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Not sure if this will make any sense, but this place gives major Cali vibes. I went in on my own, solo, and was able to grab one of the last seats at the bar. The place has plenty of tables and a rather large bar and it was mostly full. Good for them! It was brunch time, and one of the few places in Louisville that has a bottomless drink option. I didn't do that, but it was cool to see. Anyway, the staff were very friendly and I ordered with ease. I decided to get the polenta brunch plate and a side of sausage -- anticipating the plate on its own might be light. As I said before, I didn't do bottomless mimosas... but I saw that they had a mimosa flight and got quite curious. When the staff explained everything to me, I was sold immediately because of how creative the flavors were. Let me break it down: Blueberry basil: it was perfect, down to the last drop. The basil complimented it so well! Prickly pear: A flavor that I love but get to have so rarely. It was delicious... definitely the sweetest in the bunch. Strawberry coconut: nice combo, and frothy. There was lime in there too, which stood out. These were crafted by the bartender herself, and she walked me through her process of coming up with them. She did a fantastic job on each one. It far exceeded my expectations of flights where you just get like... orange, pineapple, cranberry... and maybe mango if you're lucky. The polenta brunch plate was indeed light as I expected, but the presentation was wonderful and it was really tasty! Glad I had that sausage. I could've eaten even more honestly. But I had a long day ahead and I didn't want to be too stuffed. I would eagerly recommend this place to anyone in the area, and it's on more of the eastern side. So while it was crowded that day, it doesn't get quite as packed as other places more central in Louisville.
My partner and I were in town for a comedy show, we stopped by here beforehand and it was great! It is tapas style, so we split a larger dish and ordered 3 small plates with a snack. We loved the atmosphere, the decor was wonderfully thought out. It was very clean, and we appreciated the restrooms being gender neutral. The service was fantastic, at one point my partner dropped his napkin and the server brought over a clean, folded one before we even noticed! Food came out fast and hot as well, and the servers were all friendly and accommodating. The food was mostly delicious, we loved the small plate Crispy Halloumi Salad and the snack cheese stuffed dates. We didn't exactly love the Crispy Rice dish or the Roasted Beets, but they were both so well prepared and beautiful that we really couldn't complain. We will definitely stop back in whenever we're back in Louisville, especially because they have a seasonal menu.
I had heard this was a great place to come, and overall, I agree. The back area for outdoor seating is lovely they have picnic and regular tables with chairs. The landscaping is very nicely done. The waiter was helpful and kind, and I can't recommend the tempura cauliflower enough! The fries were good, too! The drink menu is interesting with a variety of creative combinations. I do want to alert you to the sake they use. It is the kind they have in vending machines in Japan, so not great, but I guess it doesn't really matter if you're putting it into a mixed drink.... Another good poiny about the restaurant is they were a little backed up in our waiter kept us informed, which was great.. The concerns are twofold, one is outside the control of the establishment and the other is not. First is the parking. As you would expect with any neighborhood eatery, finding a spot to park can be difficult, especially if you don't pay attention like we did and go on the same night that there is a soccer game... The other concern is a little more serious, and I hope that they will rectify it directly. When ordering dinner, we all got the red snapper, which was delicious, but the plate came with pine nuts on it, but there was no indication of any nuts in the dish on the menu. Luckily, my friend, who is very allergic, didn't eat any of it, and our waiter quickly offered to bring a fresh plate and fresh silverware because she touched the fish with her utensils. However,sadly,the makeup dish never arrived. We ended up canceling that and it was taken off the bill... One final, note the ice cream is amazing but the other desserts are fair at best. I might go back, and if I do, it would be for the cauliflower.
still my favorite restaurant in Louisville. women owned, immaculate vibes, and mouthwatering food EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. perfect for a date or "girl dinner" ;) my go to food every time i visit is the general tsaos cauliflower and a beet margarita (entree is variable). can make reservations and also walk in. the patio is my favorite place when the weather is nice. they have just revamped their menu so i'm itching to get back and try something new asap!!
I attended an event at Naive with a group of women. It was amazing to support a woman-owned business in the area! We ate outside, and the vibes were so much fun. We got a tasting menu, and everything was delicious. The English Pea Hummus was a favorite. We ate brunch here, but I definitely want to come back for dinner!
Our first meal in KY and it was a pleasant surprise. Love love love the food, the ambiance, the service... you name it and it's spot on! This restaurant is heaven for vegetarians/vegans/GF etc. I got the 24K Latte due to the peer pressure from Yelp photos and I wasn't disappointed. Really liked the balance of flavors in the drink. I would have liked it better if it was made hot, it was served warm instead. I also got the breakfast burrito with vegan egg in it. So flavorful!!! My husband got General Tso's Cauliflower which was pretty good for cauliflower wings. He also got the Garden Burger which came with spicy fried tiny potatoes. The potatoes knocked my socks - they were that good! The burger patty was fine, I really liked the cole slaw that was used as burger fixings. Our bill was $62 for 2 drinks, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees. We will certainly come back again next time we are in the area and will also bring friends/family along.
My wife and I go to Naive at least once every couple of months. It's one of her favorite restaurants because she has a gluten allergy, and they have a great GF selection. I also love it because the atmosphere is very welcoming, the service is top notch and the food gets better every time we go. We normally go for weekend brunch, so we start with a mimosa flight, which sets the right tone. The corn cakes and polenta were excellent. Very filling on their own, but great to split as well. My wife also got a salad, which was refreshing, while I piled on the potatoes. The DJ enhanced the experience, and since Naive is right near Butchertown and NuLu, it was the start to an amazing Sunday of bar hopping. Can't recommend this place enough.
Impeccable service, flavor forward food and beautiful new location! Truly surprised at how delicious the salmon was seasoned & perfectly cooked with a crisp edge. Obviously an exceptional kitchen team! Wait staff were very attentive and conversational. All around amazing experience. Thanks Naive!
It has been a while since my hubby and I went out to a nice romantic dinner and we wanted to try out Naive for a "date night". We had catered our Christmas dinner from here and absolutely loved it. What drew us to Naive is that they use local vendors, the food is plant-based with a couple of dishes for those who like meat, and most of the fare is gluten-free. It's rare that I can go somewhere and choose almost anything from the menu so I was stoked!! When we arrived we were welcomed by beautiful decor and wonderful ambiance, and it was a Tuesday night so we practically had the place to ourselves. Since this was a special night for us, we decided to order everything our little hearts desired including cocktails. Let's start unpacking how amazing this meal was starting with the cocktails - the Bitter Ex and Beeting Heart. Since the Bitter Ex is made with bourbon (which has gluten) I asked if they could switch that out for Mezcal without sacrificing flavor and they said it wouldn't and they did. Oh em gee... It really was delicious, tart, and smokey, easily the best cocktail I have had in years. The Beeting Heart was a close, close second! Sweet and tart with a ring of sugar on the rim, it really dances in your mouth. Both drinks were a perfect balance of flavor and although strong, the alcohol didn't take over the drinks. We had decided to eat dinner Tapas style and ordered quite a few dishes: General Tso's Cauliflower - absolutely delicious, one of my favorite dishes. Tangy, sweet, savory, and not heavy. Just fantastic. Hot Nashville Cauliflower - Breaded (GF) and fried it has a southern flare with a nice hot kick. Very good, but honestly, if I had to choose it would be the General Tso's over this dish. Crispy Skin Salmon - Delicate, flaky, buttery, everything a good piece of Salmon should be. The confit potatoes were the perfect compliment. Oyster Mushrooms - AH-MA-ZING. So tasty, I loved them. It came as a mixture of Oyster and Baby Bellas, very delicious. Dessert: CBD Brownie - Rich, oh so rich. You couldn't tell it is gluten-free. The perfect ending to an incredible meal. With a nice cup of coffee? Perfection. All in all? **Chef's kiss** I wish I had ordered so much more, it was all so good. Next time I am in Louisville I will try the Risotto and more.
While planning our Christmas dinner with the family in Louisville, since we were arriving late in the day, we didn't want to have to worry about meal preparation. The plan was to have a meaningful dinner with close family. To that effect, we were looking for a place whose offerings resonate with our lifestyle. And so in the process of searching for the right place, we came across Naive. Needless to say, we ordered the food and picked it up, and enjoyed an amazing meal among family. The next time an opportunity came up for us to go out and enjoy a good time together in a restaurant, the obvious choice was Naive. Their food offerings are fantastic, with great attention to detail, and they are consistent with their philosophy of supporting the community with locally sourced ingredients. The experience in the restaurant was also quite special. Our server was warm, enthusiastic, and cheerful, our special requests were met with a can-do attitude and the end result was a wonderful evening, good food, good company, and good service. Naive is the real deal. Can't wait to visit again soon.
Admittedly I'm a little embarrassed by this experience. I suggested this place for lunch to our group of party people on our walk between distilleries. Even though I called ahead, the kitchen definitely did NOT expect such an influx of customers in the middle of a weekday. Most importantly, I didn't care for the food, as cute as this place looked. I started with a Golden Latte, which was tasty. Definitely needed caffeine to wake me up from the early start that day. I got the Nashville Hot Cauliflower, which turned out to be greasy and flavorless. Super disappointing! My friend next to me got the Naive Burger, which was just okay as well. Aw man, I really wanted to like the food here. We ended up getting most of the food to-go because of our time crunch. I'll give the kitchen my benefit of the doubt that they were rushed and sloppy with the food because we had so many people. The menu overall looked tasty and everyone else seemed to be having a great time. If I was in the area, I'd definitely come back for at least a coffee.
I really liked the atmosphere at Naive and we had great service as well. They take online reservations which I always appreciate. The drinks were fantastic. I had a mocktail but my dining partner had the beet margarita which I took a sip of, and it was one of the best cocktails I have had in a while. I love the veggie forward menu. We started with a snap pea appetizer and my entree, the pesto orecchiette also had snap peas in it. Everything was good and really fresh but both dishes also needed a touch of salt. The snap peas also were not strung and some of the strings were a little tough. My partner's risotto was seasoned well and very tasty. I'd definitely come back and try some other things on the menu, like the cauliflower that seems to be popular.
Naïve is one of my favorite restaurants to go to for brunch. It's my favorite atmosphere in the Southern Indiana/Louisville area. We walked in around noon on a Saturday & the the place was packed! Luckily for us there were 2 seats at the bar which worked out perfectly. Our bartenders were lovely & super helpful. Our drinks were amazing & the food was even better. Definitely recommend & cannot wait to go back!
7 years ago
What to get: pad Thai Time seated: seat yourself (Saturday 7:30PM for 3) Time food arrived: 20 mins Ambiance: nouveau and trendy, upscale vegetarian Parking: street ==What We Tried== -Blackberry hoisin snapper -Pad Thai -Superfood nachos -General Tso's cauliflower -Tater tots -Thai butternut squash dip ==Thoughts on Food== One of the better vegetarian restaurants in town, Naive's menu is mostly meat-free. You're able to add your desired protein, but my vegetarian friends loved having so many options to try. It's a small menu since they just opened up and the menu changes. I was recommended based on the sizes of the portions to get 1 entree and 1 small plate and that came out to be exactly right. Snapper-- Small and tastefully presented. The hoisin and oyster mushrooms have a stronger scent that'll remind you of its Asian roots. I liked the snapper and surprisingly I love the light crispness of the mushrooms. The soba noodle salad was okay. I like my soba noodles a bit more al dente, but that's my preference. Pad Thai-- My friend got this, but even with just a sample I knew I wanted my own serving. I love popular Thai dishes, so this vegetarian version would be a real treat. I wonder if it had some spiciness to it because that would be fantastic...but I'm not sure how that would fare with zucchini noodles though. General Tso's cauliflower-- Ah the infamous cauliflower. Reminiscent of popular American Chinese food, it's a comfort-food appetizer to share. I ate most of it alone and I kind of tapped out from all the sweet and sour sauce, so share it! Tater tots-- A few giant tots (maybe 3 in total) with some house-made sauces. Tasty, but I probably won't order it next time. ==For Next Time== *their menu changes, so these may not be there next time* -Spanish garlic shrimp -Farmers risotto (heard really good things about this) -Jamaican bowl + added meat (haven't decided which one) read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
Their staff is always so nice and attentive, the food is made very fast and they have a great selection of original cocktails and mocktails. The decor is super cute, too, making it perfect for date night or an Instagram-worthy evening out with friends. If you order anything from this place, make it the General Tso's cauliflower. read more
Business owner information
Catherine M.
Carly,…
2 years ago
Five Word Summary: So Fresh and so Clean I waited impatiently for this place to open. I had experienced their yummy bowls, with what my mind remembers to be chipotle sweet potatoes, at fox hollow farms and i have been craving them since. Now they are open and it is a very nice place. Bright sunny, funky modern bohemian in decor. The food is really good, fresh healthy and it makes you wish there was more. portions are probably what you should be eating but it leave me craving more. I get it, the ingredients are very well taken care of and are not meant to be gorged on, i just like having my cake and eating it too. The blend of american freshness and south american asian inspiration is very refreshing, so fresh, so clean clean. So if you aren't ravenous, this place will let you have your cake and eat it too, but you will still want bigger portions. ' Grading Scale: out of 5, 1 is not very much, 5 is to a great extent Foodie Adventure rating: 4 Picky Eater rating: 3 Americanized: 3 Food Authenticity: 5 Food Quality: 5 Service Quality: 4 Value per bite:2 Healthy Choices: 5, read above, look at the menu. Would I bring my Drunk Friends?: no, this food does not soak up alcohol and wont help drown sorrows. Would I bring a Tinder Date?: yes, if you are both into eating well and balanced, but most people on a first date here will probably go eat something else when they get home so maybe plan on geting alot of ice cream after Spicy Food Hub?: No read more
2 years ago
This place is a gem. Very hip, modern vibe. Creative drinks, and yummy food. Glad to see another restaurant in my town with an extremely friendly vegetarian menu. My partner and I got the garlic shrimp and general tso cauliflower, and to drink we got the charcoal espresso lemonade and the sexy Elvis cocktail. The lemonade was odd but tasty and refreshing. Service was very friendly. The bartender gave us free kombucha since our drinks took a while. Great experience overall, and I look forward to coming back. read more
3 years ago
Business owner information
Naive A.
Danielle,…
8 years ago
Absolutely fabulous! Walking into this place, I could already tell I was going to enjoy myself just based on the vibe and atmosphere. The furniture is so unique-- triangle table tops that move, who would have thought? The bar is super cool and modern looking. It's the look and layout of a bar I'd want in my own home. Now the food? Superb. The crispy kimchi fried rice is what I had and was delicious! It's perfect for someone who enjoys a good rice dish with loads of unique flavor and vegetables. My boyfriend had the curry bowl-- whatever it is they season that with is to die for! Oh, and the avocado toast? On point. Who would have thought blueberries on avocado toast? Super tasty superfood all around! read more
Finally a place that serves healthy, beautiful food in a unique environment. I felt so good about having dinner out with this menu having so many super foods and vegan options. The building is fresh and bright and the staff is super friendly. I even loved their restroom. We ordered the healthy version of "tater tots" and the texture was amazing. We also tried the General Tso's Cauliflower and the crispy Kimchi fried rice with a sunny side egg on top. Everything was flavorful and satisfying. Even the cocktail I ordered felt good for me- the Kombucha drank- yum, yum! I tasted of Daniel's "sexy Elvis" cocktail and it was good though I much preferred mine. This is a place I will visit often. read more
7 years ago
I have to say, with the great reviews, I was a bit disappointed. Went here with a girlfriend for dinner, and maybe it's just better for brunch. Appearance: The cub side appeal was adorable, option to sit outside with tall open windows. When walking in it has a great feng shui, with a wonderful ambiance. Plant hanging, very spacious, tall ceilings, open floor, both the kitchen and the bar are viewable from the front. And appeared to be very clean. Drinks: Great list of signature cocktails, so that was nice. Food: the menu is seasonal and changes, and everything appears to be farm to table with lots of vegan options. I had the cauliflower dish as an appetizer and it was really good. Then had the tuna poke for my meal, which I felt was very small and didn't have a lot of consistency, maybe 6 very small pieces of tuna, and hardly any rice noodles at all. Considering it was $16 I was disappointed. It left me still hungry after the meal. Desert: my friend and I shared the cookies and cream cake which was very large and more than enough for 2 people, however left much to be desired. Service: our server was so kind polite and attentive and happy to make suggestion. All in all it's a cute place but I have no desire to return. read more
8 years ago
Great vibe, great food, service was well above par. All in all great spot. It will be in our monthly selection for sure . PS. If you drink alcohol and order a double, expect a triple . Shoutout to the bar staff. read more
2 years ago
When it comes to food, Naive is anything but. Plates are flavorful -- not to mention beautiful -- and come packed with creative, healthful twists on traditional fare. Naive used to do catering and work the festival circuit, but opened a bricks-and-mortar in Butchertown, on East Washington, in spring 2018. The space is beautiful, clean and open, with a hip, urban loft kind of vibe. There are tables and booths, bar and couch seating. The menu is creative, with lots of options for vegans and vegetarians. I've so far been twice, and everything has been delicious. Favorites are the general tso's cauliflower, which comes with crispy kale, and the hippie circle, a plated ring of carrots, cheese-dusted beets, kale and cheese. The space also has a bar and cocktail menu. So far, I've tried the "sexy Elvis," a boozy, peanut butter and jam concoction. Can't wait until they're open for lunch. But for right now, I'm just soooooo happy this place is only a few blocks from my gym and office. read more
I'd only heard good things about this new hot spot in town, so I was excited to check it out. It's in good company among all the fine eateries in Butchertown/Nulu. Though they don't have a parking lot, there was ample adjacent free street parking when I went during lunch. Upon seeing the high curb appeal exterior and stepping inside, my mood was immediately improved. I was struck by the very clean, bright, natural design. It ties nicely to their plant-based menu concept. As a vegetarian, I love a restaurant where I can order anything on the menu. While I wanted to try everything, I chose the pad Thai for my maiden visit. Wow! The portion was generous and the flavor was perfect. The tear-drop sweet peppers were a delicious, unique accent. And because I was intrigued by the coffee drink options, I went with the cashier's recommendation of the Golden Girl latte. The sweet tumeric was unexpectedly delightful. I would order both items again as well as the General Tso's cauliflower. I managed to snag a taste from my lunch mate's plate. Out of this world! This is definitely a new favorite spot for me. I've already calendared my next visit. read more
8 years ago
This is officially my favorite restaurant in Louisville. I tried the Caribbean bowl a few days ago and I can't stop raving about it. It's the type of dish that highlights the deliciousness and beauty of vegetables all on their own. If i could make this at home, I would eat it everyday. It's the perfect spot for groups with meat-eaters, vegans, and vegetarians. I'm vegan and my friends aren't, but we can still all enjoy this place together. They have something for every type of eater. I also really love how sustainable they are. They recycle and compost. All the silverware and dishes were reusable. Overall, it was a beautiful place and I can't wait to go back for brunch and every season when the menu changes. read more
While this type of restaurant typically isn't my cup of tea (very vegetarian and vegan forward, not that this is a bad thing), the dishes we had were very good. I tried both the Korean bbq pork and the grilled shrimp. Both were quite tasty, though the portions were rather small for the price. I will definitely come back, I just can't see being a regular. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, this place will probably knock your socks off. I believe they are owned by the same people that own Morels which is entirely veg/vegan. As a meat lover, its solid, just not quite as much variety and not enough dishes for me to give a 5. Also, the ambience is very on point. Very modern, clean, and inviting. read more
8 years ago
The food was great. I had the fried kimchi rice with a fried egg and gulf shrimp. It was amazing!! So fresh and balanced. Very flavorful! It was a perfect portion too, I left extremely satisfied but not too full. A friend of mine had a curry bowl and loved it. There was a pineapple taste to it, I tried a bite and super yummy! Another friend had the banana toast and she couldn't believe it was dairy free - creamy and decadent! I didn't have a drink bc I had to return to work afterwards, but one friend had the seasonal margarita (it has beets to give it a beautiful color and it paired well with the taste of the tequila). Another friend had the coconut punch - came in a coconut so it was super cute and fresh!! Pricey but the atmosphere and food quality were worth it!!!! read more
7 years ago
The food tasted good, the atmosphere felt right and the servers were great. I'd go back. The drag queen show topped it off :) read more
Great lunch spot with a fun, fresh atmosphere. We had lunch here the other day and sat outside (although the interior is very well-designed and has a wonderful ambiance). We ordered the Curry Bowl and the Farmer's Bowl. The curry bowl was delicious, however, mine did not come with chickpeas and was not as filling as I hoped it would be. I really wanted to try General Tso's cauliflower, but, they were out. The chocolate cake was amazing! read more
6 years ago
I am new to the Louisville area and this place is amazing! Very inclusive menu, the waitress was extremely sweet and took the time to make plenty of recommendations for me! I ended up ordering the 24k golden latte - (typically I'm a black coffee kinda gal) and this thing was so good! Probably my new favorite coffee drink! I also ordered the shroom burger which was one of the tastiest vegan dishes I've ever had! I will most definitely be ordering take out & dining in frequently! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
5 years ago
Business owner information
Catherine M.
Bob, thank you for taking the time to review us! Hope to see you…
3 years ago
Business owner information
Naive A.
Rachel,…
3 years ago
Every time I want to eat on the lighter side but not be bored I come to Naive. Fabulous food aside, the atmosphere is calming, the aesthetic is clean with perfect modern boho details, & the staff is always kind. Food-wise, you cannot go wrong with any order. Prior to this visit my usual entree was the curry chicken salad, a dish that remind me of my favorite coronation chicken salad in the UK. I was sad when I didn't find it on the menu today, but I gave the southwest wrap a try & it did not disappoint. The light wrap included greens, sweet potato, corn, tomatoes & an amazing jalapeño aioli. My only critique is that I could've used a ton more of the aioli spread throughout the wrap. The default side was the sweet potato fries. They are perfectly cut & cooked every time I have them. I'm not a fan of the curry ketchup, but I'm in the minority there, I'm sure. We also ordered ordered the General Tso's Cauliflower, which is absolutely amazing. It's light, crispy, flavorful & after devouring the whole dish we didn't feel gross like you do after a heavy General Tso's chicken from every Chinese take out spot. Eating at Naive makes me think I could go green more permanently. Who knows...maybe I will! read more
Such a cute restaurant! The feel is very modern, clean, warm and welcoming. I had the general tso cauliflower and a fresh coffee. Both were delicious! If I lived closer to downtown I'd definitely eat here weekly. I was with a group of friends and we all sampled each others meals. EVERYTHING tasted incredible and fresh. You can't beat this local spot! One of the best in Louisville! read more
Been waiting a while for a plant-based friend to join me in trying Naive and finally was able to order for delivery on a Sunday. My friend and I were having a front porch quarantine visit and I ordered the kale shroom burger (vegan! Til I added the goat cheese) with sweet potatoes. It was delicious!! So flavorful with good texture and crumble and didn't feel like I was just eating a vegetarian patty I could've bought at the grocery. Veggie burgers have come a long way so if you haven't tried one lately, go for it! Our meal arrived still pretty warm (a tough feat) and at the time I had pre-selected. Can't wait to try them in person! read more
Business owner information
Catherine M.
Thank you so much for coming in Deanna! We are so happy you enjoyed…
More info about Naïve
1001 E Washington St
Louisville, KY 40206
Butchertown
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(502) 749-7856
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http://www.eatnaive.com
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