Looking for recommendations for good BBQ and/or other restaurants that we should not miss.

Our home base will be just outside Georgetown but will be traveling all over during the week.
We’ll be in the following areas:

• Hodgenville / Cave City (Mammoth Cave
  
• Lexington (Henry Clay / Mary Todd Lincoln)
  
• Frankfort (Castle & Key / Buffalo Trace)
  
• Maybe Louisville, depending on time constraints.
  

Lexington, Red State BBQ. It’s great. The sides here are really good.

Frankfort, Staxx BBQ, also great. They also have great fried fish on Fridays. The brisket is always good.

Not Louisville,but nearby is KenTex BBQ in Shelbyville. The original owner was from Austin and wanted to combine Texas BBQ and Kentucky BBQ. I think he did a pretty good job.

Feel free to email me with any questions.

You can’t travel all over Kentucky without having the regions favorite sandwich the Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich. There are different versions but supposedly it started in Louisville at the Brown Hotel

A Hot Brown is a hot open-faced sandwich originally created at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, by Fred K. Schmidt in 1926.
The legendary, open-face sandwich, which is made from Texas toast, thick-sliced turkey, cheesy Mornay sauce, crisp bacon and tomatoes, all baked until bubbling hot, was born here.

It all began at Louisville’s historic Brown Hotel back in the 1920s.

Kentucky hot brown

There are several versions and I like the one with a poached egg on top

————
Also since it is Derby time you need to also find some Burgoo to go with the Hot Brown

Kentucky derby and Burgoo

Burgoo is a rich, hearty stew typically made with some combination of meat, vegetables and barbecue sauce, and is one of those traditional Kentucky dishes that's so widespread there's no consensus on its origins. Some say it was invented by a Frenchman named Gus Jaubert during the Civil War, made with whatever gamey meat, like squirrel and foul, he could scrounge up as a meal for soldiers. Others say it was the invention of freed slaves, who would make big batches of burgoo for livestock sales. And yet another theory claims the dish can be traced back to Native Americans, who prepared it as a hunting stew. The name itself was likely born from a mispronunciation of bird stew or barbecue. 

Read More: https://www.tastingtable.com/6...tory-kentucky-derby/

I can vouch for both of these two:

Lexington, Red State BBQ - We had a great meal there with my sister and her husband.

KenTex BBQ in Shelbyville - wife and I get take out fairly often.

Have not tried Frankfort, Staxx BBQ but will have to since Paddy mentioned it - We're close by...

5 Broke Girls in Cave City. I can't say anything about the BBQ as I've never had it, and the ambience is to use the nicest possible term " rustic " but they have a darn fine burger. In fact, they were awarded the Best Burger in Kentucky by Kentucky Living Magazine in 2022
'
“Kentucky Living” Magazine thrones 5 Broke Girls Restaurant with having best burger (wbko.com)

5 Broke Girls - Cave City - Cave City, KY (5brokegirlscavecity.com)

For a great all you care to eat buffet with Southern and Amish style cooking as well as a good menu selection and the absolute best rolls I have ever had try the Bread of Life Cafe in Liberty, Ky.

New Menu | Bread of Life Cafe

If you're going to be in Owensboro, Moonlite BBQ is outstanding.

quote:

made with whatever gamey meat, like squirrel and foul, he could scrounge up as a meal for soldiers.

Gamey squirrel is probably pretty “foul”.

quote:

Originally posted by Paddy314:
Lexington, Red State BBQ. It’s great. The sides here are really good.

Frankfort, Staxx BBQ, also great. They also have great fried fish on Fridays. The brisket is always good.

Not Louisville,but nearby is KenTex BBQ in Shelbyville. The original owner was from Austin and wanted to combine Texas BBQ and Kentucky BBQ. I think he did a pretty good job.

Feel free to email me with any questions.

This fella hit the nail on the head.

If you are on the South end of Lexington by the river Proud Mary is also a great option but being that you are going to be closer to Georgetown Red State is on the North end of the county.
https://proudmarybbq.com/

quote:

Originally posted by reluctantpaladin:

For a great all you care to eat buffet with Southern and Amish style cooking as well as a good menu selection and the absolute best rolls I have ever had try the Bread of Life Cafe in Liberty, Ky.

New Menu | Bread of Life Cafe

Bread of Life is ran by the Galilean Christian Home which is an amazing ministry!! If you are near by please try to get there.
https://www.galileanhomeministries.org/

Louisville Kentucky, Bootleg BBQ, Hot & Sticky wings need 3 hour lead time, but they are worth it. Ribs are excellent.

BOOTLEG BAR-B-Q 9704 Old Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY, 40291 502-239-2722

Moonlight BBQ in Owensboro.


River Road BBQ on
3017 River Rd
Louisville Kentucky


ARman

Two BBQ places to check out near The Land Between the Lakes in western Kentucky accessible via I65 south to Elizebethtown, then West on the Western Kentucky/I69 Parkways about 3 1/2 hour drive to
Princeton - Heaton’s just north of town on Ky 91;
Grand Rivers-between Barkley Dam and Kentucky Dam is Knoth’s BBQ. The original owner sold it about 4 years ago, but the last time I ate there, the BBQ appears to be as good as ever. Both Heaton’s and Knoth’s make sauces for sale that are good.

If you get to Louisville Doc Crows, go with the smoked deep fried chicken.

Thanks for the recommendations!


Looking forward to getting a break from work and love visiting that area.

Not BBQ but make sure to get breakfast at the track Kitchen at Keeneland and check out the morning workouts.
It is very enjoyable.
https://www.keeneland.com/visiting-keeneland

Also, if you’re going to Castle and Key, just up the road is The Stave. Kind of quirky, but excellent food. Nice location along Glens Creek. The fried bologna is ridiculous. Great selection of local beers.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
If you're going to be in Owensboro, Moonlite BBQ is outstanding.

That's a good one, but I prefer the Old Hickory Pit, also in Owensboro. They have outstanding burgoo.

My buddy and I have a favorite: Doc's BBQ Smoke Shack in Bradenburg.
We weren't a fan of Old Hickory in Owensboro.

Not bbq but if you go to Louisville go to North of Bourbon and get the catfish nuggets. Some of the best fried catfish I have ever had in my life. It's a New Orleans inspired restaurant and all the food is really good but the catfish is remarkable.

quote:

Originally posted by Bigbuck5:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
If you're going to be in Owensboro, Moonlite BBQ is outstanding.

That's a good one, but I prefer the Old Hickory Pit, also in Owensboro. They have outstanding burgoo.

I like Ol Hickory over Moonlite also.

If in Hodgenville check out Arrowhead BBQ. It’s carry out only but so good.

In Louisville you have several options:

1. Mammas mustard, pickles and BBQ - featured on Food Network.
2. Mission BBQ
3. Feast BBQ
4. Portland BBQ

All pretty good.

SB

Feast in Louisville is pretty good. Kind of a hipster place but they have Big Red soda on tap there which is why I like it.

Moonlight BBQ in Owensboro for sure. That's been there since the '60s and is well known.