My wife got a burger and there was a long dark hair in the middle of it. Â It was really disgusting. Â I'm not sure how someone could make a patty and not see a hair that long. Â I know I'm not Robert Irvine but other issues with our visit were that the mac & cheese was watery, the sub sandwich was dry and could have used some marinara or something, the waitress wasn't around(I had to flag her down twice), and we felt the lunch was overpriced. Â For example, $2.50 for a childs drink seems high. Â Our lunch was almost $50 for 2 adults and a child. Â I emailed the managers but got no response. Â I doubt we'll be returning.
Review Source:This place is just really cool. Â The atmosphere is great, its got kind of a hip dungeon feel that I wasn't even aware was a thing until I visited. Â The service was impressive and the food was good. Â My only complaint was that the fishbowl mojito my husband and I shared was waaaay too sweet. Â
If you're looking for a cool place to just hang out with friends downtown before a game or concert, this place is perfect.
Great pizza, sandwiches, and beer selection, all in the coolest underground pub in Louisville. No question, once you discover this place you'll be returning.
Impressive ambience-- bricks everywhere, yet this place isn't a dive, and quite classy considering it's a pub called "Troll."
Excellent place to watch football and basketball games, but get there early on game day...
Foodies stay away! This place is not for you. Now, if you want to take a visiting relative or weekender friend out to a place that will make "them" feel like they are eating somewhere crazy and fun, this is the place for you.
They have a good sized drink list with some fun mixed drinks. Most are $8 or you can get a "Troll bowl" version for $25. Its a gigantic fish bowl for your table to share.
If you want a large selection of beers on tap, you will have to go next door to O'Shea's.
As far as food goes, I had the Veggie burger. It was a microwaved frozen black bean patty on a un-toasted bun. It was terribly disappointing and made me sad inside. The "homemade" kettle chips that accompanied the burger were cold yet crispy. I'm not sure if this is how they are always served, but I have never had cold "fresh" chips before.
The menu had a nice verity, I'm sure there is something tasty on there. I just didn't find it that day. Too bad I will never go back. There are too many great places to eat within walking distance to worry about the "Troll"
From out of town & it was so good the first time, we went a second! The wait staff is friendly, no waiting, and yummy beers. Cool atmosphere in the basement. Definitely have the beer cheese & pretzels for an appetizer. Ask the wait staff for meal suggestions, so far they haven't steered us wrong!
Review Source:My wife and I have been trying new places recently and Trolls is one of the best we have tried. Â Great food and atmosphere! We tried the beer cheese w/ pretzels, the Hot Brown, & the beer cheese burger... all were very tasty. We were in the restaurant around 4:30 pm so the place was fairly quiet, but you could easily see the place buzzing later in the evening. The service was good. Our waiter was kind and attentive and made some really good recommendations... all for in all, a great place, we will be back!!
Review Source:This was such a neat little place to hang out for an evening. Â The drink prices were a bit steep but no one from our group seemed to mind given the fun atmosphere and general vibe of the place. Â Naturally we started things off with our free drink sample (courtesy of our Yelp check-in offer) which immediately set the tone for a fun and interesting night. Â Our waiter was informative and attentive which are most important if you've never been to a place before, and he even walked me around the place giving me a history of the architecture and location. Â Since we sauntered in late on a Saturday we didn't eat any of the food, but the menu was certainly appetizing. Â It was an amazing experience and we simply cannot wait to go back.
Review Source:I'm going with 5 stars based on two separate visits.
The first visit involved around 20 people about a year ago. The service was surprisingly excellent considering the large group and short notice. even the food came out all at once and was accurate and didn't have the characteristics of sitting under a heat lamp. Soft drinks were regularly filled and we never had to search for our server.
The second time was a small group of six, and the service was even better. No food this time, but plenty of drinks. The staff was attentive and very friendly.
If you like bourbon, try the Sly Gent.
This really is a fun place to hang out with a group of friends. Â The atmosphere has a dungeon feel to it which is actually really cool. Â The servers are very friendly and attentive. Â I've been here twice now and each time I had the same exceptional experience. Â I'm pretty picky about service and I am very pleased that this place has great service down to a science. Â
Oh, I can't leave off that the big troll that is posted up outside the front entrance is really cool!
Service was great. Food was top notch. Price was reasonable. Beer selection was moderate in size but what it lacked in quantity it made up for in quality. PLUS it has a great hook/theme being right next to the bridge. It gets busy when there is a game at the Yum Center but if you are in town on an off day this pub is a must.
Review Source:Not good AT ALL. Very over priced and poorly prepared food. We got the fried ravioli (6 for nine bucks) the Greek salad (more like a side salad for 9 bucks) and the beer cheese burger (and they forgot the cheese ... No kidding). We were visiting louisville for the weekend and this was easily the worst meal we had. Steer clear.
Review Source:The building is awesome and the space is beautifully renovated, and the big ole troll in front is fab. So as far as atmosphere and character goes, it's a win, and I'm glad that fat cat Cards season ticket holders can come here before games and stuff themselves full of pub fare. This is a fine addition to Whiskey Row.
But after eating here a couple of times, I have to say that their food is better at making me feel bloated and gross than satisfied. (And I have not yet had a burger here, mainly because they have nothing smaller than a half-pound patty.) I get the sense that someone back there is making an effort, but I have yet to be inspired myself.
At this point, I'd be willing to go back, but if I want a good meal on this stretch, I'd rather try Doc Crow's or Hillbilly Tea.
The food here is pretty good, especially for a bar, but what makes this place is the atmosphere. Â Under a bridge, good ambiance/vibe, lots of seating. Â It's a great place to get together for drinks.
However, while I've enjoyed my experiences here, I must relay one negative.  Eating with some friends one time my friend ordered a bison burger from the menu.  It turned out to be regular beef though.  She told the waitress and she fetched the manager who responded  by saying "oh, yeah that's supposed to not say bison anymore"  MANAGER FAIL!!!  Either change your menu or offer to rectify it for my friend, buffaloes are not cows...
Neat underground restaurant with a decent menu w/good variety. We met up w/a friend here who was on a "healthier" diet and the menu lended to both my smothered in bacon agenda and his veggie diet.
I am new to Louisville and had to try a "hot brown." Â It was delicious and basically is an open-faced turkey and bacon on sourdough bread smothered in a cheesy cream sauce (made for a fork and knife).
My wife and arrived in Louisville on Sunday for a conference and I was looking for a place to eat by searching yelp. Troll Under The Bridge Pub caught my eye and it was close to the hotel. Â The atmosphere, service, and food is great. I recommend the Smushroom Bison Burger and the mac and cheese both very good. We've been here four days and have eaten there twice.
Review Source:I was excited to try Troll Pub with friends last night because I had heard many wonderful things about the food and atmosphere. Â First of all we ordered the loaded pub chips for the table as an appetizer and they tasted as good as they looked. Â The chips were crispy and the combination of cheeses, sour cream and bacon was delicious. Â The size was also impressive, we had a party of 9 adults and it was enough for everyone to have a small serving which is perfect for me because I tend to fill up on appetizers and not be able to eat my meal. Â If you had a party of only 4 or so it would make for a pretty sizable serving for each person. Â For my meal I ordered the beer cheese burger with fries. Â The burger came topped with fried onions and their signature beer cheese all on a pretzel bun. Â The burger was very good except that it was cooked a little long for my tastes. Â I do prefer my burgers to be well done but it was a little charred on the outside which gave that charred taste to the burger which was a little bit overwhelming. Â If they can master cooking a burger well done without charring the outside this could easily be a four star review. Â Aside from the food I also enjoyed the whole atmosphere at Troll Pub. Â As I said we were a party of 9 adults and two kids but there was plenty of space that we were seated easily. Â The chairs were also really comfortable which is something I rarely even notice at a restaurant especially a bar or pub. Â They were all wooden with high backs and padded with leather which was a really nice touch. Â It was not too loud to hear the conversation at our table which was a pleasant surprise since there were several other larger parties seated in our area. Â Our server was also wonderful. Â He never let our drinks sit empty, most times they were refilled before they were completely empty and we never really had to ask for things because he was great at anticipating our needs. Â Overall I will definitely return, can't wait to try some of the other menu items.
Review Source:I went there for the first time for lunch last week. I loved the decor and atmosphere. We were told it was a 15 min wait but was able to get a seat right away in the bar area. I ordered the fish and chips and a side of Mac a cheese. Â It did take over 30 minutes to get our food and the server stated that the kitchen was really busy but the restaurant was less than half full. I cant complain about the food. Food was good but a little pricey for what you get. I will go back again just to try the other dishes. I suggest to them to have some lunch specials and try to get patrons out a little sooner because most have only an hour for lunch.
Review Source:Troll Pub is fine...a normal bar / restaurant, with far better facilities than most. Â
The place is in the basement of commercial space adjacent to the bridge and O'Sheas. Â It's fine - loads of space - but "personalized" in that corporate sense.
Fine beer, attentive bartenders. Â Food is average pub fare. Â Seriously lots of TV screen space, tuned to soccer and other alt-sport events, which makes for a loud space. Â Like the airshaft / patio...they should do more to make it available for service and / or intimate parties.
The decor is awesome, the service is great, the food (particularly the beer cheese) is delicious and the prices aren't horrible. My only complaint is that there weren't enough pretzel sticks with the beer cheese. We were only passing through Louisville for the night, but this place left a heck of an impression on us.
Bravo, Troll Pub! Bravo, Louisville!
I love this place! Â The decor is awesome and I always feel like I am in some hidden underground cave. Â
The beer cheese and pretzel dip is great to share (but who wants to share?) and the jalepeno ravioli and duck confit spring rolls could be my meal... but then I wouldn't get to eat one of the amazing burgers!
This is by far the best place to go before and after an even at the YUM! center, but get there early so you can get a seat!
Even though we were there with a very large meetup group, the service was pretty great.
Shay (sp?) in the bar area in particular seemed eager to be of service and had a great attitude.
Drinks were a little pricey, but they weren't stingy when they were making 'em (I've just gotten used to dive bar prices :-P). The fries were crispy and yummy. And I thoroughly enjoyed my Breakfast Burger (on an english muffin with an egg and bacon...I mean...c'mon! delicious!!)
I will definitely be back!
We ALMOST didn't get to this place. Â First off, it is hard to find. Â I mean, it is under the bridge for pete's sake! Â Thank goodness for that awful creepy troll in the front! Â Secondly, parking is terrible. Â (I'd suggest you park near the corner of Washington and 1st Street and walk down.)
Not sure what I was expecting given the weird troll guy. Â But it was:
- old meets modern, exposed brick and paintings hanging in every which corner, combined with huge flat screens everywhere. Â you won't miss a second of your favorite game.
- expansive/never-ending, with rooms everywhere you looked
- tasty, although my sandwich wasn't anything fancy (the rib sandwich... not much meat and just okay flavor), try the beer cheese and kettle chips, or the philly cheesesteak, or the burger with the pretzel bun, or the chicken and bean quesadillas... or... or... or... yep, it'll be delish.
Oh, and for an added treat, our server offered me a choice of deserts to celebrate my birthday! Â Mmm cheesecake!! Â
I'm kinda wondering what this place looks like on a weekend night?
Hubby and I returned to Troll Pub last night. Â Just like I planned the last time, we made a dash for the back bar as soon as we got there, avoiding the drafty front dining room. Â It is much better this time: warm and lively even for a downtown Sunday night. Â
The service was at first a bit confusing due to too many servers and runners all gathering together. Â But the bartender came over and took control of the situation, everything was fine after that. Â
The menu has indeed changed from the last time we visited. Â It has been pared down to bar standards plus a couple of pasta dishes. Â The wings are still not "jumbo" as claimed by the menu, but they are still tasty like the last time: fried with a thin coating and then rolled in the sauce of your choice. Â The reuben sandwich (minus sauerkraut for me :) is grilled just right and not greasy. Â Hubby's chicken fingers app. is one of the best I have had: Â great buttermilk flavor, without a heavy crust. Â Hubby's fish and chips was also one of the best versions I have had. Â The white, flaky layers were seasoned just right. Â
We can't wait to sit in the courtyard on a warm night.
My husband and I are in town for a bike race, and had to try this spot for dinner. The food was good (not outstanding). We had caesar salad, pretzels with cheese sauce, grilled chicken sandwich and a veggie burger. Everything was delicious but not outstanding. What was fantastic was the location. What a fun location and setting.
We were a little disappointed that it was practically abandoned but we went on a Wednesday night.
We are from the SF Bay area, and are used to outstanding food. If we are in the area again, we will go back.
Give it a try...you won't be disappointed.
I made a repeat visit to Troll Pub today and found that the menu has been updated.  I was told that they took the chef from Avalon on Bardstown Road and he has worked to create a menu  that presents the perspective on food that the restaurant wants to represent.  I personally find the new menu to be innovative and widely appealing without being dangerously large.  I recommend checking it out even if you've been before.
Review Source:Came here for a late lunch. I'm not from Louisville (just visiting from San Francisco) but this place makes me want to come back. Lots of TVs in the viewing areas, exposed brick all around, great soft lighting, canvas paintings, nice attention to detail on the wooden tables and leather wrapped chairs. Staff very friendly, terrific draught beer selection and perfect pub food menu.
Wish there was a place like this back home!
Haven't eaten here yet, but the atmosphere is - well - adorable? charming? unique? you just need to check it out! Great draft beer selection. Falls City, a Louisville recipe, and I had the Troll Belgium whit - yummy. We took our drinks out to the secret courtyard, lit with charming lights - beautiful - love this place - can't wait to come back again after one of the UofL games at the Yum Center!
Review Source:I went to Troll Pub on opening night. Â I was a littler nervous when I walked in at 7:30pm and the place was empty, but I was quickly reassured of my decision to go to this new little spot. Â
The food was awesome! Â I had the Philly Cheese Steak (without the cheese cause I don't much care for cheese) and it was awesome! Â The fries were great as well. Â I love me some french fries so I know what I am talking about here, kids. Â
After eating, I headed over to the bar area. Â Again, a great spot. Â The bar has a great vibe, plenty of seating. Â It could use a little more floor space as it gets cramped in between the tables and the bar, but isn't the way it should be at a bar? Â There was a great crowd there too. Â I for sure recommend the Troll Pub Under the Bridge
Went to this place for opening night and I've got to say, I was impressed. Granted the terrible downtown traffic with the bridge along with the street it is actually on (Washington, between River and Main) was closed. That certainly didn't help them out!
At 7 when we got there it was pretty dead. And such a cool atmosphere, I was a bit let down that the city didn't come support new biz. I loved the huuge, almost 16th century wooden castle doors. And almost the entire place was exposed brick walls. Love. It had a bit of a charming, medieval feel while still being well lit and even covered with TV's if you just can't miss those sports.
Had the very reasonably priced build your own burger. Fried egg along with other awesomeness and only 7.99. I upgraded my chips to Sweet potato tots that were perfectly crisp on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. Man I want to go back tonight just thinking about them. Burger was also impressive.
Tip:
One of the owners showed us the secret private room, old school style, with the bookcase that releases a door when you pull out the right book. Hahaha. It is on my list to make it to that room.
The bar was a very cool spot to chill and have a drink with friends. I'll positively be back. And guessing this 4.5 will be going up to a 5.
How are you reviewing a place that has yet to open? Opening date being Wednesday Oct 19th.
Well I didn't have to answer three questions, guess an elaborate first name, or give my first born away to get into this Troll Pub Under the Bridge, I just used my Yelp charm. Well, by charm I mean it was a soft opening for the contractors who helped build the place and I knew a restaurant wasn't going to turn away business.
As you can expect by the name, this place is located directly under the second street bridge across from the Yum Center and Parking Garage. This venue is going to be perfect for post, pre, or during game snacking. After opening the heavy wooden Medieval door you get the sense of not being in downtown Louisville anymore and being transported into an under cover, members only, pub. There are huge flat screens every where so that every seat can get in on any sport/television action.
The bar is located in the back of the Pub, so you will have to meander your way around, but the bar is a decent size with plenty of side tables. When we sat down, we were greeted by plenty of lovely ladies. It looked like that night everyone behind the bar was helping everyone. We had one girl make our cocktails, another ring in our food, and a third bring our food and talk desserts. My boyfriend being proactive immediately entered this restaurant information on Yelp so we could educate the Yelp community on the new option in town.
We ordered two signature cocktails the Louisville Lemonade (kind of like a lynch-burg) and X Marks the Spot ( kind of like a Bahama mama with a twist). We got the BBQ pork tips appetizer that was very juicy, cooked to M to MW and had a flavorful BBQ sauce. The appetizer was like a small bite size BBQ rib snack. The only part of the appetizer I was sad about was that only four pieces came for $10.
Don't expect too much of a discount from Yum prices if choosing to dine here, but do expect a better taste and portion value.
I look forward to Trolling it under the bridge again soon.