I'm gifting my wife a road trip culminating with the Avett Brothers' NYE show in North Carolina. Our route takes us through Louisville right around lunch time. I'd love for one of her gifts to be a gift card to a good place to stop for lunch. We're vegetarians and like locally owned spots, doesn't have to be high end by any means.
Also, is the Louisville Slugger tour worth the time. We don't have much to spare, as we're shooting for the Smokey Mountains on the first leg.
I would skip the Slugger Museum unless you're huge baseball fans- Instead you might want to check out 21C Museum (also downtown, and free)
In my mind you have 3 different areas of Louisville that you could go to: Downtown (NULU), Frankfort Avenue, or the Highlands (Bardstown Road)
Downtown: Great Museums (21 C Museum hotel is free to tour)
Bluegrass Brewing Company: local Microbrew with food
Harvest- Great Vegan friendly restaurant, Farm to fork
Wild Eggs- Local Upscale Breakfast
Milkwood- Asian/country food fusion restaurant
8-up: Cool menu on top floor of Hilton Garden Inn hotel
Frankfort Ave:
Guestroom Recordstore
Bourbons Bistro
Highlands:
Ramsi's Cafe on the World - Great Vegan Friendly
Bristol Bar and Grille- Local Staple of the city
Just to name a few
If you're vegetarians I can't recommend Ramsi's highly enough!! Dope food and a funky vibe.