House of Marigold is every girly girl’s dream. I stopped here for a typical weekend brunch with a friend and was so impressed by the aesthetic ambiance and look of the place– the perfect spot for those who like a good photo op without sacrificing the actual taste of the food.

Located along the St. Matthews/Middletown strip of Shelbyville Road in Louisville, KY, House of Marigold is a relatively new eatery that is serving up a small but beautifully curated menu along with a side of the most picture-worthy aesthetics you can imagine. What started as a female-owned, black-owned, family catering business is now what I would like to point to as the perfect example of how to keep a restaurant unique to its brand while fitting right into the Louisville food scene.

It has the comfort and atmosphere of a small business with the curated menu of a much fancier restaurant, the perfect spot for your next girls’ night or brunch.

The Ambiance

House of Marigold knows their brand and is killing it from the second you walk in the door. From the mint green and floral murals down to the pink jupiter glasses and gold accents, they have photo-worthy decor built into every aspect of their interior. The outdoor bistro lights and minimalist exterior aren’t too bad to look at either. This place is just plain cute.

I was also immediately impressed by the attention to detail within the staff as well. All the servers I could see were in matching aprons and uniforms, and they had a very organized and professional tone to their team’s image. The restaurant was extremely clean, and it didn’t seem to have the typical chaotic, kitchen vibes that you would usually find in a restaurant.

The seating inside House of Marigold is easy to navigate, but slightly cramped. I noted that most tables held larger groups of 5 or more people, and most of these groups consisted of several younger women: This place is clearly a favorite for girls’ groups, brunches, and ladies-day-out gatherings. Our table only required a 5-10 minutes wait, but even that was after booking a reservation a week in advance. I’d definitely suggest making a reservation or calling ahead to check wait times before stopping by this place.

The Food

Immediately upon being seated, we were served a pitcher of ice water for the table and a handful of small but beautiful menus. I ordered a mimosa for $8 and an espresso martini, which turned out to be the cutest drink/marketing combo but was a bit pricey at $14. My drinks were both things a drink should be: strong and delicious. If forced to choose between the two, I’d recommend the espresso martini, but my mimosa was very well-balanced and that does not even begin to touch on all the other beautiful drink options on their menu. Ranging from $8 to $14, the drink menu is just as curated as the food menu at House of Marigold, and it contains several fruity and unique drink options that I’ve yet to see available anywhere else.

Our table decided on an appetizer and ordered the DIY deviled eggs platter, a clever setup of deviled eggs, accompanied by a selection of toppings to add. The eggs were a bit plain, even with the garnishes, but I did love the concept of being able to pick and choose which toppings you want, a perfect solution for large groups with multiple different tastes. The platter came with six eggs, a generous portion for a couple of friends, along with green onions, bacon, cheese, pickled red onion, everything bagel seasoning, and some green tomato sauce.

For my main entree, I went with the $16 avocado BLT, an option which is not currently available on their ever-changing menu but was delicious nonetheless. The bread is toasted lightly, which is my preference for most sandwiches, and the remaining ingredients tasted fresh and light. I opted to have fresh fruit as my side item, which is usually pretty forgettable, as it was here. A small bowl of cantaloupe and grapes were fine, but nothing spectacular.

When taking note of the other menu selections, I was impressed by the diversity of options for people with allergies or dietary restrictions. Between the salad selections, waffles, sandwiches, and sides, I was able to find food that was gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and more. The prices are a bit high at roughly $16 per entree, but this price does match the ambience and picture-perfect experience you can expect to have at House of Marigold. I’d happily pay this price for such a carefully-maintained menu and restaurant.

We did not save room for dessert, but with options like homemade pop tarts, beignets, and banana pudding, I’d love to go back and see if their sweets are just as good as their entrees.

Overall, I paid just under $50 for my meal (after tip), so I would probably make House of Marigold a go-to spot for girl’s days that I save for special occasions. It would make a great spot to reserve for a bridal shower, bachelorette brunch, or tea party.

My rating:

• 10/10 for ambiance and aesthetics
• 7/10 for food and service

Check out this hidden gem in St. Matts for your next ladies’ brunch, or check out their website here.