Address: 630 S. 4 St.
Pricing: About $6.50, lunch; mostly $9.75-$17.95 for dinner
Phone: (502) 587-0526
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m
How To Get There:
Located on Fourth St., a block north of Broadway and just south of W. Chestnut St.
Parking:
metered street parking, garages
Cunningham's Restaurant: more than just fine fish sandwiches
Published: Mar 30, 2009
For decades, Cunningham's Restaurant has been virtually synonymous with fried fish sandwiches. But the Louisville institution serves much more, including excellent steaks, country ham, crispy chicken and a fine Sunday brunch.
At one time, Cunningham's was as famous for its old location on Fifth Street at Breckenridge as for its fine fish on rye and other food. At various times in its 131-year history, the building served as a horse stable, a saloon, a brothel a "speakeasy" during Prohibition, an illegal betting parlor and Louisville's first drive-in restaurant. (The Cunningham's name dates to its acquisition in 1922 by a crooked Louisville police captain of that name, and the building burned down in 2001.)
Now the perennial favorite is a popular part of Fourth Street, just a couple of blocks south of 4th Street Live. The old location was dimly lit with the small upstairs "bordello rooms" used for diners instead; the new spot is spacious and modern, with booths as well as tables and chairs.
However, as with Cunningham's old location, black-and-white framed photos depicting the histories of Louisville and Churchill Downs cover most of the walls. Decorating one wall are sketches or photographs of every single Kentucky Derby-winning horse since Joe Cotton's victory in 1885 — just 10 years after the first Run for the Roses!
The food at Cunningham's has changed as little as the décor. Diners can still get a hefty T-bone steak dinner ($17.95), pan-fried oyster special ($13.95), Kentucky country ham dinner ($12.95) or that famous crunchy fish sandwich ($6.50 with potato chips and a pickle spear, $8.75 for the fish platter, which includes French fries and cole slaw).
Cunningham's serves up a fine all-day Sunday brunch buffet. (Breakfast items disappear at 1:30 p.m.) For $11.95, you can feast on fried chicken; sliced turkey, roast beef and ham; assorted vegetables and breakfast foods and, of course, the fried fish.
Cunningham's has an extensive dessert menu, a $3.95 kids' menu and a huge bar. Private dining rooms are available — recreations of the "upstairs rooms" at the old locale — for groups of four or more. Call (502) 587-0526 for reservations.
- by Ivonne Rovira, Louisville Reporter for HelloMetro
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