Vegetarians in Lousiville (Louisville, Frankfort, Bardstown: fit in, home, transfer to)

[auracana]

Hi. My husband is considering accepting a transfer to Louisville and I'm wondering if anyone can give me advice on the best neighbourhoods for us to consider. We're coming from the Philly area and probably can afford to look in the 500k range. I'm sick of living in the 'burbs and having to drive to the corner store and everywhere else. We're looking for the perfect combination of access to restaurants and shopping but also for things for the kids to do (elementary age) and access to parks and outdoorsy stuff. And we're atheist vegetarians and we want our kids to fit in and not be considered too weird. Thanks for any advice.

[tomocox]

You will fit in anywhere in Kentucky that you wish. We are not bashing people. Self-conscious people often feel defensive, but they need not. If people like you they will befriend you, if they don't they will leave you alone. That being said, subject to your budget, you will need to be inside the Watterson (I-264). I would guess along Bardstown/Taylorsville Rd, maybe Grinstead Drive area. You might even enjoy lower Brownsboro in the Clifton area (Melwood to Pennsylvania to I-71 and back to Melwood)

[LVLguy]

If you're asking where the good vegetarian restaurants are, I can help since my wife and I are both vegetarians. I live quite far from the Clifton area (Prospect) but drive there constantly because of all the good restaurants for vegetarians.

Here are my favorites, and they're all within 2 miles of each each other.

1) Shiraz - excellent Mediterranean fare. Their spicy Hummous, grilled vegetable kabobs (with feta and tsaziki sauce), rice and lentils, eggplant and other vegan delights are fresh, healthy and incredibly tasty and addicting. Great prices, great food, great service and nice digs - you can't ask for more.

2) El Mundo - Growing up in So Cal I know good Mexican food, and El Mundo is fantastic. It's more healthy gourmet Mexican food that by all rights should be in a fancy restaurant for big bucks, but is in funky digs at a good price.
I love their chile rellenos, vegetarian tamales, nachos and guac dip. Yummy stuff.

3) Zen Garden - excellent asian fare with lots of vegan dishes and everything available in a vegan preperation. Tasty, moderatly priced food in a zen like atmosphere.

4) Grape Leaf - Another excellent choice for Mediterranean food. I used to live there before Shiraz opened. But I still love their avacado salad, lentil soup, stuffed grape leaves, and occasional vegetarian moussaka.

5) Sari Sari - I haven't eaten there yet, but there's a new Philipino restaurant right next door to El Mundo started by the former owner of El Mundo. They have a buffet and lots of vegetarian noodle and other dishes.

Other places vegetarians tend to eat in a pinch:

India Palace, Qdoba, Salsaritas, Panera Bread, Boomboz Pizza, Quiznos, Fazzolis etc.

There are also other good restaurants for vegans in the Bardstown road area, but its a bit out of the way from where we live.

As far as fitting in, we're also a weird Vegetarian non-church going, politically progressive family and have taken less grief for it than I would have imagined. In fact, after you get to know people and scratch the surface a bit, you'll realize that there are more kindred spirits that you'd ever guess. And for those that aren't, just don't throw your "differentness" in their faces and you'll be fine. Just take a "live and let live" attitude and leave any condescension at the door.

[auracana]

Thanks for your help. We always find good people of all stripes wherever we move and I'm sure Louisville will be no different. I can't wait to try out the restaurants.

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by auracana

Hi. My husband is considering accepting a transfer to Louisville and I'm wondering if anyone can give me advice on the best neighbourhoods for us to consider. We're coming from the Philly area and probably can afford to look in the 500k range. I'm sick of living in the 'burbs and having to drive to the corner store and everywhere else. We're looking for the perfect combination of access to restaurants and shopping but also for things for the kids to do (elementary age) and access to parks and outdoorsy stuff. And we're atheist vegetarians and we want our kids to fit in and not be considered too weird. Thanks for any advice.

Louisville has an extensive foodie community for its size. LouisvilleHotBytes.com is the forum you want to check out.

There are lots of alternative people in Louisville, and I agree with the recs. You will like anywhere inside the 264 beltway. Stay east of 9th street downtown, and east of 7th street in Old Louisville. I think you will especially like Frankfort Avenue and Bardstown Road, where many of the above restaurants are located and you can find a magnificent, rehabbed old home for 500k probably around 3000 sq ft.

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by auracana

Hi. My husband is considering accepting a transfer to Louisville and I'm wondering if anyone can give me advice on the best neighbourhoods for us to consider. We're coming from the Philly area and probably can afford to look in the 500k range. I'm sick of living in the 'burbs and having to drive to the corner store and everywhere else. We're looking for the perfect combination of access to restaurants and shopping but also for things for the kids to do (elementary age) and access to parks and outdoorsy stuff. And we're atheist vegetarians and we want our kids to fit in and not be considered too weird. Thanks for any advice.

The Highlands is for you by the way. Lots of atheist families, nice corner vegan and locally owned grocery stores:

amazing grace louisville - Google Search

I would go straight to that store and talk to people in there. They will tell you what it is like around here. I think the way you described yourself you would be a perfect fit for the Highlands. I would look specifically at the Highalnds-Dopuglass, Bonnycastle, Cherokee Triangle, and Orginal Highlands sub-neighborhoods within the Highlands. The odd thing about Louisville for people from bigger cities is that you CAN live in the city, raise a family, be liberal, and walk to everything you need from groceries, to ice cream, to indie coffee shops. Bardstown Road is a great strip for this region of the country.

Keep Louisville Weird

[Wanderlust07]

Originally Posted by LVLguy

Other places vegetarians tend to eat in a pinch:

India Palace, Qdoba, Salsaritas, Panera Bread, Boomboz Pizza, Quiznos, Fazzolis etc.

I'm not a vegetarian, but I was in Louisville recently and had the lunch buffet at India Palace -- the food was so good that I actually preferred the meatless dishes. The buffet offered a nice selection and it was very reasonably priced.

[LVLguy]

Auracana - no problem. The thing I've found about Louisville is that you can find pretty much what you want, you just have to dig harder than larger cities. It's mostly all here - somewhere.

Wanderlust07 - I agree. The India Palace is amazingly good. Compares to some of the best Indian cuisine I've had anywhere.