A longtime house specialty, a lunch portion of this fish fried crisp in sesame oil and served atop a bed of rice with a smothering of green bell peppers and red onions in sweet Oriental chili sauce costs just $8.95; a larger serving at dinner goes for $21.95. With its scattering of fresh, slivered spring onions and punch-packing assortment of tangy tastes, it’s a great way to brighten up a drab winter day.

Read the rest after the jump…

If you’ve never been to Buck’s before, now might be the time to stop by for lunch or dinner. As it approaches its two-decade mark in business, it can safely lay claim to status as an Old Louisville landmark. In keeping with the marvelous assortment of Victorian architecture on display in the neighborhood, an antique-shop assortment of china and silver – no two dishes or utensils quite alike – adorns the tables at Buck’s. A large brass chandelier dangles from the center of the main dining room, and objects such as gilded pillars, wall sconces, and an angel candelabrum add dramatic flair to the space. It might best be described as Victorian thrift-shop chic, inviting but not overdone, with a bit of cheeky pretense nonetheless.

Walk inside, and the decor looks totally black at a glance, but then you see the walls are a darkish green-gray with lacquered black trim; the baby grand piano is jet-black, and so are the small chairs at the various tables spread throughout the two dining rooms. Brilliant white tablecloths on the tables make for a nice contrast, as do the bountiful white-flower arrangements all along the bar. When leaving, ladies are encouraged to take a flower home with them as a memento of their Buck’s experience.

If crispy fish isn’t your thing, there are many alternatives on the extensive lunch and dinner menus. Popular lunch items include the hacked chicken salad ($7.95), Mediterranean green bean salad with grilled mahi and shrimp ($10.95), muffaletta chicken sandwich ($8.95), southern-style pasta carbonara ($9.95), and a Buck’s hot brown ($8.95) with turkey, tomatoes and country ham atop whole wheat garlic cheddar bread with Parmesan cream sauce and bacon crumbles. For dinner, favorite entrées are bourbon pecan chicken ($22.95), grilled Calvados pork chop ($23.95), and a vegetarian Napoleon ($18.95). Starters include pork-and-rice pot stickers ($8.50), Corsican-style mussels ($10.95), and baked goat cheese salad ($9.95). With the elegant jazz tunes coming from the piano, dinner at Buck’s is an enjoyable night out.

Buck’s is located on the bottom floor of the Mayflower at 425 West Ormsby Avenue. Call (502) 637-5284 for more information.

by David Dominé, The Bluegrass Peasant

Looking for something different to do the weekend of July 12th & 13th?

Old Louisville, one of the largest historic preservation districts in the nation, will be showing off its private green spaces during the 15th Annual Old Louisville Hidden Treasures Garden Tour. While you’re enjoying the spectacular Victorian architecture and shaded walkways, why not pop in for a bite to eat at one of several neighborhood restaurants? With outdoor seating options, these four eateries allow nature lovers the opportunity to enjoy a quick snack or leisurely lunch or dinner out in the open.

Amici’

Located at 316 West Ormsby, and just steps from the opulent mansions of Millionaires Row, Amici’ Italian Café offers out-of-doors seating in a romantic fern-laden brick courtyard where tinkling fountains and chimes put diners at ease. Enjoy the signature drink, the Amici bellini, and choose from a wide variety of dishes showing influences from the north of Italy. Along with your cocktail, try the Prosciutto e melone appetizer, thinly sliced prosciutto wrapped around melon wedges for $6.50, or the antipasto platter ($10.00) with an assortment of cured meats, cheeses and pepperoncini. For a nice summer main course, try the grilled shrimp and scallop risotto ($17.50) or the cheese tortellini with asparagus pesto and grilled chicken ($16.50) Also available is a wide selection of salads, panini, pizzas and soups.

Carly Rae’s

One of the newest restaurants on the Old Louisville dining scene is Carly Rae’s, and the recent arrival of Chef David Clancy and his new menu make it worth the visit. Arguably one of the nicest al fresco locations in the city, the spacious patio at Carly Rae’s has become a favorite with Old Louisvillians, who only need walk a couple blocks down to the casually upscale restaurant at the corner of First and Oak. Perfect for a drink with friends or a weekend get-together with the family, the patio is often full and bustling with neighborhood activity. A variety of trees and shrubs ensure a welcome respite from the July sun, and with its goodly number of tables, it’s not hard to get good outside seating. For those wanting the solace of gleaming hardwoods and cool leather, all you have to do is walk through the nearest door to a spacious, club-inspired lounge with a well-stocked bar. Owners Herb and Gayle Warren are also known for their and involvement in the community.

Third Avenue Café

Sidewalk patio seating for 24 under a towering maple tree ensures a pleasant experience along bustling Third Street at this friendly, neighborhood establishment that specializes in vegan, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian items. All entrees, sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts are made from scratch on the premises and served up under the motto “Good Karma. Good Food.” Ask Elvis. He’ll tell you all about it. Popular snacks include fried portabella strips with horseradish sauce ($6.50), shrimp cakes ($5.50) and spicy cheese quesadilla ($7.00). Sandwich favorites are the hot turkey melt ($7.95), vegetarian reuben ($7.75), and barbecue tofu sandwich ($7.25). The comfortable interior seats up to 150 people in an eclectic setting that features a large mural of Old Louisville Victorian homes and antique pharmaceutical items reminiscent of the days when the building housed the old Zeiden’s Drug Store.

Buck’s

Buck’s, the latest incarnation in a long line of restaurants that have graced the lower floor of the Mayflower Apartments on Ormsby Avenue, offers outdoor seating under a canopy of shade trees across from some of the largest Victorian mansions in the city. From the abundant vases of white blossoms that adorn the bar to the trademark mismatched antique-shop assortment of china and silverware that set the tables, Buck’s Restaurant and Bar is an Old Louisville original. Definitely one of the pricier eateries in the neighborhood, Buck’s has a diverse dinner menu that makes a slight nod at retro favorites such as oysters Rockefeller ($10.95), Kentucky trout dijonaise ($21.95), and medallions of beef “Henry the Fifth” ($23.95), but fusion-inspired dishes appear as well. Crispy fish with hotsweet chili ($20.95), spicy noodles “Cantonese” ($21.95), and pork and rice pot stickers ($7.95) demonstrate the chef’s adventurous side.

And although the snowy days of December will be far from the minds of most at the summer garden tour, you can get a leg up on your holiday preparations at a special Christmas in July Ticket Sale. After your meal, look for the brightly decorated Christmas tree and Christmas display in front of the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum at 1402 St. James Court.

Old Louisville Holiday House Tour tickets, normally $25, will be offered at a special discounted price of just $15 for the two days of the garden tour. And the best part: everyone who buys a Holiday House Tour ticket at the 2008 garden tour will be entered into a prize drawing for a spectacular Old Louisville weekend-getaway gift basket valued at more than $1,000. The prize package includes two passes to the 3rd Annual Spirit Ball in October, tickets to the 5th Annual Victorian Ghost Walk, and dinner for two at Amici’.

The highlight of the basket will be a two-night stay at one of Herb and Gayle Warren’s award-winning bed and breakfast establishments. Other goodies include Michael Breeding’s Victorian Mansions of Old Louisville DVD, gift cards by Mark and Claudette Rego, and a selection of Happy Balls!, the official candy of Old Louisville. Second and Third Place Prizes will be given away as well. The 32nd Annual Old Louisville Holiday House Tour will take place on December 6th & 7th from noon until 6:00 pm. For more information call (502) 635-5244.