Like so many restaurant owners here in town, during Covid, the incredible owner of Decca restaurant, Annie Petry, decided to close her doors. Annie had fostered an incredible career; her fame from the Food Network coupled with her beautiful styling of Southern-inspired food and an architecturally stunning building (with, hands-down, the BEST patio in the city) created a following that meant there was never an open seat in the house. Decca was where seasons were celebrated- My client party was held in the candle-lit, stone-walled cellar bar every December for years. When they closed, a huge piece of Louisville’s Nulu neighborhood was lost.
Until last year.
Some of the original staff from Decca- Andy Myers, Chad Sheffield, and Matt Johnson- took over the old Butchertown Grocery building in June of 2023, and opened Decade Restaurant. Bryan and I had the opportunity to eat there just after opening, and we’ve been back so often since that I’ve lost count.
The menu is a happy mix of familiarity (like focaccia and roast carrots) and newer dishes that feel like comfort food (roast chicken, a dressed burger), organized by size. Small plates are meant to be shared or serve as a cocktail-side snack- think salmon tartare or crispy arancini. Mediums are larger veggies and pastas. Large? Well… Those are meant to be devoured.
The bar program is nothing to sneeze at, either. While wine aficionados will be happy to see a hefty bottle selection, cocktail lovers will be thrilled at the creativity found in every glass. Currently, I’m in love with a little gin-based number called Supersonic. It’s a honeydew-forward item with a dribble of olive oil, and it’s perfect.
Recently, the man and I split a dessert with three small scoops of ice cream- strawberry, rhubarb, and buttermilk, covered in a snow flurry of lemon zest. It was absolutely wonderful.
With an accommodating layout from bar stools, cozy booths, and the private event space, Decade really does feel like home in so many ways. Those locals who loved everything about Decca will find that there’s comfort in familiarity here, while newcomers will fall for the creative dishes, happily curated playlists, and live music upstairs.
Regardless of your reason to visit, do.
** this post is not sponsored in any way. all thoughts and opinions are my own **
** photos via Decade’s website **
