Hammerheads

I dream of this place. My favorite place to eat in the city hands down. At least once a week I will suggest paying them a visit, which elicits a healthy eye roll from my wife. Every now and then though, her eyes will light up, mouths will water and we head for Hammerheads anxiously. The PBLT and truffle fries are my go to and I consider them heaven-​sent. Mac and cheese balls are delicious as well. The ribs are amazing. Same for soft shell crab. You can’t really go wrong. Don’t forget to try their house (bbq?) sauce — solo or mixed with ketchup it adds a whole new smokey dimension. The atmosphere is markedly dive, but it works with a laid back relaxed vibe. There is often a lengthy wait required, but I enjoy hanging out on the porch area out front while drinking a beer from their well curated rotating draft list.
If you are visiting from out of town and are hungry, don’t hesitate to check it out. You won’t regret it.

Now I know what gluttony feels like. This food is ridiculous. I wanted to eat one of everything. I tried, as hard as I could.
Is there anything on this menu that is less than perfect? If there is, then I haven’t found it yet. The care they take with the food at Hammerheads shines through on every plate. From the grit cake appetizer to spicy duck tacos, to *ahem* duck fat cooked truffle fries, you have to try this food!

The hype is true! Visited for the day and knew we had to stop here. Great tasting and supper filling. Got the mac balls and truffle fries and my dad got the soft crab tacos and a duck slider. So wish I was local so I could try everything!

This place is no joke. Great beers on tap, outrageous food and even though there’s a wait to get in, they keep the line moving!
We started with the duck sliders, which are a must have. So good they shut us both up! They are smoked, then braised, and are so damn delicious I will crave them for some time to come.
Moving on to our entrees, we both got tacos: I got the soft shell crab and my boyfriend ordered the brisket tacos. He said that brisket taco was easily the best brisket he’s ever had. I tasted and he was right. My own father owned a bbq restaurant for 30 years and I’m not easy to please.
My soft shell crab tacos were also out of this world. Complex flavor, a light crunch, a perfect aioli accompaniment on corn tortillas. Divine.
The service was also outstanding. Graham waited on us and he not only kept our glasses full, he made great recommendations for a fantastic first experience. We will definitely be back. Can’t wait to try those lamb ribs!

Absolutely one of my favs! If they’d stay open a little later. Amazing food, unique, delicious variety. You gotta check it out! Don’t leave w/​o the lamb

As a part of exploration of top restaurant in Louisville according to Unilocal,I visited hammerheads. Now the restaurant name is mentioned on shark mounted over its entrance, because of which at first it was hard to know if this is the restaurant we are looking for. Anyways, there was a long waiting at the restaurant. After waiting for 30 minutes, we finally got seats by the bar. We ordered, 3 crispy mac and cheese balls, bbq lamb ribs and brisket slider. Food arrived fast. Mac and cheese balls were yum, just wished they had more sauce. Lamb ribs were awesome and so was the brisket slider. I loved everything I ordered. I wanted to visit it again during my travel but couldn’t because of time constraint. But, I will travel to Louisville soon again and will make sure to visit that time.

Hands down the best place I’ve eaten in a LONG time! It’s a secret gem in the Germantown part of Louisville, it didn’t look like there would be a restaurant on «Swan Street» but once you see the signature Hammerhead shark outside you know you’re in the right place. We were hesitant on the wait, with few tables on inside and out but the look and smell of the food had us stay. All the food sounded so good, I ended up ordering the fried crab tacos a side of smoked mac n cheese! Kenyon got the half rack of ribs w/​fries. Next time I’m in I want to try the fried chicken & sweet potato waffle!

No reservation and no call ahead, makes sense as Hammerhead is a literal basement bar. But that just contributes to its ambiance. It’s quite noisy, so be prepared. The wait for us (3 people) was 30 – 40 minutes. Not bad considering we were expecting 1 hour.
We were there around 8, so already the most popular dishes were out (chicken and waffle and crispy Mac and Cheese balls). The latter we even ordered and by the time the bartender got to machine, it was out. Literally seconds too late :(
But the elk burger, venison burger and pork belly tacos we got instead made up for it. The elk burger patty tasted like many of the others I’ve had. But the cheese combination is what set it apart. The venison burger had fabulous seasoning. And was delicious. The pork belly tacos was just amazing pork belly. Come on, how can you get that wrong.
We also had some grippo (spelling?) fries and the baked mac and cheese. Both good. There was A LOT of fries and with the seasoning I just couldn’t finish it. Maybe I’m too much of a truffle fries kind of person. Will have to try theirs next time.
Also I wouldn’t bring any infants (no changing table) and didn’t see any kids (no kids menu that we saw).

Awesome little joint in the middle f a neighborhood in Louisville. Absolutely a MUST every time I’m in town.
Great beer selection and fresh fun food. If you have never had Grippo’s BBQ chips you should order the Grippo fries. It’s a heaping portion of fresh fries covered in a unique BBQ seasoning absolutely great!
One heads up! If you don’t have the time to wait (and enjoy a frosty beverage outside) be sure to get there early. It’s certainly worth the wait though!

Being a vegetarian in Louisville at famous BBQ joints isn’t easy. I’ve spent many meals eating cornbread and mac and cheese. But Hammerheads showed us some love with their delicious Garcia burger. It has Shitake, portabella, sun-​dried tomato falafel, spring mix & tomato, and sun-​dried tomato aioli on a kaiser bun. I added carmelized onions. Honestly, it was the most delicious veggie burger I’ve ever had.
Try the crispy mac and cheese balls, too. They’re unreal.
This place had great vibes, the feeling you get when you’re an out of towner who stumbles upon a well-​loved little place.

When is Louisville, Hammerheads is a MUST visit!
Two words «Lamb Ribs» falling off the bone literally w/​truffle fries cooked in duck fat and creamy mac-​n-​chesse. All dishes were Ridiculously Delicious!
Hammerheads offers a great beer selection and the service is equally great. Get there early though (5 — 6 PM) as they do not take reservations. Even if you have to wait, it will be well worth it!

It’s more fun to say that you’ve marked this place off your list than it is really worth eating there. Yes it’s quirky and people rave about getting non standard burgers but I would much rather go elsewhere, like game or mussel and burger, where you aren’t wondering if the waiter will spit in your food because you asked about a special he mentioned at another table.
We went to hammerheads with some friends after work and arrived promptly at 5 since we heard seating was extremely limited. That was a good tip, what we didn’t know was that the entire party had to be present before being seated. Okay, not that big of a deal since our last person was on the way and they literally just opened. Once we were seated we bought a round of beers and asked for water. Some waters showed and some beers showed, a few minutes go by and still nothing. So when he came back to take our orders we inquired about the beer. He forgot about them, apologized and ran back. At this point there were only 3 tables with people at them in the entire restaurant, this should have been our sign of things to come.
Before placing our orders we overheard him mentioning some special side of asparagus to another table so when he came to take our orders we asked about it. He rolled his eyes, sighed and then gave the most piss poor description one could give about asparagus. We passed on the side special, ordered more beer and placed our dinner orders.
Most of the table ordered an Angus burger and side of fries. I ordered the Garcia burger with caramelized onions and mushrooms on a pretzel bun. My husband ordered the elk burger and we split and order of truffle fries. Once he took our orders and walked away we realized he didn’t ask any of us how we wanted the meat cooked… kinda odd. The food was delivered and we asked for another round. By this point he seemed completely over it, huffing after each person said their order. We figured that should be the last round as not to make our poor waiter have a meltdown before 7pm.
The truffle fries were on point! Great flavor, large portions and not too greasy. My garcia burger was delicious as well, the extra onions really made the flavor pop. Since its base is falafel and portobellos it didnt hold up very well after a few bites so I ended up eating it with my fork and knife, which I didnt mind because I ate the whole burger! My husband said the elk burger had really good flavor, wasn’t gamey, but overall he wasn’t impressed because it was severely overcooked and tough.
Overall the food was decent, the prices weren’t bad but the service was terrible. If you want a cool vibe, great burgers and good service Louisville has plenty of other options!

Best dive joint I have ever been in. We had to wait 30 minutes for a table, but we got some beers and sat outside.
The Host, our server and food runners were awesome. I never saw so much ink in one room, but in spite of the looks the whole front operated smoothly as a team. The music was great– I found out it was a mix tape from the bartender.
Sliders (duck and brisket) were great. The lamb ribs were a bit fatty but really tasty. I had a elk burger with Brie on a pretzel bun– really done well. And of course, truffle fries cooked in duck fat. Wasn’t cheap but I see what all the fuss is about. The seasonings were perfect. AND THE JUICE WAS INCREDIBLE. That’s what they call their homemade bbq sauce. It seems so watery but clings to the food like magic. So good you’d want to slap your momma.
I can’t remember the last time I had flavors like that. It was presently beautifully and we were too full to try the bacon brownie. And there’s the reason to return.

Great place we have been waiting to try and yes all the other reviews speak the truth. We arrived 5 minutes before opening and got a seat but it filled up fast. Yep it is the basement of a house. Yep we both smelled like smoke after we were done eating. Yep the bill was a little higher than I thought it would be for BBQ. Yep, it was awesome! Macaroni and Cheese Balls, Duck Slider, Pork Belly Slider, Elk Burger, Soft Crab Tacos, Bacon Brownie. Yep, yep, yep! Host met us at the door and gave us a choice of table or bar and our waitress was attentive, answered our questions and knew what she was talking about! (Thanks A!!!) Great place, great food, great people!

Rich and tasty, on the low end of 4.5 stars. A little over-​hyped. I’ll be back to give it another shot, but not going to be a go-​to spot probably for a few primary reasons:
1. only beer and cider (no wine or hard booze)
2. crowds
3. super-​rich and heavy food, especially the southern comfort thing, just not my cup of tea
things it has going for it:
1. mixed clientele
2. unique location /​atmosphere
3. while they only have beer and cider, the beer list is money
4. good value for what you get
5. laid back, casual dining experience (staff consisted of a lot of dudes in jeans and flannel shirts who may or may not have taken a blunt break upstairs when we were waiting for a table… welcome vibe in a sometimes stuffy louisville dining scene.)
6. rich, heavy food, for those that are into that kind of thing
the whole new american take southern comfort food thing has been played out in my book for a long time. it is just so dominant these days and (relatively) easy to make really unhealthy food taste delicious. but that’s just my admittedly biased vantage point. even given my biases, these guys do a pretty good job putting their signature on this kind of food.

I tried to eat here for my goodbye party with friends. Five of us were present at 6:15 and two more were coming later since they had to work. Hammerheads wouldn’t seat us until everyone was present even though the five were going to go ahead and order without the other two.
I do understand these policies but I feel they should be flexible– we were up front that the five of us were present and ready to order. And we have two others that we knew would join us later because they had to work. We wanted to seat the five and order. To seat 5 who would sit and order drinks, appetizers, meals, and dessert is a significant ticket. But they didn’t want to seat us until all 7 were present. Essentially it resulted in Hammerheads losing our business. What a disappointment.

Do you have to go early or wait? Probably (We went on a Monday at 5:15pm and we were the second people there, started to fill up by 6 when we left)
Are your clothes going to smell like BBQ when you leave? Sure
Is the food amazing? Absolutely
Are you going to get 5 star service? Absolutely not. I read tons of Unilocal reviews for this place talking about the terrible service and the rude staff. I was actually nervous about going there. However I didn’t experience any rudeness. Staff was friendly, welcoming and I didn’t have any issues.
We had the Mac and cheese balls, truffle fries and elk burger.
The Mac and cheese balls were huge (the size of a lacrosse ball) I was expecting smaller balls. (That’s what she said) We ordered the sauce on the side as some Unilocal reviews said they came drenched.
The truffle fries were like eating fried truffles. They were so delicious. Possibly the best fries I’ve ever had. My mouth just watered thinking about them writing this review.
The elk burger came as ordered medium rare. It was good, not gamey although a little too rare for my girlfriend, so more for me!
Go on a weeknight, go early, wear clothes you don’t care about smelling like BBQ when you leave.

I know, I know. Every hipster in town is booing my 3-​star review. Let it go. There are plenty of 4 and 5-​star reviews that you can turn to for comfort.
So, Hammerheads is good. Good enough, anyway. The Mac & Cheese Balls are amazing. The burgers are good (I’ve had the elk burger and the chorizo burger), but there are better burger places in Louisville. The fries are downright disappointing. I like fries. LOVE fries. Hammerheads fries sound awesome when you read the menu options, but my table of 4 didn’t finish our basket of garlic & herb fries last night. In fact, we barely touched them.
I do like the variety of meat served, but would have liked to have seen more vegetarian and chicken options. I get that healthy foods aren’t their thing, and I respect that, but would it hurt to have a few options on the menu?
The service was great. No complaints at all there.
The giant boards they serve meals on are ridiculous. There is literally no room on the table for all that. You have to slide things over on one board to make room for whatever’s on the other board. It’s a complicated dance for the servers and the diners.
The atmosphere is kind of fun. It’s a dive bar with real food. That’s pretty cool. But the ceilings are low (it’s in a basement, after all) and feels a little claustrophobic, especially when it’s filled with lots of people.
It’s pretty good. But not great. In my opinion.

It’s still as awesome as when we were here opening night.
Truffle fries: shut your pie-​hole, you’re drooling on the table.
Smoked Mac-​n-​cheese: I would kidnap the Lindburgh babby for more of that
Baby back ribs were a touch dry, but strong in the ways of the smoke.
PBLT needed to be crispier, maybe pressing on the grill would help and the smoked tomato aioli was almost a missing guest, but the parts that were good, were great.
Service has always been a challenge here, but it was ok this time. Look, you’re eating BBQ in a basement, not rubbing elbows on a 12^th floor rotating dining room so lighten your expectations.
Beer list was solid.

Was visiting a friend in Louisville and decided to check it out based on the rave reviews. Didn’t disappoint. We arrived about 30 minutes after opening and it was packed which we felt said a lot. Waited for about 30 minutes after grabbing a beer. No space inside so had to wait outside and there was some seating. I ordered an elk burger on a pretzel bun with grilled onions and pepper jack. We also got a pretzel croissant with cheese and truffle fries cooked in duck fat.
The elk burger was a little strong for my taste but still good nonetheless. My boyfriend got the venison and it was surprisingly not very gamey and delicious. The cheese for our appetizer was cold which caught us off guard but it was surprisingly good.
The truffle fries in duck fat… Amazing. Highly recommended.
Overall it was a good night and a good meal and would definitely come back for the fries.