Chris Thomas

The importance of this post is rather obvious: We have to eat. There are few neighborhoods in the Louisville area that boast as many great restaurants as St. Matthews. Here are some of my favorites, and if I've missed anything, please feel free to alert me. Ranked in no particular order:

Cafe Lou Lou, 106 Sears Ave. www.cafeloulou.com

This is one of my favorite places to eat. Cajun flair meets exceptional pizzas, pastas, & sandwiches. Great service & atmosphere, Cafe Lou Lou recently also opened a second restaurant in the Highlands/Douglass Loop Neighborhood.

Havana Rumba, 4115 Oechsli Ave. www.myhavanarumba.com

Another great one, Havana Rumba features Cuban flair such as Lechon Asado which is Cuban pork marinated in citrus juices & Cuban spices & slow roasted for hours. My wife likes the Hemingway Daquiri.

Jack's Lounge at Equus Restaurant, 122 Sears Ave. http://www.equusrestaurant.com/jacks_menu.html

Jack's Lounge features an abbreviated menu from Equus Restaurant. Best nachos I've ever had. They are individually made. Jack's Burger is also a favorite, and of course, there's an elegant but relaxed atmosphere with leather couches & coffee tables.

El Tarasco, 110 Fairfax Ave.

Family favorite for sure, it seems like we've eaten here more than at home. A huge menu doesn't deter me from getting the #11 every time. Loud, hustling service & a nice price. Perfect for small kids!

Frankfort Avenue Beer Depot, 3204 Frankfort Ave.

My favorite barbeque in town. Wonderful wings & pulled pork sandwiches, cheap prices, & an atmosphere that is just what you'd expect from the name.

Brendan's Restaurant & Pub, 3921 Shelbyville Rd. http://www.brendanslouisville.com/

Brendan's is located in the old Maier's Tavern location in the heart of St. Matthews. It is a traditional Irish Pub and features one of my favorite appetizers around, the crab dip. They also regularly update their draft beer selection.

Kayrouz Cafe, 127 Wiltshire Ave.

We like to walk to this restaurant. The indoor dining area is small, so it's a great place to go to sit outside. I usually get the fish & chips w/rye.

Asahi, 3701 Lexington Rd.

I'm one of those people who took way too long to give sushi a shot, but since I did, I haven't looked back. This is a great addition to Louisville's sushi options. Lots of interesting rolls.

Stan's Fish Sandwich, 3729 Lexington Rd. http://www.stansfish.com/stans.html

You simply can't beat Stan's Fish Sandwich. Great sides & very casual, this is a perfect lunch spot.

If haven't tried one of these eateries, I highly suggest you do this weekend!

For all the bargain hunters out there, here are the 10 cheapest listed Single Family Homes in the St. Matthews Area (40207 zip code):

1. 313 Clover Ln., $139,900

2. 920 W. Riverside Dr., $149,900

3. 6710 Green Meadow Ct., $159,000

4. 3605 Lexington Rd., $159,900

5. 304 Breckenridge Ln., $160,000

6. 319 N. Hubbards Ln., $165,900

7. 3835 Massie Ave., $169,000

8. 6600 Tottenham Rd., $169,900

9. 808 Stivers Rd., $171,900

10. 213 Bonner Ave., $174,900

These listings range in age from approximately 26 years old to 88 years old; square footage from approximately 800 s/f to 2,947 s/f; from 2 to 5 bedrooms, and the list goes on. For more information on these & other properties for sale, drop me a line.

I've seen asking prices around $5,000 here in Louisville, KY, and yes, that's for a house & the land on which it's built. They've been around forever, but I was truly shocked to see an asking price of $3,800 for a house the other day. Consider also that the cooperating commission offered is $1,250, so if I assume that the listing commission is the same, that means a full price offer will net the bank $1,300 minus some nominal closing costs. This to me is truly remarkable. I've alerted plenty of people about this, and the question is always the same: What good is $1,300 to a bank? I suspect the answer lies in the fact that these banks likely have hundreds, if not thousands of foreclosed properties for sale. In other words, every little bit helps. As of today, there are 31 single family homes listed for sale for less than $10,000 located in Jefferson County on the Great Louisville Multiple Listing Service.