eats
September is an important month for the State of Kentucky! It’s the month when the entire state comes together to celebrate its Bourbon heritage. The epicenter of this celebration takes place at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, Kentucky. Bardstown is a great little city – once named “Most Beautiful Small Town in America” by Rand McNally – best-known for its Bourbon heritage. But many visitors may not be aware that it’s also a town with some excellent restaurants. The Bourbon Guys would like to introduce you to what we feel are some the best and most unique eats in Bardstown:
Best Breakfast
Mammy’s Kitchen
We ate breakfast at Mammy’s Kitchen on our way out of town after our visit to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail because we were sick of the hotel buffet. Mammy’s did not disappoint! The eggs benedict (pictured) were fantastic and the breakfast hot brown… all I can say is “Oh my gosh!” The overall atmosphere was quaint and friendly and the server kept our coffee cups full at all times. Mammy’s also serves a great lunch and their pies are amazing if you just want a snack (or pie for lunch!).
Check out Mammy’s Kitchen on Facebook:
Best Lunch
Susie Q’s
Susie Q’s is our choice for the best all around lunch place in Bardstown. The service we received was outstanding and the food was even better. We had their signature items, the famous slaw burger (pictured on right) and the fried green tomato BLT (pictured on left). Both were very good and unique, but the slaw burger was absolutely divine.
Then it came time for dessert! Owner Connie Nalley makes her own homemade desserts and you can’t go wrong with any of them. But we had to try Connie’s famous bourbon bread pudding, which was hands-down the best bourbon bread pudding we’ve ever had. Don’t miss Susie Q’s!
Check out Susie Q’s on Facebook:
Best Dinner
The Rickhouse Restaurant
If you like good food and bourbon you’ll really enjoy the Rickhouse Restaurant! Located literally underneath the Bardstown Whiskey Museum, the small but welcoming entrance makes you feel as if you are entering a real bourbon rickhouse.
The food at the Rickhouse was delicious and their bourbon selection wasn’t bad either! They have excellent steak, chicken and fish, and their sides are creative and tasty, especially the 7 cheese mac-n-cheese. They offer many different bourbon flight options which of course is a plus not found at many restaurants. Enjoying a nice flight of five – yes, five, not three – different bourbons with your dinner is an experience that any bourbon lover would enjoy.
If you are in Bardstown and are looking for a great dinner, check out The Rickhouse Restaurant.
Check out The Rickhouse Restaurant Online:
The Rickhouse Restaurant website
Most Unique Dining Experience
The Kentucky Bourbon House
The Kentucky Bourbon House, also known as the Chapeze House, is the type of place you go if you have an entire evening to spend. The host, who is named “The Colonel” is a unique guy who is apparently not only locally famous but nationally known as well.
Reservations must be made at The Kentucky Bourbon House because they serve dinner to everyone at the same time each evening. Seems like sort of a strange concept but it is very unique. Upon arrival you make your way to the bar area where “The Colonel” makes up some mighty fine drinks and then tells some pretty good stories.
Dinner is the best part of the evening! You are served a delicious dinner consisting of pork chops, butter boiled corn, green beans, potatoes and the best corn bread you will ever taste in your life. If you have an entire evening free, love good food, love good whiskey, and can tolerate a lot of story telling you will not be disappointed in The Kentucky Bourbon House.
Check out The Kentucky Bourbon House online:
The Kentucky Bourbon House website
Best Distillery Lunch
Toll Gate Café (at Maker’s Mark)
Though it’s a few miles away from downtown Bardstown, The Toll Gate Café (at Maker’s Mark) is a great place to grab a quick lunch while visiting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Located right at the entrance of the beautiful Maker’s Mark Distillery, you will find a quaint little building with quick lunch eats. The bourbon pulled pork is amazing and their other sandwiches are excellent as well. If you get hungry while touring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and don’t have time for a long lunch the Toll Gate Café (at Maker’s Mark) is a cool little place.
Check out the Toll Gate Café online: