Among this summer’s offerings are a stunning
tuna ceviche that is paired with fresh watermelon,
jalapeño, red onion, cilantro, fresh avocado and
crispy tortillas and a Brie and Blueberry Grilled
Cheese made with local blueberry jam, a drizzle
of balsamic and sourdough served with kettle
chips (bacon is a delicious upcharge that lends
just the right amount of saltiness to the sandwich).
The fried chicken, served with a proprietary
“firecracker” hot sauce, gouda mac and cheese,
watermelon slaw and a black bean purée is also
a popular dish, despite the summer heat.
Aside from mouthwatering food, The
Exchange’s bartenders create summer drinks
that are also meant to tempt the palate. The Salt
of the Earth is one of the restaurant’s bestselling
cocktails, and it’s eye-catching as servers carry
them on trays throughout the dining room. The
sangria-esque drink features bison grass vodka
(herb-flavored), elderflower liquor, pineapple,
orange, vanilla simple syrup and red wine.
Customers drink “lighter in the summer, (with)
more booze-forward cocktails in the winter,” Hall
says. “I will say that our Signature Old Fashioned
has been our best seller since day one, though.
People love bourbon! Our beverage sales increase
by about five percent (in the summer), so yes,
warm weather leads to more beverage sales.”
The Exchange Kitchen + Pub is located at 118
W. Main in New Albany. It is open for lunch from
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays. A limited bar menu is
available 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Dinner is served 5 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and
11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. The bar is open until
11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
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