Our Best Restaurant, 2835 Holmans Ln., Jeffersonville, (812) 288-8133, www.ourbestrestaurant.com. This family-owned business started as a single eatery in Smithfield, Ky., and has grown to a mini-chain of three. American, homestyle cooking in big portions for reasonable prices. (Reviewed 1/21/09; Rating: N/R)
Perkfection Café & Bar, 359 Spring St., Jeffersonville, (812) 218-0600. Downtown Jeffersonville’s Perkfection is metropolitan-style café/coffee bar featuring lighter fare such as sandwiches, wraps and dishes. (Reviewed 1/21/09; Rating: N/R)
Meridian Café, 112 Meridian Ave., 897-9703, www.themeridiancafe.com. With its cozy old-house atmosphere and prices that look right even during a recession, Meridian chef Mike Ross offers up excellent cooking and a creative breakfast-and-lunch menu. (Reviewed 2/4/09; Rating: 88)
Maido Essential Japanese Cuisine & Sake Bar, 1758 Frankfort Ave., 894-8775, www.maidosakebar.com. This popular Clifton spot gains a little extra dab of love with their recent “appreciation menu,” offering a good selection of their Japanese goodies for $1, $2 or $3 a plate. (Reviewed 2/4/09; Rating: 92)
Le Relais, 2817 Taylorsville Road, 451-9020, www.lerelaisrestaurant.com. The departure of longtime Chef Daniel Stage and the arrival of an economic recession have conspired to prompt a gentle menu realignment at Le Relais, Louisville’s longest-lived French restaurant. (Reviewed 2/4/09; Rating: 96)
Dem Bones, 1703 Charlestown-New Albany Road, Jeffersonville, Ind., (812) 282-2277. Run by very friendly people who clearly know their ’cue, this new Jeffersonville takeout restaurant offers up very tasty ribs, spicy but not fiery with a subtle dry rub and tangy sauce cooked in. (Reviewed 2/4/09; Rating: 87)
Caspian Grill, 1416 Bardstown Road, 365-3901. An excellent new Persian restaurant on Bardstown Road, Caspian offers consistently tasty and well-prepared Iranian-American fare. (Reviewed 2/11/09; Rating: 86)
This article appears in February 25, 2009.