This is the other barbecue joint near Red River Gorge. The one not in all the tourist literature…read more The one not on the main road but crazy out of the way, up a long very steep gravel road, marked only by a small leaning wood sign at the last junction where the road got even worse. It was worth the effort! I finally found the place and parked in the almost full gravel lot. I was surprised by how busy it was given the location. The barn-like building was on the top of a hill overlooking grassy fields. Inside it was freezing cold from the AC, noisy from conversation and classic rock on the sound system echoing off the concrete floor. I found a table as advised and my waitress soon appeared. The bbq choices, all wood-smoked in house of course, were brisket, pulled pork, and pork ribs. Some of the non-bbq mains were fried chicken, blackened catfish, grilled portabello, and shrimp&grits. So a wide selection. The mains included choice of 2 sides. The only flaw in the menu was the ribs. It's only sold as a full rack a la carte. Not a single-serving portion with sides. I got the brisket with baked beans and cornbread. The brisket was excellent, lots of smoky flavor, good color, and exceptionally tender. So good it didn't really need anything else but the sauce, intensely spicy, tangy, and not too sweet, made it even better. Only one flavor of sauce was provided. The baked beans, a mix of red and white, were tangy and sweet with lots of bacon bits that somehow stayed crispy in the sauce. The cornbread was as it should be: dense yet it also felt light and airy, some texture from the grits, pronounced corn flavor, and hardly any sweetness. There was also a small garnish of pickles and pickled onions. Also on the menu: Pork Belly Kabobs in the appetizer section. Served with blackened bell pepper and drizzled in apricot glaze. I was intrigued so I got an order for the next day. I was pretty impressed, though I'm sure they would have been even better fresh rather than reheated over my improvised camping cookstove setup. Very unusual and surprisingly sophisticated for what I expected of a bbq joint in the middle of nowhere. Speaking of sophisticated, the drinks menu was also more eclectic than I expected. A large number of specialty cocktails, most with top-shelf liquor brands, most priced around $9 (cheap). Many bourbon brands. A large selection of beers including many local craft brands. All served in real glass glasses. Sadly I wasn't drinking and only had a Coke that evening. And my waitress, dressed "urban chic" in a short ruffled black skirt and stylish boots, also seemed out of place for what I was expecting. I couldn't wish for a better waitress. She was cordial, got everything right, checked with me occasionally, and paced things correctly, for example waiting for me to finish dessert before bringing the kabobs which I had requested earlier as to-go. For dessert I had a Bourbon Peach Cobbler with vanilla ice cream. The cobbler was great, the peaches obviously fresh not canned, the cake part airy and the very slight trace of sweetness a nice balance from the sugary bourbon syrup and sweet ice cream. The cake part was actually quite large and I ended up eating half, all the ice cream, and took 1/2 the cake home. A really outstanding barbecue, for the food quality, the variety, service, and ambience. Just two small flaws: the ice cream in the cobbler was a bit grainy, and one piece of the brisket was all fat. Brisket can be a fatty meat but this one piece was excessive and shouldn't have been served. Nevertheless I had enough to eat and didn't say anything. I'll give them the benefit of doubt on both of these trivial flaws. Thinking back I mostly remember a great meal, not these minor, probably just honest mistakes, seldom to be repeated.

I'm not sure if it usually takes over an hour to get seated, or if I just unknowingly picked the…read moresingle worst day of the year (Rocktoberfest Maker's Market) to visit. But they do have a QR code setup for a waitlist and all that. Food was definitely good, but not necessarily worth the wait or a special trip. Pork belly kabobs were cooked very evenly with a nice char on the outside, although extremely salty. Mac and beans was tasty but no greater than the sum of its parts.

My wife had visited with friends and said we had to come and try it for ourselves. It was great!…read more We had the Truffle fries for an app and they're awesome! Thick fresh cut fries with amazing homemade ranch dressing. I had the burger and it's the best burger in Madison County hands down. The brioche bun is buttery soft but the meat itself was flavorful and fresh and that's what makes this the best burger in the county! My wife had the airline chicken breast with succotash and mashed sweet potatoes. This was very good but the kitchen was heavy handed with the gastric and that downtown the dish off a bit. The mash and succotash and chicken were all great and flavorful. Next time I'd ask for a gastric drizzle! Service was fantastic and Honeysuckle has made it onto our restaurant rotation list. Well done Honeysuckle crew!!!

This is such a heartbreaker. We frequented this restaurant so often when they first opened and it…read morewas a rising star. Sadly, our last 3 visits have gone from bad to worse. We will never waste our money here again. Service was awful, appetizer burned, both duck and steak were overcooked. My meal was supposed to come with asparagus that was no where to found. When I inquired about the side, I was told that the asparagus was ground up in the half dollar size polenta cake. SERIOUSLY?? Duck portion was less than 4 ounces (mostly fat). . $45 for a tiny filet. These folks are trying to play at being a real restaurant when all they're really doing is robbing people blind with sub par food and service. One person covering 5 (yes, 5 WHOLE tables). Even on an incredibly slow night service was awful. I don't know about anybody else out there, but I don't have $200 to throw away on BS restaurants. Especially disappointing on your anniversary. Let we not forget the wines, no brands listed, that tasted like watered down crap. The only reason their Facebook says 100% recommended is because they delete any reviews that say otherwise, Trust me and skip this one. Go to Carsons, Corto Limo or Guiseppes for amazing food and service. Guess I should have ordered the hamburger. Live and learn.

Again, what a marvelous place to enjoy your bourbon drink in a very relaxed environment. 2024 was…read morethe last time we were here and it felt just as welcoming then as it did now in 2026. The wealth of knowledge with both Austin, our Bartender and Dave, Owner, is amazing. Thanks to them, we walked out of there quite happy with our tastings. With the huge selection of Bourbon, right in front of us, we were able to ask questions about any bottle we spotted on the shelf. We gained a lot more information about Bourbon. THANK YOU Austin & Dave !!! Yes, we will stop here EVERY TIME we travel to Frankfort, KY. Hoping it won't be another 2 yrs.

We pulled up to Benson Valley only to find it closed, so we decided to give HOC a try instead --…read morebest detour ever! This place was absolutely amazing! From the moment we walked in, the vibe was warm and welcoming. The staff provided great whiskey conversation and shared so much interesting history about the community and the distillery. It really made the tasting feel personal and special. We had the opportunity to sample an incredible lineup: * Weller 12 * Rip Van Winkle 10yr * Castle & Key Rye * Peerless Double Oak * Benson Valley Bourbon Every pour was smooth, flavorful, and clearly high quality. The pours were generous and the explanations for each one added so much depth. If you're into whiskey (or just good conversation and local history), HOC is a must-stop. We left smiling and already planning our next visit. Highly recommend! Thanks again to the team at HOC -- you turned a closed door into one of the highlights of our road trip!

Best bar in the Tri-State. Anna is a top 10 bartender. Best selection of whiskey in Huntington…read more Coolest lounge aesthetic in the aera.

Classic cocktails, cozy space, great service! Ordered several old fashioneds and the bartender…read moreoffered to smoke one (delicious!). Excellent! Will be back.

The appetizers were scrumptious and the Hamburger was excellent. The Bartender and waitress were…read moreabsolutely fantastic.

Had a lovely meal here in this packed restaurant on a Saturday night. The tofu, miso salad and…read morechicken tenders were exceptional and the fries were pretty terrific too. The inside was open and fun but the tables were very close together, so we kept getting bumped when seated in the middle of the room and eventually switched tables which was much better. Place was loud so maybe not the best for those searching for a quiet place to talk over dinner. Service was great and the drinks/cocktails were delicious!

This is a very small and unique Distillery in a very historic building downtown. Definitely a must…read morevisit type of place. There is a kitchen, CBD products, and a small bar. I just had a Bloody Mary and a great conversation with a very social and friendly bartender. I wish I had more time to learn more about this place and have lunch, but I only had time for a drink. This place will not disappoint, come check it out!

We had high hopes after reading a few reviews, and they exceeded our expectations! The menu isn't…read morebig, but that's a good thing. They do a few things, and they do them REALLY well! We had the pimento burger and the beer cheese burger, the fried deviled eggs, and the fresh fruit. Even the fruit was fresh and perfect. The hospitality and friendliness were the icing on the cake. Not so secretly hoping to pass by this way again sometime for an excuse to stop back in!

Love this place! It is such a wonderfully unique spot in our town! Great place to enjoy bourbon and…read moreother adult beverages with a small patio area to enjoy a cigar (well, unless one patron is there reading and complaining about smoke in the smoking area ). The staff is great the drinks are on spot. Live music and other themed events throughout the year. If you haven't tried it you must!!! BIG PLUS: there's a doggie friendly area

This is a cute space, and it is unassuming. It is on the top floor of the cafe below and focuses on…read moreice cream, dog-related items for sale, and a study space for those who might need it. The Hound Lounge continues its dog theme within the name and in decore. We had a boozy milkshake and a couple of other libations that had nothing to do with their specialization - boba tea. This can come with alcohol or not. They have live music, upstairs patio space outside, and lastly, they have bar seating if you opt for that.

This is the place to be! Your safe and in an excellent atmosphere. The food and service is highly…read morespoken of. I am so excited about spending my date night in a decent establishment and being able to enjoy my evening without worrying about my surroundings

Was met with a warm greeting and ask for my identification. Wonderful being carded again at 55 no…read morereally! Ordered the charcuterie chips its kettle chips with assorted cheese, cured meat, banana peppers, and a balsamic drizzle. Out on a rooftop patio with fans a pleasant breeze and smoke not bothering anyone.

Food is excellent. I would recommend this to anyone who is in this area stop in and be amazed.read more

**2/5 Stars - Disappointing Food, Excellent Server**…read more Had high hopes for Barrel 53 but left feeling pretty let down. The food quality was seriously lacking across the board. Our fries came out clearly double-cooked - you could tell they'd been sitting around and reheated. The wings were so overcooked they were practically jerky. As for the hand-breaded tenders, they were crispy alright, but only because there was barely any breading left on them. The only saving grace of this entire experience was our server Diana. She was absolutely fantastic - attentive, friendly, and professional despite what seemed like a chaotic kitchen situation. She's honestly the sole reason this review gets 2 stars instead of 1. I'm genuinely glad to hear this is her second job because with the way things are going here, I'd be shocked if Barrel 53 makes it another 6 months. Diana deserves so much better than this place. If you're thinking about dining here, maybe wait and see if they can get their kitchen sorted out first.

Stopped in to grab a bite to eat after a hike. Fantastic food a local beer. Their burgers are…read more10/10, what a hidden gem.

Amazing food and so beautiful on the inside!! The workers were very kind and friendly. Really…read moreenjoyed stopping here.