Gander An American Grill — Restaurant in Louisville

HARD PASS. The food was overpriced, underwhelming, and provided in thoroughly insufficient quantities. Unfortunately, we were all too hungry to take pictures, but we desperately wish we had. Two meals were provided incomplete and additional food was eaten afterward just to satisfy.

All names/descriptions are taken from the restaurant menu.

Meal 1 - Blackened Grouper (Seared and Blackened, Mango Salsa); Sidewinder fries, Mac 'n cheese; $19. When this approximately 5 oz filet arrived, it was obvious a certain yellow arched fast food place puts larger pieces of fish on their sandwiches; the adult male eating the fish completed it in 5 smaller bites. The "blackened" seasoning was almost entirely flavorless and the mango salsa was made from a few measly pieces of of flavorless canned mangoes, a few diced red onions, and maybe a kernel of corn. The fries had a decent flavor, but there were only approximately 6 fries total. The mac 'n cheese likewise was moderately tasty, but was hiding the absence of macaroni; the container was only 2/3 full and was disproportionately sauce. This was so unsatisfying, that the patron had to make an additional sandwich at home just to have eaten enough. The meal received wasn't worth half the price charged.

Meal 2 - Louisiana Shrimp and Grits (Shrimp, Andouille Sausage, White Queso Grits, Green Peppers, Onions. Served with Garlic Pasta bread); $18. Although this arrived more or less as advertised, the half dozen shrimp and dozen thinly sliced coins of sausage were nearly drowning in grease. The white cheddar grits were passable, but had to be dug out from the remainder of the meal to avoid consuming the unacceptably high levels of red grease. The adult female eating the meal found it entirely underwhelming and was thoroughly displeased with the result, noting the particularly small shrimp. No "Garlic Pasta" bread was provided.

Meal 3 - Beer Battered Fish and Chips (Three filets of Atlantic Cod, Beer Battered and lightly fried. Sidewinder Fries, Cole Slaw, Dill Tartar); Sidewinder fries, Mac 'n cheese; $15. The only acceptable meal we obtained. Cod is a fairly plain fish as it is, and the beer battering was appropriate, but the meal appeared to be made from the same frozen, battered cod filets you could buy at your local grocery store. The dill tartar sauce was good. As mentioned above, the Sidewinder fries were good (this meal received at least 50% more of them), and the mac 'n cheese was tasty (likewise, the container was actually full). The adult male eating this meal was thoroughly satisfied by volume, but unimpressed overall. No cole slaw was provided.

All in all, the meals were extremely lackluster and unsatisfying, especially for the prices, which were thoroughly unjustified. Normally I highly advocate eating at locally owned, non-chain restaurants, but I cannot recommend enough passing this place on your way down the road to a chain for a more predictably good experience.

(Full disclosure - we ordered take-out service, not dine-in. The service may be wonderful, but we did not experience it and so it has no factor in...

My family loves this place and we visit regularly. I have noticed the service starting to go downhill. I realize we all have bad days sometimes, as I was in the service industry for 21 years, but it should not be consistent among the staff. After this last visit, from which I just left, I was very disappointed. It took several minutes before anyone came to our table to greet us. While we waited, my child really needed to use the restroom so I stopped by the hostess stand to let them know I left some belongings on our table (in the bar area) so no one else takes it, and also asked for a couple waters. We were having brunch and grabbed s table in the bar because it was not crowded yet. We opted for the buffet, which had a lot of low food items and was out of several. Upon returning to our table to eat, we only had one silverware roll. I got up to get my son a napkin and the hostess politely asked me if everything is ok. I said yes, but that we would like to order something else I just didn’t know who my server was. Our server came to the table promptly after that, apologizing for missing us earlier, and was amazing! I got back in the buffet line before we left to grab a little more of something, and there were no plates. The bar tender with a blonde ponytail and darker beard was obviously aware of the situation, so I asked him if there were more on the way as he grabbed a coffee cup and walked to the back. He didn’t even turn around to acknowledge me, kept walking, and hollered back “there should be some on the way”...while a line of guests stood waiting for plates. He made zero effort to support his team as I saw him walking around through different doorways in the back, and then return back to the bar area empty handed. Not until a cook came out to check some food was I able to ask for more plates, at which point he got them for us. While I finished my meal in the bar area, I watched the bartender walk around showing zero hospitality, heard him repeat the same phrase to multiple guests “it should be on the way”, and constantly walk around empty handed. What was he there for? He certainly wasn’t supporting his team! I do realize bartenders have to come in and prep in the mornings on Sunday, I did it many a Sunday myself, and not feel like they have the same opportunity, but it’s not worth losing business. His behavior is what convinced me to write this review, cause like I said before, I can be empathetic to servers in the industry having been part of it for so long. But I certainly don’t appreciate leaving an establishment feeling like I was not appreciated, and more like I was burdening and interrupting...

Tucked into the heart of Louisville with a vibe that's both modern and effortlessly cozy, Gander delivers a thoughtfully curated menu that pays homage to Kentucky classics while keeping things fresh and innovative. If you're stopping by for lunch, there are three absolute standouts that deserve the spotlight: the Hot Brown, the Butterscotch Blondie, and a cold pint of Steep Hill from local favorite Atrium Brewing.

The Hot Brown at Gander is a love letter to the original—rich, indulgent, and deeply satisfying—but with just enough of a twist to make it feel new again. Instead of overwhelming the plate with cream, Gander’s version uses a perfectly balanced Mornay sauce that highlights, rather than smothers, the roasted turkey. Crisp bacon, juicy tomato slices, and a lightly toasted base round out each bite. It's the kind of dish that comforts you immediately and reminds you why Louisville lays claim to this legendary creation.

For dessert, the Butterscotch Blondie is nothing short of a revelation. Warm, gooey, and packed with deep brown sugar and buttery notes, it’s served with a generous scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of bourbon caramel that brings out the dessert’s rich complexity. It’s the kind of sweet that makes you consider ordering a second “to go,” just in case.

And let’s talk about the Atrium Brewing’s Steep Hill draft—an ideal pairing for the meal. This locally brewed beer is crisp and citrusy on the nose with a balanced, slightly bitter finish. It cuts through the richness of the Hot Brown beautifully and stands up to the sweetness of the Blondie without clashing. It’s the kind of beer that plays well in both roles: supporting character and solo star.

Final Take: Gander delivers a lunchtime trifecta that’s hard to beat. Whether you’re a Hot Brown purist, a dessert-first diner, or a beer enthusiast looking to sip something local, this place checks all the boxes with style...