Lunch was opportunity to try upscale Corbett’s in Louisville
January 28, 2008 by sharonrae
In December, Kat Gallagher with Estes Public Relations sent me information on the opening of a new restaurant in Louisville.
She told me Dean Corbett, chef/owner of Equus Restaurant, had restored a farmhouse at Old Brownsboro Crossing and was opening a restaurant called Corbett’s “An American Place.”
Meg Vogt Interior Designs decorated the 100-year-old house in shades of teal, beige, green and brown, with Boyd sconces and pendulum lights, candles in Orrefors crystal holders, and glassware from Schott Zwiesel with some specialty pieces from Rona. Tables are covered with damask satin band linen specially milled for Corbett and they’re topped with Fortessa bone china and silver from Sam Bonnet.
With that in mind, I doubted if Bob and I would ever get to dine there. But when Bob was asked to drive a board member to the Louisville airport recently, he asked if I wanted to ride with them and we’d have lunch someplace nice on the return trip. I immediately thought of Corbett’s. Lunch items usually are priced quite a bit less than dinner entrees, and we could probably afford to experience such an upscale restaurant in the daytime.
It was all that I imagined. What a lovely place.
We arrived before the business crowd, and noted the grand staircase, 14-foot ceilings, handcrafted woodwork, custom plantation shutters, and mahogany floors.
Our waiter was attentive and pointed out some of the favorites on the lunch menu that featured prime beef tips, wild mushrooms and root vegetables in puff pastry; cioppino with grilled bread and rice; roasted chicken roulade with Kentucky country ham and Kenny’s mornay, braised greens, roasted fingerling potatoes; linguini with white clam sauce, fresh clams, garlic and herbs, and roasted vegetable ratatouille served over Weisenberger Mills grits and goat cheese crostini. Main courses range from $12 to $17.
Sandwiches include Kentucky farm house grilled cheese and tomato soup; Kobe beef burger with caramelized onion, peperoncini and grain mustard, and broiled cod served on rye bread with Nantucket remoulade.
While waiting for our lunch of roasted chicken roulade and roasted vegetable ratatouille to arrive, the waiter gave us a dinner menu to peruse. Choices include prime filet, potato foie gras terrine and winter vegetables, $49; Arrowhead elk loin, fall vegetable ratatouille, quinoa, with smoke-house bacon reduction, $44; Sonoma veal with smoked sweet potato, chestnuts and truffled jus, $48; day boat scallop, mussel and smoked pepper, kabocha squash and cauliflower puree, French beans, $35. and wild mushroom risotto, truffle oil, English peas and butternut squash, $23.
If I ever have an extra $100 to spend eating out, I will opt for the “Grande Tasting” menu that features nine courses. Bob would NEVER spring for a $100 meal, but it would be a fabulous experience.
The Chef’s Tasting Room, which accommodates eight, offers a specially designed menu and the opportunity for guests to interact with Chef Corbett and his team through state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment. Cameras, large screen televisions and microphones link the table directly into the kitchen. Guests who want to be amateur chefs for the night can strap on a wireless microphone and join the chef in the kitchen to help prepare the evening’s dishes.
Corbett’s culinary experience began in Dallas,Texas at the Chandler’s Landing Yacht Club and at the Dallas based Ram’s Head Restaurant. He came to Louisville in 1982, and worked with Grisanti, Inc. He worked at Casa Grisanti, and later was sous chef at Sixth Avenue.
In 1985, Corbett purchased a suburban restaurant named Equus. In 2006, Equus received the DiRoNA Award which recognizes distinguished dining establishments. Equus was the only restaurant in the state of Kentucky to earn this honor.
In 2000, Chef Corbett opened Jack’s Lounge named after his late father and former business partner. Jack’s has received rave reviews ever since its opening and has been featured in national publications as well as receiving a Best of Louisville award three years in a row.
The restaurant is at 5050 Norton Healthcare Boulevard in Old Brownsboro Crossing in east Louisville. Corbett’s is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 5 to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call (502) 327-5058.
Thank you so much for the above review! It sounds like a great place to eat.
I heard this past weekend, that Lexington is getting a restaurant called The Melting Pot. I LOVE this place, and had never eaten at one until last Sept. while attending a convention in Florida. Have you heard where it’s going to be located and when they are going to be open?
I love reading your blog — keep up the GREAT work you do!
The Melting Pot is going into a strip shopping center in the new development behind Fayette Mall.– Sharonrae