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    The Brown Barrel

    4.2 (125 reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order The Brown Barrel Takeout or Delivery

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    THE BROWN BARREL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Brown Barrel

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    Hilda R.

    The food was delicious! I got the spicy Thai burger that was flavorful and juicy. The old fashion was delicious too! However our server didn't give good service. She gave us the check before asking to close out, we wanted dessert. We had to ask for a box and a bag, which she seemed annoyed by. Otherwise the food was amazing! The ambiance was nice and cozy.

    Kentucky Hot Brown
    Chris W.

    Superb casual restaurant in Frankfort. I ordered the KENTUCKY HOT BROWN. When in Rome, eat like the Romans. It was such a good comfort food. Just don't think about it's unhealthiness when eating. The gravy that douses the samdwich is scrumptious. Add some bacon, some tomato to the turkey sandwich. So good!!! They seated us without reservations. The place felt like a cross between a pub and a diner. They have some bourbon offerings to enjoy...because again, when in Rome.

    Drink menu
    Lesleigh P.

    We stopped in for a quick dinner tonight. Let me tell you that Veda is the sweetest and kindest server I've ever had. She was an absolute doll. Drink and food prices are very reasonable. We had a burger and surf and turf. My medallions seemed more like a sirloin cut in half and it was just ok. The shrimp that came with it were awesome! Huge with crispy batter and a chili sauce on the side. Husband's burger was good and cooked perfectly. Large selection of bourbons available, and some fun recipe cocktails.

    Menus on table
    Amanda L.

    This is my first one-star review. I want to start by saying I consider myself patient and understanding, but my experience at Brown Barrel made it very difficult to be either. My band played at an event in Frankfort, and my in-laws came from out of town. We planned to go out to eat afterward, and I chose The Brown Barrel because the menu had something for everyone. When we arrived, we were quickly seated. However, 10 minutes passed, and I finally asked the hostess if we were supposed to order at the register or if there was a server. She said there was a server and that she would be with us soon. After another 5-10 minutes of waiting (without acknowledgment, drinks, etc.), we left. I was disappointed, especially because I chose the restaurant. I try to give people and places the benefit of the doubt, but it wasn't crowded, and surely the hostess could have at least brought over some water instead of being on her phone. I really want to go back, and when I do, I hope to update this review.

    Salmon BLT with skillet macaroni and cheese
    MaryLinda W.

    After a Maundy Thursday service at church we walked over here for supper. This time we were seated in a booth towards the back of the dining room, close to the kitchen. Even with the traffic to and from the counter at the kitchen, I think it was quieter than a table by the front window and door. The salmon BLT caught my attention and I had the creamy skillet macaroni and cheese for my side dish. Hubby couldn't resist getting the Hot Brown, one of his favorites. Our server Kim asked me if I wanted olives in my Caesar salad, which was an addition I had not tried before. The olives were a savory, salty, and tasty addition to the salad that I will include again. After eating the generous salad, I had half of my entree left to enjoy for lunch the next day. Please note that the restaurant is now adding a 3% charge for the convenience of paying with a credit or debit card to help cover their costs.

    Nashville chicken sandwich
    Greg Z.

    Dang good lunch. The menu has a little bit of everything. Our waitress was great. Gave us some recommendations and we each had a different item. Cuban sandwich, braised short rib sandwich and the Nashville chicken sandwich. All were amazing. Top notch service with a great attitude. Keep it up because we will be back. Great place for lunch for sure

    Laura F.

    We came here after my husband took me to an Italian restaurant I hated. I LOVED this place. It just comfortable and friendly. We ate at the bar. i had a club sandwich. It was big, perfect and delicious. Came with fries which were... fries. Pretty good too. The bartender was excellent and attentive. The hostess was fun and came over to chat as we were finishing up. We enjoyed our meal here. Way way way more than the Italian restaurant down the street.

    Interior bar area
    Brad H.

    Excellent service on a slow Sunday afternoon. Food was also excellent. Decent selection of bourbon, but no price list. It's concerning to me when bars don't publish prices. Still, we enjoyed our meal and would visit again when in the area.

    Cheeseburger & Mac & cheese
    Donna L.

    Mixed review on this one. First off it was hot inside, so either they had an issue with A/C or just kept it hot in there. Hubby had cheeseburger added avocado & a fried egg on pretzel roll. He said it was quite good. His came with mac cheese. It was ok, creamy but could have used more cheese. I had the fried chicken salad. Disappointed, the chicken was overcooked & I had to chew and spit out, it was tough. Supposedly it was over spring mix with cuke, cheese & tomato. No tomato, no spring mix. The drinks were reasonable too. The one good thing was the appetizer which was beer battered mushrooms with creamy horseradish sauce. They were hot, crunchy & tasty. Our server was ok, she was pleasant a little slow to get our check. This place is older & nothing fancy. If in town again I'd pass. It was just ok.

    Buffalo chicken sandwich/sweet potato waffle fries

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    29 days ago

    Food was ok, but nothing was great. Waitress was nice. The reviews made it seem better than it was.

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    4 months ago

    Excellent service, food, drink and dessert! In the area on vacation, walking around town and stopped in!

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    5 months ago

    Great service, solid food. We each had a burger, very good. Not fancy, but good.

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    8 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Best waffle fries. Fried shrimp was delicious. Menu was sticky and seat had crumbs on it. Waitress was friendly.

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    Benson Marina Boat Dock - Big mac

    Benson Marina Boat Dock

    4.4(41 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    •$$

    So we looked at the reviews ...and maybe something has changed in the last year because most of the…read morereviews are at least a year old. Like most other people we had toured Buffalo Trace Distillery and were looking for a place to eat. As usual we'd like to try things that are a little out of the way and not a restaurant chain. This place sounded perfect. So we drove out of the way - up and down and around curves and finally got to the dock. It looks rundown, but we still thought we would give it a try because looks can be deceiving. Our server was a very nice lady and the prices on the menu were excellent. There were four of us and we all decided to get the fish meal. Some got french fries - some got onion rings with their fish. Since we were right on the water, we figured that our catfish would be fresh. We were wrong! From our seat, we could see them get frozen french fries out of the freezer and put them in the fryer. Then they reached into the freezer and grabbed four pieces of Frozen fish planks and put them in the fryer. Our hopes are fading fast at this point! They do not serve coleslaw - maybe because it doesn't come frozen. The food just was not good at all! ****Our goal in life is not to put someone out of business by leaving a mean review!! But this is an honest review and we want to give people a heads up before they drive out of their way to go here.***** The only thing we can think of is, maybe they are still open because they make their money at night with the karaoke crowd drinking alcohol? I don't know, but it's definitely not because of their food. We won't be back and we do NOT recommend this restaurant

    We left Buffalo Trace distillery looking for a delicious burger. Benson's was perfect. They made…read moremine with Swiss, onions and bacon. Glorious! The other one had jalapeño, onion and mushrooms. Not a bite left. Nice and warm sitting by the river. Great service. Super nice people

    Photos
    Benson Marina Boat Dock - Junk everywhere

    Junk everywhere

    Benson Marina Boat Dock - Houseboat salad, cheeseburger, and seasoned fries

    Houseboat salad, cheeseburger, and seasoned fries

    Benson Marina Boat Dock - We had high hopes...

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    We had high hopes...

    B & N Food Market - Brisket. Must get!!!

    B & N Food Market

    4.7(46 reviews)
    10.8 mi

    Heard about B&N from a friend. Road trip to Bagdad for lunch…read more My wife ordered the half rack of ribs with 2 sides ($23). I ordered the brisket special that also came with 2 sides ($19.99). My wife's ribs were huge and the sides generous. The ribs were smokey and very meaty. These are not baby back ribs, they are very big. Our only complaint is the ribs were enveloped in a pretty tough crust. Quite chewy. BUT once you broke through to the meat it was tender and very tasty. Her sides were Mac and cheese and green beans. My wife thought the Mac and cheese was just OK but the green beans were seasoned very well and she loved them. My brisket came with two thick slices with a nice crust on the fat side. I really enjoyed the brisket. My sides were the Mac and cheese, and pinto beans and cornbread. I agreed with my wife, the Mac and cheese was OK, but the pinto beans and cornbread was very good, seasoned nicely. There's no real handheld menu. You walk up to the counter and there are big pieces of paper taped to the glass case that serves as the menu. So you get in line, and as you move forward staff comes out and takes your order. You grab a seat and your self serve fountain drink if you want one. They bring your food to you. Other than ordering and food delivery, everything else is self serve. Desserts and soft serve ice cream are also available as self serve. All staff are very friendly and accommodating. They were extremely nice and patient with me walking through the whole process since this was our first visit. BTW, be prepared for communal dining. Very few single tables and they go fast. You pay once you're done eating. Nice small town folks and good food.

    We finally made the drive to B & N Food Market in Bagdad, and it absolutely lived up to the hype…read more Even arriving for a late lunch, the place was packed, but the line moved quickly and the staff kept everything running efficiently. The BBQ was outstanding. The brisket had a beautiful smoke ring, was incredibly juicy, and had the perfect bark. The ribs were exactly how I like them--tender with a slightly sweet, sticky sauce that complemented the meat instead of overpowering it. The macaroni and cheese was good, but honestly, I'd make the drive again just for the BBQ. We've tried BBQ all over the Louisville area, and B & N Food Market is now our favorite. If you're anywhere within driving distance, it's absolutely worth the trip.

    Photos
    B & N Food Market
    B & N Food Market
    B & N Food Market - Exterior

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    Exterior

    The Stave - Bison short ribs

    The Stave

    4.1(543 reviews)
    5.4 mi
    •$$

    Must stop to eat. Doesn't look like much and is hidden a bit, close to 3 distillery tours…read more Tons tons of bourbon, but good solid food, kitchen open to watch how they pump out some tasty food, had the bologna sandwich with a spicy stone ground mustard. Side wax one the best corn bread muffins I've had in while. Nice selection of local beers. Friendly and fast staff, kitchen was fast at pushing out some good meats and comfort food. Small inside dining, packed in, but still nice, outdoor patio with bags area, tuck away but worth the trip.

    When you're traveling the Bourbon Trail in this area, finding a place to eat between distillery…read moretours can be surprisingly difficult. Luckily, we came across this restaurant and were able to make a reservation for lunch between our tours. I definitely recommend making a reservation in advance, as dining area is limited. The service was quick. We ordered a burger and a chicken sandwich. My spouse was happy with the burger, but unfortunately, my chicken sandwich was a bit too toasted. My first bite was mostly fried breading, and the chicken itself was quite thin and didn't feel as substantial as it should have been. That said, this isn't necessarily a five-star dining destination, but it was a convenient option when we needed somewhere to grab lunch between distillery visits. I would recommend it primarily for the convenience, especially if you're spending the day touring the Bourbon Trail.

    Photos
    The Stave - Kitchen staff, fast and good food

    Kitchen staff, fast and good food

    The Stave - Fried bologna sandwich

    Fried bologna sandwich

    The Stave - Burnt Orange Old Fashioned (left)  Cider & Oak (right)

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    Burnt Orange Old Fashioned (left) Cider & Oak (right)

    Office Pub & Deli - Hot Brown

    Office Pub & Deli

    4.1(42 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    •$

    It had been decades since I ate here (for no particular reason other than working out of town for…read morewell over a decade), but after reading the menu online, Hubby and I decided to check it out together. The dining room is set up to accommodate parties of two or four, all the way to large groups, with places for individuals at the bar. Table service is provided and our server was friendly. Hubby chose the Hot Brown with a side salad and I went for the liver and onions with mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans, and gravy on the side for the livers. Hubby tries the Hot Brown at a lot of restaurants and said it was good. The liver was tender and tasty with the onions and gravy on the side, and the mashed potatoes and green beans were a good accompaniment. The portions were satisfying and neither of us had room for dessert. We were pleased with the experience, and with more items on the menu to try, we will be back.

    This cozy little pub-style spot is everything you want from a local favorite -- warm atmosphere,…read moregreat service, and classic comfort food done right. We tried the chili dogs and fries, the fish sandwich special (which came with fries and slaw), and the chicken tenders appetizer. Everything came out hot, fresh, and full of flavor. The fish sandwich was perfectly fried -- crisp on the outside, flaky and tender on the inside. Even the chicken tenders were standout. Portions were generous, prices were very reasonable, and the service was top-notch from start to finish. The staff was friendly, attentive, and seemed genuinely happy to be there. Bonus points for the fun UK basketball décor -- fans of the Cats will feel right at home. If you're in the mood for traditional fried food done well in a laid-back setting with excellent service, this place is absolutely worth a visit. We visit often!

    Photos
    Office Pub & Deli - Taco salad

    Taco salad

    Office Pub & Deli - Hot Brown

    Hot Brown

    Office Pub & Deli - House salad with Ranch dressing

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    House salad with Ranch dressing

    The Brown Barrel - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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