Louisville's restaurants cater for all tastes, though downtown prices are fairly high.

Brasserie Dietrich's 2862 Frankfort Ave tel 502/897-6076. Atmospheric converted movie house in the Crescent Hill district, serving inventive seafood and meat dishes from a wood-burning grill.

Bristol Bar & Grille 1321 Bardstown Rd tel 502/456-1702. Very good bistro-style salads and entrees with great desserts; a perennial Louisville favorite. Branch at 300 N Hurstbourne Parkway tel 502/426-0627.

Heine Brothers Coffee 1295 Bardstown Rd tel 502/456-5108. Friendly espresso bar, attached to Carmichael's , a good independent bookstore.

Jicama 1538 Bardstown Rd tel 502/454-4383. Stylish Latin American grill in the busy Deer Park district. Prices range from $10 to $20 a head.

Lynn's Paradise Caf 984 Barret Ave tel 502/583-EGGS. Quite simply a place that has to be visited for its stone-age theme decor. Friendly staff serve big portions of standard American fare, a choice selection of beers, and the best breakfasts in the city. In the lively Highlands neighborhood close to downtown.

Ramsi's Caf on the World 1293 Bardstown Rd tel 502/451-0700. Atmospheric caf open late with eclectic and very tasty selections.

Rudyard Kipling 422 W Oak St tel 502/636-1311. The decor has a hint of The Jungle Book , but the food is local with a few Indian dishes thrown in. Live music, usually acoustic, most nights. Closed Sun.

Vietnam Kitchen 5339 S 3rd St tel 502/363-5154. A small basic eatery, fifteen minutes' drive out of downtown in the South End, where the city's Asian chefs eat on their days off. The menu is huge.