We thoroughly enjoyed our evening at Varanese. Food, drinks and service were all wonderful! There was live music which only added to the experience. With Covid we have not been dining out ....Varanese was defiantly a great place to experience our venture back to in...restaurant dining. Our server, whose name I can't remember, was great! We never felt rushed or hovered over but were well taken care of (The young lady was a graduate student and waiting tables suited her schedule and she was well suited to the job)More

Scallop appetizer was excellent. My wife’s pasta with and my sea bass on spinach were excellent. Arty presentation of crème boule. Good service but not exceptional. No butterknife. Efficient valet.

For the New Year's celebration, I invited my niece (an international student at U of Louisville) and her mother, visiting town from Panama, to join me at Varanese, one of my favorite places in town. The whole experience was extraordinary with a great server (Kate,...I believe was her name) who welcomed us in Spanish and later in the evening brought her sister from the kitchen to say hello in Spanish as well. The food was, as always, well crafted and with its unique flavors, from the angus steak to the bourbon salmon, the lobster mac/cheese and the bread pudding with caramel ice cream. What a wonderful and delightful way to welcome 2022. The restaurant had live music and offer the traditional New Year's hats and tiaras, as well as a glass of champagne to toast. Cheers 2022! Cheers Varanese for a great opportunity for my family to feel at home in Louisville.More

We were spending the night in Louisville while on a trip and selected Varanese for dinner. While parking in the area is a bit of a challenge, it is well worth the effort. The setting is welcoming and nicely appointed. While we were there on...a Friday evening, there was live music. Mason provided excellent service. Pricing is fine dining, and the quality of the food was very good. The wine selection is good, with many high end wines. We were very pleased with the oyster appetizer, and entrees of lamb shank and strip steak. If in Louisville, we will definitely consider a return to this restaurant.More

My husband and I reserved Varanese for our sons rehearsal dinner. From beginning to end, working with David at Varanese was a breeze! He was very easy to work with, and guided us through the menu selection, table set up, everything! The food that night...was amazing! I am still receiving rave reviews on all the dishes. The appetizers were yummy, the salads and entrees were delicious, and my mouth is still watering over the dessert options! And, the wait staff was Five-Star! I would highly recommend Varanese for any dinner event (large or small) when you want to "wow" your family and friends. You won't be disappointed.More

The service was outstanding, the food was of the highest quality at a resonable price. I had the smoked burbon pork chops and they were without a doubt the best pork chops I have ever eaten. My girlfrend had the salmon and raved about it,...A jazz bad was playing and the atmosphere was more than we could have hoped for. Our next visit to Louisville will include reservations here.More

We recently hosted a rehearsal dinner at the Varanese. The servers, McKenzie and Mason, were top-notch. They were attentive, efficient, and pleasant. The food was superb. David Allen, the general manager, was very responsive to all inquiries and requests, from months in advance to day...of! The chef was accommodating to a few special dietary requests. It was a great experience. Everyone had a wonderful time. Thank you!More

First of all, we want to give a huge shout out to our server Thomas ! His personality and engagement during our dinner was well above our expectations . If I could adopt him in would do it in a heartbeat ! There was a...music duo (guitar and stand up bass) that made our dinner experience even better than we would have expected . The food was phenomenal ! Oyster appetizer was to die for! I had the lamb shank and my husband had the red snapper . Both were mouth watering! For dessert we had the banana cheesecake cake, along with a cup of coffee ‘spiked with’ kahlua. We will definitely be back during our next trip to Louisville 🥰More

My husband and I go to The Riverhouse, which is excellent! We decided to give the chef's other restaurant a try, since we enjoy The Riverhouse so much. Unfortunately, it was a disappointment. The food was lacking in flavor and seasoning on all notes. The...fish I ordered had no seasoning, not even salt or pepper, and it really needed a note of acid to cute through the dish. The description on the menu stated it would have a pecan and jalapeño crust, and all I got was pecans. No jalapeño whatsoever, which would have been great paired with the sweetness of the sweet potatoes that the fish rested on. Unfortunately, the sweet potatoes had a bitter aftertaste, even my husband made comment of it. The mushroom risotto was bland. I have had risotto and make it myself it should have depth of flavor and it tasted like nothing. No seasoning again, lacking salt/pepper. I expected so much more with as much as the meal costed. I was very surprised that this is the same chef that owns/operates The Riverhouse, because it is a night and day difference on the quality of food and flavor.More

My husband took me to Varanese for Valentines Day brunch. This was our first visit but it definitely won't be our last. Everything was absolutely perfect; the atmosphere, service, quality of food and great drinks. They even provided live music. Our server, Mackenzie was fantastic;...she was very friendly, efficient and attentive. We were served complimentary bruschetta for an appetizer. I ordered the hot brown which was delicious. My absolute favorite course was dessert. I ordered the chocolate, banana, peanut butter pie with homemade strawberry ice cream. I can not describe how scrumptious this dessert was. I can't wait to return to Varenese.More

What a great find in the back streets of Louisville. Like being transported to Paris. Wonderful, creative dishes served by people who are delighted you are there. A breath of fresh air in this pandemic craze. Don't miss it!

We made reservations and they sat us at a tiny table at the bar, which was disappointing. There’s a vegetarian option on the menu. I asked them to make it vegan for me. It was just a smaller plate of sautéed vegetables. I was still...starving after I ate it. I asked for some breadsticks. The drinks were too strong. Service and staff were good. But everything else was abysmal. Not sure how this is ranked one of the best restaurants in Louisville. I will never be back.More