Red Hog
Good meat, good beer, good vibes.
GO HERE: for a night out at Louisville, Kentucky’s finest butcher shop, which transforms in the evenings into a raucous bar slash meat lover’s paradise. Owners Kit Garrett and Bob Hancock (of Louisville’s beloved Blue Dog Bakery & Café) oversee everything from the duck-liver paté in the butcher case to the wood fire pizza oven that turns out meat-laden pizzas and much more.
ORDER THE: mysteriously perfect french fries; “Damn Good” Cuban sandwich (there is, on this occasion, truth in advertising); and the crisp-skinned, deep-amber-colored rotisserie chicken.
THE VIBE IS: rowdy, busy, and occasionally a little chaotic. But don’t worry: Once you manage to place your order at the bar, find a table, and take that first bite from the house-made charcuterie board, you’ll know you’re in good hands.
THE BEST SEATS: are at the long quartzite communal table on the outside patio, where you can hang all day and night, with as many Stiegl Radlers as your heart desires.
GETTING IN: is just a matter of your ability to deal with crowds. (Red Hog doesn’t take reservations.) Come early to beat the rush.
