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The Playfulness Beckons |
Themed restaurants once covered the landscape from coast to coast. They slowly died out, finally becoming an enigma. But, in 1991, Lynn Winter had a calling to open Lynn's Paradise Cafe in the Highlands neighborhood (after a short stint elsewhere). Lynn incorporated her love of furniture
design and waiting tables into a unique and diverse dining experience.
design and waiting tables into a unique and diverse dining experience.
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The Kitschy Dining Rom |
The décor and food are kitschy with an emphasis on eclecticism and creativity. My eyes wandered around the room several times and I still couldn't take it all in. It's a mid-century modern showroom. Colors and patterns mixed effortlessly with metal accents of chrome-framed chairs, holographic poles, and a stainless steel bar front.
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Hanging Art in the Trees |
Trees grow from the floor through the ceiling. There are lots of parties throughout the year including sponsorship of the International Ugly Lamp Contest at the Kentucky State Fair. My guess is some of Lynn's lamp collection originated there and are now table-side and upside down.
Breakfast is the other star at the cafe, but our schedule put us there for an early lunch. Our server seemed seasoned enough to ask for recommendations. We had our minds made up on sandwiches and his suggestions centered on the Curry Chicken Salad and Fried Green Tomato BLT. The sandwiches came with one side and for those his preferences were an emphatic Sweet Potato Fries with Cinnamon Spice and Baked Mac and Cheese, an Oprah favorite. Great! Our choices were made.
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Fried Green Tomato BLT and Baked Macaroni and Cheese |
Eric found the BLT highlight to be the peppered bacon and the parmesan garlic mayonnaise that was more like a remoulade. The cornmeal breading on the green tomatoes was a little too over zealous. Not to disappoint Oprah, but the mac and cheese was somewhat of a "brick" casserole and too over baked. My chicken salad was creamy, just right on the
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Curry Chicken Salad and Sweet Potato Fries with Cinnamon Spice |
curry, and wanting to escape from the two slices of wheat berry bread on each side. The serving of fries was mountainous. Although they were nicely seasoned with the cinnamon, I had to leave most of them on the plate. We both felt the price exceeded the offering, but with the total experience of this national shrine factored in, it was probably on par.
Hey, I like parties too!
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