As with all the BBC locations the food is excellent pub food with great vegan choices. Plus craft beers.
(5)
Jim P.
Mead, pretzels, Mediterranean sampler are WONDERFUL. Pork chop - tough and gristle, beers were generally bitter w aftertaste... Including wheat beer (bitter was a surprise). Service: slow-ish. The Mead? GREAT. Come here if you want to smoke (on the huge patio) and dont mind slow service from girls who are working real hard but overwhelmed as there are not enough of them... Even on a Monday. The pretzel was awesome with beer cheese.
(2)
Ashley H.
Wondered upon this place downtown with the help of yelp. Was a little worried after walking in and seeing it empty but no worries, food was yummy! Ordered the brisket sandwich and holy deliciousness! If you have never had bacon jam before get this now. It's bacon and jam, two greatest things ever put into one, eat now! I 100% recommend the brisket sandwich. My friends got the pulled pork sand which and the pretzels and cheese sauce. Both were good as well. Service was alright. We also got a tasting of the raspberry mead, and great as well. They will give you free taste of any of their beers.
(5)
Rumi F.
Was in Louisville for a business trip, came here for some drinks and dinner. Tried the Hot Brown that my seat mate from the plane recommended to me- a huge plate of bread topped off with turkey, bacon bits, mornay sauce (cheese sauce), and tomatoes. Portion was so huge that I couldn't finish the whole thing. Tried a raspberry beer, preeetty good!
(3)
Josh W.
At the restaurant now, and just waited 25 minutes for drinks. The service is terribly slow and the only way to get our waitress was to flag her down. Never coming back
(1)
Nicole M.
I'm not even a huge bourbon fan, but their bourbon stout is something I highly recommend trying.
(4)
Jeff C.
First off, let me say that because I was not able to sample the beer, this is an incomplete review. Hopefully I will get to remedy this very soon since the seasonal beer menu looked quite nice. It wasn't busy when we arrived and only took a couple of minutes to be seated (waiting to find the hostess). The menu has several unique items on it. I was in the mood for a burger and ordered the bluegrass with soup. The soup was ok but took 15 minutes to come out. The burger was very good. Excellent flavor with very good toppings. The service was somewhat sketchy: not terrible but surely not good.
(3)
Mary B.
Really delicious food! Try the bourbon peach pork chop and yukon potatoes! Other good dishes are the Kentucky steak burger I chose the smokehouse style which had bacon, onions, smoke gouda and bourbon mayonnaise really great. My other friend had the brisket which was really juicy. We also tried the fried green tomatoes for an app superb!
(4)
Suzanne B.
The Bourbon Barrel Loft here is a ton of fun. I went there recently for a wedding rehearsal dinner and was impressed at the space, service, and the food we had. The Loft itself is on the 3rd floor of the building, and is perfect for private events like the one I was a part of. The space has a loft feel with hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, and high ceilings. It was cozy and sophisticated at the same time, and somewhere I could see myself returning with good friends to catch up. Its location on the corner of the building also means it's great people watching out the large windows (George Strait concert was there the night we were). There is a side of the room with white leather lounge seating, which was a perfect place to take a load off and catch up with the other guests. The food was much better than I had expected. I ordered a steak cooked medium with vegetables on the side, and both the meat and the veggies were done perfectly. I talked to a few people who ordered chicken and they said it was tender and juicy, not dry and overdone like so many places do poultry. When I was there we had free valet service; I'm not sure if this is a regular offering at this location (if it is, take advantage of it, especially if traffic is crazy). In any case, it's probably worth the small nominal fee you'll pay to save yourself a headache. I'll be taking advantage of it the next time I go and check out more of the menu!
(4)
Ellie C.
Very enjoyable! I was there with a small group of friends for a celebration. The service was good and the beer selection was great. We took a cab from our hotel, so I'm not sure on the parking situation. The menu was diverse and the food was well made- I think most of us got pizza, which is always a good option when it comes to pairing with beer. Overall, this was a good spot for any day of the week!
(4)
Joe R.
A fun American style eatery nestled in a good area of downtown just south of 4th street live. Great place to meet with friends for lunch and dinner, and outside seating is great for a nice warm day. They serve a variety of food and have several of their own BBC brewed beers all of which are pretty tasty. Never had a bad experience at this location.
(4)
Josh L.
Before micro and craft breweries were the hip thing to do, Bluegrass Brewing was ahead of the pack and setting the trend. With several locations now in Louisville, BBC has been providing Louisvillians with great food and brews for many years. They definitely don't disappoint in either category & this location on 4th St is the place to go before or after a show for a quality drink at prices much better than you'll find in the venue. A "must visit" if seeing a show at one of the Theater District venues.
(4)
Tammy F.
Turkey n bacon on a pretzel bun! The Best! Went at lunch w very lil time and they got us in n out right on time. Get the kettle chips! Luv the atmosphere n very friendly staff! I cant wait to go back n try the beer sampler. The whole office is going back. Luv downtown n fourth street.
(5)
Jennifer P.
I wish I could give two separate reviews for this restaurant - one for service and one for food. Our server was very difficult to understand when speaking. But the worst part was how wrong our order was when brought out. Three out of six of us had incorrect orders - onions we didn't ask for, the wrong kind of fries, missing appetizers. Our food was eventually changed to the correct order, although we never received the missing appetizer. No manager ever came over, nothing was taken off our bill, and one of the servers said that this happens all the time. The restaurant was not busy at all. It was very unfortunate because the food was delicious. I would love to try their food again with different staff and management.
(2)
Sarah W.
Make no mistake, BBC brews good beer. Personally, I think the Theater Square location is the best BBC space. Sitting outside with a Dark Star Porter waiting for a concert to start across the street is a fine way to spend an evening. But the food is bad. It doesn't matter which BBC you go to, and it doesn't matter what you order. It's just not that good. (Trust me, I've tried) Last night we had the vegan BBQ wings. Admittedly, as a non-vegan, I should know better than to order vegan fare involving pseudo-meat. But good Lord, it was like eating pencil erasers dipped in barbecue sauce. I've also had bad luck with burgers and fish at various BBCs, so you can't really blame it on the vegans. But go home, have a sandwich, and then head over to BBC and you'll be fine.
(3)
Matt F.
I went here with my wife last Friday. We both had a good time. The beer was great and so was the service. We mostly went here because of the reviews about the vegan wings. They were not exaggerating. They are the best vegan wings I have had so far since going vegan last fall. We both had the veggie burger which was good. I had the garlic fries which normally have cheese but they made a batch with just garlic. We thought that the buns were grilled with butter but they checked and the spread they use is butter free. I was glad that they verified the ingredients. I would definitely go back. It's a great place to hang out and watch a game too.
(4)
Frank B.
They have absinthe! Bartenders were great.
(5)
Jessica I.
This review is for beer only, as we stopped in for a break from our Urban Bourbon Trail crawling. During my long weekend in Louisville, I found myself envying locals for the dazzling whiskey selection (they even have a nice one in the brewery!), but I daresay we're spoiled with microbreweries in Cleveland. I approached this place with a pretty high bar, and found all the options in my sampler just OK. Everything was perfectly competent, but it was nothing special. Service was nice, and the smoker outside smelled awfully good.
(3)
Me C.
Embarrassed to tell you how many times I've been here. I don't even drink beer. Great selection of bourbon. Beer cheese and pretzels is always good but the veggies burger is really a treat. Add bacon! Good prices and fun atmosphere.
(4)
Curt P.
if you are in the mood for plain, non exotic fare, this might the place for you. basically applebees with better beer.
(2)
Todd P.
Friendly staff and patrons. Good food and great beer at a fair price.
(3)
Kelley Y.
Extensive menu, fantastic service! Nice spot for lunch or to watch a game.
(4)
David I.
Very nice local bar (with food). The location is great and screams party (and drunks, fights, vomit, etc.). But the weather is cool and the crowds aren't there. So I took a seat at the bar and got my first taste of stupid Kentucky sitting next to me. I love how people are hypocrites and make up labels for themselves. Anyway, I digress. So they are a microbrewery and have quite a few beers, I got the summer wheat and really enjoyed the smoothness. Really good stuff! Then I ordered the Bison Burger with a side of slaw. OMG, talk about meaty goodness. This wins as the best (bison) hamburger ever. I ordered it rare and it came RARE, woohoo! There is no way to describe it, it was that good. The slaw was great too, it tasted freshly made. I went back a few days later and got the same thing and it was just as good. No flukes there. I'll be back, over and over. I read that a few reviewers didn't like the food so keep in mind a few variables. 1) If you order your meat well done, you will get food that is devoid of flavor. You might as well eat a shoe. 2) If you are drunk, you might not enjoy the food as much. Especially if you taste it a second time coming up. 3) Any place that is mobbed with people is going to overtax the kitchen, order safe food like nachos at times like this. 4) Unless it's deep fried, never order fish at a bar. UPDATE: Apparently there are 3 locations. I haven't tried the other location in Louisville but it seems the reviews aren't as good. I've eaten at this location 6 more times since I wrote my review and nothing has changed. It's all still great.
(4)
Kippy P.
Bloody Mary. Pretzel sticks and cheese app. Big fat burger & garlic frieds. Perfect hangover remendy. Great Service.
(4)
Robin A.
First time it friendly Louisville!! This bar was so enjoyable and welcoming. A place to stop to visit with locals. Thank u for your warm welcome to out of towners.
(5)
WB C.
Great vegan food, great service and atmosphere.
(5)
Eric L.
Very nice atmosphere and attentive service. I ordered the surf and turf, and asked for a medium rare steak, which was delivered cooked medium. Still quite tasty though. The accompanying caesar salad was a little sad with a couple limp stalks, but the croutons were crispy and it was not overdressed. For dessert, the derby pie (which tasted to me just like pecan pie) was a nice way to sample a local product. The noise level was rather high, but the tables had a good amount of space between them, making the place feel open and not crowded.
(4)
Keith C.
Friendly staff and good beer. The food is good pub fare, nothing to shout about but hey....you're in a bar, if you want high cuisine there are 10 other places you can hit with a rock with great food. I found the beer to be very good (which is why I was there). I also like a place where the staff understands and can talk beer with you some and not just take your food order. Our waitress really was a beer gal which made the whole experience that much nicer. If the food was super special it would be five stars but I would definitely go there again. I don't get the haters on the food.....we all had sold meals with a great relaxed atmosphere.
(4)
Ida B.
Good beer selection and decent pub menu
(3)
Jessica M.
This is by far my favorite BBC location. I live very close to the restaurant, so I place a carry out order at least once a month and walk over to pick it up. My favorite menu items include the Steak Burger and the Cuban--the vegetable medley is also very good if they're serving it as the vegetable of the day. The only reason I didn't give five stars is that this location is randomly closed for long periods of time around holidays. The last two times I've tried to order they've been closed; the most recent time was Tuesday night (12/27) when I was told they wouldn't be open again until January 3rd, 2012. You're not a school--please stop closing like one!
(4)
Katie B.
I can't speak to the food. This review is only of the beer. I had a sampler of seven different beers: American Pale Ale, Altbier, Nut Brown Ale, Dark Star Porter, American Wheat, and some coffee beer. Overall, my favorite was the Altbier. I also liked their Nut Brown Ale. While I don't typically like pale ales, I liked their American Pale Ale better than most. The special coffee beer was like drinking black coffee (bleh), and I could barely finish it (which is saying something). The atmosphere here was actually pretty cool with lots of outdoor seating and a bar that wraps around the front with opened overhead garage doors. There is also a plaza nearby for some interesting people watching. What I didn't like was that last call was at midnight on a Saturday. And yet, after "last call", they continued to serve some people while turning away others. Kind of a jerk move on the bartenders' part. Close down or don't but don't be jerks about it.
(4)
Jason C.
My wife and I had dinner there on July 29th. We got in town late and didn't get to the restaurant til 9:30PM. The food and beer was good. My wife enjoyed her crab cakes and my pork chop very good. Very good values. The reason for the 3-star review was the service. Kitchen closed at 10 but our server made us feel like she did not want us there. She had a tough time recommending a dish. She didn't warn us that some of the beers were much smaller than normal beers. Both of my beers were a pint, but both of my wife's beers were 10 ounces or smaller. She was too busy rolling her silverware at the table next to ours to bother with following up after we got our food. I had to interrupt her in order to get our check. Our experience was good food and bad service.
(3)
TJ G.
Great service, great food. Priced about right for a touristy part of town. My buddy had a steak that was oh so good and I had a burger with bacon and bbq sauce on it that rivaled the best I ever had.
(4)
Rachel F.
For starters, I'm surprised this is the lowest rated BBC. It is definitely top 2 for me (almost tied with the tiny one headed towards the baseball stadium). It is a great set up and I love that it is in that nice little spot that is near 4th street live but not quite so touristy - Theater Square. Convenient to the Palace on concert nights. Right by Theater Square Marketplace and Sapporo if you want to make a night of it. And the outdoor seating is as plentiful as the indoor! It is BBC, so the drinks are going to be pretty good. Nice, local beers under 5 bucks. And I still really like their beertails (cocktails made with beer - two wonderful things!) What Brittney H could not have been more right about is the bread pudding! Oh lord, it is so good. It is moist but not mushy. Not crumbly like tons of little pieces of bread. More like a cake. Lovely accompaniments of caramel, ice cream, and whipped cream. Maybe the best bread pudding I have ever had. And it was huge. Plenty for 2. Maybe even 3! And for 6 bucks, nicely paired with my Bourbon Barrel Stout, I was one happy camper.
(4)
Jackie S.
At last, I have found the headquarters for veg-head, beer lovers, and bar folk. I usually don't draw a direct link between bar food and vegetarian options, but I was so pleased to try the delicious fried green tomatoes and the shockingly deceptive vegan BBQ bites (don't worry, there were plenty of meat options too). To top it off, the beer selection is sure to please and the wait staff is accommodating and good-natured. This is a great place for late night cravings or just to spend some time enjoying the local bourbon barrel beer offerings. In fact, I believe they actually brew BBC on site!
(4)
Kristen W.
Went with a group last weekend at 7pm to watch the UK game. We were worried there would be a crowd, but it was pretty quiet and we were seated right away. U of L had a bye week, so I assume that had a little to do with it. So many options on the menu, it's hard to pick something to try. Our waiter was helpful and recommended his favorite items, and let us know how each of the dishes we were considering were. We started with the spinach artichoke dip, which was fantastic. I scraped the bowl with my spoon when we ran out of chips. One got the soup special (tomato, chicken, artichoke), one got a bowl of chili, hubs got the fried chicken with jalapeno gravy special, I got the shrimp and grits. We all had great things to say about each of our dishes. Beer was good, obviously. Nothing bad to say there. Service was good, food was good, beer was good. It's a solid option to watch a game or enjoy a leisurely night.
(4)
Marianne C.
Stopped here our first night in town and recognized the waitress and the bartender from last year. The waitress was friendly, attentive, and informed about the menu and beer. The restaurant is across the street from the Brown. It has outdoor seating as well as a nifty indoor/outdoor bar area - you sit at the bar outdoors that opens indoors. Yeah, that makes sense. Anyway, I had some sort of beer called Lucid Paradox, which was a Belgian trippel and a very good one at that. For dinner, I had the barbecue chicken sandwich - it was supposed to come on a pretzel roll, but it just came out on a regular roll. Boo. The garlic fries were yummy... lots of garlic that you could smell even before you tasted them. Good stuff. My husband tried the absinthe, which comes out in a cool serving apparatus that drips cold water onto a cube of sugar, which you then stir into the absinthe. I took a few sips,and neither of us hallucinated. I don't think the absinthe of today is anything like the absinthe of early twentieth century mythology. :) So, overall, good experience here. I'd go again.
(4)
ted d.
Came here after the KY miniMarathon. Great service, fantastic staff and very good food. I bet this place is fantastic when it is warm enough to open the doors.
(4)
Wade R.
As my kid would say OMG! Great food, most excellent beer selection, clean, with a great staff. Highly recommend!
(5)
Stuart S.
I visited two of the Bluegrass Brewing Company locations, but there may have been a third spot too. This spot was more of a bar. I enjoyed the vibe of this spot much more than its counterpart on 3rd. There was a large outdoor area that would provide great people watching, but this season was too cold to take part in that. Inside on two sides of the bar it was like a garage with the walls having the capability to roll up in a warmer season. I tried a sampler of seven beers, some were the same and some different from the location on 3rd. Again, the beers were good, but none of them were great. My favorite by far was the bourbon barrel beer! They sold their beers, but unfortunately only six packs which means an out-of-towner like myself couldn't walk away with a variety of all of their beers.
(3)
Bob H.
A nice local place to hang and have local brews.
(3)
Chris C.
Let me start off by saying that this is three star food and four star beer (just don't buy the stuff in stores - it isn't as good as on tap and nowhere near the bottled versions of Schlafly or Goose Island). The cuban sandwich is probably their best, but it can be great one day and so-so the next. Reasons for two star rating: 1) One time our server had two noticeable track marks on the inside of his elbow. For those of you that don't know what track marks are, I will let you Google it. 2) One time turned away during the lunch hour because their fryer and grill were both broken. 3) One time turned away because they had a couple of large parties during the lunch hour, and were understaffed. "It will take 20 minutes at least to even take your order" said the hostess with the largest mouth herpie I have ever seen in my life. Overall, you can do worse but you can do a lot better.
(2)
Matt M.
Sat for 15 minutes, no service nothing not even a hello. But hey the folks on either side of us received food and drink. People sat after us outside where served. Guess I had on the wrong shirt on. Left and went to Yafa for some good food.
(1)
Scott M.
Great place to hang out for happy hour. Stay at the Brown Hotel and its stumbling distance back to your room. I've been here many times on Layovers in Louisville and the service has always been good. The area is a little sketchy late at night. Make sure to come with friends!
(4)
Hymae W.
This was my first stop in my tour of Louisville and was my favorite place on the "Urban Trail." Nothing too fancy, lots of outdoor seating, and good bourbon barrel aged beer. Ordered the crab cakes and my girlfriend ordered the fish tacos. Wasn't a fan of the crab cakes but the fish tacos were delicious. Wanted to grab a growler or two from here but never made it back.
(4)
Jeff C.
Beer was good, but they did run out of a few selections before 8pm on a saturday night. I had a bourbon stout which was awesome if you can handle it. The girlfriend appreciated it but could not handle it. She had the alt bier, a nice malty brew. Pretzels were hot and tasty but had too little cheese and then charged us more for an extra SMALL cup which would have brought the amount of cheese that was expected. Advice to company, raise price 50 cents and give more cheese.. its good, we will pay, I just dont want to feel nickel and dimed... smokehouse bison burger and yukon gold mashed taters were on time!
(4)
Robert E.
First stop while in Louisville for an appetizer and a beer. The spinach and artichoke dip was awesome. Just the right amount of artichoke served with warm pita bread slices. American Pale Ale was great!
(4)
Rey P.
I know, I know -- how is it that a vegetarian, non-drinker is actually giving what's essentially a sports bar where beer is the draw and food is just an accompaniment a 3-star review? It's because of this: fried green tomato sandwich with smoked gouda and roasted red peppers on a whole grain roll. Serve it up with garlic fries, and you're good to go. For real. Eat it. It's SOOO worth the trip.
(3)
Jen B.
My SO and I spent our first night in Louisville and asked the hotel staff where we should go for a unique Louisville experience. They happily suggested the nearby "4th St Live District". Blah! Being from Kansas City, we were so incredibly disappointed to get there and see it is the exact same thing as the Power & Light District in KC. Same management company (the Cordish Co), same bars, same toursity crap, same lame crowds (or lack thereof). So, I pulled up my handy Yelp iPhone app to see what else was nearby and we spotted the Bluegrass Brewing Company only a few blocks away. We wandered down and had a surprisingly good meal and some tasty brews. The crowd was comprised of friendly locals, our server was helpful, and our bison burgers were outstanding. In other words, this is exactly the type of restaurant that should be in Louisville's 4th St McDistrict instead of the chain restaurants which currently fill the space. I mean, who actually goes to a Hardrock Cafe for a $12 hamburger anymore? 1985 called and they want their kitcsch back. If you find yourself in Louisville and want some local flavor, head on over to the Bluegrass Brewing Company and sample their local foods and brews. You'll be glad you skipped 4th St Live.
(4)
Lis F.
Amazing!!!!!! I'm a vegetarian and my husband loves beer but we always compromise- but this place has both! They have creative veggie dishes as well as traditional bar dishes. We ordered seitan wings and the medit dish and my hubby got American pale ale (I got a chard)- seriously this place is incredible
(5)
L. R.
We came on a busy Saturday evening and it was pretty crazy both inside and outside. Our server was very attentive and even after questioning him about the vegan BBQ chikn wings, he brought me a sample to taste, they weren't to my liking, so I ordered the tofu lettuce wrap. The lettuce wraps were very flavorful but different than what I am used to - a little. It soupy but a very good taste. My dining partner had the pizza Margherita and liked it very much. This place is very noisy. There are televisions and radio and music going all at once. The waiters and waitresses seem to be working their butts off carrying large platters of food to the outside as well as the inside. The prices are reasonable and the food isn't bad.
(4)
Marcella K.
Love this place. Great beer, good food (get the pretzel sticks and cheese) and a unique location.
(4)
Andrew C.
Spent some quality time drinking at the bar and reading here last summer on my way from Atlanta to Chicago. The more I drank, the harder it was to read, but the less I cared. By the time I staggered across the street to my hotel (intending to close the bar there), I'd managed to bind and gag the readin' parts of my brain in chains of sweet, sweet beer. That said, I had and enjoyed the Bourbon Barrel Scotch Ale, the Bourbon Barrel Stout, and the Dark Star Porter. Yes, putting beer in Bourbon barrels is at once overdone - especially outside of Kentucky - and a genius idea; and, yes, it's easy to do this poorly, but Bluegrass came through. The Porter was also quite well done - and truer to style than many out there. The food was ... fine. Not spectacular, certainly not interesting, but competently-executed. There were some issues, but these had more to do with front room management and expediting orders than it did with the kitchen, the ingredients, or the recipes. Service was a bit inconsistent, but unfailingly friendly.
(4)
April S.
Do you love micro-brews? Do you love interesting menu choices? Then this is the place for you. Try a beer sampler, eat something new and relax at a mainstay that Louisville proudly boasts about.
(4)
John M.
I know better than to go to a brewery and worry about the food (just like you don't get a steak at a seafood place) but I was a little disappointed in the number of beers I had to choose from at the BBC. I was hoping for ten or fifteen to choose from but I think there were only about half that. I ended up having the American Pale Ale which was very good and the American Wheat which was OK. They basically had one beer from each "category" (wheat, pale, brown, stout, etc). It wasn't warm enough outside to have the place all opened up but I bet it would be a good time on a warm summer night. I have also been to the other location a few blocks away but this place was better. I'd go back agin for the Pale and hopefully they would have some good seasonal stuff to choose from too. Of course, the food was not very memorable but a beer place isn't supposed to have good food!
(3)
Anthony A.
If you are in the area do yourself a favor and walk through the tourist area without stopping, as just 2 blocks up the road is the BBC. This is a really good place to hang out. Its dog friendly with an inside outside bar and great staff. I must say the beer is good but I have had better. But this is now my watering hole in Louisville.
(4)
Scott L.
This place had the luck of being next to the hotel we were staying at in Louisville. I'm not a fan of stuffy hotel lounges as they are often over priced with not friendly staff. So me and the Mrs. walked across the street to this little local brewing pub. We were pleasantly suprised to find a winner here! Very clean, cozy little pub with some stellar brews and good food. My new favorite thing in the world is the Bourbon Barrel Stout from here. Simply delicious with that tinge of bourbon bite to it, yet extremely smooth and drinkable. If your in the neighborhood, this place is worth a stop for a beer and conversation with the friendly staff.
(4)
Norman K.
Went today at noon. The food was ok. Service was VERY slow. We were told that we would be takeb care of after we talk to the manager. Our drinks were covered. The intial bill incuded an 18% gratuity. We had it removed. Will not go back.
(1)
Kristen S.
We were in Louisville for business and walked through 4th st live, kept walking and made our way here. It was a nice day to enjoy the bar patio along with some drinks during happy hour. The bartenders were very friendly and gave great service. It seemed like a local neighborhood hang out with a great open atmosphere. The food was plentiful and pretty delicious. I would most certainly go back, maybe during the weekend this time to check out the scene.
(4)
Kristin Marie S.
I'm a huge fan of brewhouses so when we rolled into Louisville hungry it was hard not to stop. The brewhouse is more of a restaurant with two large beer containers behind the bar. Whatever, not a big deal, we can't be eating in the middle of their actual brewing operations. When we posted up at the bar I was pleasantly surprised to find out they had raspberry meade on tap. I love fruit beers and this one was definitely up there. It was served in a smaller glass and was not overwhelming fruity. The bartendress said sometimes they mix it with the Kolsch. Great idea but not necessary. This is why I really liked it! I also got a half BBC stout. Again I was happy they offered half beers as we were short on time and headed to a wedding. As for the food I had a house salad, it was typical, and a pretzel. The mustard was good, the pretzel I was certain was dipped in a large vat of melted butter. Tasty? Yes. Good for the heart? No. We grabbed a growler for the hotel, it was well priced and she kept it in the fridge while we ate. All-in-all I would come back to drink some beer and try the fish and chips.
(3)
Tristan S.
I was hesitant to go here based on some of the other reviews, but it was quite good. A group of about 12 of us went on Halloween at about 6pm. It wasn't crowded at first, but by the time we left, it was packed. We all had beer and food. I wasn't a big fan of the beers - we had a sampler, and all had a very metallic taste to them. Which isn't to say I didn't like them (I like most beers), but they just weren't what I'd hoped for from a small brewery. I had a local bison burger. I typically don't eat meat, but do splurge once in a while if the fare is local. The burger was divine: perfectly cooked, tasty, and hot. My wife had a burrito, which for a brewery, was quite good. Service was pretty good, though slowed down significantly as the crowds came in, though she did apologize for our wait to get our checks. I'd go back again if in the area.
(4)
Jeff S.
There are two of these places (i think)- this review is for the one across from the Brown hotel. I have not ordered food here I've only sat at the bar, but I've done so enough times that they recognize me which is humorous because I live in Washington DC. The staff seems friendly and considering how expensive the Brown hotel is its a great place to run across the street and grab a drink. I've had some of their microbrews and they were tasty but as of late I normally just drink bourbon there.
(4)
Susan B.
Food: mediocre at best. Service: can I give negative stars?? The place wasn't that busy. The waiter took forever to make it to the table. He inappropriately griped that a previous patron had left him a nasty note regarding his service on his bill. Then backed up her claim by being totally horrible. Brought food to the table not once, but TWICE and brought no eating utensils or napkis. Our appetizer was still sitting there untouched and cold when he brought our entrees. After a glare he finally returned with some silverware. I didn't leave a note, but I didn't leave much of a tip either. There have to be other options...this would not be a place I would return to.
(1)
Andy S.
Good local micro brewery with a strong list of beers. I hate to say it but the food stinks. I would say it's on par with microwaving something at home. That kinda tasteless, been in the back of the freezer too long, kinda thing. It's a real shame and the main reason it's only getting four stars. Seating outside is always a must when the weather is good. Go have a locally crafted beer (IPA, APA, Stout, Porter, Seasonals) and get dinner somewhere else. Edit* (This review is in regards to the 4th street location)
(4)
J. B.
We had a great mid-week Happy Hour after work, stayed for dinner, then stayed for more drinks. Ordered the bison burger and salmon salad - both delicious. It was nice to find someplace downtown with outdoor seating (street and off-street), and we were never encouraged to leave, order more, or tip too much. No cheesiness - just a sincere waiter who knew how to make us feel comfortable. Will certainly be going back next chance we get!
(5)
Meghan B.
Their beer is good. If you like bourbon and beer together, then you'll think it's really good. I stuck with their Amercan Ale which was nice and hoppy. I did try one of their bourbon porters which they age in Woodford Reserve casks, but the taste was a little too strong and it gave me the chills.
(3)
Mike L.
The shrimp and grits tasted like dirty sea water. I would have rated this place lower but my dining companions actually seemed to enjoy their food (crab cakes and fish tacos). Our enthusiastic waiter was too busy chatting up his fellow staff members to notice I finished my beer, so I can only comment on the one I tasted. The Dark Star Porter is decent and I'd probably order it again, but with so many other good food options nearby, I'd go elsewhere to eat.
(2)
Mari G.
I love beer and therefore I love BBC. The selection, while modest, consists of some really quality beers. I am a fan of the Nut Brown Ale and the American Pale Ale. The food is also pretty good, that pretzel bread is the sh*t. The service was friendly. Our waiter was hilarious and helpful. It was a really nice place to hit up on a lazy Saturday afternoon downtown.
(4)
Viki M.
This location is right across the way from The Brown Hotel so after traveling all day, and checking into the hotel we walked over for a late dinner. Wasn't a fancy place and there didn't seem a huge list of beers to choose from but my friends drank the summer wheat, and two of us had the strawberry mead. Very good. The food was pretty good - casual - black bean burritos were ordered and Bison burgers. Love their motto - Beer Is Food. Other colleagues went over there the next day and they enjoyed their food and beverages.
(3)
John N.
I've had better beers than what the BBC offers but this is sure better than the swill that the big brewers offer. I give them credit for making seasonal beers to supplement the stalwarts. But the American Pal Ale tasted flat to me and the Summer Wheat had a skunked beer flavor that I have not experienced since I was an undergrad. The smoked bock was pretty good, even if a bit one-dimensional. And I was surprised what they were ale to do with their take on malt liquor. The food/ pricing was OK. Service was friendly and knowledgeable.
(3)
Melissa D.
This was a tough one...I'm all about the asset-based approach so I'll start by saying that the staff were really nice and their bourbon IQ superb. It's also a great place to go if you want to sample some local beers, again the staff were very knowledgeable and helpful. Sadly, the compliments end here as the food was HORRIBLE. I eat out fairly often and can count on one hand the number of times I've sent food back! First I ordered a salmon burger which I couldn't even look at, then I ordered a turkey burger which was barely edible. Head here for a good drink and venture elsewhere for good eats.
(1)
Gil M.
This past weekend I stayed at the Brown Hotel for work and my coworker and I gave BBC a try. The staff was very well educated about their beers, which made my experience that much better. The prices are good. The beer is even better. I hope to make it back sometime. You can even buy a six-pack of their brews. How great.
(4)
Ryan D.
Good local brewery with a good good menu. I stop here every time I am town to sit and relax for a spell . I have been here several times, the food menu has change but the beers seems to stay the same. I have seen a few new ones pop up over the years and all have been rather delicious. During the summer I have seen several bands outside where they open up the windows and allow for service without going in.
(4)
Andy D.
First thing first, the food here is amazing (4th Street). I can't say anything for vegan because I love meat, but I've heard wonderful things about the vegan wings. - The bison burger is wonderful. Always cooked the way I want (medium). - Always get the garlic fries. The are delicious. - Appetizer: Go with the spinach artichoke dip. I wouldn't be able to eat the whole thing, so bring a friend. Perfectly seasoned and great pita bread. - Other choices: Turkey club on a pretzel bread. Freaking amazing. Chicken pancetta is one of my favorites as well. With just enough citrus in there, delicious. Then there's the beer. No matter your flavor of choice, they make a beer to meet your palate. But wait, there's more! They have an excellent bourbon/whiskey selection. Oh wait! Did I mention they make awesome cocktails? Because they do. You absolutely cannot go wrong stopping here. If you're a beer drinker and stop in often, join the Warthog club. You pay a fee for a bigger mug, but get normal pint prices, at all locations. Tuesday is happy hour all day for warthog members, so... Bonus!
(5)
Kyle S.
I love visiting local breweries for all the different takes on beer that individual locations make that reflect the attitudes of the owners and the region in general. I was very excited to go to BBC because it was my first time and we were heading to the Palace (which I love) afterward. Despite the rainy, August night, our group sat outside on the patio and watched people rush around the theater district, jump over puddles that accumulated on the exposed brick streets and just hear the sounds of the city on a Saturday night. It is a great way to experience local flavor. Speaking of local flavor, lets get to the drinks! BBC has a selection of their own brews that take up a whole page of the menu. There's not a ton of them, but they are in large font. I was a little disappointed that it was so straight forward. The names "American Pale Ale", "Porter" lacked the flair that reflect the owners' personality... or maybe these did reflect the owners' personality. The beer was very good and very reasonably priced. My partner in crime ordered her standard Old Fashioned which was reportedly very, very sweet; too much so. Beer good, cocktails a crap shoot. The menu featured a lot of good looking options. I was there for a quick drink, but other members arrived earlier so I tried the vegan wings which were really, really good. Service was above par and our server was very friendly and helpful. Overall, a very solid spot in a location that permits you to really enjoy Louisville's theater distirct!
(4)
Daniella B.
The beer is just okay. I didn't taste anything super inspirational or anything. I appreciated that they had a sour beer on tap. We were all fairly happy with our food. I felt my crab cake dish was tasty but could've had been more interesting, I ended up dousing it with hot sauce. Our waiter was very accommodating even when some of us had more requests than the typical customer. All in all, a little bland....maybe if they weren't out of all the bourbon beers, I would've been happier.
(3)
Matt G.
The Bar - 4/5 - While I can drink none of their beer anymore, I definitely am all about supporting the local brews. If I remember correctly their Dark Star Porter, and Brown Ale were pretty dang good. It's beer, and they make it there. This is always a good thing. Appearance 3-4/5 (Both downtown locations) - I'm a fan of the Theater Square location more than the Main St. one. The Main ST location is cramped, and crowded, and it's usually packed. Good for them, not so much for me. The 4th ST/Theater Square location is cozy and has a nice outdoor bar, and there's always somewhere to sit. Simply put, it looks cooler. Menu - 3.7/5 - There are a few items I can eat, but not a lot which is perfectly fine. The lettuce wraps, wings, bourbon glazed pork chop, a few of their salad and nachos are items that I often get here, but I've tried several choices. The pork chop is one of my favorites (served w/mash potatoes, spinach and succotash), and it's a great stand alone dish. I really enjoy just about everything and I would give them a 4 but...there was this ONE time where I got a hair in my food. Not cool, but it happens. Service - 3.5/5 - Generally friendly, but slow. Not sure what else to say, because this has been pretty consistent.
(3)
Leigh W.
This is a great lunch spot with lots of interesting vegetarian options, plenty of outdoor seating and a friendly staff. I tried the spinach burger topped "south of the border" with guacamole, jalapenos and pepper jack cheese. Delicious! It comes with chips, but you really must pay $.60 more to get the garlic fries. They are delectable. Kindred is right next door. All Kindred employees can show their badge for a 10% discount.
(3)
James L.
Visited two location while in Ky and I recommend visiting the 300 W Main St location. While it felt small the atmosphere, staff and people made it great. I tried the Hot Brown sandwich which I'm guessing is one of the staple dishes. Greatness! As for the beer again the 300 W Main location has the richer tasting beers on tap. I have no complaints and would suggest this to all who visit.
(4)
Laura V.
Good beer, the sampler was super fun to drink. Awesome vegan wings. Seriously the best. OK fine not the best I've ever had but I've lived in San Francisco and Chicago so my standards are high. They were unique, delicious and vegan. So I was in heaven. My whole party enjoyed their meal and the waitress was fantastic.
Food was below average. Lettuce wraps were nearly inedible. Buffalo chicken sandwich was dry and devoid of spice and every beer in the sampler with the exception of the IPA was bad, either flat or not true to style. The Shelbyville Rd. location is FAR superior to this one and I don't understand why. Against the Grain is so much better than this place it's ridiculous.
(2)
David C.
I have to say that after 3 visits, I'm totally unimpressed with the beers. Tried a Dark Star porter this latest time, the bartender's favorite, but it was dull, lifeless, flat. I ended up asking for a spoon just to produce some foam and give it much-needed CPR. Food here is ok but not great. Atmosphere is ok but not great. They have a 3-season patio for al fresco beer enjoyment so that's a bonus. Bar staff tends to be aloof, I've noticed. However, they are efficient so I'm not complaining. This review is only for the BBC across from the Brown Hotel on 4th and not the big BBC on Main (but they serve the exact same brew). Honestly, these beers are not great brews by any stretch but what the heck, they're good enough to drink a pint or two, and if you come out with your friends for a good time and a couple pints, big deal. You'll still drink them up, so Cheers to BBC.
(3)
Billy B.
I went here for lunch this weekend with my wife and a handful of friends. I ordered the bison burger with cheddar, which was excellent. Also had a root beer float, which was a fun option. What really stood out for me was the incredibly rude service. The wait staff rotated duties a bit to handle our party, and one particular guy was an absolute monster. He'd come out and bark out the name of the dish, glaring at everybody, until someone was brave enough to say it was theirs, usually with some small apology for not having done so sooner. He'd hand over the food like he was challenging us to say something, and then go back to the kitchen to retrieve more. By the third return, we'd worked out a system of immediate response to spare ourselves from the worst of his glowering. The other server was fairly responsive but was just a less-aggressive version of the same. I didn't avail myself of the beer, but others in my party did and enjoyed it. The food was excellent. If you can stomach a nerve-wracking interaction, or if you kinda like surliness, it could be the place for you.
(2)
Sandy W.
I was sold on stopping here as soon as I heard they had vegan barbeque seitan wings. Put the word 'vegan' in one place on your menu, and you'll have an instant fan base. HOWEVER.. once I read the description on the menu, I thought it was an error. BBQ Vegan Wings served with a side of local honey. Seriously? Understand that this would be like saying "Vegetarian burger served with side of bacon" since honey is not vegan. This is probably just an oversight, but since it effectively nullifies the 'vegan' quality of the dish, it's a huge oversight. Serving this dish with honey renders it non-vegan. Our server asked if I wanted a dipping sauce in place of the honey and I said I didn't think they had anything else that was vegan for me to choose from.. and he agreed, apologetically. Honestly, they tasted great, and the barbeque sauce was plenty of flavor. I had to wonder if the sauce itself was reeeally vegan, since the menu contained such a discrepancy. But I let it ride, since we were just passing through. My friend loved his (real) wings, and the beer sampler was a very creative mix.
(3)
Ally H.
Good service. Good beer. Good atmosphere. Ok food. We had the nachos and they were just ok.
(3)
Kristie T.
I've had several visits here before and after shows and it's delish. The beers are great too. I love the IPA the most. It's awesome being able to sit at the bar outside when the weather is nice. It's such a great place and view. This latest time I split the hummus appetizer with a friend and we didn't even finish it all. It's a large plate of goodies.
(4)
Kathy V.
It is super close to my office but I don't come often. I may have to change that. Today I got the brisket sandwich. It was incredible! I've got 2 words for you: BACON JAM. *mind implosion* followed by *mouth-gasm* I had my order to-go, so I can't really comment on the service. But the food was scrumptious.
(4)
Samantha L.
Three stars bc I was disappointed with how few vegan options they had. However, the vegan Seiten BBQ wings were delicious. The menu did not have a vegan option. It was all vegetarian that you request to be altered to vegan needs. I don't like when that's the situation bc often you end up with a really bland dish bc some type of dairy is what makes the meal. I'll admit that if i lived in the area I'd go back for the wings and beer.
(3)
J W.
Stopped in here for dinner while celebrating my birthday in Louisville...what a great find! Easily walkable from our hotel and the night life of 4th Street. They did a good job of accommodating our group of 11. The brews were what got us in the door, but the food is superb here! Everyone was happy with their meals. The fish tacos and housemate chips were incredible. Burgers were flavorful and cooked perfectly. Good food, good beer, what's not to love?
(4)
Jim P.
A nice casual place if you want to escape the formality of The Brown Hotel across the street. Excellent craft beer selection. We only sampled a couple of dishes before the kitchen closed, but they were tasty. I'd like to come back and try some other dishes...and of course the beer.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Kat O.
As with all the BBC locations the food is excellent pub food with great vegan choices. Plus craft beers.
(5)Jim P.
Mead, pretzels, Mediterranean sampler are WONDERFUL. Pork chop - tough and gristle, beers were generally bitter w aftertaste... Including wheat beer (bitter was a surprise). Service: slow-ish. The Mead? GREAT. Come here if you want to smoke (on the huge patio) and dont mind slow service from girls who are working real hard but overwhelmed as there are not enough of them... Even on a Monday. The pretzel was awesome with beer cheese.
(2)Ashley H.
Wondered upon this place downtown with the help of yelp. Was a little worried after walking in and seeing it empty but no worries, food was yummy! Ordered the brisket sandwich and holy deliciousness! If you have never had bacon jam before get this now. It's bacon and jam, two greatest things ever put into one, eat now! I 100% recommend the brisket sandwich. My friends got the pulled pork sand which and the pretzels and cheese sauce. Both were good as well. Service was alright. We also got a tasting of the raspberry mead, and great as well. They will give you free taste of any of their beers.
(5)Rumi F.
Was in Louisville for a business trip, came here for some drinks and dinner. Tried the Hot Brown that my seat mate from the plane recommended to me- a huge plate of bread topped off with turkey, bacon bits, mornay sauce (cheese sauce), and tomatoes. Portion was so huge that I couldn't finish the whole thing. Tried a raspberry beer, preeetty good!
(3)Josh W.
At the restaurant now, and just waited 25 minutes for drinks. The service is terribly slow and the only way to get our waitress was to flag her down. Never coming back
(1)Nicole M.
I'm not even a huge bourbon fan, but their bourbon stout is something I highly recommend trying.
(4)Jeff C.
First off, let me say that because I was not able to sample the beer, this is an incomplete review. Hopefully I will get to remedy this very soon since the seasonal beer menu looked quite nice. It wasn't busy when we arrived and only took a couple of minutes to be seated (waiting to find the hostess). The menu has several unique items on it. I was in the mood for a burger and ordered the bluegrass with soup. The soup was ok but took 15 minutes to come out. The burger was very good. Excellent flavor with very good toppings. The service was somewhat sketchy: not terrible but surely not good.
(3)Mary B.
Really delicious food! Try the bourbon peach pork chop and yukon potatoes! Other good dishes are the Kentucky steak burger I chose the smokehouse style which had bacon, onions, smoke gouda and bourbon mayonnaise really great. My other friend had the brisket which was really juicy. We also tried the fried green tomatoes for an app superb!
(4)Suzanne B.
The Bourbon Barrel Loft here is a ton of fun. I went there recently for a wedding rehearsal dinner and was impressed at the space, service, and the food we had. The Loft itself is on the 3rd floor of the building, and is perfect for private events like the one I was a part of. The space has a loft feel with hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, and high ceilings. It was cozy and sophisticated at the same time, and somewhere I could see myself returning with good friends to catch up. Its location on the corner of the building also means it's great people watching out the large windows (George Strait concert was there the night we were). There is a side of the room with white leather lounge seating, which was a perfect place to take a load off and catch up with the other guests. The food was much better than I had expected. I ordered a steak cooked medium with vegetables on the side, and both the meat and the veggies were done perfectly. I talked to a few people who ordered chicken and they said it was tender and juicy, not dry and overdone like so many places do poultry. When I was there we had free valet service; I'm not sure if this is a regular offering at this location (if it is, take advantage of it, especially if traffic is crazy). In any case, it's probably worth the small nominal fee you'll pay to save yourself a headache. I'll be taking advantage of it the next time I go and check out more of the menu!
(4)Ellie C.
Very enjoyable! I was there with a small group of friends for a celebration. The service was good and the beer selection was great. We took a cab from our hotel, so I'm not sure on the parking situation. The menu was diverse and the food was well made- I think most of us got pizza, which is always a good option when it comes to pairing with beer. Overall, this was a good spot for any day of the week!
(4)Joe R.
A fun American style eatery nestled in a good area of downtown just south of 4th street live. Great place to meet with friends for lunch and dinner, and outside seating is great for a nice warm day. They serve a variety of food and have several of their own BBC brewed beers all of which are pretty tasty. Never had a bad experience at this location.
(4)Josh L.
Before micro and craft breweries were the hip thing to do, Bluegrass Brewing was ahead of the pack and setting the trend. With several locations now in Louisville, BBC has been providing Louisvillians with great food and brews for many years. They definitely don't disappoint in either category & this location on 4th St is the place to go before or after a show for a quality drink at prices much better than you'll find in the venue. A "must visit" if seeing a show at one of the Theater District venues.
(4)Tammy F.
Turkey n bacon on a pretzel bun! The Best! Went at lunch w very lil time and they got us in n out right on time. Get the kettle chips! Luv the atmosphere n very friendly staff! I cant wait to go back n try the beer sampler. The whole office is going back. Luv downtown n fourth street.
(5)Jennifer P.
I wish I could give two separate reviews for this restaurant - one for service and one for food. Our server was very difficult to understand when speaking. But the worst part was how wrong our order was when brought out. Three out of six of us had incorrect orders - onions we didn't ask for, the wrong kind of fries, missing appetizers. Our food was eventually changed to the correct order, although we never received the missing appetizer. No manager ever came over, nothing was taken off our bill, and one of the servers said that this happens all the time. The restaurant was not busy at all. It was very unfortunate because the food was delicious. I would love to try their food again with different staff and management.
(2)Sarah W.
Make no mistake, BBC brews good beer. Personally, I think the Theater Square location is the best BBC space. Sitting outside with a Dark Star Porter waiting for a concert to start across the street is a fine way to spend an evening. But the food is bad. It doesn't matter which BBC you go to, and it doesn't matter what you order. It's just not that good. (Trust me, I've tried) Last night we had the vegan BBQ wings. Admittedly, as a non-vegan, I should know better than to order vegan fare involving pseudo-meat. But good Lord, it was like eating pencil erasers dipped in barbecue sauce. I've also had bad luck with burgers and fish at various BBCs, so you can't really blame it on the vegans. But go home, have a sandwich, and then head over to BBC and you'll be fine.
(3)Matt F.
I went here with my wife last Friday. We both had a good time. The beer was great and so was the service. We mostly went here because of the reviews about the vegan wings. They were not exaggerating. They are the best vegan wings I have had so far since going vegan last fall. We both had the veggie burger which was good. I had the garlic fries which normally have cheese but they made a batch with just garlic. We thought that the buns were grilled with butter but they checked and the spread they use is butter free. I was glad that they verified the ingredients. I would definitely go back. It's a great place to hang out and watch a game too.
(4)Frank B.
They have absinthe! Bartenders were great.
(5)Jessica I.
This review is for beer only, as we stopped in for a break from our Urban Bourbon Trail crawling. During my long weekend in Louisville, I found myself envying locals for the dazzling whiskey selection (they even have a nice one in the brewery!), but I daresay we're spoiled with microbreweries in Cleveland. I approached this place with a pretty high bar, and found all the options in my sampler just OK. Everything was perfectly competent, but it was nothing special. Service was nice, and the smoker outside smelled awfully good.
(3)Me C.
Embarrassed to tell you how many times I've been here. I don't even drink beer. Great selection of bourbon. Beer cheese and pretzels is always good but the veggies burger is really a treat. Add bacon! Good prices and fun atmosphere.
(4)Curt P.
if you are in the mood for plain, non exotic fare, this might the place for you. basically applebees with better beer.
(2)Todd P.
Friendly staff and patrons. Good food and great beer at a fair price.
(3)Kelley Y.
Extensive menu, fantastic service! Nice spot for lunch or to watch a game.
(4)David I.
Very nice local bar (with food). The location is great and screams party (and drunks, fights, vomit, etc.). But the weather is cool and the crowds aren't there. So I took a seat at the bar and got my first taste of stupid Kentucky sitting next to me. I love how people are hypocrites and make up labels for themselves. Anyway, I digress. So they are a microbrewery and have quite a few beers, I got the summer wheat and really enjoyed the smoothness. Really good stuff! Then I ordered the Bison Burger with a side of slaw. OMG, talk about meaty goodness. This wins as the best (bison) hamburger ever. I ordered it rare and it came RARE, woohoo! There is no way to describe it, it was that good. The slaw was great too, it tasted freshly made. I went back a few days later and got the same thing and it was just as good. No flukes there. I'll be back, over and over. I read that a few reviewers didn't like the food so keep in mind a few variables. 1) If you order your meat well done, you will get food that is devoid of flavor. You might as well eat a shoe. 2) If you are drunk, you might not enjoy the food as much. Especially if you taste it a second time coming up. 3) Any place that is mobbed with people is going to overtax the kitchen, order safe food like nachos at times like this. 4) Unless it's deep fried, never order fish at a bar. UPDATE: Apparently there are 3 locations. I haven't tried the other location in Louisville but it seems the reviews aren't as good. I've eaten at this location 6 more times since I wrote my review and nothing has changed. It's all still great.
(4)Kippy P.
Bloody Mary. Pretzel sticks and cheese app. Big fat burger & garlic frieds. Perfect hangover remendy. Great Service.
(4)Robin A.
First time it friendly Louisville!! This bar was so enjoyable and welcoming. A place to stop to visit with locals. Thank u for your warm welcome to out of towners.
(5)WB C.
Great vegan food, great service and atmosphere.
(5)Eric L.
Very nice atmosphere and attentive service. I ordered the surf and turf, and asked for a medium rare steak, which was delivered cooked medium. Still quite tasty though. The accompanying caesar salad was a little sad with a couple limp stalks, but the croutons were crispy and it was not overdressed. For dessert, the derby pie (which tasted to me just like pecan pie) was a nice way to sample a local product. The noise level was rather high, but the tables had a good amount of space between them, making the place feel open and not crowded.
(4)Keith C.
Friendly staff and good beer. The food is good pub fare, nothing to shout about but hey....you're in a bar, if you want high cuisine there are 10 other places you can hit with a rock with great food. I found the beer to be very good (which is why I was there). I also like a place where the staff understands and can talk beer with you some and not just take your food order. Our waitress really was a beer gal which made the whole experience that much nicer. If the food was super special it would be five stars but I would definitely go there again. I don't get the haters on the food.....we all had sold meals with a great relaxed atmosphere.
(4)Ida B.
Good beer selection and decent pub menu
(3)Jessica M.
This is by far my favorite BBC location. I live very close to the restaurant, so I place a carry out order at least once a month and walk over to pick it up. My favorite menu items include the Steak Burger and the Cuban--the vegetable medley is also very good if they're serving it as the vegetable of the day. The only reason I didn't give five stars is that this location is randomly closed for long periods of time around holidays. The last two times I've tried to order they've been closed; the most recent time was Tuesday night (12/27) when I was told they wouldn't be open again until January 3rd, 2012. You're not a school--please stop closing like one!
(4)Katie B.
I can't speak to the food. This review is only of the beer. I had a sampler of seven different beers: American Pale Ale, Altbier, Nut Brown Ale, Dark Star Porter, American Wheat, and some coffee beer. Overall, my favorite was the Altbier. I also liked their Nut Brown Ale. While I don't typically like pale ales, I liked their American Pale Ale better than most. The special coffee beer was like drinking black coffee (bleh), and I could barely finish it (which is saying something). The atmosphere here was actually pretty cool with lots of outdoor seating and a bar that wraps around the front with opened overhead garage doors. There is also a plaza nearby for some interesting people watching. What I didn't like was that last call was at midnight on a Saturday. And yet, after "last call", they continued to serve some people while turning away others. Kind of a jerk move on the bartenders' part. Close down or don't but don't be jerks about it.
(4)Jason C.
My wife and I had dinner there on July 29th. We got in town late and didn't get to the restaurant til 9:30PM. The food and beer was good. My wife enjoyed her crab cakes and my pork chop very good. Very good values. The reason for the 3-star review was the service. Kitchen closed at 10 but our server made us feel like she did not want us there. She had a tough time recommending a dish. She didn't warn us that some of the beers were much smaller than normal beers. Both of my beers were a pint, but both of my wife's beers were 10 ounces or smaller. She was too busy rolling her silverware at the table next to ours to bother with following up after we got our food. I had to interrupt her in order to get our check. Our experience was good food and bad service.
(3)TJ G.
Great service, great food. Priced about right for a touristy part of town. My buddy had a steak that was oh so good and I had a burger with bacon and bbq sauce on it that rivaled the best I ever had.
(4)Rachel F.
For starters, I'm surprised this is the lowest rated BBC. It is definitely top 2 for me (almost tied with the tiny one headed towards the baseball stadium). It is a great set up and I love that it is in that nice little spot that is near 4th street live but not quite so touristy - Theater Square. Convenient to the Palace on concert nights. Right by Theater Square Marketplace and Sapporo if you want to make a night of it. And the outdoor seating is as plentiful as the indoor! It is BBC, so the drinks are going to be pretty good. Nice, local beers under 5 bucks. And I still really like their beertails (cocktails made with beer - two wonderful things!) What Brittney H could not have been more right about is the bread pudding! Oh lord, it is so good. It is moist but not mushy. Not crumbly like tons of little pieces of bread. More like a cake. Lovely accompaniments of caramel, ice cream, and whipped cream. Maybe the best bread pudding I have ever had. And it was huge. Plenty for 2. Maybe even 3! And for 6 bucks, nicely paired with my Bourbon Barrel Stout, I was one happy camper.
(4)Jackie S.
At last, I have found the headquarters for veg-head, beer lovers, and bar folk. I usually don't draw a direct link between bar food and vegetarian options, but I was so pleased to try the delicious fried green tomatoes and the shockingly deceptive vegan BBQ bites (don't worry, there were plenty of meat options too). To top it off, the beer selection is sure to please and the wait staff is accommodating and good-natured. This is a great place for late night cravings or just to spend some time enjoying the local bourbon barrel beer offerings. In fact, I believe they actually brew BBC on site!
(4)Kristen W.
Went with a group last weekend at 7pm to watch the UK game. We were worried there would be a crowd, but it was pretty quiet and we were seated right away. U of L had a bye week, so I assume that had a little to do with it. So many options on the menu, it's hard to pick something to try. Our waiter was helpful and recommended his favorite items, and let us know how each of the dishes we were considering were. We started with the spinach artichoke dip, which was fantastic. I scraped the bowl with my spoon when we ran out of chips. One got the soup special (tomato, chicken, artichoke), one got a bowl of chili, hubs got the fried chicken with jalapeno gravy special, I got the shrimp and grits. We all had great things to say about each of our dishes. Beer was good, obviously. Nothing bad to say there. Service was good, food was good, beer was good. It's a solid option to watch a game or enjoy a leisurely night.
(4)Marianne C.
Stopped here our first night in town and recognized the waitress and the bartender from last year. The waitress was friendly, attentive, and informed about the menu and beer. The restaurant is across the street from the Brown. It has outdoor seating as well as a nifty indoor/outdoor bar area - you sit at the bar outdoors that opens indoors. Yeah, that makes sense. Anyway, I had some sort of beer called Lucid Paradox, which was a Belgian trippel and a very good one at that. For dinner, I had the barbecue chicken sandwich - it was supposed to come on a pretzel roll, but it just came out on a regular roll. Boo. The garlic fries were yummy... lots of garlic that you could smell even before you tasted them. Good stuff. My husband tried the absinthe, which comes out in a cool serving apparatus that drips cold water onto a cube of sugar, which you then stir into the absinthe. I took a few sips,and neither of us hallucinated. I don't think the absinthe of today is anything like the absinthe of early twentieth century mythology. :) So, overall, good experience here. I'd go again.
(4)ted d.
Came here after the KY miniMarathon. Great service, fantastic staff and very good food. I bet this place is fantastic when it is warm enough to open the doors.
(4)Wade R.
As my kid would say OMG! Great food, most excellent beer selection, clean, with a great staff. Highly recommend!
(5)Stuart S.
I visited two of the Bluegrass Brewing Company locations, but there may have been a third spot too. This spot was more of a bar. I enjoyed the vibe of this spot much more than its counterpart on 3rd. There was a large outdoor area that would provide great people watching, but this season was too cold to take part in that. Inside on two sides of the bar it was like a garage with the walls having the capability to roll up in a warmer season. I tried a sampler of seven beers, some were the same and some different from the location on 3rd. Again, the beers were good, but none of them were great. My favorite by far was the bourbon barrel beer! They sold their beers, but unfortunately only six packs which means an out-of-towner like myself couldn't walk away with a variety of all of their beers.
(3)Bob H.
A nice local place to hang and have local brews.
(3)Chris C.
Let me start off by saying that this is three star food and four star beer (just don't buy the stuff in stores - it isn't as good as on tap and nowhere near the bottled versions of Schlafly or Goose Island). The cuban sandwich is probably their best, but it can be great one day and so-so the next. Reasons for two star rating: 1) One time our server had two noticeable track marks on the inside of his elbow. For those of you that don't know what track marks are, I will let you Google it. 2) One time turned away during the lunch hour because their fryer and grill were both broken. 3) One time turned away because they had a couple of large parties during the lunch hour, and were understaffed. "It will take 20 minutes at least to even take your order" said the hostess with the largest mouth herpie I have ever seen in my life. Overall, you can do worse but you can do a lot better.
(2)Matt M.
Sat for 15 minutes, no service nothing not even a hello. But hey the folks on either side of us received food and drink. People sat after us outside where served. Guess I had on the wrong shirt on. Left and went to Yafa for some good food.
(1)Scott M.
Great place to hang out for happy hour. Stay at the Brown Hotel and its stumbling distance back to your room. I've been here many times on Layovers in Louisville and the service has always been good. The area is a little sketchy late at night. Make sure to come with friends!
(4)Hymae W.
This was my first stop in my tour of Louisville and was my favorite place on the "Urban Trail." Nothing too fancy, lots of outdoor seating, and good bourbon barrel aged beer. Ordered the crab cakes and my girlfriend ordered the fish tacos. Wasn't a fan of the crab cakes but the fish tacos were delicious. Wanted to grab a growler or two from here but never made it back.
(4)Jeff C.
Beer was good, but they did run out of a few selections before 8pm on a saturday night. I had a bourbon stout which was awesome if you can handle it. The girlfriend appreciated it but could not handle it. She had the alt bier, a nice malty brew. Pretzels were hot and tasty but had too little cheese and then charged us more for an extra SMALL cup which would have brought the amount of cheese that was expected. Advice to company, raise price 50 cents and give more cheese.. its good, we will pay, I just dont want to feel nickel and dimed... smokehouse bison burger and yukon gold mashed taters were on time!
(4)Robert E.
First stop while in Louisville for an appetizer and a beer. The spinach and artichoke dip was awesome. Just the right amount of artichoke served with warm pita bread slices. American Pale Ale was great!
(4)Rey P.
I know, I know -- how is it that a vegetarian, non-drinker is actually giving what's essentially a sports bar where beer is the draw and food is just an accompaniment a 3-star review? It's because of this: fried green tomato sandwich with smoked gouda and roasted red peppers on a whole grain roll. Serve it up with garlic fries, and you're good to go. For real. Eat it. It's SOOO worth the trip.
(3)Jen B.
My SO and I spent our first night in Louisville and asked the hotel staff where we should go for a unique Louisville experience. They happily suggested the nearby "4th St Live District". Blah! Being from Kansas City, we were so incredibly disappointed to get there and see it is the exact same thing as the Power & Light District in KC. Same management company (the Cordish Co), same bars, same toursity crap, same lame crowds (or lack thereof). So, I pulled up my handy Yelp iPhone app to see what else was nearby and we spotted the Bluegrass Brewing Company only a few blocks away. We wandered down and had a surprisingly good meal and some tasty brews. The crowd was comprised of friendly locals, our server was helpful, and our bison burgers were outstanding. In other words, this is exactly the type of restaurant that should be in Louisville's 4th St McDistrict instead of the chain restaurants which currently fill the space. I mean, who actually goes to a Hardrock Cafe for a $12 hamburger anymore? 1985 called and they want their kitcsch back. If you find yourself in Louisville and want some local flavor, head on over to the Bluegrass Brewing Company and sample their local foods and brews. You'll be glad you skipped 4th St Live.
(4)Lis F.
Amazing!!!!!! I'm a vegetarian and my husband loves beer but we always compromise- but this place has both! They have creative veggie dishes as well as traditional bar dishes. We ordered seitan wings and the medit dish and my hubby got American pale ale (I got a chard)- seriously this place is incredible
(5)L. R.
We came on a busy Saturday evening and it was pretty crazy both inside and outside. Our server was very attentive and even after questioning him about the vegan BBQ chikn wings, he brought me a sample to taste, they weren't to my liking, so I ordered the tofu lettuce wrap. The lettuce wraps were very flavorful but different than what I am used to - a little. It soupy but a very good taste. My dining partner had the pizza Margherita and liked it very much. This place is very noisy. There are televisions and radio and music going all at once. The waiters and waitresses seem to be working their butts off carrying large platters of food to the outside as well as the inside. The prices are reasonable and the food isn't bad.
(4)Marcella K.
Love this place. Great beer, good food (get the pretzel sticks and cheese) and a unique location.
(4)Andrew C.
Spent some quality time drinking at the bar and reading here last summer on my way from Atlanta to Chicago. The more I drank, the harder it was to read, but the less I cared. By the time I staggered across the street to my hotel (intending to close the bar there), I'd managed to bind and gag the readin' parts of my brain in chains of sweet, sweet beer. That said, I had and enjoyed the Bourbon Barrel Scotch Ale, the Bourbon Barrel Stout, and the Dark Star Porter. Yes, putting beer in Bourbon barrels is at once overdone - especially outside of Kentucky - and a genius idea; and, yes, it's easy to do this poorly, but Bluegrass came through. The Porter was also quite well done - and truer to style than many out there. The food was ... fine. Not spectacular, certainly not interesting, but competently-executed. There were some issues, but these had more to do with front room management and expediting orders than it did with the kitchen, the ingredients, or the recipes. Service was a bit inconsistent, but unfailingly friendly.
(4)April S.
Do you love micro-brews? Do you love interesting menu choices? Then this is the place for you. Try a beer sampler, eat something new and relax at a mainstay that Louisville proudly boasts about.
(4)John M.
I know better than to go to a brewery and worry about the food (just like you don't get a steak at a seafood place) but I was a little disappointed in the number of beers I had to choose from at the BBC. I was hoping for ten or fifteen to choose from but I think there were only about half that. I ended up having the American Pale Ale which was very good and the American Wheat which was OK. They basically had one beer from each "category" (wheat, pale, brown, stout, etc). It wasn't warm enough outside to have the place all opened up but I bet it would be a good time on a warm summer night. I have also been to the other location a few blocks away but this place was better. I'd go back agin for the Pale and hopefully they would have some good seasonal stuff to choose from too. Of course, the food was not very memorable but a beer place isn't supposed to have good food!
(3)Anthony A.
If you are in the area do yourself a favor and walk through the tourist area without stopping, as just 2 blocks up the road is the BBC. This is a really good place to hang out. Its dog friendly with an inside outside bar and great staff. I must say the beer is good but I have had better. But this is now my watering hole in Louisville.
(4)Scott L.
This place had the luck of being next to the hotel we were staying at in Louisville. I'm not a fan of stuffy hotel lounges as they are often over priced with not friendly staff. So me and the Mrs. walked across the street to this little local brewing pub. We were pleasantly suprised to find a winner here! Very clean, cozy little pub with some stellar brews and good food. My new favorite thing in the world is the Bourbon Barrel Stout from here. Simply delicious with that tinge of bourbon bite to it, yet extremely smooth and drinkable. If your in the neighborhood, this place is worth a stop for a beer and conversation with the friendly staff.
(4)Norman K.
Went today at noon. The food was ok. Service was VERY slow. We were told that we would be takeb care of after we talk to the manager. Our drinks were covered. The intial bill incuded an 18% gratuity. We had it removed. Will not go back.
(1)Kristen S.
We were in Louisville for business and walked through 4th st live, kept walking and made our way here. It was a nice day to enjoy the bar patio along with some drinks during happy hour. The bartenders were very friendly and gave great service. It seemed like a local neighborhood hang out with a great open atmosphere. The food was plentiful and pretty delicious. I would most certainly go back, maybe during the weekend this time to check out the scene.
(4)Kristin Marie S.
I'm a huge fan of brewhouses so when we rolled into Louisville hungry it was hard not to stop. The brewhouse is more of a restaurant with two large beer containers behind the bar. Whatever, not a big deal, we can't be eating in the middle of their actual brewing operations. When we posted up at the bar I was pleasantly surprised to find out they had raspberry meade on tap. I love fruit beers and this one was definitely up there. It was served in a smaller glass and was not overwhelming fruity. The bartendress said sometimes they mix it with the Kolsch. Great idea but not necessary. This is why I really liked it! I also got a half BBC stout. Again I was happy they offered half beers as we were short on time and headed to a wedding. As for the food I had a house salad, it was typical, and a pretzel. The mustard was good, the pretzel I was certain was dipped in a large vat of melted butter. Tasty? Yes. Good for the heart? No. We grabbed a growler for the hotel, it was well priced and she kept it in the fridge while we ate. All-in-all I would come back to drink some beer and try the fish and chips.
(3)Tristan S.
I was hesitant to go here based on some of the other reviews, but it was quite good. A group of about 12 of us went on Halloween at about 6pm. It wasn't crowded at first, but by the time we left, it was packed. We all had beer and food. I wasn't a big fan of the beers - we had a sampler, and all had a very metallic taste to them. Which isn't to say I didn't like them (I like most beers), but they just weren't what I'd hoped for from a small brewery. I had a local bison burger. I typically don't eat meat, but do splurge once in a while if the fare is local. The burger was divine: perfectly cooked, tasty, and hot. My wife had a burrito, which for a brewery, was quite good. Service was pretty good, though slowed down significantly as the crowds came in, though she did apologize for our wait to get our checks. I'd go back again if in the area.
(4)Jeff S.
There are two of these places (i think)- this review is for the one across from the Brown hotel. I have not ordered food here I've only sat at the bar, but I've done so enough times that they recognize me which is humorous because I live in Washington DC. The staff seems friendly and considering how expensive the Brown hotel is its a great place to run across the street and grab a drink. I've had some of their microbrews and they were tasty but as of late I normally just drink bourbon there.
(4)Susan B.
Food: mediocre at best. Service: can I give negative stars?? The place wasn't that busy. The waiter took forever to make it to the table. He inappropriately griped that a previous patron had left him a nasty note regarding his service on his bill. Then backed up her claim by being totally horrible. Brought food to the table not once, but TWICE and brought no eating utensils or napkis. Our appetizer was still sitting there untouched and cold when he brought our entrees. After a glare he finally returned with some silverware. I didn't leave a note, but I didn't leave much of a tip either. There have to be other options...this would not be a place I would return to.
(1)Andy S.
Good local micro brewery with a strong list of beers. I hate to say it but the food stinks. I would say it's on par with microwaving something at home. That kinda tasteless, been in the back of the freezer too long, kinda thing. It's a real shame and the main reason it's only getting four stars. Seating outside is always a must when the weather is good. Go have a locally crafted beer (IPA, APA, Stout, Porter, Seasonals) and get dinner somewhere else. Edit* (This review is in regards to the 4th street location)
(4)J. B.
We had a great mid-week Happy Hour after work, stayed for dinner, then stayed for more drinks. Ordered the bison burger and salmon salad - both delicious. It was nice to find someplace downtown with outdoor seating (street and off-street), and we were never encouraged to leave, order more, or tip too much. No cheesiness - just a sincere waiter who knew how to make us feel comfortable. Will certainly be going back next chance we get!
(5)Meghan B.
Their beer is good. If you like bourbon and beer together, then you'll think it's really good. I stuck with their Amercan Ale which was nice and hoppy. I did try one of their bourbon porters which they age in Woodford Reserve casks, but the taste was a little too strong and it gave me the chills.
(3)Mike L.
The shrimp and grits tasted like dirty sea water. I would have rated this place lower but my dining companions actually seemed to enjoy their food (crab cakes and fish tacos). Our enthusiastic waiter was too busy chatting up his fellow staff members to notice I finished my beer, so I can only comment on the one I tasted. The Dark Star Porter is decent and I'd probably order it again, but with so many other good food options nearby, I'd go elsewhere to eat.
(2)Mari G.
I love beer and therefore I love BBC. The selection, while modest, consists of some really quality beers. I am a fan of the Nut Brown Ale and the American Pale Ale. The food is also pretty good, that pretzel bread is the sh*t. The service was friendly. Our waiter was hilarious and helpful. It was a really nice place to hit up on a lazy Saturday afternoon downtown.
(4)Viki M.
This location is right across the way from The Brown Hotel so after traveling all day, and checking into the hotel we walked over for a late dinner. Wasn't a fancy place and there didn't seem a huge list of beers to choose from but my friends drank the summer wheat, and two of us had the strawberry mead. Very good. The food was pretty good - casual - black bean burritos were ordered and Bison burgers. Love their motto - Beer Is Food. Other colleagues went over there the next day and they enjoyed their food and beverages.
(3)John N.
I've had better beers than what the BBC offers but this is sure better than the swill that the big brewers offer. I give them credit for making seasonal beers to supplement the stalwarts. But the American Pal Ale tasted flat to me and the Summer Wheat had a skunked beer flavor that I have not experienced since I was an undergrad. The smoked bock was pretty good, even if a bit one-dimensional. And I was surprised what they were ale to do with their take on malt liquor. The food/ pricing was OK. Service was friendly and knowledgeable.
(3)Melissa D.
This was a tough one...I'm all about the asset-based approach so I'll start by saying that the staff were really nice and their bourbon IQ superb. It's also a great place to go if you want to sample some local beers, again the staff were very knowledgeable and helpful. Sadly, the compliments end here as the food was HORRIBLE. I eat out fairly often and can count on one hand the number of times I've sent food back! First I ordered a salmon burger which I couldn't even look at, then I ordered a turkey burger which was barely edible. Head here for a good drink and venture elsewhere for good eats.
(1)Gil M.
This past weekend I stayed at the Brown Hotel for work and my coworker and I gave BBC a try. The staff was very well educated about their beers, which made my experience that much better. The prices are good. The beer is even better. I hope to make it back sometime. You can even buy a six-pack of their brews. How great.
(4)Ryan D.
Good local brewery with a good good menu. I stop here every time I am town to sit and relax for a spell . I have been here several times, the food menu has change but the beers seems to stay the same. I have seen a few new ones pop up over the years and all have been rather delicious. During the summer I have seen several bands outside where they open up the windows and allow for service without going in.
(4)Andy D.
First thing first, the food here is amazing (4th Street). I can't say anything for vegan because I love meat, but I've heard wonderful things about the vegan wings. - The bison burger is wonderful. Always cooked the way I want (medium). - Always get the garlic fries. The are delicious. - Appetizer: Go with the spinach artichoke dip. I wouldn't be able to eat the whole thing, so bring a friend. Perfectly seasoned and great pita bread. - Other choices: Turkey club on a pretzel bread. Freaking amazing. Chicken pancetta is one of my favorites as well. With just enough citrus in there, delicious. Then there's the beer. No matter your flavor of choice, they make a beer to meet your palate. But wait, there's more! They have an excellent bourbon/whiskey selection. Oh wait! Did I mention they make awesome cocktails? Because they do. You absolutely cannot go wrong stopping here. If you're a beer drinker and stop in often, join the Warthog club. You pay a fee for a bigger mug, but get normal pint prices, at all locations. Tuesday is happy hour all day for warthog members, so... Bonus!
(5)Kyle S.
I love visiting local breweries for all the different takes on beer that individual locations make that reflect the attitudes of the owners and the region in general. I was very excited to go to BBC because it was my first time and we were heading to the Palace (which I love) afterward. Despite the rainy, August night, our group sat outside on the patio and watched people rush around the theater district, jump over puddles that accumulated on the exposed brick streets and just hear the sounds of the city on a Saturday night. It is a great way to experience local flavor. Speaking of local flavor, lets get to the drinks! BBC has a selection of their own brews that take up a whole page of the menu. There's not a ton of them, but they are in large font. I was a little disappointed that it was so straight forward. The names "American Pale Ale", "Porter" lacked the flair that reflect the owners' personality... or maybe these did reflect the owners' personality. The beer was very good and very reasonably priced. My partner in crime ordered her standard Old Fashioned which was reportedly very, very sweet; too much so. Beer good, cocktails a crap shoot. The menu featured a lot of good looking options. I was there for a quick drink, but other members arrived earlier so I tried the vegan wings which were really, really good. Service was above par and our server was very friendly and helpful. Overall, a very solid spot in a location that permits you to really enjoy Louisville's theater distirct!
(4)Daniella B.
The beer is just okay. I didn't taste anything super inspirational or anything. I appreciated that they had a sour beer on tap. We were all fairly happy with our food. I felt my crab cake dish was tasty but could've had been more interesting, I ended up dousing it with hot sauce. Our waiter was very accommodating even when some of us had more requests than the typical customer. All in all, a little bland....maybe if they weren't out of all the bourbon beers, I would've been happier.
(3)Matt G.
The Bar - 4/5 - While I can drink none of their beer anymore, I definitely am all about supporting the local brews. If I remember correctly their Dark Star Porter, and Brown Ale were pretty dang good. It's beer, and they make it there. This is always a good thing. Appearance 3-4/5 (Both downtown locations) - I'm a fan of the Theater Square location more than the Main St. one. The Main ST location is cramped, and crowded, and it's usually packed. Good for them, not so much for me. The 4th ST/Theater Square location is cozy and has a nice outdoor bar, and there's always somewhere to sit. Simply put, it looks cooler. Menu - 3.7/5 - There are a few items I can eat, but not a lot which is perfectly fine. The lettuce wraps, wings, bourbon glazed pork chop, a few of their salad and nachos are items that I often get here, but I've tried several choices. The pork chop is one of my favorites (served w/mash potatoes, spinach and succotash), and it's a great stand alone dish. I really enjoy just about everything and I would give them a 4 but...there was this ONE time where I got a hair in my food. Not cool, but it happens. Service - 3.5/5 - Generally friendly, but slow. Not sure what else to say, because this has been pretty consistent.
(3)Leigh W.
This is a great lunch spot with lots of interesting vegetarian options, plenty of outdoor seating and a friendly staff. I tried the spinach burger topped "south of the border" with guacamole, jalapenos and pepper jack cheese. Delicious! It comes with chips, but you really must pay $.60 more to get the garlic fries. They are delectable. Kindred is right next door. All Kindred employees can show their badge for a 10% discount.
(3)James L.
Visited two location while in Ky and I recommend visiting the 300 W Main St location. While it felt small the atmosphere, staff and people made it great. I tried the Hot Brown sandwich which I'm guessing is one of the staple dishes. Greatness! As for the beer again the 300 W Main location has the richer tasting beers on tap. I have no complaints and would suggest this to all who visit.
(4)Laura V.
Good beer, the sampler was super fun to drink. Awesome vegan wings. Seriously the best. OK fine not the best I've ever had but I've lived in San Francisco and Chicago so my standards are high. They were unique, delicious and vegan. So I was in heaven. My whole party enjoyed their meal and the waitress was fantastic.
(5)Gers L.
Fruit fly in my beer, no silverware, and a server who checked up on my table only once. The bison burger I ordered was decent and eatable. My fiancé ordered the salmon.... It was not fully cooked and was the size of 2 Lego pieces. Overall, I won't order food anymore. As for the beer, it was slightly warm. If it were cold, it would have been tasty. The Bourbon Barrel Stout and Mango Tango IPA were the drinks of choice. 2 stars for this place.
(2)Rob S.
Food was below average. Lettuce wraps were nearly inedible. Buffalo chicken sandwich was dry and devoid of spice and every beer in the sampler with the exception of the IPA was bad, either flat or not true to style. The Shelbyville Rd. location is FAR superior to this one and I don't understand why. Against the Grain is so much better than this place it's ridiculous.
(2)David C.
I have to say that after 3 visits, I'm totally unimpressed with the beers. Tried a Dark Star porter this latest time, the bartender's favorite, but it was dull, lifeless, flat. I ended up asking for a spoon just to produce some foam and give it much-needed CPR. Food here is ok but not great. Atmosphere is ok but not great. They have a 3-season patio for al fresco beer enjoyment so that's a bonus. Bar staff tends to be aloof, I've noticed. However, they are efficient so I'm not complaining. This review is only for the BBC across from the Brown Hotel on 4th and not the big BBC on Main (but they serve the exact same brew). Honestly, these beers are not great brews by any stretch but what the heck, they're good enough to drink a pint or two, and if you come out with your friends for a good time and a couple pints, big deal. You'll still drink them up, so Cheers to BBC.
(3)Billy B.
I went here for lunch this weekend with my wife and a handful of friends. I ordered the bison burger with cheddar, which was excellent. Also had a root beer float, which was a fun option. What really stood out for me was the incredibly rude service. The wait staff rotated duties a bit to handle our party, and one particular guy was an absolute monster. He'd come out and bark out the name of the dish, glaring at everybody, until someone was brave enough to say it was theirs, usually with some small apology for not having done so sooner. He'd hand over the food like he was challenging us to say something, and then go back to the kitchen to retrieve more. By the third return, we'd worked out a system of immediate response to spare ourselves from the worst of his glowering. The other server was fairly responsive but was just a less-aggressive version of the same. I didn't avail myself of the beer, but others in my party did and enjoyed it. The food was excellent. If you can stomach a nerve-wracking interaction, or if you kinda like surliness, it could be the place for you.
(2)Sandy W.
I was sold on stopping here as soon as I heard they had vegan barbeque seitan wings. Put the word 'vegan' in one place on your menu, and you'll have an instant fan base. HOWEVER.. once I read the description on the menu, I thought it was an error. BBQ Vegan Wings served with a side of local honey. Seriously? Understand that this would be like saying "Vegetarian burger served with side of bacon" since honey is not vegan. This is probably just an oversight, but since it effectively nullifies the 'vegan' quality of the dish, it's a huge oversight. Serving this dish with honey renders it non-vegan. Our server asked if I wanted a dipping sauce in place of the honey and I said I didn't think they had anything else that was vegan for me to choose from.. and he agreed, apologetically. Honestly, they tasted great, and the barbeque sauce was plenty of flavor. I had to wonder if the sauce itself was reeeally vegan, since the menu contained such a discrepancy. But I let it ride, since we were just passing through. My friend loved his (real) wings, and the beer sampler was a very creative mix.
(3)Ally H.
Good service. Good beer. Good atmosphere. Ok food. We had the nachos and they were just ok.
(3)Kristie T.
I've had several visits here before and after shows and it's delish. The beers are great too. I love the IPA the most. It's awesome being able to sit at the bar outside when the weather is nice. It's such a great place and view. This latest time I split the hummus appetizer with a friend and we didn't even finish it all. It's a large plate of goodies.
(4)Kathy V.
It is super close to my office but I don't come often. I may have to change that. Today I got the brisket sandwich. It was incredible! I've got 2 words for you: BACON JAM. *mind implosion* followed by *mouth-gasm* I had my order to-go, so I can't really comment on the service. But the food was scrumptious.
(4)Samantha L.
Three stars bc I was disappointed with how few vegan options they had. However, the vegan Seiten BBQ wings were delicious. The menu did not have a vegan option. It was all vegetarian that you request to be altered to vegan needs. I don't like when that's the situation bc often you end up with a really bland dish bc some type of dairy is what makes the meal. I'll admit that if i lived in the area I'd go back for the wings and beer.
(3)J W.
Stopped in here for dinner while celebrating my birthday in Louisville...what a great find! Easily walkable from our hotel and the night life of 4th Street. They did a good job of accommodating our group of 11. The brews were what got us in the door, but the food is superb here! Everyone was happy with their meals. The fish tacos and housemate chips were incredible. Burgers were flavorful and cooked perfectly. Good food, good beer, what's not to love?
(4)Jim P.
A nice casual place if you want to escape the formality of The Brown Hotel across the street. Excellent craft beer selection. We only sampled a couple of dishes before the kitchen closed, but they were tasty. I'd like to come back and try some other dishes...and of course the beer.
(3)