We saw top chef and was staying close by and decided to check out Chef SB restaurant! We had a patio table. It was a laidback atmosphere. Quaint and homey which is not what I expected but it was cute My salad was delicious. I ordered what I thought was a chicken dish with polenta Not sure if I got a pork dish! I mean you would think I could tell the difference but it took a minute. It was a beautiful presentation but it was just ok. My cocktail I ordered at the recommendation of my server was awesome! I got the pea cake dessert it was dry. Seemed to be day old cake but it tasted ok ..... glad I went read more

This is an absolute place to dine! The service was great, the atmosphere was very pleasing; however......the appetizers, salad, entree's and cocktails were some of the BEST I've had. I have eaten there many times now and anytime I have company officials (Marriott) in the area, we are there for dinner! We have met the chef a couple of times, she is the best and the place is a true success!! read more

The food wasn't the greatest considering this was raved about because of being a top chef restaurant. Pretty expensive for the amount of food given per plate. One appetizer I ordered, pork rinds, was nothing special. I thought there would be some kind of top chef spin on it. They were actually extremely dry, beyond what I'm used to. It made a paste in my mouth where it took several drinks of water to get it washed down. The server was good. We don't drink alcohol so there wasn't much emphasis on ensuring we stayed topped off. The interior design was nice and the lighting also good. It can get a little loud because it is all open and the acoustics travel well. I won't return mostly because of this initial experience and cost. You are mostly paying more because of the human condition in which people want to feel ritzy. It's Paducah, come on. read more

I'm not sure what the whoo-hah for this highly-touted restaurant is about. Truly, one of the most disappointing meals I have ever had in a restaurant. I started off with the fried pork skins [sorry Dr.] which were excellent. Sighs of good things to come. What a bust. The grilled Caesar salad had a weird tasting dressing that I can't identify; but it certainly wasn't caesar. The grilled catfish entree featured a perfectly done filet and a second filet that was practically raw. The pureed sweet potato was good. I did like the sweet pea cake for dessert. The wine list is extensive, but the pricing is a bit heroic. read more

Freight House - Catfish - American Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

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Beautiful spot for a nice date night, we were lucky enough to see both a proposal and a bride stop in for their celebrations. The restaurant treated them all to glasses of champagne! We decided to build our own coursed meal. 1) Beer Cheese 2) Broccolini Tart 3) Cabbage 4) Coco crusted spare ribs (his) 5) Butternut Squash 6) Lemon Pea Cake Amazingly, my fiancé said the veggie dishes far outranked the ribs. Delicious dinner and a great spot if you are in town or driving through. read more

Freight House - Beer Cheese - American Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

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The Freight House DON'T PLAY! My boss and I recently took a work trip to Paducah, and someone suggested to us that we MUST go to Freight House. Great suggestion! While sipping wine the attractive hostess helped me buy 2 souvenir tees as we waited for a table. Once seated the bartender sent our bill over to our waitress, and we ordered some appetizers and another round of wine. The Frog legs and Texas-styled garlic bread was a bit more buttery than I typically enjoy, but somehow came off really well here. The Charred Caesar Salad was a winner. I've heard of other places charring salad greens, but I never tried them because it sounded and looked horrible. I saw another tables charred salad, and decided to give it a go. Super flavorful my friends! Lastly, The Shrimp and Grits was a winner. A fair amount of shrimp, well sauced, and perfectly seasoned. I would definitely order this again if I came back to Paducah. Overall this spot has good looking people, and chill atmosphere, and amazing food. Come to Freight House if you are in the area! read more

Freight House - Charred Caesar Salad. - American Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

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Visited with my husband early last month (April 2024). We were visiting Clarksville & took the fairly easy drive to Paducah. Wanted to experience Sara's cooking in person. Everything was just meh. From the indifferent hostess to the blah food. Oh well. Check another one off my list. read more

Visiting Paducah and seeing our two best friends perform at the Market House. Had dinner with two other couples and thoroughly enjoyed it. We had the gnocchi with pork belly and the pork loin. Started with a small wedge salad - omg so good! Cocktails were amazing, too. Wondered if Sara would be in the building and sure enough, she was out on the floor, talking with customers and serving. Great experience! Check it out! read more

My husband and I watched chef Sara Bradley on Top Chef World All Stars and, when we were visiting Nashville, drove 2 hours to Paducah, KY to try Sara's food (we had reservations, which I highly recommend as the restaurant was packed - even on a Tuesday night). It was well worth the drive! You don't have to be in a big city to get world-class food. The restaurant itself has a nice vibe. It's located in a historic brick railroad frieght depot that's been nicely updated to keep its historic charm but with a modern twist. Posted on the front door was the restaurant's inspection sticker which showed they received a 100% rating. Never have I seen a restaurant receive a perfect score before. Impressive! As far as the food itself, I honestly could've ordered everything off the menu. It was really, really hard to decide. It was almost as if the chef looked inside my mind and developed dishes that took into account everything I love. I highly recommend the ratatouille, the hot brown and the chocolate fudge cake. All are familiar dishes, but the unique way they were prepared made them extra special. The veggies for the ratatouille, for example, were sliced on a mandoline and stacked into small coin-like packages. The top was dotted with goat cheese and croutons and each bite was the perfect bite of savory, sweet, and salty. I couldn't stop eating it. The fudge cake was extremely chocolatey (which I loved) and the texture of the white chocolate frosting dome was perfect. As I glanced at the other diners, everyone was swooning over their food. The perfect ending to the perfect meal was when Chef Sara came over to speak with us as we were leaving the restaurant. I could tell she was extremely busy, but still made it a point to come over and say hello. She's super nice and even shared her recipe for ratatouille with me. We definitely will be back! read more

2nd visit to FH. I appreciate the innovation / creativity of the offerings, but I came away a bit disappointed on the whole. A dining companion's shrimp and grits looked lovely and it was reported to be complex and flavorful. The catfish entree I ordered was artfully presented, well prepared, and tasty, but the dish was too minimal for my tastes. The fillets were accompanied by a single grilled green onion that seemed more garnish than vegetable. For me, some sort of accompaniment to the fish (a well-chosen vegetable, perhaps?) would have augmented the experience. Service was excellent! read more

Absolutely phenomenal. Was taken here for a business meal so no photos but wanted to leave a kind and supportive review. The starters were extremely unique and tasty. Could hold their own with big city dining spots. Really clever menu! read more

This is a hidden gem!!! We were headed thru Paducah and I did a quick search. The staff was extremely pleasant when I made a last minute reservation! And while yes it's a bit off the path, it is worth it! We pulled into the parking lot and thought it wasn't busy for a Friday night. However the dining room is a cute area, the exposed brick, wood beams and open kitchen add to the experience! For appetizers the deviled eggs and fish dip are amazing! With plenty of dinner options we chose the meatloaf sandwich and shrimp and grits were spectacular! And to top it off the PB chai cake was a perfect ending! Thank you for a great meal and experience!! read more

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This place is amazing, and Sarah is great. When we are in town from North Carolina we drive an hour extra to come eat here. However tonight we showed up at 5:25 and were told no reservations till 8 available. Half the restaurant is empty. We went back at 613 and it is STILL half empty and they won't seat us, saying there are 7:30 reservations coming in so we can't eat. Husband asked the manager nicely and he was very snotty and rude. The hostesses were so sweet and wanted to help us but Zac insulted and as condescending to us. A very sad experience. read more

Everything was par excellence from the drinks to the food, the ambiance and the service! read more

Freight House - English deviled eggs - American Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

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Sat at the bar. Bartenders were skillful and friendly. The food came out and it was perfect. Roasted Caesar with pistachios and other goodies. Riverfront steak cooked to perfection with a broccolini and squash medley with cashew topping. Wonderful evening. read more

I visit Paducah from Nashville 2-3 times a year and this restaurant has became a must visit. The seasonal farm to table menu is always fun and fresh. The service in impeccable always and very personal. I always make a point to add their pork belly to my entree. *chefs kiss* I can't wait to visit again! read more

Freight House - Roasted butternut squash with pork belly - American Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

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Delicious! Worth the drive from St. Louis. I would return again. Cocktails were great too. read more

Freight House - American Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

Fantastic food. Been here 5 times on business and every bite was praise worthy. Always sit at he bar since I am by myself. Deducted a star solely because every time I sit at the bar, the bartender guy and woman completely ignore me. I need to flag them down for everything, ordering, water, check. They never greet me upon sitting down - so awkward. Most inattentive bar staff I've ever encountered but some of the best food I've ever had. Love the autumn salad, pork belly tostada, spicy shrimp and grits, grilled Caesar - yum. Worth the visit, but avoid the bar if you want attentive service. read more

Wow. In from out of town. It's no secret that Sara (I'm such a top chef fan I feel like I can first name it haha) is a local celebrity, but food, like sports, is only as good as the next time you do it. You gotta deliver. I opted for the tasting menu. I've done it before in other places, so I sat back to see how it was gonna happen. Chef's choice on all. Elevated Deviled Egg. Pickled Beets. Some killer soup that had little pieces of grapefruit in it. Butternut squash- sweet, savory, spicy, crunchy and creamy. Some fantastic catfish. Steak was amazing with what thought was potatoes that turned out to be parsnips. Yums. Pea cake for dessert plus fudge to go and a pic with chef too. Excellent service. It takes some finesse from your server to present all the stuff I was shoveling in haha. #stretchypants Wish I knew her name cause she rocked. Paced just right. The atmosphere is super chill- casual dress with really good food. Kinda like eating on someone's house, but a really nice house, plus you have to keep your shoes on. Go on in and enjoy yourself. Highly recommend. read more

Wow! All the wow's! We sat at the chef's table and it was so fun to watch the masters at their craft, and visit just a bit with them while they were working. The food.....just amazing. The flavors are so spot on. We had smoked bologna, smoked olives, the grilled romaine salad, the pork loin, and a turkey/stuffing/cranberry pot pie. It was all so delicious (the smoke didn't come thru in the olives but they were still delicious). The chef was also gracious to chat a bit with us when I know she is busy. We planned our travel around a reservation at this restaurant and so glad we did! read more

FOB (Food on Board) at the Freight House. The light at the hostess podium was perched on a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. A good/bad sign? A good sign as someone cookin' there had read it. This is a Gastropubby affair with a two story ceiling over a one big open room, an open kitchen and requiring an open wallet. It's a refurbished warehouse with a concrete floor, brick walls and a glass front. The noise level will be like an echo in your diving helmet. Parents ask your Kiddies to use their "inside voice". Okay, don't ask. Make them. It's a convivial buzz so go with it. There is small bar, a 4 seat Chef's counter, some high tops and 2 to 6 tops spread out with enough room to ride your Segway around the dining area. No one watches the big flat screen over the Bar unless U. of L. is within striking distance. A large patio has an unobstructed view of who's tampering with your vehicle in the parking lot. Mercifully, there is no back ground loop to grind down your senses just the sound of conversation and mastication. (No Harvey Weinstein jokes are required here, please.) The Staff: Brandi was handy and brings it all, all night. She was sweeter than sweet tea and honey drippin' with genuine Southern charm. Conduct a Master Class Clinic in LA, girl. The Vibe: Who's in the house? The Pride of Paducah, Louisville Lite, the bejeweled and the bourbon fueled. The Bar Program: Auspicious and ambitious. Signature Cocktails are well crafted deep wells, a few draft beers, and a tight wine list with a fair number of fairly priced California options (Exotics for Western Kentucky, but homey for this LA homie.) A New Old Fashioned was fashioned with Rittenhouse Rye, Pisa Nut Liqueur (two and you'll be leaning too), Woodland Chocolate Bitters, Orange Oil and a Chocolate dipped Graham Cracker swizzle stick. A true mouth full (if you do it right.) It was one strong buggah. The Bar Tender explained that a New Old Fashioned means you will fall over forward instead of the standard backward. The Food: Meats and exceeds all expectations. The local raised and braised Lamb Meatballs had a cool kick of nice spice from the Harissa atop the pile of soft juicy balls. (No Kevin Spacey jokes are required here, please.) The Chef added Curried Yogurt, Apple, Mint, and some lovely grilled house made thick bread. This was an attention getter first dish and the second best way to tease and please your lips. The Preacher Ham with Fried Dirty Rice (wannabe Persian Tadiq) with Creole Spiced Peanuts (wannabe Mexican Lime-Chili Cacahuetes) and a Bourbon Glaze (in Kentucky, Bourbon and Bacon will show up in your coffee and on your Ice Cream). The Ham was a 1/4 pound chunk and came as advertised, a chunk of ham that had escaped from an Easter Sunday brunch. The Chopped Salad was side salad size and so not Southern as there ain't no one and nuthin' small once you get east of New Mexico. This composition had Roasted Broccoli, Preserved Onion, Smoked Cheddar, and a Creamy Herb Dressing. A big ole soulful bowlful was required as this was truly refreshingly fresh, crunchy and delicious. Next time I'm havin' two. I'll be Kentucky right sized by the weekend. The show stopper was the Crawfish Pot Pie. The second best reason Lincoln saved the Union. This was a casserole the size of a birthday balloon stuffed with handfuls of Carrots, garden picked Peas, all swimming in an infinity pool of Spicy Country Gravy under a dome of Puff Pastry topped with a dusting of flaky Sea Salt. I sucked up the pot pie like a Shop Vac and spent 40 minutes pickin' at all the remnants clinging to rim of the bowl like an jungle Lemur with OCD. This was bliss in a bowl and bowled me over. It is not to be missed by rational adults or irrational Lemurs. Loosen your expando pants, Diners, and just nod yes at the mention of dessert. Remember, eatin' has nothin' to do with being hungry. The open face Strawberry pie had first of the season fresh berries just picked by a squadron of Tom Sawyer look-a-likes in overalls descending on the fields earlier that day. The Strawberries were glazed with Strawberry Syrup capped with a perfect pastry hat. It was topped with Basil Whooped Cream. Okay, I was expecting something akin to Pesto or a heavy handed chiffonade of leaf litter. Nope, just a whisper was in there whispering to me. A far cry from Marie Callendar's brick-o-berries. This was a stellar happy ending to a stellar meal. You'll always feel at home at Freight House. read more

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I can't believe I didn't snap any pictures! I was very excited with this being a top chef owned location. The restaurant is gorgeous - the plants and cookbooks, and the open kitchen make this location feel like home. We started with the smoked deviled eggs and they are a huge win! The bacon jam on top has so many layers of flavors. My husband had the pot roast lasagna and I went with the meatloaf and egg noodles. The meat loaf had GREAT flavor but the gravy was very salty and my hand cut egg noodles were cold. The lasagna was plated in a bowl that complicated getting a complete bite and seemed to have been heated inconsistently when plating. Our waitress was friendly and attentive and we would try it again. The couple we dined with are from the area and dine here regularly - the heirloom carrots were delicious!!!!!! read more

The pot roast lasagna was excellent. Enough for two people. It was cold in the middle, but they remedied that. Share with one other. The portions are large enough. read more

Delicious real food, excellent service, and the vibe ---all 5 stars. Each dish has its own nuance of flavor, the staff is professional and accommodating, the bar knows how to make delicious drinks or great recommendations, and the spotless kitchen show the cohesion of the entire team, working seamlessly to produce a true restaurant experience. The ingredients used are fresh but the portions are perfect. The is truely unfussy modern American cuisine founded in its upper south roots. read more

Excellent farm-to-table place with a nice Fall menu. I enjoyed an autumnal salad and butternut gnocchi. Will definitely return next time I am in Paducah. read more

I'll start by saying I wanted to like this restaurant. Loved the menu. Pics and the reviews looked good. We love a gastronomic experience anywhere, especially in a small town. We support chef-owners and seek out those places to eat everywhere we go. Liked the look of it and where it was. So, going in I was anticipating a great dinner -- and it started strong! The deviled eggs were incredible -- probably the best I have ever eaten. See pic for reference. Don't you want those like right now?!? Our drinks were also very good - the first round. Things started to turn when the shishito peppers arrived. They were undercooked and too crunchy. They needed a little more time roasting. I can understand if you don't want them to be soggy or roasted through and want a bit more texture. These were almost raw, but I worked on them a bit and turned my attention to the grilled salad Caesar salad and Butterbean hummus. These were delightful. I had almost forgotten about the shishito peppers. We had ordered the second rounds of drinks and were waiting on those when I could hear the bartender chit chatting behind me. I was beginning to wonder what was the delay, as the first round was like lightening fast. I turned to look and saw a few people at the bar, but he was working on it, so cool. A few more minutes later and the server comes back and announces, "oh, I forgot about your drinks!" They arrive with an explanation that "the owner, a very busy woman, was talking to the bartender and that delayed them." Ok. Well, I am starting to get full now, as we have been working on our second course. Since the food has been coming out quickly, I decide to finish working on what we had already ordered and my husband ordered the duck gumbo, which he had inquired about earlier. She took the order and off she went -- as did the owner out the door to go home... This is when it gets worse. We are sitting and sitting, at least a half hour, I am finished, drinks are finished and no duck gumbo. Not even so much of a "I've checked on your order and it'll be up soon" -- nothing remotely like that. Instead, I start to see the staff chit chatting a lot more. There's a lot of standing around or worse yet the restaurant, including the kitchen is packing up. There are still tables around us and everything is getting cleared. In fact, all production in the exhibition kitchen has stopped or slowed, and they are packing up. So, I wave the server over and ask if the gumbo is coming. "Oh, yes. It's on its way. They are putting a lot of love into it." Then she heads off. Next thing I see are chefs back in the kitchen making food again. Hmmm, at this point I am thinking she had forgotten it. About 10 or so minutes later it arrives with another explanation. "I should have told you it takes a lot longer to prepare this dish when you ordered. They put a lot of love into it." We'll see, I think to myself. Hubby begins to eat and says it is lukewarm. "What do you mean it is lukewarm?," I ask. "Well the sauce is lukewarm." "And the duck?," I ask, seeing it is medium rare. "No, it's right." He eats it saying the flavors are good, but I know he is disappointed, as am I. We used to own a restaurant, so I know how hard it can be. I was disappointed when we didn't get a stellar review and took steps to correct the issues. I'd like to say I would come back again, but I don't know. Maybe. The concept is right. I do wish the chef-owner, Sara, all the success. read more

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I had high expectations of this place and they were not only met, but exceeded. I loved it so much, I went back the next night. I can't stop thinking about that pea cake. Thank you, Chef Sara and team for such a memorable weekend. read more

So good. Came in for dinner and we got lucky with no reservation. We asked to be seated on the screened in patio and got lucky to be the only ones out there. Especially for a Friday night at 730. It quickly started to fill up after our arrival. We started with drinks and they were both delicious. I ordered the revenge of the party mom. Mm I love a drink with jalapeño in it. It was both of our favorites We decided against appetizers and ordered our meals. He got the griddled burger with an egg and truffle fries and I got the eggplant parm. They were both delicious. I had never actually had eggplant parm and I was not disappointed. We thought about dessert, but decided to stroll by the river instead. I'm sure we will be back read more

I had the pork shoulder. The chef brought it out herself and let me know the cornbread was made in her grandmother's iron skillet. So many welcoming features to this gathering spot in Paducah. But back to the food...WOW! My first bite was phenomenal, I was starving! But the last bite was just as amazing as the first. And I finished every bite! I will be back when I get back to Paducah! Outstanding!!! read more

Freight House - Entrance - American Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

In Paducah on business for one night and did not expect such a high quality restaurant. Everything was absolutely incredible. This was one of the best meals I have had in quite some time. read more

Freight House - Braised Pork Shoulder - American Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky

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I am only giving it 4 stars because of the slow service from the bar. We were nearly through eating our appetizers by the time we received the bottle of wine from the bar. Now to the good part, the food! PHENOMENAL. We ordered the pepperoni dip, pork rinds, beer cheese, and a tart. All so delicious we couldn't pick a favorite. I had the pork shoulder, greens and peas are a classic southern meal and this took the classic to the next level. Everyone in the group raved about their meal, even the picky eater enjoyed her steak. Can't wait for another trip to Paducah to eat here again. read more

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Went there last night and the experience, food and staff were top notch. I enjoyed watching chef Sara on Top Chef and Chopped and after last night, I know why she is a Top Chef. She was present and working the line. We were seated at the chef's table overlooking the cooking and everything was on point. You could tell that everyone knew exactly what to do and how to do it. Our server was able to answer all the questions we had concerning the menu and everyone was very friendly and looked like they really enjoyed their job. Chef Sara is running a well oiled machine and that can only be accomplished by being a great leader. Will definitely be back to enjoy more good food and hospitality! read more

Always fun, always great, it's one of my all time favorite places to eat. I don't get to Paducah often but when I do, they are on my short list of places to visit. read more

The food, service, and ambiance were all fantastic. I'm a big fan of Chef Sara and we stopped here on our way from Kansas City to Nashville. This restaurant DID NOT disappoint! We got the chef's tasting menu and everything we had was delicious. The portion sizes were also surprisingly filling; we ended up with a fair amount of leftovers. I would certainly recommend Freight House and hope to come here again soon! read more

Our family of 5 tried The Freight House out this past Saturday evening. We were underwhelmed and mainly disappointed in the experience. We felt the menu was somewhat limited. Of the meals we ordered, some had generous portions and some were very small. The meals came virtually with no side dishes, salads, or bread of any kind. The atmosphere was not that welcoming by the staff. A little stuffy for us. I will have to say that the Pork Rinds we ordered as our appetizer was very good. read more

I'm a big Top Chef fan, so we made a detour on a recent trip specifically to eat at Freight House. It was everything and more than we'd hoped for - the food was amazing, one of the best meals I've ever had! We had the grilled romaine salad, deviled eggs, the catfish dinner, and her famous sweet pea cake for dessert, plus a delicious "Little Finger" nonalcoholic cocktail. The cherry on top was that chef Sarah was there and we got to talk to her! Highly recommend. read more

So delicious! Visited family during Thanksgiving and the dinner was fabulous! We ordered lots of appetizers and made a meal of them. The smoked fish spread was my favorite followed by the stuffed dates. Very flavorful with well balanced textures and spices. The tart had a flaky crust and tangy salad. The grilled Caesar salad was crunchy with an amazing homemade dressing. The beer cheese was tasty and paired well with the veggies. My cocktail was a Manhattan with Bulleit Rye and was also perfect! read more

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I was looking so forward to eating here. My husband and I came here four years ago and the food was awesome. I ordered the Steak. It was charred on the outside. It didn't have any flavor. The baked potato had a weird flavor. Needless to say I was so disappointed. We have recommended this place to my brother and sister in law. They felt our meal was disappointing. We did get the a fried Pork Skins and they were good. read more

We drove 2 1/2 hours out of our way to visit Freight House. It was totally worth it! Everyone's meals were absolutely delicious. I had Shrimp and Grits (w pimento cheese). Hubby had a seasonal of lamb with pumpkin couscous. And Dad had Brisket meat loaf. Don't forget the deviled eggs that had a little horseradish. So yummy!!! read more

Excellent food and super friendly staff! Great southern hospitality. This is a must eat at restaurant anytime! My hubby had the spicy duck gumbo, andouille, trinity & okra, crispy sassafras rice and I had the braised pork shoulder, field peas, sweet greens, fennel aioli, bacon fat cornbread. Deviled eggs and the sausage stuffed quail appetizers. If I could give more than 5 stars I would. read more

Freight House - braised pork shoulder, field peas, sweet greens, fennel aioli, bacon fat cornbread. - American Near Me - Paducah, Kentucky