Restaurants to Dine at in the St. Matthews Area of Louisville, KY

One of the most popular areas in Louisville, Kentucky to visit is St. Matthews, which— despite being part of the greater Louisville Metropolitan area— is commonly regarded as its own city. St. Matthews is mainly known for a wide variety of places to go shopping, but of course we’re here about the restaurants and there are some stellar spots around town to check out!

If you’re in the area for the first time or are a local looking for something new, these St. Matthews restaurants are some of the best places to grab a bite to eat while you’re out exploring the town!

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1. Drake's

With multiple locations across the Southern United States— this one in St. Matthews is sure to please!

Been to lunch and dinner at Drake’s and wanna try brunch? We don’t blame ya! Image courtesy of the Drake’s Instagram page.

3939 Shelbyville Rd #101 | Louisville | drakescomeplay.com

With over 20 craft beers on tap, you definitely won’t want to miss out on both  the drinking and dining experience at Drake’s in St. Matthews, Louisville. It’s a place designed for a good time no matter what location you go to, and the slogan says it all— come play!

We’ve talked about their craft beers, but if beer isn’t your style then you can look forward to “seasonal cocktails” or their “alcohol-free cocktails”! And where do we begin with their food? They have a huge selection of starters, salads, burgers, steaks, sandwiches, sushi, and more, so there’s definitely something on the menu for everyone. Some highlights of each section include Sriracha Wings, BLT Salad, Filet w/ California Roll, Mini Cheeseburgers, Grilled Ham & Cheese, and Crispy Fish Tacos! 

Hours are from 11am to 12am Sundays through Thursdays and from 11am until 1am Friday and Saturday. (The kitchen closes one hour prior to last call at the bar).

“If your short on time and want good food, this is the place. My friend and I came here for lunch and got the hot brown hamburger. Great flavor and our wait staff made great recommendations.” -Yelp Review

2. Lou Lou Food & Drink

Food inspired by several Cajun & Creole recipes at this St. Matthews restaurant!

Get fun lunch specials to spice up your afternoon meal! Image courtesy of the Lou Lou Food + Drink Instagram page.

108 Sears Ave | Louisville | louloufoodanddrink.com

Open for takeout, sit-down dining, and curbside pick-up, Lou Lou Food & Drink is “Louisville’s most unique restaurant” and brings exactly what the name suggests to the table. Their dishes are influenced by a variety of different styles of cuisine, such as Cajun, Mediterranean, and Italian food! So if that sounds like something that’s to your to liking, then let’s dive into just some of the foods they serve:

Lou Lou Food & Drink has a great selection of both, well, food and drink! Sip on “Interesting Reds,” Pinot Noir, Rose, and/or Merlot. And with appetizers, soups, salads, pastas, pizzas, sandwiches, and entrees, you’re in for a great dining experience here! Have a choice of Garlic Cheese Sticks, Jambalaya, Lasagna, a Classic Gyro and more from their menu to enjoy!

Lou Lou Food & Drink is open everyday 11am to 9pm and is open most holidays with varying hours.

“Love visiting this place. The last time I went I had the chicken chicken Portabella wrap with cup of soup. It was delicious. We also had some pizza. They have a nice variety to choose from and I highly suggest their waffle fries!” -Yelp Review

3. Silvio's

Authentic Italian food in a casual setting with a nice whiskey menu that pairs just right!

A plate of food prepared at Silvio's Italian Restaurant. Image courtesy of the silviositalianrestaurant website gallery.

104 Fairfax Ave | Louisville | silviositalianrestaurant.com

Bill Silvio Melillo’s first restaurant in downtown Louisville, Mellilo’s, was shut down in 2008. Seven years later, in 2015, he opened up Silvio’s in St. Matthews in order to continue his dream to share his family’s recipes with the people of St. Matthews and it’s been going strong ever since!

Silvio’s has it all— appetizers like Toasted Raviolis, soups like Pasta Fagiole, salads like the Caprese, pasta like Primavera, entree dishes like the Grilled Pork Chop, and desserts like their Chocolate Tuxedo Cheesecake, are all made from family recipes of Bill Silvio Mellilo himself. If you’re looking for a place to get authentic Italian food in St. Matthews, Kentucky, you need look no further than here!

You can dine indoors Tuesday through Thursdays from 5pm to 9pm and Fridays through Saturdays 5pm to 10pm, (Silvio’s is closed Sundays and Mondays).

“Best Lasagna I've ever had!!  Bill comes out and meets with the patrons and is a superstar.  Truly a wonderful experience!!  If you're in St. Matthews you gotta go!” -Yelp Review

4. Coals Artisan Pizza

Award winning specialty pizzas in St. Matthews— and some say the best in the whole state of Kentucky!

Special deals run throughout the year on your favorite or even new favorite pizzas! Image courtesy of the Coals Artisan Pizza Instagram page.

3724 Frankfort Ave | Louisville | coalsartisanpizza.com

The atmosphere at Coals Artisan Pizza is a combination of classy and casual, and the fresh, locally sourced specialty pizzas that they serve reflect that atmosphere perfectly. There’s multiple floors of indoor dining, a full bar, and a patio for outdoor dining when the weather is nice for it!

Coals has been in Louisville and winning awards for its pizza since they opened in April of 2011. As the name suggests, their pizza is coal-fired— and it was the first of its kind in Kentucky! Plus, there’s far more than just pizza on the menu, with items like Herb & Cheese Flatbread, Buffalo Wings, soups, and salads, you can enjoy whatever you like!

Coals Artisan Pizza is open Monday through Thursday 4:30pm to 8:30pm, Friday’s 11:30am to 9:30pm, Saturday’s 11:30am to 9:00pm, and Sundays 12pm to 8:30pm.

“Found this place close to where we were staying. Started with the Bourbon meatballs. Very good. Then had the Highlands pizza. It was fantastic! Would highly recommend this place! Sat outside as the weather was great!” -Yelp Review

5. Taco Luchador

A very popular Louisville taco chain with locations in multiple different areas of the city!

Sauce drizzled over the top makes a taco, a dang good taco. Image courtesy of the El Taco Luchador Instagram page.

938 Baxter Ave | Louisville | el-taco-luchador.com

The owners of Taco Luchador, Chef Fernando Martinez and Yaniel Martinez, have opened multiple restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky, all growing quickly in popularity, and for good reason— Chef Fernando knows what he’s doing. Watching his grandmother cook while he was young inspired him to take it up himself and ever since El Taco Luchador opened in 2012, they’ve been bringing delicious Mexican food to Kentuckians.

As the name may suggest, the tacos at this restaurant are the star of the show, but they also serve tortas, chips and nachos, fries, and more. They even have churros and flan as dessert options, lots of choices from their drinks menu, and if you like them so much, they also offer catering!

There are locations in the Highlands, Jeffersontown, Colonial Gardens and of course St. Matthews. They’re open Monday through Thursdays 11am to 9pm, Friday’s 11am to 9:30pm, Saturday’s 12pm to 9:30pm, and Sunday’s 12pm to 8pm!

“In town for the bourbon trail, stayed at a VRBO across the street from this location. It was wonderful! Loved the tacos and the elote. Everyone was friendly and the prices were reasonable.” -Yelp Review

6. Saints Pizza Pub & Skybar

The perfect place for not only a slice of pizza (or a whole one!), but also a drink of your choice!

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You know when you bite into a sandwich and you hear that crunch, that’s what it’s about! Image courtesy of the Saints Pizza and Pub Facebook page.

131 Breckenridge Ln | St Matthews | saintspizza.com

Saints Pizza Pub & Skybar is the perfect place to grab a slice or a drink with some friends, whether it’s just to hang out or to watch the game! They have live & local music on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, plus trivia night on Mondays!

This place has far more than just their hand-crafted pizza on the menu— they also have starters, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and pasta for you to choose from. And, as far as the drinks go, grab a beer on tap, in a bottle or a can, a glass of wine, a frozen cocktail, or bourbon, whiskey, or scotch.

Monday through Thursday, and Sunday’s they are open 11am to Midnight and Friday through Saturday they are open 11am to 2am. 

“Best pizza in Louisville.  I met my now husband there 18 years ago.  We took our 6 kids to eat there today.  We devoured it.  The waiter was wonderful as well. You simply will not eat a better pizza anywhere else,” -Yelp Review

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7. Oriental House

Truly delicious Chinese cuisine using high-quality and fresh ingredients!

4302 Shelbyville Rd | St Matthews | orientalhouselouisville.com

Located on one of the main streets in the St. Matthews area of Louisville, Oriental House is a Chinese restaurant that’s open for both sit-down dining and takeout. They’re known for having a friendly staff, talented chefs, and service that’s just as excellent as the food.

Many of the dishes served at Oriental House put a more modern spin on classic Chinese cuisine, and there’s certainly a wide selection to choose from. They serve a ton of food with items like appetizers, soups, fried rice, Lo Mein, Dim Sum, and more, with other additions like poultry, beef, seafood, pork, and vegetable dishes to satisfy your afternoon/late night hunger!

They are open every day of the week from 11:30am to 9:00pm and closed on Tuesdays!

“Wonderful Chinese cuisine!! Best in Louisville!! I particularly love the Shrimp with Lobster sauce. It has a dark rich sauce that is spectacular and I love it with the pork fried rice. Yummy!!” -Yelp Review

8. W. W. Cousins Restaurant

You can find award winning burgers at two different locations in Louisville!

Onion rings, a burger, and a side of pickles make for a great ol’ meal at this popular St. Matthews restaurant! Image courtesy of the WWCousins Instagram page.

900 Dupont Rd | Louisville | www.wwcousins.com

As their website boasts, W. W. Cousins has been making “perfect burgers from scratch” since they first opened their doors in 1983. Apart from their already “put together” or “specially designed” burgers, you can build your own burger! And with 40 different toppings to choose from, it’s no wonder why they’ve won Best of Louisville and Best Burger!

In addition to their impressive selection of burgers— both classic, crazy, and ones that you can build yourself of course—this restaurant also has a small selection of appetizers, a salad bar, desserts, sides, and drinks for you to choose from!

W.W. Cousins Restaurants’ “Dine-in” is open 11am to 8pm and their “Drive-Thru” is open 11am to 7pm all throughout the week.

“The food was very good. I got the fish sandwich and the fish could have made 2 sandwich. Fresh, crispy and delicious. I recommend this Restaurant. I was traveling so I am not a local.” -Google Review

9. Momma's Mustard, Pickles & BBQ - St Matthews

Kansas-City style BBQ served in a comfy–casual spot at this St. Matthews restaurant!

Award winning BBQ never looked so good! Image courtesy of the Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ Instagram page.

102 Bauer Ave | Louisville | mommasbbq.com

A huge batch of mustard & pickles would be made every Christmas back in Kansas by the owner's mom, and they would share their goodies with the neighborhood! A tradition that lasted years eventually inspired Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ. Sharing all of the recipes with the people of Louisville, this spot is best known for its delicious food served either in house at their laid-back establishment or get it through major delivery chains known throughout the country so you can enjoy Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ at home!

On the menu you can have an array of goodies like their Pork or Beef ribs, the “Best Wings Ever,” Nachos, Chili Cheese Fries, Momma’s Meatloaf, Smoked Sausage Sandwich, and more! (There is a disclaimer about their use of peanut oil in their fryers, plus eggs are used in the mustard).

Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ is open Mondays through Sundays 11am to 10pm.

“Delicious food & great customer service all around! Everyone there was so nice & personable. I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich w/ Cole slaw with green beans and mac & cheese, and everything was really good for the price.” -Yelp Review

10.Mojito in Havana

“Eat like you’re in Havana” at this down-to-earth comfy eatery serving tasty Cuban foods!

Plenty of food to enjoy and if it looks this good then we gotta go back for seconds! Image courtesy of the Mojiot in Havana Facebook page.

3939 Shelbyville Rd Suite 103 | Louisville | havanarumbaonline.com

Mojito in Havana aka Havana Rumba was created to “share in the celebration of the culinary genius of the island of Cuba” by a group of people who are truly passionate about making their restaurant reflect that authentically. Now with four locations, the owner has clearly made his dream come true and is sharing the delights of good food and good service with the people of Kentucky!

Now that we know what they’re about, let’s give you a taste of the food with a few of their menu items:

• Appetizers like Piquillo Peppers, Chicken and Chorizo Quesadilla, Vegetarian Queso Dip, and Empanadas.
• Salads, soups, tacos, cocas (Catalan Flatbread), Vegetarian options, and Mariscos (seafood).
• Bocaditos (sandwiches), Pollo (chicken), Puerco (pork), Carnes (beef), and much more are all available at this St. Matthews restaurant!

Mojito in Havana is open Monday through Thursday 5pm to 9pm, Friday’s 11:30am to 9:30pm, Saturday’s 12pm to 9:30pm, and Sunday’s 12pm to 8:30pm.

“Food was great! I love some good Cuban food. The service was good and food came out quickly- to note I did go at an odd time of day so it wasn't busy, but still very great service and so quick!” -Yelp Review

11. Biscuit Belly - St. Matthews

Breakfast that’s sweet, savory, or both is how you should always eat breakfast!

Whatever plate you choose you’re sure to have a good meal! Image courtesy of the Biscuit Belly Instagram page.

3723 Lexington Rd | Louisville | biscuitbelly.com

Get biscuits you can’t get anywhere else at Biscuit Belly! With locations in multiple different states, this breakfast/brunch/lunch place is perfect for a meal either right before you go out exploring the town or an early afternoon stop before you continue on with your day. 

They have a stellar selection of breakfast-y foods to choose from including but not limited to Loaded Breakfast Tots, Pancake Corn Dogs, biscuit sandwiches, seasonal additions, Short Stack Pancakes, classic breakfast sides, and breakfast cocktails!

Biscuit Belly - St. Matthews is open Monday through Thursday 7:30am to 2pm and Friday through Sunday 7:30am to 3pm!

“The best biscuits I've ever had. Hands down.  Soft big chicken was so good. You should definitely come here. They have three locations. Downtown location was almost wrapped around building.  We came to st. Mathews location .” -Yelp Review

There you go! Those are some of the best St. Matthews restaurants out there! Whether you’re in the mood for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, these places have got a bit of everything and will leave you wanting to come back for seconds!