PETRA MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT, 3904 Bardstown Road, 749-0924. Petra Mediterranean is a family-run spot that offers the cuisines of the eastern Mediterranean and southwest Asia, with accents from the proprietors’ homeland, Jordan. The menu features pan-Arabic cuisine and the familiar gyros. (Reviewed: 3/16/11; Rating: 82)
MOJITO TAPAS RESTAURANT, 2231 Holiday Manor Center, 425-0949, www.mojitotapas.com. Mojito, a sibling of Havana Rumba, specializes in small-plate tapas like sweet potato fries, ham and chicken croquettes, garlic shrimp, and stuffed dates. Sharing is encouraged, and hardly a tapa on the table cost more than $10. (Reviewed: 3/23/11; Rating: 93)
NA EXCHANGE, 3306 Plaza Dr., New Albany, 812-948-6501. Neither dive bar nor fern bar, gastropub NA Exchange offers classy cooking and thought-provoking beverages in a comfortable, casual environment. Subdivided into Starters, Salads, Light Fare and Specialties of the Chef, the menu was substantial and varied, ranging from traditional bar food to more upscale options. (Reviewed 4/6/11; Rating: 88)
RED HOG TAPAS AT BLUE DOG, 2868 Frankfort Ave., 899-9800, www.bluedogbakeryandcafe.com. Blue Dog Bakery recently started opening for dinner three nights a week (Thursday-Saturday) as Red Hog Tapas, which features a menu of creative, nicely crafted small plates with some version of pig flesh. Owner Bob Hancock’s meats, Blue Dog’s breads, and the Blue Dog/Red Hog kitchen’s skills come together in a combination that rarely miss the mark. (Reviewed 4/13/11; Rating: 94)
HIGHLAND MORNING, 1416 Bardstown Road, 365-3900, www.myhighlandmorning.com. Bardstown Road’s latest addition to the breakfast genre, Highland Morning features comfort food — with a bountiful twist. Chef Chris Roerk’s extensive menu ranges from traditional bacon-and-eggs fare to a bananas Foster waffle to brats and burgers. (Reviewed 4/20/11; Rating: 84)
BLUEGRASS BURGERS, 3334 Frankfort Ave., 614-6567, www.bluegrass-burgers.com. The burgers (and other things) are fine at Bluegrass Burgers, but I’m even more smitten by its locavore philosophy — the new restaurant uses all grass-fed Kentucky beef and produce. The menu features a half-dozen choices, ranging in price from $5.99 (for an all-beef frank) to $8.99 (for the Kentucky grass-fed bison burger. (Reviewed 5/4/11; Rating: 94)
