Hammerheads

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.

Nice place! Get there EARLY! It filled up very fast. Also very little street parking not parking lots. Food was pretty good! The service was very friendly. Great atmosphere for sure.

Rating 4/5. Was in mood for burger and was told this place has good ones so I decided to visit on a Sunday afternoon . It’s nestled inside of a community so it’s easy to miss but the big hammerhead shark on front of building helps . Parking can get tricky if busy but we lucked up on good spot. We started off with the smoked wings . They’re smoked then flash fried to add crispiness and they were definitely good . I ordered the angus burger well done with pepper jack cheese and a side of grippo fries . She ordered the fish sandwich with regular fries . We also ordered a side of Mac and cheese because I’m on a mission to find the best restaurant Mac and cheese because I can’t find one in Louisville I rate highly . The burger was cooked perfectly to my liking and had flavor and tasted great. My grippo fries were decent but the problem was it appeared and tasted like they dumped the whole jar of seasoning on my fries. The fish sandwich was fried hard and tasted great. Regular fries were fine. The Mac and cheese was a let down. I’m still on a mission to find the best one . I would visit again and try other parts of the menu . The main entree options carried the meal while the sides this visit were lackluster

Found this place on our annual trip to Louisville for a convention and now it has become our must stop for when we are there. It’s situated in a neighborhood so be prepared to park on the street and possibly walk a bit. My absolute favorite thing to get is the wings!!! The flavor is perfection!!! You can never go wrong with their homemade fries either, just pick your favorite seasoning. It is a little small and if it is cold out sitting by the door gets drafty. The staff has always been extremely welcoming and helpful. The prices are a little high but I feel it is worth it! Definitely a hidden gem, you won’t regret stopping here!!

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!

We stumbled upon this restaurant bar during a quick weekend trip before my surgery, and it was a fantastic find! The food was absolutely delicious, with the mac n’ cheese balls being the undeniable highlight—crispy, cheesy perfection. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, and the service was great. The only drawback was the low ceilings, which made the space feel a bit cramped, but it didn’t take away from the overall experience. Definitely worth a visit for the amazing food!

During a recent trip to Louisville, Kentucky, I had the pleasure of visiting this charming little bar. The menu offered some unique and exciting options, and we enjoyed the elk burger, duck tacos, and seasoned fries, all of which were delicious. The atmosphere was pleasant, the service was excellent, and the prices were reasonable. While it was a bit chilly inside on that particularly cold and snowy Louisville day, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience and would certainly return.

Great service, great wings. Garlic herb fries were "okay" but not amazing. The sweet potato fries were pretty good though!

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!!

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

I have always loved the food at Hammerheads. The people are great and the customers are so varied. Great environement!

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

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

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

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.

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.

Found the place while on vacation. Total gem of a find and hands down the best food we had while in Louisville. Service was top notch. The guy bringing out our food seemed so proud of what he was bringing out and he should be. Lamb ribs..... oh what to say..... easy top 10 of things I've eaten in my life. Have no idea what the seasoning was, but I need a bottle of that. Loved the vibe, but if you're at all tall, watch out for the beams. It may not look like fine dining from the outside, but I don't think they care or want it to be, but the food totally is amazing. Thanks to everyone at Hammerheads for a great evening.

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

Ok. Let's start by saying I'm from out of state. A friend told us we had to stop here. Not knowing the area, I thought it looked a little sketch. In a neighborhood, maybe under a residence? Not sure but I am ashamed for those thoughts. As soon as we walked in we were greeted and seated. Staff were very informative and made great recommendations. The food... no words to even describe but I will try. I had 3 sliders. Brisket, duck and pork belly. The staff recommended the duck and pork belly. I added the brisket. The pork belly melted on my mouth. The duck was so flavorful and tender. The brisket was moist and tender. The garlic herb fries with smoked mayo was off the hook. I need a nap and I want to grab an elk burger to go when we drive back home. This place is definitely a must have for those of you that want some 5 star food and service.

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%.

We went on a 4 state roadtrip with tons of delicious food. Every morsel from our stop at hammerheads was the best of every bite we had on our trip. The wings. The tacos. So incredible. I wish I lived here.

The food was great. After reading reviews I had to try the Mac and cheese balls and the Elk Burger. Both was just what the taste buds was looking for. Full of flavor l, hot to order and delicious. The advice was good and the atmosphere was kid friendly, but if you like me I had to have an old fashion and it hit the spot. This is a hidden gem on Louisville. Highly recommended.

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.

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.)

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.

Ambiance was pretty cool. Downstairs dive bar. We were placed at a table in back corner, underneath an AC unit. I dropped my napkin under the table and bent over to pick it up and realized we were sitting in a couple inches of standing water. The AC unit was constantly dripping water. we had to pull our table out away from the wall to help. It kind of ruined our experience so I won't comment on the food because honestly I couldn't get past the non-stop dripping water.

Delicious, savory food at a great price. The lamb ribs were divine along with the smoked mac & cheese. Wonderful service in an interesting underground vibe.

Small but might restaurant/bar. Lamb ribs are fantastic. Macaroni balls a must have. You can't skip out on this place the next time you're in Louisville

Ever wondered what the gates of heaven look like? It's a small wooden door that opens to a smokey food sanctuary: Hammerheads. My life, my well-being, and my whole existence has been positively affected by eating at this establishment. My first taste of the duck taco was like fireworks on my tastebuds. Explosions of love. I would lay down my life for these tacos if it ever came to it. They are made with the most wholesome love that a chef could ever have. I feel like I've become a better person because of Hammerheads. Finding Hammerheads was like finding a piece of me that I didn't know was missing. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone that would like an out of body experience. I wrote this in my notes app in 2017 and just know decided to post it.

My favorite restaurant to visit when I'm in Louisville. Love all the food...duck fat fries, ribs, chicken wings, burgers, etc. It's all good.

My experience was horrible here. I have a psychiatric service dog and they refused to allow her in. They expected us to sit out in the rain and still give them our money. Horrible customer service. Very disappointed.

Definitely not what I expected, went Sunday evening. Was absolutely packed but was able to get a spot at the bar. Got the peach Bellini cider, truffle fries and the soft shell crab sandwich. Food was amazing, will definitely be back!

Duck tacos were phenomenal. The fried were a little over seasoned for my liking but you can tell they were fried in duck fat.

Cool location ! I traveled for business and was recommended by a coworker. Comfort food and a lot of it! Come for the cool vibes and good food!

Great unique place Fun setting good service We had the mushrooms the grit tots and a half rack of ribs took some of all 3 home

Great atmosphere. Beans, and mac, were hot and great. Half rack of ribs was chewy, not "off the ribs" tender, dry, and overall terrible. Only 2 bbq sauces...one was ketchup, the other worchestire something. Overall, the hype on this place was off. Very disappointed. Ribs, mac, beans, and beer, gratuity $35+.