The atmosphere is nice and cozy, plus you can see the guys cooking your food in the same room. The egg salad sandwich is a once in a lifetime experience. Having said that, I would not recommend anyone under the age of 40 eat here. This is fru-fru dining. There is nothing a hungry young man would want to eat. Ignore the old pictures of chicken tenders and fries. There is nothing your young kids will eat either. We had to take our son to A&W afterwards to get him fed. But if you're adventurous and like unique options, what you get will be out of this world. read more

Many had recommended lunch at at Willet. We are so glad we stopped in this amazing place. We got there early and did a bourbon flight in their tasting room sitting in their picturesque patios. Upon reservation time we made our way upstairs with a little wait we were seated at the bar which was perfect for us. Colton quickly approached us giving his overview and recommendations. My NY sour was so smooth and my husband loved his Manhattan. Watching the drinks made was fascinating. Our food was so delectable! Our favorites were the Shishito peppers and the egg salad. We also had the tuna and the miso which were both good as well. Love this place! read more

See all

What can I say... there's no better place to wrap up a day of bourbon adventures than The Willet Bar. It had been a while since my wife and I last visited, but after an amazing behind-the-scenes bourbon experience, we decided to stop in for a late lunch -- and we were so glad we did. The Willet Bar never disappoints! Of all the small plates I tried, the Oyster Sliders were hands-down my favorite -- absolutely delicious. Everyone in our group ordered different dishes, and I was lucky enough to sample a few... every single one was excellent. The service was just as great as we remembered, friendly and attentive -- and of course, the drinks were top-notch too. If you're anywhere near Willet, do yourself a favor and stop by. Great food, great bourbon, great vibe -- the perfect end to a Kentucky bourbon day. read more

Cool vintage clubby interior, and an extensive outdoor seating in the wraparound porch. Good cocktails, decent small bits, can be hit and miss. Definitely worth a stop on the trail. read more

Another fantastic lunch at the Bar at Willet Distillery. This is the second year in a row we've stopped at this distillery and had lunch at the bar. The bar makes great cocktails and the food is delicious. My husband had an old-fashioned and I had a bees knees, which was perfect. We, of course, had to share the famous egg salad sandwich. The sandwich has its own Instagram page. It's famous! We also shared the cheese plate, the oyster sliders and the beef tartare. The beef tartare was a generous portion and so fresh. It was served with crispy potato chips. The oyster sliders were unique and delicious. Plump fried oysters with cabbage and remoulade on Hawaiian rolls. And who doesn't like a cheese plate? Accompanying the cheese was crackers, pickled beets, grainy mustard, marmalade and salami. They could've put on more salami as it wasn't as generous as the cheese. If you're going to Willet distillery for a tour and tasting, which I highly recommend, you must dine at The Bar at Willet as well. read more

See all

Amazing every time we stop in! Our bartender Luciano was super friendly and made the best cocktails. Such a cool space with a beautiful bar and view of their property. They were very accommodating of a dairy allergy in our group and all the food was amazing. The egg salad sandwich is an absolute must the next time you stop in. We also got the olives and lamb which were equally as delicious. Definitely worth stopping in the next time you're in Bardstown. read more

The Bar at Willett - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

A wonderful end to a day of touring distilleries. The food is absolutely fantastic! The drinks were superbly crafted. The service was outstanding. The family friendly environment is due to the wonderful personalities of the Willet family, who are the most inviting people and the staff who give you a sense of the passion that they provide to the community. read more

Until today I did not know an egg salad sandwich could be life changing. Literally. Life changing. The carrots, mushrooms, brussel sprouts and salad (yes, I said salad) were nothing short of AMAZING as well! The service was top notch. Our wait staff were great! Friendly, attentive and very knowledgeable! If you're in Bardstown, you MUST COME HERE! read more

See all

A real favorite restaurant for the serious foodie. This was my second visit to the Bar at Willett, located on the second floor of the Willet welcome center / mansion. Easy, plentiful parking out front. Last time I came, it was a weekend afternoon and was a bit hard to get in without a reservation. This visit was middle of the week, middle of the day, and I had no problem getting a table with no reservation and having a leisurely lunch. If you've been on social media, you know the Egg Salad Sandwich is pretty famous here. And to be fair - it is genuinely one of the best sandwiches I've ever had: Duke's Mayo, topped with shaved Parmesan and shaved egg yolk, just decadent and tasty all in one. That said, all of their food is just extremely well made and often highly seasonal. On this visit I had the creamed corn with nduja and the tomato salad with straciatella. Both were light, perfectly flavored, just equivalent to food I've had at fine dining restaurants. Items are meant to be small plates, shareable, and I like that because it allowed me to try more things but would also say this is one of the most reasonably priced small plates menus I've seen in a long time, with most dishes $10 or under. On this visit, I was in the midst of a long drive and didn't want to drink, so ended up ordering the fancy tea and it was one of the most delightful experiences I've had in a long time. I'm a huge tea snob and normally source my tea from all over the world and this lived up to my bar and then some. Delightful presentation but also just really fresh, incredible flavors. I did regret not having room left for dessert as the options looked SO good. Overall, this is such a hidden gem of a restaurant and I'm already looking forward to my next opportunity to come out this way and have a nice long, meandering meal. read more

See all

The Bar at Willet Distillery is absolutely amazing. stop whatever you're doing right now, go there have a whiskey and egg salad sandwich and brussels sprouts your life will then be complete. McKenna was an amazing server and made her experience incredible. read more

The Bar at Willett - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

What a pleasant surprise! This establishment exceeded our expectations on every level. The thought and effort put into the food and drinks here are obvious. The meticulous detail they put into the presentation is not to go unnoticed. Seriously, we loved every bite and no crumbs were left behind. Bravo to the kitchen staff, with the open kitchen concept and smiles back there it added to our experience to see each person at their station curating the dish with passion and smiles as if they loved being there. If we had the appetite of an elephant we would've tried every dish on the menu. I think what that stood out to me the most were the oyster sliders and the ube colada cocktail. Yes! They have way more options than just bourbon. Both of these gems had the best flavor profiles and are well balanced. They obviously have an excessive amount of bourbon so we also got a flight but the honestly the food is the real star here!! I can't wait to get back and try more deliciousness. Some of the big city restaurants should take notes, learn a thing or two about what it takes to use farm fresh ingredients to captivate the guests' palates. Well done! read more

See all

Amazingly, this was our 28th visit to the Bar at Willett since it opened several years ago. We keep coming back because the service is incredibly good, and always an interesting menu of food items I might never enjoy otherwise. Regardless of what is on the menu, you can be assured that it will be delicious. Mgr. Andy and server Jason have given us simply fantastic service over the years, ensuring we always have a good time. The other good folks at Willett do their part as well. There is no place we would rather go in central Kentucky than the Bar at Willett. If you haven't been there yet, you need to. It is a special place. read more

Arrived for our restaurant reservation and realized we had not confirmed. We realized our mistake no big deal. However the hostess was so incredibly rude to us we decided that we would never buy Willett again. Do something about rude hostess! read more

Two years ago we came to Willet Distillery for a tour and had heard to check out the bar and restaurant upstairs. Unfortunately they were booked up and had a very long wait plus we had other tour to make it to so we had to pass. Two years later were back and made sure to make a reservation ahead of time. We came in at 11:00AM for an early lunch and were quickly seated. Our waiter made sure to explain the menu to us. Most options are smaller shareable servings and the 5-7 should be enough for our party of 5. I started with a drink and went with the Manhattan. Now I know I normally go with an Old Fashioned but I really like the Willet 4 year Rye they put in the Manhattan so that's what I stuck with. I'm glad I did too because it was great. Probably the best I have had. We then started with food: Local Cheeses: Your typically cheeseboard but with some fancy addons like Dijon Mustards, Onion Marmalade, Apple Butter and come of the best crackers I have ever had so light and crispy. The Rock Shrimp:; Not very large but so full of flavor. For sure some of the best I have had. There also was a corn puree that was so good that came with it. For sure worth a try. Crawfish Beignets: When you see something like this on a menu I always have to go for them. Nice pieces of Crawfish throughout plus a great Remoulade for dipping. Brussel Sprouts : Now I'm normally not a veggie let alone a Brussel Sprouts but these were very good. If you like brussels these are a must for you. The Crepe: This was the most surprising dish we got because it blew us out of the water. It was amazing. Stuffed with rich melty cheese and topped with Pepper Jelly it is for sure a must. The Chicken Thigh: This was also amazing. Crispy bites of Chicken Thigh covers in Calabrian Chili, Lime, and Honey. Give a great sweet and spicy vibe. Reminded of some Asian dishes I have had but better qualify. This so also a must. Egg Salad Sandwich: Now I had never had an Egg Salad Sandwich mostly because I didn't think I would like them but this changed the game for me. It was amazing and so flavorful. This is a/the staple of The Bar at Willet so you have to give it a try even if you don't think an Egg Salad Sandwich is your thing. The Bar at Willet is amazing and I will for sure be coming back next time we are in Kentucky. read more

See all

The oyster sliders were the only good thing. The beef tartar was awful. Vinegar and onion forward. The pasta was so bad we had to send it back. It was tough and tasteless. It was like they took canned Alfredo sauce and put it on top. Just because you put truffle on something doesn't mean it's good. The wine was stale. We asked for a fruit forward bourbon and it tasted Smokey, dry, and awful. We couldn't even finish the bourbon. This was the worst meal we had the whole week in bardstown. We have been here before and had much better experiences. read more

I can't say enough good things about my visit to Willett. Beautiful grounds. I love their wheated bourbon (Pot Still is my go-to and comes in amazing bottle). Their restaurant had incredible high end food at affordable prices. FOOD AND BAR Plan you day to eat lunch at Willet. Few distilleries have food and most none have food if this quality. It was very reasibabky priced. They served small plates. The menu changes daily. We enjoyed the brussel sprouts (OMG amazing!!!) and some fried chicken pieces in a deluctable sauce. You can do order a bourbon flight at the bar to enjoy their bourbin selection before deciding what bottle(s) you want to buy in the gift shop to take home. read more

See all

This was our 2nd stop on our mini bourbon tour in Bardstown. The 8 year old pour wasn't bad although I've had better. But it came with a nice little souvenir glass. The indoor bar is tiny and doesn't make for the best tasting experience, but in nicer weather the outdoor patio would be perfect. There's also a restaurant which looks like it would most definitely need reservations. The grounds were quite nice, and service was very friendly. read more

The Bar at Willett - Gift shop - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

An absolute gem! The drinks were carefully crafted and well balanced. The food was so delicious I forgot to take photos. We had the panisse, carrots and egg salad - all definitely chef-created and fresh. Be sure to have lunch here while visiting the Bourbon Trail. We will be back. read more

See all

Amazing. The egg salad sandwich, beef tartare, smoked trout, and basque cheesecake were incredible.

Delicious food, friendly faces, and tasty bourbon! I would recommend this place to anyone.

This is the best food we had through out our Kentucky trip! We planned late so we couldn't get a tour, but they had openings at their bar with food and you can get tastings there. The plates are smaller and for sharing. We started with cocktails. I got the whiskey sour and let me tell you it's one of the best! They even had egg foam on top and I can tell the sour mix is homemade. My husband got 2 tasting flights. He loved it. We got shishito peppers, salad, chicken, egg sandwich, and the pork. It was all delicious, notably the egg sandwich and the pork. I could eat that pork all day with some rice. Very juicy and seasoned perfectly. If you can't get a tour, come drink and eat at their bar! Highly recommend. read more

See all

A great place to enjoy some of the rare Willett. I haven't found many places that have the 'purple tops' for a reasonable price (depends on the individual). I'm glad that I got a chance to try a couple more. The egg salad sandwich is also a must try! Our bartender, Katie, was super cool and very knowledgeable of the items. read more

See all

We were a little skeptical at the beginning but oh man, everything was excellent at this establishment. A very nice campus and staff is courteous. A little disappointed that the people without reservations were seated before us, we had reservations, but that's ok. We were there for lunch and they had a smaller menu for lunch, mainly their snack items. Got a table outside and ordered the Egg salad, bussels sprouts, chicken thigh and the steamed vegetables. Chicken thighs are a little spicy, egg salad has a little Smokiness in it, and brussels sprouts are out of this world! read more

See all

What an amazing experience! Some of the best cocktails made by Alex! Best wings and the egg salad was phenomenal. The bourbon is some of the best in Kentucky! The atmosphere and service impeccable. read more

The Bar at Willett - Whiskey Sour and New York Sour - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

First: Reservations are required so plan in advance. Second: Food options are small plates so grab a couple of friends and plan to order 8-10 items off the menu for a tasting experience. Third: Bring Yo Money. No this is not a place you typically go to every Friday for a nice meal after a rough weekend. This is a super classy place this first class bourbon, craft cocktails and impeccably prepared and delicious bites of food. The Bar at Willet is a memorable experience and it starts when you drive onto the grounds of this beautiful Kentucky distillery. Whether you love bourbon or you've never tried it, put this place on your list. The grounds are beautiful with outside seating options and a stunning inside seating area with a huge chandelier and spiral staircase. Our server Justin helped guide our experience with drink and food recommendations and it was neat to watch the bartenders and chefs work their magic while we waited for our orders. All food is prepared only when ordered so its truly a fresh, just for you experience. Yes, we obviously loved it and if we ever go back to Bardstown, we will definitely go back for more! read more

See all

The food was so delicious we had to go back a second day. Jason in the Coffee Shop recommended the egg salad sandwich, wings, and oyster slider. His recommendations were not wrong. I had to try the watermelon as well which was life changing. McKenna and Mason took great care of us, as did Ila in the bar after the tour. McKenna walked us through the menu and was super fun and personable. When my husband could not find his phone, Mason retraced the tour path to see if my husband might have set it down along the way. The phone was in the car but Mason left no stone unturned trying to find the phone. Highly recommend the Bar at Willett. I am looking forward to our next trip to Kentucky so we can go back to The Bar at Willett. McKenna made us feel so welcome I want to move to Kentucky. read more

See all

Great atmosphere! The bourbon is fine and and it's a good place to meet up. I sat at the bar, and had a custom dessert with my Willet. The bartender was sharp and took time to answer questions. With the barnwood decor, it's a good place to unwind out in the Bardstown countryside. read more

Had a great tour and tasting here! And then hit the bar for a cocktail and a couple more pours! Wonderful! read more

The Bar at Willett - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

After a few twist and turns in the country side you pull up the long drive and arrive at the beautiful Willet Campus. The signs made it easy to direct myself to The Bar at Willet. You walk up these beautiful steps to a large wrap around balcony. There was no wait for lunch at the bar. I was immediately greeted by Luciano and he recommended several things on the menu which I appreciated. A wonderful bar team atmosphere was given from him and Alex. You don't want to miss out on these cocktails and the Egg salad was to die for. Will absolutely be back again. read more

The Bar at Willett - Egg salad and clarified soju cocktail! - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

The first time we came to Willett the bar was too busy to get in. I made reservations this time! Boy, were we glad we got in. This place was amazing. It's a small plates food menu, so bring a friend and be prepared to share because everything was so good. I started with one of their curated whiskey flights. Every whiskey in the flight was great. It was pricey, $90, but worth it. We opted for the shishito peppers, which had some cashews and a paste drizzled over them. They were charred to perfection and tasted even better. The chicken thighs were fried and had a Korean chili sauce which the server said was his favorite and I can see why. It was spicy (not too spicy) and sweet. Very good! The grilled octopus was new and interesting to me. Had some basil and asparagus with it. Crispy outside chewy inside. Also pretty good. The egg salad was like nothing I'd ever seen. It's not your ordinary egg salad. I could describe it here but would not do it justice. Just make sure to get it! Definitely make reservations for this place when you go! read more

See all

We had the Pate' and OMG! The best pate~ I've ever had. Nice kinda bread crust filled with olives and cranberries???? In the loaf slice. The crab eggs were very good with fresh cut asparagus. Also, a kinda earthy, mushroom taste which made it a complex flavor. We had two differ flights of bourbons and thoroughly enjoyed it. Remember: no smoking on the property! read more

The Bar at Willett - Pate~. - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

What more can you say but great service, food and cocktails! Beautiful dining area small plates to taste and everything was delicious. Plus you can go to the gift shop after and pick up your favorite bourbon. I definite must visit read more

This is a reservation-only restaurant located at the Willett Distillery. They serve tapas style foods and we tried many of them (but didn't have a chance to take all the photos because we were SO hungry!). We ordered THE iconic must-try egg salad sandwich and it did not disappoint. It is the fanciest, richest, most delicious egg salad sandwich I've ever tried. We also had the crawfish hushpuppies which were unique and delicious. The shishito peppers was probably the one dish we could have skipped. We also ordered the chicken thighs and they are extremely good. The cheese plate was good, but we did wish it was bigger and also had some charcuterie. Be prepared to pay about $10-$16 for the small plates, and $20 for the cheese plate. You can also try their "purple tops" which are the fancy Willett Bourbons...but keep an eye on the price of the pours because it can get super pricey! My husband paid $35 for a tasting pour of his. Overall, I highly recommend adding a meal at The Bar at Willett on your Bourbon Trail itinerary! read more

See all

I made reservations to visit The Bar at Willett on Saturday afternoon. We planned to stop in for a snack and cocktails. The Bar at Willett is very small, I recommend making reservations if you plan to visit. Staff checked our temperature on our arrival and I observed staff constantly cleaning. We were sat at a high top table that was next to the bar. Full water glasses and menus were already at the table waiting for us. My husband and I both ordered Old Fashioned cocktails. We loved the clear stamped ice that came in our cocktail. The Old Fashioned was so good that we each enjoyed two! The food menu is always changing and set up as small plates to share. We ordered the vanilla brown butter cashews with our drinks. My husband doesn't love cashew nuts but he said they were delicious. Lots of people were talking about the egg salad sandwich, it even has it's own Instagram. I recommend stopping by The Bar at Willett if you're out and about visiting distilleries in the area. We really enjoyed the experience while visiting for a snack and cocktails. read more

The Bar at Willett - Old Fashioned - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

Make a reservation and eat here! The food was outstanding here. Even if you don't like whiskey you should come here to eat. The chicken thighs had so much flavor. They had a nice heat too. I have thought about them way too many times since eating here. The bartenders here are also fun to watch. They really make craft cocktails. read more

The Bar at Willett - Chicken thighs - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

Be sure to make reservations for The Bar at Willett. I promise you won't be sorry!!!! We came in for early lunch on a Friday, and the seats were quickly filled. The menu may seem sparse at first, but they do have a killer burger not on the menu. So so so juicy and delicious!!!! The smoked trout dip is presented with a topping of thinly sliced radish for a crunchy kick. Oh and save room for a slice of cake!!! Four layer carrot cake!!!! If you are seated close to the bar, it's fun to watch the bartenders in action. Our server was wonderful, she knew the menu items and was spot on with her recommendations. read more

See all

Obviously Willett is known for their bourbon, especially those bottles sourced from another distillery down the street (although I am excited to try more of their own whiskey once it's more affordable), but their food is incredible as well. I wish I had photos, but get their famous egg sandwich and split everything with friends! Also loved their chicken, trout spread, etc. You really can't go wrong here. read more

The Bar at Willett - Sazerac cocktail, made with liquid nitrogen - Bars Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

Best food experience on our trip of the Bourbon Trail. Food is served in small portions which are anything but small. Chicken thighs,crawfish hush puppies, and egg salad were exceptional but everything was delicious. Jason our server was excellent. Very upscale bar atmosphere. read more

Tried calling them and got no response... emailed 3 times and got no response. Unbelievable how little they care and can't imagine the staff onsite is any different. This place has a problem from the very top down. Looks nice, but I think I unfortunately will have to pass and go to a better distillery for food and a flight. read more

After living in Bardstown for over 20 years, I've seen a lot of changes. Not too far after Heaven Hill, I remember seeing the big hill and little signage leading to Willet Distillery. I knew nothing about it for so long. Then, the beautiful cement drive up the big hill. A gate. Stone walls with a very cool metal sign with Willet cut out of it. Suddenly it seemed too fancy for me! I was wrong. After you reach the top of the hill it opens up to a vast flat area with all the buildings and accoutrement that one would need to create a bourbon experience. It took some winding around but we found the building we needed for our 5:15 reservation. The Bar is on the second floor which you can get to from the inside or outside staircases. Inside you're immediately met by kind people, most of whom are in jeans. We were informed that they were out of chicken wings (I thought that might happen since the last reservation was at 5:30, I believe). But there was still plenty small plate portions to choose from. We ordered the panisse, cheese plate and the famous egg salad sandwich (it has its own Instagram page). It was all incredibly delicious- not at all the usual Bardstown scene. We did a flight of bourbons and let our server choose them for us. Awesome! I would trust that amazing man to make the rest of my big life choices- he made the visit perfectly delightful! Locals- don't hesitate any longer- everyone is welcome and appreciated. Tourists- a great way to end a long day of The Trail before you settle in for the evening. read more

See all