The Old Talbott Tavern

My husband & I stayed here over Thanksgiving for our anniversary. This place is steeped in history, and staff were so gracious with their time to share the stories of the tavern with us. We stayed in the Washington Irving suite, and the room was very nice and spacious. There is a shared outdoor balcony that is very nice, and the museum adjacent to the Jesse James room was so interesting! We ate at the tavern’s restaurant for dinner during our stay, and our server, Emily, really made us feel right at home and gave us a few laughs. The food was top notch; we enjoyed the barbecue chip nachos, walnut crusted chicken, the hot brown, and the Talbott tavern pie. The pie was so good I ordered a second slice to go. This place is well worth going out of your way to visit if you enjoy seeing American history in an interactive format.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Phenomenal Service and Amazing Food at The Old Talbott Tavern! I had the pleasure of being served by Johnathan, and he absolutely made my visit exceptional. From the moment I sat down, he was warm, professional, and incredibly attentive without ever being overbearing. His knowledge of the menu and drink recommendations were spot-on. I ordered the Spiced Old Fashioned and the Hot Brown, and both were nothing short of fantastic. The cocktail was perfectly balanced with just the right amount of spice, and the Hot Brown was rich, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Johnathan checked in at just the right moments to make sure everything was perfect, and his friendly personality really elevated the whole dining experience. If you’re visiting Bardstown or The Old Talbott Tavern, do yourself a favor and ask for Johnathan. Outstanding service, delicious food, and an unforgettable experience! Highly recommend.

Service and Location are great. The wife and I were staying in town for a bourbon trail week. We came in were seated right away the staff was awesome. The food on the other hand was not. I had the mango pork chop it was OK very heavy on the pepper very heavy my mashed potatoes and gravy were cold and the potatoes tasted old. My wife ordered the shrimp and grits shrimp were fine but the grits were not good super dry and clumpy.... would we come back Nope.... there are better places just a few 100 feet away to eat....

We stopped here for lunch on our way to Makers Mark for a bourbon tour. Service was quick, the dining room was comfortable, a bit loud as others have noted, but added to the atmosphere. The highlight though was the food! My husband had the country fried steak and it was the thickest piece of country fried steak I’ve ever seen, and I had the hot brown. I’ve always been hesitant to order it in restaurant, but I saw one on a plate as we were led to our table and decided to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did! They also had a specialty drink menu. Since it was fall, I went for the apple cider mule, and it was very yummy! I look forward to going back again and trying some other items on the menu.

While in town, couldn't pass up stopping by and getting a bowl of the Tavern's famous Burgoo. Delicious! And a very nice cold, fresh side salad. Good service. Good food. Nice gifts like bourbon chocolates and hats, candles etc to choose from in the lobby. They say that Jesse James stayed here and George Washington and more, as it was the first stage stop west of the Allegheny mtns. A lot of history in this building which was restored after it caught fire.

Small place, we made a reservation for 5 on an app but didn't go through apparently since it wasn't on there system but seated us. Menu looked good and wanted to try a lot of different things. The 5 of us had something different and everything was delicious. I was thinking the portion was small but it filled me up. I did get the peach cobbler but wasn't impressed by it, it only had 5 peaches in it and had a cake on top and had ice cream.

Stayed recently on a short trip to visit some distilleries in the area. The location was fantastic and the room was very comfortable. The price of the room included breakfast, which was decent. Sadly we got cold food on our second day (even after it was remade it was still cold). We had some other issues with the room during our stay (housekeeping related) which we brought to the attention of the desk staff twice. Both times we were assured that they would discuss with their manager and someone would reach out to us. No one ever did. Over all the property is very nice and likely we would stay again. It was just disappointing that no one seemed to truly take ownership for our experience there.

We only came by for the food. Service was fast, food came quickly, food temperature and flavor was great. She had the Kentucky Hot Brown and I had the Country Fried Steak. This was our first visit and we will definitely be back.

Stopped for a wet and rainy lunch on my way out of town. This place was on my list so I was excited to be able to work it in. I had seen the soup and so had to try. The soup was delicious. Very hardy and filled. Excellent on a cold rainy day. The salad was very delicious also and I loved the house made dressing. I was greater upon entry. Due t the holiday season was asked what group I was with and then promptly seated in a front dining room with a great waitress. Very knowledgeable and super friendly. The place is an old historic working inn. Super neat and all the history was amazing. Definitely a place I want to return for non-work trip.

This place was such a good experience!! The Old Talbott Tavern is rich in history and offers a self guided tour. The service was excellent and our server was very friendly. The prices were very reasonable too. I highly recommend the cornbread!!! OMGoosh I could have eaten the whole basket! The Hot Brown was good although the Walnut crusted chicken that my friend ordered was way better. We ended the meal with bread pudding which was pretty good. Loved this place!

I read a news/travel article about the "oldest restaurants" in each state and found that the Old Talbott Tavern was not a afar drive from our home. Historically speaking this place is a real gem that is well-maintained after all these years. (5 stars) Service was courteous and for the most part & prompt. (4 stars) But we had to wait for the check. Food - both at dinner and breakfast (albeit complementary with our room next door at the Talbott Inn) was somewhat of a disappointment. (Granted, there are a lot of delicious-sounding items on the menus....so a second or third visit would be warranted for a more complete review.) My "Hot Brown," (an open-faced sandwich of turkey breast and ham covered in Mornay sauce, baked or broiled (yes) and topped with a slice of tomato and two slices of very crispy bacon)...came swimming in a bowlful of the sauce. (see my photo) The underlying toast (or in some cases served with toast points) was nothing more than an indiscernible slab of soggy white bread. Flavor - meh. My partner's salmon was very good; sides fine. Breakfast - limited selections, but fair - was just average...Oh, but they ran out of coffee (45 minutes before closing service - so I got none to start the day. Uh-uh. Sadly, while the historic atmosphere and ambiance was absolutely wonderful, the food just didn't live up to our expectations this time.

We stopped here for lunch on our way south and were glad we did. This historic 18th century building has been providing hospitality for many years and continues to do so today. We tried the traditional Hot Brown and a Rachel and both were top notch. Portions were more than generous and prices were reasonable. Service was good and parking is free outside on the street or in their small lot beside the building. Our only negative comment was the background music. They were playing 60's rock and it might have been appropriate for the customers who were mostly retired folks but it just didn't fit with the historical significance of the place but that was a minor annoyance. Over it's 5 stars in my book and highly recommended. Bardstown has a lot of other small, good restaurants but if you have to choose only one, this should be your choice IMHO.

Great atmosphere. Great food. The cornbread was the best I've had in my entire life.

I came here with 4 others. They all got burgers (1 medium, 3 medium rare) and I got the spaghetti squash special & a cup of burgoo since I hardly ever see spaghetti squash on a menu & I've never heard of burgoo. All the burger ordering peeps were like "Whoa! I usually order one level lower cuz places usually overdo it a bit, but this place nailed it!" Both of my food items were also really impressive! Definitely 5 stars even though the service was a bit slow for a Monday.

Reservation for seven people on Friday night at 8:15. I had eaten there once before, but the others were 1st time customers. Given a table by a cold, drafty large window (30 degrees outside) in a dining room that only had 1 other table of 2 people. Two fires were going in two different fireplaces in this room. Asked to move a couple of tables together by a fireplace where it would be warmer and was told no. Why you might ask? The waitress said because the tables were already set for lunch the next day. Meaning they had rolls of silverware on the table. No tablecloths, fine china, wine glasses. Just set with some rolls of silverware. What? It seemed like she just didn't wanna take the trouble to move tables and chairs. Very disappointed in the waitress. Very tempted not to tip, but did it anyway. Of course we should have either left or asked for the manager at this point , but we didn't want to make a fuss, which we should have. We ended up staying because most restaurants around close about 9, so we sort of felt like we didn't have much of a choice. 10-15 minutes after we ordered, the waitress came to tell us they were out of pot roast and veggie burgers, so 2 in our party had to re-order. Dinner was good overall. Banana peppers and Burgoo were delicious. I was a waitress for years. You don't treat customers this way when they ask for a different table because they are cold in a not crowded restaurant. * spoke to BOGIE, who's the restaurant manager, today. He apologized and said he would talk to the staff so something like this wouldn't happen in the future. He also said to ask for him if we come in again so he can make it a good dining experience.

The wait for the food appears to be the longest that we've ever had to wait. The ambience is really nice, But it has taken way too long to get our food. When we finally received our dinner 1 hour and 14 minutes later, the Shepards pot pie and pulled pork dinner was nothing to brag about. I do not recommend this place. Go to Mammy's instead!!!

If you want a great Kentucky tradition. You will find descent representations of hot browns and thick club sandwich and all the bourbon you could ever hope for! This informally bar setting lends towards a comfortable experience with a friendly staff in the heart of bourbon alley. Plus the historical vibes are authentic.

Best small town feeling and so welcoming. They make you feel like your family and take good care of you. A must stop when in area

There were 15 of us seated for a 5 PM Thursday dinner reservation. Reservations were made a month in advance and were able to be made via the Open Table system or calling the venue directly. The restaurant has a terrific website, which was helpful for several of us to review prior to our visit to preplan and accommodate dietary restrictions. Our party ended up being seated at 3 separate tables due to restaurant staff deciding we might not want to be seated together. We were pressed for time, so we decided to let this go; however, it was disappointing that our reservation request was not honored. Our waitress was polite and kind, but she seemed a bit overwhelmed by the size of our group, which ended up being 2 tables of 4 and 1 table of 7. The restaurant has a very high noise level, so it is difficult to have conversation in a typical range without feeling like it is yelling. I ordered a bottle of wine for the table, which finally arrived almost 1/2 an hour later. I ordered a hot brown for my main course, which was okay. It had 1 slice of bacon, which we all commented was skimpy. We're used to having an original hot brown at The Brown Hotel in Louisville, so this would be considered a nice attempt and average. I ordered a piece of chess pie for dessert, which was also very skimpy and for a steep price of $5.99 for some butter, sugar, and eggs. Our visit here was painfully slow at times and stretched over 2 to 2-1/2 hours, so I would recommend getting here early and using your patience if you need to be somewhere after dinner. We had to rush to make it to our next tour stop and missed out on some activities as a result of the slow pace. Parking is a bit of a challenge, so we parked 1/2 a block away and walked over the rough sidewalks -- do NOT wear heels, as you will ruin them.

food for the lunch wasn't that good today? I did enjoy the building and the server was very good.

Cool ambiance and we've eaten here before. The Burgoo is good-could use more meat. Ordered the harvest salad-informed pretty late in the game that the maple Dijon vinaigrette was out. Was planning to sub Raspberry vinaigrette instead. Salad came with NO bacon or candied walnuts. Notified the waitress who after some time brought me a bowl of bacon and a bowl of PLAIN walnuts. Sent it back and told them to take it off the menu if they can't serve it as described. Bread pudding is legit. Catfish sandwich is worth a trip back.

The Bar was really fun with live music and a great vibe. The food at the tavern was good and not memorable. The fried green tomatoes were greasy, chicken and beans were fair. Atmosphere was expected. Michelle, our server really did an amazing job and was welcoming, and made our experience enjoyable. Pro-tip. Eat in the bar notthe restaurant. Must see

A historic, classic old-school bourbon bar. Friendly staff, great atmosphere, HUGE bourbon selection, decent selection of drafts on tap. Good food, good appetizers. A must stop in Bardstown.

Great place to eat outside. The food was a step above the average tavern fair, and the drinks were exceptional. We were only traveling through, but if, like us, you are, it's a great place to pop in for a bite.

Waited over an hour to get a table for 3. Food was cold when it got to the table. Servings were not enough. Shoulda went to Mammy's across the street.

We actually had no intention of eating here, we stopped to see the Remington revolver once owned by the notorious outlaw Jesse James is on display here. The Old Talbot Tavern in Bardstown, Kentucky, founded in 1779, the Old Talbot Tavern is one of the oldest continuously operating taverns in the U.S. The historic setting of the tavern allows visitors to view historic items. So we decided to try the food while we were there. We starred of with some appetizers, Tavern Beer cheese and some of the Bourbon BBQ meatballs. These are made in house with their own bourbon bbq sauces. The beer cheese is made with Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. It gives it a unique flavor that has to be enjoyed to really appreciate it. My wife had the Abe's County Fried Steak which is toped with pepper mill gravy, and they did not go light on the pepper. She had green beans with mashed potato's and brown gravy as sides. I had the Jesse James Ribeye with a side of Bacon Marmalade and Baked potato and Cole slaw as my sides. Everything was great and was piping hot. For Dessert I had the Talbots Tavern Pie, which is a Choclate and walnut open faced pie with a pastry crust topped with whip cream. My wife selected the Chess pie, which is more sweet and custard and also is served with whip cream. Both are not recommended as they will send you blood sugar their the roof. One item I had wished I had tried was the Burgoo but was already full by the time I noticed is on the menu. The Burgoo festival in near by Lawrenceburg is an annual event that any connoisseur of Burgoo should defiantly attend. The service at this tavern is nothing short of exceptional. The staff's attentiveness, warmth, and genuine care for every guest create an inviting atmosphere that's unmatched. Every detail, from the quick service to the thoughtful recommendations, speaks volumes about owners commitment to excellence. I highly recommend.

Sat at the bar, had one beer, my glass sat empty until we received and finished our food, the bartender made busy the while time. Took forever to get our hot brown, the bartender never even asked if the food was good. When we finally had enough and were ready to leave, she asked if we another round of drinks. Really wanted to try the want

We've all been there. New to a town and wanting to experience a local restaurant. We go on Yelp and check out the choices and reviews and decide where to have dinner. We chose The Old Talbott Tavern based on good reviews. What a disappointment. I am writing this review to steer anyone looking for a nice dinner experience towards someplace else. Details? The fries were stale. The salmon portions were the smallest I have ever received in a restaurant. The service was very slow. I finally had to go get someone to please bring us our check. And worst of all . . . My husband said the men's room reeked of urine. Like I said, what a disappointment.

I wanted to eat here for literally years and finally made it happen. The ambience is good, the service is amazing and the history is cool. The fried green tomato appetizer was delicious. I got a Rachel sandwich which was not great. Maybe I just chose poorly. By the time I finished as much of it as I could eat I wasn't in the mood to explore the building and indulge my history nerd. If you go definitely get the FGT and the staff will take good care of you, just don't get the Rachel.

Ambiance - fair Staff - so so Food - ehhh Bang for your buck - nahhh Best thing was to go upstairs to see the different rooms / info

Very cool old atmosphere here. Strong beverages and great food. We had the Hot Brown, it was so good. The location is perfect, right downtown off circle. Parking on street or very small lot. This would be a great place to have a ghost tour due to its history! We stayed next door so it was very convenient!

A very unique and historical place with lots of history. I'm staying in the Jesse James room and they have an actual gun that belong to Jesse James and there's a bullet in the ceiling from when Jesse James stayed here. The food is definitely worth trying and a large menu.

The tavern is housed in a historic tavern - one of the first stage coach stops in what was then the western US. The original tavern and building date to 1779. We were here at lunch time. Service was exccellent and our meals were also excellent. I had the club sandwich with Kentucky Burgoo. Both were excellent, especially the burgoo. My wife had the BBQ pulled pork sandwick with grilled aspargus. Again, both were excellent. I actually got a taste of both her pulled pork and 1 aspargus spear. There are several dining rooms - one in the oldest, most historic part and others in parts not quite as old. There is also a very cozy looking bar at the one end of the building. The tavern still has 6 rooms available for rent on the 2nd floor. A number of famous folks have rested their heads here and some of the upstairs rooms pay homage to famous guests (there is the Jesse James Room, the Lincoln Room, the General's Room - named after Gen George Rodger's Clark and Gen George Patton). The interior has been well preserved and you can see how thick the walls of the building really are by looking at the doors and windows. The architecture incorporates Flemish Bond stonework and you can see the detail in the stonework. Excellent lunch, excellent service in a charming and historic building dating to 1779.

We didn't have a reservation but the hostess got us in after a short wait in the bar. The drinks in the bar was awesome. good bourbon selection. The food in the restaurant was real good. old school tavern vibe inside. service was fast and with a smile. We had a good time here.

The food was the delicious, the historical atmosphere makes the experience enjoyable, and the service was great. My country fried steak was one of the best I've had. My wife really enjoyed her pot roast.

Our server was very informative. Making sure we did not miss the Jessie James room upstairs. I had the walnut chicken, nice and crispy. Love the history so glad we came here. Prices were great.

Good food, slightly high prices, great service, and almost a museum upstairs. After being warmly greeted, we were quickly seated. Although the dining area was fancy, myself and everyone else was dressed fairly casual. We tried and shared our dishes, so I got to sample quite a bit. My absolute favorite was the Kentucky Burgoo stew/soup. It had a rich flavor with a slight spice kick, mixed with some combination of pork, beef, and who knows what else. It was amazing and I could have eaten a truckload - I actually wish I just ordered a bowl as a meal instead of just the cup. My main dish was walnut crusted chicken, but I tried the Daniel Boone pot roast, and Kentucky hot brown as well. Of the three, the pot roast had the best flavor, rich, and full of meat and big fixins - very filling. My second favorite of the main dishes was the walnut crusted chicken which was cooked perfectly, still juicy and full of flavor. I wouldn't order the chicken again however, as it had a bit much of a bourbon flavor for my personal taste, but most would enjoy it. The Kentucky hot brown is better than most that I've tried, but it was a little on the bland side and could use more spices, but the bacon did it a huge service and made it a good dish overall. I also enjoyed the collard greens, not watery, still tender. The dishes were about $20 each, average portion size, but I'd consider it a good value considering the atmosphere, service, and sights upstairs. Upstairs held several rooms including bullet holes from Jesse James as well as his gun, and several rooms famous stayed in including Abe Lincoln and General George Patton in addition to others. The balcony was peaceful as well, overlooking Bardstown. A staple in Kentucky and certainly Bardstown, this place is a must see

Very lovely historical place. Food was surprisingly good. I never had "Kentucky Burgoo" before and I didn't know what to expect but it turned out pretty good. It's like stew-chili crossover. The pot roast was full of flavors, the meat was tender, and the vegetables were not too overcooked. We also love their wedge salad. The vinaigrette dressing was perfect with the blue cheese. The service on the restaurant side was amazing. Our wait staff also showed us the tour app for the exhibits upstairs. A lot of fun facts about Bardstown. The service and drinks at the bar side were meh. Overall, the must stop for Bardstown.

This historic tavern (according to some the first tavern established) is fun to visit. We ate lunch there, delicious food with attentive wait service. Try the Kentucky Burgoo, a tomato-based stew with vegetables and meat. The vegetables were crisp and the meat tender--not completely authentic because they use chicken and beef instead of wild game, but I probably wouldn't have liked the wild game anyway. We ate in the dining room but, if you don't want to eat, you can always have a drink (bourbon, of course) on the bar side of the tavern.

Couldn't get reservations for dinner so we went for lunch. We Had bourbon flight & caramel old fashioned. Food was excellent & our server was lots of fun. We definitely book dinner reservations earlier next time we're in town .

We met my SIL and family for lunch as we were traveling through the area. Quaint town and tavern. We made Sunday afternoon reservations. We really would have been fine without reservations. I had the fish and chips. It comes on a hoagie roll...no need for that. The fish was a large portion. My husband got the Hot Brown. He was a little disappointed. He's a bit of a Hot Brown snob. Food was delivered quickly. We tried the fried green tomatoes. They were tasty. The peach cobbler was good too but a bit skimpy on the peaches. I would definitely go back.

We had dinner here because it was close to the motel. There was a wait for the dining room, so we went into the bar area and there were 2 available seats at the bar. We had drinks, and dinner. I had the salmon entree, and it was pretty good. The guy next to me gave us useful info on an upcoming festival. Friendly people including the bartenders.

The manager/owner reached out to me which I appreciate. Would definitely try again in the future just because of the ambiance and location.

So much history here. The oldest bourbon bar in the country. The oldest restaurant in Kentucky. And Abraham Lincoln & Jesse James spent a night at the Old Talbott Inn. Not a history buff? Ok. Let's talk food. We started with an order of fried banana peppers. We liked it so much we ordered another serving. Crispy, not oily and an ample serving. My son in law went with the chicken fried steak. Loved it. Smothered in gravy with a side of mashed potatoes and rice & beans. My daughter in law chose walnut encrusted chicken with sides of mashed potatoes and collard green. The grandson went with chicken fingers. Probably the largest order of a kids meal I've ever seen. True to form, he picked at the chicken (a little rubbery) and devoured the fries. One if us had to be "responsible, so I ordered a wedge salad with an add on of blackened shrimp. I didn't see much blackening, but the salad also came with hard boiled egg & tomato. Blue cheese dressing with a splash of sweet balsamic vinaigrette. Delicious. My wife, alas, went with a hot brown. For some reason, Kentuckians are really proud of this "sandwich". We thought it was horrible. The béchamel sauce is just not for us. I suspect the hot brown was fine for most folks, but we'd prefer a good old turkey club. And a sandwich that doesn't swim in "soup". Still, the environment is fabulous. The service excellent. And pricing quite reasonable. I do wish they had fried chicken on the dinner menu. If I had asked, they would probably accommodated. The Talbott Tavern is certainly worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood. Just skip the hot brown, unless you're a local.

Food, worst French fries ever, stale old just bad Two orders of the salmon both about the size of half dollar bill. Took for ever to get waited on. Ditto on the bill!

Download the app and walk around to look at the history. It will make you appreciate the history of the tavern. Four adults for lunch and were put in the very back room near kitchen although there were tables not as far back. Myself and another got the soup trio that was served temp wise warm not hot. The soup of day was curry cauliflower- nope- disappointed. Other 2 soups okay. The corn muffins were warm and very tasty. Other guest had chicken fried steak which he enjoyed and other guest had the Rachel sandwich that he enjoyed as well. Waitress was very fast and friendly. Parking was pretty easy and the location was nice to see a bit of old Bardstown.

Great music, friendly service, fun atmosphere and amazing appetizers. You need to make reservations if you wish to dine here. We did not, so we ended up on the bar side and had an amazing time.

Where to start....where to start. Well, I don't like to leave bad reviews. Essentially, it can be very detrimental to a business. In my book, a one time screw up can be acceptable. Twice? No. You have seen the "thin skinned" reviewers on here. This is not one of them. Read On!!!! After moving to Kentucky, one of the "bucket list" things that all of our guests "must" do is see Bardstown. Included on that list was the Old Talbott Tavern. What is not to like? The town is charming. The people are friendly. Prices at the Tavern are reasonable. And where else can you eat in an establishment that was founded in the 1700s? Even if the food stinks.....hey....you were there. You can say you did it. You ate at one of the oldest places in America! But can you? About a month ago, I took some guests there and was told that it would be a 1/2 hour wait. No big deal. After 1.5 hours, we were finally called. But hey.....like I said......you were there. They whiffed on this one, but ok.....better luck next time. Well, June 23 (Wednesday) I showed up with a different group. It was 5pm. The tavern opens at 11, so it was not like we showed up the second they were open. What was surprising was that we got a parking space right up front near the front of the restaurant. Imagine our luck! That never happens. The place must be dead. For those of you who have been to Bardstown.....parking is a real challenge. Not today! Our Lucky Day. We walk in.....and there is a hostess.....nobody was eating in the dining room.....there were a few locals in the bar section. The place was completely empty. I said "5 please". The hostess said...."That will be one hour." I laughed....... She was serious. I replied....."You have nobody in the Tavern. It is completely empty." "Yes....we have a large party coming in at some time". I said.....the party did not book the entire restaurant and close you down, did they? "No" she said. ok..... But we are here now. It is not like we are a super large group. You have a million seats in there.....you can't seat us? Nope. We turned around....and left.....never to come back again. And at that.......they lost a client that has been coming repeatedly to the tavern. The utter absurdity to walk into a restaurant, that is open and completely empty....and refuse to be seated in lieu of someone else that may or may not show up is the most preposterous thing I have seen in 20 years. I would humbly suggest that if all the people who voted 1 star on here got together and made telephone reservation after telephone reservation, with no intention of coming, the Tavern would go under in a month. Apparently, it is their policy to throw away good clients for "ghosts".

This place was so good. Not only a great bourbon bar, apparently the oldest one in the world country, a great restaurant with delicious food but some really cool history like Jesse James slept there! We had a bit of a wait but not too bad. Sat in the bourbon bar and some cocktails and a bourbon flight. Very nice. Once our table was ready, we looked over the menu. So many great choices. We started with some Fried green tomatoes were the best we have ever had. So flavorful. For my main I got the Country fried steak. Amazing. Loved the flavors and the portion size. Such a cool spot and so worth the wait.

Driving through on the way to another distillery and saw this place! How cool let's check out the oldest bourbon bar in the world... so we did. First, the outside is very cool for the history nuts like me. A few neat artifacts inside as well. The room where the bar itself is has been modernized and doesn't really have that old feel anymore. It also smelled funny to me (kind of like cleaning fluid maybe...) so that was a turn off. They do seem to have retained some of the original bar but way less than I was expecting. I didn't personally eat or drink here so not reviewing the food, but it was a disappointment in terms of atmosphere.

Love the bourbon bar! I walked in and was enthralled! It's known as the oldest bourbon bar in the world, which intrigued me and I felt drawn to go. The bar area was busy and there was live music ... it was nice to have a drink while we waited. The bartender was awesome and got us some good food in 5 minutes (vs the 35 minutes she quoted. ) The mule was the best and we also enjoyed a cocktail with strawberries (it was delicious!) As for food, Kentucky burgoo was the best I've ever had... the broth was very flavorful... various veggies like carrots, corn, celery. I can't recommend the other food much because it was not hot, and that affects our view of the meal. Come here for history and have a drink while enjoying the atmosphere. My main issue with my visit: I called them earlier in the day to see about reservations for Saturday night. They said there was no need for that. The couple in front of us walked in and were immediately seated so I was surprised that, when I said we need a table for two, they said it would be a long wait and did not seat us. It took a moment to figure out that the person i talked to on the phone did not say, "We Don't Take Same Day Reservations. " Because it was very embarrassing when I was told it would be a 2 hour wait... i was visibly upset that this critical piece of information was not shared initially, and we were very hungry.

After a bad experience last year, we gave it another shot this year and the difference was quite notable. Apparently under new management. We again brought a large group and the restaurant was busy, so we were worried. But, we were served surprisingly quickly, kindly, and the food was good. Updating review because we will continue to return here each year!

Good local food, oldest tavern in Kentucky, and a historic place to stay. Take the virtual tour and enjoy the history of a hotel that Jesse James and Abraham Lincoln both stayed. The bartenders are extremely knowledgeable with the assortment of bourbons that they have on hand.

We went there for dinner. We started with fried banana peppers. They were tasty. I enjoyed my shepherds pie and peach bourbon drink. My husband had the catfish with a side salad & fries. He said it was a good meal but nothing exceptional. Our hostess seemed confused but friendly. Our waitress was new but very friendly and talkative. She hustled. We would have preferred to have the salad come out first. The tavern was a neat old building but loud. Nice enough dinner overall

I cannot express how amazing this place is. The food is great. The service is impeccable. This history is unmatched. If you're ever close to bardstown this place is a must!

Sadly ran out of what we wanted to order. However the walnut crusted chicken ended up being amazing with the perfect crunch. 2/3 soups in the flight were also great. Drinks are very strong and there is cool history in the building. Server was kind.

The food wzs amazing. My husbsnd ordee the barbeque burger. I had the burgoue. It had a little kick and was quite tasty.