Louisville’s Bardstown Road has a new dinner destination, and it is bringing Cuban flavor, Italian technique and a little Havana nostalgia to the Highlands. Prado 264 is now welcoming diners after months of renovation in the former Mark’s Feed Store space. The restaurant comes from husband-and-wife owners Luis Gonzalez and Lisanne Garcia, who are betting Louisville is ready for a more adventurous kind of fusion.
Mayor Craig Greenberg gave Prado 264 a public welcome Thursday, highlighting Gonzalez, Garcia and their team as the restaurant joined Louisville’s food scene, according to the mayor’s post.
The shoutout arrives as the restaurant moves from months of preparation into regular service on one of the city’s busiest dining corridors.
Prado 264 describes itself as an upscale Italo-Cuban restaurant built around handcrafted food, signature cocktails, live entertainment and a social, date-night atmosphere, according to Prado 264’s website. Its menu mixes Cuban staples and Latin ingredients with Italian-inspired pastas, seafood, steaks and pizza.
From Mark’s Feed Store To A New Highlands Dining Room
The restaurant opened in the former Mark’s Feed Store location at 1514 Bardstown Road after a soft opening on July 15, WDRB reported. The owners invested more than $400,000 in the roughly 3,500-square-foot space and expect to employ about 20 people.
Gonzalez and Garcia are Cuban natives who previously lived in Miami, and they chose Louisville after visiting friends and falling for the Highlands, according to Louisville Business First. The restaurant’s name pays homage to a Havana restaurant on Paseo del Prado that Gonzalez remembers from his childhood, where Italian cooking techniques were paired with Cuban flavors.
What’s On Prado 264’s Menu
The menu includes ropa vieja ravioli, picadillo Bolognese, Cuban-style pizzas and a seafood-heavy Malecón Pescatore risotto, according to the restaurant’s menu. Entrées range from scallops al sofrito and grilled mahi mahi piccata to Latin porchetta, a fire-grilled picaña and a short rib served with Bustelo espresso gravy.
Prado 264 currently lists dinner service from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with reservations available online, according to OpenTable. The restaurant also advertises cocktails, outdoor seating and private-event space, giving the former barbecue storefront a decidedly different second act.
