Buck's Restaurant and Bar, Louisville

The founders of Buck's Restaurant and Bar approached their restaurant's design as would a landscape artist: by starting with the flowers. Inspired by "moon gardens"—collections of all-white blooms meant to reflect moonlight—they set their stage with slate-gray walls, dark wood wainscoting, and, of course, fresh white blossoms on every table. Deliberately mismatched china, sumptuous leather wingbacks, and gilt accent pieces complete this elegant Victorian tableau, which pairs seamlessly with the restaurant's home in the historic Mayflower Building.

Buck's menu of continental cuisine extends the elegance of the table to the plate itself, with entrees of crispy fish with hotsweet chili, filet mignon and daily specials. The staff oversees an extensive wine list that catalogs reds and whites, domestics and imports. More than 60 bourbons go down smooth accompanied by live piano music performed by Rick Bartlett.

New chef Allen Simms and his ideas for menu items coming soon.