High Stakes Grill, New Rooftop Restaurant, Opens in Downtown Louisville

If you’re ever feeling down, a good meal can be a great way to turn things around.

Another way? Go six floors up somewhere.

High Stakes Grill, which officially opened on July 18, offers “a modern approach to classic American grilled dishes” and features rooftop seating in NuLu.

The new restaurant atop the also-new Tempo by Hilton Louisville Downtown NuLu, 710 E. Jefferson St., aims to “pay tribute to the memorable underdog winners and champions in life, sports, history and the arts,” according to a press release.

The Courier Journal recently got a sneak peek at the spacious location, which features an indoor/outdoor bar, a bright interior space and a large patio overlooking downtown Louisville.

Around High Stakes Grill, you’ll find nods to horse racing and other sports with quotes, including one on the wall from Yogi Berra and another on the menu from the late Harold Peter Henry “Pee Wee” Reese, a Kentucky native and professional baseball player who became famous for his collaborations with Jackie Robinson. There’s also a framed quote on the wall from Dolly Parton, which reads, “I eat seafood. When I see food, I eat it.”

There’s plenty to eat at High Stakes Grill, which seats 120 people.

At the top of the menu, you’ll see “for the table” items including trout dip, deviled eggs, and a baked potato roll that almost looks like a casserole and is served in a cast-iron skillet. Another shareable choice, the cheese puffs, may look like spherical Cheetos, but they’re more like bright orange macaroni and cheese morsels. The cheddar-dusted puffs are filled with local ham and cheese and served with an herb-infused buttermilk sauce for dipping.

Starters include steak tartare, shrimp cocktail, corn ribs and lump crab served on sourdough toast.

Looking for a salad that really steals the show? Try the More Than A Wedge, which looks great.

Under the heading ‘from the grill’ you will find dishes such as a New York strip steak with a bourbon pepper crust, grilled lion’s mane mushrooms and pork schnitzel.

For other entrees, High Stakes Grill offers a roasted half chicken, a “Hat Trick” burger, filet mignon with crab and lobster scampi bucatini.

On the drinks side, you’ll find themed cocktails like one called “Cut Your Losses,” made with Bulleit bourbon and house-made cherry cola, and “A Safe Bet,” made with vodka, ginger beer, lemon juice, and limoncello. You might also recognize the names of the “long shots” on the drink menu, like one called “Mine That Bird” and another called “Balboa.”

Mocktails, draft beer and wine are also available.

We featured High Stakes Grill in the latest installment of the Courier Journal Instagram video series, “Best Thing I Ate This Week.” You can follow along each week by visiting Instagram.com/courierjournal.

More: Looking for a new restaurant in Louisville? Try these nearby recommendations

Contact food reporter Amanda Hancock at [email protected].