Mojito's Louisville: Louisville's East End Favorite for Tapas

Nestled in a corner of a suburban shopping center is a surprising treat for fans of tapas-style dining: Mojito’s Louisville in Holiday Manor.

Forget any negative presumptions about restaurants in shopping centers. Mojito’s Louisville packs in huge crowds nightly and has become a place for the in-crowd in the East End. And no wonder, the Tapas menu encourages friends to share their selections. The place is named for a popular drink that comes in multiple varieties offered up on an entire page of the menu. And Mojito, the drink, is available by the pitcher.

And though it is too close to the parking lot, the outdoor covered patio is a great place to spend happy hour. Or you can step up to the bar and bide your time waiting for a table. And you’re likely to have to wait. Mojito’s does not take reservations, although you can call ahead.

The Spanish-themed restaurant opened in 2007, and immediately earned a LEO Reader’s Choice award as one of the city’s top new restaurants. The main chef then, Fernando Martinez, had earned plenty of praise for his Cuban-themed restaurant in St. Matthews, Havana Rumba, which opened in 2004. It’s still thriving.

Martinez, though, left town for a new opportunity three years ago. Under the leaderhship of Fernandez’ partners, Marco Lorenzo and Chef Pedro Lorenzo, Mojito’s has only become more popular.

That may be mostly due to the expansive menu. Be aware, though, that some items, such as the paellas, require 60 minutes to cook. There are tapas, both hot and cold, in many varieties. There’s flatbread, seafood, tacos and and plenty of vegetarian choices. It really does take a while to take it all in.

Mojito’s adds some interesting dessert choices – try the Churros con Chocolate, but realize the dish is really Cuban doughnuts served with a dipping sauce.

And then there’s the drink menu. Mojito’s stocks a decent selection of wines from Spain, Chile and Argentina. And there are six imported Mexican beers available.

However, ordering anything but the Mojito is like ordering seafood at a steak house. The Ultimate Mojito is $37 a pitcher, but is worth it.

Mojito's tapas East End Holiday Manor drinks