What a great find after a long day on the Bourbon Trail (I mean someone has to do it). We had a great server who enthusiastically gave a tour of their menu. I had the meatloaf and it was awesome. My lady had the shrimp and grits. We sat on the porch. It's just down the road from Woodford Distillery. read more

This little spot came highly recommended, so I made it a priority to check it out tonight. Even though it wasn't busy tonight, I could imagine it being a hot spot during peak bourbon touring season. My recommendation, make reservations. Since this was my first time here, I sat at the bar and asked the severer to recommend what I should try first. She ranted about the pickle brine chicken sandwich that's drizzled with hot honey. It has a side of veggies and coleslaw. I am so glad I took her recommendation because this was delicious. I also tried the chocolate bread pudding but to be honest this wasn't good at all. It tasted more bitter than sweet. I didn't even finish it. I'd pass on it. This was my big disappointment for the night. However, I didn't let the bad bread pudding ruin the night, because everything else was so good. I think this is a perfect spot to grab a bite while enjoying a bourbon trail tour. read more

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We stopped here in between brewery tours one Saturday per recommendation. While we found the restaurant super cool walking up to it, our lunch did not start well. The greeter did not make us feel welcomed and made it seem like we were an inconvenience for not having a reservation. Because of this, we were seated on the patio side of the restaurant. It was comfortable despite being a cold fall day as the patio is covered and filled with heaters, but that also meant it had become a haven for flies. They were everywhere and we were constantly swatting them away during our meal. Our server was much nicer and very helpful when it came to deciding our meals. He seemed very busy though and throughout the meal we had to ask other people for refills on waters and other items, which they seemed very annoyed about. For an appetizer, we got the pimento cheese dip. This dip was good, but the presentation was very lacking. It came with crackers, which means the club crackers that come in the small two-cracker packages. All of our packages were crushed, which made the crackers not great for dinner. The plate felt like something I would make at home, not something I'd pay a restaurant over $10 for. The meals were better. I got the chicken sandwich which was great! The chicken was large, meaty, and fried perfectly. It went so well with the other toppings and had the best crunch! My fiancée had a smash burger and fries, which he devoured. All in all, I do not think we'd go out of our way to come back here. It was a convenient stop after touring woodford reserve, but the meals, though good, are expensive, most of the servers seem rude, and some items, like the pimento cheese dip, aren't worth the price. read more

This is a fantastic little restaurant hidden on the Bourbon Trail. We stopped for lunch between distillery tours and had a wonderful meal. Brantley handled our party of five moderately imbibed fools perfectly and seriously the food was amazing! The Burnt Orange Old Fashioned was delicious. I had the Stave Burger which in all rights is honestly awesome but I was completely jealous of the Pickle Brined Chicken. read more

The Stave - Stave Burger - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

The Stave has a cool and relaxed vibe, good food, and good service. Their food is southern cuisine. They have a bar seating, indoor tables and high top seating, and some outdoor seating in a screened in area. They have a full bar and offer a full list of bourbons and whiskeys, mixed drinks, beer, and wine. We ordered a couple of appetizers - beer cheese and pimento cheese. They were both good, and the carrots and celery were fresh. For food, we ordered chicken sandwich and smoked bologna sandwich. Both were good a en had good flavor. read more

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Nestled in-between Castle & Key and Woodford Reserve, The Stave is a southern comfort oasis in what is otherwise a dead spot for both food and cell signal. And that's something key to know about The Stave, when we visited on a Friday afternoon we saw that it was busy as tour buses dropped off groups fresh from the distilleries and well-dressed folks from Keeneland pulled up: as one of the only food options in the area, it's going to have a big draw. We almost decided to pass but we were given 20 minute wait, so we decided to stick around and see what happened. We ended up getting seated outside and we enjoyed a couple of Fried Bologna sandwiches. They were huge! Not what I expected, in a good way. I'll give it 4 stars for the food, but you should expect it to be busy- try and show up outside of the lunch rush. read more

The Stave - Smoked Bologna Sandwich - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

Wow! What a gem! We took a backroad to we some horse barns and distilleries. Came around the bend and bam- there she was in all her glory? Huge portions, amazing flavors, server was sweet as pie! The place was so rustic but extremely clean!!! We came from, Montana and are very impressed! Great work guys!!!!! read more

Was the perfect meal after a long day of travel and bourbon. We had the meatloaf with cheese grits and derby chick both were extremely delicious and paired perfectly with burnt orange old fashioned. My only regret was not ordering pimento cheese to the sandwich read more

Great food, service is good, courteous,very friendly with consistent service and communication. The restaurant is very busy be ready to be patient, the millville hoe cakes. Were Delicious,as are the Shrimp and Grits. read more

Food is too salty and extremely expensive. In addition, force you to add 22% tip. Very bad experience, zero star if possible.

This place looks like a hole in the wall, but the food, atmosphere, and service are amazing. We arrived at noon with no reservations and were seated immediately. We ordered the blacked catfish and grits. It was so good. read more

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Doesn't look like much as you drive up after a windy road to get here. You're at the right spot though. We sat inside to gaze at the beautiful wall of bourbon bottles! Other walls are bourbon barrels. Very cool vibe. Service was attentive and helpful. Makers and Cokes were good and strong. Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwich and Smash Burger for entrees. Fries and Cheesy Grits for sides. Chocolate Walnut Bread Pudding for dessert. All perfection. Def recommend. My one and only note is the vent I sat next to in corner needs a thorough scrub, or just replace with a new black one. read more

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My family and I arrived to grab an early dinner around 4 PM-ish. The restaurant was not busy at all. The server took about 15 minutes to approach us because she kept talking to the bartender and the other employees behind the bar, deciding to finish her drink before greeting our table. The food was OK, but not great. I ordered the shrimp and grits, and it arrived at my table room temperature. My father had the meatloaf, and his food was cold. The food had a good taste, but they use way too much sodium. I couldn't even finish the shrimp. The ambiance seemed fine, oh, and also, there's only one bathroom. For the amount of money paid, I wouldn't come back. The only positive thing was the old-fashion read more

The Stave - The Millville Plate - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

The food was well-seasoned and properly prepared. The staff worked quick and sharp, like they knew what they were doing. The owner was as friendly as a front porch in summer. Plating was just fine--nothing to brag about, nothing to gripe over. The décor was nice, and we lingered on the porch a while, which is never a bad sign. As for the bourbon, you'd be hard-pressed to find a selection in Washington, D.C. that could match it for both availability and pric read more

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Little hole in wall that packs a punch. We had a great waitress named Lexi. She was super awesome. Guided us through the menu. My brother and I shared a half of each the chick sandwich and the smoked bologna. Yes try the bologna smoked sandwich. You will not regret it. The old fashions were on point. The cole slaw was so delicious. Highly recommend this place if you are coming from Woodford and have some time before Castle and Key. read more

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Unfortunately I cannot recommend The Stave. It is conveniently located just minutes from Castle and Key and Woodford Reserve so a great location on the bourbon trail. However our visit wasn't great. Before ordering we were told the pulled pork (in a couple of dishes) and fries would not be available for 20 more minutes. We were chatting with friends and decided to wait. When ordering they said the pork would now be another hour and fries still weren't ready. Not sure how hand cut fries can take that long to prep but anyway. The baby cakes with maple butter and the chicken sandwich were good. The cheese grits were flavorless and dry. The smoked bologna sandwich had zero seasoning so all you can taste is the smoke. They were also out of one of the four salad dressings. The server was apologetic and they did comp the baby cakes without us asking for the inconvenience. Even so the food and experience just wasn't great. read more

Overrated, overcrowded and unfriendly. Heard this was a popular spot so we made reservations for dinner. Checked in with the hostess and was told two parties in front of us. We went inside to wait and ordered 4 drinks for a total of $80. The place was dark and tables packed closely together. After 20 minutes I approached the hostess and told her that she had seated more than two parties before us. She acted as though she had never seen us before and said it was her first day. Then a manager came to us and pointed to a small table that was crammed into the back corner of the dining room and within a foot of a toddler seated at the next table. I told him that the table was unacceptable and we would wait for the next available table. He said that was our table and we didn't have a choice. Take it or leave it. We left. Ended up having a much better experience at a different restaurant. read more

The only redeeming quality about this place is that the workers were not rude, they just didn't seem to be trained. We arrived before any kind of rush had begun, thinking we would be able to get in and out. Wrong. While we were there, 2 tables of people gave up and left before even ordering and another changed their order to takeout. That should have been our cue to leave. I ordered a house salad with grilled chicken and lemon Dijon vinaigrette. The salad was a spring mix which is difficult to eat. The salad dressing had no flavor. It tasted like oil and the corn bread croutons were gross. The chicken was good, thankfully. The service was non existent. Our order was taken and food brought out, but no water refills and we had to wait over 10 minutes to get our check because our waitress had parked herself next to the kitchen. Will not be back. read more

Nice location near woodford and castle key distillery. Best bourbon selection in Frankfort. You can taste or have a shot of anything. Food is good. Chicken a little overcooked. Blood orange old fashioned is good. Staff is friendly. Outside and inside seating. read more

The Stave - Smash burgers with salad homemade dressing - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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I'd give more stars, but them's the rules...best shrimp and grits ever, and I mean ever!!! My pimiento grilled cheese with bacon jam was innovative and crazy good...and there was a roasted chicken with butternut squash risotto, OMG!!! The wait staff were down to earth and good at their craft...what good people, and the young guys in the kitchen absolutely professional and talented...can't wait to go back, what a great experience! read more

The Stave - Roasted chicken with butternut squash risotto - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

After touring Woodford Reserve, we came here for lunch. We had a smash burger and a chicken sandwich. Biggest piece of chicken on a bun I've ever seen! Wow! Food was yummy and while the sign said reservations recommended, they were able to seat us very quickly. read more

The Stave - The bar - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

We don't remember how we learned of this spot - but glad it was here and sooo good! Best part is small sips of bourbon/rye. We went for "Our Neighbors" which was bourbons from distilleries near the restaurant. And the Rye Sampler - all so perfect. We shared a wedge salad and then I went for a hot chicken sandwich with fries - sandwich was delish, fries were also yummy. Wayne went for mushroom stroganoff and it was good, just needed a bit of color variation? Our server was Wendy and, man, she had the whole place under control. It is a small place, but cozy and feels sooo good! read more

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Variety of menu items and an abundance of adult beverages- unique, casual and excellent! Service was attentive and accommodating and all of the items we tried were excellent. Worth the excursion! read more

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Had been looking forward to coming here and it did not disappoint. Baloney sandwich was so tasty with the pimento cheese and onion mixture. Grits were good but lacked a little flavor. Added pepper and some hot sauce and was tasty. Wife really enjoyed the fried chicken sandwich. Cannot recommend this place enough. Server was great! read more

The Stave - Smoked baloney sammie and cheesy grits. - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

Not sure what has happened to this place. Absolutely the worst experience we have ever had at a restaurant. Visited this establishment a year ago and had a great experience. The waitress was sweet but the manager was outrageous. Everything was blamed on the kitchen. Beware of this place, hopefully the ownership and management can improve. We noticed many tables sitting and waiting not only for their food but even to be waited on. read more

A little bit out there/a drive (but I feel this may add a tad to the ambiance), this is a fantastic spot for some solid comfort style food. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, and the food all tasted great. Portions were also quite filling, leaving our group with not enough room for dessert so we will be going back for that as the bread pudding sounded incredible, we were just too stuffed. Along with their food, their drinks were not only vast but also incredibly well crafted. The interior was nice and cozy, yet had plenty of seating both inside and on the patio. The setup created a bit of a homey and comfortable feel, creating a great casual spot for groups. Pricing was also quite fair. Would definitely recommend and will likely return. read more

Interesting place out in the sticks. Quick lunch often hitting the bourbon trail. Sampled the chicken sandwich and fried baloney sandwich. Hit the spot. Service was good. Patio seating a little uncomfortable on a hot day. read more

The Stave - Wrap around screened in porch. - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

This place is absolutely Awesome. We hit this place on a whim 9/19/25 and we weee beyond impressed. This is a perfect representation of what I would want in a Kentucky of the beaten path eatery. It's small, it's packed (reservations are highly recommended) and delicious. The service is great the people are friendly and we had a great time. I don't remember our waitresses name but she did a fantastic job. I had the blackened catfish and grits, my wife had a tasty looking (not really to me, definitely quality though, lol) chicken salad. We finished up with the best bread pudding we have ever had. The drink selections were excellent and the bourbon offerings seemed endless. I can only hope to have another opportunity to enjoy this restaurant. P.S. when they run out of food that's it, they are done for the day. read more

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FYI. I asked to sit outside with my dog and they told me dogs were not welcome. This at picnic tables 50' from the area They are not dog friendly. I do not recommend! read more

Omg!!!!!! Love the pulled pork with homemade pepper spread.. I'm in love. Definitely a must stop on the trail! Plus a super fast friendly service! read more

The Stave - Blackened shrimp and grits - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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Great atmosphere, but limited seating if the weather is cruddy, so get there early. Food was great and the drink selection was incredible. Try a bourbon flight! I had the fried chicken sandwich with honey and it was excellent. Pimento cheese on the side since they put a lot on the sandwich. read more

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We found this place a year ago, loved it so much we stopped twice last year on trips from Cincinnati. This year, our visit was very different. There was confusion getting us seated during a non-rush hour time. We were seated and placed an order. My boyfriend and I ordered the burger (not realizing it was switched to a ground beef smashed) and fries. My brother ordered the stave smashed burger without mayo. While waiting for our meal, we looked over the menu and noticed they had shrimp on the menu. My boyfriend is allergic and kindly asked the server if there are any issues with our meal. The chef started yelling and causing a scene- said "well it is what it is, can't help it we have blackened catfish." It left us feeling very uneasy eating our meal. The server reassured us things will be fine with his food allergy. Our burgers were served--so SMASHED, they crumbled when we took a bite. The fries were ice cold. It was simply the worst meal we have ever had. When it came time to check out, our server let us know the manager overheard the chef's reaction and was aware. However, nothing was ever said to us. We kindly paid and plan never to return. This was such a nice hidden spot to hit after visiting Woodford/Castle and Key. And after our recent visit, we plan to never return after our recent visit. read more

The Stave makes me think of Grandmas home cooking but elevated! I would recommend you make reservations! We didn't, but it was an early dinner and they sat us. They had a lot of outdoor seating, some indoor seating and bar seating. With that being said, there are a lot of flys, but this is expected with the outdoor/indoor seating flow. We tried the pulled pork and hoe cake, which our waitress recommended. They were delicious!! For my entree I ordered the fried green tomato and pimento grilled cheese. I loved it, the toast was cut thick and everything worked! Because I am not from the south and don't get grits often, I ordered the cheese grits, which I also loved. They had a lot of different flight options for bourbon, and if you don't like bourbon they had some other options like wine flights and a cocktail list. read more

The Stave - Pulled pork and hoe cakes - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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This looks like a little hole in the wall, but it provides great drinks, delicious snacks and a wonderful atmosphere. We tried there style charcuterie board, which includes fried bologna. The pieces are thick and delicious. The cornbread, although quite traditional was very dry. We finished off with the bread pudding, which was by far the highlight of the visit. our server was very kind and knowledgeable and kept up with our tables needs. read more

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Friendly service and conveniently located to some Bourbon Trail stops. Excellent selection of bourbon + some great local beers.

The food was good - the place is very packed in maybe 7 tables and about 5 bar seats- outside seating available in screened in area our server was very good read more

Great little place in the small town between Castle & Key and Woodford Distilleries. It is a very popular place with limited tables, so you might make a reservation. We were there for brunch and got lucky a table had cancelled so we were able to sit in the main dining room. They have a nice selection of bourbons and cocktails. I had the Derby Chick sandwich that was amazing. My wife had The Stave Smashburger which was also excellent. Service was great and will stop in again when in town. read more

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This little hidden gem is tucked away down an old country road in Millville. Cute little shed barn building with screened in porch wrapped around. Perfect for enjoying outside eating without all the bugs. They do have some picnic tables out front if you like that. Once inside your created like one of regulars. The bar is stocked with best bourbon in town. There are signature cocktails and wine. The old fashion was Smokey and tight flavor. Orange taste added to its original flavor. Definite must for the bourbon lovers. Dinner was amazing. The service was fast friendly and attentive. The crisp chicken with hot honey sauce with pimento cheese on the brioche bun. It like melt in your mouth. All the flavors together was like a burst of fireworks to your taste buds. The meatloaf with kale greens and potatoes was so good. My hubs ate every crumb. The blackened catfish with the grits was nothing short of amazing. The fish was cooked perfect and the cheese grits. Just melt it in your mouth. The only sad thing is they ran out of peanut butter pie! That is a fan favorite. Recommend going early. This place is well kept secret but it is always busy. Very much recommended by locals to us out of towners. This place is a must for lunch or dinner. read more

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Food was good but the service was lacking. We got there and was ready to order in about 10 minutes. About 5 minutes after that a a table of 5 next to us arrived. They had their order before us then to our left a table of two arrived 30 minutes after us. They got their order in the same time as me. We finally got our food when the table that arrived 30 minutes after us need to go plates. Same waitress might I add. Just didn't make sense. The fastest service is when she got our check for the tip. read more

This hidden gem is well worth the drive! A friend and I were in Frankfort today and had asked friends for a local restaurant recommendation and I'm so glad that The Stave was suggested! It's out in Mill Creek which is just outside of Frankfort, kind of in the middle of nowhere. Although the covered patio seating was tempting, we opted to dine inside with the air conditioning. Our waitress was so sweet and full of suggestions and pointed out that they make everything from scratch, including their salad dressings. I went with the BBQ Plate and let me tell y'all, the BBQ sauce was good enough to drink. The meat was tender and cooked perfectly and served with cole slaw and a hoe cake. I loved it all. Luckily we got there right before the dinner crowd arrived and our food came out within minutes. Don't sleep on dessert! Definitely save room. We had initially planned on splitting the bourbon bread pudding but when our server came by showing off the blackberry streusel cheesecake, we decided to split both. OMG, I'm not exaggerating when I say the the cheesecake was the best thing I've ever ate! It was amazing! I will definitely come back to The Stave and want to try their brunch next time! read more

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