North End Cafe, Louisville

Since April, 2003, the chefs at North End Café have championed a focus on local, seasonal ingredients with a healthy approach to cooking. North End Café's menu features traditional meals from around the world, ranging from grass-fed beef burgers and flatiron steaks to grilled fish and scallops to stir-fry and cakes. For sharing, chefs build eclectic small plates such as crab cakes, fried goat-cheese ravioli, and almond-crusted brie. They also prepare a range of vegan and gluten-free dishes, taking care to avoid the pyrotechnics that result when steak and tofu touch. And in 2015 the selection became even more eclectic, with the addition of an in-house pizzeria. To accompany these meals, bartenders pour American and international wines, and blend cocktails from fruit and old-fashioned ingredients.

At the Highlands location, a tap system spouts 23 craft beers, including imperial IPAs and peppery black porters. In warmer months, the aromas of cooking and laughter of clientele also fill the Highlands location's outdoor deck, an expansive wooden patio surrounded by vines and flowers. And adjacent to that location in a separate dining space is North End Slice, a pizza-centric eatery featuring hand-crafted thin-crust pizzas made from high-quality ingredients. The plentiful pizza choices range from the traditional margherita to specialty pies like the caponata that's piled high with eggplant, red peppers, kalamata olives, and capers.