Waycool Cafe

If you work in the area, make this your new favorite lunch spot!

The food is of good quality and fresh. Not exactly gourmet food but just solid quality favorites such as burgers, fries, fried chicken, fish, chicken wings, etc. The most expensive item on there is $9 and you can easily have a complete meal with a sandwich, a side dish and desert for $3! I always feel like a million bucks coming here because the staff treat me well and I can eat to my heart's desire without worrying about cost.

There's a huge parking lot so no hassle finding a spot. The hotel is older but clean and well kept. It's a humbling experience as well  to be dining in a place where staff and clients are working so hard to make a positive change in their lives.

My friends and I were at the cafe a couple weeks ago. We were very excited about the prices, being the frugal folks we are and we were all excited by the food's quality. You could tell from the picture how excited we were (food bought for and consumed by 3). Everything was well seasoned and the fried foods were perfectly crispy. I've tried the buffet before and was happy with their fried chicken and fish as well. On top of everything, service has always been great, very attentive and courteous. I'm definitely coming back.

This little restaurant with the silly name is located in the lobby of the Hotel Louisville. I've been coming here somewhat regularly now for lunch, since it's so close to my office, and it's very easy to get a decent, affordable, well-rounded meal.

The main thing to know is that Waycool Cafe is a part of Wayside Christian Mission, and employees are people in need who are being given service industry job training, program support and housing. The intent here is to provide a fully functioning "transitional living" operation for people who have been otherwise homeless or indigent or down on their luck. As far as the service goes, I wouldn't call it a tight ship, but you can stuff yourself silly for $8 or less. (For $5, you can fill a plate once at the buffet.) It's classic southern fare with sandwiches, fried chicken, fried fish, and trimmings like green beans, mashed potatoes, salad, etc. Sometimes they have someone playing piano or violin. The operation is a little on the threadbare side of things, but that's par for the course with charities like this one. Nobody's exactly getting rich off this business, and programs like this one are very important to this community.

Don't expect an antiseptic experience. The hotel brochure doesn't exactly read like what you'd see at the Marriott: "Our chefs and cooks are trained by Metro Louisville Health Department in the area of safe food operations. The hotel kitchen is held to a very high standard and supervisors and staff are trained to meet and exceed health department regulation. ... Donated food is NEVER used in our social enterprising operations."

And that about sums it up. Decent food at very affordable prices at a slightly run-down hotel that supports a great cause.