Oh what a night!!! Let's just start by saying how quaint and warm the atmosphere is. They had a little quartet band playing that set the mood for all. The staff and service were all very accommodating as well. It was the perfect setting for a great evening for a family celebration. As if that weren't enough the food was very very good. We started with a couple of appetizers - the Baked Brie and Cheese Spheres. For me the Baked Brie was the clear winner but my young adult kids were bigger fans of the Cheese Spheres. Either way they were both on point. The entrees were all sooo good... As a group we ordered steaks, chicken, lamb and salmon. I ordered the Flat Iron Steak and it was cooked as it should be. The Potato Gratin side was absolutely delightful and was a perfect compliment to the steak. For dessert we got a couple of Molten Lava Cakes and a Bread Pudding. The Molten Lava Cake was spot on. The Bread Pudding started really nicely with the marshmallow cream frosting but I was disappointed a bit by the actual bread pudding as it just wasn't flavorful enough. All in all - I'd give Varanase a 4.5... I'd definitely recommend this place as a great place for a date or group.

Family outing for dinner with 8. Greeted and seated for our reservation upon arrival. Brie welcomed us and took our drink orders. Nicely crafted cocktails Nice footprint and atmosphere with a jazz duo playing. , Ordered a charcuterie board (on the small side) with tasty choices. The calamari was delicious. We ordered a collection of entrees all were well prepared. I had the pork chop with bourbon glaze prepared exactly to the temp i requested (145). The glaze was flavorful but not overly sweet. The potato gratain was very enjoyable. Breadsticks were served with dinner. We enjoyed the mocha creme brûlée for desert. The custard was well prepared, I like the brûlée surface thicker but none remained. A very pleasant evening for all. Very highly recomended Slainte!!

The food was very yummy. As was the desert. The first time I visited there was live music and this second time I've visited there was live electric guitar and cello music. Popular songs with fine dining.

Varanese is such a hidden gem. Don't get me wrong, I feel like everyone knows of Varanese, but it can be easy to overlook it for maybe a newer dining option. But let me tell you: Don't overlook this! Then again, when I ate here last weekend the restaurant was full. So maybe Varanese isn't as overlooked as I feel it is. Anyway, our dinner here was lovely. We were able to easily get a reservation (important, again, due to how full the restaurant was). My party started with the cheese and hummus plate, which was perfect for sharing between us with pimento cheese, smoked gouda, pickled okra, pearl onion jam, white bean hummus, fried green tomatoes and grilled baguettes. It was just enough food to start the meal, but it didn't fill before our entrees, which were all extraordinary. I got the seafood pasta, which was on the specials menu. This had a large portion of pasta with mussels, crab and shrimp I believe mixed in, adorned with a flower on top. We also shared the bread pudding, a must after reading so much about it. And it lives up to the hype. It was almost 90 degrees outside, but that didn't dissuade us from digging into this warm, cozy toffee-marshmallow bread pudding, with bourbon caramel sauce and caramel sea salt ice cream. In the fall, this would be even more perfect. Just so much yes. The dining room is a little loud, so know that before you go, in case that's something you're sensitive to. Overall, though, our food and service were just great. Plus there was a live band serenading our meal.

Recently attended the bourbon dinner and had a wonderful educational and culinary delight mixed into one experience. The special menu included a grilled peach salad that was out of this world! The bourbon pairings were on point!

The ambiance is cozy. There is no dress code however casual business attire is deemed in this restaurant. The menu is filled with amazing entrees. I love how the ambiance fits the perfect environment for a nice date night.

Family dinner was here about a month ago but I've been meaning to try this classic Louisville favorite for yeeeaars. Sis and I started with Pineapple Smash(?) cocktails + complimentary bruschetta and cheese sticks. Apps were crispy Brussels sprouts + fried cheese spheres. Entrees were 2 orders of Bourbon Orange Glazed Salmon with whipped mashed potatoes (instead of cream cheese grits) and sautéed seasonal veggies + 2 Ribeye Steaks with roasted potatoes and broccolini for my dad and brother. My sister and I thought the salmon was cooked perfectly + we loved the simply prepared vegetables on the side which let the glaze for the salmon shine as it coated them. Our waitress was so sweet and helpful, always kept the pace chill in terms of food coming out. Waters stayed full and the service was just great. Really happy I got to finally dine at Varanese. John Varanese is *that man* for creating this local, upscale hotspot and for keeping it lively and modern for almost 20 years! I've dined at River House, thoroughly enjoyed my meal and the experience, and can recommend both for a nice day or night out!

Wonderful food, entertaining staff and live music! Great meal after a fun day at the races! We started with the cheese and hummus plate. Really great variety and the pickled onions were sweet and yummy. Fried green tomatoes were great too. Everyone's entree was really good, but the scallops and lobster ravioli was really wonderful. Rich and creamy with truffle oil - so good!!!