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

Good options great vibe. Enjoyed trying different bourbon and appetizer. Good parking and outdoor dining

Fun lunch spot in our Bourbon tour! Great food, a nice spot to relax in between distilleries.

What a neat place. A large selection of bourbons and a wonderful staff. Got the fried chicken sandwich. It was delicious. Got the sampler appetizer- need to get to try a good selection of the menu. the smoked bologna was delicious, pulled pork amazing, I don't care for pimento cheese but that was even good. Little out of the way but was worth the drive. read more

Super cute place! We stopped here for dinner after a long trip. Our server took the time to explain the menu well. We each had a whiskey/bourbon flight. I had the neighbors one and my partner had chef's picks. We loved the chef's picks flight! We had the blackened catfish and grits as well as the Stave burger. I really recommend the catfish, really tasty and a big portion. read more

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We stopped by for a drink and appetizer after a stop at woodford just down the road. In hindsight I wish we would have stayed for a meal. The bread appetizer was amazing and the drink was great. read more

It's been a fantastic experience every time we go but the prices are steep for the portion sizes. The drink selection is superb and the quality of the food. 28$ for a piece of catfish on top of grits is a bit pricey but would recommend this place to anyone. read more

The food was AMAZING, we had the fried bologna sandwich, honey chicken flat bread and the grits. The service was fantastic with all the wait staff & bartender being ultra friendly. We sat at the bar were able to observe the kitchen & bartender which was fun. Highly recommend this restaurant!! read more

The Stave - Bar area - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

Overall: Just when I was about to base my review on the snobby and inattentive staff, the food came out... Food: My mom and I split the shrimp and grits and bread pudding. The shrimp and grits were absolutely phenomenal- the best grits I've ever had. Everything was perfectly seasoned. The bread pudding was delicious, however I was surprised by the chocolate chips. Raisins would have been preferred. Ambiance: The vibes are very rustic and bourbon heavy. read more

The Stave - Shrimp and Grits - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

First, make a reservation. Assume nothing! We hesitated based on our timing but made one anyway. People were turned away because they had no room for walk ins. There's not a lot of space here but the bar is well stocked (as you'd expect off the Bourbon trail!) and they have several cozy areas to sit and also some bar seating. My friend says in warmer weather there's a patio area overlooking the creek. Gotta get back here in the summer! The service was wonderful. The chef came out to discuss ingredients due my dietary needs and was so kind and willing to accommodate as needed. We ordered the pimento cheese and Brussels to start and they were both fantastic as were the crawfish/crab cakes and a salad with grilled chicken, with the chicken cooked so perfectly. Of course we had to have cocktails...those didn't disappoint either! read more

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Southern hospitality at its finest! Sunday brunch with our family in late summer was perfect. Thanks to the servers and kitchen staff. Everything was delicious. Our hungry boys devoured the pimento cheese. The Bloody Mary's were on point and the food hit the spot. read more

The Stave - Biscuits, gravy and bacon - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

Food is fantastic. But if it is a hot day in August you might want to find a place with more inside seating. If weather is nice the outside seating is fantastic. Also don't count on it being a quick meal. Takes a long time and when it is hot outside and you are sitting outside it seems twice as long as it is. But if it is cool enough to eat outside and you aren't in a hurry, you won't find a better spot. Great spot to eat if you are doing bourbon tours in the area!! read more

The Stave - Fried bologna sandwich with an over easy egg. Absolutely incredible!!! - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

My son was bragging about the place. We was in area at lunch time. We had a very good meal. Looks like in warm weather the outside area looks really cool. The mixed drink menu is huge. Everyone was friendly.... read more

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Date of visit: 6/28/25Time: 12:20 - 2:00 ish (lunch time) I've visited this restaurant in the past and had good experiences, but this visit was a serious letdown. Something has changed. There was a long delay just to get our food. Thankfully, our server, Brantley, was excellent--attentive, friendly, and kept our drinks filled. He and the host (with the wrist brace/no name tag) were professional and kind throughout. I ordered the same thing I did on one of my past visits, the Pimento Cheese + Bacon Grilled Cheese ($17), described on the menu as: "Our creamy house-made pimento cheese melts perfectly with smoky bacon, layered with sweet Kentucky chow-chow on golden toasted sourdough." When my sandwich arrived without the bacon, I politely pointed it out to the host after checking the menu. Both the host and our server apologized multiple times and handled it graciously. Then came the worst part: another employee--Kwenci --brought over two slices of bacon, tossed them on the table, and loudly accused me of being rude. So much so the people on the tables on either side of ours heard and were looking. I had done nothing but calmly point out a menu discrepancy, yet she made a scene and never once apologized for her behavior. It was completely uncalled for and uncomfortable for everyone at our table. After we were done eating, someone who appeared to be the manager (but didn't introduce herself) came by to ask about our experience. We told her the food was ok overall, but the issue with my sandwich and Kwenci's behavior really soured the experience. Instead of apologizing or addressing it, the manager made excuses, saying it was "just bacon jam" and that the sandwich was supposed to be that way--despite the clear menu description and my past experience ordering the same. There was no apology, no effort to correct the situation, and no accountability. She did offer dessert, and my friend accepted a slice of peanut butter pie, which was comped. I still paid full price for a disappointing meal and a very unpleasant interaction. This wasn't about the bacon--it was about how poorly the situation was handled by Kwenci and management. Sadly, I won't be returning and cannot recommend. Quality of the food and service are not what it used to be. I have never had an experience like this at a restaurant and I'm still having a hard time shaking the way it made me feel. read more

Absolutely love this place as a stop to eat when touring Woodford and Castle & Key. Their menu is simple but you can count on every item being delicious, and they have a great bar. Our server was awesome as we were a large group and in a hurry, she was very accommodating. She even pointed out the added gratuity so we didn't double tip, classy. read more

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Small restaurant with a huge outdoor area in a 'holler' so don't expect cell phone reception. They do have Wi-Fi though. They have an extensive bourbon bar with some good cocktail options. I tried the Smoky Paloma! It was delicious and not too sweet. I also got the blackened catfish and grits ($25) and fries ($4). The fries were perfectly salty and crispy! I enjoy the catfish and grits but I think I would like the catfish fried better (that option is on the menu as well). The grits were cheesy! The service was fast and friendly! Our waitress gave some good recommendations! read more

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We stopped by the Stave for dinner this past weekend. Quaint ,rustic, ambiance type of restaurant. The hostess was super polite and sat our table of (7) right away upon arrival. The noise level was moderate to high around 6:00PM. The wait staff was a little slow but definitely waited on us with energy and friendliness. The food I would say was ok not great! The menu was not the expected menu from their website as we were told it was seasonal. The website did not have the latest menu options. We started off with a variety of cocktails and wines. They prepared all the drinks with great effort. We started off with sautéed brussel sprouts mushrooms, onions. It was supposedly topped with crispy garlic. On the contrary it was not crispy garlic. We added candied bacon to the dish and the bacon was definitely not candied as they had described on the menu. The brussel sprout was just ok not great. I do not recommend this dish for $14.00. We also ordered the Stave Burgers. The burger was seasoned and cooked well to the requested medium rare. The garlic aioli sauce was really tasty along with the brioche bread. Highly recommended for $17.00. This entree was a four star. The next dish was the grilled pimento cheese + bacon sandwich bacon jam sandwich with fries. The dish was simple. The pimento cheese was not melted well on the sandwich. The fries were cooked crispy and a great addition to the cheese sandwich. Disappointed the sandwich was only half of a sandwich and fries. It was a simple sandwich with a moderate side of fries. Dish was tasty but definitely not worth $16.00. This was a three star entree. The next dish was Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich. Sandwich was cooked well and full of flavors. Nicely prepared with a side of fries. The brioche was a great touch to the Hot Honey chicken. The fried with chicken was fried with excellence. Highly recommended for $19.00. Cost of this dish was $19.00. The next dish was BBQ Plate. This dish was just ok not great. The pork did not have hardly any flavors. It stayed super bland. The portion of the pulled pork was smaller than expected. The Cole slaw was not very good and super creamy to the point that it was overly soggy with mayo. The cornbread was too dry. Dish not recommended based on taste and price of $18.00. The last dish ordered was the Southerner Black Board. The board was tasty and full of smoked meats and pickled vegetables. This was dish was $28.00. A little on the higher price for a charcuterie board. This restaurant was mediocre due to the prices and portions. The service towards the end of the night was super slow and the wait staff was super inattentive and it took forever to cash us out. I cannot recommend this restaurant base on less than expected quality of service and lower quality of taste on some of the dishes such as the BBQ pork. It was not a four star as expected. read more

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Awesome food and great service! They have a HUGE bourbon selection and unique menu items. The hot honey chicken was absolutely fantastic! If you find yourself off the beaten path, give this place a try! read more

This is a great little place with a ton of bourbon options and the food was fantastic! I recommend to anyone that asks me where to eat when in the area! read more

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This was recommended by a friend of a friend and it is a very nice little hidden gem in the hills of Kentucky. A true southern style menu. I had the bison short ribs, which was topped with crispy Brussels sprouts and sitting atop some potato cubes. It was very tasty and made me forget I was eating Brussels sprouts! Our service was good and the ambience was nice and relaxing. read more

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I'm 49 years old and 260 pounds, so believe me when I comment on food. Best grilled cheese of my life! Bacon jam is a winner! Great stop for lunch, will recommend this to anyone in the area. And a fantastic bourbon selection as well! read more

The best blackened catfish I've ever had everyone was fantastic the waitress the bartender I highly recommend the Stave.,,,

Steve was our server and was so nice . We come back every year for the last 5 years and it keeps getting better !!! read more

The Stave - Kick ass Place - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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Fantastic find along the Bourbon Trail! Cozy atmosphere in a rustic setting, AMAZING food & drinks, fantastic service!

What an amazing, off the beaten path place. Where to start. It's cozy, inviting, warm, and totally not what I expected, it was better. Wendi took care of me, and from my first interaction, I knew that I was in for a great meal. We were on the same page for my drink, the Burnt Orange Old Fashioned. The flavor was delicate and delicious, and even complemented my food order well. And when it was finished, eating the brûlées Orange, was like an extra dessert. Entree - pulled pork and hoe cake - slightly Smokey, extra tender and juicy, with a bit of sweet from the bbq sauce, and great acidity from the Chow chow. I wanted more, but had to save room for dessert because I'm an adult and I can do that. Dessert - bourbon walnut bread pudding - If I could put all of the expletive initials here I would, because it was that good. Wendi split it in half for me because it was super rich and had the entire thing been presented to me, I would have eaten it and been miserably full. Wendi did explain why she split it (to save me from an uncomfortable ride back to Lexington). During my time in Lexington, I've had the opportunity to eat at a few high end places, but had I known about The Stave sooner, it would have probably become a second home to me. Walking in and having their food and interacting with the folks working there is like walking into someone's home and getting a hug as you walk in. Please go and have this experience. You will not regret a dollar spent there. read more

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Great food and warm, welcoming staff. We stopped for lunch between distillery tours and it was well worth it!

The food was incredible and the bourbon tastings were the perfect pairing. My wife and I sat outside in the covered patio with our dog. And it was a beautiful date night on the bourbon trail. When we entered we were greeted by the sweetest woman. She made us feel comfortable and right at home and gave us the table to our liking. Our server was also top notch. She gave us great and honest recommendations. I had the grilled catfish with grits and it was spectacular. I highly recommend this to anyone in the area! read more

Excellent service, friendly staff and great food. Cute space with nice ambiance. Would definitely come again. read more

Amazing dinner. I had the shrimp and grits and my cousin had the catfish and grits. Everything tasted wonderful and service was awesome. Definitely a place we'll be returning to our next time in town. read more

We were just back in town, and my friends wanted to try The Stave. I had been only once before. We sat on the patio. I wasn't very hungry, so ordered the appetizer Pulled Pork on Hoe Cakes. The pork was fairly dry and tasteless. It had only a drop of sauce, and the green tomato chutney was just tiny pieces. I asked for hot sauce, made in house, and not very good. A bit of a fail. 87 read more

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We had a fantastic dinner! Food and cocktails were amazing ! Service was excellent as well.

The service was very good. Was a little chilly on the porch but the bourbon helped warm me up. The shrimp and grits were delicious. Bread pudding was also good sauce was a little too sweet but was tasty. read more

The Stave - Bread pudding - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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We came here for lunch right before a convention, and I pretty much just chose this place because it was one of the most reviewed restaurants in Frankfort.... so, I had some pretty high hopes! And yes, it is a cool place! I didn't realize until we got there that it is right next to the Woodford Reserve distillery, and feels a bit out in the sticks off of the interstate. The restaurant looks very small and old on the outside, but is so rustic and pretty on the inside! We were thankfully able to be seated immediately for Sunday brunch, as it got busy quick right after we sat down. The tables are very close together and it does get loud in here, but it wasn't too bad. Our server was exceptionally friendly and helpful, which I appreciated. I tried the fried chicken sandwich. The sandwich itself is alright, but I probably wouldn't order it again. The fries it came with however with the perfectly crispy kind, which I loved!! My fiance ordered the hot honey chicken, and after trying a bit of it I was angry at myself for not ordering it, it was so good! This is a cool brunch spot in Frankort, and has a lot of personality to it. It seems like a nice place to come when it's warm out too, as they have a neat patio behind the building. read more

The Stave - fried chicken sandwich - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

The Stave was recommended by a friend so we decided to give it a shot. The staff was kind and seated us promptly. We order some drinks and decided on the Pimento as the appetizer. Soon after we got our drinks we ordered entrees but we never did get that appetizer. There was o my an apology, didn't even ask if we still wanted it or to comp us a drink for the poor service. But it didn't stop there. Ordering drinks took FOREVER and the restaurant only had about 8 guests at the time we were there. The food was decent but lacked quality. Look at he BBQ platter photo. More sides than meat!! The ambiance was eclectic but we just couldn't get over the lack of service. read more

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we were there very recently and were disappointed this time, starting with a local beer. I live here and I think most locally brewed beer is not that good to begin with and this round was flat and expensive. We had the meatloaf dinner which was also just ok. The meatloaf was tasty but dry and the veggies were cold. The chick sandwich was ok, nothing special. The barbecue sauce for the pulled pork had a weird chemical taste. The shrimp and grits were good. It's gotten pricey too. We would have been better off going to a chain restaurant And saved about $30. I have to agree with other reviewers in that this place was better last year. Eating out has just gotten ridiculous. read more

Bologna and hot honey sandwich were amazing! Fries well done with extra seasonings! Make sure you have reservations!

Every time we go to bourbon country we try to visit this gem. Great food & great people! The atmosphere inside and out, make it all complete. read more

You just can't go wrong here. Every time I do business anywhere near the Frankfort area I make sure I stop in here. It's only eight minutes off of the main road. Even the drive out is beautiful. Great atmosphere, great service and great food. The The interior and the vibe and the outdoor dining are great. The food is fantastic. Have Scarlet at the bar make you a drink. Not pictured here was the catfish which after seeing it come out and be served to someone I promised myself I'm getting it next time. read more

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We arrived an hour and a half prior to their closing time. When I approached the hostess she said there were only two parties in front of us but couldn't be sure they would be able to seat us before closing because their kitchen was slow getting food out. read more

If you are doing the bourbon trail or looking for a place to eat after visiting some of the distilleries in the area you owe it to yourself to go to this hidden gem! It's a little out there and if you blink you'll miss it but the food was great! The menu was huge and their bourbon menu was impressive! The hot honey chicken sandwich was good but needed more hot honey as there wasn't much of it but the sandwich was huge. The service was great but going in for lunch we were seated but was asked if we made a reservation, since there was only 2 of us were got a seat, more than that I'd recommend making a reservation if if you are going for lunch or dinner. The inside of the restaurant was a lot nicer looking than the inside and really was surprising! Can't wait to go back and try something else! read more

The Stave - Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich with pimento cheese and fries - under the hood - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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