Any cowboy worth his boots knows that a good bowl of chili is a great way to /files/storyimages/a long day — especially a cold, gray, winter one. Luckily, you don’t have to travel to the Lone Star State to warm your belly with a bowl of “red” because these restaurants are serving tasty versions right here in the Derby City.
Nestled in the East End, Austin’s (4950 US Hwy. 42, 423-1990) has a menu full of Southern favorites, one a chili that packs just the right amount of punch ($3.30 cup / $4.30 bowl). Three kinds of beans (pinto, red and black) bl/files/storyimages/with chipotle peppers to spice up the ground beef-filled Texas-style chili. For a little extra kick it’s served with a side of jalapenos, along with tortilla chips, perfect for scooping the thick concoction and adding some crunch to each bite.
Across the bridge in Jeffersonville, Buckhead Mountain Grill (707 W. Riverside Drive, 812-284-2919, and three other area locations) boasts a buffalo meat chili that’s leaner than ground beef and just as, if not more, savory. The bowl ($6) is hearty and filling, and is accompanied by a dish of jalapenos, Cheddar and Jack cheeses and chopped onions so you can flavor it to taste. If things get too spicy you can order from a variety of brews to wash it down — the bar has almost 20 beers on tap.
Lacking in ambiance, but not in flavor, the South End’s Old Louisville Style Chili Parlor & Fish House (4544 Poplar Level Road, 969-5636), born out of the now-defunct Haymarket Restaurant, has a deliciously unhealthy homestyle menu. The chili is chock-full of ground beef and pinto beans, and is served Cincinnati-style — over thick spaghetti noodles. You can take a quart ($8) home, a filling meal for two, and if you save a little room, you may want to pick up an order of thinly sliced fried green tomatoes ($2.50).
— Katie Brown
