In the Germantown neighborhood of Louisville, there’s been a “revolving door” building hosting a variety of different establishments for the last 150 years. In the past it was a gathering for community, short lived restaurants, and a host for pop up shops. Currently, the building is a smokehouse and bar named Four Pegs. Opened in 2018 by Executive Chef Chris Williams, the restaurant has only been nestled into the corner of Louisville for six years, but has certainly made a name for itself for its hearty food and beer.
I walked into the restaurant and was instantly greeted with a smoky aroma filling the restaurant and a bar covering the whole left wall and an open seating area in the center, lit by dim lights. The walls were decked with vintage photos, most notably to me a large photograph of Muhammad Ali hung high. Certainly matching the restaurant’s bold and unpretentious vibe, the photo of the legendary boxer seemed to embody the spirit of the restaurant – tough, unapologetically Louisville.
I went in around 3 pm and was seated right away by the hostess who claimed that they were slowing down from a lunch rush.
This buzz during lunch wasn’t random – Four Pegs is currently hosting a “Wingsday” contest. Along the back wall was a chalkboard of a ranking of the champions. The restaurant was testing the limits of customers, and the one who ate the most wings got their name on the board and bragging rights.
After hearing this, I was drawn to the wings, the top scorers eating 100 in one sitting and 790 over all time.
So we sat and tried and ate a plate of Buffalo Wings ($16), White Cheddar Mac ($6) and Queso Corn ($5).
If I were going to rank them it would be difficult, all three dishes were good for their respective reasons. Although I’m not sure if I could take 100 in one sitting, the Buffalo Wings were eaten quickly. They were dipped in sweet brown butter and tangy bell pepper buffalo sauce; the wings were unlike the typical kind you could find at a chain restaurant. A unique blend of spicy and sweet chicken that was only more delicious when topped with blue cheese crumbles. Another aspect of the wings was that they didn’t make me feel sluggish afterwards, a tell-tale sign of the rich ingredients used rather than artificial.
Mac ‘n’ Cheese is one of my favorite foods and the White Cheddar Mac once again showcased Four Pegs’ ability to differentiate itself from the typical restaurant. Topped with cheese flakes and creamy once bitten into the White Cheddar Mac was inexpensive and delicious!
The final dish we ate, the Queso Corn, was unique in its flavor, jam-packed with a zesty array of ingredients in one small side dish. It is flavorful in taste and memorable to me – delicious in a way I haven’t been able to find in other restaurants.
Overall, the atmosphere decor of Four Pegs is a timewarp to an era of Louisville from the past and the food is so unique, exemplifying modern culinary takes. Four Pegs is definitely on my list to go back to at some point soon, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a cheap, delicious meal in Louisville.
Hours: Sun–Thu 11–10
Fri–Sat 11–11
Brunch Sat & Sun, 11-2
Address: 1053 Goss Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky
Phone: 502-634-1447
