacos, PBLT and the Elk burger. The fries are also amazing. Don't go here if you're an impatient/needy customer because you're most likely going to have to wait awhile for a table and the service is a little slow but we don't mind because it's so worth it!
(5)
Robin H.

I tried their twist on the chicken and waffles and was not disappointed. A fun place with great food and atmosphere.
(5)
Sara G.

The food at Hammerheads was amazing! The only thing holding this place back from five stars was the slow service. We ordered the seasonal salad, elk burger, and truffle fries in duck fat. Everything was extraordinary. My husband said the burger was one of the best he's ever had and he was eating the fries so fast I barely got any! Everything was reasonably priced in my opinion, too. You have to pay extra for the duck fat so the fries ended up costing $8, but they were totally worth it! They also had a decent selection of beer, but we were driving so we didn't get a chance to try any. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in Louisville. It's a bit off the beaten path, but worth the trip!
(4)
Michelle A.

I'm currently in a food coma, super happy belly, and unable to move. We had the duck tacos, smoked mac and cheese side dish and 1/2 slab of baby back ribs. I would easily ask for this meal as 'my last meal'. It's that good. The 1/2 slab of ribs were freaking massive. The bbq sauce that they have is something I seriously considered stealing and putting in my handbag. Our server/bartender/angel Nick totally pointed us in the right direction. This place is divey and perfect with an amazing beer list. Oh yeah, and the prices kick ass too.
(5)
Brad S.

Oh my! This place is the hidden gem of Louisville. Situated smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood, in the basement of a house, Hammerheads is a dive-bar serving up some world-class grub. I thought I was in the wrong place when I saw it on the GPS, but upon arriving, a small crowd of people milled about around outside. The second I opened the door, I was greeted with the strong smell of delicious smoked meats. It was busy inside, it was a Saturday, but we were able to be seated quickly. The beer list is excellent, with regional and national beers to please any taste. The menu was the real star here - I started with a pulled duck slider, and had lamb ribs as my entree. Both were out of this world! I'd never had lamb ribs before, these were perfectly cooked, wonderfully seasoned, beautifully presented nuggets of amazingness. My friend got the pulled pork tacos and a side salad, both looked great as well. I'd send anyone to Hammerheads during their visit to Louisville! I'd consider this five-star dive-bar for sure.
(5)
Alvaro R.

Honestly, Hammerheads is very overhyped. I read the reviews and was expecting something out of this world and its just (good). I wouldn't mind it if the food was extraordinary.. but it was just good and that made other things stand out. A hot muggy basement with your grandmas old unwanted chairs for seating and overall lack of space. When you walk in and wait to be acknowledged you are already rubbing elbows with a diner on your left and someone sitting at the bar on your right(not an exaggeration). The waitress was very nice . However, We got our appetizers at the same time as our entrees. We ordered brisket and pork belly sliders. They were good. Smoked Mac and cheese was again nothing special. I had the elk burger and ordered it medium rare it came well done. It was a bit dry but still good. The Angus burger also came in well done despite being ordered medium. The beer choices were good but both of my drinks came in a tad warm. All in all not a bad restaurant but there are too many better options in Louisville than this. I would say Hammerheads is something you go to just so you can confirm that it is indeed located in someone's basement.
(2)
Lena H.

Love this place! We went on a Saturday night. Yes, the wait was an hour, but it was definitely worth it. We grabbed a few beers from the bar while we waited, and had a fun time chatting with those waiting. We ordered the fried mac n cheese ball for an appetizer. Be prepared to share! We got three huge balls with hollandaise sauce. It may be a heart attack waiting to happen, but it sure would be a great way to go. My husband got the venison burger. He loved it. I thought it was good considering I do not like venison. We shared sweet potato fries that were fried in duck fat. Even though the fries were good, the duck fat is a little overpowering for those fries. Next time we'll get regular fries fried in duck fat. I got the PBLT which is a pork belly with lettuce and tomatoes. OH MY GOSH! It is perhaps the best sandwich I have ever had. You must get this! Words cannot describe how phenomenal this is! You may have to wait a while, but the food is outstanding, the atmosphere is fun, and the beer list is great!
(5)
Monte H.

Everything at this place rocks. Rockin food, rockin ambiance, and rockin service. My gang and I ordered half the menu, and we'd order half the menu again - unless we order the whole menu. Because it's all that good.
(5)
Josh F.

Typical vegetarian here, but I must say this place has the best mushroom based veggie "burger" I have ever had. Some serious good flavor, pretzel bun with Brie cheese knocked it out of the park. Place is very small so take heed to all the reviews you read, get here before they open on the weekend and get in line. I just wish there were more places like this. I will be back.....
(5)
Brian R.

It's all about the food. Aaaawwwwww that flavorful food. That aside there is no frills when it comes to atmosphere or overall appearance. Not that you'll care probably (I DO). The menu will delight with it's tasty little treats and meats. Together me and my dining partner had a Brisket Sandwich, Pork Belly Tacos, Mac-n-Cheese Balls, and two different types of their fries. I was most bothered by the trend of having canned sodas at $1 a can. For which I am not a fan of at all. I am also bothered that the waitress whose job is mostly to take an order and bring you the order is expecting a tip. If I'm not getting repeat table service I hate tipping for such an establishment. Still, GO GO GO! You'll love the food and you probably won't be as picky as I am.
(4)
Ashley G.

Went on a whim on a Friday with my family. It was raining and we did have to wait but it was TOTALLY worth it!
(5)
Marina H.

Fried mac & cheese balls. Brisket and duck tacos. Pork belly sandwich. Feeling like you're in your friend's basement. Love it all! The best is taking people from out of town here, watching them take in the casual, cramped and slightly jarring atmosphere, and then seeing the light bulb go on over their head when they take their first bite of food. The draft selection is always great as well. This place is always crowded because it is the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
(5)
Matt G.

BAR - Quite filled with a great rotation of rare local and import brews, and tasty beverages (most of which because the curse of gluten intolerance I cannot enjoy anymore). Entrees tried: Smoked Baby Back Ribs - YES! 4.7/5 - tender, slow smoked and literally falling off the bone...people say that waaaay too often, but this is an effortless tug with your teeth, and there will be a clean bone left in your hand. We're talking fork ribs here. Delicious full bold flavor, with a kind of BBQ bark on the outer layer. Love it. Pork Belly & Brisket Tacos - 4.5/5 - excellent portions of smoked pork belly and brisket, both "melt in your mouth" tender, and quite suitable for corn tortilla (which if the meat was too tough, the corn tortilla would crumble in your hands while your trying to salvage the leftover meat & pico). Sides Tried: Grippos fries & Sweet Potato Fries 4.8/5 - DUDE...the Grippo fries are an American Classic. You CANNOT go wrong with these unless there is something wrong with your taste buds. Sweet potato fries compliment some of the spicier menu items very well. I think you should ask for syrup to go with these as a dipping sauce to complete the picture perfectly. Service/dining: Love this place...it's a "hole in the wall" type atmosphere, but when see those monster slow smokers out front, and then you catch a whiff of the greatness in store...never mind the size of the place. While smaller there's more patrons able to dine than you think which can lead to slower service if packed, but it's never been a deal-breaker for me. Staff has an off-brand "Louisville underground" feel to it which can go either way depending on your tastes...service with smile--piercings, and tattoos included (and if you're lucky, of the exotic attractive hipster variety). This makes my Louisville Bucket List of Restaurants 4.7/5 (but I'm giving it a 5 on here, bc it's so much better than a 4)
(5)
Wade S.

Was my first meal in Lou. Food was good. Everything I tried from duck fat fry, pork belly, lamb (mutton) ribs was super tasty. Not really into the "presentation" on the boards. Great beer list. Dive bar with cool kids and great food. Wear your old clothes, you'll smell like you worked the fry station at a smokehouse when you leave tho. Went in once and left cause the ran out of food. Other than those things, good food in an unassuming environment.
(3)
phil m.

Small, cramped, but with great food. Not a big menu, but everyone in our group enjoyed what they had. I will go back.
(4)
Eric J.

Hammerheads never disappoints! I finally had the baby ribs instead of the lamb and they were absolutely amazing. I still prefer the lamb but there was nothing wrong with the baby backs. A full rack is a ton to eat and they fall right off the bone. I will always visit this place any time I am in Louisville!
(5)
M S.

There was nothing healthy about our meal here, but it sure was delicious! Our group's favorites were the mac and cheese balls (among the kids) and the shrimp and grits (among the adults). The brisket and duck sliders were good, but not quite as memorable as those two. Service was great, too. And while the space has a lot of character, it's in a small, cramped basement with a noisy, unbelievably small kitchen that is fairly open to the dining room.
(4)
Natalie S.

the food was so good we wanted to come back the next night. time didn't allow but next time we are in town we will be back. we really enjoyed the special beer cheese (which was delish!).
(5)
David R.

Hammerhead's was strenuously recommended by a local friend who joined us for dinner during our weekend visit. Left to our own devices, we would have taken one look at this joint and fled. Not only is the entire restaurant crammed into a dim, dingy, sweaty basement in an otherwise residential neighborhood, but the Saturday night wait times stretched nearly to an hour. BUT--it was mostly worth it because the food was interesting and delicious. Choosing an entree from all the intriguing choices was really tough, but I finally went with the elk burger and loved it. For starters and sides we devoured grippo fries, garlic & herb fries, and the cheddar grit cake. I could take or leave the grit cake, but both varieties of french fries were outstanding. I would love to know what is in that grippo seasoning. They also provide an unusual, thin, barbecue-ish sauce on the table which tasted great squirted on almost everything. I was disappointed in the draft beer selection but they have enough bottles among which to find something good. I would definitely go back on a future visit, and I advise other potential first-timers not to be scared off by the look of the place. Bring a couple of friends, share a bunch of dishes, and enjoy.
(4)
Kate J.

Amazing. EAT HERE. Be at the doors at 5pm for faster service and a table. Try the brisket tacos and venison burger with truffle fries. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Chris H.

Fantastic Q! This is a must try. The truffle fries in duck fat, lamb ribs and baby back ribs were phe phenomenal. The Q was moist and didn't really need any sauce with the amount of flavor in the meat. I'll make a special trip back to KY to come here.
(5)
Jackie S.

Nothing special. Doesn't live up to all hype. Food average. I was expecting spectacular. Burger tender. Truffle fries greasy. Large beer selection. Liked dive atmosphere and staff friendly. Disappointed. Would not return.
(3)
Aysia H.

I love hammerheads! It's small, yes, so just be prepared. I ordered the chicken and sweet potato waffles for $13 which were really tasty! Although, they are chicken wings and it makes it a little difficult to eat the chicken and waffle together. My boyfriend got half a rack of lamb ribs for $10 which were so soft and tender they practically fell off the bone! Yum! Over all we really loved it! It was fairly priced and didn't disappoint!
(5)
Mike H.

If you're taking a girl on a date and want to show her that you know the cool, little, obscure places with great food, this is the place to go. Food was good enough to mask the hipster vibe, you know. ...man buns. ..tank tops. ..skinny shorts. You know, the unoriginal, I'm so original look. Anyway, creative menu, great dive atmosphere and pretty good beer list. Upscale bar food in a dive bar in a basement of a house in the middle of a residential neighborhood. If you're driving there and think you're going the wrong way keep driving. ..you'll find it by the line outside. Lamb ribs were great (gf didn't think so) duck tacos were good (gf didn't think so). Fries with truffle oil were great (gf agreed). Pork belly sliders were awesome (gf yelled at me on the way home for not just ordering 10 of them) Staff recommended beers were great (gf slurred that she agreed). Prices were good for the uniqueness and quality of food. We ordered 5 things and still spent more on beer than on food. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jason B.

Their Pork Belly Sliders are literally one of the best things I've ever eaten...Beer is cold and the bartenders and servers are much more friendly and engaging than other places of this sort...highly recommend!
(5)
Kush A.

This place is the place to go if you are willing to try out something new around Louisville. The elk burger is to die for and the Mac and cheese balls were perfectly cooked. They have great service. It's also got a pretty chill ambiance too. Nothing too fancy, just a great casual place to eat if you like great food
(5)
Shawn W.

FANTASTIC! Food was phenomenal! Had the ribs, macaroni balls, and truffle fries. Everything inspired a reaction of 'To Die For'. Ribs were some of the best, if not the best, I'd ever eaten. Truffle fries had me dancing in my seat and I assure you that's not a pretty sight. Only complaint was that they did start running out of the hotter menu items as the night progressed. As many have stated, the trick is to get there EARLY. Was actually reluctant to post my review for fear of letting the secret out. Bon Apetit
(5)
Michael G.

I am typically not a fan of dive restaurants and restaurants situated in bars. Pulling up to this restaurant and walking in did little to change that mindset; however, once the food came out, my mind was opened. The food is surprisingly sophisticated and was quite tasty and fulfilling. Definitely a place to check out.
(4)
Marbou C.

Ate here for the first time on Nov 1. Waited an hour for two seats at the bar. I'd wait 2, to sit outside. It is one of two places in ALL the places I've eaten in Louisville that are where I've had the best food I've ever tasted in life. The atmosphere is awesome the people from staff to other patrons was amazing. The Pork Belly Slider is amazing. I had the BBQ lamb ribs and they were cooked perfectly, all washed down by a Brooklyn Brewery Chocolate Stout. I'm going back. IF YOU'RE READING THIS, GO EAT THERE!!!
(5)
M B.

I went because of the great review. I didn't get it at all. The food was ok. You can get better food and better location other places. It looks like a basement in a old house.
(3)
Kelly P.

This place is so unbelievably good! It's small, and doesn't look like much from the outside, but the food is some of the best in the city. I highly recommend this spot for dinner. Everything I've had from the menu is amazing.
(5)
Chad P.

This place is VERY COOL! Located in the basement of a "shotgun house", it has all the feel of a speak-easy. Very cozy with nothing fancy, it seems that you are treated as a local regular, even when you're an out-of-towner there for the first time. It's a clean establishment. However, the ceilings are very low, watch your head. I had several items from the menu: softshell crab tacos, pulled pork tacos, and lamb ribs. All were good dishes but the crab tacos are OFF THE CHAIN! Great beers on tap, some local, some national, but all tasty. I highly recommend checking this place out, worth every penny.
(4)
Chris Z.

Burgers and ribs served in a basement with a kickin' beer selection. I'm in. I tried the duck sliders, the soft shell crab sammie and an order of truffle fries. All were bomb. Nothing overly greasy. The space is tight but they do it right. I'm so glad we ventured off and found this place.
(5)
Becca G.

Tiny little smoke-filled basement. Bring eyedrops if you have sensitive eyes, and don't dress too fancy. Also, be prepared to wait for your food. We went on a Thursday so we didn't have to wait but a minute to be seated, but the food still took a while to get out from the teeny kitchen. I'd say it was worth the wait! :-) My man friend (MF) started with a Donut Stout and he thoroughly enjoyed it - I'm sure the 11.5% alcohol by volume surely helped him like it (ha ha). It was a little too dark tasting for my preference, but it is a stout and it wasn't my beer - so it's all good. Mac & Cheese Fried Balls: YUM. One of them was a little refrigerated in the middle still, but they tasted good. Fried grit cake: Oh. Em. Gee. Changed my life for sure. Best food I've ever had. I love grits... and this did not disappoint. Just cheesy enough. And the sauces were ON POINT! Some remoulade-like sauce and then some blueberry(?) bbq-esque sauce? Delicious. MF got the Chorizo burger. I got a pork belly taco and a pulled pork taco. Everything was good, but I ended up switching my MF for his chorizo burger bc I favored the burger, and he favored the tacos. The pork in the tacos was a little greasy for my liking (said the girl who just ate fried mac and cheese / grits) but the MF is a lover of greasy foods. The chorizo burger is literally a chorizo patty. On a yummy bun with some yummy sauces - all around good. Not too spicy... But I apparently don't taste SPICE anymore... So I've been told. Our table neighbors got the chicken and waffle and the lamb ribs and said it was the best food they had ever eaten. It smelled / looked delicioussss. Another plus - the bill for the 2 of us was like $50... Which is totally reasonable and less than I was expecting for all the awesomely prepared food we got. (Side note: I have also been to Game which is apparently a sister to this restaurant? I wasn't impressed with Game's food as much, and I remember it being more expensive... Maybe I'm crazy though.) Go here. On a weekday, so you don't have to wait so long. And get the fried grit cake. And everything else.
(4)
Jeremy S.

Who do I talk to about getting one of these in San Diego? Awesome friggin experience here. Not gonna lie, the place is definitely dive-y. Go inside. Seriously, the food and beer selection is awesome. I knew I was gonna love the place as soon as I heard the name, and then when I got there and saw the plaster full-size hammerhead shark hanging over the doorway, I was already in love. It goes back to my childhood fascination with sharks. I went with the folks and sisters and we all loved the beer and food. To eat, we started with the healthiest appetizer on the menu...the deep-fried macaroni and cheese. Hoo boy. Trust me on this one. Order this. Screw the diet! Even if you have Celiac disease, it is totally worth it! We all tried some really different beers. The beer selection is incredible, almost intimidating. For my meal, I had the elk burger and it was so juicy and flavorful. The pretzel bun was the kicker though. I could eat the pretzel bun just by itself. Pops had the fried catfish sandwich and the fish was so flaky and delicious. Mom had the shrimp and grits and she loved it. The place is located smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood. It is definitely worth looking for. The only ding, and I am not sure what they can do about it, is that the ventilation is terrible. You are going to smell like the kitchen when you leave. Still, once you are on your second beer, who friggin' cares.
(5)
Joshua L.

Oh god. Be careful. You will over order and you will eat everything they bring you. My advice: go for a half rack each of lamb and baby back ribs. And truffle fries. Simple. Amazing. Simply amazing.
(5)
Joey J.

The best food in Louisville as far as I know. Everything anyone has had here with me has been fantastic. Mac and cheese balls, mac and cheese not balls, fries, duck, shrimp and grits, lamb ribs... Lots of amazing food here, and clearly everyone else agrees with this many 5 star reviews.
(5)
Carlos O.

What a fun spot. Located randomly in some residential neighborhood, restaurant is in the basement of a house. Food was amazing. Had the smoked baby back ribs. Highly recommend the truffle fries and pork belly bbq beans. Sample the chicken and waffles and wow. Chicken very juicy and the waffle was sweet potato. place was awesome.
(5)
Jeromey F.

I was in Louisville for work and convinced my coworkers to let me pick dinner. When we arrived they were a little nervous because the place is in a neighborhood and located in a basement. The 2 big smokers behind the house are all I needed to know. I appreciated the nice selection of beers and the atmosphere. The food is the real draw- I had a duck slider and a pork belly slider. I shared a basket of truffle fries- this was the best meal we had in our entire trip. Suddenly my coworkers - a little uncomfortable at first were ready to grow neck beards and become hipsters too if that's what it took to get some more of Hammerheads great grub.
(5)
Manny A.

Don't let the appearance of this place fool you. The food is phenomenal. I had sweet potato fries and a half rack of lamb ribs. The meat fell right off the bones and was very flavorful. Small tap selection of beer but they make up for it with a diversified bottle list. Definitely a "must" if you are in the Lou.
(4)
Mary Margaret S.

One of my favorite places to eat. The soft shell crab sandwich is amazing! It gets pretty packed on the weekends so i usually try to go during the week.
(5)
Dave L.

Hammerheads was recommended to us by a local as a must do before leaving Louisville. Tucked away in a residential neighborhood, it literally is as the reviews say; your neighbors basement. The beer bench was deep including several pilsners and white beers, which are our favorites. There was a 30 minute wait which was easily passed with a pils and a paulner outside on the patio furniture. Once seated, we ordered the pork belly slider, gibber fries (BBQ flavored) cooked in duck fat (hells yes), and the elk burger. Although it took way too long for the food to arrive it was simply spectacular. The fries. THE FRIES. Good lord they were freaking A-mazing. The pork belly slider was a tasty bite of deliciousness. We were not prepared for the Elk Burger. Elk and organic Brie on a pretzel bun. This was a top three burger and totally the best game burger we've had. A freaking mazing. We topped off the meal with a bacon brownie. Yes, I said bacon brownie. It was deeply moist and uber chocolatey with salty bacony bits. Good lord it was totally unnecessary but thoroughly enjoyed. Service was friendly and enjoyable. Run don't walk. Go get you some.
(4)
Brandon J.

Went here based on the awesome reviews and was not disappointed. We ordered two entrees and three apps and everything came out amazing. My favorite by far was the chorizo burger with some pepper jack on top. Good beer selection too.
(5)
Jenny G.

In the midst of our roadtrip driving through Kentucky we knew we wanted to eat in Louisville. After looking through all the yelp reviews we knew we wanted to try hammerheads and were definitely not disappointed! It's important to be aware that this place is definitely in a weird location. Even though the reviews had mentioned this, we were still weary when pulling up that we were in the right place. This place is basically the basement of two houses put together to create this great dive bar/ restaurant feel. The food was amazing and had a great selection of beers! We had the fried Mac n cheese which were 3 huge balls of cheesy goodness. Followed by one of each of the sliders. Sadly they were out of duck so we didn't get to try that sliders which everyone raves about. Probably why they were already out of it. For dinner we had the venison burger and the chicken and waffles. Both absolutely amazing! The chicken was so crispy and the burger was a perfect mix of flavors. If you like bleu cheese the venison is for you! Thoroughly enjoyed my dinner here and would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a good meal!
(5)
Travis L.

If you are in the Ville, this is a must-see. Hammerheads provides its customer's with a unique experience filled with great food, beer, and company. The place may not have the decor of a commercialized restaurant, but the meal is spectacular. Each item on the menu provides a unique feeling and a great taste. The fried macaroni and cheese balls were great to start out with. Then either a burger or the ribs for the main course. Finally, the essential side DUCK-FAT Grippo Fries. Just can't be beat. Now add in the atmosphere of the place and you are bound for a great night with friends/family
(5)
Emily B.

Food receives 5 stars. Atmosphere 2 stars. If you are willing to sit in an outdated bar at the few tables they have or at the actual bar its worth the visit for the food. The bar itself could use an update! It's always packed, I bet they could afford a facelift! All that being said, the service was great! I however am about the whole package when it comes to dining out.
(3)
Will C.

No review really necessary. Come at a decent time with a small group of people, and you'll get a table quickly. Food truly is next level. There are a lot of places in Louisville (and every city, really) that boast the best burgers. You can become immune to this sort of description. Hammerheads makes the best burger in Louisville. This is a fact, without hype, and without any exaggeration. Fries ain't bad either. Actually, they're great.
(5)
Tracy A.

Not accessible for our son in a wheelchair and I'm not a beer drinker (no wine or liquor served) but... I am so glad we found this place. Loved the venison burger and duck tacos. The Grippo fries in duck fat are totally worth the hours of cardio I'll have to log! Not being from Louisville, we weren't sure about the neighborhood but you could tell by the crowd that it is a popular place. Short wait but service was great- and fast!
(5)
Leah S.

Being in Louisville for 4 days for a convention and vowing NOT to eat at a chain was a great decision. Read the reviews on Yelp and so glad we came! The place itself is small and cramped but it coulda been in a shoe and itd have been worth it. We ordered mac and cheese balls, fries and i got the venison burger and my sister got the brisket burger. The balls were good, the fries were delish, but the burgers-well how do i even begin to describe the mouth-watering deliciousness that hit my tastebuds and made them jump for joy?! Probably one of the best burgers ive ever had in my life. Arrived at 7'ish, so it was crowded. We got seated at the bar which was fine. Great service, friendly bartender always checked on us and even gave is a complimentary order of mac and cheese (bc we didnt have enough food yet lol). We were in and out and full as all get out w/in an hour. I wish this was a place at home (hey hammerheads-wanna go to st.louis????), but somewhat glad there isnt bc i could see expanding a size or 2 just eating this, and i wouldnt even be sad. Def coming back next time im in Louisville.
(5)
Zach A.

One of my favorite places in town! It's a must go if visiting
(5)
Brian G.

So.... the food visiting center of "The Ville" is a small place with the best food. I get the Smoked Cheddar Grit Cake with spring mix, pico de gallo and homemade barbecue sauce the best part is the $6.00 price tag! I tried other things on the menu but that is the good part about going with lots of friends "sharing is caring"! As for the beverage options it's your standard options with a variety of craft beer choices. But the only bummer of this place is you cannot have an adult beverage outside!
(5)
Victor R.

Want to die and go to foodie heaven? Order truffle fries and fried mac & cheese balls...and dip the fries in the cheese. I promise you won't be disappointed. Nor was I disappointed when we finally got around to trying HH's. The food was really great all around, not pricey, and arguably better than their sister restaurant (Game). While I don't always judge a book by its cover, I always judge a gastropub by its fries. These are delicious, and if you're familiar with Game's, thicker and richer. A hands-down winner.
(5)
Patrick L.

I've had hammerheads several times. Every item I've had has been fantastic. Elk burger, venison burger, grippo fries, truffle fries, pork belly sandwich, duck slider, chorizo burger. All AMAZING! They've got a solid beer list. The service is pretty good but the place is very small and gets packed quickly. But the food is well worth it and the price is not bad
(5)
Emily T.

Disclaimer: I am a vegetarian so keep that in mind. We were in town for a funeral and had heard amazing things about Hammerheads, particularly the duck and the ribs. We decided to check it out for dinner. Good: The burgers (I'm told) were awesome. Angus and elk in particular were cooked to perfection. Great beer list (even sour beers, which can be hard to find). The fries were so yummy, I ate an order all by myself. Casual, relaxed atmosphere with a diverse crowd. So-so: The service was a bit off. Our waitress dripped sauce on my jacket and my head a couple of times (thankfully it came out, but really? Please pay attention). She didn't know how to describe some of the more popular dishes, which seemed a bit weird. The place is tiny and there is no where to wait for a table, so unless you want to crowd around other people's tables, you have to wait outside (or go down the block to a different restaurant and have a drink or two there). Not so great: We went on a Friday night around 7:30pm and wanted to order duck or either of the ribs, but they were sold out of all of it. Hammerheads is known for those menu items, you would think they would have a surplus. I understand it's not really a vegetarian-friendly place so the options would naturally be limited, but the meatless protein on the vegetarian tacos was completely tasteless. The only redeeming quality was the jalapeno aioli. All in all, best advice would be to go earlier in the night and definitely order fries.
(3)
Michelle S J.

Definately one of my favorite places to go!!!! Not what you would expect when you drive up, but the food is always on point and the staff very friendly. I love the smaller atmosphere. Be prepared to wait if you don't show up as soon as they open. BUT, totally worth it!!!
(5)
Ann R.

Just close your eyes and point. No matter what your finger lands on it will be yummy. The menu never disappoints. From appetizers to dessert. One of my favorite spots. Get there early and be ready for a wait. It's worth it.
(5)
David R.

What a terrific find for a night when they didn't feed us at the conference. We found it on a Google search but needed Google maps to get here. The food is so good. They have some special ways of putting things together. The pork belly baked beans have a kick like I didn't expect. The sweet potato fries are some of the best that I have found. The elk burger, well I could go on and on. But we are leaving with our bacon brownies now. No more room.
(5)
Kimberly C.

Food is excellent, the bathroom isn't.
(4)
Kara S.

This restaurant is worth every minute that you may have to wait for a seat! Truffle oil fries, duck fat fries, deer burger, ANY burger! Try them all! With a "serve it while it's hot" mantra, you will never bite into a cold burger or fry, here. They also have a decent beer selection. Don't waste any more time! What are you waiting for!? Go, NOW!
(5)
Terri V.

If I could give Dr Martin at Martin Endodontics a thousand stars, I would. He deserves them. I've had several root canals in the past few years and the root canal performed by Dr Martin was the absolute best. Honestly, no pain whatsoever. He and his staff are kind, caring people. Without hesitation, I recommend Dr Martin. He even sent me a text to check on me! Martin Endodontics is the best!
(5)
Dave M.

Awesome, delicious, don't pass this place by, however bring a coat when it's cold outside as there is no place to wait inside.
(5)
Jon-Paul B.

Baller. Ok so I came here with my partner and we shared dishes so take that into account. We started with lamb ribs and they were great. Good flavor and slightly dry like Texas beef ribs. The vinegar base sauce was a good compliment. The duck sandwich is a must. Slow cooked duck? I mean.. Are we gonna split hairs here? Mark it 8 dude. Finally- the soft shell crab sandwich. If I could do it again, I would go with the elk burger but damn... It's just so filling. All in all a great experience!
(4)
Tim B.

This is one if not my favorite locations in Louisville. Appetizers are always great here, the fried Mac n cheese balls with a basket of grippo fries. I always enjoy the pork belly tacos/sandwich or the duck tacos. You can't miss out on the baked beans as a side. This glorious food isn't without some pain. As the restaurant only has around 10 tables plus bar seating and doesn't take reservations, take the opportunity to get there early and enjoy the ambiance of swan street. With a great selection of draught beers and a wide selection of cans/bottles, it will help pass the time. The staff is ready to recommend a dish or answer a question about the menu or beer list. That said, honestly you cannot go wrong with any of the selections, but know there is a friendly staff member waiting to help. Take some time and enjoy this great gem.
(5)
Chantel R.

Friendly staff. Where a food truck met your parents basement and all your brother's friends never left. Simple menu, wide beer selection. Tried the grits cake (twist on tamale cake). Pork slider and regular fries. Chicken n' waffle. Fun local spot.
(3)
Randall B.

What a terrific find. Wonderful food, ample portions, a decent selection of beers, and reasonably priced. I'll be back!
(5)
Seema K.

We try to get to Hammerheads when we can. Unfortunately, we don't get to go too often since they're often packed and running a wait. This week, though, we managed to show up right when some tables were emptying and lucked out. We started with the mac and cheese balls which are exactly what they sound like -- balls of mac and cheese that have been breaded/battered and deep fried -- tasty! For dinner, I had the shrimp and grits which consists of crispy fried shrimp served on a grit cake. My husband had the half rack of baby back ribs -- and told me that they were probably his favorite ribs in Louisville (including the BBQ spots). We also shared an order of the garlic and herb fries. All in all, the food here is pretty delicious and they have quite a few unique options. They also have a great beer selection. Since it's a smaller place, they often run a wait -- sometimes it's 20 or so minutes, but sometimes upwards of an hour. I wouldn't suggest going with a big group since there aren't a ton of large tables, but definitely give it a try.
(4)
Ken M.

This is one of the best restaurants in the entire USA. Sure, that's just my opinion... but put Hammerheads in any city in the country and it would be a top destination. Place is truly special and after eating here ~2 years it is still excellent. "Perfect" dishes include: Baked Beans - Best I've ever had, best every single person I've brought here has ever had Pork Belly Lettuce Tomato (PBLT) Sandwich - Excellent, as good as anything Crispy Mushrooms - Mushroom lovers die for this Duck Tacos Elk Burger on Pretzel Bun
(5)
Stephanie M.

Wallet to Food Ratio: 2:5 you could do dinner and a beer for $20 Ambiance: dive bar at my neighbor's house. The inside is dark. Christmas lights decorate the bar. And (I think) the tables and chairs were mis-sized and mis-matched. Outside are three patio tables and a horde of hungry people sipping beer from solo cups. Service: they were clearly understaffed. We ate at the bar (10 seats), and the frazzled but friendly guy had to take care of us and as steady stream of beer orders. Food: ecstasy of the truffle fries. I'm not even kidding - when I picture that pipping hot basket of fries (no Parmesan or herb nonsense sprinkled in there), my mouth fills with the ghost of the purest truffle aroma I've ever tasted. Share a $5 portion with one or several friends. These are amazing. Also, I had a half rack of lamb. It probably would have been much more satisfying if I hadn't been stuffing my face with one fry every 30 seconds for the past 10 minutes, but I could tell that the meat was tender and well-spiced. Drink: wide selection of unique beers for $5-7. PBRs go for $1.50. You can drink outside while you wait. If I ever come back, I'll go hungry for a day and bring a troop of truffle-fry-eaters. Soft-shell crab sandwich and elk burger looked interesting.
(4)
Cordell L.

A true Louisville diamond in the rough. This is a no frills basement dive bar focused on high quality gastro pub style food and great service. Try anything and you can't go wrong. Personal favorites are the chicken and sweet potato waffle and the duck sliders. Out of towners looking for an authentic and casual night out should look no further.
(5)
Drew P.

I was looking for top shelf TX style brisket which apparently doesn't exist in Louisville so I ordered the brisket sandwich. It was good but not great and certainly not brisket in par with the greats in TX. Still, this place is worth the visit and my few bites of pork belly slider was really very good.
(4)
Julie H.

I hate myself! You cannot eat here if you want to demonstrate any self control at all. The food was over the top delicious, the service was fast and friendly and the place had a cool, relaxed feel, even though it was packed and busy! Love it, love it, love it!! Wish I lived here...
(5)
David P.

The atmosphere here is so great. It makes you feel like you are eating at your super cool best friends house. You know, that awesome buddy that you have known since 3rd grade who for some reason has become an amazing cook at the age of 28 and he wants to share his great cooking and choice of beers with you, his best friend since 3rd grade. Anything you order will be great. Enjoy your experience and meal.
(5)
Mad I.

The food pictures of this place looked so great we had to go! Need to know: 1) this is a DIVE bar in every sense, off the grid neighborhood, sub terrainan feeling, full of smoke...like something is burning in the fryer and now I have to burn the cloths I wore... 2) with that said, this food feels like it's right out of a 5 star fancy pants restaurant 3) Don't think you are slick and swoop in to snag a bar seat when someone gets up, those are part of the wait list as well...and I guarantee you will feel like as ass, just as I did! 4) There is no way you can try every delicious morsel on this menu (small as it is)...so try to choose wisely, or frankly, just binge!! Here is what we ate: *Duck slider- $4 sooo tender and flavor full, worth the $4 bucks for a white castle sized bite! *Pork Tacos- $8 and boy were they great! Sooo juicy, like dripping all out the back juicy. Packed full of meat, which is a rarity in restaurant tacos. *Lamb ribs- Not a rib person... Lamb ribs are DIVINE! They did run out of these at like 7, lucky I got there early! So tender and flavorful...I have no words...this is not like ANY other rib you have had! *Truffle fries-done so perfectly! Fried to perfection, steak fries with just the perfect amount of truffle essence. They need to get some truffle aioli/mayo going though! *Chicken and waffle: $12 for 3 GIANT wings, smoking hot straight out the fryer and delicious...did need some more seasoning but what the heck, this food is so good you wouldn't flinch at such a minor mishap in this dive bar paradise. THAT WAFFLE!! What is that awesome, creative spin?? Its sweet potato deliciousness, sooo goood! *Mac and cheese-served really hot in a pyrex bowl, really tasty. I love that this place brings the food right out, it is so hot and fresh, what a 10! Bummed I didn't get to try the Shrimp and grits (drooled as it passed by) and the brownie with caramel looked bomb as well.
(5)
Nick P.

Hammerheads is the definition of a gastropub. The place is small and the decor is simple. It definitely feels like a dive bar, but this is in stark contrast to the huge and complex flavors of their food. They have great burgers. The elk and chorizo burgers are amazing! They also have a variety of tacos and sandwiches. One of my favorites is the deep fried Mac n cheese balls. Cheesy and creamy on the inside, crunchy outside with a spicy kick. The homemade Hollandaise takes them over the top, plus they're huge! The only downfall is that, again, the place is really small and they're always PACKED. You will have to wait for a table and the service can be slow, but the food is definitely worth it. This is a must try if you're in Louisville.
(5)
Bryan P.

YUM! Tried to get in here a few times before I was able to. Still, it was well worth it. Love to see cool "new" spots like this in Louisville when I come home.
(5)
Daniel C.

The first time I ever went to Hammerheads, I wasn't sure I was in the right place. I had heard friends rave about it, and finally decided to give it a try. It is truly a "don't judge a book by its cover" sort of place, but that's also its appeal. Literally a basement in Germantown without a sign, Hammerheads isn't the easiest place to find. However, once you do, you'll be treated to some of the best food in the city. The brisket sandwich is great, and every version of fry (sweet potato, garlic, duck fat...) is perfect. Let's not forget the fried mac and cheese balls; they're a must. Hammerheads isn't a big place, so be prepared to wait on a busy night, but you will be well rewarded.
(5)
Aaron S.

This basement turned restaurant won't hold many folks, but definitely don't let that deter you. Hammerheads makes great food that every Louisvillian needs to be familiar with. Lamb ribs, duck tacos, and mac and cheese balls are some of my favorite items. You also can't go wrong with anything from the smoker.
(4)
Casandra H.

We had a wonderful experience here! From the food, to the service, to environment... LOVE LOVE LOVE.
(5)
Jessica S.

Whoooooa. What an amazing place. The Lamb Ribs just might be one of my favorite things I have ever eaten, EVER. We ate some, and promptly ordered more. Don't waste your time on anything less than a whole rack. Also, soft shell crab tacos are amazing and crunchy and tender and wonderful. Suuuuper cheap beer and excellent service. Also great draft beer options. Seems like it gets super busy, so go early or wait, but it's worth the wait. I may move to Louisville and buy a house next door.
(5)
Rich R.

Food was wonderful. We had the lamb whole rack with seasoned fries. Wife had shrimp and crab cakes. The food meet all expectations. The con, the wait outside was cold 30 mins in 27% weather. Be there before 5 and save the wait.
(4)
Christy T.

The food was AMAZING! But it's incredibly small and I felt claustrophobic. The "host" sat a 15 person party in our space and there wasn't any room. A hole in the wall feel but would prefer wayyyy more space and courtesy
(4)
Kyle K.

Cool atmosphere, most everything was really good. We got the pork and duck sliders as an appetizer, the ducks was especially amazing. We got two orders of fries, the duck oil fried ones, and grippo (BBQ seasoned) fries. Don't know that paying extra for duck fries was worth it, but both were very good. My wife got an elk burger and Mac and Cheese. Mac was outstanding, elk burger was ok, a little spicy. I got lamb ribs, they were too fatty, but I think I got the crap pieces, had one with little fat and it was great. Really nice beer selection, and decently priced. They had run out of chicken and waffles, which is what I went to order, but that's ok, we will definitely go back to get it later! $70 total with a pretty decent tip.
(5)
Emilie F.

The food here is to die for! Seriously delicious. I love their pork sandwich on a pretzel bun, and their truffle fries are crazy-good. Knocked a star off the rating because I have never, even when we've gotten there right at the second they open, first in the door, gotten food in less than 45 minutes. And the waits if you don't get there early are pretty long (30-90mins), and outside. Even with all that though, the food is amazing, which is why we keep going back!
(4)
Lana L.

I've actually been here multiple times but never had written a review for this place! I usually order the same burger but I ALWAYS get the Mac N Cheese balls, it's one of the best thing ever invented!
(5)
Amber P.

I'm not going to lie- pulling up to this place we thought we had made a mistake. Tucked in an off the path residential neighborhood this place is literally in the basement of a house on a hill. However, besides being over dressed ( I recommend flip flops and board shorts), this place totally lived up to the reviews. Based on high recommendations ergot the truffle fries in duck fat and they were out of this world. My husband then ordered the Garcia burger, which is veggie made out of falafel. They serve the sandwiches cut in half on a cutting board. He said it was the best veggie burger he has ever had. I ordered the pblt of pork belly lettuce tomato with aioli on Texas toast- also, out of this world. Bring an empty stomach when you are here because after having a few tap beers out of awesome hole made glass blown taps, you will need to be "rolled" out of here. Staff was friendly and we sat quickly at the bar. However, get there early! We arrived on a Monday night around 5;45 pm and sat right down. If we entered 15 min later it would have been a 20 - 25 min wait. Thumbs up hammerheads- we would go back.
(4)
Tony D.

This place is a must-go for all visitors, even if just stopping by for a few hours. It's a pity that we didn't have more time or had the appetite to order more items, because everything on the menu looks so good. I can personally attest to the value of the duck and pork belly sliders--that pork belly was so unbelievably tender and juicy--as well as the lamb ribs and shrimp and grits. The latter two were also delicious and irresistible, especially the BBQ lamb ribs, which were grilled to perfection. Hammerheads itself is in like a basement of a house, so it is pretty snug and small. We got seats as soon as we got here, probably because it was past 10pm, but there were still enough customers here to make this place lively. Will definitely stop by again, maybe for the burgers and/or fries.
(5)
Amanda M.

Completely not what I was expecting, but a very neat place. The food was delicious. We were lucky and found a seat right away. It's a tiny place and shortly after we arrived, there was a wait. Highly recommend this though. We had an elk burger and a venison burger with truffle fries. Juicy, flavorful meat and amazing fries! I'd definitely go again.
(5)
Gil H.

This restaurant is built in someone's basement and its packed! This is what we ordered. 1) lamb ribs - the best I ever ate. 2) baby back ribs - not sure which ones are better lamb or pork, again the best I ever ate. 3) truffle fries, you will love them! Hand cut fries with a very strong truffle flavor 4) chiken and waffle- it was the best fried chicken ever, I was not crazy about the waffles. 5) bacon browny f***** great! I was there on Thursday at 6pm and got a seat at the bar right away, by the time we where done, there was a long line out the door. So get there early!
(5)
Jason M.

We asked a friend who has been in Louisville for a recommendation on where to eat that was great, different, unique, and not a chain restaurant. At the top of the list was Hammerheads. Like the others that have mentioned it, this place is easily missed. We drove around the block passing it saying to ourselves "No way that was the place. It is a basement." I mean, there was a dog on the porch upstairs. But it was the right spot. I had to duck a little inside for fear of being the guy that hit his head on the support beam. But the place was actually pretty cool. It certainly had its own personality and despite our apprehension at first, it got comfy pretty quick. At the suggestion of my buddy, I had the duck tacos, after the wife and I split the mushroom appetizers. My wife had a salad. The meals were priced fair for what we ordered and the portions were spot on. OK, so when they first brought me 2 tacos I thought I was going to have to order more, but I was surprisingly full off of those. It is pretty small inside, so I am glad we were not there during a rush or we probably wouldn't have stopped in. The service was on point. Seriously good. Way more than we had expected. They treated us like kings. Had to text my buddy and thank him for the recommendation as this is one place we would be happy to visit again and look forward to exploring more of the menu.
(5)
Thao T.

I literally could not drag my husband here quick enough after hearing all the amazing reviews and personal recommendations from friends but I was a tad disappointed. I feel like I should like it more because everyone loved it but I cant. I really enjoyed the truffle fries, it smelled heavenly and tasted of your average fried potatoes. I wanted to try the lamb but they were all out so I ordered the sliders instead. It was okay good but wasn't so amazing that I want to come back again. My dinner companions enjoyed their food, but didn't rave about it either. I plan to come back again on a less crowded night for a second try.
(3)
Alvin L.

After having the fortunate opportunity to try different restaurants across the nation, Hammerheads still manages to remain in my top 5 favorite restaurants. Everything on the menu is amazing. Although I am particular to the lamb and ribs there. Staff is always friendly and helpful. Note: Get there before 5, otherwise you will wait a while. Who am I kidding...it's worth whatever the wait!
(5)
Evan B.

Don't judge a book by its cover. Random house on Swan St. with a large underwater creature hanging above the door...a great place to eat? Dag gone sure is! This tiny whole-in the wall dive-y atmosphere is accented with crudely hung makeshift decorations on the walls. When you picture a dive, Hammerheads is it. The atmosphere borders on hipster. I'm not sure if it was due to the heat or other variables but the floor seemed greasy. I was never 100% comfortable in the environment...just not my type of atmosphere. We arrived around 6:15 PM on a Monday and there was a 45 minute wait. Good things come to those who wait, as they say. Enough about me, now onto the food and drinks. The beer selection is phenomenal. If you can't find ya a beer you enjoy here, enjoy your ice water. The menu isn't expansive, but it's more than adequate. We ordered the deep friend mac n' cheese balls. These are absolutely amazing and can be a meal by themselves. The hint of smokiness in the mac n' cheese is an excellent touch. Before our mac n' cheese came out a random server brought out a plate of deep fried mushrooms. Apparently they accidentally made them and had no one to give them to...free food? Yes, please! I'm not a mushroom fan myself, but my wife and our friends enjoyed them. If you smoke anything, I'll give it a taste. I've never had lamb ribs before so I gave a full rack a shot. If you're a hungry person go with the full rack. Lamb ribs are much smaller than the traditional pork ribs. The smoke ring was pronounced and the smoke flavor subtle. The rub had a nice hint of pepper but didn't make a good bark. The meat was cooked perfectly and came out hot and juicy. Lamb ribs were fattier than I expected. Once I learned where the fat was at, I was fine. Totally different experience than eating a pork rib. Definitely recommended. My sides were the garlic and herb fries and baked beans. The beans are probably some of the best baked beans I have ever had. They're definitely on the sweet side. My wife ordered the Elk Burger, which was uniquely delicious. It eats like a burger but tastes like no other burger you've had. Definitely recommended. Our friends ordered the brisket tacos and fried catfish. The catfish was of high quality and fried perfectly. I did not try the brisket tacos, but they looked equally amazing and I could see a nice distinct smoke ring. We finished with the bacon brownie. It came out warm, gooey, and delicious. The bacon isn't too distinct, but the saltiness cuts through the sweetness. Definitely unique...the perfect desert to cap off a delicious meal. The service was consistant and our waitress very helpful. Tip: This place is tiny. They cannot afford to have food wait in the kitchen while the rest of your meal is being prepared. When a particular dish is done, it will arrive at your table. They try to get everything out at the same time, but you get the food when you get it. The obvious upside to this is that your food is HOT when it is placed in front of you. The downside (if it really matters) is that not everyone is getting everything at the same time. Not a big deal in my book. I would love to make a return trip to sample some of their other offerings (namely the pork ribs).
(4)
Romel F.

I have been here several times since some of my out of town friends love it. The food is amazing and the atmosphere goes well with it. I can't wait until they find a location bigger that fits their style but lets them have more tables. Until then, I simply won't be back unless I'm forced to do so. If its up to me, I rather go to Game or Loop. This is why: Service. Their food is great but service is just not what I expect when I'm enjoying a great meal. I don't want you to make sure all my bites are great but I also do not expect you to stare at me from a distance telling me that you need to flip my table with your eyes. Believe me, I'm trying to eat as fast as possible but I rather taste the wonderfulness of the food your awesome chef fantastically created. I'm ok with buying more alcohol and even try desserts but with the crude, ruthless and mediocre attempt to make me have a different experience; I rather ask for a box to finish the awesome job the back of the house did like its meant to be. Slowly and savoring every bite. This food deserves it.
(3)
Cara M.

Just a fun atmosphere!
(4)
Allison S.

Most amazing vegan/vegetarian food. The beer selections are good as well. It has a BBQ aroma, cool local tunes and cozy atmosphere. This is a good place if you get babysitting as it is not kid friendly, not last time we went.
(5)
Vy N.

I didn't have a good experience because of the long wait for food. We came early to get a table and we were the first to be seated, yet we have to wait for an hour from the time we seated just to get our food. The couple next to us who came at the same time got their food and finished it and our food still not out. The table of four that was across from us came after us but somehow their food came out before ours. I was not happy! Beside that, the food was very good. My husband's BBQ lamb ribs were full of flavor. The grippo fries tasted like the grippo chips! I like my duck tacos, the seasoning was just right! My truffle fries was alright. I don't quite understand why everybody raves about it.
(3)
Meg H.

Sometimes I dream about Hammerheads. Really, I do. Succulent ribs, juicy burgers (beef, bison, venison, etc), perfectly seasoned fries (grippos, truffle, garlic... the lis goes on). The BBQ sauce is unique and doubles as a great fry dip. You won't find anything but craft beer -- some local! Presentation on wood palets is rustic, yet chic. On my initial visit, I couldn't believe I was eating in a basement. Now I understand it's not about the location, but the product. This restaurant group seems to keep the overhead low, while creating phenomenal dishes that are tasty, filling, and well worth the wait. Make sure your entire party is on hand or you won't get seated. If you want to ensure a no wait, go before 6p.
(4)
Emily H.

Read the reviews and wow date night at hammerheads was great! You walk up and think this place is what they were talking about? You wait in line before they open and we got things we've never tried before like the roasted duck sandwich and the elk burger. Both were delicious. We got a basket of regular fries for 3 dollars and we couldn't eat all of them so we got a box to take home. I definitely would recommend this place to anyone. Great service too!
(5)
Elizabeth R.

Beating myself up a bit right now because how have I not written a review for Hammerheads yet?! My freshman year of college, this was one of the first local places I tried. The atmosphere fits the city of Louisville so well. Such a strange location with it being in a basement in the middle of a neighborhood, but that's just Louisville. It has a divey feel to it, but not in a dirty way. Just in a low-light, plaid-wearing kind of way. It's a relatively small place (in a basement, after all) so if you are going right at dinner time expect a wait. But also know that the wait is well worth it! In another review I joked about my "best bite of food ever all time." Well, it was here. Their pulled pork is incredible and the first time I had it, the sandwich was exactly what I needed. It took me forever to branch out from getting the pulled pork because it is so dang good. But I'm getting better at that and now I have a whole list of favorites here- which is actually everything I've tried. I had the elk burger last time and shoot was it delicious. I love love looove a rare burger and this was cooked to perfection- not something you can get done everywhere. We also split some fries between three of us- I've never been able to eat a whole thing of fries on my own. A little out of my "eat here whenever I crave it" price range, but I still make it in every month or two. It's hard to stay away from this place!
(5)
James A.

The food was exotic and delicious. The service was prompt and friendly. It's in the basement of a large home. The bar takes up most of the space and the ceilings are low. But that just doesn't seem to matter. In fact, it adds to the experience. It's in an unlikely neighborhood location. Use your GPS to find it. I highly recommend for a group of friends out to have casual dinner and drinks or a thoughtful place for a first or second date. That being said, it's a family friendly spot. Babies and children alike. I'd like to mention they do have seating outside with umbrellas. Weather permitting that would be the place if you're claustrophobic. I notice the outside service to be equal to the indoor. I personally recommend the Elk Burger or the Ribs. (And fries, I forget the name) That's as far as I've gotten into the menu, so far. I'll keep you posted to future endeavors.
(4)
Sarah C.

So, if you don't like the smell of smoked foods, this might not be your place. Ha! As soon as you walk into this joint you are overwhelmed by the smells coming from the kitchen, which is mostly smoked meat smells. Coming from a vegetarian, it can be a bit much but still a pleasant smell. I had to take my friend here because he loves Grippos and had never tried the Grippo fries! Yes, they have delicious fries that are tossed in Grippos seasoning!! They also have truffle fries! They are fabulous as well but I think the Grippos fries are much more interesting and go better with the rest of their menu. Oh, and the mac and cheese balls! Yum! Get them! They keep a pretty good draft list and beer really does go well with their food offerings. I keep meaning to try the crispy mushrooms. Next time.
(4)
Phillip C.

Couldn't have been more pleased gastronomic alchemy going on here! After last week's visit I wondered if they could pull off another meal of such high quality. In a few words they were spot on with the terrific flavors. My burger was perfect truffle fries were the best order of fries I've ever been served in Louisville. Everyone had a very good dinner left full & happy!
(5)
Cindy W.

Pretty tasty for the most part but I think it was hyped up. It's sort of a cramped space located in a basement. I ordered the grit cake, and I liked it because it had a good crunchy outside and the inside was warm and creamy. It was also reasonably priced. People around me ordered the burgers, which come in exotic flavors (elk, for example) and they were reasonably priced. However, nothing was a standout despite the high ratings on Yelp. Prepare to wait for a while (30-40 min for a party of 5?) since it's a popular joint, but I don't think I would go out of my way to try it again. I've had better food in Chicago. However, the waitress was super friendly and nice! Must be the southern hospitality!
(3)
Lukas R.

Omg what a hole in the wall! In a neighborhood , totally unexpected. Took uber here, popped in, confirmed a bar seat for 1, then sent driver off. Maaaahvelous beer selection, limited, but had Dawson's on tap. Bbq lamb ribs, Mac & cheese balls, truffle fries fit me tummy well. Absolute joy.
(5)
Renee L.

This little joint is SO worth the trip to Louisville!!! The smell alone in this place makes the wait (if u have one) worth it!! The mac n cheese balls are incredible! Even if you aren't a mac n cheese fan, these are a must try!!! The baby back ribs ..... phenomenal! The chorizo burger was an unexpected explosion of flavors! The truffle fries with jalapeÃ±o lime aioli were fantastic as well!!
(5)
Jenny J.

God this place is so good. Had the pblt and it was so succulent and savory and delicious. So much food too for just $10. The aioli makes it. Sweet potato fries are great. And so crunchy. Huge fan of the elk burger. Atmosphere has been sufficiently described in other reviews. Basically someone's basement. Smoky and smelly. And fantastic. Long waits.
(5)
Ryan S.

Great food in a very laid back atmosphere. The service was spectacular. There's a previous reviewer that mentions not staying because the neighborhood didn't seem safe. I couldn't disagree more! Hammerheads is tucked away in a working class neighborhood in Louisville's Germantown. It is both safe and friendly.
(4)
James H. L.

Surprise, surprise - when you see basement dives with 150% of the capacity waiting to get in, you've hit gold. At first, you see a bar. You notice a very jazzy mix of tunes from the iPod equipped porta P.A. The one page menu looks like it'll have burgers and fries on it. It does. Truffle fruits in duck fat. Elk and venison burgers (house ground). And soft shell crabs in tortillas...or pretzel buns. Or brioche. A smoked vinaigrette mesclun with Maytag blue. And smoked lamb ribs. The kettle barrel smokers in the back are the dead giveaway that you've found Memphis in Louisville. And a corn cake appetizer that tastes like your devouring a bacon wrapped corn cob. And then the bartender can recite the ingredients by heart and suggest pairings among their fabulous taps and bottles. And then it keeps getting better. It's worthy of a wait (or have it to go, if you can't). Just do!
(5)
Donna G.

Very tasty ! Love the food, love the service and has a very unique ambience : X
(5)
Mike M.

While doing some recon on Yelp for good eats for our trip to Louisville, Hammerheads seemed to be one of the top rated places in town. When we got there though, we honestly didn't even think we were in the right place. The area seemed mostly residential and we couldn't even find a place that looked like a popular restaurant. After seeing the shark outside, we knew we had the right spot, even though it straight up looked like a normal house from the outside. The inside was tiny, with a pretty low ceiling and just a handful of tables in addition to the bar. There was a pretty long wait but we just decided to tough it out since the reviews were pretty convincing. After knocking back a few bottles of Weidemann's while waiting, we finally got seated. The menu looked awesome and we naturally wanted to try a little bit of everything, so we just decided to order a bunch of stuff and split it all. Appetizer: We got the Mac and Cheese Balls as an appetizer. After such a long wait, we just attacked this since we were so hungry. These were actually pretty huge and came covered in a hollandaise sauce. Super crispy on the outside and creamy mac in the middle. Fried food at its finest. Burgers: We couldn't decide on which burger to get, so we pretty much just got em all. They offered unique burgers that were made out of unconventional meats for burgers. We ordered the Elk, the Chorizo, and the Venison burgers. In the spirit of the no-nonsense meat vibe they had going on, the burgers came out on a huge chopping block, which was a nice touch. I don't remember which was which but they were all pretty damn good. I've tried some of these exotic meats in sausage form before at a place in Chicago, but this is the first time I had them in burger form. We made sure to add some extras to the burgers, such as the pork belly. Now that was some bacon on steroids. I'd highly recommend adding that to anything that you order. Just do it. Sides: For the sides, we got the Grippo fries and the garlic and herb fries. The Grippo fries basically tasted like BBQ potato chips, except in fry form, and I thought they were awesome. The garlic fries were solid too, as expected. How could anything not be good when it's drenched in butter and garlic. Because my friend is such a sauce boss, we also asked if we could get all their different aiolis on the side so we could dip the fries. Now that was a genius idea. The sun-dried tomato aioli was my favorite but the jalapeno-sage one had a really unique flavor to it. Overall, Hammerheads is a divey type place that churned out damn good food that you wouldn't expect just by looking at it from the outside.
(4)
Steve P.

This place is in a neighborhood! Very good brisket tacos. Anything pork belly is solid. The macaroni and cheese is very rich. The truffle French fries are awesome when dipped in It's a hipsters paradise lol.
(4)
Joseph T.

Well, it lived up to the hype. It genuinely was one of the best restaurants I've been to, that I can remember, and possibly the best one in Louisville. The Good: The Atmosphere. A really fun, kinda divey yet business casual ambiance. Really difficult to explain. It's a place that I would feel comfortable going to if I were wearing jeans and a t-shirt (which I was), or slacks with a dress shirt and a jacket. It really is that versatile. I've not been to many places like it, with regards to versatility. As well, re: the atmosphere - it's a fun place. Neat decorations and setup. I love the big hammerhead shark hanging above the door as you walk in. Location. I love Germantown. Any red-blooded American loves Germantown. It's blue collar, the houses and neighborhoods are neat, there are good places to eat and get a drink... Love it. Food. The appetizer of macaroni n' cheese balls is frickin legit. I had seen this being peddled by my fellow Yelpers, so I pulled the trigger. They are worth the $8 price. I would honestly pay $12 for that appetizer. It is that good. I ended up getting the elk burger with the brie. I just ate it however it came. I made sure to ask the waitress how I should order it. (It's always good to talk to your server about these things when you go somewhere that you're not used to going.) She said that the elk burger is the go-to of the burger family. I'm glad I spoke to her - it was fantastic. Fantastic flavor. The brie really adds a "loud" flavor to the sandwich. The meat is very tender and well seasoned. Excellent burger. My wife went with the pulled pork sandwich (she loves pulled pork). While eating it, she said that it was an incredible sandwich. I took a few bites. I'll say this - if those few bites I took are indicative of how the sandwich usually comes... that's the best pulled pork sandwich I've had in this city. Granted, that's not saying a ton, because BBQ in Louisville is awful, but that sandwich was legit. I'd put that up against Central BBQ in Memphis, TN any day of the week. I also ordered, per the Yelp reviews, garlic & herb fries, fried in duck fat. Now, I don't want to overstate this... the fries were very, very good. Had a good crisp to them, had a good flavor, and had a good seasoning... I just don't know that they were anything extraordinary. I've had fries that good before that didn't cost $7 for the basket. But I really did like them. I'd get them again, only not fried in duck fat (that's $3 extra), just to see how different they taste. I'd also try some of the other seasoning. Which begs the question - why don't other restaurants offer various seasonings? Interesting. Service: Impeccable. Very good. Very accommodating. No complaints at all. Perfect. The Bad: It wasn't expensive... I can just eat at several different places that I really like for cheaper. But that's OK. I spent $45 w/ tip, and we didn't get alcohol. And I drank water. But, we did get an appetizer... I don't know. Just a *little* more expensive than other places. It won't break you, but if you're going to take in the full Hammerheads experience, it's worth spending the extra dosh. There really is nowhere to wait around if you put your name on the list. The restaurant is very small, and they've put a table and chairs everywhere they can to maximize their profits (which I get). But, on a night like last night, when the temps are below freezing, you have to just stand in the middle of where people are eating. Which I'm sure is unpleasant for the people that are eating next to you, and is also unpleasant for the person standing around and waiting. But, this can't really be fixed, until the nice weather comes. Just one of those things, and I don't fault Hammerheads. The Ugly: While driving home, I started to feel a small rumble in my gut. Halfway home, the sweats began. By the time I get one mile from my house, I am not sure if I'm even going to make it. I Bo & Luke Duke'd my truck into my driveway, and ran into the house faster than Usain Bolt on PEDs, all while unbuckling my belt and untucking my shirt. I narrowly made it. I don't know what caused this. The food was cooked to perfection. I suspect that I just consumed something that my body wasn't used to having. Be it elk or duck fat or hollandaise sauce. But, as I said, it was ugly. Conclusion: Amazing restaurant. Top 5 favorites in Louisville easily. I can easily see why it is rated as high as it is. I'll definitely be back. And I can't wait.
(5)
Heather L.

Hidden, divey, and surprising. We came on probably their worst day, during a thunderstorm, when the place was flooding. Not sure whether it was the manager/owner but he was super accommodating and friendly despite the bad circumstances. We shared the elk burger, duck sandwich, and Grippos fries. I also had some really good craft beer (although on draft, it was a little warm). The 4 stars are for how delicious and unique the food is as well as the service. For this visit I will ignore the flooded, iffy, buggy atmosphere.
(4)
Kelly S.

Sometimes the wait is a little crazy but always worth your time. I've never had a bad meal here but my favorite is the truffle fries and pork tacos. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu though.
(5)
Julie M.

Well the location is odd, and if they didn't have tables with umbrellas outside you would never even know there was a restaurant there (never once did I see anything that had the name of the establishment - there is no sign out front, and nothing on the interior, including the menu, has it). So the fact that it is in the basement of a house just sort of adds to the mystery and strangeness of the place. Inside it is very small and looks like a more colorful version of a church rec room. We were promptly seated and our waitress was quite attentive. I ordered an angus burger on a pretzel bun. The meat was divine, thick and perfectly cooked. However I added brie and I probably wouldn't do that again as the cheese made everything too salty for my liking. I also got to sample (from other folks at my table), the mac and cheese balls (yum) and the truffle fries (good but the application of truffle was almost non existent, I mean I couldn't taste it) Anyway, a cool place. I certainly would return.
(4)
Heather N.

When asking a local louisvillian where we could get a good bite to eat Hammerheads was their recommendation, and they did not steer us wrong. Hammerheads is the definition of a dive bar. Located in a neighborhood and in what seems like the basement of a house, you would miss the place if it wasn't for the huge Hammerhead Shark statue outside. It is a small, dimly lit and defiantly not fancy everything a good dive bar should be. Since it is small, we did have to wait. With every inch of the bar devoted to seating, we did have to wait outside. The host did find us when our table was ready. Beer menu is large and comprehensive for all tastes. Food is straight comfort, from Pork Belly Tacos, to Duck, Ribs, Smoked Mac and Cheese, Elk burgers, Crab, Fried Chicken, everyone is bound to find a comfort food they enjoy. I ordered the Pork Belly Tacos. Each order comes with two tacos which doesn't seem like a lot but it was plenty for me, especially after eating Sweet potato fries, fried in duck fat. I also ordered the Smoked Mac and Cheese. It was very creamy and cheesy and a large portion. I would highly recomend this place for anyone in the area.
(5)
Britteny S.

If we lived in Louisville we would eat here every week. The prices were worth the quality of food and size of portions. It wasn't hard to find at all even though it was in residential area. There is a hammerhead shark above the door of the restaurant. If you haven't visited it is definitely a hidden jem of Louisville and you need to go!
(5)
Jamie B.

Based solely on all of the raving reviews on Yelp, I had to come to this place while in town. I am sure glad that I did. The only problem with this place is deciding what to order. All of the items are very appealing. I went with the tacos; one duck and one pork belly. My buddy went with the slides and fries and he loved his food as well. I will defiantly be back the next time I am in town.
(4)
Ashley I.

AMAZING!!! Everyone I talked to said I had to go to hammerheads, that it is a hole in the wall but the best southern food. They were all correct! We ordered the Mac n cheese balls, baby back ribs, veggie burger (for the vegetarian sister), and duck tacos. Everything was great, so flavorful! When you order the Mac n cheese balls, it comes with three. Thank gosh, there were 3 of us because I would have eaten all 3 of these deliciousness myself if given the opportunity. The ribs were the fall off the bone type you dream of. However if bbq sauce is your thing, these ribs were lacking that. However, the texture and flavor more than made up. My sisters enjoyed their burgers and tacos, and said this was their favorite out of all the places I took them. We went Monday at 6 and their was only a 15 minute wait, however I understand the hour long waits that happen on the weekends. I will be coming back soon for the chicken and waffles!
(5)
Tara M.

Okay I know.. Three stars, I must be crazy. I've been wanting to try this place forever and finally did this past weekend, with my SO. We had a little wait, no biggie, we expected it, and we sat outside and had a (really good) beer. The guy who put us on the list was really pleasant, as was the guy who got our beers, and the waitress. My only complaint was with the food- I honestly wasn't impressed. We had the truffle fries, smoked Mac n cheese with truffle oil, duck sandwich, and pork belly tacos. The fries really were good, but to me they were just fries. The mac n cheese wasn't all that- and I learned I have an aversion to truffle oil- the smell really grossed me out but apparently that's common, and of course has nothing to do with the restaurant itself. My boyfriend was happy there was more for him, anyways. The duck sandwich to me was just boring, and didn't taste any different than any other smoked meat I've had. Honestly, I felt the same about the tacos. I am a big fan of pork belly, and this was probably the poorest belly experience I've had.. I also wish the garnishes on the taco were a little stronger to cut through the heaviness of the pork, and add a little dimension to the dish. I was expecting to be blown away by this place, and maybe that was why I was let down. Either way, I'll definitely be back to try some other dishes and when I do I'll fill yall in on how my opinion changes!
(3)
Bethany Z.

This place is awesome and very different. The only thing that stinks is the size . You have to get there before they open in order to get a good seat. They also run out of the best things on the menu, sometimes early on. So if you want the bore ribs get there early . You have to try it at least once if you don't like waiting. I think it's with the wait though.
(4)
Shawn N.

Are you kidding me? This place is ridiculously delicious!! Lamb chops, brisket slider, duck slider and the parm crusted mac. If you're feeling froggy, get the BBQ sauce....I can't even describe it but it drinkable. If you want a con here it is..,.there are not many seats, parking is in a neighborhood and for us tall peeps the ceiling is low (almost hit head twice)....none of this would stop me from feasting here but good info to know.
(5)
Joyo P.

Excellent restaurant for a quick bite. The place is crowded -- there are times when it peaks. They will only seat you if your group is entirely present. We ordered some game meat and a few vegetarian items. They do excellent ribs, but a small portion is generally sufficient. We also had a vegetarian taco, which was surprisingly good, though small on portions. It is helpful to check with the server (extremely well-informed bartender in our case) what the portions are like on various items. They also have a selection of hot sauces including those that will seriously dent your breathing. The beer menu is diverse -- with a good range of malts and hops to pick from. No Whisky. Seating may not be to your best preference and tight. I recommend sitting on the stools by the windows if those are available. It's potentially a great place to meet a group of friends, but if so you'd have to time your visit right to get space. It isn't a great date joint unless you plan to go relatively alternative.
(4)
John G.

This place was terrific! Must get the lamb ribs full rack not half rack , you'll regret it if you don't! Pork belly sliders were freaking amazing, mac n cheese balls, YUM! Beer... When is beer ever bad!? Atmosphere is pretty laid back like hanging out in your buddy's basement cuz guess what it's in the basement of a house, in the middle of a neighbor hood! Great place, a must if you're in Louisville!
(5)
Greg M.

Wow, for this place to be hidden in a residential district, you need to go find it. Wonderful BBQ, a co-worker is from Texas and he says this is the best. I agree, it's surely the best I have ever had. The brisket has so much flavor, it's unreal, the ribs have TONS of meat, don't make the mistake of ordering the full-rack, a half-rack has PLENTY of meat. The hidden gem you have to try here are the pork-belly baked beans, get them and say thank you!
(5)
Douglas K.

The host was a kidrock impersonating terror and ruined the entire experience was ruined with 6 of my friends. The was good but not worth the terrible service
(1)
Eric S.

Incredible tasting food, nice beer selection. You'll wait to be seated, but well worth it. Will be the first place I go to when back in town! We had Mac and cheese balls, smoked brisket, grippo fries in duck fat and elk burger with pork belly. Each one better than the last. Hammerheads - I think I love you.
(5)
Courtney S.

Yes yes yes yes. Everything is a yes. The wait is worth it... And yes there is usually a wait. The mac and cheese balls, duck tacos, chicken and waffles.... But the best is the veggie burger. That sounds weird, but it's seriously beautiful. Everything is great.
(5)
Phil P.

"Would you like a bacon brownie?" Although I'm not a member of Bacon Nation, it was a very, very good brownie. Which is exactly what I'd expect, after having the second greatest burger of my life. Yes, I had the elk burger. And it was nothing short of spectacular. Done perfectly, juicy with just the right amount of cheese. Coupled with the Grippo-flavored fries, I'd found my last meal. Only complaint being the poor ventilation. After both visits, I left reeking of restaurant. A small price to pay for an outstanding meal.
(5)
Monica M.

Was hoping for this magical experience that others have had... it was good but not sure it lived up to the hype. Truffle fries were tasty to me but smelled so pungent to my boyfriend that he didn't finish his $12 elk burger. I had the 2 duck tacos and they were pretty good but not $12 for 2 good... Luckily we got there 10 min early because there were already people there waiting. Service is friendly and it has a pleasant atmosphere.
(3)
Bob G.

The best food I've had in a long, long time. There was a bit of a wait for our party of 8 but we could drink outside and the host was great about keeping us updated. I highly recommend the duck tacos and the lamb ribs. Our dinner was so good I wish I lived here.
(5)
Andy B.

We finally ate here! On a whim, the wife suggested we grab dinner here on a Friday after work. We showed up at 5:45 and caught a table as it was opening. The draught list included some great selections. It was the first Founders Breakfast Stout (a personal favorite) I've had from the tap. We started with fried mushrooms. They were delicious but may have been a mistake because we didn't leave much room for the entrees. We ordered the half rack of baby back ribs, truffle fries, pork belly and brisket sliders, and mac and cheese. Everything was delicious. The place definitely lives up to the hype. Not only was the food great but everyone working there was so nice to us. And I think that carried over to the patrons. The whole atmosphere was friendly and just...cool. We're definitely headed back and I'm definitely getting the chicken and waffles!
(5)
Claudia H.

Yum. One two top table, plan to get there early if you don't want to sit at the bar.
(5)
Eric G.

Worth the hype. The wait was long, but the beer and atmosphere helped. I had the lamb ribs. She had the duck tacos. We will defintely go back. This is my favorite dive.
(5)
Alan L.

An outstanding meal and experience. We're not familiar with Louisville and weren't sure that my iPhone was taking us to the correct destination. Our concerns disappeared when we opened the car door and smelled their smoker working. We ate there twice during three days. The recommended dishes list is short because many things were so good that we ate the same things twice: pork belly tacos, Mac & cheese balls, and duck fat fries. The staff is friendly and knowledgable. We were there at 5 PM on a Friday when they opened. By 5:15, there were no empty seats.
(5)
Morgan E.

I wanted so bad to LOVE this restaurant. I'd read all of this great reviews and heard nothing but good things from friends. I would read the menu, salivate, and fantasize about all the things that I was going to order. I expected an experience where angels descended from the Heavens and played their harps as I took my first bite. Unfortunately, it was all a little lackluster for me. I think that's largely because I hyped it up so much, but also because the food just didn't jive with me. I had the brisket sandwich on a pretzel bun with fries fried in duck fat. Should I start with the good or the eh, not so good? Let's start not so good. The fries fried in duck fat. Were they bad? Not at all. However, I paid double the price of regular fries to have them fried in duck fat and I couldn't tell a difference. I expected a richness that would stand out and scream "I'm AMAZING" but that moment never came. Sure, they were good - but when I did a side-by-side tasting there was very little difference to me. The brisket had good flavor - very smokey and tender. However, it was COVERED in fat. Talk about unappetizing - to bite into a big wad of fat not once, but several times during a meal. No thank you. I also sampled a friend's macaroni and cheese. I heard so many good things about it, but I wasn't into it. It was made with a smoked cheese and that smokey flavor within the macaroni and cheese didn't work for me. Now onto the good. The pretzel bun is legit - I loved it. If you get a sandwich, no matter what kind, get the pretzel bun. Like I said - the brisket was tender, flavorful, and had a great smoke to it. The barbeque sauce isn't your typical thick-smokey-sweet sauce - but it's still good and has a great kick to it. I also had the bacon brownie because uh, hello - it's CHOCOLATE and BACON, what more could you want? It was great. And my favorite part were the truffle fries. My friend got those and I felt like I ate half her basket. They were amazing. The truffle oil was subtle and not over whelming at all - but still very present in the taste. The atmosphere is great and the service was prompt and friendly. If you have plans to eat here - get there as close to 5 o'clock as you can. This place is very small and has many adoring fans - you can expect a wait of an hour or more depending on the time of night. I'm definitely going to give Hammerheads another shot. Their menu is great and there's so many things I'd like to give a try.
(4)
Cathy K.

They have it going on. Food is amazing. My husband ordered the baby back ribs and I the duck tacos. The bill with a couple of beers each 40 something with tip. This is good heaven. The guys next to us at the bar ordered the fried mushrooms , soft shell crab sandwich and the pork belly sandwich which all looked great.
(4)
Sal V.

Ok on a scale of 0------white girls can't even this place is so insanely amazingly life changing can't even food!! This food got me can't evening right now! Also they got the best music playing. I'm righting this review with my sticky delicious fingers from the baby back ribs and I plan on licking my screen after I post this!!
(5)
Cha R.

Great food uneven service. I've been here a few times and everything was spot on but my most recent visit has put a damper on my love for this place. Yes, hammerheads is in a weird divey neighborhood/location but the thing that makes it magical is your first impression of the place is beaten to a pulp when you bite into a pblt or mac and cheese ball. Unfortunately there was no magic my last visit due to the mass amount of flies around our table on the inside and a not so great waitress, in a not at capacity hammerheads, which makes this worse. She was attentive for the first 30 mins of our meal for our apps (shrimp & mac and cheese balls) that did eventually come out and we had also put in dinner orders. I kindly asked her to swap out our ketchup dispenser on the table (sitting indoors, in back next to the mirror) bc about 10-12 flies had been landing on it..our food..table...us... like drunks to a happy hour beer tap. The waitress comes back with a new one and nonchalantly goes "you might just want to put napkins over everything so the flies can't get to it". Again we are sitting on the inside... When is this response ever OK inside any restaurant?? Since there was a table open beside us we asked to move so we get away from the area with the flies, but we were told no bc it is a 6 topper and they want to save it for a bigger party. 5 mins later.. 2 people were sat at this table.... Although my mom and dad (1st time visiting hammerheads..bad first impression 101) are in full internal distress mode, they eat the apps while burning calories swatting flies. Table is cleared and about an hour plus goes by ... The waitress refills our drinks twice, but makes no mention about the status of our food. Around us, the people that had arrived the same time as us that had also ordered apps had recieved their dinner and we're finishing up. The couple at the 6 topper next to us who came in AFTER us had already finished and left. I look at my tapped out parents and I tell them 10 more mins and then we will leave and go somewhere else. A few mins later the MIA waitress comes back and says "Oh so we have a new electronic ordering system and I apparently never put in your order, it'll be another 20-30 mins, do you all want to wait?..free dessert on the house". Questionable considering she managed to figure out how to put in and get out everyone else's food around us and in her section but ours. Done and done. The thing that got me is that she was just so blase and nonchalant about it, basically didn't care if we stayed or left. We kindly told her no thank you bc we had been already sitting for 2 hrs in not so great eating conditions and to just bring the check...she came back with a rude attitude, sat the check on the table and bounced. WORSE SERVICE EVER. For consolation we ended up going to Mussels and Burger Bar for dinner...more than made up for the disaster at hammerheads. As a major foodie who has been to hammerheads numerous times...It sucks that my parents refuse to ever set foot in this place again (can you blame them). It sucks the magic of this place didn't reveal itself and live up to its potential. I won't ever discourage anyone to eat at hammerheads at least once, good food, but my journey here is done my friends. Adios Hammerheads.
(2)
Kirsten C.

This is the place I imagine a voracious carnivore would feel right at home. The interior of the restaurant -- a walk-in basement -- is cozy and smells of beef ribs (in the best way), and the back of the menu informs diners you can "have anything fried in duck fat" for $3. I've gone to Hammerhead's several times, and I have never regretted anything I've ordered. The PBLT -- monster slices of pork belly between spring mix and sun-dried tomato aioli -- is my boyfriend's favorite thing on the menu, and this is one of his favorite restaurants. Swap out the Texas toast for the pretzel bun. I'm usually adverse to such fatty foods, but God bless America. It is so good. That said, it's also really filling. I got about halfway through before the law of diminishing returns started kicking in. But I finished all of that artery-clogging piece of heaven, because I am a champ. My favorite menu item is the beef brisket sandwich with the pretzel bun. The meat is tender and a perfect vehicle for the house BBQ sauce. The sides are big enough to share, and my foodie boyfriend swears that the sweet potato fries are some of the best in Louisville. I really like the smoked mac and cheese -- slightly smoky, as the name suggests, with a slight kick. It's personal preference as to the truffle oil, a $1 add-on. Many say "yea." I say "nay." Other things I recommend: Beef or lamb ribs -- Sometimes I find "fall-off-the-bone" ribs annoying because they're hard to eat (#firstworldproblems), but these ribs are perfect. They're salty and smoky and completely delicious with or without sauce. Chicken and waffle -- When the menu says, '3 whole chicken wings,' it's not kidding. I think each is a leg connected to a wing? Not so good with fowl anatomy, but they're huge. And the WAFFLE. IT'S SWEET POTATO. Please. It's awesome. Just get it. Crabbie's Ginger Beer Steer clear of: The only thing I didn't really care for was the tarragon heirloom potato salad, and maybe that's just because I'm not too keen on tarragon. Interesting take on an American favorite though, so if you're a fan of the dish, I'd say go for it. (My dad ordered this and I had a taste. When I asked what he thought, he was pretty diplomatic about it and just said it was "interesting.") Tips: The place opens at 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and fills up fast. To avoid a wait, get there a couple minutes before 5. There may already be a line to get in. Ask for extra napkins.
(4)
Nick Z.

Loved it. Got seated quickly (on a Tuesday). Elk burger was delicious. Truffle fries (larger portion, share with 2 people) were very good and addictive. Service was attentive. A little on the loud side, but had a conversation with no problem. Just sketchy enough to make a fun, relaxed, and enjoyable atmosphere. Would eat here again in a second. Great place for a burger.
(5)
Danny H.

Amazing flavors! Probably best BBQ I ever had! Order: Ribs, both are amazing! Tacos are ridiculous Chicken and waffles was pretty good Truffle fries.. amazing! Burger.. had the Elk Burger.. OMG! Desert: brownie topped with bacon Very small place, so you will probably have to wait.. it's ok... All worth it!
(5)
Matt R.

I'm generally in the know about these things, but the first time I passed by Hammerheads I assumed it was nothing more than the dive bar it apparently used to be. Then I saw the big ole smoker around the side, and thus my education began. Now that Hammerheads is a very poorly kept secret, I'll emphasize just a few things. First, it still feels like a Germantown bar. They've clearly added a few light bulbs, but the emphasis remains on the fact that there's a real chef or two back there. Come for the food, stay for the food. It's also pretty small, so it's a good idea to get there early to make sure you get a table. But while a lot of places offer shoddy service when things get busy, we've had nothing but great service at Hammerheads. Not a place to come everyday, for either your health or the health of your wallet. But definitely come.
(4)
Laura E.

Don't let the dviness of this gem keep you from eating here. I had the soft shell crab tacos and they were so good. Everything ordered at our table was delicious. I want to keep going back until we have had everything on the menu.
(5)
James T.

It was a long wait list to get in but once we got in the food was phenomenal. We wanted to order everything on the menu. Presentation of the food was great. Must try the duck ribs and Crabcake burger.
(5)
Natasha S.

As out of towners, we were nervous when we pulled into what appeared to be a residential neighborhood for the famed Hammerheads bar. We couldn't be more wrong - a giant stuffed Hammerhead marked the entrance to this cozy joint, which was packed. Still, we hadn't even grabbed our beers for the wait yet when two spots opened up on the bar. Let me just say - this place is AMAZING. Everything on the menu looked so good, it was hard picking just a few items. We ended up going with the grippo fries fried in duck fat (heaven in a basket by the way - these came out steaming, fresh, and crispy, with the most amazingly unique flavor I've ever had in a fry. They are a must get.), the pork belly slider, the PBLT (pork belly lettuce tomato sandwich), smoked Mac and cheese, and the elk burger. Every single item was incredible. I especially recommend the elk burger, it was absolutely busting with flavor. The Mac and cheese was smoky and delicious, though I did wish I had gone for the Mac and cheese balls instead. The pork belly on the slider was a nice appetizer, and the meat itself was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, but it didn't have very much flavor. The one item I wasn't too impressed with. On the other hand, my bf loved his PBLT. He said the flavors on the sandwich just made it for him. Hammerheads was out of the ribs and duck by the time we got there, so next time we're getting that. Favorite place in Louisville by far. You gotta go.
(5)
Mike S.

Food is indeed delicious, and the setting is as unique as other reviewers say it is. Since it's so small and so popular, there's a wait both for a seat and for your food. Would be five stars if the service was a little faster.
(4)
Jason H.

My wife and I tried this place out because of all the reviews on Yelp! It was definitely a dive and it's in the basement of a house. The wait is pretty long so you have to be willing to wait. The food is amazing! I would definitely go back, but get there as soon as they open to allow for a little more time to wait for your table. My wife said it was probably the best burger she ever had. I got my fries cooked in the duck oil and they were amazing!
(5)
Greg S.

I'm a big fan of Hammerheads! One of my favorite places in Louisville. I've lived in Louisville most of my life and had heard of it, but didn't know much about it. I was going out with a girl and she mentioned it was one of her favorite places, so we went there on our 3rd date. It was great. It's a very fun place that is a unique cross between a small bar/restaurant and a dive bar. It's not dirty by any means like a dive bar, but the size, low ceilings and outside gives off the feeling that you're stepping into a dive. It's actually a great bar/restaurant where you can fit in wearing just about anything except extremely formal and extremely sloppy. We went on a Friday night and it was packed. You could barely move when you got in the door. We put our name in and waited for a bit outside. We got lucky and two spots at the bar turned up, so we swooped in and decided to ditch waiting for a table. It might not be the perfect spot on a busy night if you're claustrophobic. The bartenders are very friendly. My date was gaga for the mac and cheese balls appetizer that we ordered. I wasn't as impressed, but it was still good. I had the elk burger, which was solid, but it wasn't anything to write home or Yelp about. My date had the lamb ribs, which she kindly shared, and those were superb. I highly recommend those. Overall, great service, good food, good price, I think I remember them having a decent beer selection, but my favorite part was the atmosphere. It's just some tiny little place that's very aesthetically pleasing with employees and owners who are great at what they do. If you want to go somewhere small and unique that's a half step above casual then this is your spot. Enjoy!
(5)
Emily W.

Easily the best restaurant in town. I've been here a number of times and have never been disappointed by the food.
(5)
Sheng L.

I grew up eating lots of venison and was excited to see the venison burger on the menu. I did not disappoint. Highly recommended. Expect a long wait unless you get there early.
(5)
Rico P.

We went to Hammerheads Saturday night and as expected it was delicious. I ordered the Chorizo burger and grippo fries. I really enjoyed the grippo fires. The way to really enjoy is to go with a few friends and everyone order different sides so you can try a little of a few things. The chorizo burger with pepperjack cheese went well with the Grolsch bottle beer. . My advice would be to do a drive by and have a friend get out and check out the wait times. The parking can be a little tricky. Overall, this place is unique and always delicious.
(5)
Amanda J.

With busy schedules, my friend and I scheduled a date weeks in advance for dinner. It wasn't until the day of (just a few hours before) that we took time to decide where we wanted to go. I had heard great things from friends and here on Yelp about Hammerheads, and we wanted to see what the hype was all about. I had heard about it literally being the basement of a house, and indeed it was. We arrived around 5:45 on a Monday and the place was almost full, but we were able to be seated immediately at one of the few empty tables. Not long after (around 6), a crowd gathered around the door (and ultimately was even outside, as we saw when we left). So I would suggest arriving early is your best bet if you don't want to wait. Though drinks were desired, we decided to skip the beer and just have water. We ordered an appetizer of the fried macaroni and cheese balls. I ordered the PBLT (pork belly, lettuce, & tomato) on a pretzel bun ($1 upcharge) and a side of sweet potato fries. My friend ordered the elk burger (We heard Martha Stewart Magazine reviewed it though, so she decided to go with that.) and a side of the Grippo's fries. Unfortunately, our appetizer was never brought out, and I had to inquire about it as our meals were being delivered. They apologize and brought them out (after asking if we still wanted them). They were good, though not as amazing as some reviews made them out to be. You get three large balls, and for two people plus our meals, it was too much. (Granted, I've never had fried mac & cheese balls before, so it was good to try something new.) Those put me over the edge in terms of being stuffed. Anyway, back to our meals... the PBLT was delicious. Mixed with the pretzel bun, it was pretty much flawless. The sweet potato fries were skinnier than most sweet potato fries I've had and had a good flavor. (FYI--I order sweet potato fries pretty much anytime they're on a menu.) I tried my friend's Grippo's (which I believe is do to the seasoning/spices on them) fries which were also good. She enjoyed her elk burger after being slightly nervous having never had elk before. We both were stuffed after all of that food; next time I'll split the fries or skip the appetizer. However, I did eat every bite. I didn't want to leave anything on the cool wood board (which all entrees are served on). My friend said she wanted to tell Guy Fieri about this place for Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives. It is divey in an appearance-sense, but the food is by no means divey. As others have said, the service is not PERFECT, but it was busy and everyone was friendly; it seemed like they worked well together and helped each other out. Most of the time I received a refill quite quickly. My one compliant is as a Weight Watcher (Yeah, you wouldn't think that based on what I just said I ate... this was definitely a splurge night.). There were few options that could be considered healthy when it comes to sides. With the "veggie" options and even some of the non-veggie options modified, you could work it out. But since sides are separate, you're about out of luck in that realm. Bottom line... EAT AT HAMMERHEADS! Though I like to try new places (which Louisville has plenty of), this is a place I would want to go back to and introduce to more friends and family.
(4)
Gigi C.

Driving by Hammerheads you would never assume that it is a restaurant. Finding parking on the street was not a problem but seating inside the restaurant was an issue and we ate there on a Wednesday night. My husband and I were seated right away but there was a group of about seven that was standing and waiting for a table the whole time we ate. The main problem with that was there was hardly any room for them to stand, so make it a point to get there early or if it is nice outside, they have an area where you can stand. The craft beer selection was ample but they did not have any domestics. The food choices were even more diverse but I do not remember seeing many options like salads although I could have overlooked that section. We had lamb ribs, duck tacos and truffle fries in duck fat. The duck tacos had an excellent flavor. My husband had the half rack of lamb ribs and said they were good and a half rack was plenty. But the big surprise was the flavor of the truffle fries in duck fat. I just expected regular old fries but they had a distinct flavor. I enjoyed them but my husband did not. The entrees were served on wood planks which was different. You will leave smelling like smoked meat but it will be worth the welcome surprise to your palate!
(4)
David M.

Try the duck fat fries.
(4)
Daniel P.

Definitely lives up to the hype. Friendly staff and great ribs.
(5)
Cassie H.

Absolutely the best restaurant in the ville! I crave the Elk burger and the truffle/grippo fries! If you are looking for spectacular local food artistry...you found it. Small dive restaurant that is always packed because it's OH so good!
(5)
Abby B.

This place is so amazing that I felt compelled to sign up for Yelp and write a review. My husband and I were coming to Louisville for a comedy show Saturday and we were looking for a new place to try since our old favorite, Lynn's had closed down. We were not disappointed when we chose Hammerheads. It was crowded but didn't feel cramped and frankly, seeing so many people there is usually a good sign. He ordered the Elk burger and fries done in duck fat with truffle oil and it was TO DIE FOR. I got the duck tacos and smoked mac and cheese. Those tacos are not messing around. There was so much flavor there..it was ridiculous. The mac and cheese was good but didn't blow my socks off so I just munched part of his fries, trust me there is plenty for 2. We were seated right away at the bar by the window. The food took a while but who cares. It was worth the wait and we just people watched til the deliciousness come out!! I can't recommend this place enough. I am already looking forward to making the trek from Lexington again. It is so worth the drive, even if just for dinner.
(5)
Kenneth A.

When people come to Louisville and ask me where they should eat, Hammerheads is always on the tip of my tongue! Inconspicuously tucked away a few blocks from the Highlands on Bardstown is this true "hole in the wall" dive that's concocting some serious entrees that will make you re-read the menu. Did I really just read about a pork belly BLT with truffle fries fried in duck fat? Um, yes you did - and you're crazy if you don't want to put that in your mouth. This is comfort food, but isn't your typical Paula Dean country fried chicken with gravy. As a matter of fact, you're more likely to get a waffle with your chicken than gravy at Hammerheads. Quality beer selection, warm employees, good pricing, incredible food! My only nag is how small this place is. You will likely be standing by the door trying to figure out who the hostess is and how to get on the wait list. If it's packed, It's customary to stand there for a little while until someone acknowledges you.
(4)
Amber C.

Wow! Food is absolutely amazing! Don't let the basement entry, or inexpensive decor and seating, or the crowd on the sidewalk keep you away. This really was gourmet food! Catfish is excellent, elk burger delicious, loved fries in duck fat! The macaroni balls with smoked cheese were so good!! All the food is really uniquely divine!!
(5)
Lindsay N.

Don't let the location fool you, the food here is worth it!! Yes it has a dive bar vibe and is smaller than most restaurants but the food I tried is delicious! The Crispy Mushroom Medley and Crispy Mac and Cheese balls were a big hit at our table as well as the pork belly tacos and grippo fries. We will definitely be coming back! I've heard the wait can be long on weekends but we were under 30 minute wait on a weekend night. Try it out...you won't be sorry!
(5)
Emma D.

The food is fantastic. The price is right. The cozy basement atmosphere rocks (duck if you're tall!). But the ventilation situation is insane. Kitchen smoke will permeate every fiber of your being. Do not wear clothes you care about!
(4)
Kara R.

Along with the other reviewers, my husband and I thought Hammerheads was absolutely amazing! We got there at 4:45 on a Saturday so we would get a seat without a wait. The mac and cheese balls as an appetizer are a must! Our server suggested pairing with hot sauce, making the dish even better. Our entrees, duck tacos and brisket sandwich on a pretzel bun, were equally impressive. Only being in Louisville for one night, we're extremely happy this is the restaurant we tried!
(5)
Josh B.

Ribs were absolutely delicious, and the mac & cheese balls were a great way to start the meal. Make sure to get there early though, because they are apt to running out of some menu items. I highly recommend this place, and I can't wait for my next visit.
(5)
Kimberly M.

"I don't believe in love at first sight, but I believe in love at first uhh." And oh me oh my, I am in love. I tried their half rack of lamb ribs and truffle oil french fries. Both had me holding back moans of pleasure with each bite. I can't remember the last time I have had a food orgasm as good as this.
(5)
Kathy V.

A friend brought me here for the first time and I fell in love. And not just because of the bacon brownies! She sold me with the promise of french fries fried in duck fat or covered in truffle oil. Fancy! We went on what must have been a slow night or right as they opened because there was no problem getting a table and the ribs weren't done cooking yet. I had the chorizo burger, which at first seemed a little daunting (that's a lot of flavor and a lot of chorizo) but it was one of the best burgers I've had. And then I saw the dessert offerings...I am a bacon whore and I have contemplated on many occasions putting bacon in my brownies. And here, they did it for me! It was...fantastic. I have nothing bad to say about this place...I only wish I had a chance to go more often. And the smell from this place is delectable!
(5)
Brenda L.

The truffle fries are amazing. The best fries I have ever had! Don't pass them up, you will be sorry. We also had the pork belly and duck sliders. The pork belly was a thick cut and right crispness. Overall very glad we came to this restaurant when visiting Louisville.
(5)
Sarah C.

Make reservations, because the weekend wait is forever long. The food was totally worth it and they have an excellent selection of beers. I did however want to kick a hipster down the stairs!
(4)
Megan F.

It's my go-to date night, my go-to "This is Louisville" for visitors in town, and my go-to random weekday dinner for when my roommates and I haven't gone to the grocery store recently. Comfort is pretty key for me and this place puts on no airs, which I love. Unfortunately, they also lack air conditioning, but that issue will be no longer at the end of August 2012 when... they get air conditioning! Beware if you go on a Friday or Saturday night--there will be a wait! The weekdays aren't exactly exempt from that risk either. However, the staff does a great job of catching parties as they arrive for their names and size despite no hosting area. Be prepared to stand like sardines for a few minutes while tables are turned over. Don't worry, the food is worth it. The elk burger is one of my favorites because despite the elk, brie and lettuce actually having protein and nutrients, the sandwich tastes yummy and rich enough to be pure butter. It's hard to resist ordering a simple yet dressed up side item, so I usually split some Grippo fries with friends and that usually leaves me with enough for lunch leftovers the following day. It's really easy to finish your meal feeling waaaaay too satiated and then still want to order a bacon brownie for dessert, but I think the key with the a la carte style menu is to mix and match lighter options in with the heavier options. Even then, sometimes a box is still necessary. I also wanna give a quick shout out to the truffle oil mac & cheese, pulled pork sandwich and the vegetarian tacos!
(5)
Leda R.

Delicious food. We where a little disappointed that they where out of duck but what we got was amazing. We had truffle fries, softshell crab tacos, mac n cheese and lamb ribs. It has been a few months and I still think about those tacos!
(5)
Josh W.

Hammerheads is one of the most magical places that I have been. My friend and I stopped here when we were touring bourbon distilleries. It is in the middle of a residential neighborhood that looks a little shady when you drive in from one side. The entrance is the patio entrance to the lower level of a house with a big hammerhead shark mounted above the door. The interior looks like a stoner's basement in mom and dad's house that has been converted into a bar with all of the decorations. It looks like there is one guy back in a tiny kitchen who is running in and out to make all the food for everyone in the restaurant. And when you open the menu and taste the food, you are amazed at the juxtaposition of the dive environment with the incredible dishes that are served there. I had smoked pulled duck sliders that were just incredible - I love duck meat and have tried unsuccessfully to replicate the deliciousness. I also tried the elk burger with Spanish brie and sun-dried tomato aioli on a pretzel bun - excellent flavor, excellent choice, I highly recommend it! Whenever friends are heading to the Louisville area, I tell them to hit up Hammerheads if they get the chance, and I'm looking forward to returning during my next bourbon tour.
(5)
Becky H.

What a great find! An amazingly sophisticated menu and great service. Never would expect it ... proof that looks can be deceiving. Went with a group of 7 and we all loved our food and splitting the check was no problem. Highly recommend!
(5)
James B.

We were in town for a trade show and a local told us to go there. Im glad we took his advice. Food and service were amazing. We had the Ribs, Shrimp and Grits and the PBLT. If your in the Louisville, KY area I'd suggest this place. It's a little out the way and a smeller restaurant but the best place we have eaten at in the area.
(5)
Derrick C.

Went to Hammerheads with a co-worker of mine after reading some of the great reviews and boy I tell u the reviews for this restaurant were right on point. The crab tacos are a delicious u can't go wrong.
(4)
Adalie G.

YUM!!! I can't wait to go back and try something else on the menu! My husband and I absolutely love this place! It's definitely no fancy, but it is good food! We ordered the Macaroni and Cheese balls for our appetizer, YUM! They are huge and could be a meal all in themselves. For dinner I had the Pork Belly lettuce and tomato sandwich, YUM! My husband had 3 sliders pork, brisket, and pork belly, YUM! We shared an order of parmesan herb fries, YUM! If you haven't noticed we can't wait to go back! Definitely worth the wait and worth checking out if you like good unassuming food.
(5)
Rob F.

It may not look like it on the outside but this is one of the best places to eat in Louisville. If you enjoy ribs at all you HAVE to try theirs, as they are simply incredible. It can get crowded but it's definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Joey S.

I FINALLY GOT TO TRY IT!!! After months and months of saying I was going to go, I finally got the chance to follow through and wow did it impress me. I love restaurants that you get to choose your own seating from what is available because it gives me the feeling of a more homey environment (as well as having to close the door behind yourself which I have touched on in previous posts) and what is ironic about that is Hammerheads is in the basement of an old house! It may throw off a first-timer when they first pull up, but no fear! It is a very unique restaurant and you will never forget your time here. The menu has a great range of variety including an elk burger, pork butt BLT, and truffle fries (which are to die for, although rather expensive for a basket of fries). What I thought was really cool about Hammerheads was that when your food is ready in the kitchen, they bring it out right away instead of waiting for everyone at your table's food to be ready. I have never been to a restaurant besides Hammerheads that has done this, and I think it is a really interesting aspect of the whole experience! If you haven't gone, go. The food is amazing and you can tell they really care about your experience with them! Keep an open mind and enjoy!
(5)
Suzanne B.

If you love good food, you will love this place! If you don't . . . well, I can't help you there :) I went for the first time last night and was blown away by the delicious yet sophisticated southern food served in a cozy, converted house setting. Service was fast (food comes as it's hot and ready, so no sitting around letting French Fries get soggy), we were seated quickly, and the food we ordered was out of this world. A quick rundown follows of the food we got and shared: Appetizers - hummus, which is a delicious, tangy, lemony version of the dish - I'm a fan! Mushrooms - battered and lightly fried with a tangy aioli mayo to dip in - also amazing. Main dishes - Briskett, this place's iteration of it might be the best version I've ever had, hands-down. Venison burger, good if you like venison, which has a leaner and more game like taste than beef. Mac 'n Cheese, definitely a must-order; I think it's made with gouda to give it a smoked flavor. Fries, truffle oil and sweet potato were both hot, fresh, and filling. Dessert - Bacon Brownie, which was a little overpowered by the chocolate with less of the bacon flavor coming through. Still a good one to buy and share. If you have not been here - go! I guarantee you won't be disappointed :)
(5)
Carlo X.

I had an order of the pork belly tacos and ordered the soft shell crab tacos as well. Both came with two each. The pork belly melts in your mouth. The soft shell was good but paled in comparison. I'd definitely recommend either. My friend had the fries and the fried chicken and waffle. Didn't try the chicken but the fries were tasty. Just a tad too salty but still good. Great vibe here. Staff were friendly. It definitely deserves the high ratings. Only thing I could add would be more alcohol options other than just beer.
(5)
Matthew M.

In town for work and found this place via Yelp. So glad I did! Three of us went in and all had great meals. Will definitely return to try other things on the menu. Mac n cheese balls are better than you might think. Pork belly tacos were great. And get the truffle fries to share. Very good selection of beers. And all very reasonably priced. Fun to find these local places when traveling.
(5)
David A.

This place is a-m-a-z-i-n-g! We tried a handful of things, all of the meats were excellent, the fries were very good (albeit a little on the pricy side) but I have no reservations about opening up the wallet at this place. Come early if you can. Even on, say, a Tuesday night this place is packed by 5:30 and seating is very limited. With that in my mind one thing I was every impressed by was the service and speed from the kitchen. Usually, my expectation from a place like this is that the food will be great while it'll be a little slow and the wait staff is usually slammed and unavailable . Not true here. The food came out very quickly and the server was excellent and attentive. Beer selection...fantastic. They have tons of bottles including a few things on special from time to time. The selection on tap is also great. Don't come in looking for a Bud Light. Louisville is a great food city and Hammerheads is one of the highlights. Everybody should check it out at least once.
(5)
Andrew J.

Can't miss this place! You have to go here, period. This place is unbelievable. I ordered each one of the sliders with an order of sweet potato fries and they were to die for....try going on a week night and your odds of getting a table without waiting are higher.
(5)
Lala R.

i love the food and the owners! A lot of good flavors.
(5)
J. A.

Excellent food, hospitality, and beer. Well worth the 45 minute walk from downtown. I had the grits cake and a side of truffle fries/duck fat, and I only wish I had had more space for more. I was in Louisville for a conference and had heard about Hammerheads, and it definitely met and exceeded expectations. Maybe the best part was conversation with the staff and other patrons: great description of how a female praying mantis ate its mate on the upstairs porch, and the awesomeness of Chinese Cresteds. And Wendell Berry.
(5)
Michael Z.

This place took our entire bachelor party by surprise. It's a converted house and the restaurant is in the basement. There were twelve of us that night, and every single item ordered was cooked fantastically and tasted great. We managed to try a little of everything on the menu, but the winner far and away were the duck fat french fries with Grippo's seasoning. I would drive four hours round trip just to have those again. Oh, and I haven't even mentioned the service was lightening quick. Food arrived within 10 minutes of ordered. This is stunning considering I have shoe boxes bigger than the kitchen. If you're in Louisville and don't eat here, you've done yourself a disservice.
(5)
Steve L.

I was visiting Louisville on business (Churchill Downs gambling). Stayed downtown, walked to Hammerheads (don't do this, it is a gamble on life, but in the end may have been worth it). Let me be precise: Small dive bar with epic food. Food put in my face hole: Duck Sliders: Smokey unctuous deliciousness Soft Shell Crab Soft Taco-Crunchy, Salty, Saucy blending of perfectness Duck Fat Truffle French Fries-Um yeah, not sure i need to explain anything here Beer Selection: Quite good. Beer Spcial 1.50 pbrs Quite nice
(5)
Rachel A.

Wow - this place definitely lived up to its near-perfect Yelp reviews. I was in Louisville on a work trip, and we decided to check out Hammerheads for dinner. My coworker had the brisket sandwich and half a rack of lamb, I had the brisket tacos, and we split the truffle fries. The house barbeque sauce was delicious, although I wish there had also been a hot sauce to add some spice to the dish. The brisket was incredible, and my colleague loved the lamb as well. The fries were great, but a bit too greasy (even for french fries).
(4)
David G.

Fantastic. Really nothing more needs to be said. We had the Mac n cheese balls, the chorizo burger, and duck slider, and pork belly slider. We also ordered fries with truffle oil, and the grippo fries. Every bite of these dishes was simply amazing. I don't know anything about who owns this place or who's cooking in the kitchen, but they have got their act together and have one of the best places I have ever eaten at. You must go. Now!
(4)
Elizabeth S.

Let me just start by saying that this place has improved exponentially since my first visit. The food is always fantastic, but service has been hit or miss. The first few months of business, I have never received such horrible service. Getting the attention of a server was hard enough, but then the attitude that accompanied most of them was hilariously awful. It's was like you were annoying most employees by being there. Not kidding. Last time I went, I had no complaints. Our server was attentive (and NICE) and the food was, per usual, fantastically greasy goodness. Hopefully it stays this way.
(4)
Nathan A.

Have been here a couple of times and each time everything I have tried has been delicious!
(5)
Jasmine A.

Who would have thought that this divey little hole in the wall would produce such decadence? While the atmosphere leaves something to be desired, the food definitely makes up for it. I first fell in love with the PBLT sandwich and Grippo fries and my current favorite is the soft-shell crab sandwich. My only complaints are that the portion sizes for some of the entrees specifically the Shrimp and Grits, and Fish Tacos were a bit small and since none of the entrees come with side items, a full meal can be a bit costly. Regardless, the deliciousness of the food is worth paying a little extra for in my opinion. Also, be prepared to wait. Every time i've gone it's been packed.
(4)
D H.

Overrated. Or maybe we went on a bad night. I was expecting this place to be amazing, and was very disappointed. I got the half rack of lamb ribs, which I knew would be small, but I wasn't expecting it to be mostly fat! I seriously only got three bites of meat total! My husband had the duck tacos, also small and dry. Overall, good flavor, grippo fries were good but in the end I couldn't get over my pile of fat which was bigger than the meat pile in my stomach. We both left hungry.
(2)
Hannah P.

There's not much that hasn't already been said. Great food. So good, in fact, that the place fills up FAST. Get there right at five to snag a table, otherwise you'll be waiting for quite some time. The ribs, baked beans, and duck fat fries are perfect. And their hose-made BBQ sauce is heaven in a bottle. Good beer selection, too.
(5)
Darrin M.

I spent a lot of time at places like this in college. Dive bar that might not get a second glance from someone who doesn't know the area. Low ceiling, cramped space, perfect for those dark, smoky, drink filled nights. But one thing those dive bars from my youth didn't have: Epic Food. I'm not talking about a quality pub burger and well-prepared hot wings. I'm talking food that I would put on par with restaurants you need to wear a jacket to enter. We started with Pulled duck sliders that were amazing. Soft shell crab tacos, delicious. And you CANNOT MISS the french fries tossed in truffle oil and cooked in duck fat. My wife claims this as the best thing she's ever eaten. I might not be able to argue that. Very solid beer selection, although not my area of expertise. Prices are super agreeable, 2 people maybe $40-45? depending on alcohol. Be prepared to wait and enjoy a beer. It was crowded and they don't have a lot of seating. But trust me, it's worth the wait.
(5)
Rachel F.

Is Hammerheads still a 5 star restaurant for me? Is Louisville awesome? Do the unwrapped Christmas presents made by Santa's elves actually come from Walmart? Sorry, spoiler alert. It isn't about being hip or fancy - it is about fantastic food at a fantastic price. My new found love at Hammerheads are the soft shell crab tacos and the pork slider appetizers. Jesus. I can't do them justice, so you should just try them. But still get the mushroom app - every time!
(5)
John K.

The food was delicious, and the service was excellent. We will definitely return. While not the prettiest place, it has an unusual charm that is lovely.
(5)
Stephanie M.

I have been to Hammerheads at least 5 or 6 times and I can honestly say that the service is hit or miss. Sometimes, it's on point, sometimes it is just terrible. However, the Pork belly sandwich on a pretzel bun is the reason I come back! It is so delicious! I don't care much for the macaroni cheese balls and I don't typically order an appetizer because I know that my sandwich and fries are going to be so filling. The soda is sold by the can with a cup of ice, and I usually stick with water. Be prepared to wait for awhile before being seated. It's a small space that fills up fast.
(4)
Derek D.

Daaaaaaaamn! Are mouths our happy! Pork sammy and crab tacos! Wow! Molasses based bbq only enhanced the flava! Highly recommend for your next meal!
(5)
Asha S.

Don't judge a book (restaurant) by its cover. We pulled up to Hammerheads and had to question its location but were glad we stopped in. The restaurant is located under a house and offers a humble, intimate eating experience. The staff was nice and the menu offered more gourmet and creative takes on the traditional burger and fries. I had the brisket sandwich with garlic and herb fries - delicious! Next time we want to try our sandwiches on a pretzel bun which was on the menu but had run out that day. The only drawback was that they didn't serve sweet tea (which is a staple for me) and my husband's coke came in a can which therefore means no free refills (you're buying another can each time).
(3)
Heather B.

We decided to stop here while on a road trip that took us through Louisville based on all the Yelp reviews. It's a relatively short detour off of I-65 and worth it. We hit Hammerheads on a Monday night about 5:30. Our timing was great. We were the first ones in for dinner and it quickly filled up in the next 15 minutes. Our meals came right out of the kitchen. We had a half rack of the baby backs and a beef brisket sandwich. The ribs were the largest rack I have ever seen. Very neatly with almost no fat. The meat was fall-off-the-bone tender and the rub was peppery with some smoke flavor. The brisket was very tender and flavorful. We also shared a basket of the duck fat fries but found them to be a tad bit too salty for our likings but still good. I can see why this place is so popular.
(4)
Hannah L.

Right off the bat, this place has great ambience. When you combine that with cheap beer and delicious fried macaroni and cheese, I'm a fan. But I have to disagree with previous reviewers who raved about the veggie sloppy joe. It was a mess. The texture was too finely ground, and there was too much oregano. It reminded me of school cafeteria spaghetti sauce on a bun. I'm a vegetarian who is usually happy to eat whatever I can find at a BBQ joint (see previous love of mac 'n cheese and cheap beer), but I couldn't get past a few bites of that thing.
(4)
Elizabeth B.

Warning! Do not wear something that cannot be thrown in the washing machine when you get home. You are guaranteed two things when you go to Hammerheads. You will leave with a full stomach and smelling of a smokehouse. But, it is worth it. The menu is varied and creative. The only problem is that this hole in the wall joint runs out of the hottest items very quickly and on a regular basis. That being said, if you get lucky enough to be there when they have chicken and waffles you are one lucky duck! Speaking of Duck, the duck tacos are another hot item that you need to take advantage of when you can. The beer list is extensive and has some great choices. Not my favorite spot in Louisville, but a definite staple and go to spot when visitors are in town.
(4)
Bob P.

In Louisville for a bike race and found a place that makes me what to move here. Beer list is solid, food is GREAT, and service is fast and friendly. Duck sliders are awesome and elk burger can't be beat.
(5)
Sonia E.

I'm only here a few days and this place came highly recommended by a local. This is NOT a 4 1/2 star place! Host is down right rude, skipped us, long wait, no waiting space, once FINALLY sat the food came fast, but didn't live up to the hype. We had macaroni cheese balls, garlic duck fat fries, veggie burger, angus burger, and crispy mushrooms. All were OK, but nothing that I haven't had since being here at other places. Disappointed and sad that people are going here thinking they're getting 4 1/2 star service and food.
(2)
Molly S.

The truffle fries are a must. This place is located in the former Swan Dive, but they have done a great job remodeling. The food is TO DIE FOR. They have great vegetarian options and everyone is always friendly. It is not a good place for large groups and it is very tiny and packed, but is totally worth the wait and the cramped conditions. Probably my favorite restaurant in Louisville.
(5)
Samuel S.

Came to Hammerheads looking for a good burger and was blown away. This is a great place to have a great time and an even better meal. Definitely looks like a hole in the wall from the outside, but the atmosphere is great inside. The place was packed and everyone seemed to be having a great time. The prices aren't bad at all. Each of the entries my group ordered costed around $8. We also got a basket of truffle fries, which I would highly recommend, for $5 which was plenty for the 3 of us. The beer prices aren't bad either, which is never a bad thing. Check this place out and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Doug W.

Wow! Saw this at the top of the list on Yelp & figured it was worth the 2 mile walk from the waterfront. It was! I never knew lamb meat could just slip off the rib bones and melt in my mouth! Very succulent. Since I also had the spectacular Mac & Cheese Balls and truffle fries, I was glad I had a 2 mile walk back to the hotel to work some of it off!
(5)
Daniel R.

Amazing food. It's a place you'd find while doing a scavenger hunt or following clues. It's in a converted house, is mostly occupied by the bar, and there's a hammerhead shark above the door. Never caught its name so I'm calling it Bruce. Mostly burgers and sandwiches but there's nothing ordinary about them. Hammerheads offers elk, buffalo, brisket, and the out of this world PBLT; pork belly lettuce tomato sandwich. The food is fresh and locally sourced with heirloom tomatoes and fresh baked bread. The service is dive bar friendly with the best intentions. I've been here when it's crowded and when it's not, and both times the staff was friendly and the food good.
(5)
Brian L.

The trick to getting a seat here is going when there some big event going on in the city that all the hipsters are going to be attached to. This is one of the tastiest places I've ever eaten. The more exotic the meat, the better they seemed to make it. I've never had duck there that I haven't absolutely coveted. I often will get one of the game burgers, which never disappoint. The sides are also quite delicious and I seem to always get some kind of mac & cheese when I go. The beer selection is quite diverse and a nice icing on the cake. A tip to the tall folks reading this. Watch your head. It's manageable but one might scrape his or her head if about 6'6".
(5)
Michael W.

I was in a Louisville a few weekends ago for a wedding and I didn't realize the caliber of food available here. Hammerheads was our first dinner stop and was definitely my favorite meal of the trip. We showed up a little before seven on Thursday evening - was told a wait of 45 minutes for five people but it ended up being more like an hour and 15 - no big deal though since their beer selection was great (Two Hearted on tap at the time - mmmmmm) and allowed more time to catch up with relatives. We ordered the Mac and Cheese balls plus some truffle fries to start things of - both were phenomenal. They were out of the Roasted Duck so I went with the Crab Cake sandwich which was more than adequate for a consolation meal. I'd love to try a few more things on the menu that weren't available, but sampled the brisket and that was amazing. I recommend getting here as early as possible so you can have whatever you desire on the menu and can grab a table. This is a must visit for Louisville!
(5)
Nakia S.

This is truly a place that everyone needs to visit. I have visited this place twice and have not been disappointed. The first time I arrive right around 5:30p and was seated right away. The second time, I arrived around 6:00p and had to wait approximately 10-15, which was fine because the bartender/host was very friendly and checked on my friend and I up until we got seated. The first time I went, I had the Elk Burger, Crispy Mac & Cheese Balls and grippo fries! They were all truly amazing. As soon as the food is ready in the kitchen, it is brought out to you. The second time, I had the Brisket, Mac & Cheese Balls and grippo fries. Once again, a winner! Any sandwich you have at hammerheads, make sure to get it with a pretzel bun, they are to die for. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a dive. Plenty of character, good food and great people!
(5)
Matt B.

This is an actual conversation I had with my girlfriend shortly after our food came: Me: "Remind me, next time we come here, to wear a condom." GF: "Is that because the food is making you jizz in your pants?" Me: "Yes." We ordered the lamb ribs, elk burger, grippo fries, and hummus. The lamb ribs elicited the above conversation; easily the best ribs I've ever eaten. The elk burger was extremely tasty. The grippo fries were amazingly addictive. The hummus, which I'd heard a lot of people rave about, was actually a bit disappointing; it had a strange flavor which, while not at all bad, was unexpected and slightly off-putting. We sat at the bar and had quick and attentive service all night long. Water glasses never got close to empty. Like others have mentioned, the beer selection was great. Lots of cool and harder to find craft beers. Even if you don't go for a full meal, it's a nice place to go for a beer. And yeah - it's a good sign when a restaurant is packed at 8pm on a random Wednesday.
(5)
Tiffany M.

Yes, the service can be hit or miss. But everytime we go (that is, everytime we go and can actually get in. This place fills up quickly and early) we sit at the bar and the bartender is always attentive.The food is completely on point. The beer selection is pretty decent. All of the sandwiches are delicious (other than the veg burger, that I tried back in my veg days, not so good). Do yourself a favor and start with the fried mac n cheese balls (so wrong it's right) and pair your meat of choice with the truffle fries. Your belly will go home happy.
(4)
Woody W.

Back again! If your within 50 miles of this place, make the drive it's worth it. Sit at by he bar if you can, the bartender is an excellent waiter.
(5)
Nicholas T.

Don't be fooled by the look of the restaurant or by the awkward seating they have. Just go sit at the bar and order these: 1) Truffle Fries fried in Duck fat.. 2) Crispy Cheese Balls.. 3) The Ribs. I am not a fan of food that I have to use my fingers with, but with these you do not have to, they fall off the bone and the sauce is so smokey and good!
(5)
Cory C.

Hate to give this place too good of a review...might lengthen the wait when I go there. But that wouldn't be fair! Have to be honest...LOVED Hammerheads. I had the elk burger and my girlfriend had the fish sandwich. we also ordered a side of the mac and cheese, and the pretzel croissant and beer cheese (special that night) for an appetizer. It was all amazing. This was one of the best meals I've had in Louisville. The place is definitely a dive, but that's what I like most about it. Don't like the fact that you can't get a beer and walk outside while you wait for your table, but that's not the restaurant's fault. The area is zoned residential and local ordinances are to blame for that. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
KW L.

This restaurant may have the highest concentration of hipsters per square foot in Louisville. It's in a basement in a nondescript house and serves PBR in a can...what do you expect. It has a good beer selection besides the PBR, both on tap and in bottles. The best thing about the place is the definitely the food. We had the mac and cheese balls, crispy mushroom medley, and pork sliders as appetizers and we all tasty. The pork sliders was probably the best out of the three. For an entree, I had the pork belly BLT and it was awesome! I highly recommend it for anyone that likes pork. Now on to the not so good. We arrived and it was chaos. They don't have a system for people waiting for tables. We ended up asking the bartender how the wait system worked and he said it was first come first serve. That's fine if there weren't about 5 groups waiting to be seated and new groups showing up not exactly sure when it was their turn to take a table. Is a list too much to ask to keep track of groups waiting? Or maybe lists and organization are concepts not embraced by the hipster community. Also the place was so busy that the kitchen was "On hold" because they were so far in the weeds. The bartenders were also in a pissy mood because they were so busy. Sounds like they need to have more staff around on a friday night. All in all, the food was good..maybe even great. Service counts for something in my opinion so 3 stars seems about right.
(3)
Ken H.

Sort of out of the way but completely worth the search. Great place. Great food. The pork tacos were outstanding. Great service. Kylie was great.
(5)
Melanie K.

I am guilty of judging this book by its cover. Let me tell you though, this story is delicious! I made strong effort to check out this small Gastro Pub due to the other 5 star reviews from my other Yelper's and I am glad that they spoke up. Yes you go to an area of town that is hip and trendy to locals, but for tourists make you double check that the car is locked. Yes this is a split home that has a restaurant in the basement. Yes there are a lot of 20 something hipsters inside who have ridiculously tight pants. However, yes you will be disappointed if you miss out on this opportunity to be surprised and impressed. I had the Pork-belly sandwich and mac and cheese balls. Both plates were not only tasty, but had presentation! Part of my fifth star comes from the whole presentation of the plates, presentation is something rarely done in Louisville anymore. The rest of my fifth star comes from the fact they are creating all these yummy masterpieces in a coat closet of a kitchen. If anyone knows how the name came about I would be interested to know. I see why with all the 5 star reviews the venue is so trendy. I guess I can cheat with pajama jeans to go back right?
(5)
Justin T.

Thank you Yelp! This place is absolutely awesome. The atmosphere resembles your local bar scene with excellent food and a great beer selection. I had the crab tacos with truffle fries. I can't tell you how impressed I was on all aspects. The restaurant was very crowded and I felt my drinks and food came out faster than most restaurants with a crowd. I highly recommend checking out Hammerheads if you're in Louisville.
(5)
Alex K.

This is my first review on Yelp, so I'ma make it special. Stevie Wonder's 'Sir Duke' in the headphones~Check. Beer in coozie~Check. Favorite restaurant in Louisville selected~Check. Truth is, Hammerheads doesn't need my stellar review, every time I go it's slammed. Regardless. If you like fantastic Gourmet Southern food and you like dive bars then this is where you go when you die and you've been a relatively good boy or girl your whole life. Heaven. I wish santa put their Chicken and Waffles in my stalking each year... I will say, it will put you in heaven sooner than you may expect with their sun-dried tomato aioli, but who's fault is how much you drizzle it all over everything? Technically yours. Er... well the fact that duck fat is included in half the menu is... Sorry I had to wipe the drool, back now, it will kill you for sure, but let's just say it was EFfing worth it. Oh did I mention it's approximately $10 a plate for the best meal in town? I would pay $50 just for their lightly fried heavily aioli dipped mushroom app, but whatever, you should go. Dress: think dive bar it's in the basement of a house, but you see execs rubbing elbows with inked up Gs so whatevs you got in the closet muchachos.
(5)
Melissa P.

AMAZING! Drove here not knowing what to expect. It is a small place. Waited about 15 minutes on a Tuesday night. I had the beef brisket sandwich on a pretzel bun. Husband had 1/2 rack of baby back ribs. We just loved it! PERFECTLY smoked ribs & brisket. I don't know that I've had that good of food...ever. We did order the truffle fries cooked in duck fat per recommendation of bartender. Next time will probably just try regular fries....maybe the duck fat. They also have a decent beer selection- mostly bottles. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Mitch G.

This could be my favorite restaurant in any city. The food is exactly what I'm looking for. Upscale gourmet at reasonable prices. Perfect beer selection. Get the duck sliders. Get there early and give your name to the man. You will wait. It will be worth it.
(5)
Steve F.

total dive, hot, noisy, a little chaotic trying to get a table (no hostess, no waiting list), hipsters abound BUT ... AWESOME FOOD and a great beer selection my favorite new place in Louisville, hands down ... like one reviewer says, addictive FAVORITE DISHES: duck tacos, fried mac-n-cheese-balls, ribs, Grippo fries, chicken & waff
(5)
Kellyo O.

Guess I never wrote a review! Silly Me! I loved my truffle oil fries, my funny as heck waitress Biancia, and my yummy ribs. Wanted to try the BLT so I WILL be going back! Only problem I had at first was getting a Diet Coke or any soda for my non alcohol drinking hubby. But they wanted us happy so I think they ran to the store or something to get him some! Great service & Great food.
(5)
Kyle F.

You must get the duck tacos
(5)
Lynn L.

Definitely enjoyed our meal here! Hammerheads is sort of like a gastropub foodwise, but a local bar decorwise. No frills ambiance. We sat at the bar (I have heard nightmare stories about the extremely slow service) and ordered up some beers. They have a nice beer list. Creative food, and there were lots of things I wanted to try. We started with the rosemary lemon hummus. The first bite wasn't great, but it grew on me over time - the warm soft pita was tasty also. I settled on the chorizo burger and Grippos fries. Small beef - you have to pay extra for everything on your burger - cheese, pretzel bun, even fries. If I'm paying $8 for a burger, you can't give me some fries? Gotta pay an extra $2-3 for those. Oh, and if you want your fries fried in duck fat, that's extra also. The boy got the fried chicken and sweet potato waffle. Both entrees were delicious. My burger was so moist and juicy, and had great flavor. The Grippos fries were insane good, and the chicken and waffle was simultaneously crispy, tender, and flavorful. The guys sitting next to us got the pork ribs and let us have a taste. They were not my style - I thought a bit overdone (they came to the table literally steaming), and the smoke flavor was overpowering. I got a bacon brownie to go for dessert, and was disappointed. It was a delicious brownie with some crisp bacon on top. I thought it would be at least incorporated into the batter. Their desserts do need some improvement - 2 brownies, a cheesecake, and a chocolate mousse cake. They surely can do better! I will definitely be back, as this place is in my 'hood, and it's nice to have a kicked back chill meal with tasty eats.
(4)
Jason H.

My wife and I were visiting Louisville last weekend for a family reunion. After driving around the Bardstown Road area for a while and looking at online recommendations, we decided to be a little adventurous and try something "local." So we decided on Hammerheads. Tip #1: if you are not a "local," you will need a current GPS to find it. We parked on the street next to the restaurant and as we walked around the corner to the front door, we noticed about 20+ cats hanging around the back of the restaurant. Interesting. Tip #2: if you drive a nice vehicle, you may want to consider taking a cab to Hammerheads. The area surrounding the restaurant did not feel safe by any standards. It is in a low income residential area with abandoned buildings down the street. It looked worse than New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina! We walked inside and waited at the front door almost 10 minutes before any employee recognized us. When we asked a waitress about getting a table, she shouted to someone over at the bar. About 10 minutes later, a guy from behind the bar came over and stated "you must not be from Louisville." He stated the wait time was about 30 minutes give or take. So we decided to wait for a table. The place was EXTREMELY HOT inside and busy with mainly young hipster-types. The smell of grease and the smoke from the grill made it almost unbearable to breathe. While waiting inside for a table, we were fortunate enough to have a good view of the kitchen/grill area. After waiting another 25 minutes and witnessing some unappetizing things while working up more of a sweat than at my last visit to the gym, we decided to leave Hammerheads to the "locals" and find another option for dinner. Maybe it is a cool place/vibe for some people looking for cheap beer and overpriced bar-type food but it was not what we were looking for during our last night in Louisville.
(1)
Steve W.

The crew all need to be on the same page. Visiting from out of town, my wife and I stopped on a Saturday night around 6:00. The placed was packed as we made our way inside. Waiting at the end of the bar we asked about the waiting process for a table. A nice bartender said he could add our name to the list for a table. He indicated that if seats opened at the bar, we were welcome to seat ourselves. After 15 minutes or so a large polo-shirt-and-khaki crowd vacated about five seats at the bar. Wanting to speed up the process, my wife and I took our self-claimed spots at the bar. This is where the service goes south. A different bartender asks us if our names were called. We explain that we just grabbed a spot, like we were told we could do. He said that we would have to wait until our names were called, and would need to give up our seats. We got up, walked toward the door, then kept going to our car and a different place to eat. I was really looking forward to eating here. The food I saw while waiting looked great. I only wished the hospitality had matched.
(1)
Jason M.

I had the duck tacos and garlic and herb fries. I would give it a five star but you don't have to get dressed up to go there. The food is fabulous. It is a hole in the wall type place but the food tastes nothing like what you would expect.
(4)
Rebecca R.

Lamb ribs!!! Too die for! Polenta cakes and grappo fries were great too!
(5)
Adam C.

Rate the food....not the fact that it makes you feel like home, if home is living with your parents and eating in the basement. Another hipster gastropub that is way overrated. I like to try new places and after reading the reviews I thought this one was a slam dunk. Turned out to be nothing to get excited about. I knew we were in for a let down when the table behind us was saying how great this place is but said Jack Frys was nothing special. Lets start with the mac n cheese balls, great presentation but nothing special when it some to flavor. Better than just regular old mac n cheese bites some places offer but nothing anyone at the table would order again. Tried the lamb ribs, had a lot of flavor probably the best entree at the table. Someone tried the elk burger that did not come on the pretzel bun as on the menu. It was described as a little mushy, but it was all gone at the end of the meal so it couldn't have been too bad. I had the chicken and waffles myself. I have had some of the best fried chicken in the country and this looked amazing, but fell way short in the taste department. Absolutely no flavor in the breading or the chicken itself, the wings were huge only able to eat 2 of the 3. I really thought the wings were going to be great, huge let down, use some salt and buttermilk please. Sweet potato waffle was very different, definitely new to me and not bad at all. Lastly are the truffle oil fries. I read all good reviews and they looked to die for when they hit the table. My best description, fresh cut fries soaked in what tasted like olive oil, plus we got a hair in ours to add to the flavor. Honestly the regular fries were better, maybe garlic fries if I ever went back. Prices are a bit high for mostly a la carte sandwiches and burgers, knock a few bucks off each item and it would be priced more accurately. Heavily hipster crowd, along with mediocre food at best equals great reviews on yelp. A trend I have noticed on yelp, either a lot of hipsters yelp or a lot of yelpers are hip at least that is what I have noticed in downtown Louisville.
(1)
Matt B.

Would give 4.5* if we had a half star option. Came in with a group on a Friday night and only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. Beer selection was given a big endorsement by the aficionados in the group. Me, I'm all about amazing creative food especially in funky chef driven places which is why I led the group here in the first place. Every single thing I tasted at our table was seriously good, well seasoned, properly cooked and interesting. From the duck sliders, to the garlic & herb duck fat fries, to the burgers and finally my chicken & waffles it was enjoyment in my mouth. We didn't stick around for dessert as it was a bit uncomfortably warm in there, and we had enjoyed large cones of Graters earlier in the day. If I lived nearby I would be a regular. Too bad we don't have a place like this back home.
(4)
Amelia P.

Friendly and laid back attitude, but on point service. I had the pork belly "BLT" and my date had the veggie burger. Normally I scoff at a veggie burger because they are just a boca burger or something from a freezer. This one was pretty spot-on. Really quirky and good selections for the price! \ The real star here would be the Grippo's seasoned french fries!!! These things are like crack and have inspired us to procure our own bottles of the seasoning and give everything a velvety spicy barbecue flavored coating!
(5)
Jason A.

I really like this place. It has both vegetarian and meat options. It has a good beer selection consisting of craft beers. My favorite dish is probably the pulled duck sandwich, though it's hard to decide because there are so many great options. In fact, although I typically eat meat for most meals, I have had both their veggie tacos and veggie sloppy joe, and they were great! Everything is ordered a la carte, which can seem to make things a bit pricey at times. My suggestion would be to share a basket of fries as your side item, as this typically more than enough food and it's more economical. In addition you can have your fries cooked in duck fat, with truffle oil, or both. The atmosphere is casual. The servers are attentive. Great place!
(5)
Maggie C.

The food here is sooooo so good. It's an incredibly small dining area, so you should try to arrive ten minutes before they open or wait until the dinner rush is over. I've been here twice and both times were great. Yes, the wait and the craziness of just trying to get a table isn't ideal, but it is so worth it. I've had the ribs and the chicken and waffles and both are amazing. The Mac and cheese balls are heaven too. Do not miss this place! Go. Now!!
(5)
Alex K.

This place is okay. I've been here twice. Got the Elk Burger the first time, and the Lamb the second time. Both were just "okay". Not as good as i thought it would be. Also had the truffle fries and mac and cheese, which were also good. The presentation is very neat, and the food is okay, I just feel that this place is overrated because of the "hip" neighborhood atmosphere. Chock full of hipsters. Also, feels very overpriced for what you get.
(3)
Morgan L.

My husband and I went here after reading all the great reviews on Yelp. This place is a whole in the wall and you definitely are going to leave smelling of bbq but who cares after you have had such a great meal. My husband got the lamb ribs and I got the pork ribs. Both were great, as were the truffle fries. The only thing that I didn't like was the bbq sauce. I am a fan of the sweeter and thicker sauce and Hammerheads was more spices and thin, but still decent. If you don't mind waiting in line for a great meal, then this is your place.
(4)
Emily W.

DELICIOUS! The food here is great. I am a vegetarian and love their veggie burger (Garcia burger) and could eat the mushroom medley appetizer every day of my life. The beer list is great as well. Seating can be somewhat of an issue. They don't take reservations and seating is first come first serve. On busy nights (which is most nights) it can be nerve wracking stalking tables to get a seat before others. However, you can grab a beer and enjoy your company while making bets on who will be the next to get up. The food is well worth the wait.
(5)
Christopher B.

Hammerheads lived up to the hype train. Located in the old Swan Dive location (RIP) the place is small, and not the most welcoming, but, goodnight, is it delicious! Mac and cheese balls had a spice to them and were fried well, all of the french fries were to die for, the duck tacos were amazing, great veggie burger, I can go on and on. The staff was surprisingly friendly, and there are plenty of great brews on tap. A Louisville must visit!
(5)
Derek P.

We ate here last night for a small work event. The place looks pretty poor on the outside, but once you get in it's a great atmosphere. I had a brisket sandwich on a pretzel roll with fries, and my coworker pork tacos. They were amazing and low priced. Great beer selection and service. Only negative was it was a little smokey from the cooker which irritated the eyes.
(5)
Walter C.

Recommended by some friends but didn't expect the college bar atmosphere. Food was good as were the duck tacos. Would definitely go again for a drink or two.
(4)
Tony K.

Awesome! You must try the Smoked Lamb Ribs and the truffle fries in duck fat was fabulous!
(5)
Monica C.

First,my daughter did not want to go in because "it looks creepy". And she was right-- there was a storm brewing outside, the place is in the bottom of a house, in a questionable area, and it wasn't clear that there could be survivors if the storm turned ugly, but the food experience was awesome! even my hard to please daughter managed to gobble down a tasty burger and truffle fries in duck fat, which were fantastic. Hubby had the pork belly sandwich. Despite my initial misgivings about the pretzel bun, it was awesome. Duck sliders were tasty, and my soft shell crab tacos were innovative, flavorful, and cooked to perfection- crispy and light to the last bite. We took quite a detour from our road trip to get there and it was worth every bite.
(5)
Dave C.

omg, my sweater smells like hammerheads - and no, you can't have a bite. this is an incredibly awesome restaurant - one of a kind. the setting is great - sort of like a walk-down basement on a non-assuming corner in an older neighborhood - just east of downtown. and, in there...it feels like you're in the basement of a house in an older neighborhood...quirky and cool. the air is kind of heavy with...as it turns out...various light cooking oils used in their french fries. the best fries you will ever have...guaranteed. and the explosion of taste in the venison and elk burgers is...just that...an explosion of taste. advice: go to the trouble to find this place - don't give up - it's not that easy to find...but you'll be so glad you did. a louisville treasure.
(5)
Randy W.

Wow. Is this place awesome. Visiting from Atlanta. Long wait on a Sat night but well worth it. Our party had angus burgers and a trio of tacos, duck, brisket and pork belly. All fantastic. The fries were also great as well. Highly recommend Hammerheads.
(5)
Erin E.

Usually I am pretty selective about giving anything a 5 star rating but Hammerheads delivers. The dive bar atmosphere is comfortable and unassuming and the service was stellar. It is perfect gastro-pub blending creative and delicious food with a fun selection of unique and craft beers. My husband and I shared a basket of truffle fries which should be renamed "Crack Fries" (seriously so yummy and we couldn't stop eating them!). I had the Elk Burger which was delectable and my husband had the Chorizo burger which he thoroughly enjoyed. In addition to all of the praises listed above... the prices are reasonable to boot. You can't beat this place! We arrived early on a Tuesday evening because we were catching a show at Headliners later. Thank goodness because as we left an hour later there wasn't an open table in the joint. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jim H.

Went with my wife. We spilt to beer cheese and pretzel crosiant that was tonights special. Was very good. Wish it had to crosiants as we had a lot of beer cheese left over. My wife ordered the soft shell crab sandwich and i had the chorizo burger. Both were excellent. We spilt a basket of truffle fries...wow they were amazing. Our server/bartender was very friendly and well educated on the beers they had on tap. All in all. A great find. If you havent tried it you should!
(5)
Sean G.

Everything about this place (except for the usual hipster patrons) is Grade-A 100% bad ass- like it was taken straight out of my deepest desires. Service is top-notch, the beer always cold and plentiful and everything on the menu is unbeatable. I like meat, the smell of roasting meat, getting meat juice all over my shirt etc. I literally lick the wooden slab they bring you as a plate when I am finished. There simply isn't another place like this in the entire city. I wish the place were bigger, and I wish there was better art on the walls, but I don't care. It's amazing in every way I care about.
(5)
Larry H.

It's a great place if you like to spend lots o money on beer and average food. Oh yeah this place is loaded with douche bags who think their s@&t don't stank.
(3)
Kate S.

If you go to Hammerheads during dinner rush, expect chaos with your wall-to-wall tattoos, and just relax and go with it. With limited seating, it might be awhile, but grab a beer from the bar and try to stay out of the way. We sat at the bar, and the service was excellent. Our server was helpful and answered many questions before we placed our order. Our food came quickly and was HOT (thank you, thank you!) I had the chicken wings (about the size of my hand) and sweet potato waffles, which was fantastic, as were the duck sliders. My companion had the shrimp and grits which was both beautiful and delicious. Finding the place is part of the adventure, like geo-fooding -- even with your GPS, you won't see it until you're right there. It's all about respecting the food, so come hungry, thirsty and open to the experience.
(5)
Simon B.

This place is awesome. Located in the basement of a house in a residential area a little hard to find, just look for the shark above the door. Get here early when they open or you will be waiting but it is well worth it. Great selection of beer to choose from. Unique foods. I had the Venison burger on a pretzel roll with the truffle fries. It was excellent. I normally dont love fries but these were fantastic. Everyone else in my group ordered sides of Mac and cheese, also with truffle oil, and the truffle fries. Will be back next time Im in louisville.
(5)
Matt S.

When it comes to the food, probably my favorite restaurant. Ribs are phenomenal, duck fat fries are heavenly, and the beer selection never leaves me wanting. The location leaves a lot to be desired- not necessarily because of the ambiance or perceived level of cleanliness, but because it's so tiny that a wait is almost inevitable.
(5)
Leanna N.

Was visiting my brother who is schooling in Louisville and all he talked about was wanting to take me here. Hammerheads literally has one of the coolest locations I have ever been to. It is located in more of a residential neighborhood and the restaurant itself is, what I believe, someone's basement. The inside is quite cozy, an environment that makes the food even tastier than it already is. I got the standard since I wasn't feeling too adventurous, which was the angus burger on a pretzel bun. My brother got the elk burger which I got a bite of and I can agree is delicious. We also ordered the truffle fries and sweet potato fries. And I have to say they were probably the best fries I have ever had. Before ordering a burger, I do recommend asking if they still have any chicken and waffles since they run out often and are pretty tasty from what I have heard. The pretzel bun enhances the meat and the arugula and cheese and everything inside so well. The waitresses and waiters are very kind too! Love the customer service here and will come back when I'm back in Louisville!
(5)
Alf A.

TRUFFLE OIL FRIES! Hammerheads is in a nondescript no-frills Germantown basement, but what the place lacks in decorating it more than makes up for with delicious burger-fare. you would be hard pressed to find better food fro the price in louisville. As a vegetarian who loves comfort food I was trilled to see the veggie sloppy joe and veggieburger- both were very flavorful. My advice is try everything, but go early or go late because it gets very crowded.
(5)
Edward R.

still coming here as often as i can, and i'm yet to be disappointed. the crowds can be tough but if you're patient the wait is worth it. if going during peak hours don't come expecting to get seated immediately. i've tried every dish and side item on the menu except for the vegetarian sandwiches, and i'm still craving it on a weekly basis.
(4)
Heather C.

High Praise from this GRIT. (girl raised in the south). This is the best barbeque I have had since moving to the 'Ville from SC. Go early in hopes of avoiding the wait but if you do have to wait - know it will be worth it. Place has a great vibe and I thought the service was fine. No one was rude or rushing us out of the door. Y'all get out there and find this place - you will be glad you did.
(4)
Connie C.

Awesome mac and cheese balls! Shrimp and grit cakes were amazing.... This is definitely a well hidden Louisville secret....
(5)
Brian G.

Stopped on the way from Gatlinburg, TN to Chicago. Wish I lived closer so I could taste more from the menu.
(5)
Jennifer S.

My mother, sister and I spent a few days in the Louisville area. I looked on-line for great places to eat and Hammerheads was on the top of our list to try. We were NOT disappointed! Realize....These five stars are all about the food. This place is a dive and a half. If I drove by or hadn't seen the amazing reviews of the food, I wouldn't have given the place a second look. I took my waitress's suggestion and got the duck tacos. She said these were her favorite dish and eats them every day. My mom and sister both got the elk burgers. We shared a basket of both sweet potato and garlic herb fries. Every single bit of the food was OUTSTANDING! It is soooo worth the poor, old surroundings and bathrooms to eat the incredible food. Fine job Hammerheads. If you can fix up your atmosphere, you would be over the top and full of patrons all night long every day.
(5)
Marissa G.

Excellent! Duck sliders were awesome!
(5)
Ariel Lizardbreath W.

The food is great. Also, pretty sure they have the best tacos veg and nonveg in town.
(5)
SmoothHead J.

Back when this place was the "Swan Cafe," "Jim's," "Jim's Swan St. Cafe" (heard it called 10 different names in 10 years) it was the BEST place to get the BEST fried chicken in town - PERIOD; however, Big Jim (the 'Mayor of Paristown') kept a Tupperware container (in a 'fridge @ the end of the bar) alternately layered in sliced onions & braunschweiger. Couple o' slices of rye or pumpernickel & you were good-to-go OR stay! Jay, Jim's son, was the sole wait-staff & would simply sit (or pull up a chair if all were filled @ the table) & take your order(s) - nothing written down. Jim held court, taking time-out to check the yardbird in a BIG deep fryer back in the micro-galley, @ the bar & ALWAYS had a story to tell. Well, it's been 10+ years since I descended down those stairs to heavenly hen-based succulence & I assume Jim is now tending bar in the beyond. BUT, having read the reviews of Hammerheads I couldn't help but relate a bit of history about the establishment. Word has it that @ one time the beer license was yanked as a result of a certain chef's bookmaking acumen (or lack thereof!) & that a certain waiter "became" the "owner" to avoid any speculation of corru.. corrup... I just can't type it - this IS after all Kentucky folks! Hammerheads MUST have inherited some of the mojo left behind from the previous folks. Having typed this review, I think I'm gonna head in town & check out Hammerheads. If for no other reason - just for the vibe. Jim/Jay whereEVER you guys are, KNOW this ol' train wreck of a human has NOTHING but fond memories. And, MAN, those braunschweiger/onion sandwiches. Did I type they had great chicken?!? Anyway, R.I.P. "Jim's" and long live & much success to the present proprietors - seems as though (based on the reviews) you've filled the "big ladles you had to fill" QUITE handily...
(5)
Anthony S.

Amazing lamb ribs!!! Would never guess from the look of this place but it has amazing food. The smoke flavor is on point and the barbecue sauce is different and tasty. Softshell crab and bacon brownie are also great choices. Would be back in a second. Def check it out!!!
(5)
Billy P.

Pork Belly BLT is where it's at! My wife and I love this place. It is a hole in the wall, literally someone's basement, but the food is awesome! One of the best places to eat in Louisville! BOOM!
(5)
Mark F.

Really good food, great beer list, friendly service. Tried to go back on a Friday night, but it was way too packed. Duck sliders were superb, everything was great, excellent atmosphere.
(5)
Lindsey R.

Crazy good! Just moved to Louisville and received recommendation by local. Location and atmosphere definitely doesn't do this place justice. Had the baby back ribs and were unbelievable. Truffle fries were best I have ever had. Salad was great as well... Highly recommend...
(5)
J G.

Incredible food!!! Will be back, will bring friends!
(5)
Brenda J.

Wow, believe all the good reviews this place is awesome, I had the smoked Catfish and it was just simply amazing. We also split the grippo fries which were yummy but clearly the Catfish was the shinning star. 1 warning if you have asthma do not come here in the Winter I wasn't right for a week but it was sooooo worth it ;)
(5)
peter s.

If I lived in Louisville, I would be glad this place existed. Excellent elk burger, fried chicken. Fries in duck fat - totally worth the extra $3. Pleasant hipster vibe, very friendly service (especially good at managing the wait). Out-of-towner definitely felt like he was eating with the locals
(5)
Jamie C.

Love love love this place.
(5)
Harper H.

Great food and good beer selection, service was on the ball, you have to check this place out! Truffle fries were amazing, fried mushrooms also highly recommended. Pork tacos had an amazing smokey flavor. We also had the venison burger which was good but a bit salty for my taste. Fun atmosphere, veggie options, good prices, check it out!
(4)
Phyllis K.

This place blew my mind. Everything on the menu is a jaw-dropper! That pork belly sandwich. THAT PORK BELLY SANDWICH! It transcended pleasure. Eating this was a completely religious experience.
(5)
Tre P.

Be warned, this place is a dive. Literally, you need to duck your head just to get in the place. But the food? It's pretty amazing. Can't give them a 5 because of the ambiance but if they relocate to a nicer location, I'm going back!
(4)
James W.

A cool neighborhood bar/restaurant. It is the basement of a house or so it seems and can get quite crowded but it is well worth it. The grippo fries, catfish sandwich and pork belly sandwich are all good. The beer selection is pretty good too as they have an extended bottle selection.
(5)
Kirk C.

Been three times. It got better each time.
(5)
A K.

A-mazing food with typical German Town attitude. Don't go there if you hate cute waitresses serving you scrumptious food.
(5)
Joe S.

Don't let the physical space fool you (it's in the basement of a house on Swan St. in Germantown)--Hammerheads is one of the top 5 restaurants in Louisville. The restaurant is totally original and the food is delicious. The soft-shell crab tacos are my favorite dish. Sometimes the meat (along with the staff, I suspect) can be a little over-smoked, but you'll forgive them because it's so unbelievably good when it's right, and it's still better than 95% of the food in this city even when it's not.
(5)
Will W.

It's in a basement. Smells good around the block. Ok, I'm in. Packed. Not a lot of tables. Greeted right away. Nice. Cool beard dude. Grab a beer. Good choices, good prices. Yes. Nice tats and crew cut bartender. Next in q to be sat. 10 minutes later. We pick the bar. Greeted immediately by aforementioned Crewtats. Cool. We order. No pressure just matter of fact. Food comes as it's made. Perfect. Fries. Bomb. Soft shell Crab sandwich. Great. Beef Brisket sandwich. Succulent. Perfect meal. Never bothered by a server. Never annoyed by needy neighbors. Good look Hammerheads.
(5)
Emily Y.

Round two: hammerhead. Another solid 4 stars. Timing: Thursday night, called at 5:20pm and restaurant was empty, sat down 5:45pm with no problem, the place was full by 6pm. Portions: appetizer portions feed two people. Entrees are generous. What we got this time: 1. (special for the night) awesomeness chile rellenos. Finally, a good chile rellenos in Louisville. Peppers had some heat, and I apologize for not knowing exactly what was in it other than to say it was some yummy tasty non-plasticky nor runny cheese. The breading was crispy still. The pepper wasn't mushy. And it was soooo good! It was paired with some balsamic and some kind of creamy sweet tangy orange sauce for contrast. 2. (special for the night)Hard boil egg wrapped in elk and panko. Husband loved it. I thought it was pretty good--a little dry for me, but if they would have offered more sauce, I think that would have solved that issue. 3. Beer cheese with pretzel croissant. Same as before yummy beer cheese had a kick to it. Wish this appetizer came with an extra croissant. 4. Mac and cheese. A little spicy, but sooo good. Definitely qualifies as comfort food (this assessment is from someone born and raised in the south). 5. 1/2 rack ribs. Very tasty. Not Memphis dry style. Not Carolina fall off the bone style. But good in its own right. Generous serving.
(4)
Kami T.

Upon arrival, I was shocked to find it basically being in the basement of house. I was a bit scared of the warnings on the menu of the food coming out slow, but our food came out pretty quick actually! Extra points for the friendliness of the staff as well. We ordered the truffle fries, veggie sloppy joe, and soft shell crab sandwich. The soft shell crab and soppy joe were great, but the truffle fries needed more salt. They also had many types of microbrews. In addition, I loved the planks the food came out on even though they might be a health code violation...haha. Definitely a great addition to the Louisville food scene!
(4)
Kristen S.

Thank you Yelp for another great find! I drove from Lexington to pick my bf up from the airport, and I had done some research on trying a different place to take him for dinner. Now I've been to Louisville over a handful of times, and I wanted to get away from the main downtown area and touristy spots. This place wasn't too hard to spot, I knew to look for the big shark. It's located in a residential neighborhood, a bit obscure, and parking isn't the best- street. We walked in on a Thursday night around 8:30, we're greeted immediately, place is full, we were lucky to find 2 spots open at the bar. Yay! So far so good. The bartender/server asked what we'd like to drink, we had water while we looked over some of the beers they had. Now we aren't big beer drinkers, the guy recommended a few, which were actually pretty good and average prices for bottle $4. The menu is interesting, and I'm pretty daring when it comes to trying different foods. I had the venison burger on the pretzel bun, i persuaded my bf to get the PBLT (pork belly) sandwich, which the server said was great; he also recommended the truffle fries (all al la carte and they charge .75 extra for cheese.) While we waited a short period for our food and cooled down with the beers; i took a look around to check out the atmosphere, this place is small. The crowd was a younger 'hipster' type, i saw a few with PBR and saw why, bc it's only $1.50 cans, there were what it looked like a few regulars, but mostly college aged people. Our food came on wooden cutting blocks. The fries were delish! The basket was big enough for 3+ people to have a good size serving, but we couldn't help ourselves and ate the whole thing between us like 2 little piggies. My burger was great- tender, a little wild/gamy tasting but had a hint on spiciness. The pork belly, ah yes, yummy! Melts in your mouth. The food was fulfilling. Our meal w/the side of fries and 2 beers was $35 after tax. A little bit more than your typical chain restaurant, but well worth it. I was not disappointed. What a creative menu and neat place.
(5)
Mary H.

I have to admit, when my son pulled up in front of the place I had major reservations. It took me back to some of the dive bars I went to in college(many years ago.) But the food and the service were great. My husband and I split the bison burger and catfish sandwiches. Both were excellent. Others ordered the beef tacos, veggie burger and pork belly sandwich and were all pleased. The truffle fries are delicious and very rich!
(4)
Nancy H.

Wow! The food was the best I've had anywhere in a long time and for a great price. The ambiance is very simple, but the food is not! Smoked pork tacos, fried medley of mushrooms, and truffle fries along with a great assortment of beers. We had wonderful service, as well.
(5)
Carl F.

You won't be disappointed. Wife and I always seem to end up at hammerheads when visiting Louisville. Food is great (especially the ribs and pork belly sandwich), atmosphere laid back and prices reasonable for the unique menu items. Hammerheads is our go-to restaurant when family visits from out of state.
(5)
Sophia B.

Needs to be open later on the weekends
(5)
Michelle D.

found this spot looking for the swan dive, the former occupant of this low ceilinged, harshly lit neighborhood bar. the laid back, friendly atmosphere, adorable patrons and sweet attitude of our friendly waitress won me over even though they don't serve liquor. louisville may make a beer lover out of me yet. i'd like to visit again and try their menu.
(4)
Adam H.

This place is amazing! We love the dive atmosphere and the food is out if this world. We had garlic herb fries cooked in duck fat, beef brisket tacos, baby back ribs, and macaroni cheese bells. Where to begin. The Mac and cheese balls were the appetizer and were a refreshing take on an old favorite. The garlic and herb fries have a flavor that I'm having trouble describing but I'd highly recommend them! Although I can usually eat a full rack if ribs at other places, these ribs had more meat than I've seen before and I had to carry out the rest. We travel to Memphis for ribs at Rendevous, so we consider ourselves aficionados. These ribs were cooked perfectly and they have a unique BBQ sauce that is vinegar based and looks like soy sauce but has a nice bite to it. My wife had the beef brisket tacos and has been raving all night. We intended on having the bacon brownie but ended up overdoing with everything else. Oh we'll, a reason to home back! There's a reason this place is #1 on trip advisor in Louisville. It's incredible!
(5)
Hallie E.

The duck tacos are absolutely amazing! This is the kind of food that you crave in the middle of the night and jump in your car to go get. Excellent!
(5)
Annette M.

We loved this place. We were just stopping in town and decided to go and we will definitely go back whenever we come back. The people were nice. The food was great. We had very fast service (may have been because we got there at 6). The plates were generous. We had: fried macaroni, beef brisket slider, chicken & waffles, pork tacos, garlic herb fries, and the bacon brownie. I think the chicken & sweet potato waffles were fantastic. Needless to say, we had lots of leftovers. I will mention that there was a slight wait time when we left, so get there early if you can.
(5)
Nadia N.

While hubby was working late decided to check out the Yelp list and grab a bite on 11/15/14. Having read the reviews on this place I arrived 10 minutes before opening - good idea. Hostess came outside to the line minutes before opening and got names/party sizes. If you're going with a group arrive early or be prepared to wait. They also don't seat groups without all parties present. I saw people waiting (standing room only) for at least an hour. My lonesome self sat at the bar, was greeted promptly, and got my food pretty quickly. Now the food is what makes this place 5 star worthy by far. I left smelling like smoke and with watery eyes, but I would do it all again for the food. Knowing I had this visit planned, I hadn't eaten in a few hours. And yes, I over ordered and ate every single bite. I got the 4 crispy shrimp appetizer, soft shell crab sandwich as an entree, and the side of macaroni and cheese. The shrimp were cooked to perfection and the sweet chili sauce adds a delicious ting to the taste. To die for - not necessarily, but worth it. The macaroni and cheese was recommended by the bartender. I personally wasn't in love (strong like, yes), but I've had a lot of mac-n-cheese in my day. It did have a new american taste though, which made it stand out. Lastly, the soft shell crab sandwich.... this made my day. It was fried just right and not overdone with seasoning. The jalapeno aioli was not overbearing and the spring mix and tomato gave you the freshness you need with a seafood sandwich. I wont lie, I may have licked my fingers once or twice. Overall, this place is GREAT!!! Folks were friendly, the environment is chill, and the food is tastyyyy. Whenever you can get here, go!
(5)
Meg D.

Cheeseballs are a must. You can skip the truffle fries. Earlier might be better so you don't smoked out by the kitchen.
(5)
Bryan C.

Food is great. Rude hipsters (sometimes) serving food are hit or miss as is the limited space in the place. Pork ribs are incredible although salty. If Silver Dollar had the menu at Hammerheads then it would be home run.
(4)
Joe E.

Food was amazing, just wish the place was bigger and had more seating. We had to wait outside and it was a bit chilly, but totally worth the wait. The baby back ribs were amazing and meaty. The fat was rendered off, so you know they were slow cooked. The smell of wood smoke outside and inside the restaurant says it all. Whoever is in the kitchen is doing a great job, food is excellent. Truffle Fries and Smoked Mac-n-cheese are a must. We'll be back, for sure.
(5)
Melinda A.

Truly a diamond in the rough!! My first visit here was excellent. I had the Fried Mac n Cheese Balls which was enough to share with our table of 6. The Fried Mushrooms were outstanding and I don't even like mushrooms!! They melted in your mouth. I had the Pork Belly Tacos and they did not disappoint either. Small inside and a few tables outside so get there early!!!
(5)
Troy J.

A dive that thrives. Tucked in the basement of a home on a mostly-residential block, Hammerheads is likely to catch first-time visitors by surprise. The location is dark, crowded and everything that you expect dining in a basement lair to be -- except for the food, which is exceptional. I wanted to order everything on Hammerhead's mesmerizing menu, but settled on pork belly tacos and truffle fries. The tacos were porky perfection. Two thick slabs of pork belly on soft corn torillas with jalapeno aioli. They were four tasty, fatty, smoky bites that barely met the fries, which came later. A lot of foodies will tell you that there is no place for truffle oil on a menu -- but they haven't had the truffle fries at Hammerheads. They were a perfect, generous portion. The truffle oil enhanced the fries, without overpowering them. Fries can be cooked in duck fat for an extra $3 -- and I wish I had the appetite to compare oil/fat combinations to determine the best match. I'll do that another time -- and order the lamb ribs -- or PBLT (an open-faced Pork Belly lettuce and tomato sandwich on Texas toast). It's hard to imagine anyone being disappointed, or bored, by the food served at Hammerheads. No good for large groups. Beer sold separately (grin).
(5)
Ashley D.

I love Hammerheads and I have never had a bad experience there. We went Saturday night and had a table of six and everyone was stuffed and smiling! We got there at 4:45 to stand in line because there is always a line or a wait list. They put us on the list #4. At 5:02 the entire restaurant was full. That shows you how popular Hammerheads is, albeit Hammerheads is small and inside a basement! The tables all had glasses of water, so it was nice to have something cold to drink from the start. Our server came over and got our other drinks ordered and the fried mac and cheese balls and mushroom medley. The fried mac and cheese balls are so good! They are a little smoky and a little spicy, but fried to perfection and come with three per order. My family was obsessed with the mushrooms! They loved how much breading there was on each mushroom and the sauce was so good! I ordered the crab cake sandwich. It was piping hot and pure perfection! My grandpa and my aunt both got the ribs and they raved about how hot they were and what great flavor they had. My mom's bf got the duck tacos and he loved them. My cousin got the catfish sandwich and said it was one of the best he has ever had. My mom got the shrimp and grits. The grits come in a fried patty form, which none of us was crazy about. We also split three baskets of fries (the Grippo, the original and the sweet potato). My cousin also said the sweet potato fries were the best he has ever had! I didn't have any beer on this visit, but on my previous visits I have tried several of their selections and never been disappointed! I would go to Hammerheads more often if it wasn't so popular and I knew I would be able to go in and out quickly. However, it is well worth the wait!
(5)
Nate B.

Killer! You. Must. Get. Here. Except don't. There's not much room and I want more room to myself. Seriously, enjoy.
(5)
Jim S.

Understated but one of the best places to eat in the us. And the best meal in louisville. Varied and interesting BBQ themed menu. Fried mac n cheese balls and lamb ribs are outstanding. Truffle oil fries ain't bad either. The wait can be fierce on many nights, but worth it.
(5)
Olwen C.

I LOVED THIS PLACE! Definitely can't wait to go back. Getting there early is the secret, though. We arrived about 4:45pm to get in the line outside before they open at 5:00pm. It was a good thing we did, or else we'd have waited in a long line! Everything on the menu sounded great. I ordered pulled pork tacos (2 tacos per order) and a duck slider. Sliders are sold individually for $4 and I really wanted to try the duck. It was delicious as was the pork. Others at my table ordered burgers and they all said they were one of the best burgers they've ever had. The fries come in a shareable sized basket that was plenty for two people, maybe even 3. We tried the Grippo fries and ordered a side of jalapeno-sage aioli. It was delicious not only on the fries but on the meat too.
(5)
Aisha O.

I've been here twice and the wait was around a hour both times. I ordered the chicken and waffles my first time here and the shrimp and grits my second time. I definitely recommend the chicken and waffles. The waffle in the chicken and waffles had a sweet potato batter which was interesting. The grits in the shrimp in "grits" was more of a block of corn bread than actual "grits." Nonetheless, this place is great and I could see myself coming back again.
(4)
Ray M.

Great food, great price, but a little cramped. A group of 4 is like the max for this place. You still might bump elbows, but the food is worth it.
(5)
Sarah R.

Considering I like the other restaurant in this group that owns Hammerheads, I knew we had to try it. We went during the summer (thank goodness) and had the amazing luck of being seated immediately on a Friday night, right before a gigantic thunderstorm barreled in. Bam. I felt bad for the patrons who waited patiently in the entryway, as they were all crammed together. There's no awning outside, so learn to make friends easily with the folks crammed right by you as you wait. We had the chicken and waffles, and although my heart may have not appreciated it, my taste buds sure as hell did. Salty and sweet. Genius. I wouldn't suggest it for a first date, as it's kind of "stuff your face" kind of food instead of "must impress my date with table manners" kind of food. All of the dishes are conversation pieces, with interesting types of meat and fun combinations. Our server was great and upbeat, and even proactively notified us that the Belgian waffle maker was being cantankerous and slow...so expect a touch of a wait. We just ordered another beer, and we were happy as clams. We haven't really been back since our first time there, and it wasn't for lack of love. I'd definitely return, hopefully on a less-crowded night (it can get loud in there) with warm weather!
(3)
Mark M.

The best sandwich of my adult life. Duck sandwich on pretZel bun. The only bad thing I can say is the door knob was greasy
(5)
Caprice Y.

OMG! Mac n Cheese balls! Truffle fries! Pork Sliders! Brisket! ginger beer! Real beer! Yum!! Oh yeah! And these too!
(5)
Lingyi P.

The elk burger was SO good! I was hesitant to try it since the last time I had elk, it just tasted like a beef patty to me. But this waitress-recommended elk burger was no plain patty. It was juicy, flavorful and cooked to medium rare perfection. There was a long wait when I went on a saturday night, but the food was worth it. There were so many other things on the menu that I wish I could try...duck, lamb, pork belly. And the prices were great...half a rack of lamb for only $10?! Unheard of in large cities. I would definitely go again if I'm in town. And I would head there early so they don't run out of the popular orders. A must for meat lovers!
(5)
Dawn S.

Stopped by on our way through town from Iowa, on a Thursday around 8pm. For a 4 seat table we Waited about 15 minutes. We basically ate family style so everyone could try a little bit of everything. The macaroni and cheese ball were scrumptious. And very big! I tried the garlic, grippo, & truffle fries. All were good but the truffle fries were AMAZING! As were the baked beans and the macaroni and cheese! Thumbs up to the PBLT and baby back ribs. Very relaxed atmosphere and the staff was pretty awesome too!!
(4)
Bev S.

Okay, I'm always willing to give a place another chance (especially when they are so popular!) So we tried Hammerheads again tonight. I have to say, things were a bit better, but we still felt that they are way over-hyped. The service was considerably better and the wait time wasn't too bad for a Friday night at 6:30 (20-30 mins), so we were optimistic. My husband thought the beer selection still needed some improvement (either way strong and/or hoppy or too weak), but i was satisfied with my German pilsner. He ordered the chorizo burger and i had the brisket tacos. My tacos were pretty tasty but dripped with grease. His chorizo burger was so-so...you got kind of sick of the chorizo flavor pretty quickly. All in all, I guess it's a cool place to go to just because of the hype, location and prices, but all I can say is "meh".
(3)
Brad G.

Very tasty place that I don't make it to enough. I've only been twice and here are the reasons why. I can understand when they were starting out, they opened up in the basement to save money and to get started. Since then, they've opened another restaurant and I thought they'd eventually move out of this very small basement. I still have hope. This is usually a place to show up right as they open or you may be waiting for a very long time. They also tend to run out of things if you don't get there early. On to the food... the few times I've been we always start with the Rosemary Lemon Hummus. It's served with grilled pita bread that's actually still warm when it arrives to you. Most places I've been, the bread is usually cold by the time the hummus arrives, but not here. For me, it's always the Housemade Chorizo Burger with spring mix, tomato, and sun-dried tomato aioli. It might be one of the best Chorizo items I've ever tasted. The grippo fries are also a must. When I'm with someone, I usually have the larger order. It's large enough to fill 2 people for sure. I love this place. I just wish they would switch locations or go ahead and turn the upstairs in to restaurant area too. Anything to increase the space for a larger capacity crowd. The size of the place let's me easily take off 1 star. I also think twice before recommending it to anyone that comes to town. I normally tell them it's a great place, but if you're going, get there early and enjoy.
(4)
Colleen G.

First, arrive early, because this place is small and always packed. Also, if you or your companions are tall, be careful. It's in a basement and those ceiling beams are low. When ordering drinks, the draft beer selection is a medium size but excellent options, with a variety of local and national brews. You'll find things here that you won't find anywhere else. My boyfriend was very pleased to enjoy Three Floyd's Zombie Dust with his dinner last night. When it's time to order food, the elk burger is the way to go. The pretzel bun, aioli, and melty, delicious brie is an excellent combo. I ordered the crab cake sandwich, which I might have enjoyed more if there were bigger lumps of meat instead of being so finely blended. So I was lucky to be offered a few bites of that elk burger. My side of mac and cheese was good though. It's very smokey, and the crunchy cracker topping insulates it and keeps it really hot.
(4)
Lashonda W.

You know how your taste buds scream for something different and delicious, and you can't quite figure out what will satisfy you? Well Hammerheads is the place to be!!! I've had 6 items: Fried Shrimp, the ribs, Brisket, Pork Belly and Truffle fries and the soft shell crab... Off the Hook!!! This place is small but packs a lot of flavor. The costumer service was excellent as well! Please check them out!!!
(5)
Ben B.

Great service, great food, and at a decent price. I had the lamb ribs, 1/2 rack was more than enough for a late dinner, a full rack would have been too much (IMHO). Truffle fries were solid. They were out of Duck so that was a let down, but hey, that happens. Overall, great experience. Wish it were in a bigger space, it was pretty cramped, which adds character, but also a 30 min wait. Hours are 5-10, so be sure to be on time!
(4)
Julie M.

Go early on a weeknight or be prepared for a wait. While the decor is nothing special, the food certainly is. Service was very attentive and friendly. The menu is unique and everything was delicious. We had the mac-n-cheese balls, which were crispy, creamy and smoky. I had the chicken and waffle - the sweet potato waffle is the star of the show here. Just delicious. My husband had the venison burger with pork belly and bleu cheese and said it was great. I'd venture to say anything here would be outstanding.
(4)
Anastasia A.

Yes, the food is amazing but the service is a trip! I had seen people pretty much mistreated here as far as service in the past; yelled at, told to leave, etc., but I had escaped the wrath of busy staff, knowing not to interrupt for a drink or napkins. Typically, I avoid the chaos by slipping into a bar seat. My last trip in, our food came really sporadically, first the macaroni balls drenched in hollandaise--not a good thing, it was requested to be on the side, they had to go back. One dish of BBQ beans came out, but not the other until much later. We sat looking at one dish of beans, not sure what to do. The beans did look good, dark and chunky with pork and a smoky fragrance. Then, my burger arrived with no bun! The waiter nastily INSISTED I ordered it that way but I did not...that is ridiculous. It had to go back for a bun. I had also ordered the yummy duck fat truffle fries, but they never came until after we ate...when they did arrive, they were cold. They smelled amazing, but I was full and ready to go anyway. When the waiter showed up, I explained that we did not want the fries...he then accused me of eating a bunch! I did no such thing. Like I said, the service is a trip!
(2)
Angela C.

I'm writing this for my mother: Went last night for a birthday outing and was a mixed experience. We've never been here before. We ordered the brisket tacos, pork belly slider, Grippos fries, macaroni and cheese balls, and crab cake sandwich. We loved the pork belly slider and mac and cheese balls! Even the aioli is delicious. The big miss was with the brisket taco. The meat was full of fat and gristle. We are discerning brisket fans, and while we don't expect it to be lean and dry, gristle is going too far. The taco was inedible. I let the waitress know our disappointment and she merely replied that that was how brisket can be sometimes. She never offered to bring us another taco or talk to a manager. She offered no way to make it better. A good waitress would have replaced the food with something up to our expectations and perhaps even gone an extra mile for a new customer on a birthday and brought a brownie. With beers, our bill was not cheap. We appreciate good food and service and don't mind paying for it. This makes it a tough sell for us to come back when the brisket tacos at Doc Crowes are fantastic. If you can't make former Texans happy with your brisket, then don't have it on your menu. It's hard to give a mixed review when so much was also very good, but service will make or break any experience.
(2)
Tricia F.

The girls and I read the Yelp reviews and decided to give this place a try. Truffle fries, sweet potato fries, venison burger, baby lamb ribs, beef brisket slider ~ and mac n cheese balls. Enjoyed the mac n cheese balls, but...the fries had so much salt on them we couldn't even finish half the basket....the grease and fat on the food was horrible!! Our waiter did take off several items from our bill so I can't be too hard on them. After returning to The Brown and talking with the valet guy ~ he confirmed that what we ordered was extremely greasy. The restaurant is in the basement of two houses ~ very different indeed, but a unique experience.
(2)
Christopher S.

If you are looking for a unique dining experience with wonderful food, Hammerheads is your place! You may feel like your GPS is lying to you as it states you are approaching the restaurant as you'll find yourself in a very residential neighborhood. But lo and behold, you spot what looks like a small bar or restaurant in the basement of a house. You think to yourself, "hmmm...do I really want to eat in someone's basement?" The only appropriate answer is "YES!" My friend described Hammerheads as cozy with good food. Cozy is right. You'll rub elbows with your fellow Louisvillians since it's most likely only locals that know about this place. We were seated right next to the front door, at a counter overlooking the street. This was perfect for us. We enjoyed watching people come and go and noticing the very diverse clientele. Every walk of life was coming in...and having a great time. We started with the mac & cheese balls. My friend thought the batter was too gummy (it kind of was), but overall I thought it was really good. You can't go wrong with fried macaroni and cheese, right? Our waiter brought out Tabasco sauce with the mac & cheese balls and assured us it's delicious with the sauce. He was very right. I ordered the venison burger, and my friend ordered the beef brisket sandwich. My initial thought of the venison burger (from looks only), was a little disappointing. Being a huge fan of the burgers at Mussel and Burger Bar, I felt like this venison burger would not be up to par. The venison burger comes with bleu cheese, jalapeno-sage aioli, and served on a pretzel bun. After one bite I was convinced that looks can be deceiving. It was fantastic and most definitely venison. I loved the gaminess of it (if you're into venison). Being from Texas, I am very picky about brisket, and I'm usually not too excited to try brisket outside of Texas. My friend's sandwich looked good, so I had to go in for a taste. I have to say, the brisket had a great flavor, and I was a bit surprised it was made here in Kentucky. I'd still pick the venison burger over the brisket sandwich (for its uniqueness), but Hammerheads has my respect for the brisket. My friend and I shared the Grippo fries. Not being from these parts, I was not familiar with Grippo, but my friend assured me I would like it. I love BBQ chips, so this was a no brainer after his description of Grippo chips. The menu states the fries are shareable - take the menu's word for it. I am known for cleaning my plate, and even with two people, we weren't quite able to finish off the fries. The fries were great, and my friend said they tasted exactly like Grippo chips. I love crunchy fries, and there was a perfect mix of really crunchy bits and normal fry consistency. I would love to try the duck fat fries next time. I can't wait to visit Hammerheads again. I also would like to try their sister restaurant, Game. If anything in this review catches your fancy, I guarantee you will not be disappointed with Hammerheads.
(5)
Moises C.

Unusual... That's a good thing. This place is so unique and feels so at home. Came here with my girlfriend for the first time and was not sure what to expect. The restaurant is on the lower floor and has a speak easy feel. Was pretty packed but was immediately greeted and seated within 30 min. The food was amazing and was very satisfied with the lamb ribs!!! Great place and recommend.
(5)
Doug D.

Just got home from Hammerheads this evening, formerly a restaurant (due to the food) that I had reviewed highly here and on Facebook. Ive been flabbergasted and even disappointed by restaurants in town before, but this was the first time I have ever been livid. Took my 3 year old daughter out for dinner this evening after a day at the zoo. We first got a beer for me and a lemonade for her at the bar. Once we got seated we ordered, dinners, two sides, an app and I got a refill on my beer. By the time we go through the app, she was falling asleep at the table. So I asked the waitress for some to go boxes and figured I would save her dinner for lunch tomorrow and eat mine at home once I got her to bed. Got her in the car and got about two blocks away when I realized I left the food. Called the restaurant and a guy answered, I told him what had happened and he said he would check and see if they had saved our food....he HUNG UP ON ME. Not accidently, I could hear him say "Oh!" in the background and boom the line went dead. I already knew the answer when that happened. Pulled up in front of the restaurant and went in to check with the waitress. She said everything had been tossed. $45 worth of food in the trash. When the host/busboy/manager (?) asked me what was wrong I told him what happened. He looked at me and rather than trying to correct the situation his response was, "Oh is it our job to save your food for you?" Yes, smartass! When I havent even been gone 10 mins and I called back and it was $45 worth of food, did it not enter your pea sized brain I was probably going to rush back for it? No apology. No offer to comp it. Just a smartass response. We wont ever be back. Although I loved the food Ive never been a fan of their hipster/entitled attitude of their service. And tomorrow will be calling the credit card company to reverse charges, since my food ended up in the garbage Im not paying for it.
(1)
Gail C.

A great way to end my first day in Louisville. This is definitely not a tourist destination. A great neighborhood local eatery in what looks like someone's basement. The menu has the standard bar faire with an upscale twist. BBQ LAMB ribs, Duck sliders, pork ribs, chicken and waffles. Don't expect the usual, each comes with a twist. Can't wait until I visit again.
(5)
Crystal S.

Worth the wait. Drink one of the awesome beers! You will leave with the smell of smoke in your hair, and as a Chicagoan... Mmmmmmmhmmmmm. Best place to eat in Kentucky!!
(5)
Andrea B.

If you want some of the best bar food around, go to Hammerheads. Comfort food doesn't get much better than this. For an appetizer, I definitely recommend the fried mushrooms. I think they are hand breaded and the dipping sauce is amazing that comes with them. For entree, the tacos are outstanding, especially the duck tacos. And, even though I'm too full to eat it all, I always get a basket of truffle fries. If you like truffle oil, these fries are absolutely amazing. The beer list is quite good as well. Only problem is the place is small and doesn't take reservations so plan on waiting awhile unless you get there right when they open. But, I'd say it's generally worth the wait.
(4)
Sarah W.

I was really excited to try this place after reading all of the great reviews, but I left feeling very disappointed. We got there on a Friday night around 8 and the wait was understandably long. It took us a little over an hour to get seated which was fine, but they sat us at the super crowded bar right by the kitchen. The whole place smelled disgusting and the smell soaked into our clothes in like 2 minutes flat. We ordered the fried mac and cheese balls which were pretty good, but then again you can't really mess up fried cheese. It took us an additional hour before we got our entrees. My fiancÃ© got the elk burger which he liked. I got the angus burger, which tasted very strange. It honestly tasted similar to the elk burger. All and all this place was way too pricey for what you get and the wait time for everything was a little excessive, even for a Friday night.
(2)
Alan W.

If you want unique then you got it! Elk burgers, fish tacos, BOMB truffle fries, endless list of beers, but hurry because this small pub is a Louisville favorite and the waits are pretty long. ,
(4)
Chelsea H.

The beau & I were quite excited to try Hammerheads. Once we were seated, everything was brilliant. The bartenders are amazing. He had the ribs, to DIE, & I had the elk burger, which sent me home with one of the happiest bellies in the world. Only qualm... We got there around 7 on a Saturday night, so obviously, we had to wait. But, outside. Where they don't even have heat lanterns. In December. We were quoted 30 minutes. Seemed fair. After an hour & 10, we were ready to scee-daddle when they called us. This would be a great place to wait outside in the summertime. Enjoy a brew & wait for a table. But in the winter months? Pleeeease invest in a heat lantern! :)
(4)
Kirsten C.

This is the place I imagine a voracious carnivore would feel right at home. The interior of the restaurant -- a walk-in basement -- is cozy and smells of beef ribs (in the best way), and the back of the menu informs diners you can "have anything fried in duck fat" for $3. I've gone to Hammerhead's several times, and I have never regretted anything I've ordered. The PBLT -- monster slices of pork belly between spring mix and sun-dried tomato aioli -- is my boyfriend's favorite thing on the menu, and this is one of his favorite restaurants. Swap out the Texas toast for the pretzel bun. I'm usually adverse to such fatty foods, but God bless America. It is so good. That said, it's also really filling. I got about halfway through before the law of diminishing returns started kicking in. But I finished all of that artery-clogging piece of heaven, because I am a champ. My favorite menu item is the beef brisket sandwich with the pretzel bun. The meat is tender and a perfect vehicle for the house BBQ sauce. The sides are big enough to share, and my foodie boyfriend swears that the sweet potato fries are some of the best in Louisville. I really like the smoked mac and cheese -- slightly smoky, as the name suggests, with a slight kick. It's personal preference as to the truffle oil, a $1 add-on. Many say "yea." I say "nay." Other things I recommend: Beef or lamb ribs -- Sometimes I find "fall-off-the-bone" ribs annoying because they're hard to eat (#firstworldproblems), but these ribs are perfect. They're salty and smoky and completely delicious with or without sauce. Chicken and waffle -- When the menu says, '3 whole chicken wings,' it's not kidding. I think each is a leg connected to a wing? Not so good with fowl anatomy, but they're huge. And the WAFFLE. IT'S SWEET POTATO. Please. It's awesome. Just get it. Crabbie's Ginger Beer Steer clear of: The only thing I didn't really care for was the tarragon heirloom potato salad, and maybe that's just because I'm not too keen on tarragon. Interesting take on an American favorite though, so if you're a fan of the dish, I'd say go for it. (My dad ordered this and I had a taste. When I asked what he thought, he was pretty diplomatic about it and just said it was "interesting.") Tips: The place opens at 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and fills up fast. To avoid a wait, get there a couple minutes before 5. There may already be a line to get in. Ask for extra napkins.
(4)
Nick Z.

Loved it. Got seated quickly (on a Tuesday). Elk burger was delicious. Truffle fries (larger portion, share with 2 people) were very good and addictive. Service was attentive. A little on the loud side, but had a conversation with no problem. Just sketchy enough to make a fun, relaxed, and enjoyable atmosphere. Would eat here again in a second. Great place for a burger.
(5)
Danny H.

Amazing flavors! Probably best BBQ I ever had! Order: Ribs, both are amazing! Tacos are ridiculous Chicken and waffles was pretty good Truffle fries.. amazing! Burger.. had the Elk Burger.. OMG! Desert: brownie topped with bacon Very small place, so you will probably have to wait.. it's ok... All worth it!
(5)
Andy B.

We finally ate here! On a whim, the wife suggested we grab dinner here on a Friday after work. We showed up at 5:45 and caught a table as it was opening. The draught list included some great selections. It was the first Founders Breakfast Stout (a personal favorite) I've had from the tap. We started with fried mushrooms. They were delicious but may have been a mistake because we didn't leave much room for the entrees. We ordered the half rack of baby back ribs, truffle fries, pork belly and brisket sliders, and mac and cheese. Everything was delicious. The place definitely lives up to the hype. Not only was the food great but everyone working there was so nice to us. And I think that carried over to the patrons. The whole atmosphere was friendly and just...cool. We're definitely headed back and I'm definitely getting the chicken and waffles!
(5)
Claudia H.

Yum. One two top table, plan to get there early if you don't want to sit at the bar.
(5)
Eric G.

Worth the hype. The wait was long, but the beer and atmosphere helped. I had the lamb ribs. She had the duck tacos. We will defintely go back. This is my favorite dive.
(5)
Alan L.

An outstanding meal and experience. We're not familiar with Louisville and weren't sure that my iPhone was taking us to the correct destination. Our concerns disappeared when we opened the car door and smelled their smoker working. We ate there twice during three days. The recommended dishes list is short because many things were so good that we ate the same things twice: pork belly tacos, Mac & cheese balls, and duck fat fries. The staff is friendly and knowledgable. We were there at 5 PM on a Friday when they opened. By 5:15, there were no empty seats.
(5)
Matt R.

I'm generally in the know about these things, but the first time I passed by Hammerheads I assumed it was nothing more than the dive bar it apparently used to be. Then I saw the big ole smoker around the side, and thus my education began. Now that Hammerheads is a very poorly kept secret, I'll emphasize just a few things. First, it still feels like a Germantown bar. They've clearly added a few light bulbs, but the emphasis remains on the fact that there's a real chef or two back there. Come for the food, stay for the food. It's also pretty small, so it's a good idea to get there early to make sure you get a table. But while a lot of places offer shoddy service when things get busy, we've had nothing but great service at Hammerheads. Not a place to come everyday, for either your health or the health of your wallet. But definitely come.
(4)
Laura E.

Don't let the dviness of this gem keep you from eating here. I had the soft shell crab tacos and they were so good. Everything ordered at our table was delicious. I want to keep going back until we have had everything on the menu.
(5)
James T.

It was a long wait list to get in but once we got in the food was phenomenal. We wanted to order everything on the menu. Presentation of the food was great. Must try the duck ribs and Crabcake burger.
(5)
Natasha S.

As out of towners, we were nervous when we pulled into what appeared to be a residential neighborhood for the famed Hammerheads bar. We couldn't be more wrong - a giant stuffed Hammerhead marked the entrance to this cozy joint, which was packed. Still, we hadn't even grabbed our beers for the wait yet when two spots opened up on the bar. Let me just say - this place is AMAZING. Everything on the menu looked so good, it was hard picking just a few items. We ended up going with the grippo fries fried in duck fat (heaven in a basket by the way - these came out steaming, fresh, and crispy, with the most amazingly unique flavor I've ever had in a fry. They are a must get.), the pork belly slider, the PBLT (pork belly lettuce tomato sandwich), smoked Mac and cheese, and the elk burger. Every single item was incredible. I especially recommend the elk burger, it was absolutely busting with flavor. The Mac and cheese was smoky and delicious, though I did wish I had gone for the Mac and cheese balls instead. The pork belly on the slider was a nice appetizer, and the meat itself was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, but it didn't have very much flavor. The one item I wasn't too impressed with. On the other hand, my bf loved his PBLT. He said the flavors on the sandwich just made it for him. Hammerheads was out of the ribs and duck by the time we got there, so next time we're getting that. Favorite place in Louisville by far. You gotta go.
(5)
Mike S.

Food is indeed delicious, and the setting is as unique as other reviewers say it is. Since it's so small and so popular, there's a wait both for a seat and for your food. Would be five stars if the service was a little faster.
(4)
Cathy K.

They have it going on. Food is amazing. My husband ordered the baby back ribs and I the duck tacos. The bill with a couple of beers each 40 something with tip. This is good heaven. The guys next to us at the bar ordered the fried mushrooms , soft shell crab sandwich and the pork belly sandwich which all looked great.
(4)
Sal V.

Ok on a scale of 0------white girls can't even this place is so insanely amazingly life changing can't even food!! This food got me can't evening right now! Also they got the best music playing. I'm righting this review with my sticky delicious fingers from the baby back ribs and I plan on licking my screen after I post this!!
(5)
Jason H.

My wife and I tried this place out because of all the reviews on Yelp! It was definitely a dive and it's in the basement of a house. The wait is pretty long so you have to be willing to wait. The food is amazing! I would definitely go back, but get there as soon as they open to allow for a little more time to wait for your table. My wife said it was probably the best burger she ever had. I got my fries cooked in the duck oil and they were amazing!
(5)
Greg S.

I'm a big fan of Hammerheads! One of my favorite places in Louisville. I've lived in Louisville most of my life and had heard of it, but didn't know much about it. I was going out with a girl and she mentioned it was one of her favorite places, so we went there on our 3rd date. It was great. It's a very fun place that is a unique cross between a small bar/restaurant and a dive bar. It's not dirty by any means like a dive bar, but the size, low ceilings and outside gives off the feeling that you're stepping into a dive. It's actually a great bar/restaurant where you can fit in wearing just about anything except extremely formal and extremely sloppy. We went on a Friday night and it was packed. You could barely move when you got in the door. We put our name in and waited for a bit outside. We got lucky and two spots at the bar turned up, so we swooped in and decided to ditch waiting for a table. It might not be the perfect spot on a busy night if you're claustrophobic. The bartenders are very friendly. My date was gaga for the mac and cheese balls appetizer that we ordered. I wasn't as impressed, but it was still good. I had the elk burger, which was solid, but it wasn't anything to write home or Yelp about. My date had the lamb ribs, which she kindly shared, and those were superb. I highly recommend those. Overall, great service, good food, good price, I think I remember them having a decent beer selection, but my favorite part was the atmosphere. It's just some tiny little place that's very aesthetically pleasing with employees and owners who are great at what they do. If you want to go somewhere small and unique that's a half step above casual then this is your spot. Enjoy!
(5)
Emily W.

Easily the best restaurant in town. I've been here a number of times and have never been disappointed by the food.
(5)
Sheng L.

I grew up eating lots of venison and was excited to see the venison burger on the menu. I did not disappoint. Highly recommended. Expect a long wait unless you get there early.
(5)
Casandra H.

We had a wonderful experience here! From the food, to the service, to environment... LOVE LOVE LOVE.
(5)
Jessica S.

Whoooooa. What an amazing place. The Lamb Ribs just might be one of my favorite things I have ever eaten, EVER. We ate some, and promptly ordered more. Don't waste your time on anything less than a whole rack. Also, soft shell crab tacos are amazing and crunchy and tender and wonderful. Suuuuper cheap beer and excellent service. Also great draft beer options. Seems like it gets super busy, so go early or wait, but it's worth the wait. I may move to Louisville and buy a house next door.
(5)
Rich R.

Food was wonderful. We had the lamb whole rack with seasoned fries. Wife had shrimp and crab cakes. The food meet all expectations. The con, the wait outside was cold 30 mins in 27% weather. Be there before 5 and save the wait.
(4)
Christy T.

The food was AMAZING! But it's incredibly small and I felt claustrophobic. The "host" sat a 15 person party in our space and there wasn't any room. A hole in the wall feel but would prefer wayyyy more space and courtesy
(4)
Kyle K.

Cool atmosphere, most everything was really good. We got the pork and duck sliders as an appetizer, the ducks was especially amazing. We got two orders of fries, the duck oil fried ones, and grippo (BBQ seasoned) fries. Don't know that paying extra for duck fries was worth it, but both were very good. My wife got an elk burger and Mac and Cheese. Mac was outstanding, elk burger was ok, a little spicy. I got lamb ribs, they were too fatty, but I think I got the crap pieces, had one with little fat and it was great. Really nice beer selection, and decently priced. They had run out of chicken and waffles, which is what I went to order, but that's ok, we will definitely go back to get it later! $70 total with a pretty decent tip.
(5)
Emilie F.

The food here is to die for! Seriously delicious. I love their pork sandwich on a pretzel bun, and their truffle fries are crazy-good. Knocked a star off the rating because I have never, even when we've gotten there right at the second they open, first in the door, gotten food in less than 45 minutes. And the waits if you don't get there early are pretty long (30-90mins), and outside. Even with all that though, the food is amazing, which is why we keep going back!
(4)
Lana L.

I've actually been here multiple times but never had written a review for this place! I usually order the same burger but I ALWAYS get the Mac N Cheese balls, it's one of the best thing ever invented!
(5)
Amber P.

I'm not going to lie- pulling up to this place we thought we had made a mistake. Tucked in an off the path residential neighborhood this place is literally in the basement of a house on a hill. However, besides being over dressed ( I recommend flip flops and board shorts), this place totally lived up to the reviews. Based on high recommendations ergot the truffle fries in duck fat and they were out of this world. My husband then ordered the Garcia burger, which is veggie made out of falafel. They serve the sandwiches cut in half on a cutting board. He said it was the best veggie burger he has ever had. I ordered the pblt of pork belly lettuce tomato with aioli on Texas toast- also, out of this world. Bring an empty stomach when you are here because after having a few tap beers out of awesome hole made glass blown taps, you will need to be "rolled" out of here. Staff was friendly and we sat quickly at the bar. However, get there early! We arrived on a Monday night around 5;45 pm and sat right down. If we entered 15 min later it would have been a 20 - 25 min wait. Thumbs up hammerheads- we would go back.
(4)
Tony D.

This place is a must-go for all visitors, even if just stopping by for a few hours. It's a pity that we didn't have more time or had the appetite to order more items, because everything on the menu looks so good. I can personally attest to the value of the duck and pork belly sliders--that pork belly was so unbelievably tender and juicy--as well as the lamb ribs and shrimp and grits. The latter two were also delicious and irresistible, especially the BBQ lamb ribs, which were grilled to perfection. Hammerheads itself is in like a basement of a house, so it is pretty snug and small. We got seats as soon as we got here, probably because it was past 10pm, but there were still enough customers here to make this place lively. Will definitely stop by again, maybe for the burgers and/or fries.
(5)
Amanda J.

With busy schedules, my friend and I scheduled a date weeks in advance for dinner. It wasn't until the day of (just a few hours before) that we took time to decide where we wanted to go. I had heard great things from friends and here on Yelp about Hammerheads, and we wanted to see what the hype was all about. I had heard about it literally being the basement of a house, and indeed it was. We arrived around 5:45 on a Monday and the place was almost full, but we were able to be seated immediately at one of the few empty tables. Not long after (around 6), a crowd gathered around the door (and ultimately was even outside, as we saw when we left). So I would suggest arriving early is your best bet if you don't want to wait. Though drinks were desired, we decided to skip the beer and just have water. We ordered an appetizer of the fried macaroni and cheese balls. I ordered the PBLT (pork belly, lettuce, & tomato) on a pretzel bun ($1 upcharge) and a side of sweet potato fries. My friend ordered the elk burger (We heard Martha Stewart Magazine reviewed it though, so she decided to go with that.) and a side of the Grippo's fries. Unfortunately, our appetizer was never brought out, and I had to inquire about it as our meals were being delivered. They apologize and brought them out (after asking if we still wanted them). They were good, though not as amazing as some reviews made them out to be. You get three large balls, and for two people plus our meals, it was too much. (Granted, I've never had fried mac & cheese balls before, so it was good to try something new.) Those put me over the edge in terms of being stuffed. Anyway, back to our meals... the PBLT was delicious. Mixed with the pretzel bun, it was pretty much flawless. The sweet potato fries were skinnier than most sweet potato fries I've had and had a good flavor. (FYI--I order sweet potato fries pretty much anytime they're on a menu.) I tried my friend's Grippo's (which I believe is do to the seasoning/spices on them) fries which were also good. She enjoyed her elk burger after being slightly nervous having never had elk before. We both were stuffed after all of that food; next time I'll split the fries or skip the appetizer. However, I did eat every bite. I didn't want to leave anything on the cool wood board (which all entrees are served on). My friend said she wanted to tell Guy Fieri about this place for Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives. It is divey in an appearance-sense, but the food is by no means divey. As others have said, the service is not PERFECT, but it was busy and everyone was friendly; it seemed like they worked well together and helped each other out. Most of the time I received a refill quite quickly. My one compliant is as a Weight Watcher (Yeah, you wouldn't think that based on what I just said I ate... this was definitely a splurge night.). There were few options that could be considered healthy when it comes to sides. With the "veggie" options and even some of the non-veggie options modified, you could work it out. But since sides are separate, you're about out of luck in that realm. Bottom line... EAT AT HAMMERHEADS! Though I like to try new places (which Louisville has plenty of), this is a place I would want to go back to and introduce to more friends and family.
(4)
Gigi C.

Driving by Hammerheads you would never assume that it is a restaurant. Finding parking on the street was not a problem but seating inside the restaurant was an issue and we ate there on a Wednesday night. My husband and I were seated right away but there was a group of about seven that was standing and waiting for a table the whole time we ate. The main problem with that was there was hardly any room for them to stand, so make it a point to get there early or if it is nice outside, they have an area where you can stand. The craft beer selection was ample but they did not have any domestics. The food choices were even more diverse but I do not remember seeing many options like salads although I could have overlooked that section. We had lamb ribs, duck tacos and truffle fries in duck fat. The duck tacos had an excellent flavor. My husband had the half rack of lamb ribs and said they were good and a half rack was plenty. But the big surprise was the flavor of the truffle fries in duck fat. I just expected regular old fries but they had a distinct flavor. I enjoyed them but my husband did not. The entrees were served on wood planks which was different. You will leave smelling like smoked meat but it will be worth the welcome surprise to your palate!
(4)
David M.

Try the duck fat fries.
(4)
Daniel P.

Definitely lives up to the hype. Friendly staff and great ribs.
(5)
Cassie H.

Absolutely the best restaurant in the ville! I crave the Elk burger and the truffle/grippo fries! If you are looking for spectacular local food artistry...you found it. Small dive restaurant that is always packed because it's OH so good!
(5)
Abby B.

This place is so amazing that I felt compelled to sign up for Yelp and write a review. My husband and I were coming to Louisville for a comedy show Saturday and we were looking for a new place to try since our old favorite, Lynn's had closed down. We were not disappointed when we chose Hammerheads. It was crowded but didn't feel cramped and frankly, seeing so many people there is usually a good sign. He ordered the Elk burger and fries done in duck fat with truffle oil and it was TO DIE FOR. I got the duck tacos and smoked mac and cheese. Those tacos are not messing around. There was so much flavor there..it was ridiculous. The mac and cheese was good but didn't blow my socks off so I just munched part of his fries, trust me there is plenty for 2. We were seated right away at the bar by the window. The food took a while but who cares. It was worth the wait and we just people watched til the deliciousness come out!! I can't recommend this place enough. I am already looking forward to making the trek from Lexington again. It is so worth the drive, even if just for dinner.
(5)
Kenneth A.

When people come to Louisville and ask me where they should eat, Hammerheads is always on the tip of my tongue! Inconspicuously tucked away a few blocks from the Highlands on Bardstown is this true "hole in the wall" dive that's concocting some serious entrees that will make you re-read the menu. Did I really just read about a pork belly BLT with truffle fries fried in duck fat? Um, yes you did - and you're crazy if you don't want to put that in your mouth. This is comfort food, but isn't your typical Paula Dean country fried chicken with gravy. As a matter of fact, you're more likely to get a waffle with your chicken than gravy at Hammerheads. Quality beer selection, warm employees, good pricing, incredible food! My only nag is how small this place is. You will likely be standing by the door trying to figure out who the hostess is and how to get on the wait list. If it's packed, It's customary to stand there for a little while until someone acknowledges you.
(4)
Amber C.

Wow! Food is absolutely amazing! Don't let the basement entry, or inexpensive decor and seating, or the crowd on the sidewalk keep you away. This really was gourmet food! Catfish is excellent, elk burger delicious, loved fries in duck fat! The macaroni balls with smoked cheese were so good!! All the food is really uniquely divine!!
(5)
Lindsay N.

Don't let the location fool you, the food here is worth it!! Yes it has a dive bar vibe and is smaller than most restaurants but the food I tried is delicious! The Crispy Mushroom Medley and Crispy Mac and Cheese balls were a big hit at our table as well as the pork belly tacos and grippo fries. We will definitely be coming back! I've heard the wait can be long on weekends but we were under 30 minute wait on a weekend night. Try it out...you won't be sorry!
(5)
Emma D.

The food is fantastic. The price is right. The cozy basement atmosphere rocks (duck if you're tall!). But the ventilation situation is insane. Kitchen smoke will permeate every fiber of your being. Do not wear clothes you care about!
(4)
Kara R.

Along with the other reviewers, my husband and I thought Hammerheads was absolutely amazing! We got there at 4:45 on a Saturday so we would get a seat without a wait. The mac and cheese balls as an appetizer are a must! Our server suggested pairing with hot sauce, making the dish even better. Our entrees, duck tacos and brisket sandwich on a pretzel bun, were equally impressive. Only being in Louisville for one night, we're extremely happy this is the restaurant we tried!
(5)
Rachel A.

Wow - this place definitely lived up to its near-perfect Yelp reviews. I was in Louisville on a work trip, and we decided to check out Hammerheads for dinner. My coworker had the brisket sandwich and half a rack of lamb, I had the brisket tacos, and we split the truffle fries. The house barbeque sauce was delicious, although I wish there had also been a hot sauce to add some spice to the dish. The brisket was incredible, and my colleague loved the lamb as well. The fries were great, but a bit too greasy (even for french fries).
(4)
Lashonda W.

You know how your taste buds scream for something different and delicious, and you can't quite figure out what will satisfy you? Well Hammerheads is the place to be!!! I've had 6 items: Fried Shrimp, the ribs, Brisket, Pork Belly and Truffle fries and the soft shell crab... Off the Hook!!! This place is small but packs a lot of flavor. The costumer service was excellent as well! Please check them out!!!
(5)
Ben B.

Great service, great food, and at a decent price. I had the lamb ribs, 1/2 rack was more than enough for a late dinner, a full rack would have been too much (IMHO). Truffle fries were solid. They were out of Duck so that was a let down, but hey, that happens. Overall, great experience. Wish it were in a bigger space, it was pretty cramped, which adds character, but also a 30 min wait. Hours are 5-10, so be sure to be on time!
(4)
Julie M.

Go early on a weeknight or be prepared for a wait. While the decor is nothing special, the food certainly is. Service was very attentive and friendly. The menu is unique and everything was delicious. We had the mac-n-cheese balls, which were crispy, creamy and smoky. I had the chicken and waffle - the sweet potato waffle is the star of the show here. Just delicious. My husband had the venison burger with pork belly and bleu cheese and said it was great. I'd venture to say anything here would be outstanding.
(4)
Kelly S.

Sometimes the wait is a little crazy but always worth your time. I've never had a bad meal here but my favorite is the truffle fries and pork tacos. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu though.
(5)
Jamie B.

Based solely on all of the raving reviews on Yelp, I had to come to this place while in town. I am sure glad that I did. The only problem with this place is deciding what to order. All of the items are very appealing. I went with the tacos; one duck and one pork belly. My buddy went with the slides and fries and he loved his food as well. I will defiantly be back the next time I am in town.
(4)
Elizabeth R.

Beating myself up a bit right now because how have I not written a review for Hammerheads yet?! My freshman year of college, this was one of the first local places I tried. The atmosphere fits the city of Louisville so well. Such a strange location with it being in a basement in the middle of a neighborhood, but that's just Louisville. It has a divey feel to it, but not in a dirty way. Just in a low-light, plaid-wearing kind of way. It's a relatively small place (in a basement, after all) so if you are going right at dinner time expect a wait. But also know that the wait is well worth it! In another review I joked about my "best bite of food ever all time." Well, it was here. Their pulled pork is incredible and the first time I had it, the sandwich was exactly what I needed. It took me forever to branch out from getting the pulled pork because it is so dang good. But I'm getting better at that and now I have a whole list of favorites here- which is actually everything I've tried. I had the elk burger last time and shoot was it delicious. I love love looove a rare burger and this was cooked to perfection- not something you can get done everywhere. We also split some fries between three of us- I've never been able to eat a whole thing of fries on my own. A little out of my "eat here whenever I crave it" price range, but I still make it in every month or two. It's hard to stay away from this place!
(5)
James A.

The food was exotic and delicious. The service was prompt and friendly. It's in the basement of a large home. The bar takes up most of the space and the ceilings are low. But that just doesn't seem to matter. In fact, it adds to the experience. It's in an unlikely neighborhood location. Use your GPS to find it. I highly recommend for a group of friends out to have casual dinner and drinks or a thoughtful place for a first or second date. That being said, it's a family friendly spot. Babies and children alike. I'd like to mention they do have seating outside with umbrellas. Weather permitting that would be the place if you're claustrophobic. I notice the outside service to be equal to the indoor. I personally recommend the Elk Burger or the Ribs. (And fries, I forget the name) That's as far as I've gotten into the menu, so far. I'll keep you posted to future endeavors.
(4)
Sarah C.

So, if you don't like the smell of smoked foods, this might not be your place. Ha! As soon as you walk into this joint you are overwhelmed by the smells coming from the kitchen, which is mostly smoked meat smells. Coming from a vegetarian, it can be a bit much but still a pleasant smell. I had to take my friend here because he loves Grippos and had never tried the Grippo fries! Yes, they have delicious fries that are tossed in Grippos seasoning!! They also have truffle fries! They are fabulous as well but I think the Grippos fries are much more interesting and go better with the rest of their menu. Oh, and the mac and cheese balls! Yum! Get them! They keep a pretty good draft list and beer really does go well with their food offerings. I keep meaning to try the crispy mushrooms. Next time.
(4)
Phillip C.

Couldn't have been more pleased gastronomic alchemy going on here! After last week's visit I wondered if they could pull off another meal of such high quality. In a few words they were spot on with the terrific flavors. My burger was perfect truffle fries were the best order of fries I've ever been served in Louisville. Everyone had a very good dinner left full & happy!
(5)
Cindy W.

Pretty tasty for the most part but I think it was hyped up. It's sort of a cramped space located in a basement. I ordered the grit cake, and I liked it because it had a good crunchy outside and the inside was warm and creamy. It was also reasonably priced. People around me ordered the burgers, which come in exotic flavors (elk, for example) and they were reasonably priced. However, nothing was a standout despite the high ratings on Yelp. Prepare to wait for a while (30-40 min for a party of 5?) since it's a popular joint, but I don't think I would go out of my way to try it again. I've had better food in Chicago. However, the waitress was super friendly and nice! Must be the southern hospitality!
(3)
Lukas R.

Omg what a hole in the wall! In a neighborhood , totally unexpected. Took uber here, popped in, confirmed a bar seat for 1, then sent driver off. Maaaahvelous beer selection, limited, but had Dawson's on tap. Bbq lamb ribs, Mac & cheese balls, truffle fries fit me tummy well. Absolute joy.
(5)
Renee L.

This little joint is SO worth the trip to Louisville!!! The smell alone in this place makes the wait (if u have one) worth it!! The mac n cheese balls are incredible! Even if you aren't a mac n cheese fan, these are a must try!!! The baby back ribs ..... phenomenal! The chorizo burger was an unexpected explosion of flavors! The truffle fries with jalapeÃ±o lime aioli were fantastic as well!!
(5)
Jenny J.

God this place is so good. Had the pblt and it was so succulent and savory and delicious. So much food too for just $10. The aioli makes it. Sweet potato fries are great. And so crunchy. Huge fan of the elk burger. Atmosphere has been sufficiently described in other reviews. Basically someone's basement. Smoky and smelly. And fantastic. Long waits.
(5)
Ryan S.

Great food in a very laid back atmosphere. The service was spectacular. There's a previous reviewer that mentions not staying because the neighborhood didn't seem safe. I couldn't disagree more! Hammerheads is tucked away in a working class neighborhood in Louisville's Germantown. It is both safe and friendly.
(4)
James H. L.

Surprise, surprise - when you see basement dives with 150% of the capacity waiting to get in, you've hit gold. At first, you see a bar. You notice a very jazzy mix of tunes from the iPod equipped porta P.A. The one page menu looks like it'll have burgers and fries on it. It does. Truffle fruits in duck fat. Elk and venison burgers (house ground). And soft shell crabs in tortillas...or pretzel buns. Or brioche. A smoked vinaigrette mesclun with Maytag blue. And smoked lamb ribs. The kettle barrel smokers in the back are the dead giveaway that you've found Memphis in Louisville. And a corn cake appetizer that tastes like your devouring a bacon wrapped corn cob. And then the bartender can recite the ingredients by heart and suggest pairings among their fabulous taps and bottles. And then it keeps getting better. It's worthy of a wait (or have it to go, if you can't). Just do!
(5)
Donna G.

Very tasty ! Love the food, love the service and has a very unique ambience : X
(5)
Mike M.

While doing some recon on Yelp for good eats for our trip to Louisville, Hammerheads seemed to be one of the top rated places in town. When we got there though, we honestly didn't even think we were in the right place. The area seemed mostly residential and we couldn't even find a place that looked like a popular restaurant. After seeing the shark outside, we knew we had the right spot, even though it straight up looked like a normal house from the outside. The inside was tiny, with a pretty low ceiling and just a handful of tables in addition to the bar. There was a pretty long wait but we just decided to tough it out since the reviews were pretty convincing. After knocking back a few bottles of Weidemann's while waiting, we finally got seated. The menu looked awesome and we naturally wanted to try a little bit of everything, so we just decided to order a bunch of stuff and split it all. Appetizer: We got the Mac and Cheese Balls as an appetizer. After such a long wait, we just attacked this since we were so hungry. These were actually pretty huge and came covered in a hollandaise sauce. Super crispy on the outside and creamy mac in the middle. Fried food at its finest. Burgers: We couldn't decide on which burger to get, so we pretty much just got em all. They offered unique burgers that were made out of unconventional meats for burgers. We ordered the Elk, the Chorizo, and the Venison burgers. In the spirit of the no-nonsense meat vibe they had going on, the burgers came out on a huge chopping block, which was a nice touch. I don't remember which was which but they were all pretty damn good. I've tried some of these exotic meats in sausage form before at a place in Chicago, but this is the first time I had them in burger form. We made sure to add some extras to the burgers, such as the pork belly. Now that was some bacon on steroids. I'd highly recommend adding that to anything that you order. Just do it. Sides: For the sides, we got the Grippo fries and the garlic and herb fries. The Grippo fries basically tasted like BBQ potato chips, except in fry form, and I thought they were awesome. The garlic fries were solid too, as expected. How could anything not be good when it's drenched in butter and garlic. Because my friend is such a sauce boss, we also asked if we could get all their different aiolis on the side so we could dip the fries. Now that was a genius idea. The sun-dried tomato aioli was my favorite but the jalapeno-sage one had a really unique flavor to it. Overall, Hammerheads is a divey type place that churned out damn good food that you wouldn't expect just by looking at it from the outside.
(4)
Steve P.

This place is in a neighborhood! Very good brisket tacos. Anything pork belly is solid. The macaroni and cheese is very rich. The truffle French fries are awesome when dipped in It's a hipsters paradise lol.
(4)
Joseph T.

Well, it lived up to the hype. It genuinely was one of the best restaurants I've been to, that I can remember, and possibly the best one in Louisville. The Good: The Atmosphere. A really fun, kinda divey yet business casual ambiance. Really difficult to explain. It's a place that I would feel comfortable going to if I were wearing jeans and a t-shirt (which I was), or slacks with a dress shirt and a jacket. It really is that versatile. I've not been to many places like it, with regards to versatility. As well, re: the atmosphere - it's a fun place. Neat decorations and setup. I love the big hammerhead shark hanging above the door as you walk in. Location. I love Germantown. Any red-blooded American loves Germantown. It's blue collar, the houses and neighborhoods are neat, there are good places to eat and get a drink... Love it. Food. The appetizer of macaroni n' cheese balls is frickin legit. I had seen this being peddled by my fellow Yelpers, so I pulled the trigger. They are worth the $8 price. I would honestly pay $12 for that appetizer. It is that good. I ended up getting the elk burger with the brie. I just ate it however it came. I made sure to ask the waitress how I should order it. (It's always good to talk to your server about these things when you go somewhere that you're not used to going.) She said that the elk burger is the go-to of the burger family. I'm glad I spoke to her - it was fantastic. Fantastic flavor. The brie really adds a "loud" flavor to the sandwich. The meat is very tender and well seasoned. Excellent burger. My wife went with the pulled pork sandwich (she loves pulled pork). While eating it, she said that it was an incredible sandwich. I took a few bites. I'll say this - if those few bites I took are indicative of how the sandwich usually comes... that's the best pulled pork sandwich I've had in this city. Granted, that's not saying a ton, because BBQ in Louisville is awful, but that sandwich was legit. I'd put that up against Central BBQ in Memphis, TN any day of the week. I also ordered, per the Yelp reviews, garlic & herb fries, fried in duck fat. Now, I don't want to overstate this... the fries were very, very good. Had a good crisp to them, had a good flavor, and had a good seasoning... I just don't know that they were anything extraordinary. I've had fries that good before that didn't cost $7 for the basket. But I really did like them. I'd get them again, only not fried in duck fat (that's $3 extra), just to see how different they taste. I'd also try some of the other seasoning. Which begs the question - why don't other restaurants offer various seasonings? Interesting. Service: Impeccable. Very good. Very accommodating. No complaints at all. Perfect. The Bad: It wasn't expensive... I can just eat at several different places that I really like for cheaper. But that's OK. I spent $45 w/ tip, and we didn't get alcohol. And I drank water. But, we did get an appetizer... I don't know. Just a *little* more expensive than other places. It won't break you, but if you're going to take in the full Hammerheads experience, it's worth spending the extra dosh. There really is nowhere to wait around if you put your name on the list. The restaurant is very small, and they've put a table and chairs everywhere they can to maximize their profits (which I get). But, on a night like last night, when the temps are below freezing, you have to just stand in the middle of where people are eating. Which I'm sure is unpleasant for the people that are eating next to you, and is also unpleasant for the person standing around and waiting. But, this can't really be fixed, until the nice weather comes. Just one of those things, and I don't fault Hammerheads. The Ugly: While driving home, I started to feel a small rumble in my gut. Halfway home, the sweats began. By the time I get one mile from my house, I am not sure if I'm even going to make it. I Bo & Luke Duke'd my truck into my driveway, and ran into the house faster than Usain Bolt on PEDs, all while unbuckling my belt and untucking my shirt. I narrowly made it. I don't know what caused this. The food was cooked to perfection. I suspect that I just consumed something that my body wasn't used to having. Be it elk or duck fat or hollandaise sauce. But, as I said, it was ugly. Conclusion: Amazing restaurant. Top 5 favorites in Louisville easily. I can easily see why it is rated as high as it is. I'll definitely be back. And I can't wait.
(5)
Heather L.

Hidden, divey, and surprising. We came on probably their worst day, during a thunderstorm, when the place was flooding. Not sure whether it was the manager/owner but he was super accommodating and friendly despite the bad circumstances. We shared the elk burger, duck sandwich, and Grippos fries. I also had some really good craft beer (although on draft, it was a little warm). The 4 stars are for how delicious and unique the food is as well as the service. For this visit I will ignore the flooded, iffy, buggy atmosphere.
(4)
Julie M.

Well the location is odd, and if they didn't have tables with umbrellas outside you would never even know there was a restaurant there (never once did I see anything that had the name of the establishment - there is no sign out front, and nothing on the interior, including the menu, has it). So the fact that it is in the basement of a house just sort of adds to the mystery and strangeness of the place. Inside it is very small and looks like a more colorful version of a church rec room. We were promptly seated and our waitress was quite attentive. I ordered an angus burger on a pretzel bun. The meat was divine, thick and perfectly cooked. However I added brie and I probably wouldn't do that again as the cheese made everything too salty for my liking. I also got to sample (from other folks at my table), the mac and cheese balls (yum) and the truffle fries (good but the application of truffle was almost non existent, I mean I couldn't taste it) Anyway, a cool place. I certainly would return.
(4)
Heather N.

When asking a local louisvillian where we could get a good bite to eat Hammerheads was their recommendation, and they did not steer us wrong. Hammerheads is the definition of a dive bar. Located in a neighborhood and in what seems like the basement of a house, you would miss the place if it wasn't for the huge Hammerhead Shark statue outside. It is a small, dimly lit and defiantly not fancy everything a good dive bar should be. Since it is small, we did have to wait. With every inch of the bar devoted to seating, we did have to wait outside. The host did find us when our table was ready. Beer menu is large and comprehensive for all tastes. Food is straight comfort, from Pork Belly Tacos, to Duck, Ribs, Smoked Mac and Cheese, Elk burgers, Crab, Fried Chicken, everyone is bound to find a comfort food they enjoy. I ordered the Pork Belly Tacos. Each order comes with two tacos which doesn't seem like a lot but it was plenty for me, especially after eating Sweet potato fries, fried in duck fat. I also ordered the Smoked Mac and Cheese. It was very creamy and cheesy and a large portion. I would highly recomend this place for anyone in the area.
(5)
Britteny S.

If we lived in Louisville we would eat here every week. The prices were worth the quality of food and size of portions. It wasn't hard to find at all even though it was in residential area. There is a hammerhead shark above the door of the restaurant. If you haven't visited it is definitely a hidden jem of Louisville and you need to go!
(5)
Ashley I.

AMAZING!!! Everyone I talked to said I had to go to hammerheads, that it is a hole in the wall but the best southern food. They were all correct! We ordered the Mac n cheese balls, baby back ribs, veggie burger (for the vegetarian sister), and duck tacos. Everything was great, so flavorful! When you order the Mac n cheese balls, it comes with three. Thank gosh, there were 3 of us because I would have eaten all 3 of these deliciousness myself if given the opportunity. The ribs were the fall off the bone type you dream of. However if bbq sauce is your thing, these ribs were lacking that. However, the texture and flavor more than made up. My sisters enjoyed their burgers and tacos, and said this was their favorite out of all the places I took them. We went Monday at 6 and their was only a 15 minute wait, however I understand the hour long waits that happen on the weekends. I will be coming back soon for the chicken and waffles!
(5)
Tara M.

Okay I know.. Three stars, I must be crazy. I've been wanting to try this place forever and finally did this past weekend, with my SO. We had a little wait, no biggie, we expected it, and we sat outside and had a (really good) beer. The guy who put us on the list was really pleasant, as was the guy who got our beers, and the waitress. My only complaint was with the food- I honestly wasn't impressed. We had the truffle fries, smoked Mac n cheese with truffle oil, duck sandwich, and pork belly tacos. The fries really were good, but to me they were just fries. The mac n cheese wasn't all that- and I learned I have an aversion to truffle oil- the smell really grossed me out but apparently that's common, and of course has nothing to do with the restaurant itself. My boyfriend was happy there was more for him, anyways. The duck sandwich to me was just boring, and didn't taste any different than any other smoked meat I've had. Honestly, I felt the same about the tacos. I am a big fan of pork belly, and this was probably the poorest belly experience I've had.. I also wish the garnishes on the taco were a little stronger to cut through the heaviness of the pork, and add a little dimension to the dish. I was expecting to be blown away by this place, and maybe that was why I was let down. Either way, I'll definitely be back to try some other dishes and when I do I'll fill yall in on how my opinion changes!
(3)
Bethany Z.

This place is awesome and very different. The only thing that stinks is the size . You have to get there before they open in order to get a good seat. They also run out of the best things on the menu, sometimes early on. So if you want the bore ribs get there early . You have to try it at least once if you don't like waiting. I think it's with the wait though.
(4)
Shawn N.

Are you kidding me? This place is ridiculously delicious!! Lamb chops, brisket slider, duck slider and the parm crusted mac. If you're feeling froggy, get the BBQ sauce....I can't even describe it but it drinkable. If you want a con here it is..,.there are not many seats, parking is in a neighborhood and for us tall peeps the ceiling is low (almost hit head twice)....none of this would stop me from feasting here but good info to know.
(5)
Lingyi P.

The elk burger was SO good! I was hesitant to try it since the last time I had elk, it just tasted like a beef patty to me. But this waitress-recommended elk burger was no plain patty. It was juicy, flavorful and cooked to medium rare perfection. There was a long wait when I went on a saturday night, but the food was worth it. There were so many other things on the menu that I wish I could try...duck, lamb, pork belly. And the prices were great...half a rack of lamb for only $10?! Unheard of in large cities. I would definitely go again if I'm in town. And I would head there early so they don't run out of the popular orders. A must for meat lovers!
(5)
Dawn S.

Stopped by on our way through town from Iowa, on a Thursday around 8pm. For a 4 seat table we Waited about 15 minutes. We basically ate family style so everyone could try a little bit of everything. The macaroni and cheese ball were scrumptious. And very big! I tried the garlic, grippo, & truffle fries. All were good but the truffle fries were AMAZING! As were the baked beans and the macaroni and cheese! Thumbs up to the PBLT and baby back ribs. Very relaxed atmosphere and the staff was pretty awesome too!!
(4)
Nadia N.

While hubby was working late decided to check out the Yelp list and grab a bite on 11/15/14. Having read the reviews on this place I arrived 10 minutes before opening - good idea. Hostess came outside to the line minutes before opening and got names/party sizes. If you're going with a group arrive early or be prepared to wait. They also don't seat groups without all parties present. I saw people waiting (standing room only) for at least an hour. My lonesome self sat at the bar, was greeted promptly, and got my food pretty quickly. Now the food is what makes this place 5 star worthy by far. I left smelling like smoke and with watery eyes, but I would do it all again for the food. Knowing I had this visit planned, I hadn't eaten in a few hours. And yes, I over ordered and ate every single bite. I got the 4 crispy shrimp appetizer, soft shell crab sandwich as an entree, and the side of macaroni and cheese. The shrimp were cooked to perfection and the sweet chili sauce adds a delicious ting to the taste. To die for - not necessarily, but worth it. The macaroni and cheese was recommended by the bartender. I personally wasn't in love (strong like, yes), but I've had a lot of mac-n-cheese in my day. It did have a new american taste though, which made it stand out. Lastly, the soft shell crab sandwich.... this made my day. It was fried just right and not overdone with seasoning. The jalapeno aioli was not overbearing and the spring mix and tomato gave you the freshness you need with a seafood sandwich. I wont lie, I may have licked my fingers once or twice. Overall, this place is GREAT!!! Folks were friendly, the environment is chill, and the food is tastyyyy. Whenever you can get here, go!
(5)
Meg D.

Cheeseballs are a must. You can skip the truffle fries. Earlier might be better so you don't smoked out by the kitchen.
(5)
Bryan C.

Food is great. Rude hipsters (sometimes) serving food are hit or miss as is the limited space in the place. Pork ribs are incredible although salty. If Silver Dollar had the menu at Hammerheads then it would be home run.
(4)
Joe E.

Food was amazing, just wish the place was bigger and had more seating. We had to wait outside and it was a bit chilly, but totally worth the wait. The baby back ribs were amazing and meaty. The fat was rendered off, so you know they were slow cooked. The smell of wood smoke outside and inside the restaurant says it all. Whoever is in the kitchen is doing a great job, food is excellent. Truffle Fries and Smoked Mac-n-cheese are a must. We'll be back, for sure.
(5)
Melinda A.

Truly a diamond in the rough!! My first visit here was excellent. I had the Fried Mac n Cheese Balls which was enough to share with our table of 6. The Fried Mushrooms were outstanding and I don't even like mushrooms!! They melted in your mouth. I had the Pork Belly Tacos and they did not disappoint either. Small inside and a few tables outside so get there early!!!
(5)
Troy J.

A dive that thrives. Tucked in the basement of a home on a mostly-residential block, Hammerheads is likely to catch first-time visitors by surprise. The location is dark, crowded and everything that you expect dining in a basement lair to be -- except for the food, which is exceptional. I wanted to order everything on Hammerhead's mesmerizing menu, but settled on pork belly tacos and truffle fries. The tacos were porky perfection. Two thick slabs of pork belly on soft corn torillas with jalapeno aioli. They were four tasty, fatty, smoky bites that barely met the fries, which came later. A lot of foodies will tell you that there is no place for truffle oil on a menu -- but they haven't had the truffle fries at Hammerheads. They were a perfect, generous portion. The truffle oil enhanced the fries, without overpowering them. Fries can be cooked in duck fat for an extra $3 -- and I wish I had the appetite to compare oil/fat combinations to determine the best match. I'll do that another time -- and order the lamb ribs -- or PBLT (an open-faced Pork Belly lettuce and tomato sandwich on Texas toast). It's hard to imagine anyone being disappointed, or bored, by the food served at Hammerheads. No good for large groups. Beer sold separately (grin).
(5)
Ashley D.

I love Hammerheads and I have never had a bad experience there. We went Saturday night and had a table of six and everyone was stuffed and smiling! We got there at 4:45 to stand in line because there is always a line or a wait list. They put us on the list #4. At 5:02 the entire restaurant was full. That shows you how popular Hammerheads is, albeit Hammerheads is small and inside a basement! The tables all had glasses of water, so it was nice to have something cold to drink from the start. Our server came over and got our other drinks ordered and the fried mac and cheese balls and mushroom medley. The fried mac and cheese balls are so good! They are a little smoky and a little spicy, but fried to perfection and come with three per order. My family was obsessed with the mushrooms! They loved how much breading there was on each mushroom and the sauce was so good! I ordered the crab cake sandwich. It was piping hot and pure perfection! My grandpa and my aunt both got the ribs and they raved about how hot they were and what great flavor they had. My mom's bf got the duck tacos and he loved them. My cousin got the catfish sandwich and said it was one of the best he has ever had. My mom got the shrimp and grits. The grits come in a fried patty form, which none of us was crazy about. We also split three baskets of fries (the Grippo, the original and the sweet potato). My cousin also said the sweet potato fries were the best he has ever had! I didn't have any beer on this visit, but on my previous visits I have tried several of their selections and never been disappointed! I would go to Hammerheads more often if it wasn't so popular and I knew I would be able to go in and out quickly. However, it is well worth the wait!
(5)
Nate B.

Killer! You. Must. Get. Here. Except don't. There's not much room and I want more room to myself. Seriously, enjoy.
(5)
Jim S.

Understated but one of the best places to eat in the us. And the best meal in louisville. Varied and interesting BBQ themed menu. Fried mac n cheese balls and lamb ribs are outstanding. Truffle oil fries ain't bad either. The wait can be fierce on many nights, but worth it.
(5)
Olwen C.

I LOVED THIS PLACE! Definitely can't wait to go back. Getting there early is the secret, though. We arrived about 4:45pm to get in the line outside before they open at 5:00pm. It was a good thing we did, or else we'd have waited in a long line! Everything on the menu sounded great. I ordered pulled pork tacos (2 tacos per order) and a duck slider. Sliders are sold individually for $4 and I really wanted to try the duck. It was delicious as was the pork. Others at my table ordered burgers and they all said they were one of the best burgers they've ever had. The fries come in a shareable sized basket that was plenty for two people, maybe even 3. We tried the Grippo fries and ordered a side of jalapeno-sage aioli. It was delicious not only on the fries but on the meat too.
(5)
Aisha O.

I've been here twice and the wait was around a hour both times. I ordered the chicken and waffles my first time here and the shrimp and grits my second time. I definitely recommend the chicken and waffles. The waffle in the chicken and waffles had a sweet potato batter which was interesting. The grits in the shrimp in "grits" was more of a block of corn bread than actual "grits." Nonetheless, this place is great and I could see myself coming back again.
(4)
Ray M.

Great food, great price, but a little cramped. A group of 4 is like the max for this place. You still might bump elbows, but the food is worth it.
(5)
Sarah R.

Considering I like the other restaurant in this group that owns Hammerheads, I knew we had to try it. We went during the summer (thank goodness) and had the amazing luck of being seated immediately on a Friday night, right before a gigantic thunderstorm barreled in. Bam. I felt bad for the patrons who waited patiently in the entryway, as they were all crammed together. There's no awning outside, so learn to make friends easily with the folks crammed right by you as you wait. We had the chicken and waffles, and although my heart may have not appreciated it, my taste buds sure as hell did. Salty and sweet. Genius. I wouldn't suggest it for a first date, as it's kind of "stuff your face" kind of food instead of "must impress my date with table manners" kind of food. All of the dishes are conversation pieces, with interesting types of meat and fun combinations. Our server was great and upbeat, and even proactively notified us that the Belgian waffle maker was being cantankerous and slow...so expect a touch of a wait. We just ordered another beer, and we were happy as clams. We haven't really been back since our first time there, and it wasn't for lack of love. I'd definitely return, hopefully on a less-crowded night (it can get loud in there) with warm weather!
(3)
Mark M.

The best sandwich of my adult life. Duck sandwich on pretZel bun. The only bad thing I can say is the door knob was greasy
(5)
Caprice Y.

OMG! Mac n Cheese balls! Truffle fries! Pork Sliders! Brisket! ginger beer! Real beer! Yum!! Oh yeah! And these too!
(5)
Bev S.

Okay, I'm always willing to give a place another chance (especially when they are so popular!) So we tried Hammerheads again tonight. I have to say, things were a bit better, but we still felt that they are way over-hyped. The service was considerably better and the wait time wasn't too bad for a Friday night at 6:30 (20-30 mins), so we were optimistic. My husband thought the beer selection still needed some improvement (either way strong and/or hoppy or too weak), but i was satisfied with my German pilsner. He ordered the chorizo burger and i had the brisket tacos. My tacos were pretty tasty but dripped with grease. His chorizo burger was so-so...you got kind of sick of the chorizo flavor pretty quickly. All in all, I guess it's a cool place to go to just because of the hype, location and prices, but all I can say is "meh".
(3)
Brad G.

Very tasty place that I don't make it to enough. I've only been twice and here are the reasons why. I can understand when they were starting out, they opened up in the basement to save money and to get started. Since then, they've opened another restaurant and I thought they'd eventually move out of this very small basement. I still have hope. This is usually a place to show up right as they open or you may be waiting for a very long time. They also tend to run out of things if you don't get there early. On to the food... the few times I've been we always start with the Rosemary Lemon Hummus. It's served with grilled pita bread that's actually still warm when it arrives to you. Most places I've been, the bread is usually cold by the time the hummus arrives, but not here. For me, it's always the Housemade Chorizo Burger with spring mix, tomato, and sun-dried tomato aioli. It might be one of the best Chorizo items I've ever tasted. The grippo fries are also a must. When I'm with someone, I usually have the larger order. It's large enough to fill 2 people for sure. I love this place. I just wish they would switch locations or go ahead and turn the upstairs in to restaurant area too. Anything to increase the space for a larger capacity crowd. The size of the place let's me easily take off 1 star. I also think twice before recommending it to anyone that comes to town. I normally tell them it's a great place, but if you're going, get there early and enjoy.
(4)
Colleen G.

First, arrive early, because this place is small and always packed. Also, if you or your companions are tall, be careful. It's in a basement and those ceiling beams are low. When ordering drinks, the draft beer selection is a medium size but excellent options, with a variety of local and national brews. You'll find things here that you won't find anywhere else. My boyfriend was very pleased to enjoy Three Floyd's Zombie Dust with his dinner last night. When it's time to order food, the elk burger is the way to go. The pretzel bun, aioli, and melty, delicious brie is an excellent combo. I ordered the crab cake sandwich, which I might have enjoyed more if there were bigger lumps of meat instead of being so finely blended. So I was lucky to be offered a few bites of that elk burger. My side of mac and cheese was good though. It's very smokey, and the crunchy cracker topping insulates it and keeps it really hot.
(4)
Anastasia A.

Yes, the food is amazing but the service is a trip! I had seen people pretty much mistreated here as far as service in the past; yelled at, told to leave, etc., but I had escaped the wrath of busy staff, knowing not to interrupt for a drink or napkins. Typically, I avoid the chaos by slipping into a bar seat. My last trip in, our food came really sporadically, first the macaroni balls drenched in hollandaise--not a good thing, it was requested to be on the side, they had to go back. One dish of BBQ beans came out, but not the other until much later. We sat looking at one dish of beans, not sure what to do. The beans did look good, dark and chunky with pork and a smoky fragrance. Then, my burger arrived with no bun! The waiter nastily INSISTED I ordered it that way but I did not...that is ridiculous. It had to go back for a bun. I had also ordered the yummy duck fat truffle fries, but they never came until after we ate...when they did arrive, they were cold. They smelled amazing, but I was full and ready to go anyway. When the waiter showed up, I explained that we did not want the fries...he then accused me of eating a bunch! I did no such thing. Like I said, the service is a trip!
(2)
Angela C.

I'm writing this for my mother: Went last night for a birthday outing and was a mixed experience. We've never been here before. We ordered the brisket tacos, pork belly slider, Grippos fries, macaroni and cheese balls, and crab cake sandwich. We loved the pork belly slider and mac and cheese balls! Even the aioli is delicious. The big miss was with the brisket taco. The meat was full of fat and gristle. We are discerning brisket fans, and while we don't expect it to be lean and dry, gristle is going too far. The taco was inedible. I let the waitress know our disappointment and she merely replied that that was how brisket can be sometimes. She never offered to bring us another taco or talk to a manager. She offered no way to make it better. A good waitress would have replaced the food with something up to our expectations and perhaps even gone an extra mile for a new customer on a birthday and brought a brownie. With beers, our bill was not cheap. We appreciate good food and service and don't mind paying for it. This makes it a tough sell for us to come back when the brisket tacos at Doc Crowes are fantastic. If you can't make former Texans happy with your brisket, then don't have it on your menu. It's hard to give a mixed review when so much was also very good, but service will make or break any experience.
(2)
Tricia F.

The girls and I read the Yelp reviews and decided to give this place a try. Truffle fries, sweet potato fries, venison burger, baby lamb ribs, beef brisket slider ~ and mac n cheese balls. Enjoyed the mac n cheese balls, but...the fries had so much salt on them we couldn't even finish half the basket....the grease and fat on the food was horrible!! Our waiter did take off several items from our bill so I can't be too hard on them. After returning to The Brown and talking with the valet guy ~ he confirmed that what we ordered was extremely greasy. The restaurant is in the basement of two houses ~ very different indeed, but a unique experience.
(2)
Christopher S.

If you are looking for a unique dining experience with wonderful food, Hammerheads is your place! You may feel like your GPS is lying to you as it states you are approaching the restaurant as you'll find yourself in a very residential neighborhood. But lo and behold, you spot what looks like a small bar or restaurant in the basement of a house. You think to yourself, "hmmm...do I really want to eat in someone's basement?" The only appropriate answer is "YES!" My friend described Hammerheads as cozy with good food. Cozy is right. You'll rub elbows with your fellow Louisvillians since it's most likely only locals that know about this place. We were seated right next to the front door, at a counter overlooking the street. This was perfect for us. We enjoyed watching people come and go and noticing the very diverse clientele. Every walk of life was coming in...and having a great time. We started with the mac & cheese balls. My friend thought the batter was too gummy (it kind of was), but overall I thought it was really good. You can't go wrong with fried macaroni and cheese, right? Our waiter brought out Tabasco sauce with the mac & cheese balls and assured us it's delicious with the sauce. He was very right. I ordered the venison burger, and my friend ordered the beef brisket sandwich. My initial thought of the venison burger (from looks only), was a little disappointing. Being a huge fan of the burgers at Mussel and Burger Bar, I felt like this venison burger would not be up to par. The venison burger comes with bleu cheese, jalapeno-sage aioli, and served on a pretzel bun. After one bite I was convinced that looks can be deceiving. It was fantastic and most definitely venison. I loved the gaminess of it (if you're into venison). Being from Texas, I am very picky about brisket, and I'm usually not too excited to try brisket outside of Texas. My friend's sandwich looked good, so I had to go in for a taste. I have to say, the brisket had a great flavor, and I was a bit surprised it was made here in Kentucky. I'd still pick the venison burger over the brisket sandwich (for its uniqueness), but Hammerheads has my respect for the brisket. My friend and I shared the Grippo fries. Not being from these parts, I was not familiar with Grippo, but my friend assured me I would like it. I love BBQ chips, so this was a no brainer after his description of Grippo chips. The menu states the fries are shareable - take the menu's word for it. I am known for cleaning my plate, and even with two people, we weren't quite able to finish off the fries. The fries were great, and my friend said they tasted exactly like Grippo chips. I love crunchy fries, and there was a perfect mix of really crunchy bits and normal fry consistency. I would love to try the duck fat fries next time. I can't wait to visit Hammerheads again. I also would like to try their sister restaurant, Game. If anything in this review catches your fancy, I guarantee you will not be disappointed with Hammerheads.
(5)
Marbou C.

Ate here for the first time on Nov 1. Waited an hour for two seats at the bar. I'd wait 2, to sit outside. It is one of two places in ALL the places I've eaten in Louisville that are where I've had the best food I've ever tasted in life. The atmosphere is awesome the people from staff to other patrons was amazing. The Pork Belly Slider is amazing. I had the BBQ lamb ribs and they were cooked perfectly, all washed down by a Brooklyn Brewery Chocolate Stout. I'm going back. IF YOU'RE READING THIS, GO EAT THERE!!!
(5)
Doug D.

Just got home from Hammerheads this evening, formerly a restaurant (due to the food) that I had reviewed highly here and on Facebook. Ive been flabbergasted and even disappointed by restaurants in town before, but this was the first time I have ever been livid. Took my 3 year old daughter out for dinner this evening after a day at the zoo. We first got a beer for me and a lemonade for her at the bar. Once we got seated we ordered, dinners, two sides, an app and I got a refill on my beer. By the time we go through the app, she was falling asleep at the table. So I asked the waitress for some to go boxes and figured I would save her dinner for lunch tomorrow and eat mine at home once I got her to bed. Got her in the car and got about two blocks away when I realized I left the food. Called the restaurant and a guy answered, I told him what had happened and he said he would check and see if they had saved our food....he HUNG UP ON ME. Not accidently, I could hear him say "Oh!" in the background and boom the line went dead. I already knew the answer when that happened. Pulled up in front of the restaurant and went in to check with the waitress. She said everything had been tossed. $45 worth of food in the trash. When the host/busboy/manager (?) asked me what was wrong I told him what happened. He looked at me and rather than trying to correct the situation his response was, "Oh is it our job to save your food for you?" Yes, smartass! When I havent even been gone 10 mins and I called back and it was $45 worth of food, did it not enter your pea sized brain I was probably going to rush back for it? No apology. No offer to comp it. Just a smartass response. We wont ever be back. Although I loved the food Ive never been a fan of their hipster/entitled attitude of their service. And tomorrow will be calling the credit card company to reverse charges, since my food ended up in the garbage Im not paying for it.
(1)
Gail C.

A great way to end my first day in Louisville. This is definitely not a tourist destination. A great neighborhood local eatery in what looks like someone's basement. The menu has the standard bar faire with an upscale twist. BBQ LAMB ribs, Duck sliders, pork ribs, chicken and waffles. Don't expect the usual, each comes with a twist. Can't wait until I visit again.
(5)
Crystal S.

Worth the wait. Drink one of the awesome beers! You will leave with the smell of smoke in your hair, and as a Chicagoan... Mmmmmmmhmmmmm. Best place to eat in Kentucky!!
(5)
Andrea B.

If you want some of the best bar food around, go to Hammerheads. Comfort food doesn't get much better than this. For an appetizer, I definitely recommend the fried mushrooms. I think they are hand breaded and the dipping sauce is amazing that comes with them. For entree, the tacos are outstanding, especially the duck tacos. And, even though I'm too full to eat it all, I always get a basket of truffle fries. If you like truffle oil, these fries are absolutely amazing. The beer list is quite good as well. Only problem is the place is small and doesn't take reservations so plan on waiting awhile unless you get there right when they open. But, I'd say it's generally worth the wait.
(4)
Sarah W.

I was really excited to try this place after reading all of the great reviews, but I left feeling very disappointed. We got there on a Friday night around 8 and the wait was understandably long. It took us a little over an hour to get seated which was fine, but they sat us at the super crowded bar right by the kitchen. The whole place smelled disgusting and the smell soaked into our clothes in like 2 minutes flat. We ordered the fried mac and cheese balls which were pretty good, but then again you can't really mess up fried cheese. It took us an additional hour before we got our entrees. My fiancÃ© got the elk burger which he liked. I got the angus burger, which tasted very strange. It honestly tasted similar to the elk burger. All and all this place was way too pricey for what you get and the wait time for everything was a little excessive, even for a Friday night.
(2)
Alan W.

If you want unique then you got it! Elk burgers, fish tacos, BOMB truffle fries, endless list of beers, but hurry because this small pub is a Louisville favorite and the waits are pretty long. ,
(4)
Chelsea H.

The beau & I were quite excited to try Hammerheads. Once we were seated, everything was brilliant. The bartenders are amazing. He had the ribs, to DIE, & I had the elk burger, which sent me home with one of the happiest bellies in the world. Only qualm... We got there around 7 on a Saturday night, so obviously, we had to wait. But, outside. Where they don't even have heat lanterns. In December. We were quoted 30 minutes. Seemed fair. After an hour & 10, we were ready to scee-daddle when they called us. This would be a great place to wait outside in the summertime. Enjoy a brew & wait for a table. But in the winter months? Pleeeease invest in a heat lantern! :)
(4)
Kristi P.

Beef brisket was amazing!! Sweet potatoe fries are the best. Get here early. It's a little hole in the wall place. But one of the best places I've been in Louisville.
(5)
Brock M.

Easily, some of the best food I have ever had in my life. Reading the reviews was the best thing to do, for going in this restaurant for the first time. I knew there would be a wait, which I was fine with going in knowing, and would wait that long every time I go back. If you don't want to wait or will complain about the wait after reading multiple reviews about warning you there will be a wait, just don't go, this place doesn't deserve negative reviews like that. The setting was very understandable once I arrived. This placed lived up to the hype/suspense, 100%. Only let down was they were out of chicken and waffles for the night, which was what I was going for. We got the Mac and cheese balls for our appetizer, they were awesome, if you like Mac and cheese. You'll love them. I got the elk burger and grippo fries for my meal, first time having elk. And it was the best burger I've ever had, hands down. The sun dried tomato aioli on it was so tasty! Fries, we're just jaw dropping. Pretty much, cannot wait to go back and try more things they have. Awesome place. The staff were nice, checked back up on us, suggested things etc.
(5)
Kathy V.

A friend brought me here for the first time and I fell in love. And not just because of the bacon brownies! She sold me with the promise of french fries fried in duck fat or covered in truffle oil. Fancy! We went on what must have been a slow night or right as they opened because there was no problem getting a table and the ribs weren't done cooking yet. I had the chorizo burger, which at first seemed a little daunting (that's a lot of flavor and a lot of chorizo) but it was one of the best burgers I've had. And then I saw the dessert offerings...I am a bacon whore and I have contemplated on many occasions putting bacon in my brownies. And here, they did it for me! It was...fantastic. I have nothing bad to say about this place...I only wish I had a chance to go more often. And the smell from this place is delectable!
(5)
Brenda L.

The truffle fries are amazing. The best fries I have ever had! Don't pass them up, you will be sorry. We also had the pork belly and duck sliders. The pork belly was a thick cut and right crispness. Overall very glad we came to this restaurant when visiting Louisville.
(5)
Sarah C.

Make reservations, because the weekend wait is forever long. The food was totally worth it and they have an excellent selection of beers. I did however want to kick a hipster down the stairs!
(4)
Megan F.

It's my go-to date night, my go-to "This is Louisville" for visitors in town, and my go-to random weekday dinner for when my roommates and I haven't gone to the grocery store recently. Comfort is pretty key for me and this place puts on no airs, which I love. Unfortunately, they also lack air conditioning, but that issue will be no longer at the end of August 2012 when... they get air conditioning! Beware if you go on a Friday or Saturday night--there will be a wait! The weekdays aren't exactly exempt from that risk either. However, the staff does a great job of catching parties as they arrive for their names and size despite no hosting area. Be prepared to stand like sardines for a few minutes while tables are turned over. Don't worry, the food is worth it. The elk burger is one of my favorites because despite the elk, brie and lettuce actually having protein and nutrients, the sandwich tastes yummy and rich enough to be pure butter. It's hard to resist ordering a simple yet dressed up side item, so I usually split some Grippo fries with friends and that usually leaves me with enough for lunch leftovers the following day. It's really easy to finish your meal feeling waaaaay too satiated and then still want to order a bacon brownie for dessert, but I think the key with the a la carte style menu is to mix and match lighter options in with the heavier options. Even then, sometimes a box is still necessary. I also wanna give a quick shout out to the truffle oil mac & cheese, pulled pork sandwich and the vegetarian tacos!
(5)
Leda R.

Delicious food. We where a little disappointed that they where out of duck but what we got was amazing. We had truffle fries, softshell crab tacos, mac n cheese and lamb ribs. It has been a few months and I still think about those tacos!
(5)
Josh W.

Hammerheads is one of the most magical places that I have been. My friend and I stopped here when we were touring bourbon distilleries. It is in the middle of a residential neighborhood that looks a little shady when you drive in from one side. The entrance is the patio entrance to the lower level of a house with a big hammerhead shark mounted above the door. The interior looks like a stoner's basement in mom and dad's house that has been converted into a bar with all of the decorations. It looks like there is one guy back in a tiny kitchen who is running in and out to make all the food for everyone in the restaurant. And when you open the menu and taste the food, you are amazed at the juxtaposition of the dive environment with the incredible dishes that are served there. I had smoked pulled duck sliders that were just incredible - I love duck meat and have tried unsuccessfully to replicate the deliciousness. I also tried the elk burger with Spanish brie and sun-dried tomato aioli on a pretzel bun - excellent flavor, excellent choice, I highly recommend it! Whenever friends are heading to the Louisville area, I tell them to hit up Hammerheads if they get the chance, and I'm looking forward to returning during my next bourbon tour.
(5)
Becky H.

What a great find! An amazingly sophisticated menu and great service. Never would expect it ... proof that looks can be deceiving. Went with a group of 7 and we all loved our food and splitting the check was no problem. Highly recommend!
(5)
James B.

We were in town for a trade show and a local told us to go there. Im glad we took his advice. Food and service were amazing. We had the Ribs, Shrimp and Grits and the PBLT. If your in the Louisville, KY area I'd suggest this place. It's a little out the way and a smeller restaurant but the best place we have eaten at in the area.
(5)
Derrick C.

Went to Hammerheads with a co-worker of mine after reading some of the great reviews and boy I tell u the reviews for this restaurant were right on point. The crab tacos are a delicious u can't go wrong.
(4)
Adalie G.

YUM!!! I can't wait to go back and try something else on the menu! My husband and I absolutely love this place! It's definitely no fancy, but it is good food! We ordered the Macaroni and Cheese balls for our appetizer, YUM! They are huge and could be a meal all in themselves. For dinner I had the Pork Belly lettuce and tomato sandwich, YUM! My husband had 3 sliders pork, brisket, and pork belly, YUM! We shared an order of parmesan herb fries, YUM! If you haven't noticed we can't wait to go back! Definitely worth the wait and worth checking out if you like good unassuming food.
(5)
Rob F.

It may not look like it on the outside but this is one of the best places to eat in Louisville. If you enjoy ribs at all you HAVE to try theirs, as they are simply incredible. It can get crowded but it's definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Joey S.

I FINALLY GOT TO TRY IT!!! After months and months of saying I was going to go, I finally got the chance to follow through and wow did it impress me. I love restaurants that you get to choose your own seating from what is available because it gives me the feeling of a more homey environment (as well as having to close the door behind yourself which I have touched on in previous posts) and what is ironic about that is Hammerheads is in the basement of an old house! It may throw off a first-timer when they first pull up, but no fear! It is a very unique restaurant and you will never forget your time here. The menu has a great range of variety including an elk burger, pork butt BLT, and truffle fries (which are to die for, although rather expensive for a basket of fries). What I thought was really cool about Hammerheads was that when your food is ready in the kitchen, they bring it out right away instead of waiting for everyone at your table's food to be ready. I have never been to a restaurant besides Hammerheads that has done this, and I think it is a really interesting aspect of the whole experience! If you haven't gone, go. The food is amazing and you can tell they really care about your experience with them! Keep an open mind and enjoy!
(5)
Suzanne B.

If you love good food, you will love this place! If you don't . . . well, I can't help you there :) I went for the first time last night and was blown away by the delicious yet sophisticated southern food served in a cozy, converted house setting. Service was fast (food comes as it's hot and ready, so no sitting around letting French Fries get soggy), we were seated quickly, and the food we ordered was out of this world. A quick rundown follows of the food we got and shared: Appetizers - hummus, which is a delicious, tangy, lemony version of the dish - I'm a fan! Mushrooms - battered and lightly fried with a tangy aioli mayo to dip in - also amazing. Main dishes - Briskett, this place's iteration of it might be the best version I've ever had, hands-down. Venison burger, good if you like venison, which has a leaner and more game like taste than beef. Mac 'n Cheese, definitely a must-order; I think it's made with gouda to give it a smoked flavor. Fries, truffle oil and sweet potato were both hot, fresh, and filling. Dessert - Bacon Brownie, which was a little overpowered by the chocolate with less of the bacon flavor coming through. Still a good one to buy and share. If you have not been here - go! I guarantee you won't be disappointed :)
(5)
Carlo X.

I had an order of the pork belly tacos and ordered the soft shell crab tacos as well. Both came with two each. The pork belly melts in your mouth. The soft shell was good but paled in comparison. I'd definitely recommend either. My friend had the fries and the fried chicken and waffle. Didn't try the chicken but the fries were tasty. Just a tad too salty but still good. Great vibe here. Staff were friendly. It definitely deserves the high ratings. Only thing I could add would be more alcohol options other than just beer.
(5)
Matthew M.

In town for work and found this place via Yelp. So glad I did! Three of us went in and all had great meals. Will definitely return to try other things on the menu. Mac n cheese balls are better than you might think. Pork belly tacos were great. And get the truffle fries to share. Very good selection of beers. And all very reasonably priced. Fun to find these local places when traveling.
(5)
David A.

This place is a-m-a-z-i-n-g! We tried a handful of things, all of the meats were excellent, the fries were very good (albeit a little on the pricy side) but I have no reservations about opening up the wallet at this place. Come early if you can. Even on, say, a Tuesday night this place is packed by 5:30 and seating is very limited. With that in my mind one thing I was every impressed by was the service and speed from the kitchen. Usually, my expectation from a place like this is that the food will be great while it'll be a little slow and the wait staff is usually slammed and unavailable . Not true here. The food came out very quickly and the server was excellent and attentive. Beer selection...fantastic. They have tons of bottles including a few things on special from time to time. The selection on tap is also great. Don't come in looking for a Bud Light. Louisville is a great food city and Hammerheads is one of the highlights. Everybody should check it out at least once.
(5)
Andrew J.

Can't miss this place! You have to go here, period. This place is unbelievable. I ordered each one of the sliders with an order of sweet potato fries and they were to die for....try going on a week night and your odds of getting a table without waiting are higher.
(5)
Lala R.

i love the food and the owners! A lot of good flavors.
(5)
J. A.

Excellent food, hospitality, and beer. Well worth the 45 minute walk from downtown. I had the grits cake and a side of truffle fries/duck fat, and I only wish I had had more space for more. I was in Louisville for a conference and had heard about Hammerheads, and it definitely met and exceeded expectations. Maybe the best part was conversation with the staff and other patrons: great description of how a female praying mantis ate its mate on the upstairs porch, and the awesomeness of Chinese Cresteds. And Wendell Berry.
(5)
Annette M.

We loved this place. We were just stopping in town and decided to go and we will definitely go back whenever we come back. The people were nice. The food was great. We had very fast service (may have been because we got there at 6). The plates were generous. We had: fried macaroni, beef brisket slider, chicken & waffles, pork tacos, garlic herb fries, and the bacon brownie. I think the chicken & sweet potato waffles were fantastic. Needless to say, we had lots of leftovers. I will mention that there was a slight wait time when we left, so get there early if you can.
(5)
J V.

This place is located in a basement of a house in a residential neighborhood. It's everything a dive should be; gritty, unique and hosting the best food. Walking in your first thought is probably going to be "I should not be eating here". Don't listen to that first thought, we are glad we didn't. The simple, yet delicious menu, excellent beer selection and fantastic staff make this place a must. It was jam packed, and we only waited 30 minutes for a seat. The tattoo'd staff in this divey eatery operated like a well oiled machine. My husband had the venison burger and I had the angus burger. After one bite, the aioli on my burger made my eyes roll back in my head. Seriously, guys. Eat here.
(5)
Huntting B.

So, I was going to give this place 4 stars but there were a few reasons why I haven't. I went here because they had chicken and waffles. And boy howdy do they! The chicken was really good, though it was all wing, a chicken thigh or two would have been nice. Thankfully it is still dark meat but wings suck for chicken and waffles, particularly when it is served on such a small plate. That's not so bad, but the real tragedy was that the sweet potato waffle was burnt on half of it, which means that cutting through it was really difficult. They have a good selection of beers on draft here. Now, if I hadn't had the chicken and waffles I would have given this place a 4 to 4.5 star review. The pulled duck slider....was out of this world...so definitely get that and not the chicken n waffles. By the way, this is in the bottom half of what looks like a house.
(3)
Carole G.

We read the reviews and thought we would try it. Got there around 6:30pm and had a 30 to 45 min wait. It was well worth the wait. For appetizers, we had the fried Mac and cheese balls and the fried mushrooms. Oh my goodness, these were the best ever!! Husband had chicken and waffle - huge chicken wings and the most delicious sweet potato waffle I have ever tasted. I had pork soft tacos, and they were good and juicy. 13 yr old son had lamb ribs, which surprised my since he's not very adventurous. He licked them clean!! Older son had venison burger on pretzel roll, he couldn't quit talking about how great it was. His girl friend, had the chorizo burger and smoked Mac and cheese. All gone!! Nothing left, kind of like a thanksgiving dinner, we couldn't believe we ate the whole thing. Will definitely go back again!!
(5)
James S.

Hammerheads, I want to make sweet love to you.
(5)
Kiera M.

I have eaten here several times since my last review. The food is as delicious as always and the staff attitude issues have improved. Those who caused issues seem not to work there any more. The girl who has waited on me the last few times is very friendly and a great server. It still is crazy busy but that is because is is so darn yummy! The staff has been very pleasant about accommodating the large crowds and do the best to make everyone comfortable while they wait. If you're in a rush, not the best place to go. Have patients though, and it is worth your wait!
(4)
Lisa S.

Delicious and creative brew pub food. I had the soft shell crab tacos, hubby had the elk burger, and we shared a basket of the grippo fries - everything was really yummy, including the beer recs from our server. Highly recommend this spot!
(4)
Rachel M.

Every time I go there I love it. My only problem is if I want to try something new, or get what I got the previous time because it was SO good!
(5)
John M.

I live in Dallas and learned of Hammerheads from the blog "Full Custom Gospel BBQ." I agree with their review and it's what inspired me to check it out. The crew at Hammerheads turn out some of the best and most unique food in Louisville. A few of my favorites were: fried macaroni; a duck slider; fries with Grippo BBQ spice cooked in the optional duck fat. My favorite was the BBQ Lamb ribs. Amazing!
(4)
Jeff D.

Lamb. Of. God. Too bad those words were destroyed by a crappy band. Obviously, I tried the lamb ribs. Perfect. I can't imagine anything better. Brilliantly smoked and exploding with flavor. The truffle fries were a solid accompaniment to the meat. Tried my buddy's elk burger and Grippo fries and they were excellent, too. We got there right when they opened since we had seen seating was limited. Glad we did as there was already a good crowd waiting before they opened and we were the last to be seated before folks started waiting. Service was exceptionally fast and attentive. Maybe because there's limited seating they try to turn the tables over quickly. They don't sacrifice quality, however. They have a solid beer list as well in both draft and bottles. There's so much yum on the menu that I am certain to return.
(5)
Andy H.

My Louisville diamond in the rough. Love the people, food, and atmosphere. Pork belly on taco, slider, and/or burger is devine. Mac and cheese balls rock as well. Fries fried with duck fat is bomb too. Always tempted to order more than I can eat so my rec: come with friends to share dishes!
(5)
Eduardo C.

Southern Tier creme brule is the best imperial milk stout I've ever had. Ordered the specialty lamb burger with seasoned goat cheese on local pretzel bread, terrific dinner. Service is also attentive and friendly.
(5)
Jeff H.

Little hole in the wall with a waiting list. For good reason. Had duck fat fries piled high with smoked duck, lamb ribs and pork belly LT. Food coma ensued. Local beer to chase fear. Bravo Hammerheads.
(5)
Tiffany J.

Don't be fooled by the location! The food is some of the best in Louisville. The place is very small and gets cramped at times, but well worth a visit. The Grippos fries are a must! I grew up in KY eating Grippo's potato chips. The fries are exactly as amazing as the chips - not too spicy, just perfect. Try the fried mac and cheese and a bison burger. After eating tons of their delicious food, take a walk around the neighborhood. Germantown is full of cute and quirky shotgun homes.
(5)
Stephanie T.

Everything I tried here was fabulous. Lamb ribs, mac and cheese balls, truffle fries. YUM. Worth the wait. The only complaint is that it was a little smokey in there. Not cigarette smoke; cooking smoke. But oh so good.
(4)
Josh B.

Ribs were absolutely delicious, and the mac & cheese balls were a great way to start the meal. Make sure to get there early though, because they are apt to running out of some menu items. I highly recommend this place, and I can't wait for my next visit.
(5)
Kimberly M.

"I don't believe in love at first sight, but I believe in love at first uhh." And oh me oh my, I am in love. I tried their half rack of lamb ribs and truffle oil french fries. Both had me holding back moans of pleasure with each bite. I can't remember the last time I have had a food orgasm as good as this.
(5)
Andy C.

Before you say "three stars?!" hear me out. The food is prabably about the best you can get. Their elk burger rocks my world everytime I get it! Their creative selection of fries is the perfect side to any and all of their amazing dishes. Obviously their food is not the problem. Sadly, the issue that I have with Hammerheads is the initial reason I came to love it- the atmosphere. I remember when it was a small somewhat secretive dive bar that just so happen to serve amazing food. It was great! You could drop in anytime of the day and get a good beer and an even better meal. It felt like my friend's parent's basement... completely chill and unassuming. My last few visits to my favorite resteraunt went as follows. First, I wait outside for about 10-15 minutes or until a few patrons leave. Then I finally get inside to a sardine-like arrangement where everyone and their entire family is shuffling around akwardly until they either get tired of complaining and leave or get seated. This cool bar with great food has transformed into "the place to go" for EVERYONE in the Louisville area. It is quickly becoming the new "Lynn's Paradise Cafe." Im sure everyone in Louisville knows what that means. Hammerheads is an amazing spot! But since it has, rightfully so, gained a lot of noteriety it has simply become too popular for me to enjoy myself as I once could. It is set up to be a small dive bar- but get's packed like a huge restaurant on main street.... an unfortunate developement.
(3)
Jessica B.

This is one place where the location really doesn't matter. True, it's in the basement of a house, the ceilings are low and the seating is limited, but one bite of their pulled pork and my surroundings disappear. Eating at Hammerheads is usually reserved for some-what special occasions. Not because of the price, but because of the wait. I don't think I've ever had to wait less than 30 minutes, but it's usually an upwards of an hour wait. There isn't any standing room to speak of so you're basically standing next to someone's table drooling over their food. You can wait outside, but if you want to order an alcoholic drink while you're waiting for your table, you'll have to stay in. I'm one of those who people who, if I find a menu item I love, I stick with it....so, basically I always order the pulled pork sliders with a side of grippo or truffle fries and some mac and cheese balls. I don't know what it is about their bbq sauce, but I crave it--it's really not anything mind blowing, but paired with the pork it is soooooo good! The fries come in baskets so I would definitely recommend ordering them with the intent to share. The mac and cheese balls are delicious and come in an order of three pretty good sized balls. My plate, or should I say wood block, is always clean when I leave. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the wait...which I'd say is a pretty good problem to have for a restaurant.
(4)
Cara D.

My boyfriend and I were passing through Louisville on a cross country trip and we stopped here after seeing this mentioned by a Louisville student on reddit. Great food! I had the elk burger and he had the venison burger. Both were fantastic! The fries were really good too! Our only qualm was that the waiter insinuated that the fries came with the meal which they didn't and the additions you could put on the fries was also extra. So both of us got a $3 basket of fries with $3 of extras and that seemed really overpriced and we weren't too happy about it. The food was all great but just be careful about those sides, they up the price a lot.
(4)
Shal V.

This place has become one of my favorite restaurants in town...possibly my favorite. I make it a point to go to Hammerheads at least once a week, which is possibly detrimental to my depleted wallet and my ever-burgeoning waistline. The last time I was here, I ordered the Baby Back Ribs, which were unbelievably delicious - moist, perfectly seasoned, fall-off-the-bones meat. Sticking with my tradition of sampling at least 2 dishes every time I go to Hammerheads (and trying to justify my being a shameless gourmand), I got the memorable Lamb Ribs again and the truffle fries. Yes, it is more food than one person needs but I'm weak - I can't help myself when I enter these hallowed grounds. The truffle fries were superlative! The Lamb Ribs did not disappoint yet again. NOTE: Saturday nights are absolutely packed so you may not get a table for a long time. Even the bar area is full. So plan on getting here early or choose another night. Also, they don't take to-go orders when they are as crowded as they get on Saturday nights.
(5)
Gabi M.

I hit my fried food quota for the year in one night at Hammerheads! I ate here last night after the New2Lou event with Rachel F and Alex K, and I'm still full! They were out of the duck and mac and cheese balls when we arrived, but there were plenty of other items on the menu to choose from. In fact, I wanted to try it all! I'm kind of regretting passing up the chicken and sweet potato waffles, but we had plenty of food without it. We started with the Mushroom Medley and the Grippo (aka barbecue flavored) Fries. Both were huge portions and ridiculously addicting. By the time our entrees arrived, my belly was busting! Somehow I did still manage to eat one of my soft shell crab tacos and several bites of a delicious brisket sandwich. Obviously, I was too full for dessert. I'm a casual kinda girl, so I love casual atmosphere at this restaurant. As mentioned in previous reviews, it's off the beaten path and it's literally in a basement of a home, which I think just gives it more of a local feel. Service was friendly and they were apologetic that they were out of a few items on the menu. I thought the prices were extremely reasonable. Hammerheads is probably not the best option if you're on any kind of a diet, but it's worth the splurge for sure. Go with an appetite and enjoy!
(4)
Shari A.

Excellent food and great service! Favs: pulled pork, garlic fries, soft shell crab and brisket. Yummy!
(5)
Steve B.

Booyah. This place is as amazing as the reviews state. Coming in from out of town, I asked for a few recommendations and kept hearing "Dude, just go to Hammerheads. If it looks like it's not a restaurant, you're there." So I came here, sat at the bar, and ate a great great meal. The lamb ribs. . .the truffle fries. . . the great beers. . . makes me a happy happy happyhappy man. If a place like this existed within a 30-mile radius of where I live, I'd be there on a regular basis. If you like good soul food, BBQ, in a divey place, come to Hammerheads for dinner. Then while your clothes still smell awesome, come back for lunch.
(5)
Ashley W.

Great Food! It was a bit of a wait (45 ish min) but well worth it! The brisket tacos were fantastic and even their fries were way above average.
(5)
Kelly Y.

I wonder if I am missing something as I write this...all these 4-5 stars...yet I can only give Hammerheads 3 stars on this visit... The food: we ordered the Shrimp & Grits, 1/2 Lamb Ribs and Angus Burger with Pepper Jack cheese. Plus, I had to have the duck fries. The crispy shrimp was by far my favorite part of the meal: very tender and very crispy. The grits....oh, the grits...while it is indeed crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside...but it was so overly salty I just could not continue to eat it no matter how much I liked its crispiness. The burger was also really salty...dont know what else to say...I'm sounding like a broken record. I did enjoy the lamb ribs...soft, smokey and fall of the bone. And the duck fat fries were good, too. Crispier than the regular fries and worth the extra few bucks. The location: it was not exactly easy to find, but hey, that is part of the fun of the hole-in-the-wall places so I did not mind. The service: it was quick, friendly and attentive, everything that makes this a great neighborhood place. Other than the saltiness, everything was still cooked with care and skill. There are still plenty of other things on the menu I must try, I will be back to try them.
(3)
Melissa D.

Okay, I'm going to admit - I was a little apprehensive at first. The place was recommended to me by a customer who warned "it's smoky and a little out of the way". Indeed, it's both. Or at least it seemed out of the way for someone out of town staying downtown. I was there with a couple coworkers that also seemed a little apprehensive. Luckily it was all unfounded. We got menus, ordered beers (draft and bottle selection is outstanding, by the way), and enjoyed the ambiance. It's a little hipster, a little bit old school neighborhood bar. It started to grow on me. The fries arrived first - 1 order of Grippo fries, 1 truffle. Both were excellent. The flavor of the truffle was subtle and addictive. Next, the meals - at our table we had the PBLT (pork belly, lettuce, tomato), brisket sandwich, and pork tacos. I personally had the PBLT and hands down, it was one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten. Overall I was very impressed. Once you get past the smokiness this is an amazing find off the beaten path. Kudos to the guy that recommended it. I should buy him a sandwich.
(5)
Raquelle Z.

My daughter was nice enough to bring me a chorizo burger and fries after her recent visit to Hammerheads. It didn't matter that I received it a few hours later because it was still delicious! The fries were crunchy and so flavorful. I can't think of any other time that I could give a glowing review on cold fries, so that should indicate the quality of Hammerheads food. Next time I will visit in person, and I am certain I will enjoy whatever I select.
(4)
Jaimelyn C.

I've only been to Hammerheads twice but I can definitely say that this is one of my favorite restaurants in the Ville! First time I went, I had their elk burger and the second time, just their regular angus. Pretzel buns and truffle fries for both! They're to die for! I must say that I liked the elk burger better though. NOTE: Come in a bit early, especially during peak days/hours. They have a lot of customers with limited number of seats. But If you have to wait, the food is well worth it. :)
(5)
Jessica L.

Checking something else off my Louisville bucket list. Immediately upon walking in, the smell of meat was deliciously overwhelming. We arrived around 6:40 on a Wednesday. The couple just ahead of us got seated right away, but we had to wait a few minutes for a table. Not to worry, the bartender/host/awesomely friendly dude had us set up with a beer list and very shortly thereafter, beer. I got the Redd's Apple Ale, which was quite unique and would probably be awesome with brunch. It was only a few more moments before we were seated. To be honest, I expected to wait longer, based on what I heard. By the time we were seated, though, the smells of meat made my decision on what to eat most difficult, so we got a little of everything. To start, we shared the fried macaroni and cheese balls and pulled pork sliders. The panko crust on the mac & cheese was perfect, and the pulled pork was incredibly tender and full of flavor. After some debate, I settled on the chicken and waffles for my main course, while my husband had the garlic and herb fries with steak tacos. The chicken and waffles takes longest to cook, so I had some time to munch on the fries. I'm not a big fry person, but they were delicious. The chicken was worth the wait, though. Possibly the best I've ever had. I wish I could get a breast dipped like that instead of just the wings, though. They have the desserts on the menu, which was my downfall, because I saw the words "bacon brownie" and knew it had to be mine. Despite taking half of my meal home, I got a brownie to go. A couple hours later, I enjoyed it just as much as I thought I would. Best part of everything was probably the price. Such a great value. I just wish I had gotten here sooner.
(5)
Michael B.

It's simple. This is the best restaurant I've been to.
(5)
Brittney H.

"Whenever I go out, I order a burger probably 85% of the time. This (venison) burger is the best burger I've ever eaten." -direct quote from my brother Sometimes less is more, so I will leave it at: I concur.
(5)
Jason H.

I got the baby back ribs, which are awesome squared, but I wanted to eat my wife's chicken and waffles AND my daughter's cheeseburger. Yum!
(5)
Kristie W.

Great food. Great presentation. Nice eclectic menu selection. During my visit I tried the fried mac'n'cheese balls, bbq lamb ribs, garlic fries, and bacon brownie. Mac N Cheese balls left a lot to be desired. The noodles were bland and it wasn't cheesy. By far the least favorite part of my meal. BBQ lamb ribs were grilled to perfection and delicious. The sauce on them was not over powering. Garlic fries were hot and had a hint of garlic flavor. As far as fries go, these were pretty tasty. Now, for the bacon brownie. Sounds weird, but the flavors meshed very well. Nice, semi-dense, warm, molten brownie covered in a chocolate sauce and sprinkled with bacon crumbles. Awkwardly delicious. The only thing that would have improved the brownie, was if the bacon had been candied prior to being crumbled and sprinkled on the brownie. Overall, great dining experience. Excellent service. The restaurant is in the basement of what appears to be a house, not sure. Interesting decor. Don't let the location and decor deter you from trying this place. Next time I'm in Louisville, I plan to return.
(4)
Allan K.

I came here at the suggestion of a bartender from some swanky bar in downtown Louisville. He had asked me if I liked dive bars and then continued on to "well, what about dive restaurants?" I'm a foodie...see that elite badge next to my name? It means I like to eat and subsequently brag about it on the interweb :D So naturally, I'm intrigued by this whole "dive restaurant" idea. I pulled up Hammerheads on my trusty Google navigation and was on my way. When I arrived, I wasn't quite sure it was the right place. Looks like a house but then notice the neon beer signs in the basement. Closer inspection revealed that the 'basement' was packed full of people and it must be the right place after all. Mind you, this was like a Wednesday or something so I knew I must be at the right place. It took a while to get a place to sit, after knocking back a beer or two I finally got a seat at the bar. Ordered a pulled pork sandwich with truffle fries. They bring your meal out on a cutting board. How charming, you're thinking, right? Everything tasted great. Truffle fries...holy crap. Get them. For an extra few bucks, they'll cook them in duck fat. I'm watching my girlish figure, so I declined but it sounded ridiculous. I also saw them scrape the pan of bacon brownies so I didn't get a chance to try them but they looked pretty damn good too. Why 4 stars? Service was way SLOWWWWWWWWWW. The person who sent me here warned me ahead of time, but I must have been sitting at the bar for at least 10 minutes before I could order anything. Sure, the place was busy but come on. Being popular doesn't give you the right to just make people wait just because. Or does it? I don't really know. Note to self: come earlier next time I'm in Louisville.
(4)
Sara C.

A trip out of town and some local friends led me to this little 'hole in the wall.' When I first saw the joint, I was understandable skeptical as it's literally in the basement of what used to be a residential house and it's loud, crowded and full of hipsters. Our wait to be seated was about 25 minutes long while the wait staff and other patrons had to maneuver around us as we waited, but at least someone brought us beers off of their extensive beer list. When we finally got seated and ordered, we were disappointed to find that they had run out of a lot of our menu selections. However, this was not unexpected as we were warned that when the run of food, they run out of food. At least I know the ingredients are fresh and purchased daily! Anyway, what we did order turned out to be spectacular and delicious - from the mac n cheese balls to the variety of meats contained within the sliders to the elk burgers. I was certainly not expecting such quality food for a place that looks like it should be specializing in frozen chicken wings and crappy beer. If I find myself in Louisville again, I will definitely be dining there.
(4)
David B.

this place is the best. good craft beers that are reasonably priced. everything on the menu is wonderful. i had the lamb ribs, pork belly slider, and brisket slider. i also ordered 4 craft beers and my total bill was $36.00. a bargain if you ask me. be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes and maybe up to an hour to get a table. the wait is worth it. my first impression is that this place is a pretentious, hipster place but everyone is extremely knowledgeable and very friendly and outgoing. i don't trust anyone who says this place isn't good.
(5)
Nicholas L.

Still trying to process what went down when I visited this place a couple weeks ago. The place was super packed at 8:00pm on a Monday night, which was good sign #1. We found a tight spot near the bar which featured some good local brews (good sign # 2). We perused the menu and saw some of the food others had ordered (good sign #3). The long wait gave us ample time to drink up and change our minds 1,000 times as to what we wanted. We settled on an elk burger (never seen this on a menu anywhere) and the chicken and waffles. Amazing as they were, they were but a mere compliment to the truffle oil fries. I can still taste these two weeks later. I know i'm having a transcendent meal when I geek out and take a picture of the food, as this happens maybe three times a year. This was one of those times. Was hoping this place had a t-shirt or pint glass or something to remember it by, but I was awarded with an olfactory souvenir that still remains with me: because of how small this place is, my peacoat still strongly smells like Hammerheads, and I have no intention of having it dry cleaned anytime soon.
(5)
Sam B.

Hammerheads might literally be my favorite place to eat in Louisville. A quintessential gastro pub, it is definitely my favorite place to take visiting friends. The food is fun, unique, and not outrageously expensive. My favorites, all of which I heartily endorse, include: the fried mushrooms, the duck sliders, the Grippo and Truffle fries, the Chicken and Waffle (best fried chicken I've ever had and the sweet potato waffle is delish), the shrimp and grits, and the PBLT (pork belly sandwich). Additionally, they always have a good albeit not extensive selection of beers on tap. It's not fancy, but the food is delicious and an evening at Hammerheads will not be quickly forgotten.
(5)
Annie S.

I am giving this restaurant a 4 ONLY because it is a very SMALL place and even on a Monday after 8PM it is difficult to get a table (we waited about 30 minutes) The wait was worth it because the food was amazing. I'm pretty sure I had the Lamb Burger and enjoyed it very much. The Mac & Cheese Balls Appetizer is amazing and the duck fat french friends are just perfect. Go. Be prepared to wait. Enjoy!
(4)
Daniel P.

We were passing through Louisville and stopped for dinner. The place was busy, but we found two seats next to the window at a high-top table/bar. Food and Drink: The beer selection was good and my wife and I were able to find something we hadn't tried before. We ordered the macaroni and cheese balls as an appetizer, the PBLT (Pork Belly version of a BLT) and the pork tacos on special for the evening. Then a side of the fries with herb seasonings. Normally, I wouldn't consume so much pork, but because they smoked it right outside the restaurant it was too tempting to pass up! Atmosphere: The feel of the place reminded of us home in Lawrence, KS. The Cheech & Chong christmas style lights added to the hipster feel the place. Even though we were from out of town, the staff made us feel right at home. For the most part the patrons seemed to be of varying backgrounds and ages, anyone would feel comfortable here. Price: The prices for everything were very reasonable. Unfortunately, the kitchen was slow on getting our basket of fries to us, so the bartender kindly offered to remove the fries from our bill. Summary: If I was a local, I'd be a regular here. Everything exceeded our expectations!
(5)
Emily S.

Hammerheads was unbelievable!! My cousin and her husband decided to take us here when we came in town. The fact that it is in the bottom of a house was definitely weird at first. You can definitely not judge this book by its cover! It looks like a dive bar when you walk in, but the food does not fit that category. We were lucky and arrived at the perfect time, and only had to wait for about 5 minutes. By the time we left, the place was stacked with people waiting. They have a great micro brew selection to pick from while you are waiting though. We ordered the duck fries to start off with, and they were delicious! For my main meal, I ordered the PBLT and it was to die for. My group also ordered the duck tacos, and one of their burgers, which everyone said was fantastic. I loved that all of the food was served on cutting boards... very unique! I would highly recommend Hammerheads!!
(5)
Andrea D.

Our family of five went on a Monday night but still had to wait for 20 minutes. It was not what we expected. Outside is not impressive at all. Our first impression was of a dumpy house with trash sitting outside. That said, the food was excellent, staff was very friendly and we ended up really enjoying ourselves.
(4)
Callie M.

My venison burger was fantastic as was the pulled pork. A definite must try if you are looking for a hole in the wall with great atmosphere and good craft beer selection.
(4)
Jason G.

Hammerheads is a restaurant I had been wanting to try for a while but always had a good suburbanite excuse not to drive all the way downtown. We finally made it out last night and were not disappointed. Once we finally found the place there was kind of a "well I guess you go in this door down here" moment, as it is pretty inconspicuous. Upon entering the bartender told us to sit where we wanted which we did. We proceeded to order each of the sliders: duck, beef and pork. We also ordered the beer cheese appetizer which came with a pretzel croissant. These were all very good, the pretzel bread itself was exceptionally delicate although I would have like the beer cheese to be a little warmer both in temperature and spiciness, although that is a personal opinion. For dinner I had the baby back ribs with Grippo fries cooked in duck fat. The ribs were very good and the bbq juice (not sauce) was different that anything I have had at a Louisville bbq joint. The fries were pretty decadent, all were crispy and I finished nearly the entire basket myself; a great compliment to the ribs. My wife had the soft shell crab sandwich on a pretzel roll which she raved about. She ordered the truffle fries which we both though were a little heavy on the white truffle oil so some of those went uneaten. I'm a pretty preppy dude so I was a little worried that I wouldn't fit in the the hipster scene here but my worries were unfounded as the dining room ran the gamut from hipster to family to date night. The beer selection was great for a dive...I had the Founder's Double Trouble IPA...but my wife was a little disappointed they didn't have a full bar. I'm guessing this is an issue with space or cost, but they should stock some Woodchuck cider or something for the non-beer crowd. Service was relaxed but very attentive. All in all I would highly recommend this local hidden gem.
(4)
Matt C.

This may be one of the best tiny little dives I've ever seen. Delicious food prepared by great chefs in an unassuming little corner bar boasting an eclectic and affordable beer list that has something for everyone? Yes please. The availability of meats not normally found in standard bar fare (like duck, elk and venison) further differentiates Hammerheads and lends both street and kitchen cred to the kitchen. The two big drawbacks are perhaps inevitable given the setup, but still substantial: 1) Potentially long waits in an awkwardly tight space (mostly in the winter when hanging around outside is at its least appealing) 2) They run out of a lot of ingredients as the night goes on--beyond normal dinner hours, expect a very trimmed down menu due to shortages
(4)
Jim H.

These boys really know how to cook!!! We accidentally arrived 10-minutes before they opened the doors - - - which was great timing to be seated without waiting. The service was amazing fast since the inside seating filled up within 5-minutes and everyone was placing their orders at the same time. We ate the beef brisket sandwich on a pretzel bun, french fries cooked in duck fat, pork tacos and the grippo fries. I topped it off with the bacon brownie. The food was to-die-for lick-your-plate-clean good. No question about it. I had to try the bacon brownie. I'm not sold on adding the bacon - I would have preferred ice cream or whipped cream on top of a warm, chocolate brownie. I would put this place of my list of must-eat-at diners.
(5)
Jordan M.

This is exactly what I look for in a restaurant. It is VERY unique, quirky, with some fantastic food. You have to have an open mind when eating here as their menu is full of deliciously different options. It is located in the basement of someone house. Sounds sketchy, right? It's all a part of the atmosphere. I have only eaten here once, but I tried a bit of everyone's dish and it was all heavenly. This place was enjoyable and a lot of fun. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Michael Z.

This place took our entire bachelor party by surprise. It's a converted house and the restaurant is in the basement. There were twelve of us that night, and every single item ordered was cooked fantastically and tasted great. We managed to try a little of everything on the menu, but the winner far and away were the duck fat french fries with Grippo's seasoning. I would drive four hours round trip just to have those again. Oh, and I haven't even mentioned the service was lightening quick. Food arrived within 10 minutes of ordered. This is stunning considering I have shoe boxes bigger than the kitchen. If you're in Louisville and don't eat here, you've done yourself a disservice.
(5)
Steve L.

I was visiting Louisville on business (Churchill Downs gambling). Stayed downtown, walked to Hammerheads (don't do this, it is a gamble on life, but in the end may have been worth it). Let me be precise: Small dive bar with epic food. Food put in my face hole: Duck Sliders: Smokey unctuous deliciousness Soft Shell Crab Soft Taco-Crunchy, Salty, Saucy blending of perfectness Duck Fat Truffle French Fries-Um yeah, not sure i need to explain anything here Beer Selection: Quite good. Beer Spcial 1.50 pbrs Quite nice
(5)
David G.

Fantastic. Really nothing more needs to be said. We had the Mac n cheese balls, the chorizo burger, and duck slider, and pork belly slider. We also ordered fries with truffle oil, and the grippo fries. Every bite of these dishes was simply amazing. I don't know anything about who owns this place or who's cooking in the kitchen, but they have got their act together and have one of the best places I have ever eaten at. You must go. Now!
(4)
Elizabeth S.

Let me just start by saying that this place has improved exponentially since my first visit. The food is always fantastic, but service has been hit or miss. The first few months of business, I have never received such horrible service. Getting the attention of a server was hard enough, but then the attitude that accompanied most of them was hilariously awful. It's was like you were annoying most employees by being there. Not kidding. Last time I went, I had no complaints. Our server was attentive (and NICE) and the food was, per usual, fantastically greasy goodness. Hopefully it stays this way.
(4)
Nathan A.

Have been here a couple of times and each time everything I have tried has been delicious!
(5)
Jasmine A.

Who would have thought that this divey little hole in the wall would produce such decadence? While the atmosphere leaves something to be desired, the food definitely makes up for it. I first fell in love with the PBLT sandwich and Grippo fries and my current favorite is the soft-shell crab sandwich. My only complaints are that the portion sizes for some of the entrees specifically the Shrimp and Grits, and Fish Tacos were a bit small and since none of the entrees come with side items, a full meal can be a bit costly. Regardless, the deliciousness of the food is worth paying a little extra for in my opinion. Also, be prepared to wait. Every time i've gone it's been packed.
(4)
D H.

Overrated. Or maybe we went on a bad night. I was expecting this place to be amazing, and was very disappointed. I got the half rack of lamb ribs, which I knew would be small, but I wasn't expecting it to be mostly fat! I seriously only got three bites of meat total! My husband had the duck tacos, also small and dry. Overall, good flavor, grippo fries were good but in the end I couldn't get over my pile of fat which was bigger than the meat pile in my stomach. We both left hungry.
(2)
Bob P.

In Louisville for a bike race and found a place that makes me what to move here. Beer list is solid, food is GREAT, and service is fast and friendly. Duck sliders are awesome and elk burger can't be beat.
(5)
Sonia E.

I'm only here a few days and this place came highly recommended by a local. This is NOT a 4 1/2 star place! Host is down right rude, skipped us, long wait, no waiting space, once FINALLY sat the food came fast, but didn't live up to the hype. We had macaroni cheese balls, garlic duck fat fries, veggie burger, angus burger, and crispy mushrooms. All were OK, but nothing that I haven't had since being here at other places. Disappointed and sad that people are going here thinking they're getting 4 1/2 star service and food.
(2)
Molly S.

The truffle fries are a must. This place is located in the former Swan Dive, but they have done a great job remodeling. The food is TO DIE FOR. They have great vegetarian options and everyone is always friendly. It is not a good place for large groups and it is very tiny and packed, but is totally worth the wait and the cramped conditions. Probably my favorite restaurant in Louisville.
(5)
Samuel S.

Came to Hammerheads looking for a good burger and was blown away. This is a great place to have a great time and an even better meal. Definitely looks like a hole in the wall from the outside, but the atmosphere is great inside. The place was packed and everyone seemed to be having a great time. The prices aren't bad at all. Each of the entries my group ordered costed around $8. We also got a basket of truffle fries, which I would highly recommend, for $5 which was plenty for the 3 of us. The beer prices aren't bad either, which is never a bad thing. Check this place out and you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Doug W.

Wow! Saw this at the top of the list on Yelp & figured it was worth the 2 mile walk from the waterfront. It was! I never knew lamb meat could just slip off the rib bones and melt in my mouth! Very succulent. Since I also had the spectacular Mac & Cheese Balls and truffle fries, I was glad I had a 2 mile walk back to the hotel to work some of it off!
(5)
Daniel R.

Amazing food. It's a place you'd find while doing a scavenger hunt or following clues. It's in a converted house, is mostly occupied by the bar, and there's a hammerhead shark above the door. Never caught its name so I'm calling it Bruce. Mostly burgers and sandwiches but there's nothing ordinary about them. Hammerheads offers elk, buffalo, brisket, and the out of this world PBLT; pork belly lettuce tomato sandwich. The food is fresh and locally sourced with heirloom tomatoes and fresh baked bread. The service is dive bar friendly with the best intentions. I've been here when it's crowded and when it's not, and both times the staff was friendly and the food good.
(5)
Michael W.

I was in a Louisville a few weekends ago for a wedding and I didn't realize the caliber of food available here. Hammerheads was our first dinner stop and was definitely my favorite meal of the trip. We showed up a little before seven on Thursday evening - was told a wait of 45 minutes for five people but it ended up being more like an hour and 15 - no big deal though since their beer selection was great (Two Hearted on tap at the time - mmmmmm) and allowed more time to catch up with relatives. We ordered the Mac and Cheese balls plus some truffle fries to start things of - both were phenomenal. They were out of the Roasted Duck so I went with the Crab Cake sandwich which was more than adequate for a consolation meal. I'd love to try a few more things on the menu that weren't available, but sampled the brisket and that was amazing. I recommend getting here as early as possible so you can have whatever you desire on the menu and can grab a table. This is a must visit for Louisville!
(5)
Nakia S.

This is truly a place that everyone needs to visit. I have visited this place twice and have not been disappointed. The first time I arrive right around 5:30p and was seated right away. The second time, I arrived around 6:00p and had to wait approximately 10-15, which was fine because the bartender/host was very friendly and checked on my friend and I up until we got seated. The first time I went, I had the Elk Burger, Crispy Mac & Cheese Balls and grippo fries! They were all truly amazing. As soon as the food is ready in the kitchen, it is brought out to you. The second time, I had the Brisket, Mac & Cheese Balls and grippo fries. Once again, a winner! Any sandwich you have at hammerheads, make sure to get it with a pretzel bun, they are to die for. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a dive. Plenty of character, good food and great people!
(5)
Matt B.

This is an actual conversation I had with my girlfriend shortly after our food came: Me: "Remind me, next time we come here, to wear a condom." GF: "Is that because the food is making you jizz in your pants?" Me: "Yes." We ordered the lamb ribs, elk burger, grippo fries, and hummus. The lamb ribs elicited the above conversation; easily the best ribs I've ever eaten. The elk burger was extremely tasty. The grippo fries were amazingly addictive. The hummus, which I'd heard a lot of people rave about, was actually a bit disappointing; it had a strange flavor which, while not at all bad, was unexpected and slightly off-putting. We sat at the bar and had quick and attentive service all night long. Water glasses never got close to empty. Like others have mentioned, the beer selection was great. Lots of cool and harder to find craft beers. Even if you don't go for a full meal, it's a nice place to go for a beer. And yeah - it's a good sign when a restaurant is packed at 8pm on a random Wednesday.
(5)
Brian L.

The trick to getting a seat here is going when there some big event going on in the city that all the hipsters are going to be attached to. This is one of the tastiest places I've ever eaten. The more exotic the meat, the better they seemed to make it. I've never had duck there that I haven't absolutely coveted. I often will get one of the game burgers, which never disappoint. The sides are also quite delicious and I seem to always get some kind of mac & cheese when I go. The beer selection is quite diverse and a nice icing on the cake. A tip to the tall folks reading this. Watch your head. It's manageable but one might scrape his or her head if about 6'6".
(5)
Tiffany M.

Yes, the service can be hit or miss. But everytime we go (that is, everytime we go and can actually get in. This place fills up quickly and early) we sit at the bar and the bartender is always attentive.The food is completely on point. The beer selection is pretty decent. All of the sandwiches are delicious (other than the veg burger, that I tried back in my veg days, not so good). Do yourself a favor and start with the fried mac n cheese balls (so wrong it's right) and pair your meat of choice with the truffle fries. Your belly will go home happy.
(4)
Woody W.

Back again! If your within 50 miles of this place, make the drive it's worth it. Sit at by he bar if you can, the bartender is an excellent waiter.
(5)
Nicholas T.

Don't be fooled by the look of the restaurant or by the awkward seating they have. Just go sit at the bar and order these: 1) Truffle Fries fried in Duck fat.. 2) Crispy Cheese Balls.. 3) The Ribs. I am not a fan of food that I have to use my fingers with, but with these you do not have to, they fall off the bone and the sauce is so smokey and good!
(5)
Cory C.

Hate to give this place too good of a review...might lengthen the wait when I go there. But that wouldn't be fair! Have to be honest...LOVED Hammerheads. I had the elk burger and my girlfriend had the fish sandwich. we also ordered a side of the mac and cheese, and the pretzel croissant and beer cheese (special that night) for an appetizer. It was all amazing. This was one of the best meals I've had in Louisville. The place is definitely a dive, but that's what I like most about it. Don't like the fact that you can't get a beer and walk outside while you wait for your table, but that's not the restaurant's fault. The area is zoned residential and local ordinances are to blame for that. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
KW L.

This restaurant may have the highest concentration of hipsters per square foot in Louisville. It's in a basement in a nondescript house and serves PBR in a can...what do you expect. It has a good beer selection besides the PBR, both on tap and in bottles. The best thing about the place is the definitely the food. We had the mac and cheese balls, crispy mushroom medley, and pork sliders as appetizers and we all tasty. The pork sliders was probably the best out of the three. For an entree, I had the pork belly BLT and it was awesome! I highly recommend it for anyone that likes pork. Now on to the not so good. We arrived and it was chaos. They don't have a system for people waiting for tables. We ended up asking the bartender how the wait system worked and he said it was first come first serve. That's fine if there weren't about 5 groups waiting to be seated and new groups showing up not exactly sure when it was their turn to take a table. Is a list too much to ask to keep track of groups waiting? Or maybe lists and organization are concepts not embraced by the hipster community. Also the place was so busy that the kitchen was "On hold" because they were so far in the weeds. The bartenders were also in a pissy mood because they were so busy. Sounds like they need to have more staff around on a friday night. All in all, the food was good..maybe even great. Service counts for something in my opinion so 3 stars seems about right.
(3)
Ken H.

Sort of out of the way but completely worth the search. Great place. Great food. The pork tacos were outstanding. Great service. Kylie was great.
(5)
Mitch G.

This could be my favorite restaurant in any city. The food is exactly what I'm looking for. Upscale gourmet at reasonable prices. Perfect beer selection. Get the duck sliders. Get there early and give your name to the man. You will wait. It will be worth it.
(5)
Steve F.

total dive, hot, noisy, a little chaotic trying to get a table (no hostess, no waiting list), hipsters abound BUT ... AWESOME FOOD and a great beer selection my favorite new place in Louisville, hands down ... like one reviewer says, addictive FAVORITE DISHES: duck tacos, fried mac-n-cheese-balls, ribs, Grippo fries, chicken & waff
(5)
Melanie K.

I am guilty of judging this book by its cover. Let me tell you though, this story is delicious! I made strong effort to check out this small Gastro Pub due to the other 5 star reviews from my other Yelper's and I am glad that they spoke up. Yes you go to an area of town that is hip and trendy to locals, but for tourists make you double check that the car is locked. Yes this is a split home that has a restaurant in the basement. Yes there are a lot of 20 something hipsters inside who have ridiculously tight pants. However, yes you will be disappointed if you miss out on this opportunity to be surprised and impressed. I had the Pork-belly sandwich and mac and cheese balls. Both plates were not only tasty, but had presentation! Part of my fifth star comes from the whole presentation of the plates, presentation is something rarely done in Louisville anymore. The rest of my fifth star comes from the fact they are creating all these yummy masterpieces in a coat closet of a kitchen. If anyone knows how the name came about I would be interested to know. I see why with all the 5 star reviews the venue is so trendy. I guess I can cheat with pajama jeans to go back right?
(5)
Justin T.

Thank you Yelp! This place is absolutely awesome. The atmosphere resembles your local bar scene with excellent food and a great beer selection. I had the crab tacos with truffle fries. I can't tell you how impressed I was on all aspects. The restaurant was very crowded and I felt my drinks and food came out faster than most restaurants with a crowd. I highly recommend checking out Hammerheads if you're in Louisville.
(5)
Alex K.

This is my first review on Yelp, so I'ma make it special. Stevie Wonder's 'Sir Duke' in the headphones~Check. Beer in coozie~Check. Favorite restaurant in Louisville selected~Check. Truth is, Hammerheads doesn't need my stellar review, every time I go it's slammed. Regardless. If you like fantastic Gourmet Southern food and you like dive bars then this is where you go when you die and you've been a relatively good boy or girl your whole life. Heaven. I wish santa put their Chicken and Waffles in my stalking each year... I will say, it will put you in heaven sooner than you may expect with their sun-dried tomato aioli, but who's fault is how much you drizzle it all over everything? Technically yours. Er... well the fact that duck fat is included in half the menu is... Sorry I had to wipe the drool, back now, it will kill you for sure, but let's just say it was EFfing worth it. Oh did I mention it's approximately $10 a plate for the best meal in town? I would pay $50 just for their lightly fried heavily aioli dipped mushroom app, but whatever, you should go. Dress: think dive bar it's in the basement of a house, but you see execs rubbing elbows with inked up Gs so whatevs you got in the closet muchachos.
(5)
Melissa P.

AMAZING! Drove here not knowing what to expect. It is a small place. Waited about 15 minutes on a Tuesday night. I had the beef brisket sandwich on a pretzel bun. Husband had 1/2 rack of baby back ribs. We just loved it! PERFECTLY smoked ribs & brisket. I don't know that I've had that good of food...ever. We did order the truffle fries cooked in duck fat per recommendation of bartender. Next time will probably just try regular fries....maybe the duck fat. They also have a decent beer selection- mostly bottles. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)
Kellyo O.

Guess I never wrote a review! Silly Me! I loved my truffle oil fries, my funny as heck waitress Biancia, and my yummy ribs. Wanted to try the BLT so I WILL be going back! Only problem I had at first was getting a Diet Coke or any soda for my non alcohol drinking hubby. But they wanted us happy so I think they ran to the store or something to get him some! Great service & Great food.
(5)
Kyle F.

You must get the duck tacos
(5)
Lynn L.

Definitely enjoyed our meal here! Hammerheads is sort of like a gastropub foodwise, but a local bar decorwise. No frills ambiance. We sat at the bar (I have heard nightmare stories about the extremely slow service) and ordered up some beers. They have a nice beer list. Creative food, and there were lots of things I wanted to try. We started with the rosemary lemon hummus. The first bite wasn't great, but it grew on me over time - the warm soft pita was tasty also. I settled on the chorizo burger and Grippos fries. Small beef - you have to pay extra for everything on your burger - cheese, pretzel bun, even fries. If I'm paying $8 for a burger, you can't give me some fries? Gotta pay an extra $2-3 for those. Oh, and if you want your fries fried in duck fat, that's extra also. The boy got the fried chicken and sweet potato waffle. Both entrees were delicious. My burger was so moist and juicy, and had great flavor. The Grippos fries were insane good, and the chicken and waffle was simultaneously crispy, tender, and flavorful. The guys sitting next to us got the pork ribs and let us have a taste. They were not my style - I thought a bit overdone (they came to the table literally steaming), and the smoke flavor was overpowering. I got a bacon brownie to go for dessert, and was disappointed. It was a delicious brownie with some crisp bacon on top. I thought it would be at least incorporated into the batter. Their desserts do need some improvement - 2 brownies, a cheesecake, and a chocolate mousse cake. They surely can do better! I will definitely be back, as this place is in my 'hood, and it's nice to have a kicked back chill meal with tasty eats.
(4)
Amelia P.

Friendly and laid back attitude, but on point service. I had the pork belly "BLT" and my date had the veggie burger. Normally I scoff at a veggie burger because they are just a boca burger or something from a freezer. This one was pretty spot-on. Really quirky and good selections for the price! \ The real star here would be the Grippo's seasoned french fries!!! These things are like crack and have inspired us to procure our own bottles of the seasoning and give everything a velvety spicy barbecue flavored coating!
(5)
Christopher B.

Hammerheads lived up to the hype train. Located in the old Swan Dive location (RIP) the place is small, and not the most welcoming, but, goodnight, is it delicious! Mac and cheese balls had a spice to them and were fried well, all of the french fries were to die for, the duck tacos were amazing, great veggie burger, I can go on and on. The staff was surprisingly friendly, and there are plenty of great brews on tap. A Louisville must visit!
(5)
Jason H.

My wife and I were visiting Louisville last weekend for a family reunion. After driving around the Bardstown Road area for a while and looking at online recommendations, we decided to be a little adventurous and try something "local." So we decided on Hammerheads. Tip #1: if you are not a "local," you will need a current GPS to find it. We parked on the street next to the restaurant and as we walked around the corner to the front door, we noticed about 20+ cats hanging around the back of the restaurant. Interesting. Tip #2: if you drive a nice vehicle, you may want to consider taking a cab to Hammerheads. The area surrounding the restaurant did not feel safe by any standards. It is in a low income residential area with abandoned buildings down the street. It looked worse than New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina! We walked inside and waited at the front door almost 10 minutes before any employee recognized us. When we asked a waitress about getting a table, she shouted to someone over at the bar. About 10 minutes later, a guy from behind the bar came over and stated "you must not be from Louisville." He stated the wait time was about 30 minutes give or take. So we decided to wait for a table. The place was EXTREMELY HOT inside and busy with mainly young hipster-types. The smell of grease and the smoke from the grill made it almost unbearable to breathe. While waiting inside for a table, we were fortunate enough to have a good view of the kitchen/grill area. After waiting another 25 minutes and witnessing some unappetizing things while working up more of a sweat than at my last visit to the gym, we decided to leave Hammerheads to the "locals" and find another option for dinner. Maybe it is a cool place/vibe for some people looking for cheap beer and overpriced bar-type food but it was not what we were looking for during our last night in Louisville.
(1)
Steve W.

The crew all need to be on the same page. Visiting from out of town, my wife and I stopped on a Saturday night around 6:00. The placed was packed as we made our way inside. Waiting at the end of the bar we asked about the waiting process for a table. A nice bartender said he could add our name to the list for a table. He indicated that if seats opened at the bar, we were welcome to seat ourselves. After 15 minutes or so a large polo-shirt-and-khaki crowd vacated about five seats at the bar. Wanting to speed up the process, my wife and I took our self-claimed spots at the bar. This is where the service goes south. A different bartender asks us if our names were called. We explain that we just grabbed a spot, like we were told we could do. He said that we would have to wait until our names were called, and would need to give up our seats. We got up, walked toward the door, then kept going to our car and a different place to eat. I was really looking forward to eating here. The food I saw while waiting looked great. I only wished the hospitality had matched.
(1)
Jason M.

I had the duck tacos and garlic and herb fries. I would give it a five star but you don't have to get dressed up to go there. The food is fabulous. It is a hole in the wall type place but the food tastes nothing like what you would expect.
(4)
Rebecca R.

Lamb ribs!!! Too die for! Polenta cakes and grappo fries were great too!
(5)
Adam C.

Rate the food....not the fact that it makes you feel like home, if home is living with your parents and eating in the basement. Another hipster gastropub that is way overrated. I like to try new places and after reading the reviews I thought this one was a slam dunk. Turned out to be nothing to get excited about. I knew we were in for a let down when the table behind us was saying how great this place is but said Jack Frys was nothing special. Lets start with the mac n cheese balls, great presentation but nothing special when it some to flavor. Better than just regular old mac n cheese bites some places offer but nothing anyone at the table would order again. Tried the lamb ribs, had a lot of flavor probably the best entree at the table. Someone tried the elk burger that did not come on the pretzel bun as on the menu. It was described as a little mushy, but it was all gone at the end of the meal so it couldn't have been too bad. I had the chicken and waffles myself. I have had some of the best fried chicken in the country and this looked amazing, but fell way short in the taste department. Absolutely no flavor in the breading or the chicken itself, the wings were huge only able to eat 2 of the 3. I really thought the wings were going to be great, huge let down, use some salt and buttermilk please. Sweet potato waffle was very different, definitely new to me and not bad at all. Lastly are the truffle oil fries. I read all good reviews and they looked to die for when they hit the table. My best description, fresh cut fries soaked in what tasted like olive oil, plus we got a hair in ours to add to the flavor. Honestly the regular fries were better, maybe garlic fries if I ever went back. Prices are a bit high for mostly a la carte sandwiches and burgers, knock a few bucks off each item and it would be priced more accurately. Heavily hipster crowd, along with mediocre food at best equals great reviews on yelp. A trend I have noticed on yelp, either a lot of hipsters yelp or a lot of yelpers are hip at least that is what I have noticed in downtown Louisville.
(1)
Matt B.

Would give 4.5* if we had a half star option. Came in with a group on a Friday night and only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. Beer selection was given a big endorsement by the aficionados in the group. Me, I'm all about amazing creative food especially in funky chef driven places which is why I led the group here in the first place. Every single thing I tasted at our table was seriously good, well seasoned, properly cooked and interesting. From the duck sliders, to the garlic & herb duck fat fries, to the burgers and finally my chicken & waffles it was enjoyment in my mouth. We didn't stick around for dessert as it was a bit uncomfortably warm in there, and we had enjoyed large cones of Graters earlier in the day. If I lived nearby I would be a regular. Too bad we don't have a place like this back home.
(4)
Derek P.

We ate here last night for a small work event. The place looks pretty poor on the outside, but once you get in it's a great atmosphere. I had a brisket sandwich on a pretzel roll with fries, and my coworker pork tacos. They were amazing and low priced. Great beer selection and service. Only negative was it was a little smokey from the cooker which irritated the eyes.
(5)
Walter C.

Recommended by some friends but didn't expect the college bar atmosphere. Food was good as were the duck tacos. Would definitely go again for a drink or two.
(4)
Jason A.

I really like this place. It has both vegetarian and meat options. It has a good beer selection consisting of craft beers. My favorite dish is probably the pulled duck sandwich, though it's hard to decide because there are so many great options. In fact, although I typically eat meat for most meals, I have had both their veggie tacos and veggie sloppy joe, and they were great! Everything is ordered a la carte, which can seem to make things a bit pricey at times. My suggestion would be to share a basket of fries as your side item, as this typically more than enough food and it's more economical. In addition you can have your fries cooked in duck fat, with truffle oil, or both. The atmosphere is casual. The servers are attentive. Great place!
(5)
Maggie C.

The food here is sooooo so good. It's an incredibly small dining area, so you should try to arrive ten minutes before they open or wait until the dinner rush is over. I've been here twice and both times were great. Yes, the wait and the craziness of just trying to get a table isn't ideal, but it is so worth it. I've had the ribs and the chicken and waffles and both are amazing. The Mac and cheese balls are heaven too. Do not miss this place! Go. Now!!
(5)
Alex K.

This place is okay. I've been here twice. Got the Elk Burger the first time, and the Lamb the second time. Both were just "okay". Not as good as i thought it would be. Also had the truffle fries and mac and cheese, which were also good. The presentation is very neat, and the food is okay, I just feel that this place is overrated because of the "hip" neighborhood atmosphere. Chock full of hipsters. Also, feels very overpriced for what you get.
(3)
Morgan L.

My husband and I went here after reading all the great reviews on Yelp. This place is a whole in the wall and you definitely are going to leave smelling of bbq but who cares after you have had such a great meal. My husband got the lamb ribs and I got the pork ribs. Both were great, as were the truffle fries. The only thing that I didn't like was the bbq sauce. I am a fan of the sweeter and thicker sauce and Hammerheads was more spices and thin, but still decent. If you don't mind waiting in line for a great meal, then this is your place.
(4)
Emily W.

DELICIOUS! The food here is great. I am a vegetarian and love their veggie burger (Garcia burger) and could eat the mushroom medley appetizer every day of my life. The beer list is great as well. Seating can be somewhat of an issue. They don't take reservations and seating is first come first serve. On busy nights (which is most nights) it can be nerve wracking stalking tables to get a seat before others. However, you can grab a beer and enjoy your company while making bets on who will be the next to get up. The food is well worth the wait.
(5)
Tony K.

Awesome! You must try the Smoked Lamb Ribs and the truffle fries in duck fat was fabulous!
(5)
Monica C.

First,my daughter did not want to go in because "it looks creepy". And she was right-- there was a storm brewing outside, the place is in the bottom of a house, in a questionable area, and it wasn't clear that there could be survivors if the storm turned ugly, but the food experience was awesome! even my hard to please daughter managed to gobble down a tasty burger and truffle fries in duck fat, which were fantastic. Hubby had the pork belly sandwich. Despite my initial misgivings about the pretzel bun, it was awesome. Duck sliders were tasty, and my soft shell crab tacos were innovative, flavorful, and cooked to perfection- crispy and light to the last bite. We took quite a detour from our road trip to get there and it was worth every bite.
(5)
Dave C.

omg, my sweater smells like hammerheads - and no, you can't have a bite. this is an incredibly awesome restaurant - one of a kind. the setting is great - sort of like a walk-down basement on a non-assuming corner in an older neighborhood - just east of downtown. and, in there...it feels like you're in the basement of a house in an older neighborhood...quirky and cool. the air is kind of heavy with...as it turns out...various light cooking oils used in their french fries. the best fries you will ever have...guaranteed. and the explosion of taste in the venison and elk burgers is...just that...an explosion of taste. advice: go to the trouble to find this place - don't give up - it's not that easy to find...but you'll be so glad you did. a louisville treasure.
(5)
Randy W.

Wow. Is this place awesome. Visiting from Atlanta. Long wait on a Sat night but well worth it. Our party had angus burgers and a trio of tacos, duck, brisket and pork belly. All fantastic. The fries were also great as well. Highly recommend Hammerheads.
(5)
Erin E.

Usually I am pretty selective about giving anything a 5 star rating but Hammerheads delivers. The dive bar atmosphere is comfortable and unassuming and the service was stellar. It is perfect gastro-pub blending creative and delicious food with a fun selection of unique and craft beers. My husband and I shared a basket of truffle fries which should be renamed "Crack Fries" (seriously so yummy and we couldn't stop eating them!). I had the Elk Burger which was delectable and my husband had the Chorizo burger which he thoroughly enjoyed. In addition to all of the praises listed above... the prices are reasonable to boot. You can't beat this place! We arrived early on a Tuesday evening because we were catching a show at Headliners later. Thank goodness because as we left an hour later there wasn't an open table in the joint. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jim H.

Went with my wife. We spilt to beer cheese and pretzel crosiant that was tonights special. Was very good. Wish it had to crosiants as we had a lot of beer cheese left over. My wife ordered the soft shell crab sandwich and i had the chorizo burger. Both were excellent. We spilt a basket of truffle fries...wow they were amazing. Our server/bartender was very friendly and well educated on the beers they had on tap. All in all. A great find. If you havent tried it you should!
(5)
Sean G.

Everything about this place (except for the usual hipster patrons) is Grade-A 100% bad ass- like it was taken straight out of my deepest desires. Service is top-notch, the beer always cold and plentiful and everything on the menu is unbeatable. I like meat, the smell of roasting meat, getting meat juice all over my shirt etc. I literally lick the wooden slab they bring you as a plate when I am finished. There simply isn't another place like this in the entire city. I wish the place were bigger, and I wish there was better art on the walls, but I don't care. It's amazing in every way I care about.
(5)
Larry H.

It's a great place if you like to spend lots o money on beer and average food. Oh yeah this place is loaded with douche bags who think their s@&t don't stank.
(3)
Kate S.

If you go to Hammerheads during dinner rush, expect chaos with your wall-to-wall tattoos, and just relax and go with it. With limited seating, it might be awhile, but grab a beer from the bar and try to stay out of the way. We sat at the bar, and the service was excellent. Our server was helpful and answered many questions before we placed our order. Our food came quickly and was HOT (thank you, thank you!) I had the chicken wings (about the size of my hand) and sweet potato waffles, which was fantastic, as were the duck sliders. My companion had the shrimp and grits which was both beautiful and delicious. Finding the place is part of the adventure, like geo-fooding -- even with your GPS, you won't see it until you're right there. It's all about respecting the food, so come hungry, thirsty and open to the experience.
(5)
Simon B.

This place is awesome. Located in the basement of a house in a residential area a little hard to find, just look for the shark above the door. Get here early when they open or you will be waiting but it is well worth it. Great selection of beer to choose from. Unique foods. I had the Venison burger on a pretzel roll with the truffle fries. It was excellent. I normally dont love fries but these were fantastic. Everyone else in my group ordered sides of Mac and cheese, also with truffle oil, and the truffle fries. Will be back next time Im in louisville.
(5)
Hannah P.

There's not much that hasn't already been said. Great food. So good, in fact, that the place fills up FAST. Get there right at five to snag a table, otherwise you'll be waiting for quite some time. The ribs, baked beans, and duck fat fries are perfect. And their hose-made BBQ sauce is heaven in a bottle. Good beer selection, too.
(5)
Phyllis K.

This place blew my mind. Everything on the menu is a jaw-dropper! That pork belly sandwich. THAT PORK BELLY SANDWICH! It transcended pleasure. Eating this was a completely religious experience.
(5)
Tre P.

Be warned, this place is a dive. Literally, you need to duck your head just to get in the place. But the food? It's pretty amazing. Can't give them a 5 because of the ambiance but if they relocate to a nicer location, I'm going back!
(4)
Darrin M.

I spent a lot of time at places like this in college. Dive bar that might not get a second glance from someone who doesn't know the area. Low ceiling, cramped space, perfect for those dark, smoky, drink filled nights. But one thing those dive bars from my youth didn't have: Epic Food. I'm not talking about a quality pub burger and well-prepared hot wings. I'm talking food that I would put on par with restaurants you need to wear a jacket to enter. We started with Pulled duck sliders that were amazing. Soft shell crab tacos, delicious. And you CANNOT MISS the french fries tossed in truffle oil and cooked in duck fat. My wife claims this as the best thing she's ever eaten. I might not be able to argue that. Very solid beer selection, although not my area of expertise. Prices are super agreeable, 2 people maybe $40-45? depending on alcohol. Be prepared to wait and enjoy a beer. It was crowded and they don't have a lot of seating. But trust me, it's worth the wait.
(5)
Rachel F.

Is Hammerheads still a 5 star restaurant for me? Is Louisville awesome? Do the unwrapped Christmas presents made by Santa's elves actually come from Walmart? Sorry, spoiler alert. It isn't about being hip or fancy - it is about fantastic food at a fantastic price. My new found love at Hammerheads are the soft shell crab tacos and the pork slider appetizers. Jesus. I can't do them justice, so you should just try them. But still get the mushroom app - every time!
(5)
John K.

The food was delicious, and the service was excellent. We will definitely return. While not the prettiest place, it has an unusual charm that is lovely.
(5)
Stephanie M.

I have been to Hammerheads at least 5 or 6 times and I can honestly say that the service is hit or miss. Sometimes, it's on point, sometimes it is just terrible. However, the Pork belly sandwich on a pretzel bun is the reason I come back! It is so delicious! I don't care much for the macaroni cheese balls and I don't typically order an appetizer because I know that my sandwich and fries are going to be so filling. The soda is sold by the can with a cup of ice, and I usually stick with water. Be prepared to wait for awhile before being seated. It's a small space that fills up fast.
(4)
Derek D.

Daaaaaaaamn! Are mouths our happy! Pork sammy and crab tacos! Wow! Molasses based bbq only enhanced the flava! Highly recommend for your next meal!
(5)
Asha S.

Don't judge a book (restaurant) by its cover. We pulled up to Hammerheads and had to question its location but were glad we stopped in. The restaurant is located under a house and offers a humble, intimate eating experience. The staff was nice and the menu offered more gourmet and creative takes on the traditional burger and fries. I had the brisket sandwich with garlic and herb fries - delicious! Next time we want to try our sandwiches on a pretzel bun which was on the menu but had run out that day. The only drawback was that they didn't serve sweet tea (which is a staple for me) and my husband's coke came in a can which therefore means no free refills (you're buying another can each time).
(3)
Heather B.

We decided to stop here while on a road trip that took us through Louisville based on all the Yelp reviews. It's a relatively short detour off of I-65 and worth it. We hit Hammerheads on a Monday night about 5:30. Our timing was great. We were the first ones in for dinner and it quickly filled up in the next 15 minutes. Our meals came right out of the kitchen. We had a half rack of the baby backs and a beef brisket sandwich. The ribs were the largest rack I have ever seen. Very neatly with almost no fat. The meat was fall-off-the-bone tender and the rub was peppery with some smoke flavor. The brisket was very tender and flavorful. We also shared a basket of the duck fat fries but found them to be a tad bit too salty for our likings but still good. I can see why this place is so popular.
(4)
Damian C.

It's a bar. It's a restaurant. It's in a house. Like, my dream of having a bar and restaurant inside my OWN house. It's like, you're driving down the road and looking over and are like "Who's having the block party? What are all these cars doing around here? Why are all these people walking into that house? KEGS?!?!?!" This place gets hot. Two of us arrived around 6PM and scored a 4-top in the front part of the restaurant. I mean, it was the only place to sit, and we were not about to sit up at the window. TRUTH. The menu is full of almost nothing healthy but we put in enough miles on the treadmill at 6AM so it was off to Chunky Town, population us. We ordered a couple brewskis and scoured the menu. Naturally, we couldn't pass up the mac n cheese balls. 3 huge balls. 3 huge, delicious, piping hot mac n cheese balls. Swallow your pride and open wide, people. We were not ones to pass on those and you're missing out if you do. NOM. Next came the duck tacos, which, although the more healthy option of our overall choices, were nothing short of making you feel gluttonous. The duck was perfectly crispy and well-flavored, but definitely on the small end for $12. Oh, and they snuck some sort of mayo or aioli on there. GAH! I say skip, but my co-worker liked them, so you'll have to be on your own with these. The elk burger? Showstopping. Granted, I have never had elk before, and have trouble even picture what an elk is (80% deer, 10% horse, 10% moose?! I dunno), but whoever says they don't like elk is a certifiably crazy person. Juicy, greasy, and a little bit of kick... and all topped with a salty pretzel bun. It was literally one of the top 5 burgers I have ever had. Solid truth. The winner of the show, by far, was the truffle fries. The grippo fries get an honorable mention, but damn Gina, those truffles fries. Some of the best I have ever had, and plenty I have had, of course. Beware that they come in a basket big enough for two so in actuality we ordered for four, but they are so damn good you'll wanna slam the whole basket and get all fat and stuff. Thankfully, we didn't. This place gets packed super quick and we felt a little bad (only for a brief second) that we were sitting at a 4 top while groups were standing waiting for tables. By standing I mean giving us death stares with each crunch of a french fry and sip of a delicious brew. If you plan to make a night of it score as many seats as you need for as many people in your group. People wanna eat, yo. Most awesome basement bar/restaurant ever.
(5)
Moises C.

Unusual... That's a good thing. This place is so unique and feels so at home. Came here with my girlfriend for the first time and was not sure what to expect. The restaurant is on the lower floor and has a speak easy feel. Was pretty packed but was immediately greeted and seated within 30 min. The food was amazing and was very satisfied with the lamb ribs!!! Great place and recommend.
(5)
Michael G.

I am typically not a fan of dive restaurants and restaurants situated in bars. Pulling up to this restaurant and walking in did little to change that mindset; however, once the food came out, my mind was opened. The food is surprisingly sophisticated and was quite tasty and fulfilling. Definitely a place to check out.
(4)
Michelle C.

Hammerheads was something that people have been talking to me about for sometime now so I think I may have built it up a little too much in my head. There's no real waiting inside, but thankfully my parents had gotten there early so we didn't have to wait very long. When we were seated we got waters and ordered the macaroni balls which are gigantic. You get three and I wish we'd had six people because eating a whole one myself nearly stuffed me. They are quite tasty though. My mom and husband ordered beers that they liked but my dad and I stuck with water. I don't know if it was because it was so hot outside or what but we never got ice refills, only water. I ordered the soft shell crab tacos with jalapeÃ±o and sage aioli. They tacos were really tasty and I was glad they put the aioli on the side because it was a little much for me. Now, they do have the sides and you can get anything you want fried in duck fat. *drool* Or so has been my experience so far. They only have one duck fat frier, so anything that gets the duck fat all goes into the same place. I don't know if that was it or what, but the fries we ordered weren't the best. Over all the place was really good, I just wouldn't have a whole macaroni ball or duck fat fries next time.
(4)
Alex T.

My Favorite spot in Louisville to eat. Hard to get in on the weekends but it's worth the wait. Fried mac n cheese balls and truffle duck fat fries are a must! My favorites are the brisket or the venison burger. Love this place! Go!
(5)
Helen S.

Everyone must try Hammerheads at least once. Everyone. Plan to go early. It is a tiny place and you will wait. But totally worth it.
(5)
McKenzie I.

The food here is great, its not just your average cow/chicken. You can have duck (succulent), venison (soo savory), lamb (haven't got to try it yet, but it looks amazing), and an array of other great meats. The sides are really good, great portion size and the salads are really fresh with great dressing selections. As far as the alcohol, well... I wasn't 21 last time I was there, which was just a little while ago, but they seemed to have a great selection and everyone but me had a local brew beer. Be warned if you don't get a beer and you get a soda, it's in a can. So no refills. Coke products, always a plus. Its in a basement in a residential area. Be prepared for very cozy quarters, a long wait and you may be seated directly where people are waiting and it can get kind of uncomfortable. All in all, friendly people, great food and seemingly great booze. Enjoy.
(4)
Chris C.

The food here is probably six stars, it's that good. Four stars overall because of the location, wait times, and ambiance. They could really, really use a second location (instead of opening up other restaurants like Loop 22) that actually has a vent. I'm really not sure how this location is up to city code given you leave there smelling like the food for days. But, still... the food is really, really good.
(4)
Justin H.

Gawd, I love this place... I've taken several out of town friends, locals and family to Hammerheads and no one has ever been disappointed! I would love to comment on their menu but I've only ever had like 3 things, despite being here over 20 times. I can not get enough of their pork tacos!!!! Juicy, tender, fresh and at a great price. The mac/cheese balls is also something you MUST try. The environment/seating capacity may turn off some people but I love that it's the epitome of a hole in the wall. Their food, drink and service speaks for itself - no need to redesign the interior, move locations or focus on anything but the food. I try to go here as often as possible but in my opinion, it's best to get there before 6pm because it's pack from 6pm on. Perfect spot to start your weekend!
(5)
Landon L.

Hammerheads is one of the best dives ever, especially in Louisville. The place is easy to miss, as it's in a basement. It has a very cozy and active atmosphere, but is a bit loud and crowded. Definitely a place to let loose and have a good time (aka not recommended for older or youngsters). The service was quick and courteous and all of our food was perfect. I had the fried mushrooms, the PBLT (Pork Belly, Lettuce, and Tomato) and sweet potato fries. The fried mushrooms were the best I've ever had and had a very deep flavor and the sauce served with it made it all the better. The PBLT was succulent, flavorful, and incredibly filling for less than $10. The sweet potato fries were to die for! They struck a perfect balance between fried and sweet.
(4)
Kellee K.

Four of us had dinner, it was my husband's second visit, I had heard all about it, but I was unable to picture the drab basement serving up incredible eats. You might think you're in the wrong place when your GPS leads you to a house in this Germantown neighborhood, but once you spot the hammerhead you'll know you've arrived. The scent of smoke that permeates the air will be your second clue, and if it's later in the evening you'll surely be met by a large crowd. Upon viewing the menu, I noticed that meat dominates and prices are fair. Once I laid eyes on duck tacos ($12) there was no question what I would be having. My husband loved the lamb ribs last visit, but wanted to try something new. He had nearly decided on pulled pork but he was swayed to try the baby back ribs ($22) when our waiter mentioned that they were his favorite. The angus ($8) and elk ($12) burgers were also chosen. We ordered duck sliders ($4 ea), and mac and cheese balls ($7) to start. We shared grippo fries ($4) in duck fat ($3). The ribs were the best we've had outside of Texas. They were mighty delicious. The duck tacos did not disappoint. The sliders were weak, but it was no fault of the duck. It was the bun that was the culprit. The mac and cheese was creamy and smoky. The hollandaise didn't woo me so I wished I had ordered the side instead... Lessons for next time. The fries were seasoned with a sweet spicy BBQ seasoning. They were good, but I suspect I might like the truffle fries better. Overall, I was pleased by the quality of food. You wouldn't expect it from its divey appearance.
(4)
Jeanette G.

Usually these small neighborhood establishments are great places to eat and have a drink - but I was very unimpressed with "Hammerheads." Located in the basement part of a corner house should have been my first warning. The place is small with exposed wiring and dirty air vents. The menu was limited to mostly game selections and nothing for anyone who eats chicken. I ordered an Angus burger which was $8.00 and very small - did not even include a side item. It was served, to my complete astonishment, on a cutting board! This to me speaks volumes as far as how porous the surface of a wooden cutting board is. I immediately transferred my burger to a small appetizer plate. I felt dirty the entire time I was there - some family members I was with chose to eat here so we went along to try it out. Before they opened the doors to the waiting public outside you could see workers inside killing flies and spraying windex on the windows and tables. My husband ordered the one and only vegetarian selection on the menu - he was also unimpressed. Don't use the bathrooms unless absolutely necessary; I waited until we left and used one at a nearby fast food joint. Next day we were both experiencing stomach cramps. This place may be an establishment locals probably love, but I give it a thumbs down.
(2)
Erik H.

WOW! This venue is Amazing & It's a Great Place to try Exotic Foods that really taste Amazing! This venue sits in a residential area and is smaller than the reviews given. It's more of a dive-bar with International Class Food! We used Uberx to find this location and when we saw the venue thought we were going to a party at someone's house. The hours are only from 5 pm to 10 pm & we had the duck to start our meal. The staff made sure we had everything we needed for our meal and encouraged us to Yelp review our experience. Honestly, I would travel here just to try the foods on the menu anytime. The food is just this AMAZING! This place should be featured on the Food Network as it's one of the Best Places in the Country! "Let's Go! Make It Happen!"
(5)
John S.

Other reviews are pretty spot-on. Come here on a weeknight (besides Friday) and arrive early to beat the crowds. Have been here a few times and service and food is always spot on. Type of place you bring your friends from out of town. Whatever you order, you MUST get the truffle fries! As others have said, ceiling is low and there isn't much seating. Also, always is packed on Friday nights and the weekend and the waits can be really long
(4)
Meredith W.

Hammerheads is on our list of our top 5 favorite in Louisville! The atmosphere is unique and fun and the food is some of the best you'll find in the city. I highly recommend the duck tacos, PBLT and the Elk burger. The fries are also amazing. Don't go here if you're an impatient/needy customer because you're most likely going to have to wait awhile for a table and the service is a little slow but we don't mind because it's so worth it!
(5)
Robin H.

I tried their twist on the chicken and waffles and was not disappointed. A fun place with great food and atmosphere.
(5)
Sara G.

The food at Hammerheads was amazing! The only thing holding this place back from five stars was the slow service. We ordered the seasonal salad, elk burger, and truffle fries in duck fat. Everything was extraordinary. My husband said the burger was one of the best he's ever had and he was eating the fries so fast I barely got any! Everything was reasonably priced in my opinion, too. You have to pay extra for the duck fat so the fries ended up costing $8, but they were totally worth it! They also had a decent selection of beer, but we were driving so we didn't get a chance to try any. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in Louisville. It's a bit off the beaten path, but worth the trip!
(4)
Michelle A.

I'm currently in a food coma, super happy belly, and unable to move. We had the duck tacos, smoked mac and cheese side dish and 1/2 slab of baby back ribs. I would easily ask for this meal as 'my last meal'. It's that good. The 1/2 slab of ribs were freaking massive. The bbq sauce that they have is something I seriously considered stealing and putting in my handbag. Our server/bartender/angel Nick totally pointed us in the right direction. This place is divey and perfect with an amazing beer list. Oh yeah, and the prices kick ass too.
(5)
Brad S.

Oh my! This place is the hidden gem of Louisville. Situated smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood, in the basement of a house, Hammerheads is a dive-bar serving up some world-class grub. I thought I was in the wrong place when I saw it on the GPS, but upon arriving, a small crowd of people milled about around outside. The second I opened the door, I was greeted with the strong smell of delicious smoked meats. It was busy inside, it was a Saturday, but we were able to be seated quickly. The beer list is excellent, with regional and national beers to please any taste. The menu was the real star here - I started with a pulled duck slider, and had lamb ribs as my entree. Both were out of this world! I'd never had lamb ribs before, these were perfectly cooked, wonderfully seasoned, beautifully presented nuggets of amazingness. My friend got the pulled pork tacos and a side salad, both looked great as well. I'd send anyone to Hammerheads during their visit to Louisville! I'd consider this five-star dive-bar for sure.
(5)
Alvaro R.

Honestly, Hammerheads is very overhyped. I read the reviews and was expecting something out of this world and its just (good). I wouldn't mind it if the food was extraordinary.. but it was just good and that made other things stand out. A hot muggy basement with your grandmas old unwanted chairs for seating and overall lack of space. When you walk in and wait to be acknowledged you are already rubbing elbows with a diner on your left and someone sitting at the bar on your right(not an exaggeration). The waitress was very nice . However, We got our appetizers at the same time as our entrees. We ordered brisket and pork belly sliders. They were good. Smoked Mac and cheese was again nothing special. I had the elk burger and ordered it medium rare it came well done. It was a bit dry but still good. The Angus burger also came in well done despite being ordered medium. The beer choices were good but both of my drinks came in a tad warm. All in all not a bad restaurant but there are too many better options in Louisville than this. I would say Hammerheads is something you go to just so you can confirm that it is indeed located in someone's basement.
(2)
Lena H.

Love this place! We went on a Saturday night. Yes, the wait was an hour, but it was definitely worth it. We grabbed a few beers from the bar while we waited, and had a fun time chatting with those waiting. We ordered the fried mac n cheese ball for an appetizer. Be prepared to share! We got three huge balls with hollandaise sauce. It may be a heart attack waiting to happen, but it sure would be a great way to go. My husband got the venison burger. He loved it. I thought it was good considering I do not like venison. We shared sweet potato fries that were fried in duck fat. Even though the fries were good, the duck fat is a little overpowering for those fries. Next time we'll get regular fries fried in duck fat. I got the PBLT which is a pork belly with lettuce and tomatoes. OH MY GOSH! It is perhaps the best sandwich I have ever had. You must get this! Words cannot describe how phenomenal this is! You may have to wait a while, but the food is outstanding, the atmosphere is fun, and the beer list is great!
(5)
Monte H.

Everything at this place rocks. Rockin food, rockin ambiance, and rockin service. My gang and I ordered half the menu, and we'd order half the menu again - unless we order the whole menu. Because it's all that good.
(5)
Josh F.

Typical vegetarian here, but I must say this place has the best mushroom based veggie "burger" I have ever had. Some serious good flavor, pretzel bun with Brie cheese knocked it out of the park. Place is very small so take heed to all the reviews you read, get here before they open on the weekend and get in line. I just wish there were more places like this. I will be back.....
(5)
Brian R.

It's all about the food. Aaaawwwwww that flavorful food. That aside there is no frills when it comes to atmosphere or overall appearance. Not that you'll care probably (I DO). The menu will delight with it's tasty little treats and meats. Together me and my dining partner had a Brisket Sandwich, Pork Belly Tacos, Mac-n-Cheese Balls, and two different types of their fries. I was most bothered by the trend of having canned sodas at $1 a can. For which I am not a fan of at all. I am also bothered that the waitress whose job is mostly to take an order and bring you the order is expecting a tip. If I'm not getting repeat table service I hate tipping for such an establishment. Still, GO GO GO! You'll love the food and you probably won't be as picky as I am.
(4)
Ashley G.

Went on a whim on a Friday with my family. It was raining and we did have to wait but it was TOTALLY worth it!
(5)
Marina H.

Fried mac & cheese balls. Brisket and duck tacos. Pork belly sandwich. Feeling like you're in your friend's basement. Love it all! The best is taking people from out of town here, watching them take in the casual, cramped and slightly jarring atmosphere, and then seeing the light bulb go on over their head when they take their first bite of food. The draft selection is always great as well. This place is always crowded because it is the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
(5)
Matt G.

BAR - Quite filled with a great rotation of rare local and import brews, and tasty beverages (most of which because the curse of gluten intolerance I cannot enjoy anymore). Entrees tried: Smoked Baby Back Ribs - YES! 4.7/5 - tender, slow smoked and literally falling off the bone...people say that waaaay too often, but this is an effortless tug with your teeth, and there will be a clean bone left in your hand. We're talking fork ribs here. Delicious full bold flavor, with a kind of BBQ bark on the outer layer. Love it. Pork Belly & Brisket Tacos - 4.5/5 - excellent portions of smoked pork belly and brisket, both "melt in your mouth" tender, and quite suitable for corn tortilla (which if the meat was too tough, the corn tortilla would crumble in your hands while your trying to salvage the leftover meat & pico). Sides Tried: Grippos fries & Sweet Potato Fries 4.8/5 - DUDE...the Grippo fries are an American Classic. You CANNOT go wrong with these unless there is something wrong with your taste buds. Sweet potato fries compliment some of the spicier menu items very well. I think you should ask for syrup to go with these as a dipping sauce to complete the picture perfectly. Service/dining: Love this place...it's a "hole in the wall" type atmosphere, but when see those monster slow smokers out front, and then you catch a whiff of the greatness in store...never mind the size of the place. While smaller there's more patrons able to dine than you think which can lead to slower service if packed, but it's never been a deal-breaker for me. Staff has an off-brand "Louisville underground" feel to it which can go either way depending on your tastes...service with smile--piercings, and tattoos included (and if you're lucky, of the exotic attractive hipster variety). This makes my Louisville Bucket List of Restaurants 4.7/5 (but I'm giving it a 5 on here, bc it's so much better than a 4)
(5)
Wade S.

Was my first meal in Lou. Food was good. Everything I tried from duck fat fry, pork belly, lamb (mutton) ribs was super tasty. Not really into the "presentation" on the boards. Great beer list. Dive bar with cool kids and great food. Wear your old clothes, you'll smell like you worked the fry station at a smokehouse when you leave tho. Went in once and left cause the ran out of food. Other than those things, good food in an unassuming environment.
(3)
phil m.

Small, cramped, but with great food. Not a big menu, but everyone in our group enjoyed what they had. I will go back.
(4)
Eric J.

Hammerheads never disappoints! I finally had the baby ribs instead of the lamb and they were absolutely amazing. I still prefer the lamb but there was nothing wrong with the baby backs. A full rack is a ton to eat and they fall right off the bone. I will always visit this place any time I am in Louisville!
(5)
M S.

There was nothing healthy about our meal here, but it sure was delicious! Our group's favorites were the mac and cheese balls (among the kids) and the shrimp and grits (among the adults). The brisket and duck sliders were good, but not quite as memorable as those two. Service was great, too. And while the space has a lot of character, it's in a small, cramped basement with a noisy, unbelievably small kitchen that is fairly open to the dining room.
(4)
M B.

I went because of the great review. I didn't get it at all. The food was ok. You can get better food and better location other places. It looks like a basement in a old house.
(3)
Kelly P.

This place is so unbelievably good! It's small, and doesn't look like much from the outside, but the food is some of the best in the city. I highly recommend this spot for dinner. Everything I've had from the menu is amazing.
(5)
Chad P.

This place is VERY COOL! Located in the basement of a "shotgun house", it has all the feel of a speak-easy. Very cozy with nothing fancy, it seems that you are treated as a local regular, even when you're an out-of-towner there for the first time. It's a clean establishment. However, the ceilings are very low, watch your head. I had several items from the menu: softshell crab tacos, pulled pork tacos, and lamb ribs. All were good dishes but the crab tacos are OFF THE CHAIN! Great beers on tap, some local, some national, but all tasty. I highly recommend checking this place out, worth every penny.
(4)
Chris Z.

Burgers and ribs served in a basement with a kickin' beer selection. I'm in. I tried the duck sliders, the soft shell crab sammie and an order of truffle fries. All were bomb. Nothing overly greasy. The space is tight but they do it right. I'm so glad we ventured off and found this place.
(5)
Becca G.

Tiny little smoke-filled basement. Bring eyedrops if you have sensitive eyes, and don't dress too fancy. Also, be prepared to wait for your food. We went on a Thursday so we didn't have to wait but a minute to be seated, but the food still took a while to get out from the teeny kitchen. I'd say it was worth the wait! :-) My man friend (MF) started with a Donut Stout and he thoroughly enjoyed it - I'm sure the 11.5% alcohol by volume surely helped him like it (ha ha). It was a little too dark tasting for my preference, but it is a stout and it wasn't my beer - so it's all good. Mac & Cheese Fried Balls: YUM. One of them was a little refrigerated in the middle still, but they tasted good. Fried grit cake: Oh. Em. Gee. Changed my life for sure. Best food I've ever had. I love grits... and this did not disappoint. Just cheesy enough. And the sauces were ON POINT! Some remoulade-like sauce and then some blueberry(?) bbq-esque sauce? Delicious. MF got the Chorizo burger. I got a pork belly taco and a pulled pork taco. Everything was good, but I ended up switching my MF for his chorizo burger bc I favored the burger, and he favored the tacos. The pork in the tacos was a little greasy for my liking (said the girl who just ate fried mac and cheese / grits) but the MF is a lover of greasy foods. The chorizo burger is literally a chorizo patty. On a yummy bun with some yummy sauces - all around good. Not too spicy... But I apparently don't taste SPICE anymore... So I've been told. Our table neighbors got the chicken and waffle and the lamb ribs and said it was the best food they had ever eaten. It smelled / looked delicioussss. Another plus - the bill for the 2 of us was like $50... Which is totally reasonable and less than I was expecting for all the awesomely prepared food we got. (Side note: I have also been to Game which is apparently a sister to this restaurant? I wasn't impressed with Game's food as much, and I remember it being more expensive... Maybe I'm crazy though.) Go here. On a weekday, so you don't have to wait so long. And get the fried grit cake. And everything else.
(4)
Jeremy S.

Who do I talk to about getting one of these in San Diego? Awesome friggin experience here. Not gonna lie, the place is definitely dive-y. Go inside. Seriously, the food and beer selection is awesome. I knew I was gonna love the place as soon as I heard the name, and then when I got there and saw the plaster full-size hammerhead shark hanging over the doorway, I was already in love. It goes back to my childhood fascination with sharks. I went with the folks and sisters and we all loved the beer and food. To eat, we started with the healthiest appetizer on the menu...the deep-fried macaroni and cheese. Hoo boy. Trust me on this one. Order this. Screw the diet! Even if you have Celiac disease, it is totally worth it! We all tried some really different beers. The beer selection is incredible, almost intimidating. For my meal, I had the elk burger and it was so juicy and flavorful. The pretzel bun was the kicker though. I could eat the pretzel bun just by itself. Pops had the fried catfish sandwich and the fish was so flaky and delicious. Mom had the shrimp and grits and she loved it. The place is located smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood. It is definitely worth looking for. The only ding, and I am not sure what they can do about it, is that the ventilation is terrible. You are going to smell like the kitchen when you leave. Still, once you are on your second beer, who friggin' cares.
(5)
Joshua L.

Oh god. Be careful. You will over order and you will eat everything they bring you. My advice: go for a half rack each of lamb and baby back ribs. And truffle fries. Simple. Amazing. Simply amazing.
(5)
Joey J.

The best food in Louisville as far as I know. Everything anyone has had here with me has been fantastic. Mac and cheese balls, mac and cheese not balls, fries, duck, shrimp and grits, lamb ribs... Lots of amazing food here, and clearly everyone else agrees with this many 5 star reviews.
(5)
Carlos O.

What a fun spot. Located randomly in some residential neighborhood, restaurant is in the basement of a house. Food was amazing. Had the smoked baby back ribs. Highly recommend the truffle fries and pork belly bbq beans. Sample the chicken and waffles and wow. Chicken very juicy and the waffle was sweet potato. place was awesome.
(5)
Jeromey F.

I was in Louisville for work and convinced my coworkers to let me pick dinner. When we arrived they were a little nervous because the place is in a neighborhood and located in a basement. The 2 big smokers behind the house are all I needed to know. I appreciated the nice selection of beers and the atmosphere. The food is the real draw- I had a duck slider and a pork belly slider. I shared a basket of truffle fries- this was the best meal we had in our entire trip. Suddenly my coworkers - a little uncomfortable at first were ready to grow neck beards and become hipsters too if that's what it took to get some more of Hammerheads great grub.
(5)
Manny A.

Don't let the appearance of this place fool you. The food is phenomenal. I had sweet potato fries and a half rack of lamb ribs. The meat fell right off the bones and was very flavorful. Small tap selection of beer but they make up for it with a diversified bottle list. Definitely a "must" if you are in the Lou.
(4)
Mary Margaret S.

One of my favorite places to eat. The soft shell crab sandwich is amazing! It gets pretty packed on the weekends so i usually try to go during the week.
(5)
Dave L.

Hammerheads was recommended to us by a local as a must do before leaving Louisville. Tucked away in a residential neighborhood, it literally is as the reviews say; your neighbors basement. The beer bench was deep including several pilsners and white beers, which are our favorites. There was a 30 minute wait which was easily passed with a pils and a paulner outside on the patio furniture. Once seated, we ordered the pork belly slider, gibber fries (BBQ flavored) cooked in duck fat (hells yes), and the elk burger. Although it took way too long for the food to arrive it was simply spectacular. The fries. THE FRIES. Good lord they were freaking A-mazing. The pork belly slider was a tasty bite of deliciousness. We were not prepared for the Elk Burger. Elk and organic Brie on a pretzel bun. This was a top three burger and totally the best game burger we've had. A freaking mazing. We topped off the meal with a bacon brownie. Yes, I said bacon brownie. It was deeply moist and uber chocolatey with salty bacony bits. Good lord it was totally unnecessary but thoroughly enjoyed. Service was friendly and enjoyable. Run don't walk. Go get you some.
(4)
Brandon J.

Went here based on the awesome reviews and was not disappointed. We ordered two entrees and three apps and everything came out amazing. My favorite by far was the chorizo burger with some pepper jack on top. Good beer selection too.
(5)
Jenny G.

In the midst of our roadtrip driving through Kentucky we knew we wanted to eat in Louisville. After looking through all the yelp reviews we knew we wanted to try hammerheads and were definitely not disappointed! It's important to be aware that this place is definitely in a weird location. Even though the reviews had mentioned this, we were still weary when pulling up that we were in the right place. This place is basically the basement of two houses put together to create this great dive bar/ restaurant feel. The food was amazing and had a great selection of beers! We had the fried Mac n cheese which were 3 huge balls of cheesy goodness. Followed by one of each of the sliders. Sadly they were out of duck so we didn't get to try that sliders which everyone raves about. Probably why they were already out of it. For dinner we had the venison burger and the chicken and waffles. Both absolutely amazing! The chicken was so crispy and the burger was a perfect mix of flavors. If you like bleu cheese the venison is for you! Thoroughly enjoyed my dinner here and would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a good meal!
(5)
Travis L.

If you are in the Ville, this is a must-see. Hammerheads provides its customer's with a unique experience filled with great food, beer, and company. The place may not have the decor of a commercialized restaurant, but the meal is spectacular. Each item on the menu provides a unique feeling and a great taste. The fried macaroni and cheese balls were great to start out with. Then either a burger or the ribs for the main course. Finally, the essential side DUCK-FAT Grippo Fries. Just can't be beat. Now add in the atmosphere of the place and you are bound for a great night with friends/family
(5)
Emily B.

Food receives 5 stars. Atmosphere 2 stars. If you are willing to sit in an outdated bar at the few tables they have or at the actual bar its worth the visit for the food. The bar itself could use an update! It's always packed, I bet they could afford a facelift! All that being said, the service was great! I however am about the whole package when it comes to dining out.
(3)
Will C.

No review really necessary. Come at a decent time with a small group of people, and you'll get a table quickly. Food truly is next level. There are a lot of places in Louisville (and every city, really) that boast the best burgers. You can become immune to this sort of description. Hammerheads makes the best burger in Louisville. This is a fact, without hype, and without any exaggeration. Fries ain't bad either. Actually, they're great.
(5)
Tracy A.

Not accessible for our son in a wheelchair and I'm not a beer drinker (no wine or liquor served) but... I am so glad we found this place. Loved the venison burger and duck tacos. The Grippo fries in duck fat are totally worth the hours of cardio I'll have to log! Not being from Louisville, we weren't sure about the neighborhood but you could tell by the crowd that it is a popular place. Short wait but service was great- and fast!
(5)
Leah S.

Being in Louisville for 4 days for a convention and vowing NOT to eat at a chain was a great decision. Read the reviews on Yelp and so glad we came! The place itself is small and cramped but it coulda been in a shoe and itd have been worth it. We ordered mac and cheese balls, fries and i got the venison burger and my sister got the brisket burger. The balls were good, the fries were delish, but the burgers-well how do i even begin to describe the mouth-watering deliciousness that hit my tastebuds and made them jump for joy?! Probably one of the best burgers ive ever had in my life. Arrived at 7'ish, so it was crowded. We got seated at the bar which was fine. Great service, friendly bartender always checked on us and even gave is a complimentary order of mac and cheese (bc we didnt have enough food yet lol). We were in and out and full as all get out w/in an hour. I wish this was a place at home (hey hammerheads-wanna go to st.louis????), but somewhat glad there isnt bc i could see expanding a size or 2 just eating this, and i wouldnt even be sad. Def coming back next time im in Louisville.
(5)
Zach A.

One of my favorite places in town! It's a must go if visiting
(5)
Brian G.

So.... the food visiting center of "The Ville" is a small place with the best food. I get the Smoked Cheddar Grit Cake with spring mix, pico de gallo and homemade barbecue sauce the best part is the $6.00 price tag! I tried other things on the menu but that is the good part about going with lots of friends "sharing is caring"! As for the beverage options it's your standard options with a variety of craft beer choices. But the only bummer of this place is you cannot have an adult beverage outside!
(5)
Victor R.

Want to die and go to foodie heaven? Order truffle fries and fried mac & cheese balls...and dip the fries in the cheese. I promise you won't be disappointed. Nor was I disappointed when we finally got around to trying HH's. The food was really great all around, not pricey, and arguably better than their sister restaurant (Game). While I don't always judge a book by its cover, I always judge a gastropub by its fries. These are delicious, and if you're familiar with Game's, thicker and richer. A hands-down winner.
(5)
Patrick L.

I've had hammerheads several times. Every item I've had has been fantastic. Elk burger, venison burger, grippo fries, truffle fries, pork belly sandwich, duck slider, chorizo burger. All AMAZING! They've got a solid beer list. The service is pretty good but the place is very small and gets packed quickly. But the food is well worth it and the price is not bad
(5)
Emily T.

Disclaimer: I am a vegetarian so keep that in mind. We were in town for a funeral and had heard amazing things about Hammerheads, particularly the duck and the ribs. We decided to check it out for dinner. Good: The burgers (I'm told) were awesome. Angus and elk in particular were cooked to perfection. Great beer list (even sour beers, which can be hard to find). The fries were so yummy, I ate an order all by myself. Casual, relaxed atmosphere with a diverse crowd. So-so: The service was a bit off. Our waitress dripped sauce on my jacket and my head a couple of times (thankfully it came out, but really? Please pay attention). She didn't know how to describe some of the more popular dishes, which seemed a bit weird. The place is tiny and there is no where to wait for a table, so unless you want to crowd around other people's tables, you have to wait outside (or go down the block to a different restaurant and have a drink or two there). Not so great: We went on a Friday night around 7:30pm and wanted to order duck or either of the ribs, but they were sold out of all of it. Hammerheads is known for those menu items, you would think they would have a surplus. I understand it's not really a vegetarian-friendly place so the options would naturally be limited, but the meatless protein on the vegetarian tacos was completely tasteless. The only redeeming quality was the jalapeno aioli. All in all, best advice would be to go earlier in the night and definitely order fries.
(3)
Michelle S J.

Definately one of my favorite places to go!!!! Not what you would expect when you drive up, but the food is always on point and the staff very friendly. I love the smaller atmosphere. Be prepared to wait if you don't show up as soon as they open. BUT, totally worth it!!!
(5)
Ann R.

Just close your eyes and point. No matter what your finger lands on it will be yummy. The menu never disappoints. From appetizers to dessert. One of my favorite spots. Get there early and be ready for a wait. It's worth it.
(5)
David R.

What a terrific find for a night when they didn't feed us at the conference. We found it on a Google search but needed Google maps to get here. The food is so good. They have some special ways of putting things together. The pork belly baked beans have a kick like I didn't expect. The sweet potato fries are some of the best that I have found. The elk burger, well I could go on and on. But we are leaving with our bacon brownies now. No more room.
(5)
Kimberly C.

Food is excellent, the bathroom isn't.
(4)
Kara S.

This restaurant is worth every minute that you may have to wait for a seat! Truffle oil fries, duck fat fries, deer burger, ANY burger! Try them all! With a "serve it while it's hot" mantra, you will never bite into a cold burger or fry, here. They also have a decent beer selection. Don't waste any more time! What are you waiting for!? Go, NOW!
(5)
Terri V.

If I could give Dr Martin at Martin Endodontics a thousand stars, I would. He deserves them. I've had several root canals in the past few years and the root canal performed by Dr Martin was the absolute best. Honestly, no pain whatsoever. He and his staff are kind, caring people. Without hesitation, I recommend Dr Martin. He even sent me a text to check on me! Martin Endodontics is the best!
(5)
Dave M.

Awesome, delicious, don't pass this place by, however bring a coat when it's cold outside as there is no place to wait inside.
(5)
Jon-Paul B.

Baller. Ok so I came here with my partner and we shared dishes so take that into account. We started with lamb ribs and they were great. Good flavor and slightly dry like Texas beef ribs. The vinegar base sauce was a good compliment. The duck sandwich is a must. Slow cooked duck? I mean.. Are we gonna split hairs here? Mark it 8 dude. Finally- the soft shell crab sandwich. If I could do it again, I would go with the elk burger but damn... It's just so filling. All in all a great experience!
(4)
Tim B.

This is one if not my favorite locations in Louisville. Appetizers are always great here, the fried Mac n cheese balls with a basket of grippo fries. I always enjoy the pork belly tacos/sandwich or the duck tacos. You can't miss out on the baked beans as a side. This glorious food isn't without some pain. As the restaurant only has around 10 tables plus bar seating and doesn't take reservations, take the opportunity to get there early and enjoy the ambiance of swan street. With a great selection of draught beers and a wide selection of cans/bottles, it will help pass the time. The staff is ready to recommend a dish or answer a question about the menu or beer list. That said, honestly you cannot go wrong with any of the selections, but know there is a friendly staff member waiting to help. Take some time and enjoy this great gem.
(5)
Chantel R.

Friendly staff. Where a food truck met your parents basement and all your brother's friends never left. Simple menu, wide beer selection. Tried the grits cake (twist on tamale cake). Pork slider and regular fries. Chicken n' waffle. Fun local spot.
(3)
Randall B.

What a terrific find. Wonderful food, ample portions, a decent selection of beers, and reasonably priced. I'll be back!
(5)
Seema K.

We try to get to Hammerheads when we can. Unfortunately, we don't get to go too often since they're often packed and running a wait. This week, though, we managed to show up right when some tables were emptying and lucked out. We started with the mac and cheese balls which are exactly what they sound like -- balls of mac and cheese that have been breaded/battered and deep fried -- tasty! For dinner, I had the shrimp and grits which consists of crispy fried shrimp served on a grit cake. My husband had the half rack of baby back ribs -- and told me that they were probably his favorite ribs in Louisville (including the BBQ spots). We also shared an order of the garlic and herb fries. All in all, the food here is pretty delicious and they have quite a few unique options. They also have a great beer selection. Since it's a smaller place, they often run a wait -- sometimes it's 20 or so minutes, but sometimes upwards of an hour. I wouldn't suggest going with a big group since there aren't a ton of large tables, but definitely give it a try.
(4)
Ken M.

This is one of the best restaurants in the entire USA. Sure, that's just my opinion... but put Hammerheads in any city in the country and it would be a top destination. Place is truly special and after eating here ~2 years it is still excellent. "Perfect" dishes include: Baked Beans - Best I've ever had, best every single person I've brought here has ever had Pork Belly Lettuce Tomato (PBLT) Sandwich - Excellent, as good as anything Crispy Mushrooms - Mushroom lovers die for this Duck Tacos Elk Burger on Pretzel Bun
(5)
Stephanie M.

Wallet to Food Ratio: 2:5 you could do dinner and a beer for $20 Ambiance: dive bar at my neighbor's house. The inside is dark. Christmas lights decorate the bar. And (I think) the tables and chairs were mis-sized and mis-matched. Outside are three patio tables and a horde of hungry people sipping beer from solo cups. Service: they were clearly understaffed. We ate at the bar (10 seats), and the frazzled but friendly guy had to take care of us and as steady stream of beer orders. Food: ecstasy of the truffle fries. I'm not even kidding - when I picture that pipping hot basket of fries (no Parmesan or herb nonsense sprinkled in there), my mouth fills with the ghost of the purest truffle aroma I've ever tasted. Share a $5 portion with one or several friends. These are amazing. Also, I had a half rack of lamb. It probably would have been much more satisfying if I hadn't been stuffing my face with one fry every 30 seconds for the past 10 minutes, but I could tell that the meat was tender and well-spiced. Drink: wide selection of unique beers for $5-7. PBRs go for $1.50. You can drink outside while you wait. If I ever come back, I'll go hungry for a day and bring a troop of truffle-fry-eaters. Soft-shell crab sandwich and elk burger looked interesting.
(4)
Cordell L.

A true Louisville diamond in the rough. This is a no frills basement dive bar focused on high quality gastro pub style food and great service. Try anything and you can't go wrong. Personal favorites are the chicken and sweet potato waffle and the duck sliders. Out of towners looking for an authentic and casual night out should look no further.
(5)
Drew P.

I was looking for top shelf TX style brisket which apparently doesn't exist in Louisville so I ordered the brisket sandwich. It was good but not great and certainly not brisket in par with the greats in TX. Still, this place is worth the visit and my few bites of pork belly slider was really very good.
(4)
Julie H.

I hate myself! You cannot eat here if you want to demonstrate any self control at all. The food was over the top delicious, the service was fast and friendly and the place had a cool, relaxed feel, even though it was packed and busy! Love it, love it, love it!! Wish I lived here...
(5)
David P.

The atmosphere here is so great. It makes you feel like you are eating at your super cool best friends house. You know, that awesome buddy that you have known since 3rd grade who for some reason has become an amazing cook at the age of 28 and he wants to share his great cooking and choice of beers with you, his best friend since 3rd grade. Anything you order will be great. Enjoy your experience and meal.
(5)
Mad I.

The food pictures of this place looked so great we had to go! Need to know: 1) this is a DIVE bar in every sense, off the grid neighborhood, sub terrainan feeling, full of smoke...like something is burning in the fryer and now I have to burn the cloths I wore... 2) with that said, this food feels like it's right out of a 5 star fancy pants restaurant 3) Don't think you are slick and swoop in to snag a bar seat when someone gets up, those are part of the wait list as well...and I guarantee you will feel like as ass, just as I did! 4) There is no way you can try every delicious morsel on this menu (small as it is)...so try to choose wisely, or frankly, just binge!! Here is what we ate: *Duck slider- $4 sooo tender and flavor full, worth the $4 bucks for a white castle sized bite! *Pork Tacos- $8 and boy were they great! Sooo juicy, like dripping all out the back juicy. Packed full of meat, which is a rarity in restaurant tacos. *Lamb ribs- Not a rib person... Lamb ribs are DIVINE! They did run out of these at like 7, lucky I got there early! So tender and flavorful...I have no words...this is not like ANY other rib you have had! *Truffle fries-done so perfectly! Fried to perfection, steak fries with just the perfect amount of truffle essence. They need to get some truffle aioli/mayo going though! *Chicken and waffle: $12 for 3 GIANT wings, smoking hot straight out the fryer and delicious...did need some more seasoning but what the heck, this food is so good you wouldn't flinch at such a minor mishap in this dive bar paradise. THAT WAFFLE!! What is that awesome, creative spin?? Its sweet potato deliciousness, sooo goood! *Mac and cheese-served really hot in a pyrex bowl, really tasty. I love that this place brings the food right out, it is so hot and fresh, what a 10! Bummed I didn't get to try the Shrimp and grits (drooled as it passed by) and the brownie with caramel looked bomb as well.
(5)
Nick P.

Hammerheads is the definition of a gastropub. The place is small and the decor is simple. It definitely feels like a dive bar, but this is in stark contrast to the huge and complex flavors of their food. They have great burgers. The elk and chorizo burgers are amazing! They also have a variety of tacos and sandwiches. One of my favorites is the deep fried Mac n cheese balls. Cheesy and creamy on the inside, crunchy outside with a spicy kick. The homemade Hollandaise takes them over the top, plus they're huge! The only downfall is that, again, the place is really small and they're always PACKED. You will have to wait for a table and the service can be slow, but the food is definitely worth it. This is a must try if you're in Louisville.
(5)
Bryan P.

YUM! Tried to get in here a few times before I was able to. Still, it was well worth it. Love to see cool "new" spots like this in Louisville when I come home.
(5)
Daniel C.

The first time I ever went to Hammerheads, I wasn't sure I was in the right place. I had heard friends rave about it, and finally decided to give it a try. It is truly a "don't judge a book by its cover" sort of place, but that's also its appeal. Literally a basement in Germantown without a sign, Hammerheads isn't the easiest place to find. However, once you do, you'll be treated to some of the best food in the city. The brisket sandwich is great, and every version of fry (sweet potato, garlic, duck fat...) is perfect. Let's not forget the fried mac and cheese balls; they're a must. Hammerheads isn't a big place, so be prepared to wait on a busy night, but you will be well rewarded.
(5)
Aaron S.

This basement turned restaurant won't hold many folks, but definitely don't let that deter you. Hammerheads makes great food that every Louisvillian needs to be familiar with. Lamb ribs, duck tacos, and mac and cheese balls are some of my favorite items. You also can't go wrong with anything from the smoker.
(4)
Natalie S.

the food was so good we wanted to come back the next night. time didn't allow but next time we are in town we will be back. we really enjoyed the special beer cheese (which was delish!).
(5)
Douglas K.

The host was a kidrock impersonating terror and ruined the entire experience was ruined with 6 of my friends. The was good but not worth the terrible service
(1)
Eric S.

Incredible tasting food, nice beer selection. You'll wait to be seated, but well worth it. Will be the first place I go to when back in town! We had Mac and cheese balls, smoked brisket, grippo fries in duck fat and elk burger with pork belly. Each one better than the last. Hammerheads - I think I love you.
(5)
Courtney S.

Yes yes yes yes. Everything is a yes. The wait is worth it... And yes there is usually a wait. The mac and cheese balls, duck tacos, chicken and waffles.... But the best is the veggie burger. That sounds weird, but it's seriously beautiful. Everything is great.
(5)
David R.

Hammerhead's was strenuously recommended by a local friend who joined us for dinner during our weekend visit. Left to our own devices, we would have taken one look at this joint and fled. Not only is the entire restaurant crammed into a dim, dingy, sweaty basement in an otherwise residential neighborhood, but the Saturday night wait times stretched nearly to an hour. BUT--it was mostly worth it because the food was interesting and delicious. Choosing an entree from all the intriguing choices was really tough, but I finally went with the elk burger and loved it. For starters and sides we devoured grippo fries, garlic & herb fries, and the cheddar grit cake. I could take or leave the grit cake, but both varieties of french fries were outstanding. I would love to know what is in that grippo seasoning. They also provide an unusual, thin, barbecue-ish sauce on the table which tasted great squirted on almost everything. I was disappointed in the draft beer selection but they have enough bottles among which to find something good. I would definitely go back on a future visit, and I advise other potential first-timers not to be scared off by the look of the place. Bring a couple of friends, share a bunch of dishes, and enjoy.
(4)
Kate J.

Amazing. EAT HERE. Be at the doors at 5pm for faster service and a table. Try the brisket tacos and venison burger with truffle fries. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Chris H.

Fantastic Q! This is a must try. The truffle fries in duck fat, lamb ribs and baby back ribs were phe phenomenal. The Q was moist and didn't really need any sauce with the amount of flavor in the meat. I'll make a special trip back to KY to come here.
(5)
Jackie S.

Nothing special. Doesn't live up to all hype. Food average. I was expecting spectacular. Burger tender. Truffle fries greasy. Large beer selection. Liked dive atmosphere and staff friendly. Disappointed. Would not return.
(3)
Aysia H.

I love hammerheads! It's small, yes, so just be prepared. I ordered the chicken and sweet potato waffles for $13 which were really tasty! Although, they are chicken wings and it makes it a little difficult to eat the chicken and waffle together. My boyfriend got half a rack of lamb ribs for $10 which were so soft and tender they practically fell off the bone! Yum! Over all we really loved it! It was fairly priced and didn't disappoint!
(5)
Thao T.

I literally could not drag my husband here quick enough after hearing all the amazing reviews and personal recommendations from friends but I was a tad disappointed. I feel like I should like it more because everyone loved it but I cant. I really enjoyed the truffle fries, it smelled heavenly and tasted of your average fried potatoes. I wanted to try the lamb but they were all out so I ordered the sliders instead. It was okay good but wasn't so amazing that I want to come back again. My dinner companions enjoyed their food, but didn't rave about it either. I plan to come back again on a less crowded night for a second try.
(3)
Mike H.

If you're taking a girl on a date and want to show her that you know the cool, little, obscure places with great food, this is the place to go. Food was good enough to mask the hipster vibe, you know. ...man buns. ..tank tops. ..skinny shorts. You know, the unoriginal, I'm so original look. Anyway, creative menu, great dive atmosphere and pretty good beer list. Upscale bar food in a dive bar in a basement of a house in the middle of a residential neighborhood. If you're driving there and think you're going the wrong way keep driving. ..you'll find it by the line outside. Lamb ribs were great (gf didn't think so) duck tacos were good (gf didn't think so). Fries with truffle oil were great (gf agreed). Pork belly sliders were awesome (gf yelled at me on the way home for not just ordering 10 of them) Staff recommended beers were great (gf slurred that she agreed). Prices were good for the uniqueness and quality of food. We ordered 5 things and still spent more on beer than on food. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jason B.

Their Pork Belly Sliders are literally one of the best things I've ever eaten...Beer is cold and the bartenders and servers are much more friendly and engaging than other places of this sort...highly recommend!
(5)
Kush A.

This place is the place to go if you are willing to try out something new around Louisville. The elk burger is to die for and the Mac and cheese balls were perfectly cooked. They have great service. It's also got a pretty chill ambiance too. Nothing too fancy, just a great casual place to eat if you like great food
(5)
Shawn W.

FANTASTIC! Food was phenomenal! Had the ribs, macaroni balls, and truffle fries. Everything inspired a reaction of 'To Die For'. Ribs were some of the best, if not the best, I'd ever eaten. Truffle fries had me dancing in my seat and I assure you that's not a pretty sight. Only complaint was that they did start running out of the hotter menu items as the night progressed. As many have stated, the trick is to get there EARLY. Was actually reluctant to post my review for fear of letting the secret out. Bon Apetit
(5)
Gil H.

This restaurant is built in someone's basement and its packed! This is what we ordered. 1) lamb ribs - the best I ever ate. 2) baby back ribs - not sure which ones are better lamb or pork, again the best I ever ate. 3) truffle fries, you will love them! Hand cut fries with a very strong truffle flavor 4) chiken and waffle- it was the best fried chicken ever, I was not crazy about the waffles. 5) bacon browny f***** great! I was there on Thursday at 6pm and got a seat at the bar right away, by the time we where done, there was a long line out the door. So get there early!
(5)
Jason M.

We asked a friend who has been in Louisville for a recommendation on where to eat that was great, different, unique, and not a chain restaurant. At the top of the list was Hammerheads. Like the others that have mentioned it, this place is easily missed. We drove around the block passing it saying to ourselves "No way that was the place. It is a basement." I mean, there was a dog on the porch upstairs. But it was the right spot. I had to duck a little inside for fear of being the guy that hit his head on the support beam. But the place was actually pretty cool. It certainly had its own personality and despite our apprehension at first, it got comfy pretty quick. At the suggestion of my buddy, I had the duck tacos, after the wife and I split the mushroom appetizers. My wife had a salad. The meals were priced fair for what we ordered and the portions were spot on. OK, so when they first brought me 2 tacos I thought I was going to have to order more, but I was surprisingly full off of those. It is pretty small inside, so I am glad we were not there during a rush or we probably wouldn't have stopped in. The service was on point. Seriously good. Way more than we had expected. They treated us like kings. Had to text my buddy and thank him for the recommendation as this is one place we would be happy to visit again and look forward to exploring more of the menu.
(5)
Romel F.

I have been here several times since some of my out of town friends love it. The food is amazing and the atmosphere goes well with it. I can't wait until they find a location bigger that fits their style but lets them have more tables. Until then, I simply won't be back unless I'm forced to do so. If its up to me, I rather go to Game or Loop. This is why: Service. Their food is great but service is just not what I expect when I'm enjoying a great meal. I don't want you to make sure all my bites are great but I also do not expect you to stare at me from a distance telling me that you need to flip my table with your eyes. Believe me, I'm trying to eat as fast as possible but I rather taste the wonderfulness of the food your awesome chef fantastically created. I'm ok with buying more alcohol and even try desserts but with the crude, ruthless and mediocre attempt to make me have a different experience; I rather ask for a box to finish the awesome job the back of the house did like its meant to be. Slowly and savoring every bite. This food deserves it.
(3)
Cara M.

Just a fun atmosphere!
(4)
Allison S.

Most amazing vegan/vegetarian food. The beer selections are good as well. It has a BBQ aroma, cool local tunes and cozy atmosphere. This is a good place if you get babysitting as it is not kid friendly, not last time we went.
(5)
Greg M.

Wow, for this place to be hidden in a residential district, you need to go find it. Wonderful BBQ, a co-worker is from Texas and he says this is the best. I agree, it's surely the best I have ever had. The brisket has so much flavor, it's unreal, the ribs have TONS of meat, don't make the mistake of ordering the full-rack, a half-rack has PLENTY of meat. The hidden gem you have to try here are the pork-belly baked beans, get them and say thank you!
(5)
Evan B.

Don't judge a book by its cover. Random house on Swan St. with a large underwater creature hanging above the door...a great place to eat? Dag gone sure is! This tiny whole-in the wall dive-y atmosphere is accented with crudely hung makeshift decorations on the walls. When you picture a dive, Hammerheads is it. The atmosphere borders on hipster. I'm not sure if it was due to the heat or other variables but the floor seemed greasy. I was never 100% comfortable in the environment...just not my type of atmosphere. We arrived around 6:15 PM on a Monday and there was a 45 minute wait. Good things come to those who wait, as they say. Enough about me, now onto the food and drinks. The beer selection is phenomenal. If you can't find ya a beer you enjoy here, enjoy your ice water. The menu isn't expansive, but it's more than adequate. We ordered the deep friend mac n' cheese balls. These are absolutely amazing and can be a meal by themselves. The hint of smokiness in the mac n' cheese is an excellent touch. Before our mac n' cheese came out a random server brought out a plate of deep fried mushrooms. Apparently they accidentally made them and had no one to give them to...free food? Yes, please! I'm not a mushroom fan myself, but my wife and our friends enjoyed them. If you smoke anything, I'll give it a taste. I've never had lamb ribs before so I gave a full rack a shot. If you're a hungry person go with the full rack. Lamb ribs are much smaller than the traditional pork ribs. The smoke ring was pronounced and the smoke flavor subtle. The rub had a nice hint of pepper but didn't make a good bark. The meat was cooked perfectly and came out hot and juicy. Lamb ribs were fattier than I expected. Once I learned where the fat was at, I was fine. Totally different experience than eating a pork rib. Definitely recommended. My sides were the garlic and herb fries and baked beans. The beans are probably some of the best baked beans I have ever had. They're definitely on the sweet side. My wife ordered the Elk Burger, which was uniquely delicious. It eats like a burger but tastes like no other burger you've had. Definitely recommended. Our friends ordered the brisket tacos and fried catfish. The catfish was of high quality and fried perfectly. I did not try the brisket tacos, but they looked equally amazing and I could see a nice distinct smoke ring. We finished with the bacon brownie. It came out warm, gooey, and delicious. The bacon isn't too distinct, but the saltiness cuts through the sweetness. Definitely unique...the perfect desert to cap off a delicious meal. The service was consistant and our waitress very helpful. Tip: This place is tiny. They cannot afford to have food wait in the kitchen while the rest of your meal is being prepared. When a particular dish is done, it will arrive at your table. They try to get everything out at the same time, but you get the food when you get it. The obvious upside to this is that your food is HOT when it is placed in front of you. The downside (if it really matters) is that not everyone is getting everything at the same time. Not a big deal in my book. I would love to make a return trip to sample some of their other offerings (namely the pork ribs).
(4)
Vy N.

I didn't have a good experience because of the long wait for food. We came early to get a table and we were the first to be seated, yet we have to wait for an hour from the time we seated just to get our food. The couple next to us who came at the same time got their food and finished it and our food still not out. The table of four that was across from us came after us but somehow their food came out before ours. I was not happy! Beside that, the food was very good. My husband's BBQ lamb ribs were full of flavor. The grippo fries tasted like the grippo chips! I like my duck tacos, the seasoning was just right! My truffle fries was alright. I don't quite understand why everybody raves about it.
(3)
Meg H.

Sometimes I dream about Hammerheads. Really, I do. Succulent ribs, juicy burgers (beef, bison, venison, etc), perfectly seasoned fries (grippos, truffle, garlic... the lis goes on). The BBQ sauce is unique and doubles as a great fry dip. You won't find anything but craft beer -- some local! Presentation on wood palets is rustic, yet chic. On my initial visit, I couldn't believe I was eating in a basement. Now I understand it's not about the location, but the product. This restaurant group seems to keep the overhead low, while creating phenomenal dishes that are tasty, filling, and well worth the wait. Make sure your entire party is on hand or you won't get seated. If you want to ensure a no wait, go before 6p.
(4)
Emily H.

Read the reviews and wow date night at hammerheads was great! You walk up and think this place is what they were talking about? You wait in line before they open and we got things we've never tried before like the roasted duck sandwich and the elk burger. Both were delicious. We got a basket of regular fries for 3 dollars and we couldn't eat all of them so we got a box to take home. I definitely would recommend this place to anyone. Great service too!
(5)
Joyo P.

Excellent restaurant for a quick bite. The place is crowded -- there are times when it peaks. They will only seat you if your group is entirely present. We ordered some game meat and a few vegetarian items. They do excellent ribs, but a small portion is generally sufficient. We also had a vegetarian taco, which was surprisingly good, though small on portions. It is helpful to check with the server (extremely well-informed bartender in our case) what the portions are like on various items. They also have a selection of hot sauces including those that will seriously dent your breathing. The beer menu is diverse -- with a good range of malts and hops to pick from. No Whisky. Seating may not be to your best preference and tight. I recommend sitting on the stools by the windows if those are available. It's potentially a great place to meet a group of friends, but if so you'd have to time your visit right to get space. It isn't a great date joint unless you plan to go relatively alternative.
(4)
John G.

This place was terrific! Must get the lamb ribs full rack not half rack , you'll regret it if you don't! Pork belly sliders were freaking amazing, mac n cheese balls, YUM! Beer... When is beer ever bad!? Atmosphere is pretty laid back like hanging out in your buddy's basement cuz guess what it's in the basement of a house, in the middle of a neighbor hood! Great place, a must if you're in Louisville!
(5)
Alvin L.

After having the fortunate opportunity to try different restaurants across the nation, Hammerheads still manages to remain in my top 5 favorite restaurants. Everything on the menu is amazing. Although I am particular to the lamb and ribs there. Staff is always friendly and helpful. Note: Get there before 5, otherwise you will wait a while. Who am I kidding...it's worth whatever the wait!
(5)
Phil P.

"Would you like a bacon brownie?" Although I'm not a member of Bacon Nation, it was a very, very good brownie. Which is exactly what I'd expect, after having the second greatest burger of my life. Yes, I had the elk burger. And it was nothing short of spectacular. Done perfectly, juicy with just the right amount of cheese. Coupled with the Grippo-flavored fries, I'd found my last meal. Only complaint being the poor ventilation. After both visits, I left reeking of restaurant. A small price to pay for an outstanding meal.
(5)
Monica M.

Was hoping for this magical experience that others have had... it was good but not sure it lived up to the hype. Truffle fries were tasty to me but smelled so pungent to my boyfriend that he didn't finish his $12 elk burger. I had the 2 duck tacos and they were pretty good but not $12 for 2 good... Luckily we got there 10 min early because there were already people there waiting. Service is friendly and it has a pleasant atmosphere.
(3)
Bob G.

The best food I've had in a long, long time. There was a bit of a wait for our party of 8 but we could drink outside and the host was great about keeping us updated. I highly recommend the duck tacos and the lamb ribs. Our dinner was so good I wish I lived here.
(5)
Amanda M.

Completely not what I was expecting, but a very neat place. The food was delicious. We were lucky and found a seat right away. It's a tiny place and shortly after we arrived, there was a wait. Highly recommend this though. We had an elk burger and a venison burger with truffle fries. Juicy, flavorful meat and amazing fries! I'd definitely go again.
(5)
Rico P.

We went to Hammerheads Saturday night and as expected it was delicious. I ordered the Chorizo burger and grippo fries. I really enjoyed the grippo fires. The way to really enjoy is to go with a few friends and everyone order different sides so you can try a little of a few things. The chorizo burger with pepperjack cheese went well with the Grolsch bottle beer. . My advice would be to do a drive by and have a friend get out and check out the wait times. The parking can be a little tricky. Overall, this place is unique and always delicious.
(5)
Morgan E.

I wanted so bad to LOVE this restaurant. I'd read all of this great reviews and heard nothing but good things from friends. I would read the menu, salivate, and fantasize about all the things that I was going to order. I expected an experience where angels descended from the Heavens and played their harps as I took my first bite. Unfortunately, it was all a little lackluster for me. I think that's largely because I hyped it up so much, but also because the food just didn't jive with me. I had the brisket sandwich on a pretzel bun with fries fried in duck fat. Should I start with the good or the eh, not so good? Let's start not so good. The fries fried in duck fat. Were they bad? Not at all. However, I paid double the price of regular fries to have them fried in duck fat and I couldn't tell a difference. I expected a richness that would stand out and scream "I'm AMAZING" but that moment never came. Sure, they were good - but when I did a side-by-side tasting there was very little difference to me. The brisket had good flavor - very smokey and tender. However, it was COVERED in fat. Talk about unappetizing - to bite into a big wad of fat not once, but several times during a meal. No thank you. I also sampled a friend's macaroni and cheese. I heard so many good things about it, but I wasn't into it. It was made with a smoked cheese and that smokey flavor within the macaroni and cheese didn't work for me. Now onto the good. The pretzel bun is legit - I loved it. If you get a sandwich, no matter what kind, get the pretzel bun. Like I said - the brisket was tender, flavorful, and had a great smoke to it. The barbeque sauce isn't your typical thick-smokey-sweet sauce - but it's still good and has a great kick to it. I also had the bacon brownie because uh, hello - it's CHOCOLATE and BACON, what more could you want? It was great. And my favorite part were the truffle fries. My friend got those and I felt like I ate half her basket. They were amazing. The truffle oil was subtle and not over whelming at all - but still very present in the taste. The atmosphere is great and the service was prompt and friendly. If you have plans to eat here - get there as close to 5 o'clock as you can. This place is very small and has many adoring fans - you can expect a wait of an hour or more depending on the time of night. I'm definitely going to give Hammerheads another shot. Their menu is great and there's so many things I'd like to give a try.
(4)
Lauren D.

Lamb ribs with duck fat fries! Umm what more could you want? Well a elk burger I suppose....It was a great date night spot for the boyfriend and I. Very happy we went I love the choices on the menu that you just don't see everywhere else, and love the wood blocks they serve the food on. It's a small place but definitely worth the wait.
(5)
Jason R.

Finally gave in to the hype and it didn't disappoint. Pork belly bread pudding, unbelievable!!!! Everything was great!! The bread pudding was a special so it is not on the menu every night but I would call ahead and check. Loved the Chorizo burger and the pretzel buns. Great choices for french fries as well. My only issue with this place is that it gets really busy and it is a little small with no really great waiting area. Get there early!!
(5)
John F.

I love this place. Great food... Takes a while to get a seat but the wait was worth it.
(4)
Cha R.

Great food uneven service. I've been here a few times and everything was spot on but my most recent visit has put a damper on my love for this place. Yes, hammerheads is in a weird divey neighborhood/location but the thing that makes it magical is your first impression of the place is beaten to a pulp when you bite into a pblt or mac and cheese ball. Unfortunately there was no magic my last visit due to the mass amount of flies around our table on the inside and a not so great waitress, in a not at capacity hammerheads, which makes this worse. She was attentive for the first 30 mins of our meal for our apps (shrimp & mac and cheese balls) that did eventually come out and we had also put in dinner orders. I kindly asked her to swap out our ketchup dispenser on the table (sitting indoors, in back next to the mirror) bc about 10-12 flies had been landing on it..our food..table...us... like drunks to a happy hour beer tap. The waitress comes back with a new one and nonchalantly goes "you might just want to put napkins over everything so the flies can't get to it". Again we are sitting on the inside... When is this response ever OK inside any restaurant?? Since there was a table open beside us we asked to move so we get away from the area with the flies, but we were told no bc it is a 6 topper and they want to save it for a bigger party. 5 mins later.. 2 people were sat at this table.... Although my mom and dad (1st time visiting hammerheads..bad first impression 101) are in full internal distress mode, they eat the apps while burning calories swatting flies. Table is cleared and about an hour plus goes by ... The waitress refills our drinks twice, but makes no mention about the status of our food. Around us, the people that had arrived the same time as us that had also ordered apps had recieved their dinner and we're finishing up. The couple at the 6 topper next to us who came in AFTER us had already finished and left. I look at my tapped out parents and I tell them 10 more mins and then we will leave and go somewhere else. A few mins later the MIA waitress comes back and says "Oh so we have a new electronic ordering system and I apparently never put in your order, it'll be another 20-30 mins, do you all want to wait?..free dessert on the house". Questionable considering she managed to figure out how to put in and get out everyone else's food around us and in her section but ours. Done and done. The thing that got me is that she was just so blase and nonchalant about it, basically didn't care if we stayed or left. We kindly told her no thank you bc we had been already sitting for 2 hrs in not so great eating conditions and to just bring the check...she came back with a rude attitude, sat the check on the table and bounced. WORSE SERVICE EVER. For consolation we ended up going to Mussels and Burger Bar for dinner...more than made up for the disaster at hammerheads. As a major foodie who has been to hammerheads numerous times...It sucks that my parents refuse to ever set foot in this place again (can you blame them). It sucks the magic of this place didn't reveal itself and live up to its potential. I won't ever discourage anyone to eat at hammerheads at least once, good food, but my journey here is done my friends. Adios Hammerheads.
(2)
Hannah L.

Right off the bat, this place has great ambience. When you combine that with cheap beer and delicious fried macaroni and cheese, I'm a fan. But I have to disagree with previous reviewers who raved about the veggie sloppy joe. It was a mess. The texture was too finely ground, and there was too much oregano. It reminded me of school cafeteria spaghetti sauce on a bun. I'm a vegetarian who is usually happy to eat whatever I can find at a BBQ joint (see previous love of mac 'n cheese and cheap beer), but I couldn't get past a few bites of that thing.
(4)
Elizabeth B.

Warning! Do not wear something that cannot be thrown in the washing machine when you get home. You are guaranteed two things when you go to Hammerheads. You will leave with a full stomach and smelling of a smokehouse. But, it is worth it. The menu is varied and creative. The only problem is that this hole in the wall joint runs out of the hottest items very quickly and on a regular basis. That being said, if you get lucky enough to be there when they have chicken and waffles you are one lucky duck! Speaking of Duck, the duck tacos are another hot item that you need to take advantage of when you can. The beer list is extensive and has some great choices. Not my favorite spot in Louisville, but a definite staple and go to spot when visitors are in town.
(4)
Brenda J.

Wow, believe all the good reviews this place is awesome, I had the smoked Catfish and it was just simply amazing. We also split the grippo fries which were yummy but clearly the Catfish was the shinning star. 1 warning if you have asthma do not come here in the Winter I wasn't right for a week but it was sooooo worth it ;)
(5)
peter s.

If I lived in Louisville, I would be glad this place existed. Excellent elk burger, fried chicken. Fries in duck fat - totally worth the extra $3. Pleasant hipster vibe, very friendly service (especially good at managing the wait). Out-of-towner definitely felt like he was eating with the locals
(5)
Jamie C.

Love love love this place.
(5)
Harper H.

Great food and good beer selection, service was on the ball, you have to check this place out! Truffle fries were amazing, fried mushrooms also highly recommended. Pork tacos had an amazing smokey flavor. We also had the venison burger which was good but a bit salty for my taste. Fun atmosphere, veggie options, good prices, check it out!
(4)
SmoothHead J.

Back when this place was the "Swan Cafe," "Jim's," "Jim's Swan St. Cafe" (heard it called 10 different names in 10 years) it was the BEST place to get the BEST fried chicken in town - PERIOD; however, Big Jim (the 'Mayor of Paristown') kept a Tupperware container (in a 'fridge @ the end of the bar) alternately layered in sliced onions & braunschweiger. Couple o' slices of rye or pumpernickel & you were good-to-go OR stay! Jay, Jim's son, was the sole wait-staff & would simply sit (or pull up a chair if all were filled @ the table) & take your order(s) - nothing written down. Jim held court, taking time-out to check the yardbird in a BIG deep fryer back in the micro-galley, @ the bar & ALWAYS had a story to tell. Well, it's been 10+ years since I descended down those stairs to heavenly hen-based succulence & I assume Jim is now tending bar in the beyond. BUT, having read the reviews of Hammerheads I couldn't help but relate a bit of history about the establishment. Word has it that @ one time the beer license was yanked as a result of a certain chef's bookmaking acumen (or lack thereof!) & that a certain waiter "became" the "owner" to avoid any speculation of corru.. corrup... I just can't type it - this IS after all Kentucky folks! Hammerheads MUST have inherited some of the mojo left behind from the previous folks. Having typed this review, I think I'm gonna head in town & check out Hammerheads. If for no other reason - just for the vibe. Jim/Jay whereEVER you guys are, KNOW this ol' train wreck of a human has NOTHING but fond memories. And, MAN, those braunschweiger/onion sandwiches. Did I type they had great chicken?!? Anyway, R.I.P. "Jim's" and long live & much success to the present proprietors - seems as though (based on the reviews) you've filled the "big ladles you had to fill" QUITE handily...
(5)
Anthony S.

Amazing lamb ribs!!! Would never guess from the look of this place but it has amazing food. The smoke flavor is on point and the barbecue sauce is different and tasty. Softshell crab and bacon brownie are also great choices. Would be back in a second. Def check it out!!!
(5)
Billy P.

Pork Belly BLT is where it's at! My wife and I love this place. It is a hole in the wall, literally someone's basement, but the food is awesome! One of the best places to eat in Louisville! BOOM!
(5)
Mark F.

Really good food, great beer list, friendly service. Tried to go back on a Friday night, but it was way too packed. Duck sliders were superb, everything was great, excellent atmosphere.
(5)
Lindsey R.

Crazy good! Just moved to Louisville and received recommendation by local. Location and atmosphere definitely doesn't do this place justice. Had the baby back ribs and were unbelievable. Truffle fries were best I have ever had. Salad was great as well... Highly recommend...
(5)
J G.

Incredible food!!! Will be back, will bring friends!
(5)
James W.

A cool neighborhood bar/restaurant. It is the basement of a house or so it seems and can get quite crowded but it is well worth it. The grippo fries, catfish sandwich and pork belly sandwich are all good. The beer selection is pretty good too as they have an extended bottle selection.
(5)
Kirk C.

Been three times. It got better each time.
(5)
A K.

A-mazing food with typical German Town attitude. Don't go there if you hate cute waitresses serving you scrumptious food.
(5)
Joe S.

Don't let the physical space fool you (it's in the basement of a house on Swan St. in Germantown)--Hammerheads is one of the top 5 restaurants in Louisville. The restaurant is totally original and the food is delicious. The soft-shell crab tacos are my favorite dish. Sometimes the meat (along with the staff, I suspect) can be a little over-smoked, but you'll forgive them because it's so unbelievably good when it's right, and it's still better than 95% of the food in this city even when it's not.
(5)
Will W.

It's in a basement. Smells good around the block. Ok, I'm in. Packed. Not a lot of tables. Greeted right away. Nice. Cool beard dude. Grab a beer. Good choices, good prices. Yes. Nice tats and crew cut bartender. Next in q to be sat. 10 minutes later. We pick the bar. Greeted immediately by aforementioned Crewtats. Cool. We order. No pressure just matter of fact. Food comes as it's made. Perfect. Fries. Bomb. Soft shell Crab sandwich. Great. Beef Brisket sandwich. Succulent. Perfect meal. Never bothered by a server. Never annoyed by needy neighbors. Good look Hammerheads.
(5)
Emily Y.

Round two: hammerhead. Another solid 4 stars. Timing: Thursday night, called at 5:20pm and restaurant was empty, sat down 5:45pm with no problem, the place was full by 6pm. Portions: appetizer portions feed two people. Entrees are generous. What we got this time: 1. (special for the night) awesomeness chile rellenos. Finally, a good chile rellenos in Louisville. Peppers had some heat, and I apologize for not knowing exactly what was in it other than to say it was some yummy tasty non-plasticky nor runny cheese. The breading was crispy still. The pepper wasn't mushy. And it was soooo good! It was paired with some balsamic and some kind of creamy sweet tangy orange sauce for contrast. 2. (special for the night)Hard boil egg wrapped in elk and panko. Husband loved it. I thought it was pretty good--a little dry for me, but if they would have offered more sauce, I think that would have solved that issue. 3. Beer cheese with pretzel croissant. Same as before yummy beer cheese had a kick to it. Wish this appetizer came with an extra croissant. 4. Mac and cheese. A little spicy, but sooo good. Definitely qualifies as comfort food (this assessment is from someone born and raised in the south). 5. 1/2 rack ribs. Very tasty. Not Memphis dry style. Not Carolina fall off the bone style. But good in its own right. Generous serving.
(4)
Kami T.

Upon arrival, I was shocked to find it basically being in the basement of house. I was a bit scared of the warnings on the menu of the food coming out slow, but our food came out pretty quick actually! Extra points for the friendliness of the staff as well. We ordered the truffle fries, veggie sloppy joe, and soft shell crab sandwich. The soft shell crab and soppy joe were great, but the truffle fries needed more salt. They also had many types of microbrews. In addition, I loved the planks the food came out on even though they might be a health code violation...haha. Definitely a great addition to the Louisville food scene!
(4)
Kristen S.

Thank you Yelp for another great find! I drove from Lexington to pick my bf up from the airport, and I had done some research on trying a different place to take him for dinner. Now I've been to Louisville over a handful of times, and I wanted to get away from the main downtown area and touristy spots. This place wasn't too hard to spot, I knew to look for the big shark. It's located in a residential neighborhood, a bit obscure, and parking isn't the best- street. We walked in on a Thursday night around 8:30, we're greeted immediately, place is full, we were lucky to find 2 spots open at the bar. Yay! So far so good. The bartender/server asked what we'd like to drink, we had water while we looked over some of the beers they had. Now we aren't big beer drinkers, the guy recommended a few, which were actually pretty good and average prices for bottle $4. The menu is interesting, and I'm pretty daring when it comes to trying different foods. I had the venison burger on the pretzel bun, i persuaded my bf to get the PBLT (pork belly) sandwich, which the server said was great; he also recommended the truffle fries (all al la carte and they charge .75 extra for cheese.) While we waited a short period for our food and cooled down with the beers; i took a look around to check out the atmosphere, this place is small. The crowd was a younger 'hipster' type, i saw a few with PBR and saw why, bc it's only $1.50 cans, there were what it looked like a few regulars, but mostly college aged people. Our food came on wooden cutting blocks. The fries were delish! The basket was big enough for 3+ people to have a good size serving, but we couldn't help ourselves and ate the whole thing between us like 2 little piggies. My burger was great- tender, a little wild/gamy tasting but had a hint on spiciness. The pork belly, ah yes, yummy! Melts in your mouth. The food was fulfilling. Our meal w/the side of fries and 2 beers was $35 after tax. A little bit more than your typical chain restaurant, but well worth it. I was not disappointed. What a creative menu and neat place.
(5)
Mary H.

I have to admit, when my son pulled up in front of the place I had major reservations. It took me back to some of the dive bars I went to in college(many years ago.) But the food and the service were great. My husband and I split the bison burger and catfish sandwiches. Both were excellent. Others ordered the beef tacos, veggie burger and pork belly sandwich and were all pleased. The truffle fries are delicious and very rich!
(4)
Nancy H.

Wow! The food was the best I've had anywhere in a long time and for a great price. The ambiance is very simple, but the food is not! Smoked pork tacos, fried medley of mushrooms, and truffle fries along with a great assortment of beers. We had wonderful service, as well.
(5)
Carl F.

You won't be disappointed. Wife and I always seem to end up at hammerheads when visiting Louisville. Food is great (especially the ribs and pork belly sandwich), atmosphere laid back and prices reasonable for the unique menu items. Hammerheads is our go-to restaurant when family visits from out of state.
(5)
Sophia B.

Needs to be open later on the weekends
(5)
Michelle D.

found this spot looking for the swan dive, the former occupant of this low ceilinged, harshly lit neighborhood bar. the laid back, friendly atmosphere, adorable patrons and sweet attitude of our friendly waitress won me over even though they don't serve liquor. louisville may make a beer lover out of me yet. i'd like to visit again and try their menu.
(4)
Adam H.

This place is amazing! We love the dive atmosphere and the food is out if this world. We had garlic herb fries cooked in duck fat, beef brisket tacos, baby back ribs, and macaroni cheese bells. Where to begin. The Mac and cheese balls were the appetizer and were a refreshing take on an old favorite. The garlic and herb fries have a flavor that I'm having trouble describing but I'd highly recommend them! Although I can usually eat a full rack if ribs at other places, these ribs had more meat than I've seen before and I had to carry out the rest. We travel to Memphis for ribs at Rendevous, so we consider ourselves aficionados. These ribs were cooked perfectly and they have a unique BBQ sauce that is vinegar based and looks like soy sauce but has a nice bite to it. My wife had the beef brisket tacos and has been raving all night. We intended on having the bacon brownie but ended up overdoing with everything else. Oh we'll, a reason to home back! There's a reason this place is #1 on trip advisor in Louisville. It's incredible!
(5)
Hallie E.

The duck tacos are absolutely amazing! This is the kind of food that you crave in the middle of the night and jump in your car to go get. Excellent!
(5)
Matt S.

When it comes to the food, probably my favorite restaurant. Ribs are phenomenal, duck fat fries are heavenly, and the beer selection never leaves me wanting. The location leaves a lot to be desired- not necessarily because of the ambiance or perceived level of cleanliness, but because it's so tiny that a wait is almost inevitable.
(5)
Leanna N.

Was visiting my brother who is schooling in Louisville and all he talked about was wanting to take me here. Hammerheads literally has one of the coolest locations I have ever been to. It is located in more of a residential neighborhood and the restaurant itself is, what I believe, someone's basement. The inside is quite cozy, an environment that makes the food even tastier than it already is. I got the standard since I wasn't feeling too adventurous, which was the angus burger on a pretzel bun. My brother got the elk burger which I got a bite of and I can agree is delicious. We also ordered the truffle fries and sweet potato fries. And I have to say they were probably the best fries I have ever had. Before ordering a burger, I do recommend asking if they still have any chicken and waffles since they run out often and are pretty tasty from what I have heard. The pretzel bun enhances the meat and the arugula and cheese and everything inside so well. The waitresses and waiters are very kind too! Love the customer service here and will come back when I'm back in Louisville!
(5)
Alf A.

TRUFFLE OIL FRIES! Hammerheads is in a nondescript no-frills Germantown basement, but what the place lacks in decorating it more than makes up for with delicious burger-fare. you would be hard pressed to find better food fro the price in louisville. As a vegetarian who loves comfort food I was trilled to see the veggie sloppy joe and veggieburger- both were very flavorful. My advice is try everything, but go early or go late because it gets very crowded.
(5)
Edward R.

still coming here as often as i can, and i'm yet to be disappointed. the crowds can be tough but if you're patient the wait is worth it. if going during peak hours don't come expecting to get seated immediately. i've tried every dish and side item on the menu except for the vegetarian sandwiches, and i'm still craving it on a weekly basis.
(4)
Heather C.

High Praise from this GRIT. (girl raised in the south). This is the best barbeque I have had since moving to the 'Ville from SC. Go early in hopes of avoiding the wait but if you do have to wait - know it will be worth it. Place has a great vibe and I thought the service was fine. No one was rude or rushing us out of the door. Y'all get out there and find this place - you will be glad you did.
(4)
Connie C.

Awesome mac and cheese balls! Shrimp and grit cakes were amazing.... This is definitely a well hidden Louisville secret....
(5)
Brian G.

Stopped on the way from Gatlinburg, TN to Chicago. Wish I lived closer so I could taste more from the menu.
(5)
Jennifer S.

My mother, sister and I spent a few days in the Louisville area. I looked on-line for great places to eat and Hammerheads was on the top of our list to try. We were NOT disappointed! Realize....These five stars are all about the food. This place is a dive and a half. If I drove by or hadn't seen the amazing reviews of the food, I wouldn't have given the place a second look. I took my waitress's suggestion and got the duck tacos. She said these were her favorite dish and eats them every day. My mom and sister both got the elk burgers. We shared a basket of both sweet potato and garlic herb fries. Every single bit of the food was OUTSTANDING! It is soooo worth the poor, old surroundings and bathrooms to eat the incredible food. Fine job Hammerheads. If you can fix up your atmosphere, you would be over the top and full of patrons all night long every day.
(5)
Marissa G.

Excellent! Duck sliders were awesome!
(5)
Ariel Lizardbreath W.

The food is great. Also, pretty sure they have the best tacos veg and nonveg in town.
(5)

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Address : 921 Swan St
Louisville, KY, 40204
Phone (502) 365-1112
Website https://www.louisvillehammerheads.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

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

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Hammerheads

921 Swan St, Louisville, KY, 40204

Hammerheads Menu

Starters

Sandwiches

Burgers

Fries & Sides

Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Hammerheads

Starters

Sandwiches

Burgers

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Desserts

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