J Graham's Cafe

A crew of 7 of us enjoyed lunch here over the holidays. Service was superb and prompt and handling a moderately sized group (even with a reservation) during a peak holiday lunch takes a certain level of expertise.  Not surprised - the people in Louisville are exceedingly gracious and the employees here were as well.
The food was ok - not bad, not great. Many of us at the table ordered the Hot Brown, others the club, and one a burger, etc. Nothing to rave about, per the group, but not bad either. Salads were fresh, dressing ok, derby pie was delightful but the chocolate cake was, in all actuality, a rather dry brownie. Overall, a solid "ok" was the chorus from our group whose members rated the company of the others as the chief highlight of the afternoon.

Home of Kentucky Hot Brown, the legendary sandwich was invented right here in the Brown Hotel. Want to taste history? Go no further than the spot where it originated.

Our server, Katharine, was kind and attentive, helping our most picky eaters find a Hot Brown they'd like to try. In addition to the original, J Graham's also offers a vegetarian option. Our meals arrived bubbling hot, each in a personal skillet.

The Hot Brown was good, and while authentic, I still preferred variations offered at Mom n' Pop diners. For example, J Graham's served up their sandwich with off-the-bone turkey meat. The luncheon meat version I found easier to eat and not as dry. Other places have more flavorful sauce too.

All-in-all, it was a must-try while in Louisville. The Hot Brown is a very hearty, filling dish, so be sure to come with an appetite.

Price per person: $20.00

I love going here for a hearty buffet lunch. I never get the full buffet because it's pricey for lunch and the express buffet (including an amazing salad bar with sandwiches and soup and dessert selections to die for) is more than enough to satisfy the hungriest eater. The dessert buffet always includes bread pudding, which many argue to be the best in the city. Additionally, they offer a dessert buffet option separately. What a great idea!

The staff is attentive and friendly.

This is a great place to conduct a business lunch.