My boyfriend raves about this place for their wine selection and as a self declared wino I have to agree!!! But that isn't the only reason I'm going to convince him to take me back. Our server Eric (I am so sorry if I got your name wrong) was AMAZING and treated my boyfriend and I like we were old friends, even joked with us about the Prince concert going on that night and our mutual disappointment that we couldn't go. The vegetable soup was beyond perfect and the salmon salad was the best salad I've had in Louisville. You MUST try the Green Chili Wantons, they are little cheesy bites of deliciousness with guacamole. I cannot praise Eric enough though. He took time to talk to us even though we were there a little later than socially acceptable (about 9pm). As a server I felt bad going so late but he seemed to just enjoy having a table that wanted more than their food thrown down on the table. I was worried a place that looked so nice might be pricey but you really get what you pay for! Definitely going back to try the Linguine! My ONLY complaint is that I'm a little short and couldn't sit in the booth comfortably without straining to reach the table. Eric shifted the booths around for me though and I was good. Great food, amazing service, not short people booth friendly (haha).
(5)
Diane R.
Had the red snapper with a cream sauce and it was really good. It came with Brussel sprouts that were hard as a rock and really undercooked. The waiter told us the bread was hard and he would bring us fresh when it was ready, but we never got fresh bread. What we had was as hard as croutons without the good flavor. You couldn't even bite into it. 3 stars is generous when 2 meals cost what ours did and had all this wrong with it.
(3)
Kate M.
It is difficult to put into words how much I ADORE the Theresa's Sweet Chili Linguine. It might be my favorite dish in Louisville. Also- always upgrade your salad to the Spinach Salad--the large pieces of garlic make it so delicious. The service is always wonderful, but can be a bit slow around events at the Kentucky Center. Also the Gruner Veltiner on the wine list is top notch. All in all- one of my favorites!!
(5)
Renee S.
Server was both excellent and fun. He managed to have as much fun with the 6 slightly intoxicated folks while we had more food and more drinks. Great stop. I'd recommend this place for dinner. Ambiance was very nice.
(5)
Jim D.
We were a group of 11 from out of town to eat before seeing "Pippin". My wife ordered the classic hot brown and I got the new item called Mac n cheese hot brown, along with an appetizer of green chile wontons. The appetizer wontons were wonderful. But, the hot Browns were disappointing. My wife's classic was not the worst Kentucky Hot Brown but certainly not the best she has had. My Mac n Cheese Hot Brown was mostly the whole wheat penne pasta, very little meat and cheese--horrible tasting. If not for the appetizer and the great service, I would have given a zero for over priced, poor tasting food.
(2)
Matt H.
The good was great and had great service. The potatoes were amazing. Will definitely go back next time I am in Louisville.
(4)
April S.
Bloody Mary Bar on Sundays which means you can build one that is as spicy, pickle-ridden, or olive-laden as your heart desires. The food ain't bad either.
(3)
Harry N.
Superb food...recommended by our shuttle driver. Walked over from the Louisville Slugger tour. Hot Brown was excellent. Wife had the salmon and it too was excellent. The soup of the day was a southwestern chile. Maybe the best I've ever had. Service was prompt, waiter was knowledgable and cool to talk with. This is a bit upscale which we were not expecting, but we felt at ease. Highly recommended.
(5)
Blake O.
Taking a friend out before they go home requires a lot of thought about location and price. Spending time in downtown Louisville is a great way to send someone off-- the problem I found was that the price was listed as less expensive than I thought. It's an awkward situation when going out and having to spend more than your party is really prepared to. The food itself got decent reviews from our party, but didn't seem quite up to par with the price. What little the food left wanting, the service made up for. We never had an empty glass and we were well checked up on.
(3)
Karsten L.
Being new to Louisville we didn't know anything about the nearby food places living off of Main Street . So while walking back from the slugger museum we dropped in because the menu (posted outside) looked reasonable both in variety and price. While looking over the menu seated inside I had my mind set on the "hot brown Mac and cheese" then the waitress went over the specials and said the magic words "sea bass" followed by the price of 13.50. (This was there lunch special I might add.) But for the price I was sold being used to high seafood prices from multiple other cities. The food came out and it was just the same quality and quantity of something you would expect from Mitchell's Fish Market or other high end places. I was shell shocked and we will definitely be returning. The service was great. The beer selection solid. And I think the fact that our bill was just as much as our breakfast cost at Wild Eggs I think I need to reconsider what a fair price to pay for breakfast is. If you are with a family or just looking for a date brunch especially after or before visiting the Yum Center or Slugger Museum this is a must stop! 4 out of 5 because dish presentation could have been handled with a little more care.
The Bristol has indoor and outdoor seating. The service is fast and friendly. The server constantly kept my drink full to the rim. The won ton appetizers are amazing with sauce! I ordered the mac n cheese sauce dish. I think the dish lacked some flavor in the cheese sauce, but the pasta was cooked to perfection. I didn't expect a penne pasta to be served but would have preferred a spiral pasta shell or pasta more traditional with mac n cheese. Overall great service will keep me coming back soon.
(4)
Steve A.
This is a pleasant place for lunch and dinner in the heart of Louisville's tourist district. There are extensive bourbons and other adult beverages at the handsome bar. Service is friendly. Note that Sunday brunch buffet is all that's available until 2pm, so if you don't want that a late lunch is a better plan.
(3)
DB J.
Had a waiter that I don't think knew anything that well. We went with a group that had two tables and the other table had an amazing waiter that I kind of was envious of because he seemed amazing. Our waiter was young and seemed completely disinterested. Let me put it this way, if I'm paying over $20 per plate for a meal, that better be damn fine food and it really wasn't. The best part was the Derby pie that the waiter even admitted to me that he had shipped in. So I mean, not the worst, but definitely not the best either.
(2)
Kathy V.
The waiter was really friendly, but a little hard to find a few times. I actually retrieved straws for our table so some of us could drink our bloody marys. The food was alright. The Mideast Grilled Cheese wasn't quite as expected. I don't have many chances to eat at this location, but I wouldn't be against going back.
(3)
Katelyn W.
While waiting for the next available tour at the Evan Williams Experience, my family and I popped in for a quick lunch. Quick, it was - "lunch" it was not. Our entire party ended up ordering the same dish, so it's possible that if we had sampled a variety of things we would have felt differently about the quality we received, but unlikely. We ordered the BBQ Smoked Chicken Sandwich. It came out suspiciously quickly - like the chicken had been microwaved. It was not evenly heated. I was disappointed to see that they didn't even bother to toast the bun. It was just thick, plain white bread, the kind that sticks to the roof of your mouth. There was far too much of it, and it just wasn't good. The BBQ sauce was sweet and tangy, and while I do love my sauce there was too much of it on the chicken. I ended up eating it a bit like an open-faced sandwich, and left most of the bread on the plate. The only side was stale kettle chips, which I'm sure someone grabbed out of a Lays bag. It was a disappointing lunch, and not worth anything close to $9 a plate. With so many other great places to eat downtown, I don't think I would give them another shot.
(1)
Jonathan M.
Surprised that this place is so near the top of downtown Lousiville's yelp ranking. The 3 stars I'm giving here are a simple math average. 5 stars for service and bourbon selection. The waiter was good, knew his bourbon, helped me make a great selection, and there was a great menu of local bourbon options available. 1 star for food quality. The BBQ sauce is worse than Hawaiian BBQ sauce, which tastes like watered down ketchup mixed with maple syrup. The BBQ pork chop was covered in it, and even if it wasn't, the cut was awful and its preparation wasn't great either. I'm no great chef, but I do know how easy and cheap it is to make a great pork chop. And this place misses the mark by a lot.
(3)
Ellen T.
I wondered in on my day off of work while touring the down town area. I had the chili pasta---it was the perfect blend of spicy and sweet. The wait staff was friendly and the food came out pretty fast. I would recommend this place.
(5)
Jennifer H.
Service was great, food was so so. The green chili wontons were very yummy though.
(3)
G M.
Crab cake appetizer ate like a Florida original. Med Pasta was beyond amazing. Right amount of sun dried toms to olives. My wife had the salmon and is as demanding as they come for fresh, flavorful salmon. Wham! Another home run. Bristol is a Lville must.
(5)
Erin K.
Bristol has been around for years and for good reason - it's consistently yummy. I have been to Bristol numerous times but I am basing this review on my most recent visit. My mother, grandmother, and I came to Bristol after seeing A Christmas Carol at Actor's. Our waiter was a bit spacy but very nice! We started with the green chili wontons (of course! If you go to the Bristol and you don't get the wontons you are doing it wrong!) and the bruschetta. I only ate the wontons but man, those things are amazing! I had the crab cakes and Caesar salad as my entree. The crab cakes were awesome; they were really creamy, crispy, and full of crab. I highly recommend! All three of us enjoyed our experience there very much (as we always do!) and I'll be back soon!
(4)
Tara R.
Fantastic service, clean and friendly place with a great menu! I had the braised ribs but my friend got the hot turkey and it looked heavenly. The atmosphere was nice and the serving staff was so friendly and attentive. Will definitely be back- great food, drink, and energy! Highly recommend.
(5)
Kate B.
My family and I went here at the suggestion of our tour guide at the Evan Williams experience. Was it good? Yes. Was it somewhere I would go again? Yes. But I think if you have only a few days in Louisville, I would try somewhere else. They have multiple different options. My mom had the teriyaki salmon which was flavorful and filling. My brother had chili pasta which was very good but spicy for me. I had soup and salad which was good but not memorable (granted it was soup and salad). The service was great. Our waitress was super friendly. They had bourbon flights, and I had a rather boring red wine. There is something for everyone, but maybe that's why it's a little generic.
(3)
Sara T.
This is one of my favorite Louisville restaurants. Green chili wontons to start followed by Teresa's Sweet Chili Linguine is a favorite meal of mine. Not to mention their house rolls and salad dressing! I love the Bristol.
(5)
Nat C.
Five of us out-of-owners chose Bristol for dinner Sunday night. It was an easy and pleasant walk from the Galt House hotel or the convention center. Service was excellent. I think our server's name was Brady. The artichoke fritter appetizer was good. My friends enjoyed their drinks including a flight of bourbons. One friend enjoyed the fish special. The beef brisket special got mixed reviews. The vegetarian stir-fry got a rave review. If the weather had been a bit less humid we would have chosen the pleasant-looking garden seating.
(5)
Terri H.
Bourbon flights available here. We started the meal with the bourbon shrimp and a bourbon flight. The shrimp came on grits and the sauce was delicious. They have three different bourbon flights available. I had the variety one. This is the perfect way to try four different bourbons. They give you half an ounce and label them so you know which one you like best. Chicken Saltimbocca was very good. The berry sauce was just a little bit too sweet for my taste but it was cooked perfectly as well as the asparagus I had with it. The restaurant was very nice and the service was great. I can't wait to return and try something new.
(4)
Rachael M.
We went around 2:30 on a Friday afternoon and the place was pretty empty. We ordered veggie wraps, which were not out of the ordinary, except for the amount of time we had to wait to receive them - way too long for something so simple to prepare!
(3)
Keena M.
This place was recommended to us for a good place to have lunch. When we sat down, We couldn't help but notice that everyone in the restaurant were drinking iced tea, it was almost interesting enough to convince us to get one to try but we decided to stick to water. My boyfriend got a chicken sandwich that he thought tasted good. The white chili was amazing!! It had a little spicy kick to it. It was delicious. I heard a lot about "Hot Brown" and when I saw it on their menu, I had to order it. It is weird. I don't know how else to explain "Hot Brown" besides, it wasn't good but it wasn't bad. It was a pile of mush. Just a weird entree.
(4)
April A.
Place was ok. Had the chili pasta & it was ok. The waiter was excellent & the owner came over to greet us which was really nice! Also had the peppermint patty to drink which was excellent as well. Nice place on a Sunday for dinner. I'd go back to & its always nice to have good service & support local establishment!
(3)
M S.
Good value for dinner - service fast and accurate. The portions are small (salad & salmon) but it's ok based on prices
(4)
Arlene M.
This was my first visit here. Place is clean. Staff is courteous and attentive to my needs. I found the food cooked to order and very tasty. They even offered me a drink to take out. I learned this is where locals eat and was pleased with my meal. I definitely would recommend this place for meals
(4)
Kevin B.
Really nothing to write home about. The service is always good but I just feel like the food is very blah. I would like to note that the food isn't bad it just doesn't leave a lasting impression.
(2)
Carbfriendly T.
I have been in Louisville for 3 years now I live and work downtown and have yet to visit the famous Bristol. Going to lunch with a friend and he suggested the Bristol... I got there ahead of time. My first impression was they need new carpet. It was clean but very stained. Spoke with the server who was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful with the questions I had. I had planned on having the linguini which I've heard so much about but when he told me that beef stew was the special of the day....it was just a beef stew kind of day. Ordered the artichoke fritters as an appetizer and they were very delightful. My friend who has no imagination ordered a Caesar salad. A large bowl of beef stew arrived and it was rather runny with no chunks of beef just shredded beef and when I tasted it it was barely warm and very bland. I'll probably give them another try sometime. But you only have one chance to make a first impression and my impression of the Bristol rated one star but gave two for the excellent service.
(2)
Barnabas P.
Had a larger group dinner here. The atmosphere is pretty generic as is the food. Neither are notable. The servers were attentive and polite. It's a fine place, but nothing special.
(3)
Christopher S.
I came back to try Bristol's out again to see if we can get that rating up. I was with a large group and the staff did an excellent job of accommodating us. Very good service. We ordered all kinds of appetizers and salads to start. All of them were very good. I had the Trout special and it was a BAM! The lemon butter cream sauce with bites of Prosciutto was marvelous. The steak eaters were all raving over their selections. I will try the steak the next time. We all hd a great time and evryone enjoyed their meal. Fairly crowded for a Monday night. Great to see that trend again.
(4)
sindi e.
Popped in around lunch time on a Monday with no expectations, other than a quick google search for a good burger. Chris was our bartender and he answered all our questions - we had lots - was very professional and friendly, but not cloying. Made suggestions and recommendations when asked. Knew we were looking for something to do in the area and gave us the Urban Bourban Passport booklets. Foodwise - Every thing was very good - the beer and the bourbons were great; good, interesting chili wontons, great burger, good hot brown (first try for us all) and good grilled cheese sandwiches. A sommelier chatted with us too (forgot his name - from SC) and he was also very pleasant. These guys really made our day - and would be make a return to the Bristol because of the clean, pleasing ambiance and the excellent staff.
(4)
Julie G.
I realize that Bristol's has been around a long time and that it has been recognized as being a part of Louisville as much as Mayor Abramson, but I think that they should take a step back and evaluate if they are representing the Derby City as best they can. Especially when they have a prime spot on the continually developing Museum Row. This is tourist territory and I fear that Bristol's will leave a bad taste (literally) in any visitors mouth. I'm not sure why, but Bristol's is a Baby Boomers hangout. When I looked around the room it was a sea of white and gray hair. And maybe that explains the very bland menu/food. Nothing daring here. We ordered the hummus as an appetizer, which was satisfactory but its orange tint was off-putting. I had the Bristol burger which had a good flavor but it was something I forgot about the moment I swallowed. Hubby had the California Club salad which he said the shrimp that was in it tasted like boiled water. However, I was surprised by the size of their cocktails. We ordered vodka and tonics and they were served in what looked like 12 oz water glasses. None of those old fashioned glasses. I do realize looks can be deceiving and that they probably hold the same fluid ounces as a small glass but it left an impression. They tasted fine. Our service was great especially for a busy Friday night. Our waiter even asked us if we were going to a show at the KY Center because he would try to hurry the service by bringing our plates when ready. We were and he did. I realize they must be doing something right because they have multiple locations and now they've even jumped across the river to Indiana. It could have something to do with the Senior Discount. Food- Thumbs down Service- Thumbs up Chances of meeting someone who knows who Ed Sullivan was- Thumbs up
(1)
Georgia M.
Stopped here for lunch after visiting the Slugger Museum. Very trendy atmosphere. Started with the green chili wontons at the recommendation of the waiter and they were amazing - even better dipped in the homemade guacamole! Crab cake sandwich was also yummy. Pulled BBQ chicken was very sweet but tasty. Overall a great place.
(5)
Anna R.
We first tried this place in June at the recommendation of our hotel concierge. He recommended the green chili wontons. They were phenomenal. So good we made a special point to go back yesterday. Excellent beer on tap. Good salads. Nice atmosphere. We will be back next time we are in town.
(4)
Paulette A.
Had a very nice lunch here today. We were seated quickly and the service was excellent. They even brought out black napkins for the men in dark suits at the table beside us. We had the Mediterranean grilled cheese, a blackened chicken sandwich and a Bristol burger. All we hot and exactly as we ordered. A very reasonable price for the quality of food and service. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Ian P.
Bristol Bar and Grill is exactly what it says it is, a bar and grill with an upscale flair. We came here on two separate occassions and enjoyed the food and service quite well. I cannot recall what my wife had, but the burger I ordered had a nice twist to it being served on an English muffin. Depending on where you sit in the restaurant, you could be wined and dined in the comfort of white table cloths facing downtown Main Street or you could enjoy the rustic booths facing the bar enjoying the game. Overall a great place for a business meeting or a good place to catch a meal before or after a show downtown. I wouldn't make this place to go when I wanted a special night out and to spoil my wife, but I can keep it on the list as a consistent place to come if there is no other option.
(3)
Mark G.
Here for "Abbey Road on the River" Beatles festival, decided to check out Bristol Bar & Grille...and in keeping with the Kentucky Derby theme of of Louisville....we have a winner, Bristol B&G going away! A bit more upscale then I'd have thought, we took a break from the festival and decided to have a real dinner. We were promptly seated, etc. I was set for a "hot brown", and the Adam S (our server - who was great!) recommended their brisket a vegetable reduction which the person I was with ordered. The hot brown was awesome; hot straight out of the oven, a mix of french bread, turkey, cheese, tomato. The brisket was exactly as billed....slow cooked, tender, with a excellent vegetable reduction sauce/gravy. Desert we had a locally made Derby chocolate walnut pie with vanilla ice cream that was quite good. Our only complaint would be not having time to check it out again while in Kentucky.
(4)
Michelle K.
My family & I stopped in for lunch yesterday, after going to the Science Center downtown. We ordered the Green Chili Wontons for an appetizer--they were TERRIBLE!!!! We had fond memories of eating them in the past. They tasted NOTHING like we remembered. They were definitely frozen--were not hot enough and full of grease!!!! Then, the burgers and fries were equally disappointing. The english muffin that they came on was tiny! The burger itself was ok in taste but FULL of grease!!!! & the fries were absolutely disgusting, as well. My husband's portion of fries was definitely the "bottom of the barrel" and shouldn't have even been served!!! They were hard as a rock and not even hot in temperature!!! Our server was one of those, who wouldn't sit still enough for us to even finish what we were saying/ordering. We didn't even know if she got the order or not!!! Service wasn't good. So... we are definitely writing this place off our list when it comes to eating out. This is the first time I've ever taken the time to write a review on a restaurant, so you know, it must be TERRIBLE!!!! There are no standards on the quality of their food anymore, like years ago. Nothing tasted freshly made--tasted frozen. We won't be back---EVER!!!!
(1)
Rhea P.
This was my second visit to Bristol and I really enjoy this place. It's modern, the decor is pretty cool, and the food is consistently good. I kept eying other people's food wondering what it was they ordered. Everything looked really good! I ordered potato leek soup and a small spinach salad. The order was mixed up and so the second time I got my spinach salad it had too much vinaigrette, however the salad was very tasty! It had nuts, blue cheese, sun dried tomatoes on it. The bread and butter was a treat, in addition to the home made fries, they are round cut, but was somewhat salty to my taste. Cool place to drop by if you want uncomplicated, modern food.
(3)
Jordan P.
I had lunch at Bristol today and it was great, as usual. Really, what's not to like about a restaurant with great food and top notch service? I was there with a group of five and we started with an order of green chili wontons. I've been told over and over again that I had to try these little treasures, but I've always avoided them because me and fried foods don't always get along. Today, I said forget the consequences and decided to give the wontons a try. They were fabulous. They oozed with flavor, literally and figuratively. Seriously -- I would not recommend going to Bristol without trying the wontons. For my meal I had the day's fish special ($11). I actually can't remember the name of the fish (sadly), but whatever it was, it was grilled and topped with an apricot sauce that was wonderful. The side of asparagus got a thumbs up from me as well. Two other people in my party had the grilled chicken and spinach salad ($10). I've had this before and it is great. Grilled chicken, spinach, red onions, roasted red peppers, goat cheese (one of my favorite cheeses), and a balsamic dressing. I highly recommend this one. The service at Bristol never lets me down. Our server was always right right on time with everything. You know how you go to a restaurant and they bring out an appetizer and five minutes later your entree shows up? This didn't happen here. Each course was perfectly spaced. When I'm on Main Street trying to choose a place to eat, Bristol is always in consideration.
(4)
Megan K.
i fell in love with louisville this day. bristol bar and grill had a part in that. yummy, yum, yum, yummo!!! not to mention the server that took care of us that day could not have been more helpful. he too helped me to fall in love. he gave us advise on where to go and what to see, the cost of living, what to eat. he was not born in louisville, but loved it. his enthusiasm was contagious. i'm sorry i did not get his name. this place has been around a very long time because they do it right. great food, great service, in the heart of the action. love. love. love.
(4)
Timothy M.
Lousy, begrudging service. Food was mediocre and overpriced. Tables were sticky, hostess absent, employees unhelpful and disengaged. Only plus: house made sweet and sour dressing. Go elsewhere, not worth the bill.
(2)
Corey H.
Great food and a Louisville Original!! You won't find this food anywhere else. Try the green chili wontons or the burger. It can be as expensive or as affordable as you want. If you're in a hurry sit at the bar. Most servers are ready to exceed your expectations, overall wonderful! Other locations may not be as good, I haven't had any problem hear other than the occasionally slow server.
(4)
Tracey S.
We were very excited to visit Bristol on main street downtown Louisville, since the location on Bardstown rd has always been good in the past. The restaurant on main street was fairly quiet for a Sunday afternoon, so we expected to get in and out. We ordered the Crab cakes, the Hot Brown and a 3 cheese pasta with chicken. Our first complaint is that the crab cakes came out as 2 extremely tiny crab cakes on top of wilted lettuce. What was the lettuce for? To make the crab cakes look bigger? They were tasty however they reminded us of tuna fish. Our salads then came out and were just okay. Not a good caesar salad, and they did not have a ranch dressing for my husbands salad. Their version of a ranch dressing had a sour milk aftertaste. The Hot brown was tasty, and the pasta was not bad, but not a dish to come back for. Our main concern is that the portion size, and quality do not match the price.... and service was slow. Sadly, not returning to this restaurant.
(2)
Tiffany H.
The steak was dry on the steak sandwhich. Other than that, I like the place. Great service. Great atmosphere. I also sampled a flight of bourbon there which was great.
(3)
Carissa G.
So the search for good food in Louisville continues. The food here was not fresh, not fresh at all. It was bland and tasteless. I could have made better food myself. The artichoke fritters, which everyone seems to rave about were a huge disappointment, same as the rest of the food and, the service was a disappointment too. I will not be going back.
(2)
Taylor C.
I came here with a loud and difficult party and I have to say that our server, Evan, was patient, understanding and very polite. I ordered the California Club Cobb salad which used to be a really yummy signature salad. The shrimp tasted like it came out of a ziplock freezer bag and the crab meat was overpoweringly fishy. The big chunks of artichoke hearts were watery and completely flavorless. My cousin ordered the Thai stir fry with shrimp and they brought him chicken instead which may have worked in his favor at the end although the dish was Ho Hum overall. The people that got steaks seemed to like them but I have a hard time with any restaurant that can mess a salad up this badly. The Bristol has a sterling reputation in Louisville but after this, I wonder if this particular location is surviving solely because of reputation and proximity to downtown events. Thank god for Evan, he bumped it up from one star to two.
(2)
Courtney S.
Food is consistently good though I wish the menu was bigger or at least had more vegetarian options. I usually get the sweet chili linguine and replace the chicken with shrimp. It has the perfect combo of sweet cream and a hint of chili spice. I have also had the crab cakes, which are good and not all filler. They have chips and fries; I prefer the fries which are round and pre-seasoned- very yummy! The bread and butter is addicting :-) They have flights which are 4-5 wine or bourbon tastings for one price (usually $7-$10). I love this because the portions are generous and they have a new theme every month. This restaurant also participates in Delta Dining Rewards which meals you get arline miles for eating there! Perfect for a frequent flyer like myself :-)
(4)
Jackie C.
Having found the food at the location on Bardstown Road mediocre this summer, I thought I'd give the downtown location a chance for lunch today. Mediocre at best is all I can say. I had the chicken penne piccata, which you would think you would not be able to screw up. It's just pasta, chicken, lemon, olive oil and parmesan. It was tasteless and oily. The chicken was dry and poorly seasoned. After giving it a second go, I officially will not be returning to any of the Bristol Bar & Grille locations. Downtown, your money would be better spent at Bistro 301 or the amazing Proof on Main, which I sadly had to walk by on my way back to work from lunch, immediatly regretting my previous decision.
(2)
S. H.
Food was blah. The flavors in my show-themed martini did not work well together. Atmosphere was boring. Will not return. This was the downtown restaurant, maybe the others are better?
(2)
Iya M.
The menu for this Bristol is slightly different from the one on Bardstown Rd., and I think I prefer it. Great artichoke fritters--a good choice for an appetizer to share, until the awkward moment when you realize that 5 fritters does not divide evenly into 3. The Caesar salad is good if you like a really anchovie-y taste, but that sort of turned me off. Otherwise I really enjoyed the meal, and I especially liked the free salt scrub samples they had in the bathroom (probably a limited time thing...).
(4)
Stacie G.
I decided to try eating here for lunch despite the mediocre reviews it got on yelp because the decor looked nice and menu sounded interesting. The staff was attentive but not overly helpful. I ordered the vegetarian black bean burger with fruit. What a BIG mistake. I was, no joke, a frozen morningstar black bean burger. I'm not sure if their other food is any good but they lost points in my book for serving frozen food items on their menu without telling the consumer.
(2)
Anne M.
I was told to have the "hot brown" and yes, if you like covered and smothered food, then you should have the hot brown! My 3 year old devoured it and I'm sure there are many locations in Kentucky that may serve it better, but this was the spot we ate at because it was near the Louisville Slugger Museum.
(3)
Ken H.
Ate here on a Thursday night passing through. Restaurant wasn't busy and we had excellent service. Our waiter made excellent recommendations about the spinach salad and our entrees. My wife had a filet - cooked perfectly medium and very tasty. I had the hot brown which we both liked a lot. We'd absolutely go again.
(4)
Alix H.
My boyfriend and I stopped in Louisville on our road trip across the country and our experience here was awesome. I saw that the other reviewer gave it only 2 stars and I wanted to show Bristol Bar and Grille some love. Our server Megan guided us to some fantastic menu choices, hot brown, some yummy pork chop, derby pie, a great local beer, and those yummy wonton thingies. She was SUPER great and nice and it was just an overall delightful evening at a nice and mellow place with cool light fixtures.
(5)
David T.
We ended up here as we were looking for a place to do a late (mid-afternoon) lunch. Not many places in the area were open yet (most of the nicer places were not open till dinner), so we thought we'd give this place a shot. The interior is very nice, lots of dark leather and wood. I decided to go with the hot brown, a local item. I've never had this before, so I really have nothing to compare it to, but I will say it was tasty, albeit not very healthy. I can't blame that on Bristol though, if that's how the dish is supposed to be served. Anyway, service was good, food was decent, decor was nice. A solid option in downtown Louisville.
(3)
J.T. M.
pass. the food was actually pretty good. i had the mahi mahi and it was great, but we were waiting for our food for over a hour! unacceptable especially since they weren't that busy. overall i wasn't impressed with downtown louisville at all, tons of homeless and dirty, so perhaps that skewed my view of this place. if i go back to louisy, which i hope i don't, i wouldn't revisit this place.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Alissa S.
My boyfriend raves about this place for their wine selection and as a self declared wino I have to agree!!! But that isn't the only reason I'm going to convince him to take me back. Our server Eric (I am so sorry if I got your name wrong) was AMAZING and treated my boyfriend and I like we were old friends, even joked with us about the Prince concert going on that night and our mutual disappointment that we couldn't go. The vegetable soup was beyond perfect and the salmon salad was the best salad I've had in Louisville. You MUST try the Green Chili Wantons, they are little cheesy bites of deliciousness with guacamole. I cannot praise Eric enough though. He took time to talk to us even though we were there a little later than socially acceptable (about 9pm). As a server I felt bad going so late but he seemed to just enjoy having a table that wanted more than their food thrown down on the table. I was worried a place that looked so nice might be pricey but you really get what you pay for! Definitely going back to try the Linguine! My ONLY complaint is that I'm a little short and couldn't sit in the booth comfortably without straining to reach the table. Eric shifted the booths around for me though and I was good. Great food, amazing service, not short people booth friendly (haha).
(5)Diane R.
Had the red snapper with a cream sauce and it was really good. It came with Brussel sprouts that were hard as a rock and really undercooked. The waiter told us the bread was hard and he would bring us fresh when it was ready, but we never got fresh bread. What we had was as hard as croutons without the good flavor. You couldn't even bite into it. 3 stars is generous when 2 meals cost what ours did and had all this wrong with it.
(3)Kate M.
It is difficult to put into words how much I ADORE the Theresa's Sweet Chili Linguine. It might be my favorite dish in Louisville. Also- always upgrade your salad to the Spinach Salad--the large pieces of garlic make it so delicious. The service is always wonderful, but can be a bit slow around events at the Kentucky Center. Also the Gruner Veltiner on the wine list is top notch. All in all- one of my favorites!!
(5)Renee S.
Server was both excellent and fun. He managed to have as much fun with the 6 slightly intoxicated folks while we had more food and more drinks. Great stop. I'd recommend this place for dinner. Ambiance was very nice.
(5)Jim D.
We were a group of 11 from out of town to eat before seeing "Pippin". My wife ordered the classic hot brown and I got the new item called Mac n cheese hot brown, along with an appetizer of green chile wontons. The appetizer wontons were wonderful. But, the hot Browns were disappointing. My wife's classic was not the worst Kentucky Hot Brown but certainly not the best she has had. My Mac n Cheese Hot Brown was mostly the whole wheat penne pasta, very little meat and cheese--horrible tasting. If not for the appetizer and the great service, I would have given a zero for over priced, poor tasting food.
(2)Matt H.
The good was great and had great service. The potatoes were amazing. Will definitely go back next time I am in Louisville.
(4)April S.
Bloody Mary Bar on Sundays which means you can build one that is as spicy, pickle-ridden, or olive-laden as your heart desires. The food ain't bad either.
(3)Harry N.
Superb food...recommended by our shuttle driver. Walked over from the Louisville Slugger tour. Hot Brown was excellent. Wife had the salmon and it too was excellent. The soup of the day was a southwestern chile. Maybe the best I've ever had. Service was prompt, waiter was knowledgable and cool to talk with. This is a bit upscale which we were not expecting, but we felt at ease. Highly recommended.
(5)Blake O.
Taking a friend out before they go home requires a lot of thought about location and price. Spending time in downtown Louisville is a great way to send someone off-- the problem I found was that the price was listed as less expensive than I thought. It's an awkward situation when going out and having to spend more than your party is really prepared to. The food itself got decent reviews from our party, but didn't seem quite up to par with the price. What little the food left wanting, the service made up for. We never had an empty glass and we were well checked up on.
(3)Karsten L.
Being new to Louisville we didn't know anything about the nearby food places living off of Main Street . So while walking back from the slugger museum we dropped in because the menu (posted outside) looked reasonable both in variety and price. While looking over the menu seated inside I had my mind set on the "hot brown Mac and cheese" then the waitress went over the specials and said the magic words "sea bass" followed by the price of 13.50. (This was there lunch special I might add.) But for the price I was sold being used to high seafood prices from multiple other cities. The food came out and it was just the same quality and quantity of something you would expect from Mitchell's Fish Market or other high end places. I was shell shocked and we will definitely be returning. The service was great. The beer selection solid. And I think the fact that our bill was just as much as our breakfast cost at Wild Eggs I think I need to reconsider what a fair price to pay for breakfast is. If you are with a family or just looking for a date brunch especially after or before visiting the Yum Center or Slugger Museum this is a must stop! 4 out of 5 because dish presentation could have been handled with a little more care.
(4)Alana M.
After a trip to the slugger factory we were hungry and checked to see what was around so we could grab a bite to eat. Unfortunately we ended up here. We walked in and were met at the front by a very angry looking hostess. She didn't say hello or greet us at all, and didn't even say a word to us as we were seated. She might have been having a really bad day, I'm not sure, but it put us off right away. The over all feel of this place is early 90s hotel with the weird wavy glass barrier and strange glass lights. Our waiter came over shortly after we sat down and he promptly asked us what we wanted. We needed more time to browse the menu so he said he'd be back. We didn't have to wait too long before he came back (the wait time was a positive) and we placed our orders. I ordered the Hot brown mac and cheese which turned out to be bland and super underwhelming. It was something I could have made better at home. My fiancé ordered the salmon salad which had a nice vinaigrette but had a small sad looking piece of salmon and wasn't anything special either. We were both eating our disappointing meals when we heard our server going over the "specials of the day" with the table that was seated behind us. There were specials of the day? I'm not sure why we didn't get the special of the day run down, but that might have made a difference. I give them 2 stars because the food didn't make either one of us sick and we didn't have to wait around forever for our food or check. Food was very overpriced for what we got. We discovered while visiting Louisville that there are so many wonderful restaurants around the city and this was not one of them.
(2)Staci W.
The Bristol has indoor and outdoor seating. The service is fast and friendly. The server constantly kept my drink full to the rim. The won ton appetizers are amazing with sauce! I ordered the mac n cheese sauce dish. I think the dish lacked some flavor in the cheese sauce, but the pasta was cooked to perfection. I didn't expect a penne pasta to be served but would have preferred a spiral pasta shell or pasta more traditional with mac n cheese. Overall great service will keep me coming back soon.
(4)Steve A.
This is a pleasant place for lunch and dinner in the heart of Louisville's tourist district. There are extensive bourbons and other adult beverages at the handsome bar. Service is friendly. Note that Sunday brunch buffet is all that's available until 2pm, so if you don't want that a late lunch is a better plan.
(3)DB J.
Had a waiter that I don't think knew anything that well. We went with a group that had two tables and the other table had an amazing waiter that I kind of was envious of because he seemed amazing. Our waiter was young and seemed completely disinterested. Let me put it this way, if I'm paying over $20 per plate for a meal, that better be damn fine food and it really wasn't. The best part was the Derby pie that the waiter even admitted to me that he had shipped in. So I mean, not the worst, but definitely not the best either.
(2)Kathy V.
The waiter was really friendly, but a little hard to find a few times. I actually retrieved straws for our table so some of us could drink our bloody marys. The food was alright. The Mideast Grilled Cheese wasn't quite as expected. I don't have many chances to eat at this location, but I wouldn't be against going back.
(3)Katelyn W.
While waiting for the next available tour at the Evan Williams Experience, my family and I popped in for a quick lunch. Quick, it was - "lunch" it was not. Our entire party ended up ordering the same dish, so it's possible that if we had sampled a variety of things we would have felt differently about the quality we received, but unlikely. We ordered the BBQ Smoked Chicken Sandwich. It came out suspiciously quickly - like the chicken had been microwaved. It was not evenly heated. I was disappointed to see that they didn't even bother to toast the bun. It was just thick, plain white bread, the kind that sticks to the roof of your mouth. There was far too much of it, and it just wasn't good. The BBQ sauce was sweet and tangy, and while I do love my sauce there was too much of it on the chicken. I ended up eating it a bit like an open-faced sandwich, and left most of the bread on the plate. The only side was stale kettle chips, which I'm sure someone grabbed out of a Lays bag. It was a disappointing lunch, and not worth anything close to $9 a plate. With so many other great places to eat downtown, I don't think I would give them another shot.
(1)Jonathan M.
Surprised that this place is so near the top of downtown Lousiville's yelp ranking. The 3 stars I'm giving here are a simple math average. 5 stars for service and bourbon selection. The waiter was good, knew his bourbon, helped me make a great selection, and there was a great menu of local bourbon options available. 1 star for food quality. The BBQ sauce is worse than Hawaiian BBQ sauce, which tastes like watered down ketchup mixed with maple syrup. The BBQ pork chop was covered in it, and even if it wasn't, the cut was awful and its preparation wasn't great either. I'm no great chef, but I do know how easy and cheap it is to make a great pork chop. And this place misses the mark by a lot.
(3)Ellen T.
I wondered in on my day off of work while touring the down town area. I had the chili pasta---it was the perfect blend of spicy and sweet. The wait staff was friendly and the food came out pretty fast. I would recommend this place.
(5)Jennifer H.
Service was great, food was so so. The green chili wontons were very yummy though.
(3)G M.
Crab cake appetizer ate like a Florida original. Med Pasta was beyond amazing. Right amount of sun dried toms to olives. My wife had the salmon and is as demanding as they come for fresh, flavorful salmon. Wham! Another home run. Bristol is a Lville must.
(5)Erin K.
Bristol has been around for years and for good reason - it's consistently yummy. I have been to Bristol numerous times but I am basing this review on my most recent visit. My mother, grandmother, and I came to Bristol after seeing A Christmas Carol at Actor's. Our waiter was a bit spacy but very nice! We started with the green chili wontons (of course! If you go to the Bristol and you don't get the wontons you are doing it wrong!) and the bruschetta. I only ate the wontons but man, those things are amazing! I had the crab cakes and Caesar salad as my entree. The crab cakes were awesome; they were really creamy, crispy, and full of crab. I highly recommend! All three of us enjoyed our experience there very much (as we always do!) and I'll be back soon!
(4)Tara R.
Fantastic service, clean and friendly place with a great menu! I had the braised ribs but my friend got the hot turkey and it looked heavenly. The atmosphere was nice and the serving staff was so friendly and attentive. Will definitely be back- great food, drink, and energy! Highly recommend.
(5)Kate B.
My family and I went here at the suggestion of our tour guide at the Evan Williams experience. Was it good? Yes. Was it somewhere I would go again? Yes. But I think if you have only a few days in Louisville, I would try somewhere else. They have multiple different options. My mom had the teriyaki salmon which was flavorful and filling. My brother had chili pasta which was very good but spicy for me. I had soup and salad which was good but not memorable (granted it was soup and salad). The service was great. Our waitress was super friendly. They had bourbon flights, and I had a rather boring red wine. There is something for everyone, but maybe that's why it's a little generic.
(3)Sara T.
This is one of my favorite Louisville restaurants. Green chili wontons to start followed by Teresa's Sweet Chili Linguine is a favorite meal of mine. Not to mention their house rolls and salad dressing! I love the Bristol.
(5)Nat C.
Five of us out-of-owners chose Bristol for dinner Sunday night. It was an easy and pleasant walk from the Galt House hotel or the convention center. Service was excellent. I think our server's name was Brady. The artichoke fritter appetizer was good. My friends enjoyed their drinks including a flight of bourbons. One friend enjoyed the fish special. The beef brisket special got mixed reviews. The vegetarian stir-fry got a rave review. If the weather had been a bit less humid we would have chosen the pleasant-looking garden seating.
(5)Terri H.
Bourbon flights available here. We started the meal with the bourbon shrimp and a bourbon flight. The shrimp came on grits and the sauce was delicious. They have three different bourbon flights available. I had the variety one. This is the perfect way to try four different bourbons. They give you half an ounce and label them so you know which one you like best. Chicken Saltimbocca was very good. The berry sauce was just a little bit too sweet for my taste but it was cooked perfectly as well as the asparagus I had with it. The restaurant was very nice and the service was great. I can't wait to return and try something new.
(4)Rachael M.
We went around 2:30 on a Friday afternoon and the place was pretty empty. We ordered veggie wraps, which were not out of the ordinary, except for the amount of time we had to wait to receive them - way too long for something so simple to prepare!
(3)Keena M.
This place was recommended to us for a good place to have lunch. When we sat down, We couldn't help but notice that everyone in the restaurant were drinking iced tea, it was almost interesting enough to convince us to get one to try but we decided to stick to water. My boyfriend got a chicken sandwich that he thought tasted good. The white chili was amazing!! It had a little spicy kick to it. It was delicious. I heard a lot about "Hot Brown" and when I saw it on their menu, I had to order it. It is weird. I don't know how else to explain "Hot Brown" besides, it wasn't good but it wasn't bad. It was a pile of mush. Just a weird entree.
(4)April A.
Place was ok. Had the chili pasta & it was ok. The waiter was excellent & the owner came over to greet us which was really nice! Also had the peppermint patty to drink which was excellent as well. Nice place on a Sunday for dinner. I'd go back to & its always nice to have good service & support local establishment!
(3)M S.
Good value for dinner - service fast and accurate. The portions are small (salad & salmon) but it's ok based on prices
(4)Arlene M.
This was my first visit here. Place is clean. Staff is courteous and attentive to my needs. I found the food cooked to order and very tasty. They even offered me a drink to take out. I learned this is where locals eat and was pleased with my meal. I definitely would recommend this place for meals
(4)Kevin B.
Really nothing to write home about. The service is always good but I just feel like the food is very blah. I would like to note that the food isn't bad it just doesn't leave a lasting impression.
(2)Carbfriendly T.
I have been in Louisville for 3 years now I live and work downtown and have yet to visit the famous Bristol. Going to lunch with a friend and he suggested the Bristol... I got there ahead of time. My first impression was they need new carpet. It was clean but very stained. Spoke with the server who was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful with the questions I had. I had planned on having the linguini which I've heard so much about but when he told me that beef stew was the special of the day....it was just a beef stew kind of day. Ordered the artichoke fritters as an appetizer and they were very delightful. My friend who has no imagination ordered a Caesar salad. A large bowl of beef stew arrived and it was rather runny with no chunks of beef just shredded beef and when I tasted it it was barely warm and very bland. I'll probably give them another try sometime. But you only have one chance to make a first impression and my impression of the Bristol rated one star but gave two for the excellent service.
(2)Barnabas P.
Had a larger group dinner here. The atmosphere is pretty generic as is the food. Neither are notable. The servers were attentive and polite. It's a fine place, but nothing special.
(3)Christopher S.
I came back to try Bristol's out again to see if we can get that rating up. I was with a large group and the staff did an excellent job of accommodating us. Very good service. We ordered all kinds of appetizers and salads to start. All of them were very good. I had the Trout special and it was a BAM! The lemon butter cream sauce with bites of Prosciutto was marvelous. The steak eaters were all raving over their selections. I will try the steak the next time. We all hd a great time and evryone enjoyed their meal. Fairly crowded for a Monday night. Great to see that trend again.
(4)sindi e.
Popped in around lunch time on a Monday with no expectations, other than a quick google search for a good burger. Chris was our bartender and he answered all our questions - we had lots - was very professional and friendly, but not cloying. Made suggestions and recommendations when asked. Knew we were looking for something to do in the area and gave us the Urban Bourban Passport booklets. Foodwise - Every thing was very good - the beer and the bourbons were great; good, interesting chili wontons, great burger, good hot brown (first try for us all) and good grilled cheese sandwiches. A sommelier chatted with us too (forgot his name - from SC) and he was also very pleasant. These guys really made our day - and would be make a return to the Bristol because of the clean, pleasing ambiance and the excellent staff.
(4)Julie G.
I realize that Bristol's has been around a long time and that it has been recognized as being a part of Louisville as much as Mayor Abramson, but I think that they should take a step back and evaluate if they are representing the Derby City as best they can. Especially when they have a prime spot on the continually developing Museum Row. This is tourist territory and I fear that Bristol's will leave a bad taste (literally) in any visitors mouth. I'm not sure why, but Bristol's is a Baby Boomers hangout. When I looked around the room it was a sea of white and gray hair. And maybe that explains the very bland menu/food. Nothing daring here. We ordered the hummus as an appetizer, which was satisfactory but its orange tint was off-putting. I had the Bristol burger which had a good flavor but it was something I forgot about the moment I swallowed. Hubby had the California Club salad which he said the shrimp that was in it tasted like boiled water. However, I was surprised by the size of their cocktails. We ordered vodka and tonics and they were served in what looked like 12 oz water glasses. None of those old fashioned glasses. I do realize looks can be deceiving and that they probably hold the same fluid ounces as a small glass but it left an impression. They tasted fine. Our service was great especially for a busy Friday night. Our waiter even asked us if we were going to a show at the KY Center because he would try to hurry the service by bringing our plates when ready. We were and he did. I realize they must be doing something right because they have multiple locations and now they've even jumped across the river to Indiana. It could have something to do with the Senior Discount. Food- Thumbs down Service- Thumbs up Chances of meeting someone who knows who Ed Sullivan was- Thumbs up
(1)Georgia M.
Stopped here for lunch after visiting the Slugger Museum. Very trendy atmosphere. Started with the green chili wontons at the recommendation of the waiter and they were amazing - even better dipped in the homemade guacamole! Crab cake sandwich was also yummy. Pulled BBQ chicken was very sweet but tasty. Overall a great place.
(5)Anna R.
We first tried this place in June at the recommendation of our hotel concierge. He recommended the green chili wontons. They were phenomenal. So good we made a special point to go back yesterday. Excellent beer on tap. Good salads. Nice atmosphere. We will be back next time we are in town.
(4)Paulette A.
Had a very nice lunch here today. We were seated quickly and the service was excellent. They even brought out black napkins for the men in dark suits at the table beside us. We had the Mediterranean grilled cheese, a blackened chicken sandwich and a Bristol burger. All we hot and exactly as we ordered. A very reasonable price for the quality of food and service. I will definitely be back.
(5)Ian P.
Bristol Bar and Grill is exactly what it says it is, a bar and grill with an upscale flair. We came here on two separate occassions and enjoyed the food and service quite well. I cannot recall what my wife had, but the burger I ordered had a nice twist to it being served on an English muffin. Depending on where you sit in the restaurant, you could be wined and dined in the comfort of white table cloths facing downtown Main Street or you could enjoy the rustic booths facing the bar enjoying the game. Overall a great place for a business meeting or a good place to catch a meal before or after a show downtown. I wouldn't make this place to go when I wanted a special night out and to spoil my wife, but I can keep it on the list as a consistent place to come if there is no other option.
(3)Mark G.
Here for "Abbey Road on the River" Beatles festival, decided to check out Bristol Bar & Grille...and in keeping with the Kentucky Derby theme of of Louisville....we have a winner, Bristol B&G going away! A bit more upscale then I'd have thought, we took a break from the festival and decided to have a real dinner. We were promptly seated, etc. I was set for a "hot brown", and the Adam S (our server - who was great!) recommended their brisket a vegetable reduction which the person I was with ordered. The hot brown was awesome; hot straight out of the oven, a mix of french bread, turkey, cheese, tomato. The brisket was exactly as billed....slow cooked, tender, with a excellent vegetable reduction sauce/gravy. Desert we had a locally made Derby chocolate walnut pie with vanilla ice cream that was quite good. Our only complaint would be not having time to check it out again while in Kentucky.
(4)Michelle K.
My family & I stopped in for lunch yesterday, after going to the Science Center downtown. We ordered the Green Chili Wontons for an appetizer--they were TERRIBLE!!!! We had fond memories of eating them in the past. They tasted NOTHING like we remembered. They were definitely frozen--were not hot enough and full of grease!!!! Then, the burgers and fries were equally disappointing. The english muffin that they came on was tiny! The burger itself was ok in taste but FULL of grease!!!! & the fries were absolutely disgusting, as well. My husband's portion of fries was definitely the "bottom of the barrel" and shouldn't have even been served!!! They were hard as a rock and not even hot in temperature!!! Our server was one of those, who wouldn't sit still enough for us to even finish what we were saying/ordering. We didn't even know if she got the order or not!!! Service wasn't good. So... we are definitely writing this place off our list when it comes to eating out. This is the first time I've ever taken the time to write a review on a restaurant, so you know, it must be TERRIBLE!!!! There are no standards on the quality of their food anymore, like years ago. Nothing tasted freshly made--tasted frozen. We won't be back---EVER!!!!
(1)Rhea P.
This was my second visit to Bristol and I really enjoy this place. It's modern, the decor is pretty cool, and the food is consistently good. I kept eying other people's food wondering what it was they ordered. Everything looked really good! I ordered potato leek soup and a small spinach salad. The order was mixed up and so the second time I got my spinach salad it had too much vinaigrette, however the salad was very tasty! It had nuts, blue cheese, sun dried tomatoes on it. The bread and butter was a treat, in addition to the home made fries, they are round cut, but was somewhat salty to my taste. Cool place to drop by if you want uncomplicated, modern food.
(3)Jordan P.
I had lunch at Bristol today and it was great, as usual. Really, what's not to like about a restaurant with great food and top notch service? I was there with a group of five and we started with an order of green chili wontons. I've been told over and over again that I had to try these little treasures, but I've always avoided them because me and fried foods don't always get along. Today, I said forget the consequences and decided to give the wontons a try. They were fabulous. They oozed with flavor, literally and figuratively. Seriously -- I would not recommend going to Bristol without trying the wontons. For my meal I had the day's fish special ($11). I actually can't remember the name of the fish (sadly), but whatever it was, it was grilled and topped with an apricot sauce that was wonderful. The side of asparagus got a thumbs up from me as well. Two other people in my party had the grilled chicken and spinach salad ($10). I've had this before and it is great. Grilled chicken, spinach, red onions, roasted red peppers, goat cheese (one of my favorite cheeses), and a balsamic dressing. I highly recommend this one. The service at Bristol never lets me down. Our server was always right right on time with everything. You know how you go to a restaurant and they bring out an appetizer and five minutes later your entree shows up? This didn't happen here. Each course was perfectly spaced. When I'm on Main Street trying to choose a place to eat, Bristol is always in consideration.
(4)Megan K.
i fell in love with louisville this day. bristol bar and grill had a part in that. yummy, yum, yum, yummo!!! not to mention the server that took care of us that day could not have been more helpful. he too helped me to fall in love. he gave us advise on where to go and what to see, the cost of living, what to eat. he was not born in louisville, but loved it. his enthusiasm was contagious. i'm sorry i did not get his name. this place has been around a very long time because they do it right. great food, great service, in the heart of the action. love. love. love.
(4)Timothy M.
Lousy, begrudging service. Food was mediocre and overpriced. Tables were sticky, hostess absent, employees unhelpful and disengaged. Only plus: house made sweet and sour dressing. Go elsewhere, not worth the bill.
(2)Corey H.
Great food and a Louisville Original!! You won't find this food anywhere else. Try the green chili wontons or the burger. It can be as expensive or as affordable as you want. If you're in a hurry sit at the bar. Most servers are ready to exceed your expectations, overall wonderful! Other locations may not be as good, I haven't had any problem hear other than the occasionally slow server.
(4)Tracey S.
We were very excited to visit Bristol on main street downtown Louisville, since the location on Bardstown rd has always been good in the past. The restaurant on main street was fairly quiet for a Sunday afternoon, so we expected to get in and out. We ordered the Crab cakes, the Hot Brown and a 3 cheese pasta with chicken. Our first complaint is that the crab cakes came out as 2 extremely tiny crab cakes on top of wilted lettuce. What was the lettuce for? To make the crab cakes look bigger? They were tasty however they reminded us of tuna fish. Our salads then came out and were just okay. Not a good caesar salad, and they did not have a ranch dressing for my husbands salad. Their version of a ranch dressing had a sour milk aftertaste. The Hot brown was tasty, and the pasta was not bad, but not a dish to come back for. Our main concern is that the portion size, and quality do not match the price.... and service was slow. Sadly, not returning to this restaurant.
(2)Tiffany H.
The steak was dry on the steak sandwhich. Other than that, I like the place. Great service. Great atmosphere. I also sampled a flight of bourbon there which was great.
(3)Carissa G.
So the search for good food in Louisville continues. The food here was not fresh, not fresh at all. It was bland and tasteless. I could have made better food myself. The artichoke fritters, which everyone seems to rave about were a huge disappointment, same as the rest of the food and, the service was a disappointment too. I will not be going back.
(2)Taylor C.
I came here with a loud and difficult party and I have to say that our server, Evan, was patient, understanding and very polite. I ordered the California Club Cobb salad which used to be a really yummy signature salad. The shrimp tasted like it came out of a ziplock freezer bag and the crab meat was overpoweringly fishy. The big chunks of artichoke hearts were watery and completely flavorless. My cousin ordered the Thai stir fry with shrimp and they brought him chicken instead which may have worked in his favor at the end although the dish was Ho Hum overall. The people that got steaks seemed to like them but I have a hard time with any restaurant that can mess a salad up this badly. The Bristol has a sterling reputation in Louisville but after this, I wonder if this particular location is surviving solely because of reputation and proximity to downtown events. Thank god for Evan, he bumped it up from one star to two.
(2)Courtney S.
Food is consistently good though I wish the menu was bigger or at least had more vegetarian options. I usually get the sweet chili linguine and replace the chicken with shrimp. It has the perfect combo of sweet cream and a hint of chili spice. I have also had the crab cakes, which are good and not all filler. They have chips and fries; I prefer the fries which are round and pre-seasoned- very yummy! The bread and butter is addicting :-) They have flights which are 4-5 wine or bourbon tastings for one price (usually $7-$10). I love this because the portions are generous and they have a new theme every month. This restaurant also participates in Delta Dining Rewards which meals you get arline miles for eating there! Perfect for a frequent flyer like myself :-)
(4)Jackie C.
Having found the food at the location on Bardstown Road mediocre this summer, I thought I'd give the downtown location a chance for lunch today. Mediocre at best is all I can say. I had the chicken penne piccata, which you would think you would not be able to screw up. It's just pasta, chicken, lemon, olive oil and parmesan. It was tasteless and oily. The chicken was dry and poorly seasoned. After giving it a second go, I officially will not be returning to any of the Bristol Bar & Grille locations. Downtown, your money would be better spent at Bistro 301 or the amazing Proof on Main, which I sadly had to walk by on my way back to work from lunch, immediatly regretting my previous decision.
(2)S. H.
Food was blah. The flavors in my show-themed martini did not work well together. Atmosphere was boring. Will not return. This was the downtown restaurant, maybe the others are better?
(2)Iya M.
The menu for this Bristol is slightly different from the one on Bardstown Rd., and I think I prefer it. Great artichoke fritters--a good choice for an appetizer to share, until the awkward moment when you realize that 5 fritters does not divide evenly into 3. The Caesar salad is good if you like a really anchovie-y taste, but that sort of turned me off. Otherwise I really enjoyed the meal, and I especially liked the free salt scrub samples they had in the bathroom (probably a limited time thing...).
(4)Stacie G.
I decided to try eating here for lunch despite the mediocre reviews it got on yelp because the decor looked nice and menu sounded interesting. The staff was attentive but not overly helpful. I ordered the vegetarian black bean burger with fruit. What a BIG mistake. I was, no joke, a frozen morningstar black bean burger. I'm not sure if their other food is any good but they lost points in my book for serving frozen food items on their menu without telling the consumer.
(2)Anne M.
I was told to have the "hot brown" and yes, if you like covered and smothered food, then you should have the hot brown! My 3 year old devoured it and I'm sure there are many locations in Kentucky that may serve it better, but this was the spot we ate at because it was near the Louisville Slugger Museum.
(3)Ken H.
Ate here on a Thursday night passing through. Restaurant wasn't busy and we had excellent service. Our waiter made excellent recommendations about the spinach salad and our entrees. My wife had a filet - cooked perfectly medium and very tasty. I had the hot brown which we both liked a lot. We'd absolutely go again.
(4)Alix H.
My boyfriend and I stopped in Louisville on our road trip across the country and our experience here was awesome. I saw that the other reviewer gave it only 2 stars and I wanted to show Bristol Bar and Grille some love. Our server Megan guided us to some fantastic menu choices, hot brown, some yummy pork chop, derby pie, a great local beer, and those yummy wonton thingies. She was SUPER great and nice and it was just an overall delightful evening at a nice and mellow place with cool light fixtures.
(5)David T.
We ended up here as we were looking for a place to do a late (mid-afternoon) lunch. Not many places in the area were open yet (most of the nicer places were not open till dinner), so we thought we'd give this place a shot. The interior is very nice, lots of dark leather and wood. I decided to go with the hot brown, a local item. I've never had this before, so I really have nothing to compare it to, but I will say it was tasty, albeit not very healthy. I can't blame that on Bristol though, if that's how the dish is supposed to be served. Anyway, service was good, food was decent, decor was nice. A solid option in downtown Louisville.
(3)J.T. M.
pass. the food was actually pretty good. i had the mahi mahi and it was great, but we were waiting for our food for over a hour! unacceptable especially since they weren't that busy. overall i wasn't impressed with downtown louisville at all, tons of homeless and dirty, so perhaps that skewed my view of this place. if i go back to louisy, which i hope i don't, i wouldn't revisit this place.
(2)