This Restaurant In Kentucky Used To Be A Firehouse And You'll Want To Visit
By Andrea Limke|Published January 19, 2019
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
There are many interesting restaurants throughout Kentucky that try to tell a story through their decor, atmosphere, and menu, and several of these eateries do so wonderfully. This nod to an era or unique theme, when accompanied by a delicious menu, can make a restaurant a fascinating place to dine. One of the best examples of this can be found at The Silver Dollar in Louisville. This former firehouse has found a new life as a restaurant, beautifully celebrating an intriguing piece of history, and it’s a dining destination in Kentucky you’ll want to visit.
The Silver Dollar is a unique Louisville restaurant that's housed inside an 1890s firehouse, not far from downtown. You can see it on the righthand street corner in the photo below, and you can imagine how this historic building once served a very different purpose for the area.
The red brick firehouse is now a popular restaurant and bar that attracts locals and visitors alike, and everyone seems to agree that both the food and the atmosphere make it worth a visit. With the large main door, brick interior, and even the original fire pole, there's no doubt of this building's former purpose, but it also has a new vibe that adds even more character.
The Silver Dollar was created to pay homage to the musical movement of Bakersfield, California, and you'll find plenty of evidence of this during your dining experience. The historic environment and laid back feel of the restaurant help to set the scene, and you'll always be treated to the rhythmic music of the day, coming from the speakers.
The patio, both this covered area and the tables out front, are the preferred spots to grab on a nice day. But guests enjoy this relaxed atmosphere and scrumptious menu no matter what the weather looks like outside.
That menu also pays tribute to those unique honky tonks with southern and Californian influences. Dinner is served throughout the week, and brunch is added on the weekends, and anything on the menu is a wonderfully delicious choice.
If you do visit for brunch, be sure to try the cornbread pancakes, shown below. The menus are always seasonal, with plenty of favorite mainstays, and they include great options for those looking for vegetarian choices as well.
The Silver Dollar has many specialties, and two of them are shown below. There aren't many restaurants where you can get "beer can chicken" - or hen in this case - and the chicken and waffles are also out of this world.
The Silver Dollar is also known for its bar, which varies seasonally and continues with its ties to both Bakersfield and Kentucky. And once you've decided on a drink and a meal from the one-of-a-kind menu, sit back and enjoy the history of this firehouse restaurant, with a theme you won't find anywhere else in Kentucky.
The Silver Dollar stays true to its firehouse roots, but also celebrates a period of time when music was a means to life, and Kentucky is the perfect location to do so. Have you dined at this former firehouse, turned restaurant and bar? Let us know what you think and be sure to share any other favorite restaurants that once lived a totally different life!
The Silver Dollar is located at 1761 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206. For more information, visit its website here and follow along on Facebook here. The restaurant is open Monday – Friday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
And for more unique restaurants in the same area, check out our previous article here.
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