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LR/Great Eat: El Mundo’s; Louisville, KY

El Mundo’s claims that it’s open throughout the week for lunch and dinner, but it’s really only open for dinner, and locals know you’d better be there by 5 o’clock on the dot in order to get a seat, because El Mundo’s fills up fast, nightly, and stays packed with a wait list (especially in weather where their outdoor seating area becomes a moot point) into the evening. The size of the restaurant is part of the problem – Like many Great Eats, the establishment’s refusal to expand past its small space on historic/artsy/foodie Frankfort Avenue make it’s popularity seem larger than it might be. Like any good Louisville restaurant, the menu boasts local fare, like Kentucky-raised Bison and seasonal greens, and many items can be made vegan if they aren’t already vegetarian. Along with their use of black beans and red rice instead of the normal Mexicali-joint’s refried beans and white rice, El Mundo’s makes a point of keeping their Mexican fare tasty, so leave room for Oaxacan-style chocolate and chile pot of gooey goodness. As for your choices, the Southwest Green Chile enchiladas, complete with shredded chicken (or pork or beans or beef or bison), are fantastic. Many people swear by El Mundo’s fish tacos and tamales, but one of the biggest draws to El Mundo’s are their one-of-a-kind, strong as steel blood-orange martini’s; you get two servings, by the way, so take the TARC bus if you’ve ordered over your limit. El Mundo’s is one of the many excellent restaurants on Louisville’s Frankfort Avenue, and is well worth a stop if yummy, Mexican-with-a-twist is your pleasure.

Great Eats: Seviche, Louisville, KY

If you’re roaming around Louisville looking for food, there’s plenty of great spots to chose from; the city’s refugee population has influenced the city’s variety in terms of food, so you can find everything from Indian dishes to Vietnamese and Ethiopian cuisine, but one of the best spots in town is Seviche. Not only has chef Anthony Lamas earned the 2010 LEO award for best chef in the city, but the restaurant makes a big effort to buy local (notably Kentucky Bison) and use fresh, organic ingredients. The fish dishes (ceviches) are some of the best I’ve ever had, and I’ve had fresh Panamanian ceviche; the salmon and ahi tuna are to die for. The menu can change depending on local ingredients, but the tilapia and sea bass are primo, and the chorizo and shrimp are divine. Red meat lovers will love the beef tenderloin, but I’d encourage sticking with the seafood – the mussels (mejillones en caldillo) will make you moan with delight. There’s a full bar, and, on the whole, for the quality of the food you’re getting, you won’t spend too much. Check out Seviche next time you’re up for Derby – you’ll be amazed that such terrific food is buried next to the Ohio River.

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