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    Eat & Swig

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    Last week, we shared some of the best places to get fit in Louisville in honor of the country’s most popular New Year’s resolution. This week, we’re shedding some light on the city’s best restaurants for eating healthy. Whether you’re cutting out gluten, converting to a vegetarian diet, incorporating more local organics or simply reducing your calorie intake, this list has something for everyone looking to lead a healthier lifestyle in 2016.

    For the Calorie Counter:


    Image: Yang Kee Noodle

    Yang Kee Noodle
    2 Louisville Locations

    It’s no secret that Louisville’s Yang Kee Noodle is one of the city’s best choices for Asian cuisine. And with a complete list of nutritional information available to its guests on its menu, it’s also one of the city’s best choices for calorie-conscious diners. For more information, visit its website.

    Stevens & Stevens Deli
    1114 Bardstown Road
    502-584-3354

    This scrumptious local eatery has its customers’ best interest in mind when preparing classically delicious deli favorites. Along with offering organic turkey and chicken, Stevens & Stevens also lists the calorie count of every item on its menu. Making the healthy choice has never been easier or more delicious. For the complete menu, visit Stevens & Stevens website.

    Shiraz Mediterranean Grill
    5 Louisville Locations

    This delightfully casual restaurant is making sure all Louisvillians get their fix of delicious Mediterranean cuisine regardless of their diet. Shiraz lists the calorie information for each of its menu items, proving just how healthy this type of cuisine is. Who knew its ground beef Shwarma Wrap was under 500 calories! For additional nutritional information and directions to its five locations, visit Shiraz’s website.

    City Cafe
    2 Louisville Locations

    This local favorite has been supplying Louisville's working men and women with delicious hot and box lunches for years. And now, diners can see exactly what they're eating with the calorie content listed along with each option on the menu. To scope out its full menu, visit City Cafe's website.  

    King Fish
    3021 River Road
    502-895-0544

    This original seafood restaurant has more than just fresh fish. Its menu has everything from juicy lobster dinners to $5.99 lunch specials, and the calorie content of each option is conveniently listed on the menu. Visit King Fish's website for the complete nutritional information.  

    For the New Vegetarian:


    Image: Game 

    Roots
    1216 Bardstown Road
    502-452-6688

    Similar to its neighboring carryout and catering sister restaurant, Heart & Soy, Roots specializes in a completely vegetarian menu featuring the business’ own delicious local tofu. This upscale dining experience is enough to make any carnivore second-guess their diet. For the complete menu, visit Roots’ website.

    V-Grits Food Truck
    502-627-0446

    One of Louisville’s best vegetarian options is on wheels and not technically vegetarian. Each of its mouth-watering menu items is prepared from 100% plant-based ingredients, classifying this food truck as one of Louisville’s few strictly vegan establishments. But don’t let its vegan description scare you away. This truck serves up incredibly delicious southern fare, like loaded mashed potatoes and bacon mac & cheese, with a surprisingly delicious meat and dairy-free twist that’s definitely worth a try. For more information on its menu and to find out where the truck will be next, visit V-Grits’ website.

    Zen Garden
    2240 Frankfort Avenue
    502-895-9114

    If you’re looking for a way to comfortably and deliciously swap your old meaty favorites with fresh new vegetarian alternatives, look no further than this Clifton gem. This restaurant’s completely vegetarian menu gives a meat-free spin to meaty Asian favorites. Lover of Orange Chicken? Try Zen Garden’s Orange Tofu. Miss Sesame Beef? Why not try Zen Garden’s Sesame Soybeans? Visit the restaurant’s website for its complete menu.

    The Grape Leaf
    2217 Frankfort Avenue
    502-897-1774

    As one of the city’s very first Middle Eastern restaurants, The Grape Leaf knows a thing or two about serving Louisville the best flavors available for every type of diet. Along with its regular menu, this restaurant also offers a list of entrees that are exclusively vegetarian, making it the perfect dining destination for groups of eclectic eaters. To see its complete menu, visit The Grape Leaf’s website.

    Game
    2295 Lexington Road
    502-618-1712

    While having a reputation for being Louisville's holy grail of exotic meats, that fact that this joint is also a haven for veggie burgers is often overlooked. Check out the restaurant's list of inventive house-made vegetarian-friendly options on its "Field" menu on its website

    For the Gluten Banisher:


    Image: Bazo's Fresh Mexican Grill

    Bluegrass Burgers
    3334 Frankfort Avenue
    502-614-6567

    Everyone knows that a burger isn't the same without a bun, so what's a person to do if they don't eat gluten? Go to Bluegrass Burgers, of course. This Clifton burger joint has delicious gluten-free buns available for each of its juicy, mouth-watering burger choices. To check out its complete menu, visit the restaurant's website

    Bazo's Fresh Mexican Grill
    4 Louisville Locations

    Along with its regular menu, this hometown Mexican grill also offers a seperate completely gluten-free menu which includes everything from tacos to quesadillas to taquitos. Check it out on the restaurant's website

    Ramsi’s Café on the World
    1293 Bardstown Road
    502-451-0700

    With its menu full of fresh local ingredients and vegetarian options, it’s no surprise that this Highlands staple also offers an impressive selection of gluten-free dishes. Ramsi’s Café’s Hope Farm Wellness Menu combines the best of the restaurant’s vegan, vegetarian and pescetarian offerings, most of which are gluten-free. Didn’t think traditional East Indian Paella could be gluten-free? Guess again. Visit Ramsi’s website to see the full menu.

    Impellizzeri’s
    3 Louisville Locations

    Gluten-free diets and pizza certainly do not mix well, unless you’re at Impellizzeri’s. This Louisville pizzeria offers a selection of classic Italian dishes made from gluten-free ingredients, including grass-fed meatballs, spaghetti and of course, pizza. For more information on its gluten-free options and directions to its three locations, visit the business’ website.

    Dragon King's Daughter
    1126 Bardstown Road
    502-632-2444

    This creative Highlands restaurant not only specializes in both inventive sushi and tacos, it also knows a thing or two about gluten-free diets. Though its entire menu isn't gluten-free, several of its options are friendly to those who are cutting out the product, and its team will be happy to point out these options when ordering. For more information on this restaurant's cooking methods, visit Dragon King's Daughter's website

    For those in Search of Locally Raised and Grown Ingredients:


    Image: Proof on Main

    Proof on Main
    702 West Main Street
    502-217-6360

    This Kentucky Proud restaurant is much more than just the bar at the 21C Hotel. With fresh meats and vegetables supplied from local farmers, Proof on Main makes it clear to any of the city’s visitors just why Louisville was recently named America’s best foodie city by National Geographic. We recommend stopping in for Sunday Supper with your family and friends for the restaurant’s weekly traditional family-style dinner. Check out Proof on Main’s website to get the full scoop on its ingredients and to see its full menu.

    Harvest
    624 East Market Street
    502-384-9090

    This popular NuLu restaurant has recreated several traditional southern dishes with delicious modern flare. And because it gets nearly all of its fresh ingredients from local Kentucky farms, Harvest offers a new menu each season to provide the best flavors possible. To see what's in season at Harvest now, visit the restaurant’s website.

    North End Café
    2 Louisville Locations

    This original Louisville restaurant grows its own vegetables and herbs in Simpsonville before transporting them directly to its kitchen. And what the business can’t grow in its nearby garden, it purchases locally, allowing its customers to indulge guilt-free. To find its locations and see its full menu of deliciously wholesome breakfast and lunch options, visit North End Café’s website.

    Mayan Café
    813 East Market Street
    502-566-0651

    This restaurant hasn’t been recognized as a Local Hero three times for nothing. Louisville’s Mayan Café incorporates only sustainably-raised meats supplied by local farmers into its mouth-watering original recipes. For more information, visit the Mayan Café’s website.

    Bristol Bar & Grille
    5 Louisville Locations

    Along with its irresistible daily menu, this Louisville staple also offers a variety of delicious seasonal options made from local farm fresh ingredients throughout the year. For information on what each of its locations has to offer, visit the business’ website

    Photo courtesy of Fawzya.com.

    Carly Garcia's picture

    About Carly Garcia

    Lover of vegetarian cuisine, Stephen King, puppies, camping and wine...lots of wine.

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