Rubbies Southside Grill & Bar

Rubbies is a hidden precious gem of a restaurant. The atmosphere of dining room and the food is fantastic. I came specifically for the hot brown based on previous reviews and location south of the city. Tried the seasoned fries as an appetizer; the herb combination was an interesting bitter flavor helped by no salt and perfectly crisp fries. The feature hot brown was everything described by others; a true flavor trip between savory turkey, rich, salty, and a blanket of hot cheese. Overall I rate the perimeter to be 10/10 and the center 7/10. The hotter areas had stronger flavor and the almost warm turkey center could have been a ten too. Being the first time enjoying hot brown, is this the norm? In addition, a Skookie was planned from the start. In short this was the best cookie dessert I've ever eaten (many) for all its gooey chip-rich center and Quality ice cream. Every spoonful was a prize. The front room was full; we sat in the back room with a couple other groups. Since much is fresh baked, overall time approaches two hours. We were not rushing, rather savoring the experience. We did recommend Rubbies to many others already. I will return.

Excellent food. Stopped here traveling to see a friend and had the Texas Club brisket sandwich it was amazing. Friend had a rib eye steak it was cooked perfectly with huge portioned side dishes. Definitely try the truffle fries. The Hot Brown sandwich was a first also and it tasted fantastic. The sweet tea was home made and delicious. Ordered a peach cobbler and it came in its own cast iron definitely made from scratch. Strongly recommend.

Went two days in a row. Everything was amazing from the owner to the service to the food to the desert. We tried the wings, the tenders, peach cobbler, the brisket all of it.

Fabulous place. Visited for Louisville Wing Week. Gotta say their smokey wings are leading the week atm. Great locals, dining area, bar area, fast service and good prices.

Popular with the locals. We ordered the smoke wings which were very good and the baby back ribs that were excellent. Full bar with spirits wine and beer. Appetizers Salads burgers on the menu. Really great service.

The Motor oil Wings was great. Nice large portion. Not bs drum or flats the people over chsrge for. Cool atmosphere that had 70s/80s vibe. The locals seemed be fun and happy crowd living their life.

I wish I could give this place 6 stars. The people here are great and the food is amazing. Best peach cobbler I’ve ever had. Really good prices too! Love this place.

Rubies is a classic! I had the hot brown and it was delicious. True South End vibe in Louisville, KY Thanks for the memories

If you have the notion that 'life is uncertain, begin with dessert', this is the place for you! Before we ordered our lunch, the owner/manager came by and highlighted their Peach Cobbler, that should be ordered before lunch, so that it will be finished baking by the end of your meal, so we did! Our friends ordered a Hot Brown that she described as the best ever! Her friend ordered Boneless Wings (tenders) with their signature ' Motor Oil Seasoned rub; again, a large helping and beautifully prepared. He loved the seasoning! My hubs had the Chicken BarBQue Platter, served with 2 sides ; wonderful baked beans and really good coleslaw, generous helpings. He said the chicken on the bun was too much chicken to handle as a sandwich, so he ate some and then put the rest in the bun. Rubbies offers a different special daily. Monday was Roast Beef and mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans, a trip down memory lane for me. My only suggestion for improving this standard is to lightly toast the bread before ladling on the beef and gravy. Finally l, after we were finished with the meal and had packed the leftovers for later, the cobblers arrived, steaming hot from the oven, topped with a large serving of vanilla ice cream and 2 spoons and plates for sharing. Wonderful! Great service, warm and welcoming atmosphere, down home sort of feeling, ample servings and moderately priced.

As strange as this might sound to some, I chose to spend my ten year anniversary, with my life partner, eating Motor Oil Chicken Wings at Rubbies! I was given my choice of any restaurant in Louisville and I chose to go here. This place holds many great memories for us & never disappoints with outstanding food and great cocktails. It feels like home!

Headed to Rubbies for burger week with a couple of friends. It was mid afternoon and most of the crowd was leaving as we were arriving so plenty of parking. We all ordered the specialty burger, cheddar cheese, onion straws, bourbon bbq sauce, with pickles, lettuce and tomato. I thought the burger was great, juicy and a great mix of flavors. One friend ordered a side salad that she enjoyed and i had french fries tgat wrre ok. But all in all a great burger, great service and a fun relaxing spot to catch up with friends. Outside of burger week Rubbies is one of our favorite resturants, . Great food, usually good service and a friendly neighborhood bar and grill.

Came here for lunch today and had a great experience. My toddler was with me and everyone was kind and patient with us. I got the half club sandwich which was awesome! I also got a cup of burgoo which had just the right amount of kick. My son had a grilled cheese and fries. The fries were well seasoned and I would definitely get more for myself next time I come by! Also, ordered smoked wings to go for my husband and he was really impressed. They were delicious!

Great BBQ! Plus daily special posted on marquee Service friendly and with plenty of customers we received for lunchtime Plenty of menu options. Great for game day with huge projection TV's

This is a hidden gem, restaurant on one side bar on the other. You will be surprised by the decor here. Great variety of food options. We visited during hot brown week, so they were more busy than usual. I ordered a kids burger and fries. Quick service and friendly

Want to eat at an antique store and have stomach pain after? This is the place! Nestled in Southern Louisville somehow this creature that can't be called a restaurant was formed. I was eager to try the place after being rated so highly in Leo Readers but I was dumbfounded by the quality. It felt as if they rated this place so high as a universal gag and I mere fool for believing it. Ambiance is musty and crowded. AVOID AT ALL COST

We had quite possibly the most fun ever at a BBQ place, not to mention a delicious dinner. Star expertly guided us to the best local IPA and steaks. We had never had Kentucky Burgoo before but it's an amazing smoky meat stew with vegetables and a hint of peppery heat. The chicken wings we started with were excellent and the peach cobbler dessert was outstanding. No soggy pie dough - just a fluffy biscuit topping that did not overpower the peaches. Toward the end of our visit, a big group arrived for a birthday party and a young boy belted out a version of Pink Pony Club that would make Chappell Roan proud. Star's mom Dolores helps out, and we enjoyed talking with her. Go! It may not look like much, but it is awesome and there are loads of Marilyn Monroe photos wherever you look!

Tried this place for the first time and the Smoked Rubbie Wings did not disappoint as well as the Ranch dressing to dip. I had a moscato as well. Service was great ~ Suzanne was Awesome. It was quite busy and she provided excellent customer service in the midst of it all. Ambiance bar type setting after work & regulars. I will have to come back and try the motor oil wings.

Smoked wings didn't taste smoked at all, in fact very little flavor. If you're a bbq joint then everything should come out on point!

I don't know what happened to Rubbies but it has really fallen off and it breaks my heart. A group of 7 of us came in at 1:00 for lunch. The place was busy, as usual, but certainly not slammed. The service was friendly but took a long time. The food is good, as always, but it took over an hour to get. Other tables were cancelling their lunch orders because people had to get back to work. This is the third time this has happened and I don't know what is up! I really, really hope they can get back to the Rubbies that I once knew and loved!

Been several times. Quirky little spot that does everything well. A little old/dated in the dining room, a lot of old Hollywood movie posters and pictures, but clean and cozy. Can't speak well enough of the food they serve. Spinach/Artichoke dip is amazing, and the Motor oil wings are a staple and a must try. Great burgers, and their smoked meats are great. They have a great Fried fish platter during lent, and daily specials that vary through the week. A lot of high end takes on basic comfort food with portions that are almost obscene. Hands down the best Bourbon selection in South end. The owner takes great pride in his bourbon, and offers the best Old Fashioned I've had in that part of the city. Nice bar next door that has a big patio. A really unique place that is worth the visit for a great meal or just a good bourbon.

Never a wrong choice when you dine here. The meatloaf Wednesday is fantastic and just talk to the chef; he KNOWS the drill.

Service by Dana was amazing. Loved the atmosphere - we discussed if we lived closer, it would def our local. Great cocktails, clean bathrooms. Salad, Bloody Mary, mule, lemon drops, and Burgoo were 10/10. The chicken fingers were breaded nicely with great flavor, but had a crazy chewy texture that was disappointing and a challenge to eat. We def will be back!!!

Food was really good, had a nice portion for the price. Pretty affordable too. Service was good and it was nice and clean inside. Definitely get the onion strings if you like onions, they were heavenly.

Came during hot brown week- the restaurant was busy but service was great. Tried the smoked wings and they're quite good. Blue cheese was home made and delicious! We all got the hot brown and green beans both were great. Order the old fashion and it was delicious, very fruity and full! The restaurant is eclectic, lots of antiques and old Hollywood photos- it seems there are lots of regulars and you can tell why!

Yelping and Googling to find where to find Louisville's Famous Hot Brown and came upon several places, Rubbies being one of the top contenders for the area. They also had the smoked wings, bourbon, Burgoo (a stew that's almost like a chili but with a uniquely different savoriness to it), and brisket. They had it all so we decided to go for it. Wings were nice and smokey and the flavor was very good. Husband ordered a bourbon (when in Kentucky!) and was given several recommendations by our wonderful server, Sherri. He went with the Wellers 12 year, that had a really lovely finish. I ordered the Hot Brown and he ordered their brisket club with stringed onions. Oh, and we HAD to have a cup of the Burgoo, another "must try" when visiting Kentucky. Everything we had was REALLY GOOD! We were very happy with our selections. (It may take me some getting used to to have another crack at the Hot Brown...it was very rich and heavy. Took it home to try to chisel it down some more. ) The onion strings were delicious, the Burgoo was very good, the brisket sandwich was flavorful...overall awesome. You also have the benefit of NOT being in downtown, which I imagine would've set us WAY back in price, being downtown. Reasonably priced for the enormous amount of food we ordered. The place could use a little sprucing up, but I think that's part of its charm. One thing to consider. If you're interested in their peach cobbler, which I totally was, it does take 25 minutes to prepare as they make it in house and from scratch. We were in a time crunch so, sadly, we were not able to try it. So, if you want it, maybe halfway through your meal, order the peach cobbler so it'll be ready for the end of your meal.

I was planning for a drive through Louisville with the family. This place is a rare place. They have a kids menu and an extensive bourbon list including flights. There aren't a lot of places in the world where you can get chicken tenders and fries for the kids while trying three Weller pours. This hit the spot. They were understaffed and it took a little while to get seated despite plenty of available tables but once we were seated, the service made up for it. Everything came out quickly and you can't go wrong with barbecue and bourbon for dinner. We were in and out in under an hour so it was the perfect stop. I'm not sure we could have parked, walked and waited in line if we had tried that downtown.

The food was ok. Drink was giving tipsy. Waitress wasn't super happy to serve us it seems, she was focused on her other customers. I had to find her to checkout, couldn't find her, so another employee checked us out. I won't be back.

Great hot brown. Good service and fast! Would come here again. Feels more like a local dive for those in the neighborhood.

First time checking out this establishment and I overheard the waitress telling a group of women that Rubbies has been there for thirty years.They must be doing something great because Kentucky Hot Brown was delicious and Rubbies Barbecue & Brew has one of the top three in our area.The place has a nice cozy and lively atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.

Haven't been to Louisville in over a year and half, decided to have a mini reunion with fiancés family at Rubbies. Received friendly service and felt welcomed. Ordered the 'Pulled Pork Sandwich' and thought it was a little dry for my liking. Not that it wasn't good, just a tad on the dry side. The BBQ sauce was fantastic though. Looking at everyone else's food, it all looked really good.

I wouldn't recommend this place to ANYONE of color. I wish we had checked the reviews before we went. We came for Louisville wing week. The servers were rude. One told us "just a minute" and never came back. The other came and rudely asked if we had been helped. She walked off and from across the room, yelled to ask us what we wanted to drink. (She didn't do this to the other tables). When she brought the menus, she practically moved my arm out of the way to set it down. When she brought our drinks, she threw the straws down on the table. We eventually got up and left. They are DEFINITELY racist and it's disgusting

This is their hotbrown "in a creamy cheese sauce". That is not a hot brown. The real deal is moray sauce. Shame on you. You should not call it a hot brown. Yuck!!!!

This is my second time here and both times I've been impressed by most of the food. My husband and I ordered the hot brown and it was full of flavor and so good. We ordered the potato skins appetizer which we didn't particularly care for. It was covered in raw onions which we can't stand. Just making a mental note of what not to order for the next visit. From previous visits I can report that the green beans, baked beans and chicken tenders are really good! The dining area is dated and in need of some TLC as it has a lot of wood paneling and the walls are cluttered. Some could argue that gives it character but just gives a dreary appearance in my opinion. The servers were very nice. We will return.

Love this place - the motor oil tenders are delish!!! I highly recommend this place. We always get carry out.

Great food, outstanding service for our group of 10 for lunch. We certainly will return. And the decor was certainly fun to look at! We highly recommend Rubbies for bar b que and other great eats !

This was an interesting dining experience. This restaurant reminds me of the greasy spoon Greek family restaurants of years past. Massive menu, the Americana decor everything. I felt like I was stepping back into the 90s but it had its charm. I went to Rubbies during Hot Brown week. The staff was talking about how it had been nonstop busy all day. This was noticeable, they were out of some stuff, my beer and someone else's drinks had to be subbed because they were out of it. I ordered the hot brown and my order was out quickly, it was everything I could have wanted in a down the middle standard hot brown. It was gooey and warm and feels like home to this Louisville transplant. I'd like to go back and try their more standard fair like the bbq in their name. I think if you have family in town who aren't super adventurous this is the place to go on the south side of town

Can you go higher than 5? Got here when they were very busy and understaffed. Didn't matter. They still did a great job taking care of me. The Kentucky Hot Brown was absolutely awesome. Visited while traveling for work. Traveling the next several weeks and will be back several times.

I almost don't want to tell anyone about this hidden gem. The bourbon selection was off the chain. The food was from scratch. The bartendress was knowledgeable and all around amazing. Everything was delicious. If I lived in Louisville, I would be here often.

Good bourbon list, decent beer selection, great service and mediocre food during our one visit. Your mileage may vary. The dinner salad was pedestrian; typical iceberg and maybe another lettuce a couple onions and two slices of hard boiled egg. The hot brown looked good but was too salty. I'd give it another shot based on the vibe and good service.

This place is a hidden gem. I have a house off of S 1st st. I forgot all about this place! So I go in today for lunch and it was great! The food was so good, the atmosphere and the waitress was amazing! I even got some food to go Needless to say I will definitely be back.

Ok, we love this place! Think back to backyard picnics and BBQ's. The sides are amazing and exactly what I would expect 20 years ago at a dinner, family restaurant, or picnic. The potato salad, coleslaw, and smoked baked beans are delicious. The smoky, motor oil wings are crispy and then the dipping sauce is sweet, savory, and can have just a touch of spice. They are messy, but amazing. The daily specials have been great and the jalapeño cream cheese appetizer is awesome! We've had burgoo, some bourbon steak (amazing sauce too), hot brown, brisket, fried chicken salad, and more. It's all been delicious. The 4 stars...service can be a little slow and one time the steak was very grisly.

I went to Rubbie's to enjoy a band I knew that was playing there, but got hungry and decided to try some of the food while I was there. The space was incredibly unassuming. Posters of old Hollywood stars - particularly Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn - hung on the walls in the main dining area where the band was playing. But because it was so packed we ended up sitting in the bar to eat. I was in the mood for a cheeseburger so I ordered a Rubbie's burger and the Simon & Garfunkel fries. The reason for the 4 instead of 5 stars is simply because of the wait. We waited and waited. Yes, they were very busy that night so we were pretty patient. The person I was with ordered burgoo which theoretically should have come out fairly quickly - so I thought, assuming they had a batch ready to go for anyone who ordered. But it took at least 30 minutes to get that. After about another 15 minutes we asked about the burger - it seems our bartender had forgotten about it. About 10 minutes later it finally came out. I was a little annoyed but I will say that the burger was VERY good. Very juicy, well seasoned. Just a great class diner burger - something that seems to be increasingly difficult to find. The fries were also quite taste as they were dusted with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (like the Simon & Garfunkel song "Scarborough Fair"). The portion size was quite large as well. My boyfriend really enjoyed the burgoo - so much so that he ordered another cup to go.

Going back soon. The chicken tenders and motor oil were great. The fires were perfect and the slaw was delicious. The guys behind me got a steak and it smelled wonderful x. My husband wolfed down his wings as well. You can tell them you want spicy "motor oil" and they spice it up! I want to try the hot brown next but I don't know if I can not get the chicken!

We all ordered the wings with the motor oil sauce, you can't go wrong, this place is like walking back in time, very cool

we used to go to Rubies all the time ( the motor oil wing was our all time favorite ) July 1st around 2 pm - order the wings - 8 for $16 Bucks - they were just regular size wings - about half the size they used to be - the product did not warrant the cost -- fries were soggy was not crisp - it was apparent was not served immediately .. I ordered the Brisket sandwich - it also was served at room temperature - was not tender but very tough - and the bun and meat was covered in so much barbecue sauce could not taste the smoked brisket at all - The restaurant was not busy - had 3 people at tables - had to wait to be seated - apparently not worth the drive from Shepherdsville any more -feel i might have been a little to generous with the stars - actually a 1/2 star would have been appropriate ... Sorry i had this experience - was always one of our favorite places to go for good food - Think they lost a customer of many years today -

Absolutely one of my favorite places in Louisville. Whether I'm stopping in for wings (smoked or motor oil), the brisket sandwich, or their Hot Brown Rubbies never disappoints. Great comfort food and friendly service mix with a decor out of the 70's and you have a dining experience that is unlike any other in town.

Came to check them out for burger week and was never greeted or seated to try the food. We waited 15 minutes and were still not greeted. The servers looked at us but never came to sit us down. Even walked over to the bar and was not acknowledged. I would not recommend this place to anyone who looks similar to me. Seems to be a members only place.Went to the next establishment on the list was seated and greeted immediately.

What a great find. We were leaving the jack-o'-lantern spectacular. Looking for something close and came across this gem. The service from Tamara was fantastic and the Texas sandwich was incredible. The beans are fantastic and the mammoth burger was gigantic. We also really enjoyed the smoked wings. ask for a side of the motor oil sauce because this stuff is great and I even started drinking it at the table. Not very classy, but I don't care because it was awesome. Definitely going to give this a big old thumbs up.

racist bartender worst customer service won't very bad service won't ever go back there

Very good food and service. Always friendly and food is always fresh and hot. Motor oil wings are the best wings in Louisville, and are sold as whole wings not half wigs like everywhere else.

Food is good. Service was excellent. However, we thought it was a BBQ joint, sadly no pulled pork.

Every time I've ever went there for carry out they take forever. So I started calling it in ahead of time. But even then you go there and it takes them forever to come to counter so you can pay. This last time I stood there 10 minutes looking at my food at register waiting for them. Then I get home and my dad and I's side of potato salad that cost almost $3 was so small it was ridiculous. Looked like to table spoons worth. And their chicken wings are tiny. They taste good but I've never seen such little wings. Like they came off baby chickens. I'm tired of the bad experiences I keep having with them. They cost too much for what it is and have bad service. So I'll never go back.

We came to town for the Jack'O Lantern spectacular and stopped in for dinner. I loved the old school feel and all the random decor. Our server was Sophie or Sofia (I can't remember!) she was amazing! Attentive and quick! We had the hickory smoked brisket and the "motor oil" chicken wings, both were delicious!

Okay so if you like good food and amazing nice service but you don't care what the place looks like! This is the place! I love the local bar scene, a place just to have a few drinks and good appetizers! Our bartender/waitress was amazing, so welcoming! Thanks for the warm welcome to some out of state girls from Colorado!

Unique place as it is split into two settings a dive bar and a restaurant that isn't just bar food. I was pleasantly surprised by the food options offered. Other than that it was a let down. The lighting even in the restaurant is very damp and depressing almost. The service was very slow. Waitress very quiet and soft spoken and our drinks stayed empty. We waited 20 min after we had finished our meals until we received our check. The decor there looked like it had been in place since the 70's. True definition of grandma furniture and decor. I have a rule if there is a hot brown on the menu I am going to order it. So I got the ky hot brown. It honestly was not very good. It did come out piping hot at lest. The sauce was what made it not so good. My wife order the bourbon glazed steak and loved it. I'll give this place another try based on others feedback and just try something different. But for now based on my personal experience I have to rate it a low end 2.

Great Food....Wings, Chicken strips, BBQ, Brisket, Burgoo, Burgers, Steaks, Fried Chicken, Cod or Catfish, variety of sides plus daily plate lunch specials Monday thru Sunday. Restaurant and Bar area are separated. Great place to go for lunch, dinner, or FUN!!

It's a hit our a miss, I loved the ribs but they like a microwave more than a smoker. It sucks because this place has amazing potential. Love their fries, their wings. Stay away from the "fresh brisket or ribs"