Kayrouz Cafe

Kayrouz Cafe is located in St. Matthews at 3801 Willis Avenue. It's a teeny-tiny place, and I sat at a small table for two by a window on the afternoon I visited the cafe for lunch. The interior is bright and cheery, but I'll be glad when it's just a little warmer because I would much rather have been able to sit at one of the umbrella-ed tables outside and people watch. Anyway, so the dining room is small. Also, the door to the bathroom is right there in the dining room, not down a hallway, so needless to say there was one patron visit too many that effectively ruined my meal, if you know what I'm saying. Up until the offensive odor, I was pretty satisfied, so here's the rundown:

This really is a cozy little salad and sandwich joint, with its warm colors and personal touches. There are little reminders everywhere in the decor that you're in a restaurant in Louisville owned by a family that has had a long history here. I could definitely envision lunches with the girls, or my mom, or even a beau for my next visit.

So, my server greeted me cheerily and offered me an iced-tea or a soft drink, but, of course, I opted for a water. As I began to peruse the menu, I noticed the Vegetarian Reuben sandwich, which quite frankly I thought was total blaspheme, but luckily I saw that there was a traditional Reuben as well. I knew that was what I should be ordering, but then I saw the burgers. I don't know about you, but sometimes I get an overwhelming desire for a burger that cannot be squashed or ignored. It happens. I decided to splurge on the Crabby Joe (8 oz. sirloin burger topped with lump crab meat, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, bleu cheese, lettuce, red onion, and spicy mayonnaise) simply because it sounded so bizarre. A burger with crab meat on it? Really? I ordered it medium and sat back and relaxed.

I people-watched for a little bit before my server brought out my burger. It looked interesting, I must say. There was an ample bit of crab meat sticking out from the bun. The first couple of bites were odd, and it certainly took a moment to decide whether I appreciated the flavor combination or not. The mayo was peppery and complemented the lump crab nicely, but the sun-dried tomatoes were just strange. I couldn't get past the texture. The rest of it worked though, as odd as it sounds. The bleu cheese, which I always love on burgers, went well with the crab too. It was most certainly flavorful with the touch of garlic, as well as the crunchy red onions. I enjoyed the different textures, with the exception of the tomatoes. Unfortunately, I ordered the burger medium, but it came out close to well-done. I would have sent it back, but I didn't have the time to wait.

About halfway through my meal I began to notice the offending odor wafting over from the bathroom, so I asked my server for a box and the check. The total with tax was $10.55, and I left my server a 15% tip. It wasn't his fault the burger wasn't cooked to the correct temperature, plus I never pointed it out.

I will return because it's a nice atmosphere and everyone has an off day from time to time, but next time I will definitely sit outside.

Cheers,
Fleur de Lunch