Sidewalk Sojourn

Dining al fresco is always one of the highlights of summer for me. While I love restaurants with a nice patio, there's something about having dinner and drinks on a busy downtown sidewalk that makes me feel like a real city girl. This is why you'll often find me at Bistro 301 on fair-weather days this season.

Bistro 301 is a place where you can sit alone reading the newspaper and sipping wine or end up chatting with a couple of strangers out celebrating their anniversary. Beneath the zoom of the passing cars you may also hear the sound of a horse trotting along as folks enjoying carriage rides make their way down the street.

Located near Actors Theatre of Louisville and the Kentucky International Convention Center, Bistro 301 can get pretty busy some evenings. It's also an after-work hangout spot for many young professionals who work downtown. Hence, the folks at Bistro 301 recommend making a reservation.

I took a chance on a recent Thursday evening, though, and swung by with a pal without calling ahead. Fortunately, the place wasn't packed and there was an empty sidewalk table to be had.

On this particular evening our server was so energetic, helpful and attentive that we wished she could sit down and join us for dinner. But while the atmosphere is great, when you go out to eat what you care about most, obviously, is the food. Bistro 301 does not disappoint. Entrees at Bistro 301 run between $17.95 and $29.95, but the menu also offers plenty of budget-friendly salads, sandwiches, burgers and pasta dishes.

Staff recommendations for summer dining include the shrimp ceviche appetizer ($9.95), made to order with lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes, red onions and cilantro, and the smoked salmon bagana cauda ($13.95), which is smoked salmon and bucatini pasta tossed in a garlic and caper sauce and topped with lemon herb pangrattato.

My friend and I both had a chicken quesadilla ($9.95), a crispy flour tortilla stuffed with chicken, Spanish onions, fresh cilantro, tomatoes and cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses, then topped with fresh pico de gallo.

Bistro 301 also offers a nice wine, beer and cocktail list. I tried the Mango-tini ($7.50), a strong but sweet blend of Finlandia Mango, mango juice and Pama Pomegranate liqueur. It went down easy and made for a perfect summer cocktail.

Though we were pretty stuffed, my pal and I had to try the brownie sundae ($4.95), which was heavenly. The soft, warm brownie was topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and a cherry (and strawberries at my friend's request). We shared it but I could have easily eaten one by myself.

In Louisville there's no shortage of restaurants with patios buzzing with candid conversation and unbridled laughter and some even offer spectacular views of the Ohio River. But if you're looking for some good city-style sidewalk dining, put Bistro 301 on your list.

Bistro 301, 301 W. Market St., is open for lunch 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and for dinner 4-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.