Bootleg Bar-B-Q

I’m not usually a barbecue person, but I really enjoyed Bootleg Bar-B-Q on Old Bardstown Road. The place had a nice, laid-back atmosphere & the food was better than I expected. I had the smoked 1/2 chicken with mac & cheese and fries… everything was cooked well and flavorful. Definitely a solid spot, even if BBQ isn’t normally your thing.

I love BBQ. Period. I have had it from South Texas all the way to Maine and everything in between. Bootleg is the ABSOLUTE BEST BBQ place in the whole Louisville area and near counties. I have eaten in ALL of them. None of them around here come close. Ribs are amazing and Pull Pork sandwich is magnificent. All sides are great, but their rice and beans is signature and to-die-for. Please do not be shy and break your diet. You'll be glad you did. Their cobblers and bread pudding will rival your great granny's recipe. I promise you will not be sorry you took the time to go to Bootleg. You will keep going. The food is that good!!!

The owner took our order and was wonderful. He suggested some of his favorites and explained all the hot sauces. All 5 of us loved everything we tried. The wings were my favorite. The ribs and chicken were also really good and I would recommend them too. Kentucky black was my hands down my favorite sauce. My husband said every sauce was his favorite. 😅

My Dad and I ate here for the first time. The customer service was awesome. She answered every question we had. We received our food fast and it tasted great. The atmosphere was just my style. Loved it! (Including the restroom sinks) I've already been spreading the word to my family. We'll definitely be back.

💚 Attractive dining area throughout. 💚 Simple menu, yet with many options. 💚 I appreciated slightly healthier options (white meats, smoked and pulled rather than fried). 💚 Friendly counter service on my visit.

I only go 1 time a year, it has become like a tradition in my family. It is X-mas Eve. I go to heavenly ham 1st than rite up the road in Bootleg. I get all of our sides there. The mashed potatoes are delicious, baked beans & potato salad, really you can't ho wrong. All their sides are amazing. The BBQ is pretty rite on also!! Give it a try yourself - you won't be disappointed...

This year’s Super Bowl order was absolute perfection. We got baby back ribs (fall off the bone tender), chicken wings (just the right amount of seasoning) coleslaw (so good), Mac &cheese (creamy), cherry cobbler (the right ratio of crust to filling). Everything was ready when promised and delivered to our car with great care.

Bootleg BBQ is a must-visit for any barbecue lover! The food was incredible—the wings are absolutely phenomenal, and the pulled pork is just as delicious. The sides were just as impressive; we ordered the twice baked mashed potatoes, and the red beans and rice, we have ate inside and the the atmosphere is very country and laid back, with friendly staff who made us feel right at home. If you’re looking for authentic, mouth-watering BBQ in Louisville, Bootleg BBQ is the place to go. Highly recommend!

Stumbled upon this place while I was out driving and decided to give it a try! I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with Mac and cheese & Cajun Chicken Gumbo. Let's start with the sandwich, I'd say it was a 7/10. It lacked the flavor that I was expecting from a bbq place, I didn't really get any Smokey flavor like I wanted. The Mac & cheese was creamy and surprisingly good! I was also amazed at how good the Cajun chicken gumbo was, I would say that was the best thing I ordered! It was packed with flavor and a great amount of spice. I wasn't expecting the gumbo to taste better than the sandwich but the guy next to me did let me know that they were known for their wings! Next time I will go for the wings, the sandwich was good but it lacked a lot of flavor! I also ordered the butter pie, presentation was sloppy and it didn't taste as I expected it would! Overall service was quick and I'll be back for those wings.

My order was takeout, so this review is solely for their food. Among 7 adults, we ordered 3 lbs of pulled pork, sides of beans, Mac and cheese, twice baked taters, and green beans. Everybody loved everything, but with preferences. First of all, 3 lbs for 7 people is excessive as we learned, it lasted 2 meals with leftovers even for all 7 people. The pulled pork was moist, and fairly flavorful. My biggest gripe is not getting additional sauce to make it spicy etc to everyone's preference. The sides in order of everyone's preference: (1) Beans - great and a must have. (2) Twice baked taters - amazing potatoes with cheese and bacon, it went fast. (3) The Mac and cheese and green beans were both good, but not on the same level as the taters and beans, so I will not order them again. Overall, very pleased with the food and will plan on returning.

I got sausage, mashed potatoes, baked beans and a slice of butter cream pie. All was good. Service was a little slow because of the snow outside. The pie was off the chain. Would definitely recommend adding a hotter bbq sauce selection, unless I just missed it. I would recommend eating here.

It had been a very long time since I had this food. The last time I had it they were in a small shack. Now they have a full on restaurant. That not the only thing that changed, their food has went down hill. My large pork chop was tasteless, potato chips were stale, and sausage was ok. The picking up the food was odd to. The First Lady told me to wait even though she wasn't doing anything as soon as I walked in. Later Second Lady 20 feet calls me over to get my name and tell me wait again. Later a third lady brings out my food. This experience I can skip.

Right off Bardstown road and has a great dinning room. Sandwich was really good as well as the fries. I took a half slab of ribs home for dinner and they were really good.

we went today and got two nachos and two chili dogs. Neither one were big portions and the total came to $52 which is outrageous for what we got not to mention the food is disgusting and they didn't even get the order right please don't waste your money on this business. It's definitely a waste of time and money and a disappointment in the food. I will never return and I will never recommend them.

Great BBQ and sides, my son said he likes the chicken wings, been going there for years.

Bootleg at one time was the best bar-b-q in Louisville, unfortunately it's just not what it once was. Today I paid 25.40 for 13 wings and a 1/2 lb of brisket. The brisket was marginal, and the wings were an absolute joke as a recent reviewer wrote I didn't know you could get wings this small. Additionally, I left a tip with the young lady that was ringing me out of $2.40, there was no thanks or even a grunt. Remember this is a carry out, all that was done was hand me a bag didn't even offer a fork or napkin. Never again... sad to see a once great place go down.

Bootleg bbq is a long-standing fern creek staple located off old Bardstown road in Lousiville Kentucky a mile or so before hitting the Mount Washington city line. For years this was just a small shack with limited to no seating but over the last five years or so they did a complete remodel that features spacious seating, old school 50s and 60s style country decor and a very home feeling vibe to it. Service on my trips here are always pretty good. You order at the counter when walking in at the dine in portion and seat yourself. The opposite side of the counter which has a separate entrance is for carry out. In our history they have always gotten our food out fast, accurately and fresh. My personal go to meal is a pulled pork sandwich with a side of baked beans. I've gotten other sides in the past like max and cheese and there double tater (mashed potatoes with cheese on top) and you can't go wrong. The baked beans is my favorite though and some of my favorite in the city. The sandwich has a good taste and the bbq sauce is very tasty. My wife is a big fan of the pork and loves getting the burgoo side. Kids usually stick to the kids menu and usually finish there plates. So complaints on there end. Overall a nice hole in the wall establishment just a little bit off the beaten path of busy bardstown road that has above average bbq, good service and a good atmosphere.

Drove over 30 minutes because I heard there was a very good barbecue to be had, but once I was instantly greeted by a very disrespectful cashier. Never made eye contact continue to look at her phone while pointing with a pin behind her at the menu. Definitely do not recommend this place if you are African-American.

The most amazing experience I have had in a restaurant yet. The owner was in there working himself making it the best experience ever for us. He took our order himself and gave us free sides for our 1 year old! Then when our 4 year old was crying for a hot dog (even though she ordered ribs) he heard and brought her out a hot dog on the house and even cut it up for her. Super nice dude!!! Everything was clean and tasted amazing as always.!

Eight of us went to Bootleg this evening to celebrate a birthday. I was craving the pork chop but they were already sold out for the night, that's how good it is. The pork chop is approximately an inch to an inch and a quarter thick and smoked to juicy perfection. But I love the chicken also so it was an easy switch. The half bird was Smokey and juicy, the skin roasted to a crisp yet moist tasty bite. The baked potatoes are huge and come with butter, sour cream, bacon and cheese. Two of our party had the big Nasty and really enjoyed them. The big Nasty is a large brisket sandwich on a Kaiser bun smothered with gooey cheese, peppers, onions, and a tangy white sauce. The baked beans, tater salad, mac and cheese were all given a thumbs up. The service is friendly and the restaurant inviting.

Food was great the waitress sucked they were rude messed up when charging me for my food and then says it will be 3 business days to get my money back

I don't know how I've lived in the Louisville area for the length of time I have and had never had Bootleg BBQ!!! Our party had a carry out order tonight. We had the Baby Back Ribs, the Pulled Pork BBQ, Baked Beans, Mac and Cheese, Silk Pie, and Cherry Cobbler. Each and every bite of this food was absolutely SUCCULENT and FULL OF FLAVOR from the meat to the side dishes and the last bite of the dessert!!!!! I'm not always all about BBQ type food but this place BEATS THEM ALL, that I've ever had before! I'm looking forward to a reason to return here for a carry out order again! They have some sort of extra magical way that they do their Baby Back Ribs!!!! EXCELLENT!

My husband has been here a few times but this time he got a large pork chop and it was really salty and tasteless. It was just lukewarm. We ordered it to go and they told us it would be really in 26 minutes. He ate some of it but quit because of all the salt on it. Won't go back.

my wife and I came here tonight to get some really nice ribs and what we got was some store bought rib. we've ate here before and the ribs were much bigger some we got tonight were somewhat burn. aside from that when we ordered the ribs we were wanting the family meal where you get two large sides and rolls but when they called our name we had two individual sides so I took them back up and the girls said she wanted us to get another individual sides I didn't want to call a seen because there was so many people around and I didn't want to embarrass me or the restaurant so we just left but it will be a long time before we come back to bootleg bbq they used to be the best place for ribs but not anymore

Great smoky food, quality service, restaurant is small, but we this place to order massive takeout orders for parties and events Recommend 10/10 if you like smoked chicken.

Used to love this place until today! We spent $45.00 on a half of slab of baby back ribs and the smallest chicken wings I ever saw! The wings looked like humming bird wings, I never saw any wings that small! The ribs were cold and tough! Won't be back here and the sad thing is I have been coming here for 15 years!

Wings are good. A little on the small side but tasty. You have to order them 24 hours in advance to get them. The girl working the counter was (how shall I say this) a piece of work. Went in and there were some girls ordering at the counter and I walked up to the carry out counter. Girl said I need to get in the other line behind the girls. After she takes care of the girls she ask me what I wanted and I told her I had a carry out order and she told me I needed to be in the other line.

Tried the smoked chicken. The leg/ thigh portion was okay. The breast portion was extremely dry and not easy to eat. I have learned to check the sack when doing carry out. The sides did not make it into the sack. Every time I try Bootleg my expectations are disappointed. Good reputation but not deserved.

The brisket was decent. The coleslaw was bland and boring. My wife had to add vinegar and sugar to make it good. The macaroni was no big deal. I made better from Kroger. Too far from my house. I only went there because I had a free gift certificate.

Service and ambiance have made improvements over the years, but unfortunately the BBQ is just not there. Bootleg is okay in a pinch, but fails to even rival a chain like City BBQ. The meat has more of a first time smoking flavor than a serious BBQ joint. The sides such as potato salad and red beans with rice are the highlights. Okay but not great.

The food is always spot on and a fan favorite at events! But if you need catering for 10-20 people, you need to arrange it well in advance since they need plenty of time to prepare. On the same day, I went in and tried to get a 3 pints of potato salad, and I was denied saying it would take 3 hours to have that ready. It felt odd since they should be able to prep more quickly, so I went to another BBQ joint to get what I needed.

My favorite barbecue place in Louisville. Like the pulled pork, mutton and twice baked potatoes.

So, before COVID I definitely had my favorite BBQ spots, and they were unrivaled. Sadly, COVID damaged them pretty severely and now they are shadows of their former selves. I was in the market for a new place and STAT! Did I drive miles out of my way to seek this place out based on a single persons recommendation? You bet I did! And was I glad I did! You walk in and order at the counter, then pick up when your name is called. The interior looks like the remnants of a barn sale - there are knickknacks, and barn wood walls, but the decor is scattered all over randomly, and not jammed full like you'd see at like a Cracker Barrel or something. I ordered the pork sandwich with coleslaw and mashed potato and gravy. The pork was excellent, moist and flavorful, and the coleslaw added made it messy and wonderful. The potatoes are real and fresh. If I had any complaint it would be the sauce I was given, it was overly sweet and cloying, I saw other sauces that they had but was not given an option to choose so I don't know if i could have changed it. Fingers crossed that they open a second location more north of this one but until then I am driving forever to get here.

I Ordered 75 hot and sticky wings. The sauce is amazing, but the problem is I couldn't find the chicken. I am still not sure where you can purchase a bird that small unless they own a hummingbird farm. All I could do once I got home was laugh that I spent $75 on my new hot and sticky toothpicks. On top of that, the young staff that works there acts like they are disturbed that you would have the audacity to pull them away from their phone to wait on a you. On a positive note, the potato salad was delicious.

After a walk at Broad Run park on a beautiful day, we decided we wanted to have dinner on a patio and Bootleg was near by with outdoor seating. Little did we know, before pulling up to the restaurant, that they were closed to dining and were only doing carry-out. We decided to place our carry-out order over the phone but still sit in their outdoor seating area. We let them know we were sitting outside. The food was ready VERY quickly (we were all shocked) and they brought it out to the picnic table where we were seated. I ordered the pulled turkey sandwich with 2 sides: green beans and mashed potatoes/gravy. I advised that they could hold the bun because I like to eat my BBQ with a fork but they gave me the bun anyhow so I had half the bun as "bread" for the meal as one might have with their dinner. The turkey was a small serving, probably because it was a perfect amount for a sandwich; however, it ended up being enough for me with having the sides. The greens beans and potatoes were great! My group also ordered a couple quarter chickens and the pork chop meal... sides included a couple giant baked potatoes (which were definitely that, giant) and mac & cheese. Everyone seemed overall happy with their food.

Stopped by while staying at a local AirBnB in the area. This place makes everything homemade and it shows. This review was done during COVID and this place was strictly following the guidelines and we appreciated it! There is a covered area with picnic tables to eat outdoors. Otherwise, you can only order via phone or online (during COVID). I have been to dozens of bbq places across the country and this place outpaces most all of them. We ordered most everything on the menu. First, if there is any way you can order the smoked sticky wings you will not be be disappointed. Smokey, full of flavor and sticky sweet makes them unforgettable. For the meats, we ordered the spare ribs, smoked chicken, pulled pork, and smoked sausage. The ribs were a model of perfection; tender, smokey, and a wonderful coating of seasonings. No sauce required there! The rub on the smoked chicken was outstanding and the meat was moist and delicious. The smoked sausage was juicy, with a great snap, and just wonderful. The sides here are some of the best I've ever had. All homemade, the recipes were great. The cole slaw and tater salad were perfect, but the real star of the show for me was the baked beans. Unusually sweetened with a hint of cinnamon, they stand out from other baked beans you might find elsewhere. We also had the red beans and rice (topped with a spiced tomato paste), green beans, Cajun chicken gumbo, and mashed potatoes. All worth the price of admission! The burgoo stew, a Kentucky specialty, was a unique, rich, and delicious. Highly recommended. They also offer a very, very unique Kentucky bbq sauce made from Worcestershire, vinegar, and spices. A bit unusual, but worth a try. Last, but not least, we had the bread pudding and butter cream pie for dessert. What a way to top off such an outstanding meal! Be sure to leave room for dessert or bring it home for later!

Went looking for a local bbq spot and this place was amazing ! I ordered the pulled pork bbq sandwich , Mac & cheese, mashed potatoes w/ gravy, and baked beans. Everything was well seasoned especially the baked beans, you could tell they put onion powder or actual onions in them. I went in the middle of the week during dinner hours and it was pretty quiet which was nice. Anytime I drive past on the weekends it is fully packed. It took them less than ten minutes to bring out our food and it was pretty hot. Definitely a place to bring family from out of town to try, will go again!

Food was decent. Cole slaw i didn't care for a whole lot. They forgot a couple of things but fixed it. When I got there I ordered some wings and they forgot about me but they refunded the meal and still gave me the food. The wings were small but very good. They cost 13$ so to get 12 wings for that price they're not going to be that big. But I was filled up when done. I don't understand why they don't offer regular fries lol. That blows my mind still. Besides a stupid tiny little teenager who instead of asking to spell my name like any normal person would do spelled it as Cundip and idk I just thought that was very rude. I've had friends call me that for years and that's all fun and games but I mean when you're making money off of peoples orders you usually want to treat them with courtesy and respect right? Well this little 3 1/2 foot blonde dummy who honestly looked like she was 9 but obviously was at least 18 seemed to have a whole lot of attitude but not much brains and that showed with how disrespectful she was. So I give her a -2 stars but besides the little things I give them 4 stars. Everyone else was respectful and I think once they seen my note on the receipt and realized what happened they may of got a chuckle out of it which I did to at first but like I said you're running a business. Disrespecting a customer isn't the best idea. Just ask how to spell a name next time. Really isn't that hard. But she was struggling to do math so maybe her brain was on the fritz and she just can't think about more then one thing at a time. Maybe don't have her taking orders and as we the phone and handle money. It's just to much for her I guess.

Ordered wings and bbq for a graduation party. Food was delicious, prices were reasonable and they even helped me load it into my car. All guests raved about the food

Omg, I love the smoked chicken wings I highly recommend This Place to e two thumbs up for me. I'll definitely Will be eating their again very soon

It was just okay. There wasn't much meat on the stuffed potato and it didn't have much flavor. The sausage and red beans is not very Cajun so don't expect much. It's just an average place. I've had better but it wasn't horrible either.

The best bbq place. I love their green beans , red beans and rice andof course the bbq. They always have my oder ready in a timely manner. The new placeon Bardstown rd is decorated cool also.

This was my first visit to Bootleg since the remodel and wow, the change is dramatic. They have a real restaurant now with air conditioning and everything! Bootleg has always been a counter service place, so that hasn't changed, and, as far as I can tell, neither has the menu. We called ahead and ordered 25 wings, plus a half chicken, sandwich, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese when we got there. The wings were good, the chicken was solid and so were the sides. Is it the best barbecue in the area? Probably not. Is it worth a try? Absolutely.

It's ok but not worth the money. Wing were tasty but extremely small. Mac and cheese was very liquidly like a cheesy pasta soup. Did not like the ribs. People talk this place up but I can't find a reason to go back.

My favorite BBQ place by far. Highly recommend the sticky & spicy wings. Call three hours prior to picking up. Well worth the wait, I promise!

The food is excellent especially the wings and ribs!!! I only order those two from them. The price is fair. The service is very good and the workers are friendly and courteous as well as thorough. Spacious dining area with plenty of nostalgia. My favorite barbecue place!! Which we had one in Elizabethtown!!

Best potato salad ever and the pulled pork barbecue is my favorite so we try to stop by at least ice a month!

I was at a party tonight where Bootleg was served. The food was delicious and the gentleman Cayden who was working the event made sure the food stayed hot and was kept replenished. He seemed to have a strong work ethic and he was laser focused on making sure everything was perfect. Job well done for him!

It's good. It's not fantastic. Choose carefully. Love the bread pudding. Sides are good. Wings when you can get them.

Food is always good. I like ordering the family pack because there are 4 of us eating. Always friendly and efficient every time I go!

Everything was fine. Beef brisket was excellent. Fries were hot. Salad was fresh. Breed was fresh. Service was great and left full and satisfied. Definitely recommend!

Uhm - ot was ok but a long drive for oddly sliced thinly brisket cobbler was horrible gooey and sickly sweet

Not the best and wings have to be ordered 3 hours in advance so if you don't live in town you can't order them

Order ahead and pick up. Dine in or sit outside. Food is always great and staff always friendly. I have ordered dinner for my family or a quick hotdog for myself. Always hot and delicious. When we ordered bulk/catering for wings...they were hot when I picked them up and a crowd pleaser. If cobbler (peach) is available...try it.

Great food been going for years, highly recommend. This place has a great atmosphere and good people working there. The food is fantastic and potatoes are huge.

Bootleg - revived! For years, a smoky little shack that we drove by, but noticed a parking lot full of cars every time. So, we had to try it and this little bbq joint quickly became a favorite of my family for probably 20+ years. A bit of a scary side-of-the road shanty, they not only had the best smoked meats, but the best sides of any bbq place I've ever had. We used it for many catering events too - open houses and Thanksgiving at the office and family reunions(wings are super for events as is the ham salad). In the last couple of years though - I noticed that my favorite potato salad was not as good, so as things go, I thought, 'well, nothing lasts forever'. So I was thrilled yesterday when I decided to try them again and i discovered they had moved into a beautiful spacious new building, and even better, the food was back to its best! As mentioned, the potato salad was perfecto again! Little cubes of potatoes in a creamy (sour cream with dill pickles???) based sauce with just the right amount of pepper that makes it unique and addictive. If my description doesn't sound good, believe me, everyone I know is crazy for this potato salad. Then the meats are the stars - Pulled pork, chicken or turkey and the spare ribs are what I order and their sauces are perfect - not too sweet - and I like a bit of their Texas red for some kick. Then it's impossible to decide the fav order between the baked beans, green beans and the cactus salad - a vinegar and texas red sauce cabbage slaw that my husband is crazy for and I like it too. The atmosphere is homey and countryish - uh - bbqish? The service - Kentucky diner - friendly and efficient. This is an order and pickup at the counter place rather than sit down and order, but it is one of the few places that I don't mind at all being my own waitress. When I arrived about 11:30am on Friday, the place was packed for the lunch period. I ordered a huge amount of food for the office and thinking it would take a while, I promised to be back to pick it up after a nearby errand that took about 15 minutes. The food was ready to go when I got back. The parking lot has improved over what it was, but it could still use a bit more work, especially after the big rains that we've had, but it is so worth the bit of puddle dodging if you have to park in the outer areas. There is ample handicap parking near the door though. No alcohol served here (darn) but carryout is a great option. Or, I've never done it, but there is a liquor store/bar next door with picnic tables out back and large summer crowds. Might be a possibility for better weather. And prices are right here. The best bargain is if you buy in bulk. I overfed 8 people for $83, including tax, on a pound each of pork and chicken, a full slab of meaty spare ribs, 2 pints each of potato salad and baked beans, 1 pint each of cole slaw and cactus salad. It came with a dozen buns and sides of sauce, onions and pickles. We had enough left over that hubby and I had supper and lunch the next day! And everyone at the office loved it too. This place doesn't need Yelp reviews to stay busy though - it is obvious they have a loyal fan base. But don't let the crowds deter you, they have a lot more space inside now and they are more efficient than ever. Yay! Love it - again!

When they started charging for takeout orders, we stopped eating with them Plus their food has gone diwnhill in flavor & quality.