Hammerheads

It was our first time here and we really enjoyed having dinner here. The employees were friendly and didn’t rush us to order. Our food came out shortly after ordering. Also, they had good music playing. Everything we ordered was delicious. 10/10, recommend. The public entrance is on the bottom floor under the shark.

It’s a smaller spot, but really inviting. We were welcomed right in and told to sit wherever we liked. The smoked wings were an absolute hit — honestly the best I’ve had in a long time. The mac and cheese was a little on the bland side for me; I think it could use a bit of a kick, maybe some ghost pepper or firehouse cheese mixed in. Both the duck fat fries and the truffle fries were amazing and the ranch as well. I also tried the Elk Burger ,fantastic and the Angus burger was just as good. Next time we’re in, we’re definitely trying the Grippo fries and the fried mac and cheese balls. With me coming up on five years of sobriety, I asked my boyfriend and brother to take a birthday shot for me. They weren’t small shots either — definitely worth the money. Overall, great food, great vibe, and we’ll absolutely be back.

Omg the food here was amazing!!! We got the mushrooms, burgers, and garlic parm fries. The sun dried tomato mayo that comes with the mushrooms was so good! One of the best burgers I’ve had in quite a while, was cooked beautifully med rare and the flavors were on point. We will absolutely be back! Parking is street parking and there is limited seating when it’s busy hours, but so worth it.

Great sliders, okay sides. The brisket slider was the highlight of my meal. My friend said the pork belly slider was also delicious. The duck slider was decent. The duck fat fries were tasty but a bit overly greasy. The fried mushrooms were good, but the batter was also quite thick.

Fantastic food and even better service! Everything we ordered was fresh, delicious, and perfectly cooked. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere was nice and laidback. GET THE LAMB RIBS!!! And grippo fries!!!

Went to Hammerheads for our first time, and it definitely won't be the last! We were fortunate to get seats at the bar, as the place was filling up fast! Every employee that engaged with us was super friendly, and it seemed like they were all working together very well to meet all needs. We started with the crispy mushrooms with sun dried tomato mayo. We are still talking about them and telling everyone we know. They are so freaking fresh and delicious. I am dreaming about them as I am typing this. Seriously one of the best appetizers I have ever eaten! And we had some leftover that tasted just as good the next day. We also ordered the crispy soft shell crab sandwich, the smoked mac and cheese (topped with toasted bread crumbs), and the garlic herb fries. Everything we ate was truly delicious, with top notch service, and a wonderful experience overall.

The duck fries are excellent. The elk burger great as well. The catfish sandwich was huge. Finally, the sweet potato fries were very good.

Oh my goodness the lamb ribs were so good! They were super tender with the perfect amount of fat and seasoning, they were falling right of the bone. The staff was super friendly and provided great service.

Hammerheads is an amazing no frills restaurant with amazing food. The restaurant has a warm and relaxing atmosphere. There is seating at the bar and there is sit down tables as well. I had never tried catfish before and had the catfish tacos. They were delicious! I also enjoyed a margarita. The service was excellent! The staff were attentive and friendly and the food came out quickly. An all around amazing dining experience at very reasonable prices for how amazing the food is! Highly recommend!

Solid! A little greasy/heavy but I liked it. 3.5, but closer to 3 than 4. In a cute, quiet part of the city.

I enjoyed the food here a lot. I don't eat meat, but I think the wings are a must get. Everybody I was with loved them. They also loved the burgers. They have a wide selection of fries with different dipping sauces. (The name always makes me laugh considering there isn't much seafood on the menu.)

Came here on possibly the last semi warm evening of the year. We had a large group (12 people), but they were able to seat us in about 30 min. We opted to sit outside because it was still nice out. We ended up taking 2 tables, one of kids and one of adults. We all got very good food. I got an elk burger and it was very good. My girls got ribs and at them all! My husband got the catfish sandwich and he liked it. My littlest got catfish, but she didn't like it. She said it was to greasy and it later hurt her stomach (probably because we don't tend to eat greasy food often). Overall, the food was good and we enjoyed ourselves. We will be back.

Dive bar-ish place to grab some beers and some food! Food is not too bad but fave was the Fried Mushrooms- nicely fried and loved the shiitake. The Mac and Cheese balls were alright. Duck slider was pretty good, meat smoky and tender. The soft shell crab slider was better, well fried and tasty! Overall pretty good value and service was friendly, on point.

This OG location has been around for a while and for good reason. Delicious smoked meats and upscale bar food. Small dive feel with tables, window, and bar seats available. Not the best for a big group but great for a few friends and awesome food!

Tucked away this is a true hole in the wall, but you can't miss the huge hammerhead out front. We recently went here as a larger group of 7 and were seated immediately. It is an older home turned restaurant and very much a dive bar vibe. As a taller person the low ceilings were something to take caution of. Overall the menu had some interesting items you don't often see such as soft shell crab, venison and elk. It is all ala cart style so for an elk burger ($16) and a side of sweet potato fries ($5) it was a costly burger and fries. All in all I do recommend to try it out if you are looking for something different with a wide variety of beers and cocktails.

Everything I had was delicious. Don't sleep on the fried mushrooms, they might not look pretty but they are tasty. I went here with a group and I was able to try quite a few things, I honestly loved all of it. If I lived in the area I would probably have to set up a direct deposit where my paychecks would go directly to hammerheads, because I would want to eat here every night. I had fried mushrooms, smoked wings, Pork belly tacos, PBLT & soft shell crab tacos. FYI I ate outside, however the ceilings inside are low.

Got to go and I'm pleased with the experience. I tried the beef burger this time, although I liked it, I definitely prefer their other burgers. I got the mac & cheese balls again, and they are definitely worth getting every time. I don't know how they managed to make them so good without making them dry, but they do. Overall, I'll be back. Whether it's takeout or in person.

Dive bar style place. Decent vibe. Drink was great. Food was mediocre. Server was great as well. Probably wouldn't return but not a terrible experience.

Late night Sunday dinner at one of my most-liked places to share a few appetizers and laughs with my pal over cocktails. Special seasonal cocktail featured is one of my favorites -- watermelon margarita with a salted rim. This went well with the ever tempting frontrunner of fries in duck fat and the mushrooms. I have to confess, I have yet to be able to get past these two items to get to the main menu because the apps are so spectacular. I keep returning with the intent to try a burger that another friend tells me to try. Someday soon, I'll do it. For now, I'm over the moon with the drinks and apps. Waitstaff and bartenders are all friendly and welcoming. Noise level is mild and easily able to have a conversation. Decor is funky and interesting. Bathrooms could use a remodel, but this is truly a charming neighborhood bar that is fine just as it is.

Our daughter was visiting from Oregon and wanted to have dinner at Hammerheads yesterday. She had been years earlier and had really enjoyed the food. We ended up having to leave before we could order, no fault of Hammerheads. However, I still had to leave a review because our server Jesse was absolutely amazing and accommodating. Such excellent customer service deserves recognition. We will be back to see Jesse and try some of the food we've heard so many great things about!

Food is always fresh and made to order. You can't go wrong with whatever you order-I like it all, particularly their catfish, pork belly, brisket sliders, dries and baked beans. This small little hideaway is welcoming environment where servers are efficient and friendly.

We have been wanting to try Hammerheads for a while now and after hearing so many good things. We got there early as I've always heard they fill up quickly, and plus it was a Saturday evening! I had the seasonal margarita which was watermelon and oh so good!! I had a pulled pork sandwich and my husband got a burger. We split an order of the Grippo fries, but they were a little too spicy for our liking. Our sandwiches were great though! We loved the ambiance as it was a little dark and small inside which is right up our alley!

Wasn't planned to stop in for our first visit on Valentine's Day but that's what happen. We were going with the flow and we found ourselves here at the bar ordering drinks and food. The drinks were spot on for both of us. I ordered the smoked wings and garlic herb fries to share. My husband had a slider, everything was perfect. Smoked mayo and ranch are amazing if dips matter to you like they do to me. Will definitely bring returning here a lot. The fried mushrooms looked so good so we have to come back. The overall vibe of the place as so chill and welcoming.

Traveled from Detroit in March 2025. Stopped in on recommendation from a friend. Cute little joint that's a hidden gem. The food is fantastic. The staff and the service are incredible. The variety of their sliders allows you to have a taste of many great items. We could not stop talking about it to our friends. We planned another trip in October and made sure we would stop again. Coincidently, we had friends come down at the same time. We made it a point to meet up and introduce them to the place. They all loved it. Needless to say, we are all huge fans of the food, place and staff. We will be back.

Eclectic basement burger joint with an interesting vibe and a few menu choices that you don't see often. From elk to venison, the burger options are not your normal fare. Although busy, we were seated quickly but tables are fairly tightly spaced so prepare to be snuggled in close together. The bar appeared to be expansive but our table didn't partake in any adult beverages. Soft drinks were served in cans and no refills were offered.

The food and atmosphere are fantastic! The business is tucked in an interesting neighborhood in the basement of an old house. It makes for a cozy atmosphere! There is always a good selection of beer and spirits and the food is unique and delicious. The burgers are good and we love the ribs too. It does get pretty busy so allow some time for the wait but it is worth it.

Hammerheads is a dive bar in the basement of a house that makes some unique and rather unexpected (in a good way and tasty) menu items. It's an interesting spot that is worth a visit. On a whim we stopped in for an early-ish dinner and were not quite sure what to make of it. The look and feel screams dive bar but the menu is a mix of burgers, tacos, and ribs (with other items). Don't expect your usual bar food here because this offering is much more of a culinary experience than you'd imagine. We sampled a little bit of everything but the stand outs were the tacos and the fries! The different flavors for the fries are fun and the tacos, particularly the pork belly, were amazing. We also had some ribs but were not as impressed with the flavor (although A+ on upscale presentation!) This place is a nice example of not judging a book by its cover. Upon arriving and seeing that it is (literally) the basement of a house you might be inclined to turn around. Trust me that it's worth staying and exploring this culinary experiment.

I was looking for a fun, good takeout spot for dinner in Louisville as we were driving through as a pit stop. Its in a small neighborhood with plenty of street parking. Walking in, it gave super dive bar vibes and the ceilings were lower than expected, but not in a bad way. Service was nice and they quickly took my order and started on my food. I got the garlic fries, roasted duck slider, softshell crab slider, and pblt. All were very tasty but quite salty for my tastes.

Place was a little small but we got lucky and they were able to seat our party of 10. Got a pulled pork and a brisket slider. The brisket slider was very good. The pork was not as impressive. My wife got the wings. They were wonderful got a large portion for a good price. Members of your group got the elk burger and both liked it. If back in the area I will be returning.

This restaurant is right by our house, and if the prices were just a tad lower, we'd be regulars. But when we go here, it is a treat because the food is amazing and I love the atmosphere. The place is also very popular, so if you want a seat, get there early or be prepared for a wait. But it's worth it. On this night, I ordered a margarita, which had a nice kick to it, and their excellent spare ribs. I devoured those quickly. As a table of 3, we split the duck fat fries, which are a favorite of ours. Possibly the best fries in the city. Based on times we've gone in the past, I can also recommend their wings, pork belly tacos and their Mac & Cheese.

Pros- The Mac n cheese balls, truffle fries, soft shell crab slider, and the pork belly slider were delicious! Cons- Dirty/sticky menus, not sure where to go when you walk in, silverware/napkins served dirty. Maybe go here if you love food and aren't worried about cleanliness? The people were nice enough but our waiter disappeared at times and we didn't know how to get him so we could pay the check and go. Overall- 3 stars for good food but poor cleanliness. The vibe was lively. The street parking wasn't an issue for us. This is a neighborhood with a business in it.

Bustling place with upbeat energy. Great for grabbing a bite out with a couple of friends. The burgers were fantastic, as were the truffle fries. My 23 year old daughter isn't even into burgers and she said her burger (build your own) was delicious. We also tried the pork tacos...ALSO very yummy!!!

Very nice surprise for our first night in Louisvile for Bourbon and Beyond. We have tacos and sliders. Everything was excellent along with the service. Wonderful!

Lamb ribs - the best, smokey, rich, moist, and tender, recommended Shiitake and portobello mushrooms - always good, though this time we got the scrap tiny pieces and a small serving was bummed Catfish tacos- always good, recommend Sweet potato fries - had in the past and were great, mess up this time, ordered a large basket and got a small side order size. Let me down. Ordered food to go this time. Inconsistent quality.

Heading to Hammerheads was a nice surprise. It was on my bucket list and open on a Monday evening. My friend and I were seated right away and well taken care of by our server. I opted for the burger and it was huge! I couldn't finish it alongside the truffle fries. The side of fries is more than one person needs. Next time I'll order the regular fries. Truffle oil is good in smaller doses. They also offer parm cheese and garlic fries. Hammerheads is a neighborhood spot and divey. Plenty of seating but it does get loud as the crowd grows. Easy enough to find parking.

Such a great place! This is one of my go-to dinner restaurants. Such a comfy and cool vibe with great food and staff! I also like to order this to-go quite often and the food is still wonderful even ordered this way.

I was very excited to try Hammerheads. I had the fried mushroom appetizer, duck tacos, and lamb ribs. The temperature in the restaurant/bar was kind of warm which detracted from the experience. The duck tacos were extremely fatty so they were sloppy to eat and too moist. The same with the lamb ribs. I won't be going back.

This is truly a neighborhood bar: but not a corner bar--seems like in the basement of somebody's house. The corner bar is on the corner and looks like it is in the process of being beautifully renovated in a clean modern style. The best description of ambiance for Hammerheads is kewel jewel with eclectic clientele and waitresses. I saw a guy in a suit, a borderline goth, a mountain man, an earth mother in a long dress, that cutoff too short tight jeans look, and a couple of college students. Noting that the placed was packed for early on a Wednesday, it was no surprise to me that the food was amazing and far more interesting than the font used on the plain menu. I had a hard time deciding between duck, lamb ribs, brisket, and soft shelled crab (where the heck did they come from?) but decided after drinking a little of my non-alcoholic beer that came in a can. For those of you who prefer to pickled their brains: they had a dozen small brewery beers on tap which were mostly from Louisville and Lexington, including one from something up the street called, of all things, Hammerhead. It would have made sense for me to get the story on what appears to be a pop-up (or down since in basement) place: that said things were so busy and fascinating (yes, I eavesdrop when I dine alone)I just let things evolve. The briskets literally fell apart, but also caused the bottom half of the bun to melt from the moisture. The truffle fries were truly truffle yummy and just the side order filled me up nicely. I would go there again, definitely. BTW they smoke their own meats. Heh: parking could be tight but it looks like there is a lot across the road that would be fair game. Finding the place was a bit challenging but worth the adventure.

Hadn't been here in years and happy to see that the food is still an incredible hidden treasure. This tiny basement hole in the wall joint with their diner like setting has food that rivals that of some place that would cost 4x as much and have a dress code. Service is warm, prompt and friendly. Can't wait to go back.

The food is delicious and I'll definitely be a repeat customer, the service was on point and very timely, the venue's seating is limited but I think that adds to its charm. The art in the wall caught my eye. A couple Hunter S Thompson portraits that were painted, they were each pretty decent.

Amazing food. Great atmosphere. Service was attentive and friendly. Would recommend to anyone looking for a great BBQ place in Louisville.

This place is a hole in the wall with a great vibe. It's partially below ground with really low ceilings. Lots of great beers on tap. The food ... omg, the food is mouthwatering. The fried mac n cheese balls are perfect. I could make an entire meal on those alone. If you don't get them, you are truly missing out! They have sliders and tacos that you can order as mix and match so you can try multiple flavors. Everything was delicious. One warning, I asked how hot the Nash hot is, waitress said not that hot ... it was so hot. Everyone in my group is used to really hot food. We are from Texas after all. But we were sweating from the heat in this spice!! Still was awesome. Staff was super friendly and fun. They joked around with us, sarcasm back when we were messing with them through sarcasm. An all around great experience.

All things amazing. Crab sandwich like non-other in the area. Hidden gem of Louisville

I love Hammerheads!!! I have been eating here since I was a kid. Big foodie. Their food is so good. I usually just get the PBLT and truffle fries, but got to try the mushroom app and soft-shell crab sandwich recently. Delicious. Even stacked up against delicious food I've had across the country (including New Orleans, iykyk) and internationally, this is one of my favorite restaurants ever. Last time I went there, an employee so patiently sat with my bike so I could go in and pay. Then, when I got home and discovered my chocolate cake slice was missing, I went back to go get it (sweet treat's a must). They gave me my money back AND gave me extra free slices. Hammerheads for life!!

Amazing fresh artisan food. The watermelon margarita was delicious. Cozy, quaint atmosphere adds to the charm.

Great dive bar in a local neighborhood. Food was SO good and the service was great as well. My husband ordered the elk burger and I got the PBLT and we shared a basket of fries. When traveling to Louisville we will come again!

The food is really good. I liked the fried mushrooms. I wish they were open for lunch

Service was good - the only positive. Fried macaroni balls were okay, duck fat fries could've been normal fries for all I know, and the catfish sandwich was really bad. Had a stale water kinda taste to it. Maybe a one-off bad night but won't return.

When a place gets a ton of 5-star reviews, the bar is set exceptionally high. Hammerheads has a lot going for it, but it didn't quite live up to the hype. We started with smoked wings. They were exceptional. Crisp, piping hot and served with both ranch dressing and a very vinegar heavy buffalo sauce. But honestly, I didn't get a whiff of smoke. The lamb ribs, a favorite of my son in law (a regular here), really missed the mark. We were both disappointed. The ribs were fatty, flavorless and served only warm. A half rack is perhaps 4-5 ribs served with a few sprigs of greens. A big plate with a lot of open space. Fries. We ordered garlic herb fries. Either they got the order wrong, or the garlic herb seasoning was lame. Again, the fries were served warm, certainly not straight from the fryer. And as a result, on the limp side. I prefer some crunch with fries. Finally, I ordered a bottled beer. I was expecting an ice cold brew. It came "cold", but not ice cold. I'm not sure the mountains of Coors would have turned blue. I'm hoping we caught Hammerheads on a bad day. I hear their burgers are very good. But then, I wouldn't want to set the bar too high.

Cool local dive bar. Great homespun margaritas. Food was on point. Service was good.

Great food, service, and ambiance. The smoked duck tacos and sliders are outstanding. The lamb ribs are unique, incredible, and fall off the bone. Excellent wings and burgers. The duck fat fries and mac-n-cheese sides are superb. Great value!

This was recommended by a local friend, and boy are we happy we stopped. They were a little busy around dinner time, but we found parking nearby, and it was a cute neighborhood to walk around while we waited for a patio seat (because we had a dog with us.) We started with some local beers (which was almost every beer on tap there) and the deep fried Mac & Cheese balls which were ooey gooey and delicious. I ordered the pork belly slider and pulled duck sliders (which are ordered individual so you can mix & match whatever proteins you want) - both came plain on a pretzel bun with nothing other than a couple sweet & spicy pickles. I was surprised to not see any kind of accoutrement, but the tender smoky meats were more than enough to satisfy. (Also peep the GENEROUS portion of pork belly on my friend's PBLT in the background.)

Our go-to place when we are in Louisville. I always get the smoked wings and are always perfect. The Angus burgers and pork belly are fabulous too.

I will choose hammerheads time and time again. The twist on classics is unbelievable. Mushrooms - sooooo gooood and crispy. YES Truffle fries with smoked Mayo - literally the best thing of the night. Who knew smoked Mayo was a thing? I'll dream about the Mayo and fresh cut fries. Pork belly baked beans - good - sweet - meaty. Good sized portion to share. Lamb ribs. Are a MUST. With just a kiss of their house BBQ sauce. I'm telling you.....life changing.

One of my favorite haunts in Louisville. Absolutely love the fried mushrooms and the rotating margaritas options. Servers are attentive and knowledgeable and nails the cozy neighborhood local vibe.

I have been a patron at Hammerhead for few years and I've never been disappointed. Whether sitting at the bar or dining at a table. The service is pretty quick and friendly. The food also comes quick and it is quality food. They're known for their lamb ribs, MAC & cheese balls, and elk. I also recommend to get your side of fries to be fried in duck fat and I would go with the truffle. Cheers and bon appetit

Pork belly taco is on point. Their Watermelon Margaritas are epic. Having traveled a bit of the world and trying them everywhere, these rate top 5%.