Legendary 610 Magnolia Opens under New Management
Ed Garber passes torch to innovative chef from New York City

LOUISVILLE (Sept. 18, 2003) -- 610 Magnolia has reopened under the leadership of Edward Lee, a former New York City chef who has studied under Ed Garber, the former chef and proprietor. The restaurant is now open to the public three nights a week.

610 Magnolia will continue to focus on New American cuisine, blending the eclectic with classical European techniques to produce a contemporary and exciting approach to dining that has always been the benchmark of 610 Magnolia. Chef Edward Lee wants to bring to the diners of Louisville a top tier dining experience comparable to the finest restaurants in this country.

“Every layer of the dining experience is crucial: from the food to the lighting, the stemware, even the napkins. All our glassware is Riedel crystal; napkins are by Frette. Everything has been thought out and carefully chosen, even the bathroom soap.” Chef Lee believes that a true dining experience requires an entire evening. So there is only one seating nightly. "Your reserved table is yours for the whole evening,” he said. “That's what it takes to make a dinner memorable."

The five-course prix fixe menu costs $65 per person. A five-course vegetarian menu is $55 per person. The menu will change week-to-week depending on the seasons. The restaurant is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tables will not turn. Reservations are required. A full bar serving a small a la carte menu opens at 5:30 p.m. 610 Magnolia is also available for private events.

Chef Lee's involvement in the farm-to-table agricultural movement takes up most of his time when he is not behind the stoves. Lee, 31, says Kentucky’s rich array of growers was part of his attraction to Louisville. "The produce and the pork products are some of the best I've ever come across. I'm here to serve the best things possible, and you can't do that if you don’t know where your
products are coming from. "

Lee, who has a degree in English literature from New York University, began working parttime in high-end restaurants in New York City when he was 14. He has been cooking professionally for 10 years in America and Europe. At 25, he opened Clay, a successful Asian-inspired restaurant in the NoLiTa section of Manhattan. "I was the chef, the manager, the dishwasher and the host there. After five years, I was looking to rise to the next level."

Lee discovered 610 Magnolia two years ago while researching the best American restaurants. A regular customer in New York who was also a Louisville native, told him about the restaurant and its eccentric chef, Ed Garber. When Lee visited Garber during Kentucky Derby week 2001, they began a mentor-apprentice relationship that resulted in the passing of the torch from one Ed to another. Garber closed 610 Magnolia in July. Lee, in partnership with businessman Brook Smith, reopened 610 Magnolia on September 11, 2003.

610 Magnolia serves New American cuisine that is globally influenced while utilizing the rich array of local organic products available in the Kentucky/Indiana region. Open to the public for dinner only on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations are required.

Chef Edward Lee of 610 Magnolia unveils a new menu with previously unavailable 3 and 4 course dinner menu options.  The price is $45 per person for the 3-course menu and $55 per person for the 4-course menu.  The menu is designed to give people more choices and more freedom to customize a meal. 

The signature creativity of the Farm to Table Cuisine and the commitment to the freshest local ingredients remains just the same.  The complete 6-course Chef's Menu with Wine Pairings, that has been up until now the only menu offered, will still be available on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, the only nights that 610 Magnolia is open to the public.

Click here for a sample 610 Magnolia menu

610 Magnolia offers a wide range of wines from the world’s best wine producing regions. The wine list changes seasonally to reflect the changes that occur on the menu.

Click here for the 610 Magnolia wine list

» Upcoming Events

» Private Events

610 Magnolia is a top-tier dining experience comparable to the finest restaurants in the country. Edward Lee's approach is steeped in the farm-to-table agricultural movement. Menus change seasonally. 610 offers an unusual assortment of acclaimed wines from the world's best wine producing regions.

 

WHERE

610 Magnolia
Louisville, KY 40208
(502) 636-0783

 

CHEF/OWNER

Edward Lee

 

CHEF DE CUISINE

Gabe Sowder

 

SETTING

Located in historic Old Louisville in a simple but elegant carriage house with an outdoor garden patio

 

CUISINE

New American Farm to Table Cuisine

Dinner:

3-course prix-fixe $50 per person            4-course prix-fixe $60 per person

Wine Pairings $50 per person
 

18% Service Charge will be added to all checks

HOURS

Dinner:
Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Seatings begin at 6 p.m.

Reservations:
Reservations required and accepted by calling 502.636.0783

Private Events:
The restaurant is open any day for private events.

 

CAPACITY

55 seats in the dining room

 

PARKING

Ample street parking in addition to private lot across from the restaurant. Valet available upon request.

 

ADDITIONAL

• MasterCard, Visa and American Express accepted
• Handicapped accessible
• Private dining room
• Smoking in the garden patio only

BUSINESS PARTNER

Brook Smith

610 Magnolia is in Louisville, Kentucky, on Magnolia Street between West 6th Street and West 7th Street.

Click here for a map of the area.

Driving Directions

To get custom driving directions from your location, click here.

From downtown Louisville:
Take 4th Street South to Magnolia (the southern boundary of Central Park). Turn right. Go two blocks. 610 Magnolia is on the left between 6th and 7th.

From Indiana:
Take I-65 South. Exit St. Catherine (#135). Travel west to 4th Street. Turn left (south).

Take 4th Street South to Magnolia (the southern boundary of Central Park). Turn right. Go two blocks. 610 Magnolia is on the left between 6th and 7th.

From St. Louis:
Take I-64 East to I-65 South. Exit St. Catherine (#135). Travel west to 4th Street Turn left (south). Take 4th Street South to Magnolia (the southern boundary of Central Park). Turn right. Go two blocks. 610 Magnolia is on the left between 6th and 7th.

From Tennessee:
Take I-65 North. Exit St. Catherine (#135). Travel west to 4th Street Turn left (south). Take 4th Street South to Magnolia (the southern boundary of Central Park). Turn right. Go two blocks. 610 Magnolia is on the left between 6th and 7th.

From Louisville International Airport at Standiford Field (SDF):
Take I-264 East to I-65 North. Exit St. Catherine (#135). Travel west to 4th Street Turn left (south). Take 4th Street South to Magnolia (the southern boundary of Central Park). Turn right. Go two blocks. 610 Magnolia is on the left between 6th and 7th.

From Bowman Field:
Take Taylorsville Rd. east to I-264 West. Take I-65 North. Exit St. Catherine (#135). Travel west to 4th Street Turn left (south). Take 4th Street South to Magnolia (the southern boundary of Central Park). Turn right. Go two blocks. 610 Magnolia is on the left between 6th and 7th.

From the airport in Cincinnati (CVG):
Take I-71/I-75 South. Take I-71 South to Louisville to I-65 South. Take I-65 South. Exit St. Catherine (#135). Travel west to 4th Street Turn left (south). Take 4th Street South to Magnolia (the southern boundary of Central Park). Turn right. Go two blocks. 610 Magnolia is on the left between 6th and 7th.

To get custom driving directions from your location, click here.

» 610 Magnolia Fact Sheet

» Chef/Owner Edward Lee bio

» Press Releases

» 610 Magnolia Logo

» Photos of 610 Magnolia

» Links to Media Coverage

All photographs by Dan Dry. Before using or duplicating photos, please contact 610 Magnolia management for permission.