North End Cafe
2116 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY, 40205
North End Cafe Menu
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Salads
Healthy Meal suggestions for North End Cafe
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Salads
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Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2116 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY, 40205 - Phone (502) 690-4161
- Website https://www.northendcafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :8:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Laura S.
Second time in, this time we had the cheese board, roasted chicken and egg plant casserole. Cheese plate was really good, excellent blue berries for this time of year, full of flavor. Roasted chicken was delicious, but I wish I'd gotten the rosemary & garlic fries as a side because they were heavenly last time. It came with mashed potatoes and green beans, both good. The egg plant was very good and a hearty portion, the chicken was a huge portion, enough for two meals. Peanut butter pie completed the meal, this was good and not to sweet like most peanut butter pies. Can't wait to try their burgers and breakfast. Ask for Anthony, he's the best waiter ever! We had him both times!
(5)Marcia M.
We got in here just in the nick of time as the hungry brunch rush arrived just 10 minutes after we ponied up to the bar... Although, we were advised that there would be around a 10 minute wait but we just opted to sit at the bar so we could get a jump start on some mimosas. The bartender had a great sense of humor and was nice enough to replace the spilled mimosa (swear that I was not buzzed) when I accidentally knocked it over. He also let us know that while they normally have a separate vegan menu, the printer was broken so he sent over the hostess to go over some of the vegan options that were available. I happily opted for the Vegan Reuben Sandwich ($8.99) with a side of the potato salad (also vegan) and was very impressed with my meal. This was the perfect thing to order as I needed a filling meal to anchor a full day ahead at the Forecastle Festival. The Reuben was full of flavor thanks to the tofu, sauerkraut, soy cheese and dressing served on a delicious rye toast. It was truly a comforting way to start my day. I was also tempted to order the Vegan Tacos (2 for $5) but I had ordered Kale Tacos the day before at El Camino and wanted to switch things up a bit. Some other veg-friendly options on the menu included a veggie burger, soysage patties, vegetarian omelet, and salads that could easily be tweaked to fit a vegan palate. The only odd thing was that the hostess who was sent over to highlight the vegan options on the menu with us wasn't actually super familiar with the "vegan" options and even suggested the Grilled Atlantic Salmon entree? Huh? Why would I order a fish entree? Overall, this is a solid spot to get your grub on in Louisville!
(4)Suzy I.
We really used to like this place. It's close to home, so an easy walk, and the food is consistently good. But the service. Oh my. What service? Stopped at the bar tonight to have a glass of wine while waiting for dinner. The bartender would not wait on us. Nor did he even bother to holler out that he was busy and would be with us shortly. I might point out that they were not very busy. We finally managed to catch the eye of a young lady behind the bar, who couldn't help us for some mysterious reason. But she said she would have the bartender wait on us. So we continued to wait. Along with another couple who sat down before us and still had not been served or acknowledged. Not sure how on earth this place will keep up with all those sweethearts who wander in tomorrow night for a romantic Valentine's dinner. He was the slowest bartender I've ever had the agony to witness.
(2)Jim S.
My wife and I went for lunch. I had a rockin' Niciose Salmon Salad where they nailed the amount of dressing - so rare these days. My wife had a salmon sandwich. The fries were.hot and tasty. I really appreciated the fast and friendly service. We had our food within 10 minutes of being seated.
(5)Andrea B.
I really prefer breakfast here but most recently came for dinner. The atmosphere is pretty basic but has a good patio if it's nice outside. The goat cheese ravioli were good - crispy, flaky ravioli filled with warm goat cheese...yum. My husband got the red fish special which he said was good and I got the blackened chicken pasta. It was a bit heavier than I thought it would be but had a good flavor. We shared the brownie cheesecake dessert which was the highlight of the meal. Overall, lunch and dinner are good here but I'd recommend breakfast if you plan to visit.
(3)Tim S.
Went on a Sunday for brunch. The place was packed, which I took as a good sign. Anyway, after a considerable wait, we were finally seated. I got the Potato Melt with an egg and toast. It was very filling, I couldn't even finish it all in fact. The coffee was excellent. However... not only did we wait a long time to be seated, we waited a long time for our food, and while waiting we waited for coffee, and the food although hearty and not too expensive, seemed like pretty standard breakfast fare. But, if you don't mind the wait, I'm sure your hunger with be satisfied.
(3)Kirsten L.
YUM! Loud restaurant, but the taste of the food is worth it. Entering at 7 p.m., we only had to wait 15 minutes to be seated. I had one of their healthier entrees, Chickpea & Quinoa cake with veggies. It was good. Mike had one of their unhealthier entrees, Fish & Chips. Batter fried cod & pamesan rosemary garlic fries. He also added cole slaw. His food was delicious. The fries were very different & flavorful. Mike had the chocolate torte, & I had a specialty pancake for dessert. It was a pecan carmel, plate sized. It was warm to the last bite. Thumbs up to this restaurant. No complaints other than the noise level. That just happens sometimes. Definitely would recommend & return. Oh yeah, pancakes aren't on the dessert menu. They serve breakfast all day.
(4)Jamis A.
Well, that was pretty simple. The sheer annoyance of the hostess when I asked for a window seat, instead of where she wanted to seat me, was almost audible. I could understand if it were a weekend and busy, but there were maybe 10 people in the place. I tend to assume that the professionalism displayed by employees is a reflection of the culture. Recently retiring from the military and returning to Louisville to be around courteous and decent people again this isn't how I expect to be treated when I spend my money in an establishment. Best...
(1)Gustavo A. L.
Ok experience, which is not bad. Overall, the food and service were good. Perhaps we caught them in a bit of an off day on account of the Labor Day Holiday, but also, credit for opening on this day as well. We basically had comfort food, in the form of fried eggs, home fries and pancakes, so really simple food and no super special skills to prepare. On the service side, we found the staff to be a bit on edge, we chuck it off to the holiday, because realistically, who wants to work on a Monday holiday? To be fair, it wasn't bad, and when the order was screwed, partially because of not listening to what was being ordered, they quickly made it right and took the charge off for the mistaken meal. This is the beginning of a long and promising relationship with North End Cafe, so we will certainly return to satisfy our cravings and look forward to an improved experience.
(3)Lauren D.
This is my second time here, but the first had me a bit discombobulated from too many fermented goods the prior evening. Let's start with atmosphere: I feel a little like I'm in a state park what with the vaulted ceiling and commercial dishes. Add the industrial base tables on the commercial carpet squares and I'm kind of feeling a bit like I'm at a state conference. The art is interesting, but very commercial. This is Bardstown Road; go all out whichever direction you're trying here. Tablecloths and soft wall hangings (get a hippy to weave you something nice) would help. If the prices are running into the mid twenties for an entree you need some more boom in the dining area. Speaking of "boom": The acoustics are not well thought out with conversations from the other side of the room clearly audible. This adds a star so far as my little busy body self is concerned, but others may find it off putting. The food is adequate. Of course, I'm with two starving college kids, so they say it's amazing. It's comparable to everything else in this area, not really making any bold moves here. (The jam offered is the little plastic smuckers.) The coffee is neither good nor bad. Our server was on top of things, that's good! Overall, meh. It's ok, but I get friendlier service, more sweet breakfast selections and better atmosphere at other places. In short, you really have no reason to go out of your way to eat here, but if you find parking near, it's good enough.
(3)Kathy V.
They serve breakfast all day, so it was a no-brainer that our Gal-entine's Day dinner should happen here. Things in it's favor: A BIG menu. A lot of it sounds amazing! Breakfast all day (a point worth repeating) Full bar Things NOT in it's favor: Dishes are very small portions, especially for the price. And most things didn't come with a side. My first martini seemed quite on the not-full side. I ordered a side of bacon. When our food came...my bacon did not. And then the waitress went AWOL. I eventually went to ask a hostess about my side 20+ minutes after our food was delivered. I eventually got it....and was then STILL charged for it. I'd be willing to go back for another try and see if at least the service issue might be a fluke.
(3)Erin K.
I really want to give North End Cafe a 4 star review because the food was really good but the service was so bad that my 2 star review is pretty generous. I came here for a "Sunday Funday" with 4 of my friends. There was a 15-20 minute wait so we decided to get a drink at the bar. The bartender was flat-out rude; he was abrasive and made fun of my friend's selection of a Bud Light over their selection of craft beers. When we were seated, the waiter was literally the worst waiter that I have ever had. He was nice but immediately announced that he was new and had only worked there for 3 weeks. Ummm...that is not considered new! He kept counting our chairs out loud when taking our order ("so *counting out loud* chair 4 wants the burger".) He was a very strange person, almost socially awkward which is not a good trait in a waiter! He forgot one of my friend's entrees - he just didn't even write it down. It took 10-12 minutes for us to get our drinks as he kept forgetting to tell the bartender to make them. When our tickets came they were wrong, of course. We never received an apology for any of these offenses and we never saw a manager to talk to. The whole experience was strange. I would love to go back because the food is good but if this man is my waiter again, I will request to be moved.
(2)phil m.
Thought the portion size on my wife's meal was pretty small for the $19 price, and the parmesan herb fries with my meal seemed like they had been left over from the lunch preparation. We ate about 2:30. I really wanted to like this place and add it to the list of great places to eat in Louisville. But our meal, for the price, was no better than some of the chain restaurants for about $10 cheaper.
(3)Blu K.
Two words: The worst. No wait, 3 words: The worst ever. The worst service of any place on Bardstown road, and it is not even close. I dunno, if you walk into a place, they should be willing to great you, at the very least. Hospitality does go a long way. The hostess had no interest in her job, (you know, hosting). After a total disinterest from her, and then being told we would have to wait, ( even though there were many available tables ) we thought we would pass the time at the bar, while waiting to be seated at one of the several empty tables throughout the establishment. We left our name on the wait list, and told the non interested hostess, we would be waiting at the bar. What followed was the "over all" tie breaker in the worst service ever. After getting seated, in front of the bartender and waiting for about 20-30 minutes without acknowledgement, ( and by the way more tables emptied without us being seated ) we asked for service from a lady behind the bar, and were told we have to wait for the bartender, who then turned and walked away. Really? We had been, for 20 minutes, thanks for the lesson in protocol. That is what I call hospitality. 0 for two and we never even had a chance to order. Empty tables, might that be due to service? So after waiting even longer, we just said "forget it" and left. It was obvious we were not going to get seated nor service from the bar. We left, walked around the corner to another much busier establishment, were promptly seated, order taken within minutes from people that cared. Spent a lot of money there, too. There was a time, I actually enjoyed this place. I will never set foot in that business again. Just a nickel's worth of free advise; Anyplace else is better than this messed up establishment. Think twice before entering.
(1)Trevor W.
We were on Bardstown getting bridesmaids dresses for the wedding and we're hungry for something new. We found the North End Cafe and decided to give it a try. Glad we did. It was a nice place with friendly staff. We had the Shrimp Piri Piri for an appetizer. I had the Smoked Trout Hash (it was tasty) and my fiancé had the Shrimp Curry Saute. Everything was delicious and just the right size. We will definitely be back again.
(4)Larry E.
Ate here last night. Ordered Black Bean Burger. Tasted blah. Just average. Came with fries. Room temp and overcooked. Excellent service.
(4)Steve D.
This used to be my favorite place to eat. Great food and great service. Lately(past four times) the service had been horrible. We literally wait 10-15 minutes after being seated for a waitress to ask if we want drinks. Not to mention that most of the wait staff seem to be more concerned with texting instead of serving. It's sad because this used to be a great place for breakfast.
(2)Karla W.
Love both locations and thrilled the Highlands one is closer to home, but the Frankfort Ave. one is a good excuse to see friends in that area. The egg sandwich meal is so perfect! I love it from start to finish. The salmon for dinner is fantastic. All the desserts are delicious! The service could sometimes be more attentive, but those have been a minority of my experiences. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are great for 2 to 82 year olds.
(5)Mary B.
I got the orange spice french toast which was really good with syrup! Also got some sausage patties on the side wasn't as impressed with those. Others in my party had the egg sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich and the chicken salad. All were great! Service was not very fast or attentive though.
(3)Carla L.
In one week visiting my sister we had food from here twice. I found it to have wonderful food. Service is OK. Can't say it overwhelmed me but it wasn't bad either. The first time we ordered for takeout. I had ordered the Eggplant Casserole but got a call back saying it wasn't available that night so I reordered the first thing that came to mind instead: The Asian Stir Fry with Tofu. On the side I had the potatoes. I can't say anything but it was absolutely delicious! The veggies were cooked to perfection, nice and crunchy. The sauce was not overwhelming but perfect. Loved it. So much so we came back for lunch another day. The Chickpea & Quinoa Cake looked good, I was looking forward to it. The cake itself had a very delicate flavor which was perfect since the grilled veggies on top were seasoned nicely. The best part was how it blended perfectly with the goat cheese and the red pepper coulis, both had a nice strong flavor. The coulis was to die for. All in all the flavors blended perfectly. It has wonderful options for the vegetarian crowd and the menu in the back sorts dishes out by classification (Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free...), very thoughtful and appreciated. If you aren't vegetarian, I still recommend you try the Chickpea & Quinoa Cake. Super flavor.
(4)Lynn E.
Great service! Fabulous food. Had the Blackened Mahi. It was cooked perfectly and had a wonderful flavor!
(5)Alex W.
Food was good and it's nice but at the end the waitress didn't give me my 60 cents back. I had planned on tipping and still did but who assumes and keeps the money?
(4)John V.
Ordered a hamburger well done...blood actually squirted out of it when i bit into it and the bun was soaked with blood...they knew immediately and apologized....minutes later they returned stating it was on a new bun BUT they had microwaved it to death...so i had a steamed burger that burned my mouth when i bit into it....yuck..ridiculously yuck
(1)Shal V.
After 30 minutes of waiting for my food, I was a bit underwhelmed. First of all, they were out of the special before 9am (chorizo omelet). I got the sausage omelet instead, which was so insipid, I had to season it with salt and pepper. If you're spending over $10 for an omelet, it should be fairly special and certainly better than something you can cook at home. I'm not a culinary genius but I can cook a lot better than the mediocre fare I had today. How can you serve something with absolutely no seasoning? Boggles the mind...
(2)Lily N.
Service: 2 out of 5 Food: 3 out of 5 Service: It took forever to get our food. We had reservation for 1 and arrived at 12:56. The place was relatively busy and packed. Our group was 10 people total so they had to get our table ready. When we were sat, we didn't get a menu right away. We had enough time to clean up a seat with syrup on it (yes someone did accidentally sit in it). By 1:45 we still hadn't gotten our food. And the kids in the group had started to vocalize their hunger. I am estimating it wasn't till 2, that we got our food. All of the food was hot/warm when it was served. The food was good. We ordered the burger, chipotle chicken quesadilla and the white wine mussels The chipotle chicken was great! That I highly recommend. The mussels came with a lot of fries, which were good. The sauce itself was also good, but a lot thicker than white wine sauce I've had before. There were plenty of mussels but most of them have already fallen from their shells. The burger was cooked medium well, which we know means it'll be slightly dry. However to me, it tasted very dry. We had an egg on top and that didn't lend any moisture. The lettuce was mostly stem. I personally did not like it but others did. How long it took for us to get our food with no explanation from our server makes me feel like I'll be skipping this place in the future. There wasn't a dish that would motivate me to come back despite the service.
(2)Sarah C.
Hi, my name is Sarah and I am a bruncher. I'm an advocate for breakfast for dinner, and North End adequately suffices my breakfast needs at all times. North End serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and breakfast is served all day (sans their delicious biscuits at night. One of the few downfalls). The first time I tried North End was 3 years ago, and my life was changed. I got the basic breakfast with sausage and skillet fries and added a side of cheddar bacon pancakes. Needless to say I was in a food coma the rest of the day. The coma was well worth it. Everything about my meal was drool-worthy. And the bacon cheddar pancakes? Mouthwateringly fantastic. Anytime I do brunch with friends, I always suggest North End. There's nothing too terribly special about it, but there isn't anything bad about it either. It's a place that masters the basics. They are consistently yummy. My only critique is the service at this location. While the servers are always friendly, they can be slow at times, but patience is a virtue, right?
(4)Marti R.
Sunday Brunch- get there by 10:30am or be prepared to wait! We were seated immediately but by the time our breakfast arrived, there were a good 30 people waiting. Our waitress was slammed by the amount of tables although three other servers (and I'm thinking the manager?) made sure we had everything we needed. We never felt neglected. On to the food- Orange Spice French Toast- just enough spice and orange to make it really different but not enough to overpower the dish. I really appreciate having another option besides regular sausage and their vegetarian sausage was so good that even my meat-lover husband liked it! Pancakes- fluffy and big! The bacon side was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of crunch. Overall, a great experience!
(4)Craig S.
Great breakfast and attentive service! Eggs cooked exactly to order and food came out very fast.
(4)Amy A.
YUM! Food and service are always spot on. The pancakes are the best in the city. Dinner menu is fantastic as well.
(4)Carolyn H.
Not worth it. I wanted to try this because it's vegan friendly, local, and seemed to have a nice atmosphere. Our server didn't even say hello or introduce herself. I have no idea what her name was and she looked incredibly unhappy to be there. I am vegan and love my tofu, eat it many places and enjoy it. But I ordered the breakfast scramble here which was tofu and veggies with bread but I subbed fruit for the potatoes. It was not gross, but it was not good, either. It used some great veggies and portions were right but this was basically just swimming in soy sauce and oil. The 'whole wheat bread' was as floury and yeast-y as anything I've had. Our water and coffee stayed full and hot, the server was prompt,the atmosphere was clean and nice- really a cute space. I wish I wanted to go back but... I just don't. Also note that there is VEGETARIAN biscuits and gravy - NOT vegan.
(2)Mohan R.
Good place with good service- best thing Ive had is the scallops and grits. Excellent steaks as well. Not crazy about the wine selections.
(4)Tiffany S.
Food was great! Great place to go if you want good food and your not in a hurry. Service was SLOW. Waitress was very nice but again very slow service. Food was wonderful.
(3)Nicole S.
I love getting breakfast at North End Cafe! They have great vegetarian and vegan options. I love getting the breakfast tacos, potato melt and egg sandwich. The best thing is they are open all day so you don't have to worry about them closing at 2 or 3 pm.
(4)Jenna B.
I do not recommend this place to eat- North End café for many reasons. I will not be going back here. 1) Our server was inattentive and quite clumsy with service. The food runners literally drop and run! No checking on us to see if we needed plates for the app. We had to pass around the plate with nothing to eat off of! 2)The food was medocre at best- I ordered Huevos Rancheros, and it was bland and boring. This was supposed to be a house specialty!? 3)Service took a good while and there was no apologies for the wait/inattentiveness. 4)We were a party and a few arrived at different times. The waitress failed to acknowledge new people later joining the party and did not attempt to take their beverage order until 20 minutes after their arrival when everyone decided to order food! This is pretty basic stuff. 5)The menu is HUGE, and all over the place, and in my experiences dining out- 9 times out of 10, that isn't a good sign. If you can actually deliver good food then fine- but clearly they need to simplify that menu! 6) I talked with everyone at the table, several stated it was over seasoned, or oddly seasoned, e.g. biscuits and sausage gravy reeking with way too much basil, completely overpowering the gravy. 7)Overpriced mediocre food, service was sub-par, and slow. Blech. The only nice thing I can say is there is a lot of natural light in the restaurant which is nice.
(2)Paul M.
One of my girlfriend's and my favorite breakfast spots... Serving up fresh all day.
(4)Anna D.
I am surprised by the negative ratings but that is what makes Yelp so interesting. I actually loved this place. I recently have given up meat so I am always looking for places that serve vegeterian meals that are not always a salad. Yes, vegeterians so eat more things than salads. I know, strange. I decided on the eggplant casserole served over lentils. Normally eggplant, or at least mine, has this mushy texture that I hate, this eggplant was cooked to perfection. Not mushy baby food but baked nicely with sliced potatoes, carrots and parmesaen cheese I believe which was served over a bed of lentils. The lentils were nicely cooked, not over done. The waitress was gorgeous and refilled my drinks constantly. I also had the hummus as an appetizer. (Almost forgot. Guess hummus isn't so memorable.) That was nice, I've had better hummus but they gave you quite a bit served with pita bread, carrots, and string beans. String beans? But it worked! All in all, I would certainly eat here again.
(4)Scott M.
My wife and I love this location. We have had some problems with the service, but they have always gone above and beyond to correct any issues we have ever had (And it's not many!) We are Vegetarians and LOVE the options they have for us. They support local farms and us there own when ever they can. The food is outstanding!!! It is one of only a few places in town we will even eat at! The Veggie Burger is great and the Veggie Ruben is my favorite! Keep up the great work!
(4)Adam W.
I stopped by the North End Cafe because it's right next to where I tan. They had my business as soon as I saw the $4.00 mimosas sign... =) The service was great, no long waits and our waitress was very attentive. I tried the vegan biscuits and gravy, which were surprisingly flavorful and filling. I'll defiantly be going back to try more things on the menu soon.. =D
(4)Michael P.
Haha, ho-ly shit... let me tell you about my Friday night. There is something supremely Twin Peaks/Twilight Zone about this place. As a friend of mine commented "it's like I keep waiting for something to happen but I don't know what." Okay so, story time. We went here to watch a friend perform, as they have live entertainment occasionally. It was ironic that upon entering, the door guy who takes cover and marks your hand remarked that he "didn't know what he was doing." Shit man, he was like the only person that could adequately do his job that night. I approached the bar, and since my cohort was hungry, asked if we could order some food there. The bartender replied "umm, no." "Oh okay, are you all still serving?" "Yes." "Okay, cool, so how would I go about ordering this food to eat?" "Let me ask." He proceeds to have a 2-3 minute huddle with some other staff - it was like watching a war room - and finally hands down the consensus: "have a seat and someone will be with you." Alright, that works... but of course, we waited quite a long time before a server greeted us. Again, a pretty forgivable offense usually, but the experience was already weird thus far and things were about to get hairier. Finally an older man approached "you all doing drinks tonight?" "Actually we were hoping to see a menu." Then... homeboy GAPED at me. Straight gaped, and then MUTTERED "muhurrr, guh, okay" to himself in a super annoyed fashion and slammed the menus down. What a fucking socially inept ass way to treat a table. The "muhurr" is the closest approximation I can conjure up to the sound he made at the request of seeing a menu. My bad for asking to see a menu at a restaurant, bro. He returns, and then in a gruff and agitated tone, goes through the menu with us "we're out if this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this" - pointing at half the choices - "...um, but everything else we have I guess." Great! At this point, we are ready to get some quick food elsewhere and return to catch our friend. As we start to get up, another man (whom I assume is a manager) approaches to take our order. I tell him "I think we changed our mind about food for right now." "Oh were you not greeted? Did we not have the tapas you wanted? Did you not like the atmosphere?" He asked like 2 or 3 other questions before I was like "dude, it's cool, we just changed our minds!" I didn't want to stand there and complain about this restaurant's extreme awkwardness in public, adding to said awkwardness. We just wanted some food, and lol, I guess doing this is a difficult task at North End. So we went next door to Twig and Leaf. In comparison, the service was great. Think about that. Sandwich was dope, too... buttered the bread and everything. We return to catch the show, and against my better judgement, I decided to grab us some drinks. I order a bourbon and ginger ale and a Magic Hat on draft. We received a bourbon and coke, which at this point is totally fine, but of course then the beer keg blew. Again no big deal, so I order an Anchor Stream. Blew again. "Sorry man, all our kegs are blown." All of them? How does a bar blow out all its beer? So he asked "how about something in a bottle?" They were out of my first choice obviously and I think I eventually ended up with some gnarly like a Heineken or similarly shitty. By now I'm finding the whole situation hilarious because I recognize when a divine power is trolling me. But wait, to quote Dan Savage, "it gets better." Walking between the bar and where our friend was performing, I saw a table in the other room with a couple of my friends. As I turn the corner to approach them and say hello, I see the server sitting with them! The plot, she thickens! Later, after our former server left, I went to say hello to my friends again, and asked if they knew the guy so I could decide whether it would be tactful to relate how totally uncomfortable and awkward he made us feel earlier. My friend said "no, we don't know him personally... "...he came and sat with us because he's the owner." MUHURR!
(1)Lisa G.
We came here with our 3 small kids. Service was poor. We had to remind the hostess that we needed a waiter. Food was mediocre. Coffee terrible. You are better off going to Starbucks.
(2)Jeffrey V.
Falls short mostly on the attentiveness of the kitchen. Nice space and great menu, but lazy kitchen staff ruins what should have been an easy breakfast. My omelette was incomplete of all the advertised ingredients, I had to ask several times for the English muffin. When the muffin did arrive by way of a kid with Justin Beiber hair, it was cold and dry. My wife's breakfast was adequate, but she too had to prod the staff to remember all the accompanying sides. Someone went to a lot of effort to create this menu and did a nice job on the restaurant space. However, the staff seem more concerned with their own sense of self than with the customer. The one bright spot was our bartender Andrew. He was hustling getting food orders and bloody Mary's out on derby day, but he was let down by his kitchen and hostesses.
(2)Matt R.
After reading all the negative reviews, I was a little reluctant to try the Bardstown Rd location of North End Cafe. I love the one on Frankfort Ave, and I was hoping for a similar experience. In fact, I had an experience similar to what I expect from the Frankfort Ave location. The food was great. The service was quick and friendly. There was no wait at noon on a Saturday, but there were lots of people eating there. All and all, it seems that North End Cafe has gotten over its opening difficulties. It is now a smooth operation.
(4)Amy C.
I love this place!! The food is delicious. I always get the breakfast tacos and home fries. The pancakes are awesome too. The only thing that isn't great is the sausage and sausage gravy, but that's just because I don't like a lot of sage. The service is a little slow and the food takes awhile, but that's ok because they're so polite and the food is great.
(4)Meagan S.
First of all, I have to say that this place could use a little more pizzazz. It is hard to tell if they are open from the street, because all they have as far as signage is a small open sign facing the sidewalk and a sandwich board on the sidewalk (with nothing written on it). We walked in and were greeted and seated promptly by our server. I excused myself to the restroom, which was clean but could use some work. One of the stalls has an accordian door and the soap dispenser was apparently broken so the soap cartridge was just sitting on the counter. The artwork is not my taste, and certainly not appetizing. The server came to our table to see if we were ready. I had gotten a groupon as a chance to try this new location out and had questions about it, so I asked her. Immediately after the word "groupon" her face fell (as in, "I'm definitely not getting a tip from these peeps," which is totally not true). The rest of the time she was courteous but definitely not enthusiastic about us at all. The groupon was for burgers and fries specifically. I would have preferred to try something else on the menu, but I knew that going in. My date and I each got a burger (his medium-rare, mine medium-well). They came out quickly, and were quite delicious. Mine was leaning toward medium, but it was so good I am not complaining. So, the verdict: Food = great! Service = average - fair Atmosphere = leaves something to be desired. I think I will just stick to the Frankfort Ave location from now on.
(3)Rachel F.
I want to love the new North End. It's so conveniently located and I looove the one on Frankfort. So far I'm just not feeling it. The service was friendly. The restaurant is cute. Cozy. Great for brunch with the girls. But the food just seriously let me down and that for me is the most important decider on a restaurant. Though the bloody mary factors in as well ;) My lovely brunch beverage was decent, nothing to write home about but it was good. It was weird that we went at 1 on a Sunday (which is when they can serve on Sun) and when the waitress brought mine, my friend decided to order one too and was told that mine was the last of the mix...What? So does that mean it is either out of a bottle or that the batch isn't fresh and I got the remnants? Disappointing but not a huge deal. I got the pancake of the day: mandarine orange and a little b-fast burrito and my friend got the big breakfast thing with all the standard stuff. Her bacon was overcooked and dry, she said the sausage tasted weird, her potatoes were bland and bleh - seriously Waffle House has much better taters. My pancake was fine. Wouldn't order it again but I ate it. The sauce was good but there was very little of it. And the oranges were just like the cheapo ones in a can of fruit cocktail. Hmm. The breakfast burrito was actually pretty good, esp the flavorful pico de gallo, that made the dish. The redeeming dish of the brunch. I'll give it another shot for lunch or dinner, but breakfast/brunch isn't going to be a repeat for me. Come on guys - I have faith that you can step it up!
(2)Michael M.
We only come here for breakfast but they do it really well. Sometimes service is slow, other times it's great. Not a fancy or pretty place but hearty inventive breakfasts made with better than normal ingredients. Then walk across the street to the farmers market and you's started of a weekend morning just right!
(4)Jim G.
Trying to figure out why this establishment has gotten off to such a bad start in the Highlands is tough. So, a few weeks ago I went into this branch on a rare Friday off and was stunned by the "C" health rating on the door and the empty lethargy of the place and staff. I asked my server for an explanation and she provided a reasonable one so I wasn't too worried about that part. If I were the owner here I'd be seriously considering a major shake-up at this point. Do they read Yelp or the rival review sites? How can you not know what people are saying and respond to that in 2012? I ordered a "Vegan Reuben" and cole slaw not entirely certain what to expect. The sandwich was over $8. It was flavorful but tiny ( on those tiny elementary school slices of bread). The original server never came back. Everyone on staff in this place seemed radically indifferent to everything around them. I have hopes for a fast recovery as I really like this location and they've done a decent job with the formerly dark space. There's plenty of parking in back. Tons of traffic at a key intersection of Bardstown Rd. Every reason and opportunity to succeed here! My family has used North End's catering outfit on two occasions now and quite successfully so. The food (presumably from Frankfort Ave since this branch wasn't open yet) was solidly good both times. I'll give it a month or so and try again, hope they turn it around. Look at my review distribution, folks, I'm upbeat and easy to please. A lot of times I've just skipped reviews rather than give less than a 3.
(2)Toree P.
It's a great place for an office breakfast meeting.
(4)Carol C.
I was immediately seated by the hostess. Waited. Waited. Waited. And waited. Did I even have a server? Turned around and saw a group of servers standing and chatting. Was one of them mine? Didn't know. After 10 minutes, noticed the hostess seat a group of three men at a table close to mine. A server immediately took their drink orders. To avoid any confusion, I will now refer to this server as "the server". Was this the missing server? I flagged down the hostess when she seated another group of people close to me. She took my drink order and my lunch order. At the same time I noticed the server take the drink orders for the second group that was seated. Was she my server? In the meantime, the men got their food. The second group got their food. Someone I had not seen before finally brought me my sandwich. The server filled the water glasses of the second group and walked right past my table without even glancing my way. I tried to flag her down to get more water. No luck. I finally figured out that I must be invisible. That had to be it. No other explanation. After I finished my sandwich, I waited to see who would bring me my check. Then I would finally find out who my server was. I waited in anticipation! Then, lo and behold! The server brought me my check! It was her all along! I think. Maybe not. Anyway, since I really had no service except from the hostess and the mysterious person who brought me my sandwich, I really didn't know who to leave a tip for. Therefore, I didn't. Seriously, I have never had such bad service or lack of service in a restaurant before. How is this place staying open? Oh, I forgot about the food. It was mediocre at best. I will not be returning.
(1)Megan H.
I've been here with my family twice and the first time we went, the server and hostess were rude and the food took 50 minutes to be served. We thought it was maybe a fluke or they were having a crazy night but we tried to go again on Monday night. There is no sign saying where to "check in" or "wait to be seated" so we stood by the door for a moment. The hostess waved us in, and then rudely told us that we shouldn't wait by the door. We asked how long it would take to get a table and she went to find out. Never saw her again. Someone else came over and asked if we had been helped and was extremely rude, acting as if we were inconveniencing THEM by being at their restaurant. Finally--after 3 people had asked, the general consensus was that the wait would be 45 minutes. We were told that "I guess, you could, sit at the bar?" At that point, after everyone being so rude and acting so inconvenienced by our presence, we left and went to Applebees. Sorry, North End Cafe, but we will be letting everyone know that they can receive better service elsewhere.
(1)Paula T.
Really good breakfast and pancakes. Also good steak salad. Great options for vegetarians. Will visit again so many things to try!
(4)Amanda H.
Great food. Awesome customer service. Our waitress and the manager went out of their way to handle an issue with an obnoxious diner at the table next to us, then discounted our meal even though we didn't ask for it. Brunch was wonderful. Also, accommodating to those with gluten allergies, offering a large selection of food.
(5)Julie G.
The North End Cafe has long been an establishment of good eatery on Frankfort Avenue. I'm not sure where the North End name comes from because in Louisville there is a West End, South End and East End part of town, but, for some reason, the North End was erased from our city's compass rose. Kudos for the North End Cafe for being rebels strictly on name alone. Business has been good for the North End because now they've opened a second restaurant on Bardstown Road. This is really putting that name to the test, geographically speaking. The Bardstown location is big with plenty of floor to ceiling windows to people watch. The layout is a bit odd because you always seem to be in the way if you're waiting for a table, especially if they're busy, however, it will give you some time to browse the local art for sale that adorns their walls. The menu remains like it is at their other location. The North End has primarily been known as a good breakfast place, which, until recently, Louisville had been shy of. They offer a daily special meat omelet, vegetable omelet and pancake. The day we went the pancake special was rum raisin with caramel sauce and whipped cream. Whew. Can you say diabetic coma? They are inventive, so if you like to experiment with your breakfast food, go here. They do offer the traditional breakfast fare for the less adventurous. Try the biscuits. As far as lunch and dinner, it's all pretty eclectic. I always find it odd when an American restaurant offers dishes from every corner of the world instead of being focused on one region. North End represents several nationalities and they even have curry (which my daughter enjoyed). The food doesn't seem to suffer from the AD menu but it makes me feel uneasy when its all over the place. I had the Bacon Apple Bleu sandwich with fries. First, the fries are addictingly good. They come in various widths but they are all short and stubby. I found it easier to eat them with a fork which is something I hardly ever do. They had just the right amount of salt and didn't soak my plate in grease. They reminded me of the fries you get at carnivals. I highly recommend. My sandwich consisted of Granny Smith apples, bacon, bleu cheese, and walnut spread all on toasted wheatberry bread. It was enjoyable, but I wish I understood that the walnut spread was cream cheese. I imagined it to be sort of like the filling in baklava. North End Cafe is a place where you can easily become "a regular" where they know your name and your favorite table. Portions are generous and if you're okay with a pricer menu for a cafe type setting (most items $8 - and up) then it's a simple choice if you're craving multiple offerings without going to the mall's food court.(J.K. It's better than the mall).
(3)Brian D.
Came at me with a weak cheese plate. Basically fruit and nut plate w 6 small slices of generic cheese. Didn't order anything else bc it was so weak. Service was pleasant. Not coming back.
(2)S R.
Asked if I could order the corned beef hash without onions, was told that I could, received it loaded with onions and the waiter never even asked me how everything was afterward since he could clearly tell I was not happy which made it even more offensive that he didn't offer to do anything about it. Also ordered a side of sausage which did NOT taste like sausage so I have no idea what that means. These items plus 1 cup of coffee cost $15+ with tax. The sad thing is I will probably try this place again at some point thinking "maybe I was being unreasonable!"
(1)Amy G.
We went here for a business breakfast meeting. It was pretty empty when we got there around 10am. As soon as we sat down ( I literally just sat down my bag) the server asked if we were ready. No, not yet. I decided on the Migas. Yummy. So, here is the Meh part. I was hoping for some blue corn tortillas in my Migas, as specified on the menu. Not so much. Maybe a tiny chip bit here and there. Underwhelming to say the least. The fresh jalepeno slices added the crunch I was looking for. Home fries were greasy and would have been good if I had a hang-over. I got a biscuit because I remember them as being fluffy and delightful. This one was not what I remembered from North End. My friend ordered a hot chocolate afterwards (with another server as ours had disappeared to other tables). She said it was instant and meh. But, as soon as it was put down on the table in front of her our original server came by and wanted to drop the check. Hold on a minute, would ya? It was empty when we got here. And sure the 10 miler folks were coming in...but, please. Hold on. Service was attentive by other servers except the one we started with...food was purely mediocre. Underwhelmed totally. But, oh well. At least it is not a price rip-off like Lynn's. Lynn's is beyond mediocre and a wallet emptier. So...I am not too bitter with the mediocrity here, I guess as I don't leave totally feeling used and abused.
(2)Diane K.
Inventive, tasty drinks (thanks to Patrick, the friendly talented bartender) and great food to go with it. The food is good quality and tastes great. We've never been disappointed.
(5)Kevin O.
The restaurant on Frankfort Avenue is superior right now, but I think this North End Cafe will come around eventually. It has a great location near the Douglass Loop, but you can just tell they haven't worked out all of the details yet. Their beer list doesn't have all of their beers listed. Why? Two of the beers we ordered we just asked if they had them. They had them. Just print another list and put them on there guys. You haven't even laminated the things yet! The food has gotten better every time I have been. I have been 3 times already because it is really convenient to where I live. Happy to see it in the neighborhood, and it is certainly a warmer atmosphere than the Club Grotto that blacked out the windows. They have no outdoor seating, which is one of the things I really like about their other location. However, if you get a spot by the window in the morning you should still get a lot of natural light coming in. I think this place is getting low reviews right now because it is so new. If you're a burger lover, get a medium rare cheeseburger it is very good. Just a safe bet until they get a few more months under their belt.
(3)TL C.
North End Cafe located at 2116 Bardstown Road in Louisville, Kentucky is an inviting little cafe where one can sit over a leisurely meal and chat with friends. The wild mushroom lasagna was very tasty but a little heavy on the spinach for my taste; however someone who really likes spinach would probably enjoy it. The chocolate torte was tasty enough that I wished I hadn't gotten so full eating the lasagna. Our waiter was friendly but not intrusive. I would definitely eat at North End Cafe again if for no other reason than I'd love to try the Chickpea & Quinoa Cake.
(4)Violetta V.
How to say this politely? "You're ugly and your mother dresses you funny." Here for dinner with my sister. Does anyone care that we are here? Why is there a TV tuned to sports in the bar at dinner just a few feet from our table? Could this half-full establishment be any louder at dinner time? Could the premium priced food be less inspired? (No, it is just plain bad.) Soggy salads. Cold entrees. Dull wine list. (Why is there no Viognier in Louisville?) Dim-witted servers who are not rude, just out-to-lunch. We had expected a comfortable dining experience with near-gourmet food served with grace and efficiency. Disappointed on all counts. A salad, an entree, a glass of wine each. Add a 20% tip and we struggled out the door $70 poorer. Call it an expensive lesson in where not to eat in Louisville. Was this place a strip joint in my college years? Leaving for home in a few days. This will be forgettable.
(1)Ken B.
Go here. Eat the breakfast. Leave happy. Period. That is the best advice I can offer.
(4)Bethany Z.
This is a great place to eat. I love to go for brunch! Mimosas are a little pricey but it's brunch right?! They have local art on the walls that are all for sale. It gives the place a good atmosphere. Everything there is good, food wise, but I just love the biscuits and vegetarian gravy. I'm not a vegetation but I think it's better than the meat Version. Another thing I will rave about endlessly is their bacon cheddar pancakes, that might not sound like a great combination , but ohhh girl, it is. Get it and eat it up!
(4)Doug M.
We stopped by North End Cafe for dessert and were absolutely blown away. The picture below doesn't properly display the explosion of flavor and unadulterated tastebud frenzy that erupts with every bite. We will definitely come again! As we say in my hometown of Kensington, "That was Amazington!"
(4)Amy L.
We went here with friends who had a Groupon. The Groupon was a good deal, but I'd rate the food and overall experience as average. The fish special of the night was very much under seasoned. The other entrees were average in flavor and quality, something many restaurants offer. The best parts of the meal were probably our two appetizers - the mussels and the cheese board - which had lots of flavor and were finished off quickly. Would I go back? Maybe, to try their breakfast options.
(3)Stephanie S.
I went there Sunday at around 11:30 with a friend for lunch and was seated after only a 5 minute wait. Great way to start off considering we were expecting to wait 15-20 minutes prior to being seated. I ordered the Corned Beef Hash and REALLY enjoyed it. They were actual chunks of beef as opposed to the mush you get in cans. The price wasn't super outrageous and it truly hit the spot. As many reviews stated, the service could have been better. I could barely hear our waitress, it took a while to get our food, and we had to ask for silverware after our food had already been brought to us. What was even more disappointing was that while we were waiting for our food, we weren't asked if we wanted refills on our coffee. It was the least they could do considering the wait on the food. While the food was good, I would say my overall experience doesn't merit any more than 3 stars.
(3)Bill B.
This restaurant is located in a neat neighborhood in Louisville where one finds lots of small shops, restaurants and shopping. There was parking in the back of the restaurant. The restaurant advertises itself as serving healthful, wholesome and simple foods. There were six in pour party and when we arrived around 6PM there were few customers, thus we were seated immediately. The menu consists basically of several "starters", "salads" and a few entrees and sandwiches. I ordered the "Chicken and Dumplings". What I received was three biscuits which were small and contained a herb which appeared to be parsley inside the biscuits. The biscuits were then covered with pulled chicken in a clear broth giving one the appearance of "chicken al king". While the food was not outstanding the meal was acceptable however it certainly was not chicken and dumplings. Another in the party ask about ordering the Blackened Chicken Linguine with sautéed peppers, onions, garlic and white wine cream sauce. The person wanted to know if the dish would be overly spicy and was assured it would not be. What was served was pieces of blacked chicken mixed with linguine and covered with a creamy yellow sauce that seemed to be absent any significant amount of wine and the meal was very spicy. Others in the party ordered the Smoked Pork Loin which was a pork chop served over masked butternut squash, green beans and topped with a red wine jalapeno glaze. It was very good. Then there was the order for a grilled chicken sandwich which was served at the request of the customer with no added condiments. Lastly there was an order for the rib eye sandwich which was a rather piece of beef grilled and with lettuce, tomato, onion and cheese. The steak appeared to be a little tough. Most everyone ordered water to drink and I opted for tea. They serve mango-tea and I would just as soon had some good regular tea and the mango taste is not to my liking. The service was excellent and our meals were served very hot. There were no extra such as salads or breads for the table.
(4)Aaron E.
One of the best places to eat. All locally grown used food. Great atmosphere and overall a place you can feel comfy at eating.
(5)Will A.
I have to agree with many other Yelpers- the Frankfort Ave. location is better. That said, it's decent here. My chilaquiles were good, and my wife enjoyed her biscuits and gravy. Bloody Mary was strong, but the mix isn't the best. We will hit the other location next time.
(3)Andy C.
2 stars for little brother. I love the North End Cafe on Frankfort Ave, and I really wish that this one was exactly the same- but sadly, it doesn't come close. I have been here a few times, hoping that maybe, just maybe, it will live up to the standards that the other one has set. However, it has been one disappointment after another. The service has never been particularly good, I have been told false information about the menu multiple times, the food has been served cold, and my bill was overcharged twice. Don't get me wrong- North End Cafe is great! I would just head over to the other one if you have the time. I recommend the biscuits and mushroom gravy if you go!
(2)Landon L.
The North End Cafe is pretty good all around. Although the decor is very, very average, the food is above it. They know how to cook a good brunch. I had the Chilaquiles, which was a dish with tortilla chips with tomato sauce, chorizo, and eggs. They made the dish work very well and it was flavorful with a delightful kick. However, their portions are out of control for breakfast and brunch. Wayyyy too much food.
(3)Becky N.
North End Cafe has a very nice atmosphere. The food is good too. The best part is they serve breakfast all day!
(4)Zain K.
Came for a breakfast meeting and ordered the very tasty, substantial and well-plated huevos rancheros ($8). The coffee was equally satisfying. I look forward to coming back for lunch sometime... *Update*: I've now been for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and my experiences have been mixed. Breakfast is solid, and there are one or two dinner entrees I like, but none of the typical lunch options (i.e. salads and sandwiches) do much for me. That, and the ambiance seems a little unrefined, so while I'm keeping my 4* rating it's probably more like a 3.5*. *Another update*: Having now been here a few more times (never really by choice), I've realized there are only two items I actually like on the menu (huevos rancheros and the mahi mahi), and that I've been rather unimpressed by almost everything else I've tried. And so, finally, a demotion to 3*
(3)Nicol S.
Wasn't sure where to have breakfast this morning so went to the North End Cafe. I asked the waitress if I could sit at the bar and they were OK with that. The bar was pretty empty and the bartender was awesome. I had the meat omelet which had carnitas today with potatoes and toast. The toast wasn't buttered and I would have expected either butter on the side or something to put on it. The potatoes were good but bland and no salt and pepper was offered. The omelet was also bland and so was the pork. Just kind of average.
(3)Rachel R.
I will not return to this establishment. Cheap ingredients for inflated prices. I ordered the fish and it was obviously pre-breaded frozen and boxed. The lettuce and tomato were dull in color. I expected fresher produce and fish. $10 for a frozen fish patty, below par produce on a hoagie (not French bread) with a side of mayo smothered shredded lettuce (coleslaw). This describes a fish sandwich provided by fast food chains all over louisville. In addition to the food, I could hear the staff talking about how "****ed up" someone's Facebook profile picture was loud and clear from the kitchen. I don't mind being able to hear staff, but the content and volume were inconsiderate. I recommend putting up a curtain to block out the sound more effectively.
(1)Lauren R.
I just ate here for the first time and it was great. I came here for a late night breakfast craving and got exactly what I was looking for. They seem to have a pretty diverse menu that includes sandwiches, salads, breakfast foods as well as fish dishes and steak and chicken dishes. My egg sandwich was huge and cooked exactly how I wanted it. My only complaint about the food is that my potatoes were a little on the burnt side. Overall, I gave this place four stars because the food could have been a little bit better and my server could have been a little but more attentive.
(4)Jill W.
Just went to a baby shower here today. Nice private room. Great limited menu food selection with breakfast and lunch options. Great service. What a lovely place.
(5)Paige H.
I want to write a favorable review. I really do! Because I try to only support the non-chain eateries in town and the more we give them our money and not Applebees and the like, the better for our local farmers and other food producers. Sadly, I can't. The difference between this North End Cafe and the original on Frankfort avenue is like night and day. The food and portions at the Frankfort location are generous without being grotesque, conversely, the portions seems paltry, drink refilling was all but forgotten and we had no silverware for several minutes after being served our food. While our server was apologetic when she needed to be and altogether pleasant, it was really a less than stellar experience.
(2)