PHOTOS: See photos inside Ramsi’s Cafe below.
Ramsi’s Café of the World holds a special place in my wife Hope’s and my respective hearts. I entered Ramsi’s back in 1994, not too long after the doors first opened, after seeing a chalk sign for vegetarian lasagna beckoning me like a mythic siren. When Hope first moved to the Highlands, she ate there once to twice a week. It only makes sense that 15 years ago, when we reconnected, our first date would be at Ramsi’s.
A Stroll Through Ramsi’s History (and Art Gallery)
Ramsi Kamar was just 27 when he decided to hang a shingle and open a tiny restaurant on Bardstown Road, but what started as a modest 20-seater has grown into one of the most beloved establishments in the Ville’s food scene.
Walking into Ramsi’s today, you’re greeted by high ceilings, eclectic murals, and statues that make you want to start Googling plane tickets. Every corner has something that’ll catch your eye, whether it’s a vibrant painting or a quirky artifact. It’s like stepping into a world tour—but one where you don’t have to endure TSA lines or really bad airplane snacks. The walls aren’t just decorations; they tell stories of Ramsi’s travels and the generations of artistry in his family… dinner comes with its own cultural curriculum.
The Cuisine
Ramsi’s serves “Global Comfort Food,” and that’s exactly what it feels like. This is what your grandmother would cook for you if your grandmother could whip up Egyptian, North African, Spanish, and Southern meals without breaking a sweat. The menu boasts everything from East Indian paella to Cuban sandwiches to Jamaican jerk tofu and vegetables galore.
Hope and I start with a cold adult beverage to battle the face-of-the-sun heat wave. Hope (my seafood-obsessed, wine-loving partner in crime, who definitely pregames Prosecco whenever possible) ordered just that. I honored my love of NYC and bourbon by ordering their signature Black Manhattan, a smoky, Michter’s rye-fueled masterpiece. Ramsi’s a longtimemember of the Urban Bourbon Trail; you will find some deep cuts as well as the usual spirited suspects.
For appetizers, I went with the Hibachi Salad, a bright and fresh pile of greens dressed in a summery ginger-carrot vinaigrette. This was just the opening band before the main act. I ordered the Vegan Bayou Burger. Though back in my gluten-eating heyday I would’ve gone for Cuban bread, I’ve now shifted to their gluten-free chapati (which, by the way, is a worthy second-place option). I swapped out fries for their pesto lima beans because A) they’re awesome, and B) the dish’s disappearance from the menu once long ago nearly caused riots in the middle Highlands. Public outcry works, people.
Hope did her seafood thing and ordered the tacos but switched out the battered fish for grilled shrimp. The dish comes with Mexican rice, pico de gallo, mozzarella, napa coleslaw, avocado, soft corn tortillas and Cuban black beans (if you’re avoiding carnage, they are available vegan with a tofu sea fillet).
For dessert? Ramsi’s is known for its Caramelized Banana Trifle, layers of Caribbean rum bananas, custard, whipped cream, and American graham crackers combined into a bite-sized cultural exchange program. We, however, opted for a glass of Sauv Blanc to drink with our dessert. I presented the idea that we get one and split it, to which I was immediately told, “This is a no-split zone.” I was unaware of this when she was nibbling on the remainder of my lima beans.
The Atmosphere (or How Rock Music Meets Fine Dining)
The dining spaces are vast but never feel impersonal. There’s the main dining area, the bar, and the massive patio (heated in the winter). The staff is just as much a part of the magic as the food. Many of them have been with Ramsi for 25+ years—that’s rare in this industry. Attentive without hovering and cheerful without being performative, the service here is definitely on-brand with the food and the art. And for one last value-add, the background music (usually classic rock) is audible but not overpowering. My greatest fear is that if there is a lot of background noise that Hope might not hear some of my amazing stories or sage wisdom… which she says for her is more of a wish than a fear.
