Have you tried Decade's spring menu? What to order at the popular Butchertown spot
I’m one of those people who sometimes treats their dog like a small child. My dachshund/chihuahua/shih tsu/papillon mix Koa has different outfits for special occasions, an Instagram account and toys galore. Last month, I threw him a little birthday bash at home before heading out to commemorate his first decade with dinner at Butchertown’s Decade restaurant.
It had been nearly a year since my last visit to the Italian-forward, New American eatery, and I was pleased to see lots of new dishes — and some old favorites — on the menu.
This week, I caught up with owner Andy Myers and executive chef Matt Johnson, who opened Decade last year with Chad Sheffield. Veterans of Nulu’s Decca, which closed in 2022, the trio recently celebrated the new restaurant’s first anniversary. Here’s what I learned about everything that has changed in the last year, as well as new initiatives that are already in the works.
Check out the new menu at Decade
The restaurant released its spring menu in May, debuting 10 new food items. These include a New York strip with tarragon and anchovy butter; Groce Farms half chicken al mattone with mustard greens, potatoes, Parmesan, and green garlic pan jus; and a whole branzino with chickpea stew, crispy seeds, Meyer lemon, mint, and basil, to name a few.
Johnson explains that they typically make gradual changes each season so that over a month or so, about 90% of the menu will be different.
“It makes it a lot easier to train the cooks to do everything properly, and it gives people a little bit of time to hit dishes for the last time before we take things off,” he said. “For the most part, it’s just (about) speaking to the season and what’s available.”
Because Decade’s offerings change with the seasons, there are only a handful of items that have remained on the menu since day one: the Double Decade Cheeseburger; carrots with whipped feta, zhug, and herb salad; and mushrooms with black garlic sauce, walnuts, and tendrils.
Try these fan favorites and chef recommendations at Decade
Johnson says arancini has always been a guest favorite, but the current rendition — with ramp butter, fontina, green garlic, and Meyer lemon aioli — has been especially popular. Customers are also ordering the jalapeno bucatini quite often.
“We had that on (the menu) when we first opened last year, and then we took it off for fall and winter,” he explained. “We (recently) brought it back, and it’s hitting pretty hard.”
For those who are new to Decade, Johnson recommends starting with carrots and arancini and sharing the whole branzino and a brined, bone-in pork chop.
“And then order one of every dessert!”
Head over to Decade for these new happy hour specials
In addition to all the new items on the regular menu, the Decade team also created a handful of happy hour items. Half-off wines by the glass and a $2 draft beer discount is available from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
There are also two $9 cocktails crafted by general manager and beverage director Kelsee Bryan: Old Friends, made with tequila, Cocchi Americano, Aperitivo Bitter, rhubarb, strawberry, and lime; and the Pretty Woman, a blend of bourbon, amaro, sugar, and bitters.
There are three happy hour-exclusive food items, too. Johnson says the goal with these dishes was to create offerings that are quick and easy; the kind of eats that make you want to grab a beer to go with it.
“One of my nighttime snacks — being a chef, I’ll go home not eat very well — (is) some sort of dip,” he said, “like beer cheese or pimento cheese.”
The $10 jalapeno potato chips, beer cheese, and chives on the happy hour menu was inspired by this common after-work habit — and utilizes ingredients from the regular menu.
“One of the byproducts of doing the jalapeno bucatini,” Johnson explained, “is there’s a lot of spent jalapeno mush that I take, and I dehydrate, then grind that down into a powder to create a jalapeno-flavored seasoning for a potato chip. Then we make our own chips in house.”
The other happy hour food items are $13 smoked chicken wings and a $10 Decade single burger.
Don't miss the Summer Guest Chef Series at Decade
Decade’s Summer Guest Chef Series — which features a new chef each month, from June through August — kicked off June 6. The one-night-only dinner featured James Beard-nominated chef Alison Settle, who created a special à la carte menu that highlighted her interpretation of the comfort foods she grew up with.
The next guest chef will be seven-time James Beard Award nominee Kathy Cary. She was the chef and owner of Lilly’s Bistro, the Bardstown Road restaurant that closed in 2020 after serving Louisvillians for more than 40 years. Details of Cary’s special menu are still pending, but reservations are already open for the July 25 event.
Be on the lookout for Decade's newest concept
The Decade team is also opening a new concept just down the street at Ten20 Craft Brewery. Dubbed Richy’$, it should launch in the next few weeks.
“Some of the happy hour stuff that we’ve been working on has kind of been the lens (for) what we’re doing down there,” Myers said. “It’s more beer-friendly, bar/pub food.”
He adds that their goal when opening Decade was to create a neighborhood space that offers a little something for everyone. It seems that between the menu changes, new happy hour offerings, special events — and soon, Richy’$ — the team has done just that.
“I really want to help push the dining scene forward while staying accessible to everyone,” Johnson said.
Know a restaurant that would make a great feature? Email writer Lennie Omalza at [email protected] or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at [email protected].
Decade
WHAT: This locally owned, Italian-forward, New American restaurant serves dinner six days a week.
WHERE: 1076 E. Washington St.
SERVICES: Indoor dining and outside seating; 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday
CONTACT: 502-749-0110, decaderestaurant.com
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Decade restaurant in Louisville: What to order from their spring menu
