My husband and I got the "Monday special" Kentucky ham and cheese sandwich with honey mustard sauce, which they make in house, and the soup of the day which was, bacon potato and it was delicious. They didn't have focaccia bread so they substituted ciabatta bread and it was perfect. Came across this place as we were walking back to our car trying to figure out where to eat, well worth it and very friendly customer service. read more

Main Eatery - Ham and Swiss cheese sandwich on ciabatta bread and bacon potato soup! - Delis Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

A simple place with a classic menu, but the food was delicious and the atmosphere was awesome! Extremely friendly staff that make you feel welcome to be there and want you back. The live plants and ambience of Carole King, James Taylor, and Cat Stevens set the perfect mood for a relaxing lunch in the city. read more

My family and I initially walked past this place in our hunt to find food. We stopped in at another spot and I wasn't feeling it, so we came back here. Best decision ever! The atmosphere is warm and inviting. Lots of options to choose from. Most importantly, a friendly and welcoming staff! My family all ordered soups and they were so flavorful, and tasted like they had been simmering for hours. If you are in the area, I would highly recommend read more

Pleasantly surprised! Great place for a quick lunch! Fast and delicious! The owner was charming and made us feel very welcome! The chocolate chip cookies are amazing! Get one! read more

Main Eatery - Blue plate special! - Delis Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Stumbled in here for a quick bite solely based on location. The staff could not have been more pleasant or helpful. Very good deli/coffee shop type food which was exactly what we wanted. All Covid protocols are being followed. Will return if ever in the area. read more

FANTASTIC place!!! Don't hesitate to get her as quick as you can to eat! Fresh sandwiches, great drinks, soups are perfect! Texas Chili is wonderful (from a Texan!!)! Eclectic atmosphere & kind owners! read more

Just had the Monday special and it was delicious! That was the best ham sandwich I've ever had in my 36 year old life. And I've ate a lot of pigs. read more

Such a conveniently located simple, quick deli. If you are looking for a cheap lunch to go this is your spot. Apparently the 2 owners are generally the guy taking your order and the one making your lunch. I love that. And the prices are amazing. An expensive meal there is 7 bucks. For less than 6 you can get soup and a 1/2 sandwich. I had the broccoli cheddar and chicken salad sammich, though apparently I could have done better. The soup was wonderful and warm and that ideal comfort soup. Perfect portion too. The chicken salad was good, just not my style. It was a bit too creamy for me and not much spice. I also had food envy when my bread was the thick white bread and I saw my friend's lovely marbled rye bread. Good to know. So next time I am getting the piece of cornbread that I saw on the way out - Jordan P was totally right! and a different sandwich. Or maybe a salad. Either way, I will certainly be back to this perfect work lunch spot. P.S. they give a cash discount read more

Main Eatery - Delis Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Wonderful little sandwich shop that is a must to try. We had the albacore tuna sandwich and the chicken salad sandwich. The albacore tuna sandwich was very well constructed and it had a bit of a spice that only enhances the whole sandwich. The chicken salad was very good although I thought it was a bit heavy on the mayo and it needed a bit more seasoning. Both sandwiches are homemade and made daily. The gentleman who was taking our order I assumed to be one of the owners was super friendly and helpful in choosing a sandwich. What was really cool is that you receive a discount for paying in cash bets putting it on your credit card. Very smart. My only issue was that the staff were not wearing masks. read more

Food was amazing! Love the customizable menu. Ambience very cool, loved the staff's hats. But above all was the service! Definitely recommend. read more

We were recommended to stop here and we definitely didn't regret it. Everyone was so nice and friendly and the chicken noodle soup was delicious! The steak sandwiches are delicious. Honestly I wish we were natives but this is a must eat place in Louisville! Plus, the bathrooms are cleaner than some luxury hotels I've seen! read more

This place is absolutely amazing! Great friendly service, fresh food, and very clean restaurant. And the brownies are to die for!

When in Downtown Louisville make sure to stop here for lunch! From the soups, to the sandwiches, to the salads, you can't miss. My favorite is the Thursday special, Chicken Salad on a croissant. It's addictive. read more

Best lunch we had in Louisville. Reasonably priced menu. Delicious food. I had chicken soup/ chicken salad sandwich/ beverage combo for under $13. Hubby had cheeseburger special which was very good as well. Highly recommend. Friendly owner. Maria from Madison. read more

I've decided Thursdays at the Main Eatery get 5 stars. In fact, I just checked, of the 15 reviews for Main Eater, 4 of them mention Thursday. We must be onto something. In case you don't care to find those other four reviews. Here's why Thursday gets *****'s Chicken salad sandwich on an enormously melt-in-your-mouth croissant. Bag-o-chips. Drink. And NYC Cheesecake. All for less than $9. (It's even cheaper if you pay in cash.) Sorry, can't vouch for the remainder of the week. read more

Main Eatery - NY Cheesecake that's part of a chicken salad sandwich on croissant roll, chips, and drink for $8.70. - Delis Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

What a nice eatery! We had such a great experience from the time we walked in! We had a pleasant conversation with the cashier and another employee who came to check in on our meal. The 4 of us had sandwiches, 3 turkey and a roast beef, which were all freshly made on our choice of bread. We also ordered 2 soups as part of a combo meal. They were piping hot and tasted homemade. This is an order and pickup style restaurant with plenty of choices to eat and sit. I'd highly recommend it for a pleasant lunch! read more

This is the one of the cutest restaurants with the absolute nicest employees. They gave great recommendations, were so kind, and the black bean burger was great! Their tips go to a local animal shelter, and the place was very clean with everyone wearing masks as well - all around one of my favorite places that I've stopped while in Louisville. read more

Great food, and the people were so friendly! We got the grilled chicken sandwich which was wonderful! My husband had chicken noodle soup and he said it was some of the best he's ever eaten. The man who took our order was friendly and pleasant, helpful with the menu and just a lovely person to meet. We would absolutely go back! read more

This is a must visit location downtown Louisville for lunch. Reasonable prices and a great menu selection. Friday's are the best day to visit for their famous grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup. It's what you've been waiting for all week. Make sure you get there before 1:00 pm because they will sell out before they close. read more

Main Eatery - Delis Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Great food! Nice atmosphere. Great deli for eat in or take out. Kind and personable employees

What a wonderful spot for lunch. I could tell it was good while waiting in line because there were so many regulars that the owner knew by name. The owner was so kind and patient with our kids too. Loved this place and highly recommend. read more

Main Eatery - Delis Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

This little spot is a lovely place for lunch! My daughter and I both had different kinds of their homemade soups, both of which were delicious!! The interior was adorable with the exposed brick. This was the first place I have felt comfortable eating inside since COVID. The tables were spaced with plenty of distance between and the staff was quickly and throughly cleaning each table after the guests left. We will definitely be back! read more

Doesn't look like much from the outside but what a gem! The food is so fresh and delicious! Everyone here is so friendly and personable! Only in town for a few days but I'll be back before I leave! read more

This is one of my favorite lunch café places downtown. The owner David is one of the nicest people that I have met and he is sincerely grateful and appreciative of locals that support his business. I have to say, ALL the food is exceptional, but his chicken salad is THE BEST!!!! I am a picky eater and I have NEVER been disappointed. Do yourself a favor and don't miss out on treating yourself to a GREAT lunch (reasonably priced). Thx, Sherry (PVA) read more

Anyone who works downtown is probably well aware of this place as there is almost always a line out the door during the busiest times at lunch and the Friday grilled cheese special is talked about in hushed tones. I have now had the chance to go here for lunch around five to six times and am thankful to have this establishment on Main Street. Overall, I am not a huge go-out-for-lunch guy as it can be time consuming and costly. I typically only go out for lunch occasionally and make it a treat. I had to go to the Main Eatery on a Friday a while back to sample this much-talked about grilled cheese and tomato soup, which constitute the Friday blue plate special. Each day of the week, the Main Eatery offers a blue plate special, which is definitely your best option. At around $7-$8, these meals include that day's sandwich, plus a soup (or chips for slightly less $) and a drink. While I was a bit underwhelmed by the grilled cheese sandwich, all of the Main Eatery's soups definitely deliver and the other days of the week feature some great hot sandwiches, likely Monday's hot ham and cheese on focaccia (my favorite and Tuesday's hot roast beef. Even Wednesday's burger is surprisingly tasty. The other great draw for this place are the friendly owners, who quickly convert many customers into loyal regulars through the witty banter at the cash register (this may contribute to the out-the-door lines). Finally, the Main Eatery also offers a 5% discount when you pay with cash (hand over your bills and the owner will "do some cash discount action" to bring your total down). After repeated visits, it is clear why the Main Eatery is a Louisville favorite for lunch. The great sandwiches and soups coupled with the cozy interior create a comfortable atmosphere that is a great reprieve from the trials and tribulations of the daily grind. read more

Ever since I decided to try out the Main Eatery on my birthday this past February, I've been hooked. So have my coworkers, as they tend to go here almost once/week. Everything I've tried has been good, but the stand-outs to me are the Monday Blue Plate Special (Kentucky ham and cheese on warm focaccia with honey mustard) and all of the soups (especially the broccoli cheddar). Among my friends and coworkers, everyone has their own favorite day to go, and their own favorite thing to get, showing that you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Don't expect a super quick lunch, as the line is usually out the door, and the owner taking your order makes great conversation with everyone in line. Once you order though, your food is almost instantly at the window, and you're free to sit anywhere in the large but cozy-feeling restaurant. Everyone I've taken here has asked to go back, which I take as a pretty good sign. Great downtown lunch spot. read more

Trusted Yelp to find me a lunch spot I could walk to, and as usual, Yelp came through. The line was to the door when I arrived, but a couple of regulars in line said that usually happens because the co-owner working the register likes to talk to his regulars. That's a good sign, in my book, of a good place, so I was willing to wait. The blue plate special for the day was a handmade cheeseburger with either chips or soup and a drink, and I opted for chips. The wait from ordering to getting my food was short, maybe three minutes, and even in the 3-minute walk back to my office, the burger was still piping hot when I ate. I will definitely keep trying The Main Eatery out. read more

This is one of my favorite places for lunch! It's convenient, the employees are super friendly, the food is delicious, and the price is right. There is almost always a line out the door and while that takes some time, once you order, your food is ready before you even have time to finish getting your drink! Yesterday, I had 1/2 a chicken salad sandwich, a cup of chili, and a drink for $7. I'd say that's about comparable to Panera, except you're supporting local, and it's a shorter walk from work for me. :) read more

Main Eatery is one of my favorite downtown lunch spots. Their every day menu is good, but I go for the blue plate specials. My favorite special is on Fridays: a thick panini grilled cheese with tomato bisque and a drink. They have the best grilled cheese around and it also comes with sweet pickles! The tomato bisque is my favorite of their soup options, but I also love their chicken noodle and crave it during the winter when I'm working in cold downtown Louisville. The Thursday chicken salad special is also great, and they come in and make the homemade croissants early in the morning (and every now and then, they have a few left over that they sell for $1 on Fridays). The Thursday special also comes with a slice of cheesecake! Main also makes their cookies and brownies from scratch. Price is the only factor that keeps Main Eatery from a five-star rating for me. The blue plate special comes out to $10, which is a dollar or two more than I like to pay for a sandwich and small soup. The quality and quick service keep me coming though! read more

Solid place for lunch. There's a bit of a line. Went after the Louisville Slugger museum and it's definitely more of a business crowd. The chicken salad was very creamy. The Ruben was good. read more

Love this spot. Stumbled upon here because the first few places we went to didn't have anything vegetarian for me. The place doesn't look "trendy" or anything but the food.. it's homemade fresh every day. It's owned by two men who do their families recipes. I could tell it was fresh & homemade by the quality & flavors of the food. Incredible. The black bean soup especially with the hints of citrus his mom used to add to get him as a child to eat the soup since it was made of beans. The citrus in the soup was so yummy! I don't think I can have black bean soup from anywhere else ever again. Highly highly recommend this spot read more

Nice lunch place. Great homemade soups and high quality sandwiches. The person taking orders was very friendly and helpful. Service was quick. read more

A very nice little restaurant with friendly staff and good food! Was in town for a week and stopped in several times. Loved the homemade soups and blue plate specials. It was a relaxing environment that embodies a nice and friendly southern experience. Keep up the great work! read more

So so good. The man that took our order was friendly and hilarious. we ordered the special for lunch. Very delicious sandwich with a side of chili. The environment was really cool and impeccably clean. This is a great place for lunch. read more

Absolutely love the man who runs the register. Went with a co worker and received a complimentary cookie for being a first time guest. It's the little things. Food is great, although chicken in salads could use some seasoning in my opinion. However, the yummy salad dressings make up for it. Somewhat of a long line but there's definitely a reason for it- it's worth it. Also, decently priced. read more

I had been planning to go this place for a couple of months, and yesterday was finally the day. When I arrived the line was out the door. This could have been a sign of super slow service or a sign of good food. The good food won. I had the black been soup, a salad and a cornbread muffin, and I loved it all. The soup was perfect. If you know me, you know I love my black beans -- they had have the soup down to science here! And the cornbread muffin. That's another story. First off it was HUGE. I ate it over the course of about five hours. The combination of sweet and savory was great, and those little pieces of corn found throughout added a nice mix of textures. I 100% recommend getting a muffin with your meal. They're only $0.94 -- so adding one won't add much to your bill. I ordered my meal to go because I was in a bit of a rush, but despite the fact that the place was really busy, there seemed to be plenty of seating for those dining in. There are seats lining the counter and kitchen, which is closed off aside from a little window to grab your food. Then, up a few steps in the back there are more tables. All of the tables in the front were empty, so I assume most people prefer to sit there to avoid the busy front section of the restaurant. I'll be back. Hopefully it's on a day when I want what's on the blue plate special. I've secretly always wanted to order one of those from a restaurant and never have. read more

Very chill lunch spot! The staff are warm and friendly, and the inside is cozy. There's relaxed music playing and a little more seating than initially expected. The food is good and the prices are reasonable. Definitely recommend if you're in the mood for a sandwich or soup. read more

Fabulous food and the best service! They were so kind and the prices were great. This is a definite must go to!

The Main Eatery is a popular choice among downtowners during lunch. You will see the line extend out the door during prime lunch hours, so you know something must be worth the wait. I'd past by on numerous occasions, but wasn't compelled enough to wait on the sidelines. Until my friend told me about the infamous grilled cheese sandwich. Apparently there is a cult following for this king of cheese and it's on the special board every Friday. So I had to try it and the verdict is....delish. Well maybe not stand in line in 100 degree heat delish, but well worth the outdoor wait on 80-90 degree day. Recently I fell in love with the chicken salad sandwich, which happens to be the special every Thursday. This is my go-to sandwich. Fresh home-made chicken salad with grapes and celery mixed in, topped on a buttery, flaky croissant. Only problem is that they only have croissants on Thursday, so when I miss a Thursday, like today, it's tough to compromise with wheat or sour dough bread. read more

Excellent place to eat at for lunch. I usually go with the blue plate special. Everything that I have tried here has been delicious! I especially like the chicken salad sandwich. One day, it was the blue plate special and it came with a cheesecake with blueberry topping and shaved chocolate on top....so good! Don't forget to bring cash as you get a 4% (I think) discount with your meal. I would recommend this place to anyone downtown looking for a good meal at lunch. read more