On a night where Louisville seemed like cinematic Transylvania, lightning storms, blistering winds and the potential for a Frankenstein ancestor to bring the dead to life; I chose to go out in my corolla with two patched tires and zero tracking to scratch a monotonous itch.
I wasn’t craving a certain cuisine, but definitely a new environment and an abby normal menu. I went with a friend on a hunt for one restaurant, but gladly ended up cruising (hydroplaning) Frankfort Avenue, when a remodeled firehouse had me do a double take. The firehouse turned restaurant and bar, The Silver Dollar, was equipped with everything I had hoped to come across. A swanky indoor-backyard party atmosphere, exceptional pairing of food and the friendliest wait staff, the cool vibe I was searching for to rid the monotony.
We started with a crisp spinach salad and a creamy Red Wine Vinaigrette. Then, ordered the Garlic Shrimp entrée with a side of chayote squash and corn bread stuffing. It was all a palatable combination that left our hunger pains content, but not stuffed to the point of no return. The corn bread stuffing was a new venture for me, which now has turned into a must- master recipe. Our stomachs minimally had room for the dreamy banana pudding and toasted marshmallow dessert, but we had no problem leaving the dish clean. This banana pudding was not overwhelming in its fruity flavor; rather it had the exact mesh of tang to be a dessert.
The menu varies from bar snacks with items such as fried oysters and hand breaded onion rings, to sandwiches, fish platters, soups, and plates of steak, brisket and ribs. The executive Chef Jonathan Schwartz and Sous Chef Save Hawkins lead the kitchen and prepare all sauces hand- made and in-house.
Friday and Saturday night’s at the Silver Dollar are crowded with people who enjoy the drink menu complete with imported ales and cocktails. The prices are within reason and vary on the gourmet nature of the dish.
Now, going out in the storm lacking an umbrella would spoil a night like this, but I was still floating on the banana pudding cloud; whereas my dining partner was suffering from wadding through puddles with a broken sandal.
