ROCKWALL BISTRO, 3426 Paoli Pike, Floyds Knobs, Ind., (812) 948-1705, www.rockwallbistro.com. Long known for its lovely setting tucked into an old rock quarry on the Floyds Knobs hills high above Louisville, RockWall has kicked things up a notch or two under Chef Alex Bomba, who arrived last summer from New Orleans. (Reviewed 2/27/08; Rating: 88)
BOOMBOZZ PIZZA BISTRO, 12613 Taylorsville Rd., 261-0222, www.TonyBoombozz.com. The most recent addition to the Tony Boombozz empire is the brand-new upscale casual Boombozz Bistro in Jeffersontown with an expanded menu and table service. The menu is heavy on pizza, of course, featuring all the familiar Boombozz creations. (Reviewed 3/5/08; Rating: 86)
INCREDIBLE DAVE’S, 9236 Westport Rd., 426-4790, www.incredibledaves.com. If you’re unfamiliar with Incredible Dave’s concept, imagine a Chuck E. Cheese on steroids, and with a bar. While the concept carries a touch of inspired brilliance, in practice there are flaws. (Reviewed 3/19/08; Rating: 74)
ANN’S BY THE RIVER, 149 Spring St., Jeffersonville, Ind., (812) 284-2667. This cafeteria-style restaurant lives up to its tag line: “Home-cooked food like Grandma used to prepare for Sunday dinner.” Many of the dishes really are based on recipes passed down through the Coomers family for generations. (Reviewed 4/2/08; Rating: 84)
BJ’S RESTAURANT AND BREWHOUSE, 7900 Shelbyville Rd., 326-3850, www.bjsrestaurants.com. This 30-year-old Southern California chain has expanded to Louisville with the launch of a large brewhouse at Oxmoor Center. The menu features a broad range of sandwiches, salads, pastas, burgers, pizzas and a few more ambitious entrees like fish and shrimp tacos. (Reviewed 4/9/08; Rating: 78)
BOURBONS BISTRO, 2255 Frankfort Ave., 894-8838, www.bourbonsbistro.com. Chef Michael Crouch offers thoughtful, creative dishes that may be rooted in down-home Ohio Valley flavors but travel around the world for inspiration. Bourbons Bistro is arguably bourbon whiskey’s No. 1 temple in the metro. (Reviewed 4/16/08; Rating: 89)
TACO BUENO, 2909 Highway 62, Jeffersonville, Ind., (812) 284-4073. Buzz has been generating around this new taco stand in Jeffersonville. In a considerable improvement over Taco Bell’s industrial-made salsas in plastic packets, Taco Bueno’s condiments bar offers freshly made salsas, pico de gallo, chopped onions, sliced jalapeños from the jar and fresh lemon wedges. (Reviewed 4/23/08; Rating: 75)