Rye

Rye.  Already I was thinking: Brooklyn.  Do I do that at every monosyllabic restaurant that has charming, rustic yet posh attributes?  Yes- I'm a New Yorker.  Not that I'm not self-conscious; that's the California side- I'm totally aware of my urban scruples, but I do enjoy me some local, artisanal, well thought out food goodness.  Tyler, part owner at Rye and high school chum (no- chum is an exaggeration and a word I promise to use never again when talking about food), gave us a tour of the gorgeous restaurant that could never exist in New York.  It's too many things that restaurants in New York want to be, but we can't have them all: a lovely open kitchen, uncramped outdoor area, upstairs luxury den, precious bar and widely windowed storefront.  Rather, the fringe of industrial Louisville provides the perfect setting for a multilevel food mecca, complete with rooftop beehives.

The restaurant is splendid, obviously considered with an eye towards the future of foodies descending upon Louisville.  And they probably will for this.  Already, looking at the menu I knew that they had a handle on the coercion that is food description.  I wanted one of everything.  We came pretty close: the homemade charcuterie, egg and broccoli rabe toast, carmelized fennel and the whole roasted trout.  For a party of three, headed to the Kentucky Derby the following day- it was a splurge.  Still, rereading this I see the menu patterns that entice me to repeat trips:  the simplicity of single page menus, adjectives like Spice-Roasted and Charred, curious origins such as Borlotti and Blue Dog, colloquial asterisks.  Needless to say, I had a lot of annoying questions for our thoroughly tattooed server.  She steered us right, though I guess the back of the menu is supposed to be the guide, assuring us of the total modern fine/responsible dining experience.  It's funny; whenever I go to read a menu/novel in the restaurant, I realize how ridiculous it is.  What are you doing reading so much?  Go ahead and eat, enjoy your company.  Be in a cool restaurant.

Rye+Vip= Privey.  Also, Curated Soundtrack!