I want to tell you.... no, I am compelled to tell you that we had a most exquisitely delightful meal at Lilly's last evening. First, I want to thank Brennon the bartender for his professional and friendly service. He clearly knows his craft and his selections. If you're visiting soon, ask for a Spring Old Fashioned. And if you're of the mind, go for the Pappy Van Winkle tasting flight. It's worth it. :-) Now, on to the meal. The owner had envisioned this simple, yet amazing soup: tomatillo-avocado. It was spectacular! Check it out before its off the menu. We then migrated to center cut ribeyes with gnocchi and asparagus. Oh, forgot the equally delightful fried oysters! Nothing about this meal was below excellent quality. And the service, again, was outstanding! Thank you for a wonderful experience. We'd recommend Lilly's for a superior dining and drinking experience!
(5)
william F.
This was an excellent dining experience. We were in town for the Kentucky State Fair Horse show and was recommended by friends at the show. We darted with the Lilly's Plate which was just right for two people to share. Cheese,local ham, fried egg plant all were very good. My wife had the veal scaloppine and I had the pork chop. Both were very good. The pork chop was the most succulent I have ever had in a restaurant. Service was perfect.
(5)
Ella S.
We had a weekend getaway planned when we saw Kathy on Beat Bobby Flay. She did so amazing, we decided it would fun to visit her restaurant while in Louisville. The food was 5 stars! The entire staff was amazing and made us feel like we were the only customers in the restaurant. We were also excited to possibly see Kathy, who was there and visiting with all of the tables. She sat, visited with us, and made us feel like we were guests in her home. This was one of the best overall culinary experiences!
(5)
Diane R.
The rosemary potato bread was awesome. The pear salad was ok. The greens had an earthy peppery taste I wasn't thrilled about. The truffle Fries were very good. The crab cake was small for the price but it was really good and so was the sauce. My friend really liked her gyro. My other friend had the harvest cob salad and wasn't keen on the greens either.
(4)
Matthew A.
Saw it on Diners, Drive ins and Dives. Drove from Georgia to Kentucky to eat there (on the way to Indy) and it was worth the side trip. Great bar, excellent wine, and the Chicken Nicoise Salad was awesome. Crab cake was PURE crab, super delicious. The hamburger is no regular burger, extra juicy and full of flavor. Do yourself a favor and try this place.
(5)
Joseph S.
In the past I have done some carry out orders and wasn't exactly blown away. On a whim I decided to eat in for a Labor Day weekend treat, and it was a totally different ball game. Service was first class, the bartender was very friendly and very knowledgeable. My meal was 5 star all the way, from the apple pecan salad to the fried chicken thighs and finally a desert of mocha ice cream, donuts and Irish coffee. I was in 7th heaven. I love the quiet, dark atmosphere with laid back customers who are not looking for everyone to look at them. This is a serious restaurant for people who are serious about their food and drink. The owner is very hands on and always around, never too good to do anything that needs to be done. They have been in business since 1979 for a reason. This place is tough on the old pocket book but as they always say, you get what you pay for. For my two glasses of wine, salad, dinner, dessert and drink the total was $75, so very similar to what I have paid for dinner in Chicago restaurants. I had no problem with that since I felt I got my money's worth and the money went to good, local folks.
(5)
Thao T.
I had food here a few years ago, can't tell you exactly what I had or what's in it. But years and years later and I still think back on the food with feeling of great fondness and satisfaction. I think they were one of the few restaurants that offered fresh local produce before it became cool. Nice place for a date, great atmosphere and staff. A bit on the pricy side but definitely worth it. I do remember the strawberry ice cream, it was honestly the best I've ever had. Made with the freshest strawberries with just enough sweetness to make it memorable.
(4)
Dan P.
Had lunch for 3 for $57 and they would not take my 2yr old purchased gift certificate Never will go back
(1)
Matt F.
This is one of the great restaurants not only in Louisville, but in the entire Midwest. We have had multiple meals here, at lunch and dinner, and they have never disappointed. The meats and vegetables are fresh and local and the preparation and service are top notch. If Lilly's were located in my town, I would definitely be a regular.
(5)
Miranda R.
From the other Yelp reviews I was expecting a gourmet dining experience. While the service was good, the food was not memorable . I sent dessert back because it was too dry. Overall, I think this is an overpriced and overrated establishment.
(3)
Liz W.
What disappointment. When we lived in Louisville 15 years ago, Lilly's was IT. Kathy Cary did locally-sourced farm-to-table food before such a thing was cool, and she did it very well. When a friend suggested that we try Lilly's lunch during our visit this week, we jumped at the chance. The shabby awnings and outdated dining room were tip offs that if we were meeting Miss Havisham for lunch, this would be the right place. The octogenarian lunch set, using walkers and oxygen, were the next clue that Lilly's might have seen better days. There were approximately four other tables when we entered, yet this was apparently too much for the two servers, one busboy, and one hostess to handle. Our waitress said she'd "be right with us" and then promptly disappeared for 20 minutes. Then another server told us again that she would "be right with us," which she most certainly was not. When she finally did attend to us, she was awkward and stiff. We had by then had quite a long time to peruse the menu, so we were ready to order two bib salads, a pot pie, and the fried oysters and grits. After some time, the waitress reappeared to awkwardly tell us that the chef had "checked on the pot pie and decided they would be unable to serve it today." That sounded...bad. But we forged ahead and ordered the pulled pork sandwich instead. The bibb salads appeared, with leaves piled loosely on the plate. While this was fresh and serviceable, it was nothing special, and could have used a little more dressing. Quite a long time later, our entrees appeared. The fried oysters with their grits and sauce and crispy onion straws was quite a special dish. The pulled pork was not. Not bad, but not memorable in any way. The entire experience was awkward and shabby. I felt like we had wandered into an upscale nursing home dining room, and that the entire staff and clientele were just waiting for us to leave. This was very disappointing, because my memories of Lilly's were so good. Louisville has so much to offer in the way of good food now, there is just no reason to waste a meal here.
(2)
Thomas T.
Sorry if we disturbed your dinner last night. We were a little loud and apologize if it carried into the main dining area. We were just excited. Had a group of customers and peers to have a remarkable dinner especially arranged by Mytch at Lilly's. We like to do a price fix menu so that we all have choices but do not over take the kitchen. Mytch and the staff made a great menu for us ( with our company logo) and recommended a great wine. Everyone enjoyed the dinner. Very clean plates and lots of smiles. The staff did a great job serving and keeping the glasses full and plates moving. One day I just want to bring my wife and be able to have an upscale relaxing nice dinner. Until then I'll just keep my customers and managers happy by bringing them here.
(5)
Nora L.
3.5 We came here for dinner this past weekend and had a pretty good meal. The wait staff was professional and friendly. The meal began with these little pastries that had onions, pesto, cheese, etc. and was delicious. For our entrees, we ordered the lobster ravioli and the "Old Hat Cattle Company Burger" with summer succotash as a side. Both dishes were good.. however, not worth the price. When I go to a $$$-rated restaurant, I expect to be wow-ed by the food. The burger was certainly a "good burger" but nothing I haven't tasted before. The ravioli was in a wonderful sauce and had a flavorful filling but the texture of the ravioli was too hard. I'd recommend.. but I'm sure there are similar restaurants out there that are a better value.
We were given a "booth" right behind the reception desk with a curtain separating. Not good. The service was almost non-existent. We were ignored for 10 minutes. Ordered drinks took 10 more, and the entree was much longer than routine in arriving. In the interim the waiter was totally absent. The two entrees were decent, not special. I have always held Lilly's on my top 5 list in town. This inght was a real disappointment. Won't be back unless on someone else's reservation.
We were in Louisville for a conference and dropped by Lilly's for lunch on a Saturday on our way to the airport. What a treat and great way to leave Louisville. During our few days there, we tried everything from a "Hot Brown" forced on us at a hotel banquet to a wonderful, locally sourced meal at Harvest. Lilly's was right up there with the best. The staff was very professional. The interior soothing. Yes, I guess that they get some "Ladies who lunch", but it is still a really good meal. DO NOT skip dessert. You will have missed a treat. We had bourbon ice cream with bacon crumbles and a bourbon bread pudding. Both were scrumptious.
(5)
Dan G.
Lilly's was suggested to us by a friend of mine and it was a fantastic treat. We were taken to a booth in the middle of a very nice dining room and treated to Southern Hospitality as if we were royalty. The menu is creative and Kathy Cary and her staff execute and present it flawlessly. She is an annual James Beard Award Nominee and for good reason, this meal was excellent. There were many menu items that took advantage of seasonal and local offerings. We started with the Bistro Salad Greg's Greens, Roasted Beets, Pickled Onion, Goat Cheese Fritters, Broadbent Smoked Bacon, Pine Nuts, and Sherry Vinaigrette. We also had a great artisan cheese plate of cheddar, tomme and a fantastic fresh goat cheese. For our entrees, my wife had the Seared Sea Scallops with Corn & Jalepeno Couscous and Bourbon Smoked Paprika Oil. I had the Kentucky Bison Ribeye with grit cake, which was great. I love Bison and this was the best steak that I have had in a long time. It was also perfectly cooked and juicy. We finished with the apple cake desert which was a tasty ending. This was a great meal and we can't wait to return.
(5)
Joshua W.
Excellent food. Excellent service. What's not to love? The decor could use a little updating, but this is honestly some of the best food I have had in Louisville.
(5)
K B.
Fantastic! we were with a semi large group 25+ and our service was excellent. the foods were complex interesting and delicious. i had the veal over pasta without the veal (vegetarian) and it was sumptuous. definitely save room for dessert. the caramel cake with vanilla ice cream was incredible. we had to bring home the other half. dinner was so delicious that i didn't have room for the entire generous portion of cake. * on an environmental friendly note - the to go box was recyclable plastic - kudos for not using styrofoam.
(5)
Christina G.
I'm between a 3 and a 4, so I'll say this is a 3.5. The decor surprised me a bit. It feels kind of South American-Latin, but the food isn't that type at all. It's more of an American-based offering. We made reservations for a Thursday evening. I was surprised it was so busy when we walked in. A good sign, I thought. We were seated in a corner at a very small table with a bench I greatly disliked. For one thing, when someone at the complete other end of the long bench moved, got up, or sat down, I felt it. Another couple arrived after us and got a big booth to themselves. Jerks. The bourbon list is extensive. I got some sort of cocktail with bourbon in it an it was good. My husband got an old fashioned and he liked it - very strong. We had a groupon which was for a prix fixe meal. The choices were somewhat limited, which was a disappointment. We also noticed the Lilly's inflates the value of their groupon. When we were comparing prices on the regular menu to those on the special prix fixe menu, the savings by using the groupon was negligible. In any case, I started with a beet and goat cheese salad, which was good. The main course wasn't great. We both ordered the steak. I ordered it medium well and my husband ordered it medium. When the plates came, they were given to the wrong person, even after we specified how we ordered the steak. For medium, it was overdone. My dish was cooked properly, but I found so much fat on the steak. The asparagus and potato sides were really good. For dessert, we both had lavender ice cream. It was great, probably one of my favorite parts of the meal. My one complaint about it (if it could be considered a complaint) is that there was just too much of it. The lavender is a potent flavor - one scoop would certainly have sufficed over the 3 we were each served. I don't live in the area, but if I did, I might give this place another try. If I had another meal like this one, I don't think I'd go a third time.
(3)
Ronald O.
A little disappointing. I found Lilly's to be quite pricey for the experience. Ambiance was jus so-so, and service was slow and unprofessional. While I understand the long honored tradition of adding an automatic gratuity to parties of six or more, I was stunned to see it was 20%(usually 18). The food was good, drinks reasonable. I'm a generous tipper when warranted, but like to feel somewhat in control of my generosity. In summary, I cannot recommend this restaurant, nor will I return. Extremely disappointed
(2)
Wilson K.
Came here Derby night. When you serve 3 star food (being generous), you can't charge $100/person. I've gladly payed four times that for a single meal, but the food was great, service was great, ambiance was great... I understand that the local businesses like to raise prices for Derby weekend, but if you do, you must bring your A game. Again, the food was okay, but just okay. Service was poor--not so-so, but poor. We were "served" by the bartender, Josh, who checked on us one time during our sad prix fixe meal, but did that in passing. Our food was delivered by a few other impersonal servers. Besides a server assistant who never let our water glasses empty, and the hostest (the young one), the staff is inattentive and dull. On top of the bad service, they added auto gratuity of 20% after giving us 10% service. I could understand if the guy was slammed, but he wasn't. Seviche, down the road, gave us much better food and service the night before, so perhaps a staff field trip there would help. Charge what you want, but make it worth it. This place surrendered before they opened their doors by offering that sad menu, and then gave poor service and had the audacity to make up for it by allowing auto grat. The staff failed, but more importantly, the management and ownership failed.
(1)
Heather S.
The caramel cake was amazing. The very best part of our meal. Service was excellent. Food felt dated and not very creative. Not sure we would go back.
(3)
John P.
We ate at Lilly's for the first time on a whim one early Friday evening a couple of months ago. We were excited about having just closed on a cool old house and we were hungry, so we decided to just drop into the closest restaurant within walking distance. Luckily, they had a table available. We hadn't checked it out and didn't know what to expect, although we remembered hearing that it was good although a bit expensive. Our server was helpful and attentive to our needs. I wound up getting the grouper special, and we shared the apple & walnut salad. Five stars for the best grouper I've ever had. Cooked to perfection, beautiful presentation and tasty accompaniments. Every bite was delicious. We felt like celebrating and Lilly's came through perfectly.
(5)
Tucker G.
Delicious! I'm not much of a salad eater, but the salad I got was to die for! It came with a deviled egg, freshly cut avocado, an almost prosciutto-like cured ham, and poached chicken with the perfect amount of juices. The dressing was very light and worked perfectly with the salad. It wasn't overpowering whatsoever! Definitely returning.
(5)
Janet C.
I wish I could say how impressed I was because I was really looking forward to going to this restaurant, unfortunately, I can't do that. They neglected to tell me there was a $100 prix fixe menu for Derby weekend. When we were seated and received menus, we were quick to notice there were no prices assigned to the food. We asked the waiter, who was very kind, and proceeded to tell him the issue. The manager and owner came, with incredible attitude. Although they made it right and allowed us to have menus that included price points, it wasn't without calling attention to our group and making us feel uncomfortable. The food was good, but I would have preferred someplace else.
(2)
Fred S.
My wife and I and another couple recently dined at Lilly's at one of their pre-fix dinners. My wife has celiac and requires gluten free meals. When this was pointed out our server was more than helpful and attentive to her needs. My wife had a salad and salmon both of which were some of the best she has ever experienced. The sauce on the salmon was particularly good. I had salad and skirt steak which was also excellent. The bread provided was made in house and was some of the best I've ever had. Though not much of a desert eater, because it was part of the pre-fix, I had chocolate cake with bourbon chocolate ice cream which was out of this world! My wife had peach ice cream which was also terrific. The food was terrific, the server was one of the best we've had and the overall experience was memorable. We'll be back.
(5)
Melissa W.
Love Lilly's and have been there numerous times. Our food was excellent, however our waiter although extremely nice was terrible. I ordered a dirty martini, came straight up vodka. My dad ordered a pumpkin beer, got an IPA. My husband ordered a bourbon with whiskey rocks, got ice. Took 30 minutes to receive dessert and lukewarm espresso-sugar cubes wouldn't melt. Will always go back but when 4 people spend $200+ service should be much better than it was.
(3)
Jeff W.
Wife, son and I decided to hit Lilly's for a long-awaited return to a restaurant I had previously eaten at once before. That occasion was about 10 years ago and it was fantastic. I don't know why I waited so long...but after my last meal I'm not sure I'll be dying to go back again. It's not that Lilly's is a bad restaurant... this place was doing the whole local-sourced farm to table thing in the 90's (which was practically unheard of back then). I have a lot of respect for Kathy Cary and what she brought to the Louisville dining scene. However the best days of Lilly's seem to be in the past. The dining areas look a bit dated. Then again, many of the diners were a bit dated too. I'm past my prime and all, but I think Lilly's has fallen into this trap you see restaurants fall into... where they used to be great, develop a large base of regulars, and then never change or update anything. Although the main dining room had some empty tables we were taken into a side dining room with plenty of open seating...and then left there to ANOTHER smaller dining room that was completely empty. Why do restaurants do this? We were dressed appropriately and were completely nice to the hostess. Anyway, we had to ask to be seated somewhere else where we could at least view another human being. Service was good but a little clumsy at times. One waitress went to fill my water and reached across my plate and dragged her sleeve across my wine glass as she did so. I expect stuff like that at Applebee's, but not at Lilly's. Our waiter was certainly bubbly and nice but seemed kind of new. Kathy was working the dining room as she usually does and she's very nice and warm. She stopped by and checked on us which is always a nice touch. My wife had the fish special of the evening and it was very nice. A VERY thick piece of fish and it was cooked perfectly. I tried "Celebrate the Hog" which was pork tenderloin, pork belly, sweet potato au gratin and collard greens. It was underwhelming. The pork portions were small. I can make better pork tenderloin than what was served... it was ok, but nothing special. My son had the burger and he indicated it was good, but nothing special. Desserts were good, especially the peach sorbet which was excellent. Prices were a bit expensive in my opinion. I don't feel the quality of the food and service warrant the prices. I didn't have a BAD meal... but I also wasn't satisfied with the quality to price ratio either. There's so many other choices in this city... I hope Lilly's can update itself in the future and stay relevant. Currently it's just meh.
(3)
Megan F.
It's a similar concept to places like Harvest that seem to have a bit more hip appeal but Lilly's has apparently been doing it for a long while. Atmosphere: Unlike many other places that have cropped up in recent years and are doing farm-to-table and are very contemporary feeling, Lilly's has a different vibe. The wild colored paintings and almost kitschy but still classy artwork on the walls amidst the fine dining table settings paired together makes me feel like they're trying to be fun and casual but they still want to serve refined food. Great. I totally support the accessible vibe they're going for while still maintaining a sense of being upscale, especially for dinner. But I just can't take a Saturday lunch that seriously. Service was just pretty stiff. Food: Burgers are a great deal here for lunch, but that deal comes with a messy price to pay. My meal cost under $10 and for a local and grass fed burger on a pretzel roll with some wonderful toppings and stuff, you know melt in your mouth kind of stuff that you find on burgers at upscale places. It's divine, order it. I even recommend it despite the insane mess it will cause you. I pride myself in eating pretty neatly and let me tell you, this burger needs a fork and a knife. The bun is a little too small to hold everything in there and there is just soooo much juiciness to everything. It wasn't just the burger either, my boyfriend's pork sandwich was the same way. Mess and all, the food is top notch. I just wish the atmosphere and service was a little more relaxed to go along with that. Why I'll be back...to try the seasonal winter warmer cocktail menu!
(4)
Tim D.
I only had dessert and a couple drinks, but that was some darn-good peach pie and coconut ice cream. My only issue is the cost - three drinks and a split dessert came to $40. The service was very good.
(4)
G. B.
After browsing many Bardstown Rd. restaurants online last Saturday afternoon, we finally decided on Lilly's. Big Mistake! When we arrived, we should have used the mostly empty parking lot as a barometer of the quality of the restaurant. I'll begin by saying, the 1 star is for the service, our waiter (Micah) could not have been more attentive or accommodating...very pleasant. However, a few hours after we finished our less than wonderful meal, my 21 year old daughter became very ill with food poisoning. We each had the soup of the day, sweet potato which was IMO, ordinary. So, it couldn't have been the soup because I did not become ill. My daughter had the Waldorf Bibb Salad and the Lilly's Vegetable Board. She was up all night very sick and for the majority of the next day. She is a DI athlete at a local school and can't really afford food poisoning set backs but we'll know better next time. We'll go with the tried and true Bristol!
Went here to celebrate a birthday and the staff made sure everything was superb. I definitely recommend having the crabcake. Everything else we had tasted great as well. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)
Dan D.
Good burgers. The salad came with a green bug on it (aphid?). I guess that means the Bibb lettuce was fresh. They replaced it quickly with a strawberry gazpacho made with beer. My guest found it too spicy, but interesting. We got a free order of fries through Yelp coupon. Fries were done right.
(3)
Erin E.
A good friend of ours who is a true and trusted foodie recently sent us a gift certificate to Lilly's for my birthday. My husband and I are new in town and we knew our friend would have done her research before purchasing such a thoughtful gift (she takes her dining seriously!). We just knew would be in for a real treat. And what a treat it was! We went on a Tuesday night and the restaurant was a little quiet but that didn't take away from our awesome dining experience. The food, wine and service were fantastic! I loved how the menu is so seasonal and our friendly & knowledgeable waiter told us that Lilly's was practicing "farm to table" cuisine way before it was trendy. Well the proof was in the pudding! I had the beef tenderloin which was cooked perfectly and served aside, mashed turnips, brussel sprout hash and mushrooms marsala. Delish! My hubbie had the rack of lamb over cheesy grits and spinach. He loved his dish so much that I thought he was going to like the plate! We finished the night off by sharing a dessert. Crème brulee served in a puff pastry which was quite unique and tasty. The ambience is unassuming which made us feel comfortable. We will definitely go back (soon I hope!)
(4)
Anthony P.
Overall, my wife and I had a great experience here. I learned the humiliating way that the small bowl on the table has loose pink salt so don't pick it up and spill it all over yourself and the table. The meal was terrific although the ceased salad was average. The service was excellent. The decor is a bit eclectic but nice. Overall a great place to eat an I would recommend it.
(4)
Amy L.
I have hesitated a bit to write this review. I have been to a lot of really, really great restaurants in Louisville but for some reason had never been to Lilly's until last week. I have always heard great things about the food and service and was so excited to go. Sadly, I was not impressed. I would go 3 1/2 stars for food, but 2 or 3 for atmosphere and service. The decor is a bit dated and felt a little dull and not very romantic. My husband and I went on 1/2 price wine Wednesday and ordered a lovely bottle of Pinot Noir for $21. Sweet! The hostess that greeted us and took us to the table was very friendly and the night was starting off well. The server told us about the specials and gave us some bread with amazing infused olive oil to enjoy with our wine. We chose to do a 3 course prix fixe dinner. I started with the soup of the day which was a creamy eggplant topped with shrimp and my husband had a melon salad. Both were delicious and at this point, the service was great. Next, I had salmon with quinoa and my husband had a perfectly prepared skirt steak. We enjoyed both, but nothing really special. After our entrees were dropped off by the food runner, we only saw our server as he rushed by our table to do other things. He never stopped to pour our wine or ask if we needed anything. Since we did the 3 course, we ordered all at once and had dessert coming, so we figured he was just busy. Well, the food runner brought our desserts - I had a rich, flourless chocolate torte that was out of this world good. My husband had a peach ice cream that neither of us cared for. It was not creamy at all. Just blah. We were out of wine and wanted another glass or possibly another bottle, but no one came back to our table. I was frustrated but decided we were ready to move on. We couldn't find our server to get the check. Finally, the manager came by and we asked him for the check. We still tipped well as I was a bartender for 7 years and I hate to stiff someone if maybe they were just having a bad night. \ Bottom line- the food is pretty good. They do have a special small plate menu on Wednesdays that may be even better. If we go back- it will be to try that. The prices were a bit high for what you get and the service was not up to par for sure. I hope that we can try it again and I can update my review later. There are just too many fabulous restaurants in Louisville to spend money in a place that is average.
(3)
Mohan R.
Everytime I think it's the best lunch ever, they outdo themselves. Pumpkin bisque was outstanding. Striped bass/risotto and truffle fries uniquely delicious. Dessert- bread pudding with a Pappy van Winkle bourbon sauce- defies description. Service second to none. It gets no better than this.
(5)
Sarah H.
Ok so I've really debated my star rating for Lilly's. Party because I really really wanted to love it and partly because there were things I really really liked and things I really was disappointed by. When I was in culinary school I had a chef instructor who used to rave about Lilly's. She always said that in her opinion it was the best restaurant in town. I have wanted to go since then and that's been 12 years ago at this point. I was so excited when I found a groupon a month or so ago for Lilly's because that meant I'd finally get to try it for my self. I paid $75 for the groupon which stated that it was a $150 value and we were to receive two meals from the pre fixe menu. Both meals included an appetizer/salad, an entree, and a dessert. We made a reservation and were seated upon our arrival. We were given the pre fixe menu choices and brought bread. I really loved that the bread was served with olive oil and pink sea salt instead of basic butter. It was really tasty and actually one of the highlights of the meal. My husband and I ended up selecting the exact same things for our meals partly because of the limited menu but also because we do tend to like the same things. We started the meal with a salad with goat cheese, and fresh strawberries and I enjoyed that more than my husband did. It's more up my alley than his but I believe the other choice was a chilled soup so he went with the salad because he isn't a fan of any chilled soup (I'm actually not either I feel like chilled soup is basically a chunky beverage and not so much a soup. Anyway moving on) for our entrees we both had the flat iron steak. I don't remember if the weight for the steak was listed on the menu but it was quite small, maybe only 6oz? Could have been 8 I suppose but it seemed smaller to me. The steak did have nice flavor and was surprisingly tender for a sirloin cut. The steak was served with three asparagus spears and three small fingerling potatoes. Again the flavors of the side dishes were great but I would have liked a little more of them. For dessert we had a chocolate torte and it was tasty as well. Rich and just the right amount of sweet. But once again the slices we received were tiny. Probably only one inch at the thickest end of the slice. I certainly don't need gigantic desserts or even gigantic entree portions however I do think I should leave a three course meal feeling full and satisfied. I also don't feel that the meal we received was a $150 dollar value. Now I really do hate to complain about this sort of thing since we were getting a discount but when we are under the impression we are getting a meal that's a certain value and that's not the case it's kind of disheartening. I buy these kind of groupons to be able to try new and upscale restaurants I may not normally get to try but I do expect to get the value I was promised. It almost felt like we were second class diners or something because we could see the other customers around us with their normal restaurant sized portions. I debated anywhere between two and four stars for this review and finally settled on three. I enjoyed the food and everything was tasty but many parts of the whole experience were disappointing. I may return and try something off of their regular menu sometime just to see the difference. I'm not saying Lilly's isn't a four or even five star restaurant but I'd highly advise skipping the groupon should another one be available.
(3)
Billy D.
Lilly's is a classic here in Louisville, serving food on par with some other greats like Jack Fry's. I give it 4 stars only because I think the atmosphere could use a bit more work and the hostess didn't seem in tune with providing the level of service and attitude as the balance of the staff. On the other hand the food and service are really top notch! I started out with a bourbon flight from the awesome bourbon selection. My wife and I shared the fries which are blanched and fried twice, the texture was perfect. Next I had the bisque shrimp soup that was PHENOMENAL! We shared the scallops which were cooked perfectly and balanced nicely by the accompanying brown sauce. Prices seem comparable to other restaurants of similar caliber and the dedication by the owners and chef are evident. Lilly's deserves a visit if you haven't been.
(4)
Beverly H.
Everything is wonderful. It is one of the best restaurants in Louisville!! Food, service, atmosphere is top notch.
(5)
Nate G.
Was exploring Bardstown Road and stumbled across this place as they were nearing close. We didn't want to eat, only a place to rest our feet while having a drink and even though they were wrapping up there was one couple at the bar and they along with the owner welcomed us in. Everyone was friendly and informative and the bartender was also an excellent host. We ended up staying well past close and learned about some of the history of the area while enjoying the Van Winkle Rye. They were closed our last day in town so we did not get to try the food but strictly based on the friendliness of the owner and the staff we will definitely dine here the next time we're in town.
(4)
Eric L.
Had the derby week prix fixed menu. It was great, then the main course took an hour and seemed to have been left under heat lamps drying out food. Experience was not worth high cost.
Last night my wife and I dined here while on a short visit to Louisville. It was one of the most delightful dining experiences we have had. The chef does an outstanding job of preparing creative dishes that bring together an array of flavors. The flatbread appetizer is a great start. They change the toppings nightly. Ours had bbq pork, pineapple, roasted peppers, blu cheese crumblings,and a red onion marmalade. We moved from that to a bibb salad with a pecan pie vinegar-ate that was unreal. Our entree was a grilled striped bass with a fried green tomato and corn pudding. All was fabulous. The service was outstanding. The team really took pride in ensuring we were pleased. To top it off they have an outstanding bourbon list and serve some flights which give you an opportunity to enjoy a variety. And to end the night they serve fresh French press coffee. We surveyed other dishes being served and all looked fabulous. I would highly recommend this establishment if you are in Louisville.
(5)
Jonni L.
My husband and I have been eating at Lilly's for 10 years now--we live in the Cincinnati area, but drive to Lilly's for special dinners like our anniversary, birthday's, etc...so on average, 2-3 times a year. We spread this out so that we can take advantage of their seasonal, regional menu offerings. Lilly's has never disappointed us. Never. The menu is concise, but there is something for everyone. I recommend choosing something from each course on the menu, even though you might not be able to walk out. We usually order 2 starters, a soup or salad, entrees and then dessert. My husband appreciates their bourbon and port menu and usually has that for dessert. I appreciate that Kathy Cary has been doing the farm to table thing before it was "cool" or "green". It's just good food sense. And that's what Lilly's has mastered: An Artful, inspired menu, food that is gorgeous to look at and even better to eat.
(5)
Sugar P.
I was in town on business, looking for a good place to eat that was not so pricey it wouldn't fit my business budget. I am so glad I found Lilly's on Yelp. After making reservations on Yelp, and using the directions to find the place on a rainy night, we walked into the welcoming ambience of Lilly's to find that Tuesday was our lucky night--Lilly's serves tapas. This allowed me and my dining partner to sample several small dishes, all of which were delectable, without getting that "too full" feeling. And we stayed within budget. A perfect way to end our day!
3 words.... Courtney's Caramel Cake. The food is amazing! Be sure to have a reservation.
(5)
Todd M.
Lilly's is a gem. The restaurant logo hasn't been fresh since about 1994, but the food is. It's seasonal, mainly local, prepared thoughtfully, presented beautifully. On our latest visit, we ate an appetizer of fried oysters, green tomatoes, and chipotle aioli. The flavor of the oysters might have been a little lost in the breading, but they were crunchy and delicious and the oysters tasted fresh. All the "Kentucky tapas" we've tried have been quite good, from the chicken empanada to the fries. Lamb, pork, beef, veal and duck dishes appear regularly on the menu, the preparations shifting with the seasons. I had sea scallops on our recent visit, and they were perfectly complemented by the corn broth and dill butter sauce. Lamb ravioli is another regular favorite, accompanied by grits, a vegetable "linguini" and eggplant. The eggplant was the only thing that didn't work in the dish; it was undercooked, simultaneously crunchy and bland. As far as dessert, we get stuck every time on either the carrot cake or the caramel cake. The accompanying caramel ice cream is very good. Both are decadent bombs, but there's always a to-go box nearby, and you can feel free to let that enable you to order these excellent desserts. Louisville doesn't seem to be an adventurous wine city, so any complaint about the wine list requires that perspective. (There's a lot of Fetzer, Mondavi, Ravenswood and Blackstone on restaurant menus around here.) But Lilly's wine list is better than most of the restaurants we've been to in Louisville and we always find something good. Service has been excellent on all our visits; always attentive, gracious, professional.
(4)
Chris W.
I absolutely LOVED the food. I found the atmosphere a bit to "dressy" for me, but the food and service totally made me feel at home.
(4)
Dave M.
A cool, local Louisville restaurant with interesting & tasty food, great wine and outstanding service. I had the pork tenderloin dinner (Celebrate the Hog) with a nice Malbec wine to accompany it. Great flavor for both! The price is a little high and there was a foul, bathroom-like odor when you come in. But if you can handle that, you should have a nice time.
(3)
Binky M.
Holy belt loops, Batman; this food is good enough to eat! After a disappointing lunch at our previously favorite greasy spoon, we drove by Lilly's on the way to our hotel. With thoughts of nuked fried chicken still lingering from lunch, we were thrilled to discover a L'ville gastronomical wonder. Holy cow, the veal was good enough to make a PETA protestor cringe. The Bibb Salad bleu us away with a flavor combination of aged cheese, sweet pecans, and citrus. Service was the envy of Mr. French (look it up, mi amor), Dazzling Derbies, this place is a winner!
(4)
David I.
Very nice restaurant that has fantastic service. This is one of those little neighborhood classy places that makes you love eating in Louisville. We really enjoyed the service, the food and the atmosphere. We only had two very small shortcomings. My wife ordered her duck medium and it was rare (but edible) and my scallops weren't caramelized (although tasty). I'll be coming back for sure.
(4)
Greg W.
This was one of the best meals i have had, from the delicious flatbread appetizer to the incredible creme brulee in a puff pastry! The service was just right, always available and not hovering or intrusive. i will not wait long to return.
(5)
Ingrid C.
Duck was the theme of dinner. Thick-cut duck fat french fries. Delicious duck breast. (My friend's strip steak was really good, too.) Peach ice cream with biscotti. (I know there's no duck in that.) Lilly's was definitely one of the best meals I had in Louisville. You definitely get that they care about local, homegrown food, even though the duck is sourced from North Carolina (at least it was that day). I thought that was a good choice though, considering I'm not fond of the texture of inland duck meat. I was (not so) secretly pleased to have tried all but two of the bourbons on their bourbon list. And then there was one.
(5)
Lynn L.
Had a really lovely dinner here over the weekend! The dining room was a good size, and covered with all sorts of local art (which changes regularly). We were seated at a great table in a back corner, which was cozy, and gave some privacy. The restaurant was full with people waiting by the time we left, so clearly popular. We started off with two glasses of J Vineyards sparkling wine while we perused the menu and wine list. The menu wasn't cutting-edge or even super original, but had some unique spins on common proteins. I like how they have a section of "Kentucky Tapas" - a new phrase for me! We went with the duck fat fries (how could we say no?) and zucchini fritters to start. The zucchini fritters were really excellent - crispy outside, tender inside, and served with a dill-yogurt sauce that nicely complemented them. The duck fat fries had great flavor, and were served with a dipping sauce that tasted to me like Henry Bain sauce. However, they were a little under-done, and so ended up leaving some behind. They could have used a few extra minutes of duck fat bath! We splurged on a fabulous Spanish Priorat, but the wine list has lots of reasonably-priced bottles available (about $30 and up). They accommodated our request to have it decanted without hesitation. Entrees of pork chop and strip steak were both cooked to absolute perfection. The side of mushrooms that came with the steak were a little strange and made the dish too earthy with truffled mashers. I would have preferred some green beans alongside, or something a little brighter than button mushrooms. The hash with potatoes and bacon for the pork chop was really tasty! Dessert was a very delicious pear cake with buttermilk ice cream (and I might have splurged on a 5 Puttonyos Tokaj which was worth it!). The service throughout the evening was perfect. Very friendly and not too formal, they still got every little thing right, and we left very happy. We will be back!
(5)
Leah T.
This is one of those restaurants where chic women meet up with their friends for a leisurely lunch. The portions are small and dainty, the artwork tasteful and interesting, and the servers polite. The menu is not that different from the menu of other environmentally conscious restaurants in any other moderate-sized city, and compared to those myriad restaurants, this one is average. Local produce is part of the appeal (almost every option includes locally grown tomatoes), but patrons who don't care about such things will probably not value this restaurant. Patrons with large appetites will find themselves unfulfilled, as will people who are on a tight schedule. Patrons who are familiar with this type of bistro may find the menu unimaginative and limited. Patrons who aren't probably find it delightful, given that they meet the criteria of female, chic, and environmentally conscious. I do highly recommend the flavored teas; the mint iced tea is outstanding.
(3)
Jan H.
Seasonal regional vegetables and cheeses are incorporated into the fine fare at Lilly's. The oyster salad is available only in season, but it is a wonderful treat.
(5)
Adam C.
Unique menu with good food quality and service. The most annoying thing is the hours so check to make sure they are open before you get you mind set on eating there. Also the prices are a bit high, if they dropped them a little it would be somewhere to go more often than once every few months.
(3)
Abbey V.
Lilly's is one of my favorite restaurants in Louisville. As a recent transplant from San Jose, I was used to many restaurants that focused on fresh, organic, and local foods. Lilly's was a FIND! Everything I have had there has been fantastic. Let me preface that, however, by saying that I am a vegetarian. However, my husband is a carnivore, and LOVES the burger. So, that said, there are wonderful choices for everyone.
(5)
Matt T.
I have been wanting to go to this place for a while and it did not disappoint! I love the quiet, low light atmosphere and the food was very good. I would give Lilly's a 4.5 stars but I chose the 4 over 5 because I'm a bang for your buck kind of guy, and while the food is very good, there are many other places with very good food that are much cheaper! This place is definitely worth checking out though at least once!
(4)
Tim G.
I was looking forward to this place, especially based on the reviews and checking out the menu. The food was just okay. Everything was cooked correctly in terms of temperatures, however due to the portion sizing of the meats (pork chop and lamb shank), the meats didn't jive well with the sauces and sides they were presented with. Crab cakes were a little bland and the chocolate lava cake had nothing special about it. All the food was good, but there was nothing spectacular about it, nothing that would lead you to say to good friends or family coming into town, "hey, we really need to go check this place out!" On an up note, the cocktails we ordered were really good (Hot Buttered Cider Rum and Clouded Flower).
(3)
Tonya S.
So, I'd heard many good things about this restaurant. Being on Bardstown Rd, with alot of nearby competition, I was excited to dine here. We went last night for my birthday dinner. The food itself was fine - although you have SO many choices on that street that I didn't find the food to be esceptional. It was good, prices were reasonable for what we ordered. I will not be adding to my list of "go-to" places however, nor would I bring clients there to dine. Our waiter was excellent - he was not obstrusive, was helpful about the menu choices, etc. I would have to agree with Liz W's description - the place is totally outdated.....it smelled old. It totally reminded me of a place that was really great in the 90's and there's defintely a crowd there that hasnt let it go.....but in all seriousness, if they want to compete - and there is a lot of competition, they are going to have to do something (starting with the interior) to change things up a bit. While it was clean, its dark and drab.
(2)
Richard T.
Great service. It has been awhile since I visited Lilly's. Service was great. Waiter provided so much value about dishes, origin of vegetables and meats. Most products are local grown/raised. Great selection of KY bourbon
(5)
Dave S.
We were only in Louisville for three days as a micro-vacation and wanted to eat well. I looked at a lot of restaurants before settling on Lilly's. We went for lunch as they seemed to have a rather inspired lunch menu, unlike a lot of nicer restaurants which tend to phone it in. The restaurant was fairly full, but we were seated right away. Our waiter had more southern charm than one could ever ask for. He was very nice, but not intrusive at all. I ordered the hamburger and a bowl of the chilled celery curry soup. The soup was interesting. There was a depth of flavor that I didn't expect with a chilled soup. It was certainly tasty and I ate it all; however, I think I realized that I don't love chilled soups. It was like 110 degrees outside, so it fit the bill. The hamburger was the best I've ever had. Cooked just the way I asked and again with a ton of flavor. The meat was from a local farm, which I wish I could remember the name of, so that probably had a lot to do with it. My wife ordered the blue fish and couscous, which she also really enjoyed. I don't eat fish, so I can't vouch for it. Maybe the best part of the whole lunch was the dessert. We ordered the macaroons with lemon curd. Holy cow. The macaroons were very almondy. When trying to split them in half the seemed to be a bit chewy, but that was far from the truth. They melted in my mouth (hehehe) when I ate them. The lemon curd was also fantastic. All in all, this was one of the best meals I've ever had and I like to think that we eat pretty well. I can't give this place high enough praise. If you are in town, it would be my first suggestion.
(5)
Linda M.
I just went to Lilly's with three friends to celebrate the holidays. It was just delightful. The food and service were excellent and we were able to sit and talk in a quiet area. We each ordered different entrees and were so excited to share the artistic presentation. Just top notch and so memorable!
(5)
Hassen A.
This place was almost perfect. It's frankly hard to top. The scallops here were amazing. I'd come to this place again.
(4)
Jay R.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Louisville. They have a great bourbon selection and quaint little bar. The restaurant atmosphere borders on romantic. Great place to impress a date. The menu has interesting southern gourmet food. The free range chicken dish is excellent.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Randy B.
I want to tell you.... no, I am compelled to tell you that we had a most exquisitely delightful meal at Lilly's last evening. First, I want to thank Brennon the bartender for his professional and friendly service. He clearly knows his craft and his selections. If you're visiting soon, ask for a Spring Old Fashioned. And if you're of the mind, go for the Pappy Van Winkle tasting flight. It's worth it. :-) Now, on to the meal. The owner had envisioned this simple, yet amazing soup: tomatillo-avocado. It was spectacular! Check it out before its off the menu. We then migrated to center cut ribeyes with gnocchi and asparagus. Oh, forgot the equally delightful fried oysters! Nothing about this meal was below excellent quality. And the service, again, was outstanding! Thank you for a wonderful experience. We'd recommend Lilly's for a superior dining and drinking experience!
(5)william F.
This was an excellent dining experience. We were in town for the Kentucky State Fair Horse show and was recommended by friends at the show. We darted with the Lilly's Plate which was just right for two people to share. Cheese,local ham, fried egg plant all were very good. My wife had the veal scaloppine and I had the pork chop. Both were very good. The pork chop was the most succulent I have ever had in a restaurant. Service was perfect.
(5)Ella S.
We had a weekend getaway planned when we saw Kathy on Beat Bobby Flay. She did so amazing, we decided it would fun to visit her restaurant while in Louisville. The food was 5 stars! The entire staff was amazing and made us feel like we were the only customers in the restaurant. We were also excited to possibly see Kathy, who was there and visiting with all of the tables. She sat, visited with us, and made us feel like we were guests in her home. This was one of the best overall culinary experiences!
(5)Diane R.
The rosemary potato bread was awesome. The pear salad was ok. The greens had an earthy peppery taste I wasn't thrilled about. The truffle Fries were very good. The crab cake was small for the price but it was really good and so was the sauce. My friend really liked her gyro. My other friend had the harvest cob salad and wasn't keen on the greens either.
(4)Matthew A.
Saw it on Diners, Drive ins and Dives. Drove from Georgia to Kentucky to eat there (on the way to Indy) and it was worth the side trip. Great bar, excellent wine, and the Chicken Nicoise Salad was awesome. Crab cake was PURE crab, super delicious. The hamburger is no regular burger, extra juicy and full of flavor. Do yourself a favor and try this place.
(5)Joseph S.
In the past I have done some carry out orders and wasn't exactly blown away. On a whim I decided to eat in for a Labor Day weekend treat, and it was a totally different ball game. Service was first class, the bartender was very friendly and very knowledgeable. My meal was 5 star all the way, from the apple pecan salad to the fried chicken thighs and finally a desert of mocha ice cream, donuts and Irish coffee. I was in 7th heaven. I love the quiet, dark atmosphere with laid back customers who are not looking for everyone to look at them. This is a serious restaurant for people who are serious about their food and drink. The owner is very hands on and always around, never too good to do anything that needs to be done. They have been in business since 1979 for a reason. This place is tough on the old pocket book but as they always say, you get what you pay for. For my two glasses of wine, salad, dinner, dessert and drink the total was $75, so very similar to what I have paid for dinner in Chicago restaurants. I had no problem with that since I felt I got my money's worth and the money went to good, local folks.
(5)Thao T.
I had food here a few years ago, can't tell you exactly what I had or what's in it. But years and years later and I still think back on the food with feeling of great fondness and satisfaction. I think they were one of the few restaurants that offered fresh local produce before it became cool. Nice place for a date, great atmosphere and staff. A bit on the pricy side but definitely worth it. I do remember the strawberry ice cream, it was honestly the best I've ever had. Made with the freshest strawberries with just enough sweetness to make it memorable.
(4)Dan P.
Had lunch for 3 for $57 and they would not take my 2yr old purchased gift certificate Never will go back
(1)Matt F.
This is one of the great restaurants not only in Louisville, but in the entire Midwest. We have had multiple meals here, at lunch and dinner, and they have never disappointed. The meats and vegetables are fresh and local and the preparation and service are top notch. If Lilly's were located in my town, I would definitely be a regular.
(5)Miranda R.
From the other Yelp reviews I was expecting a gourmet dining experience. While the service was good, the food was not memorable . I sent dessert back because it was too dry. Overall, I think this is an overpriced and overrated establishment.
(3)Liz W.
What disappointment. When we lived in Louisville 15 years ago, Lilly's was IT. Kathy Cary did locally-sourced farm-to-table food before such a thing was cool, and she did it very well. When a friend suggested that we try Lilly's lunch during our visit this week, we jumped at the chance. The shabby awnings and outdated dining room were tip offs that if we were meeting Miss Havisham for lunch, this would be the right place. The octogenarian lunch set, using walkers and oxygen, were the next clue that Lilly's might have seen better days. There were approximately four other tables when we entered, yet this was apparently too much for the two servers, one busboy, and one hostess to handle. Our waitress said she'd "be right with us" and then promptly disappeared for 20 minutes. Then another server told us again that she would "be right with us," which she most certainly was not. When she finally did attend to us, she was awkward and stiff. We had by then had quite a long time to peruse the menu, so we were ready to order two bib salads, a pot pie, and the fried oysters and grits. After some time, the waitress reappeared to awkwardly tell us that the chef had "checked on the pot pie and decided they would be unable to serve it today." That sounded...bad. But we forged ahead and ordered the pulled pork sandwich instead. The bibb salads appeared, with leaves piled loosely on the plate. While this was fresh and serviceable, it was nothing special, and could have used a little more dressing. Quite a long time later, our entrees appeared. The fried oysters with their grits and sauce and crispy onion straws was quite a special dish. The pulled pork was not. Not bad, but not memorable in any way. The entire experience was awkward and shabby. I felt like we had wandered into an upscale nursing home dining room, and that the entire staff and clientele were just waiting for us to leave. This was very disappointing, because my memories of Lilly's were so good. Louisville has so much to offer in the way of good food now, there is just no reason to waste a meal here.
(2)Thomas T.
Sorry if we disturbed your dinner last night. We were a little loud and apologize if it carried into the main dining area. We were just excited. Had a group of customers and peers to have a remarkable dinner especially arranged by Mytch at Lilly's. We like to do a price fix menu so that we all have choices but do not over take the kitchen. Mytch and the staff made a great menu for us ( with our company logo) and recommended a great wine. Everyone enjoyed the dinner. Very clean plates and lots of smiles. The staff did a great job serving and keeping the glasses full and plates moving. One day I just want to bring my wife and be able to have an upscale relaxing nice dinner. Until then I'll just keep my customers and managers happy by bringing them here.
(5)Nora L.
3.5 We came here for dinner this past weekend and had a pretty good meal. The wait staff was professional and friendly. The meal began with these little pastries that had onions, pesto, cheese, etc. and was delicious. For our entrees, we ordered the lobster ravioli and the "Old Hat Cattle Company Burger" with summer succotash as a side. Both dishes were good.. however, not worth the price. When I go to a $$$-rated restaurant, I expect to be wow-ed by the food. The burger was certainly a "good burger" but nothing I haven't tasted before. The ravioli was in a wonderful sauce and had a flavorful filling but the texture of the ravioli was too hard. I'd recommend.. but I'm sure there are similar restaurants out there that are a better value.
(3)Robert P.
Lilly's is a delightful restaurant. The restaurant is tastefully decorated. The staff is friendly and courteous. They refill water glasses, bring more bread if needed and replace silverware between courses. The food is fantastic. We both had the prix fixe $16 for lunch, which includes salad, entrée and dessert. The salad today was greens, dried cheeries, bleu cheese and balsamic vinaigarette dressing. Each salad bite had many different flavors. The main course was crab cakes, pureed potatoes, and remoulade. The crab cakes were delicious with just enough binder to hold it together. The remoulade was creamy and very tasty. The bread is always good, a little crunch and baked with rosemary. The dessert was upside down cranberry cake, acceptable, but I've had extraordinary dessert there. They have a nice menu, a couple salads, soup, appetizers, burger, fish sandwich, a fresh fish entrée, oysters with grits, etc. The fish special is usually a good choice today was salmon with risotto. I've had their risotto before, divine. We usually lunch at Lilly's every 4 to 6 weeks, usually followed by a movie at Baxter Theater. Visit this Louisville gem.
(5)Richard M.
We were given a "booth" right behind the reception desk with a curtain separating. Not good. The service was almost non-existent. We were ignored for 10 minutes. Ordered drinks took 10 more, and the entree was much longer than routine in arriving. In the interim the waiter was totally absent. The two entrees were decent, not special. I have always held Lilly's on my top 5 list in town. This inght was a real disappointment. Won't be back unless on someone else's reservation.
(2)Jenny J.
went here for the first time today for lunch. there is a tomato salad of the day, which is conceptually weird because who knew there was such a variety of tomato salad (tomato and a green and a sprinkle of cheese and a vinaigrette) that there would be a salad of the day. but it was fantastic, although, probably not very different from any other heirloom tomato spread you can get in the summer. the fish of the day was a yellow fin served rare with basmati rice and some sort of lentil greens. was so good that i ordered one to go when I left. the sauce with it is fantastic. I tasted the caramel cake and had the petite creme brûlée. the creme brûlée is served in a puff pastry which was a little odd, but still lovely. 5 stars for flavor and ambiance.
(5)Alan B.
We were in Louisville for a conference and dropped by Lilly's for lunch on a Saturday on our way to the airport. What a treat and great way to leave Louisville. During our few days there, we tried everything from a "Hot Brown" forced on us at a hotel banquet to a wonderful, locally sourced meal at Harvest. Lilly's was right up there with the best. The staff was very professional. The interior soothing. Yes, I guess that they get some "Ladies who lunch", but it is still a really good meal. DO NOT skip dessert. You will have missed a treat. We had bourbon ice cream with bacon crumbles and a bourbon bread pudding. Both were scrumptious.
(5)Dan G.
Lilly's was suggested to us by a friend of mine and it was a fantastic treat. We were taken to a booth in the middle of a very nice dining room and treated to Southern Hospitality as if we were royalty. The menu is creative and Kathy Cary and her staff execute and present it flawlessly. She is an annual James Beard Award Nominee and for good reason, this meal was excellent. There were many menu items that took advantage of seasonal and local offerings. We started with the Bistro Salad Greg's Greens, Roasted Beets, Pickled Onion, Goat Cheese Fritters, Broadbent Smoked Bacon, Pine Nuts, and Sherry Vinaigrette. We also had a great artisan cheese plate of cheddar, tomme and a fantastic fresh goat cheese. For our entrees, my wife had the Seared Sea Scallops with Corn & Jalepeno Couscous and Bourbon Smoked Paprika Oil. I had the Kentucky Bison Ribeye with grit cake, which was great. I love Bison and this was the best steak that I have had in a long time. It was also perfectly cooked and juicy. We finished with the apple cake desert which was a tasty ending. This was a great meal and we can't wait to return.
(5)Joshua W.
Excellent food. Excellent service. What's not to love? The decor could use a little updating, but this is honestly some of the best food I have had in Louisville.
(5)K B.
Fantastic! we were with a semi large group 25+ and our service was excellent. the foods were complex interesting and delicious. i had the veal over pasta without the veal (vegetarian) and it was sumptuous. definitely save room for dessert. the caramel cake with vanilla ice cream was incredible. we had to bring home the other half. dinner was so delicious that i didn't have room for the entire generous portion of cake. * on an environmental friendly note - the to go box was recyclable plastic - kudos for not using styrofoam.
(5)Christina G.
I'm between a 3 and a 4, so I'll say this is a 3.5. The decor surprised me a bit. It feels kind of South American-Latin, but the food isn't that type at all. It's more of an American-based offering. We made reservations for a Thursday evening. I was surprised it was so busy when we walked in. A good sign, I thought. We were seated in a corner at a very small table with a bench I greatly disliked. For one thing, when someone at the complete other end of the long bench moved, got up, or sat down, I felt it. Another couple arrived after us and got a big booth to themselves. Jerks. The bourbon list is extensive. I got some sort of cocktail with bourbon in it an it was good. My husband got an old fashioned and he liked it - very strong. We had a groupon which was for a prix fixe meal. The choices were somewhat limited, which was a disappointment. We also noticed the Lilly's inflates the value of their groupon. When we were comparing prices on the regular menu to those on the special prix fixe menu, the savings by using the groupon was negligible. In any case, I started with a beet and goat cheese salad, which was good. The main course wasn't great. We both ordered the steak. I ordered it medium well and my husband ordered it medium. When the plates came, they were given to the wrong person, even after we specified how we ordered the steak. For medium, it was overdone. My dish was cooked properly, but I found so much fat on the steak. The asparagus and potato sides were really good. For dessert, we both had lavender ice cream. It was great, probably one of my favorite parts of the meal. My one complaint about it (if it could be considered a complaint) is that there was just too much of it. The lavender is a potent flavor - one scoop would certainly have sufficed over the 3 we were each served. I don't live in the area, but if I did, I might give this place another try. If I had another meal like this one, I don't think I'd go a third time.
(3)Ronald O.
A little disappointing. I found Lilly's to be quite pricey for the experience. Ambiance was jus so-so, and service was slow and unprofessional. While I understand the long honored tradition of adding an automatic gratuity to parties of six or more, I was stunned to see it was 20%(usually 18). The food was good, drinks reasonable. I'm a generous tipper when warranted, but like to feel somewhat in control of my generosity. In summary, I cannot recommend this restaurant, nor will I return. Extremely disappointed
(2)Wilson K.
Came here Derby night. When you serve 3 star food (being generous), you can't charge $100/person. I've gladly payed four times that for a single meal, but the food was great, service was great, ambiance was great... I understand that the local businesses like to raise prices for Derby weekend, but if you do, you must bring your A game. Again, the food was okay, but just okay. Service was poor--not so-so, but poor. We were "served" by the bartender, Josh, who checked on us one time during our sad prix fixe meal, but did that in passing. Our food was delivered by a few other impersonal servers. Besides a server assistant who never let our water glasses empty, and the hostest (the young one), the staff is inattentive and dull. On top of the bad service, they added auto gratuity of 20% after giving us 10% service. I could understand if the guy was slammed, but he wasn't. Seviche, down the road, gave us much better food and service the night before, so perhaps a staff field trip there would help. Charge what you want, but make it worth it. This place surrendered before they opened their doors by offering that sad menu, and then gave poor service and had the audacity to make up for it by allowing auto grat. The staff failed, but more importantly, the management and ownership failed.
(1)Heather S.
The caramel cake was amazing. The very best part of our meal. Service was excellent. Food felt dated and not very creative. Not sure we would go back.
(3)John P.
We ate at Lilly's for the first time on a whim one early Friday evening a couple of months ago. We were excited about having just closed on a cool old house and we were hungry, so we decided to just drop into the closest restaurant within walking distance. Luckily, they had a table available. We hadn't checked it out and didn't know what to expect, although we remembered hearing that it was good although a bit expensive. Our server was helpful and attentive to our needs. I wound up getting the grouper special, and we shared the apple & walnut salad. Five stars for the best grouper I've ever had. Cooked to perfection, beautiful presentation and tasty accompaniments. Every bite was delicious. We felt like celebrating and Lilly's came through perfectly.
(5)Tucker G.
Delicious! I'm not much of a salad eater, but the salad I got was to die for! It came with a deviled egg, freshly cut avocado, an almost prosciutto-like cured ham, and poached chicken with the perfect amount of juices. The dressing was very light and worked perfectly with the salad. It wasn't overpowering whatsoever! Definitely returning.
(5)Janet C.
I wish I could say how impressed I was because I was really looking forward to going to this restaurant, unfortunately, I can't do that. They neglected to tell me there was a $100 prix fixe menu for Derby weekend. When we were seated and received menus, we were quick to notice there were no prices assigned to the food. We asked the waiter, who was very kind, and proceeded to tell him the issue. The manager and owner came, with incredible attitude. Although they made it right and allowed us to have menus that included price points, it wasn't without calling attention to our group and making us feel uncomfortable. The food was good, but I would have preferred someplace else.
(2)Fred S.
My wife and I and another couple recently dined at Lilly's at one of their pre-fix dinners. My wife has celiac and requires gluten free meals. When this was pointed out our server was more than helpful and attentive to her needs. My wife had a salad and salmon both of which were some of the best she has ever experienced. The sauce on the salmon was particularly good. I had salad and skirt steak which was also excellent. The bread provided was made in house and was some of the best I've ever had. Though not much of a desert eater, because it was part of the pre-fix, I had chocolate cake with bourbon chocolate ice cream which was out of this world! My wife had peach ice cream which was also terrific. The food was terrific, the server was one of the best we've had and the overall experience was memorable. We'll be back.
(5)Melissa W.
Love Lilly's and have been there numerous times. Our food was excellent, however our waiter although extremely nice was terrible. I ordered a dirty martini, came straight up vodka. My dad ordered a pumpkin beer, got an IPA. My husband ordered a bourbon with whiskey rocks, got ice. Took 30 minutes to receive dessert and lukewarm espresso-sugar cubes wouldn't melt. Will always go back but when 4 people spend $200+ service should be much better than it was.
(3)Jeff W.
Wife, son and I decided to hit Lilly's for a long-awaited return to a restaurant I had previously eaten at once before. That occasion was about 10 years ago and it was fantastic. I don't know why I waited so long...but after my last meal I'm not sure I'll be dying to go back again. It's not that Lilly's is a bad restaurant... this place was doing the whole local-sourced farm to table thing in the 90's (which was practically unheard of back then). I have a lot of respect for Kathy Cary and what she brought to the Louisville dining scene. However the best days of Lilly's seem to be in the past. The dining areas look a bit dated. Then again, many of the diners were a bit dated too. I'm past my prime and all, but I think Lilly's has fallen into this trap you see restaurants fall into... where they used to be great, develop a large base of regulars, and then never change or update anything. Although the main dining room had some empty tables we were taken into a side dining room with plenty of open seating...and then left there to ANOTHER smaller dining room that was completely empty. Why do restaurants do this? We were dressed appropriately and were completely nice to the hostess. Anyway, we had to ask to be seated somewhere else where we could at least view another human being. Service was good but a little clumsy at times. One waitress went to fill my water and reached across my plate and dragged her sleeve across my wine glass as she did so. I expect stuff like that at Applebee's, but not at Lilly's. Our waiter was certainly bubbly and nice but seemed kind of new. Kathy was working the dining room as she usually does and she's very nice and warm. She stopped by and checked on us which is always a nice touch. My wife had the fish special of the evening and it was very nice. A VERY thick piece of fish and it was cooked perfectly. I tried "Celebrate the Hog" which was pork tenderloin, pork belly, sweet potato au gratin and collard greens. It was underwhelming. The pork portions were small. I can make better pork tenderloin than what was served... it was ok, but nothing special. My son had the burger and he indicated it was good, but nothing special. Desserts were good, especially the peach sorbet which was excellent. Prices were a bit expensive in my opinion. I don't feel the quality of the food and service warrant the prices. I didn't have a BAD meal... but I also wasn't satisfied with the quality to price ratio either. There's so many other choices in this city... I hope Lilly's can update itself in the future and stay relevant. Currently it's just meh.
(3)Megan F.
It's a similar concept to places like Harvest that seem to have a bit more hip appeal but Lilly's has apparently been doing it for a long while. Atmosphere: Unlike many other places that have cropped up in recent years and are doing farm-to-table and are very contemporary feeling, Lilly's has a different vibe. The wild colored paintings and almost kitschy but still classy artwork on the walls amidst the fine dining table settings paired together makes me feel like they're trying to be fun and casual but they still want to serve refined food. Great. I totally support the accessible vibe they're going for while still maintaining a sense of being upscale, especially for dinner. But I just can't take a Saturday lunch that seriously. Service was just pretty stiff. Food: Burgers are a great deal here for lunch, but that deal comes with a messy price to pay. My meal cost under $10 and for a local and grass fed burger on a pretzel roll with some wonderful toppings and stuff, you know melt in your mouth kind of stuff that you find on burgers at upscale places. It's divine, order it. I even recommend it despite the insane mess it will cause you. I pride myself in eating pretty neatly and let me tell you, this burger needs a fork and a knife. The bun is a little too small to hold everything in there and there is just soooo much juiciness to everything. It wasn't just the burger either, my boyfriend's pork sandwich was the same way. Mess and all, the food is top notch. I just wish the atmosphere and service was a little more relaxed to go along with that. Why I'll be back...to try the seasonal winter warmer cocktail menu!
(4)Tim D.
I only had dessert and a couple drinks, but that was some darn-good peach pie and coconut ice cream. My only issue is the cost - three drinks and a split dessert came to $40. The service was very good.
(4)G. B.
After browsing many Bardstown Rd. restaurants online last Saturday afternoon, we finally decided on Lilly's. Big Mistake! When we arrived, we should have used the mostly empty parking lot as a barometer of the quality of the restaurant. I'll begin by saying, the 1 star is for the service, our waiter (Micah) could not have been more attentive or accommodating...very pleasant. However, a few hours after we finished our less than wonderful meal, my 21 year old daughter became very ill with food poisoning. We each had the soup of the day, sweet potato which was IMO, ordinary. So, it couldn't have been the soup because I did not become ill. My daughter had the Waldorf Bibb Salad and the Lilly's Vegetable Board. She was up all night very sick and for the majority of the next day. She is a DI athlete at a local school and can't really afford food poisoning set backs but we'll know better next time. We'll go with the tried and true Bristol!
(1)Mitch H.
What a great place. I live in Cincinnati and wanted to find a romantic place to take my girlfriend and Lilly's was perfect. Service was really attentive but respectful at the same time. We started with the flatbread with pesto, mozz and tomatoes which was excellent. Nice balance of ingredients and flavors meshed very well. My girlfriend had the gnocchi with kalamata, mint pesto and oyster mushrooms. Very fresh and gnocchi had great texture and flavor. I had the chicken pâté which had grilled bread, pickled onions and other accoutrements. Haven't had pâté in a long time and it was really good. Very flavorful and meshed well with the other ingredients. I would highly recommend this place to anyone. Great value. I've paid a lot more for mediocre food and half assed service. Well done.
(5)Yen N.
Went here to celebrate a birthday and the staff made sure everything was superb. I definitely recommend having the crabcake. Everything else we had tasted great as well. I'll definitely be coming back!
(5)Dan D.
Good burgers. The salad came with a green bug on it (aphid?). I guess that means the Bibb lettuce was fresh. They replaced it quickly with a strawberry gazpacho made with beer. My guest found it too spicy, but interesting. We got a free order of fries through Yelp coupon. Fries were done right.
(3)Erin E.
A good friend of ours who is a true and trusted foodie recently sent us a gift certificate to Lilly's for my birthday. My husband and I are new in town and we knew our friend would have done her research before purchasing such a thoughtful gift (she takes her dining seriously!). We just knew would be in for a real treat. And what a treat it was! We went on a Tuesday night and the restaurant was a little quiet but that didn't take away from our awesome dining experience. The food, wine and service were fantastic! I loved how the menu is so seasonal and our friendly & knowledgeable waiter told us that Lilly's was practicing "farm to table" cuisine way before it was trendy. Well the proof was in the pudding! I had the beef tenderloin which was cooked perfectly and served aside, mashed turnips, brussel sprout hash and mushrooms marsala. Delish! My hubbie had the rack of lamb over cheesy grits and spinach. He loved his dish so much that I thought he was going to like the plate! We finished the night off by sharing a dessert. Crème brulee served in a puff pastry which was quite unique and tasty. The ambience is unassuming which made us feel comfortable. We will definitely go back (soon I hope!)
(4)Anthony P.
Overall, my wife and I had a great experience here. I learned the humiliating way that the small bowl on the table has loose pink salt so don't pick it up and spill it all over yourself and the table. The meal was terrific although the ceased salad was average. The service was excellent. The decor is a bit eclectic but nice. Overall a great place to eat an I would recommend it.
(4)Amy L.
I have hesitated a bit to write this review. I have been to a lot of really, really great restaurants in Louisville but for some reason had never been to Lilly's until last week. I have always heard great things about the food and service and was so excited to go. Sadly, I was not impressed. I would go 3 1/2 stars for food, but 2 or 3 for atmosphere and service. The decor is a bit dated and felt a little dull and not very romantic. My husband and I went on 1/2 price wine Wednesday and ordered a lovely bottle of Pinot Noir for $21. Sweet! The hostess that greeted us and took us to the table was very friendly and the night was starting off well. The server told us about the specials and gave us some bread with amazing infused olive oil to enjoy with our wine. We chose to do a 3 course prix fixe dinner. I started with the soup of the day which was a creamy eggplant topped with shrimp and my husband had a melon salad. Both were delicious and at this point, the service was great. Next, I had salmon with quinoa and my husband had a perfectly prepared skirt steak. We enjoyed both, but nothing really special. After our entrees were dropped off by the food runner, we only saw our server as he rushed by our table to do other things. He never stopped to pour our wine or ask if we needed anything. Since we did the 3 course, we ordered all at once and had dessert coming, so we figured he was just busy. Well, the food runner brought our desserts - I had a rich, flourless chocolate torte that was out of this world good. My husband had a peach ice cream that neither of us cared for. It was not creamy at all. Just blah. We were out of wine and wanted another glass or possibly another bottle, but no one came back to our table. I was frustrated but decided we were ready to move on. We couldn't find our server to get the check. Finally, the manager came by and we asked him for the check. We still tipped well as I was a bartender for 7 years and I hate to stiff someone if maybe they were just having a bad night. \ Bottom line- the food is pretty good. They do have a special small plate menu on Wednesdays that may be even better. If we go back- it will be to try that. The prices were a bit high for what you get and the service was not up to par for sure. I hope that we can try it again and I can update my review later. There are just too many fabulous restaurants in Louisville to spend money in a place that is average.
(3)Mohan R.
Everytime I think it's the best lunch ever, they outdo themselves. Pumpkin bisque was outstanding. Striped bass/risotto and truffle fries uniquely delicious. Dessert- bread pudding with a Pappy van Winkle bourbon sauce- defies description. Service second to none. It gets no better than this.
(5)Sarah H.
Ok so I've really debated my star rating for Lilly's. Party because I really really wanted to love it and partly because there were things I really really liked and things I really was disappointed by. When I was in culinary school I had a chef instructor who used to rave about Lilly's. She always said that in her opinion it was the best restaurant in town. I have wanted to go since then and that's been 12 years ago at this point. I was so excited when I found a groupon a month or so ago for Lilly's because that meant I'd finally get to try it for my self. I paid $75 for the groupon which stated that it was a $150 value and we were to receive two meals from the pre fixe menu. Both meals included an appetizer/salad, an entree, and a dessert. We made a reservation and were seated upon our arrival. We were given the pre fixe menu choices and brought bread. I really loved that the bread was served with olive oil and pink sea salt instead of basic butter. It was really tasty and actually one of the highlights of the meal. My husband and I ended up selecting the exact same things for our meals partly because of the limited menu but also because we do tend to like the same things. We started the meal with a salad with goat cheese, and fresh strawberries and I enjoyed that more than my husband did. It's more up my alley than his but I believe the other choice was a chilled soup so he went with the salad because he isn't a fan of any chilled soup (I'm actually not either I feel like chilled soup is basically a chunky beverage and not so much a soup. Anyway moving on) for our entrees we both had the flat iron steak. I don't remember if the weight for the steak was listed on the menu but it was quite small, maybe only 6oz? Could have been 8 I suppose but it seemed smaller to me. The steak did have nice flavor and was surprisingly tender for a sirloin cut. The steak was served with three asparagus spears and three small fingerling potatoes. Again the flavors of the side dishes were great but I would have liked a little more of them. For dessert we had a chocolate torte and it was tasty as well. Rich and just the right amount of sweet. But once again the slices we received were tiny. Probably only one inch at the thickest end of the slice. I certainly don't need gigantic desserts or even gigantic entree portions however I do think I should leave a three course meal feeling full and satisfied. I also don't feel that the meal we received was a $150 dollar value. Now I really do hate to complain about this sort of thing since we were getting a discount but when we are under the impression we are getting a meal that's a certain value and that's not the case it's kind of disheartening. I buy these kind of groupons to be able to try new and upscale restaurants I may not normally get to try but I do expect to get the value I was promised. It almost felt like we were second class diners or something because we could see the other customers around us with their normal restaurant sized portions. I debated anywhere between two and four stars for this review and finally settled on three. I enjoyed the food and everything was tasty but many parts of the whole experience were disappointing. I may return and try something off of their regular menu sometime just to see the difference. I'm not saying Lilly's isn't a four or even five star restaurant but I'd highly advise skipping the groupon should another one be available.
(3)Billy D.
Lilly's is a classic here in Louisville, serving food on par with some other greats like Jack Fry's. I give it 4 stars only because I think the atmosphere could use a bit more work and the hostess didn't seem in tune with providing the level of service and attitude as the balance of the staff. On the other hand the food and service are really top notch! I started out with a bourbon flight from the awesome bourbon selection. My wife and I shared the fries which are blanched and fried twice, the texture was perfect. Next I had the bisque shrimp soup that was PHENOMENAL! We shared the scallops which were cooked perfectly and balanced nicely by the accompanying brown sauce. Prices seem comparable to other restaurants of similar caliber and the dedication by the owners and chef are evident. Lilly's deserves a visit if you haven't been.
(4)Beverly H.
Everything is wonderful. It is one of the best restaurants in Louisville!! Food, service, atmosphere is top notch.
(5)Nate G.
Was exploring Bardstown Road and stumbled across this place as they were nearing close. We didn't want to eat, only a place to rest our feet while having a drink and even though they were wrapping up there was one couple at the bar and they along with the owner welcomed us in. Everyone was friendly and informative and the bartender was also an excellent host. We ended up staying well past close and learned about some of the history of the area while enjoying the Van Winkle Rye. They were closed our last day in town so we did not get to try the food but strictly based on the friendliness of the owner and the staff we will definitely dine here the next time we're in town.
(4)Eric L.
Had the derby week prix fixed menu. It was great, then the main course took an hour and seemed to have been left under heat lamps drying out food. Experience was not worth high cost.
(3)K S.
Great service and atmosphere. We took our time and enjoyed cocktails and dinner. Had to send back our first order for super dry martini since it was awash in vermouth, but the next round redeemed themselves. We started with the Bibb salad and sweet potato soup. Salad was fresh with a really nice balsamic reduction and figs. The soup was amazing and surprisingly broth based, not cream based. We asked the server and she said that they make almost all their soup with broth instead of cream, which is a really nice reprieve from most of the overly creamy/heavy soups I come across in restaurants. My fiancé ordered veal with a mushroom cream sauce served over pasta. I personally didn't care for it since the sauce almost tasted a little like mayonnaise to me(I hate mayonnaise). He felt it was above average but not stellar. I had the special which was a lightly dusted cod(cornmeal) over a fried green tomato and wild rice. The fish was really good and not too greasy of a frying, the grains were cooked perfectly. I'm not a fried green tomato fan, but it was prepared well with light breading. We did not have dessert, just some coffee. I didn't think their coffee was very good, a bit stale tasting. Overall, a nice relaxing evening with prompt and attentive service. The food was above average. I would go back for another special evening especially with a rotating/seasonal menu.
(4)Tom Y.
Last night my wife and I dined here while on a short visit to Louisville. It was one of the most delightful dining experiences we have had. The chef does an outstanding job of preparing creative dishes that bring together an array of flavors. The flatbread appetizer is a great start. They change the toppings nightly. Ours had bbq pork, pineapple, roasted peppers, blu cheese crumblings,and a red onion marmalade. We moved from that to a bibb salad with a pecan pie vinegar-ate that was unreal. Our entree was a grilled striped bass with a fried green tomato and corn pudding. All was fabulous. The service was outstanding. The team really took pride in ensuring we were pleased. To top it off they have an outstanding bourbon list and serve some flights which give you an opportunity to enjoy a variety. And to end the night they serve fresh French press coffee. We surveyed other dishes being served and all looked fabulous. I would highly recommend this establishment if you are in Louisville.
(5)Jonni L.
My husband and I have been eating at Lilly's for 10 years now--we live in the Cincinnati area, but drive to Lilly's for special dinners like our anniversary, birthday's, etc...so on average, 2-3 times a year. We spread this out so that we can take advantage of their seasonal, regional menu offerings. Lilly's has never disappointed us. Never. The menu is concise, but there is something for everyone. I recommend choosing something from each course on the menu, even though you might not be able to walk out. We usually order 2 starters, a soup or salad, entrees and then dessert. My husband appreciates their bourbon and port menu and usually has that for dessert. I appreciate that Kathy Cary has been doing the farm to table thing before it was "cool" or "green". It's just good food sense. And that's what Lilly's has mastered: An Artful, inspired menu, food that is gorgeous to look at and even better to eat.
(5)Sugar P.
I was in town on business, looking for a good place to eat that was not so pricey it wouldn't fit my business budget. I am so glad I found Lilly's on Yelp. After making reservations on Yelp, and using the directions to find the place on a rainy night, we walked into the welcoming ambience of Lilly's to find that Tuesday was our lucky night--Lilly's serves tapas. This allowed me and my dining partner to sample several small dishes, all of which were delectable, without getting that "too full" feeling. And we stayed within budget. A perfect way to end our day!
(4)Mary J C.
What a treat this place was during my visit in Louisville! I agree with others, Kathy Cary is doing a fantastic job managing this great restaurant, from the moment you walk in, you feel right at home. All the staff is very polite and knowledgeble; and the food, of course, is outstanding!!! The menu changes here so you may not be able to order some things, they use seasonal ingridients, which is great! Here is what we tried and loved: - Bibb salad: sautéed pears, local Bibb, toasted pecans - was an absolute delight! - Duck fat fries - the best fries I had. - Buttermilk chicken - I was hoping to get a taste of local cuisine, but oh my, this chicken was not just that it was the best chicken I had eating out!!! It was moist, it was flavorful, light, a bit crispy, served on the plate with veggies and mushroom (wild) - I bet this item is not seasonal, I highly recommend you try it! - We also had trout, this dish was on special, served on the bed of wild rice with spinach - fantastic!!! - We also tried their home made ice cream - I could not stop eating it, even though I was full :) They offer a comprehenstive bourbon menu :) Lilly's will get a Michelin star one day, they deserve it.
(5)Lara S.
3 words.... Courtney's Caramel Cake. The food is amazing! Be sure to have a reservation.
(5)Todd M.
Lilly's is a gem. The restaurant logo hasn't been fresh since about 1994, but the food is. It's seasonal, mainly local, prepared thoughtfully, presented beautifully. On our latest visit, we ate an appetizer of fried oysters, green tomatoes, and chipotle aioli. The flavor of the oysters might have been a little lost in the breading, but they were crunchy and delicious and the oysters tasted fresh. All the "Kentucky tapas" we've tried have been quite good, from the chicken empanada to the fries. Lamb, pork, beef, veal and duck dishes appear regularly on the menu, the preparations shifting with the seasons. I had sea scallops on our recent visit, and they were perfectly complemented by the corn broth and dill butter sauce. Lamb ravioli is another regular favorite, accompanied by grits, a vegetable "linguini" and eggplant. The eggplant was the only thing that didn't work in the dish; it was undercooked, simultaneously crunchy and bland. As far as dessert, we get stuck every time on either the carrot cake or the caramel cake. The accompanying caramel ice cream is very good. Both are decadent bombs, but there's always a to-go box nearby, and you can feel free to let that enable you to order these excellent desserts. Louisville doesn't seem to be an adventurous wine city, so any complaint about the wine list requires that perspective. (There's a lot of Fetzer, Mondavi, Ravenswood and Blackstone on restaurant menus around here.) But Lilly's wine list is better than most of the restaurants we've been to in Louisville and we always find something good. Service has been excellent on all our visits; always attentive, gracious, professional.
(4)Chris W.
I absolutely LOVED the food. I found the atmosphere a bit to "dressy" for me, but the food and service totally made me feel at home.
(4)Dave M.
A cool, local Louisville restaurant with interesting & tasty food, great wine and outstanding service. I had the pork tenderloin dinner (Celebrate the Hog) with a nice Malbec wine to accompany it. Great flavor for both! The price is a little high and there was a foul, bathroom-like odor when you come in. But if you can handle that, you should have a nice time.
(3)Binky M.
Holy belt loops, Batman; this food is good enough to eat! After a disappointing lunch at our previously favorite greasy spoon, we drove by Lilly's on the way to our hotel. With thoughts of nuked fried chicken still lingering from lunch, we were thrilled to discover a L'ville gastronomical wonder. Holy cow, the veal was good enough to make a PETA protestor cringe. The Bibb Salad bleu us away with a flavor combination of aged cheese, sweet pecans, and citrus. Service was the envy of Mr. French (look it up, mi amor), Dazzling Derbies, this place is a winner!
(4)David I.
Very nice restaurant that has fantastic service. This is one of those little neighborhood classy places that makes you love eating in Louisville. We really enjoyed the service, the food and the atmosphere. We only had two very small shortcomings. My wife ordered her duck medium and it was rare (but edible) and my scallops weren't caramelized (although tasty). I'll be coming back for sure.
(4)Greg W.
This was one of the best meals i have had, from the delicious flatbread appetizer to the incredible creme brulee in a puff pastry! The service was just right, always available and not hovering or intrusive. i will not wait long to return.
(5)Ingrid C.
Duck was the theme of dinner. Thick-cut duck fat french fries. Delicious duck breast. (My friend's strip steak was really good, too.) Peach ice cream with biscotti. (I know there's no duck in that.) Lilly's was definitely one of the best meals I had in Louisville. You definitely get that they care about local, homegrown food, even though the duck is sourced from North Carolina (at least it was that day). I thought that was a good choice though, considering I'm not fond of the texture of inland duck meat. I was (not so) secretly pleased to have tried all but two of the bourbons on their bourbon list. And then there was one.
(5)Lynn L.
Had a really lovely dinner here over the weekend! The dining room was a good size, and covered with all sorts of local art (which changes regularly). We were seated at a great table in a back corner, which was cozy, and gave some privacy. The restaurant was full with people waiting by the time we left, so clearly popular. We started off with two glasses of J Vineyards sparkling wine while we perused the menu and wine list. The menu wasn't cutting-edge or even super original, but had some unique spins on common proteins. I like how they have a section of "Kentucky Tapas" - a new phrase for me! We went with the duck fat fries (how could we say no?) and zucchini fritters to start. The zucchini fritters were really excellent - crispy outside, tender inside, and served with a dill-yogurt sauce that nicely complemented them. The duck fat fries had great flavor, and were served with a dipping sauce that tasted to me like Henry Bain sauce. However, they were a little under-done, and so ended up leaving some behind. They could have used a few extra minutes of duck fat bath! We splurged on a fabulous Spanish Priorat, but the wine list has lots of reasonably-priced bottles available (about $30 and up). They accommodated our request to have it decanted without hesitation. Entrees of pork chop and strip steak were both cooked to absolute perfection. The side of mushrooms that came with the steak were a little strange and made the dish too earthy with truffled mashers. I would have preferred some green beans alongside, or something a little brighter than button mushrooms. The hash with potatoes and bacon for the pork chop was really tasty! Dessert was a very delicious pear cake with buttermilk ice cream (and I might have splurged on a 5 Puttonyos Tokaj which was worth it!). The service throughout the evening was perfect. Very friendly and not too formal, they still got every little thing right, and we left very happy. We will be back!
(5)Leah T.
This is one of those restaurants where chic women meet up with their friends for a leisurely lunch. The portions are small and dainty, the artwork tasteful and interesting, and the servers polite. The menu is not that different from the menu of other environmentally conscious restaurants in any other moderate-sized city, and compared to those myriad restaurants, this one is average. Local produce is part of the appeal (almost every option includes locally grown tomatoes), but patrons who don't care about such things will probably not value this restaurant. Patrons with large appetites will find themselves unfulfilled, as will people who are on a tight schedule. Patrons who are familiar with this type of bistro may find the menu unimaginative and limited. Patrons who aren't probably find it delightful, given that they meet the criteria of female, chic, and environmentally conscious. I do highly recommend the flavored teas; the mint iced tea is outstanding.
(3)Jan H.
Seasonal regional vegetables and cheeses are incorporated into the fine fare at Lilly's. The oyster salad is available only in season, but it is a wonderful treat.
(5)Adam C.
Unique menu with good food quality and service. The most annoying thing is the hours so check to make sure they are open before you get you mind set on eating there. Also the prices are a bit high, if they dropped them a little it would be somewhere to go more often than once every few months.
(3)Abbey V.
Lilly's is one of my favorite restaurants in Louisville. As a recent transplant from San Jose, I was used to many restaurants that focused on fresh, organic, and local foods. Lilly's was a FIND! Everything I have had there has been fantastic. Let me preface that, however, by saying that I am a vegetarian. However, my husband is a carnivore, and LOVES the burger. So, that said, there are wonderful choices for everyone.
(5)Matt T.
I have been wanting to go to this place for a while and it did not disappoint! I love the quiet, low light atmosphere and the food was very good. I would give Lilly's a 4.5 stars but I chose the 4 over 5 because I'm a bang for your buck kind of guy, and while the food is very good, there are many other places with very good food that are much cheaper! This place is definitely worth checking out though at least once!
(4)Tim G.
I was looking forward to this place, especially based on the reviews and checking out the menu. The food was just okay. Everything was cooked correctly in terms of temperatures, however due to the portion sizing of the meats (pork chop and lamb shank), the meats didn't jive well with the sauces and sides they were presented with. Crab cakes were a little bland and the chocolate lava cake had nothing special about it. All the food was good, but there was nothing spectacular about it, nothing that would lead you to say to good friends or family coming into town, "hey, we really need to go check this place out!" On an up note, the cocktails we ordered were really good (Hot Buttered Cider Rum and Clouded Flower).
(3)Tonya S.
So, I'd heard many good things about this restaurant. Being on Bardstown Rd, with alot of nearby competition, I was excited to dine here. We went last night for my birthday dinner. The food itself was fine - although you have SO many choices on that street that I didn't find the food to be esceptional. It was good, prices were reasonable for what we ordered. I will not be adding to my list of "go-to" places however, nor would I bring clients there to dine. Our waiter was excellent - he was not obstrusive, was helpful about the menu choices, etc. I would have to agree with Liz W's description - the place is totally outdated.....it smelled old. It totally reminded me of a place that was really great in the 90's and there's defintely a crowd there that hasnt let it go.....but in all seriousness, if they want to compete - and there is a lot of competition, they are going to have to do something (starting with the interior) to change things up a bit. While it was clean, its dark and drab.
(2)Richard T.
Great service. It has been awhile since I visited Lilly's. Service was great. Waiter provided so much value about dishes, origin of vegetables and meats. Most products are local grown/raised. Great selection of KY bourbon
(5)Dave S.
We were only in Louisville for three days as a micro-vacation and wanted to eat well. I looked at a lot of restaurants before settling on Lilly's. We went for lunch as they seemed to have a rather inspired lunch menu, unlike a lot of nicer restaurants which tend to phone it in. The restaurant was fairly full, but we were seated right away. Our waiter had more southern charm than one could ever ask for. He was very nice, but not intrusive at all. I ordered the hamburger and a bowl of the chilled celery curry soup. The soup was interesting. There was a depth of flavor that I didn't expect with a chilled soup. It was certainly tasty and I ate it all; however, I think I realized that I don't love chilled soups. It was like 110 degrees outside, so it fit the bill. The hamburger was the best I've ever had. Cooked just the way I asked and again with a ton of flavor. The meat was from a local farm, which I wish I could remember the name of, so that probably had a lot to do with it. My wife ordered the blue fish and couscous, which she also really enjoyed. I don't eat fish, so I can't vouch for it. Maybe the best part of the whole lunch was the dessert. We ordered the macaroons with lemon curd. Holy cow. The macaroons were very almondy. When trying to split them in half the seemed to be a bit chewy, but that was far from the truth. They melted in my mouth (hehehe) when I ate them. The lemon curd was also fantastic. All in all, this was one of the best meals I've ever had and I like to think that we eat pretty well. I can't give this place high enough praise. If you are in town, it would be my first suggestion.
(5)Linda M.
I just went to Lilly's with three friends to celebrate the holidays. It was just delightful. The food and service were excellent and we were able to sit and talk in a quiet area. We each ordered different entrees and were so excited to share the artistic presentation. Just top notch and so memorable!
(5)Hassen A.
This place was almost perfect. It's frankly hard to top. The scallops here were amazing. I'd come to this place again.
(4)Jay R.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Louisville. They have a great bourbon selection and quaint little bar. The restaurant atmosphere borders on romantic. Great place to impress a date. The menu has interesting southern gourmet food. The free range chicken dish is excellent.
(5)