Mark's Feed Store: barbecue with flair
Everything at Mark's Feed Store is designed to create a folksy air: the barn-like exterior at three of its four Louisville-area locations, the wooden bench seats, the desserts being served in a beer mug. Some might suspect that the name, which connotes an eatery that's an extension to a country farm supply company, is part of some elaborate and cloying marketing ploy. But it's no put on.
Owner Mark Erwin actually began first restaurant in a historic feed and seed store in Middletown that he converted into a small eatery. He comes by the name fairly.
But the food is much better than just fair. Take the onion straws, an appetizer that's a Mark's Feed Store specialty. These slender, airy onion straws make the usual onion rings pale by comparison. The onion straws are priced at $4.49 for a bounteous half-basket and $5.49 for a mammoth full basket.
Naturally, Mark's Feed Store is best known for its barbecue fare: hickory-smoked ribs and barbecue sandwiches piled high with chicken, beef or pork — your choice. With a single side, a sandwich costs $6.29 at lunch. As for the ribs, they're just what ribs should be: juicy, and tender inside with a crusty exterior that still carries the smoke from the cooking. The sizable rib basket runs $7.99, while a belly-busting full slab costs $18.99.
If you go on Mondays, desserts are free after 4 p.m., but only for those dining in. But whether it's Monday or not, you'll want to save room the famous buttermilk pie ($1.99); Buttermilk Crunch, a concoction of chunks of buttermilk pie loaded with ice cream, caramel and nuts ($2.99) or one of the sundaes.
Kids eat free on Tuesdays (two children's dinners per adult meal).
Like the sauces? Mark's Feed Store is more than happy to sell you its award-winning original mustardy barbecue sauce, its honey-flavored "Red" sauce or its new hot barbecue sauce for $2.99 a 16-ounce bottle.
Mark's Feed Store has a special Carry Out Menu, as well, which includes the World's Largest Bar-B-Q Sandwich, which contains a full pound of pork plus one side for $10.99.
Mark's Feed Store has four locations: the original East End eatery, 11422 Shelbyville Road in Middletown; 1514 Bardstown Road in the Highlands neighborhood, 10316 Dixie Highway in southwestern Jefferson County and 3827 Charlestown Road in New Albany, Ind. All locations have the same hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
In addition to serving delicious food in the restaurants and to go, Mark's Feed Store also provides catering, including so-called Picnic Packages for up to 50, although they can cater for more diners than that. The restaurant boasts that they can cater anything from a backyard barbecue to a "Black Tie and Boots" gala. Call (502) 244-MARK(6275) or check the website's Catering Menu for details.
- by Ivonne Rovira, Louisville Reporter for HelloMetro
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Ivonne RoviraA graduate of the prestigious Columbia University School of Journalism in New York City, Ivonne Rovira worked as a reporter for the Miami News, The Miami Herald and The Associated Press. She has written articles for The National Catholic Reporter and The Courier-Journal. For more than 15 years, Ivonne wrote and edited articles aimed at middle-school children.
