If I were just rating the food, this place would get 3 stars, but because the service was so good, I bumped them up to 4 stars. I came here with some work colleagues. The place was nearly empty, but I will say that this resulted in exemplary service by our waiter, Demetrios. That man is a gem and deserves to work in a busier, higher end restaurant. The wine list is very reasonable, and the bartender works quickly. The food is a bit eclectic. There are Asian-inspired dishes and southern dishes and a section of the menu dedicated to locally grown/raised foods. I tried a special, the pork shank. I think the chef did not pay attention to my dish, as he gave me two bony pieces of pork shank, so all I received was a lot of pork skin and bones. Yuck. Luckily, I had the accompanying salad, grits and daily vegetables (broccolini) to fill my stomach because I was not about to eat pork gristle as a meal. My colleague who also ordered the pork shank seemed to get all the meaty pieces and no bones. :/
(4)
Greta S.
I guess once you get a relatively good name in Louisville and the masses love you, it's hard for someone to scream "the emperor has no clothes!". Sunday brunch for two, with tip will be over $40 and you'll get greasy fried chicken, mac and cheese that turns into industrialized globs before you can get it into your mouth, some overcooked green vegetable (I am always so sad when I look down and see good brussels sprouts swimming completely overcooked), a salad that at least offers some freshness and the option of biscuits and gravy (but really you want to eat that?). I can't talk about the green chili wontons because I would go on and on about how bad they are. People love them and can you tell me why they love thick, sticky globs of breading (frozen) clinging to tasteless goo. Maybe if you pour sauce over everything and pretend. The staff, however, is what bugs me the most--they tend to be intrusive the minute you walk in the door and continue interrupting, asking inane questions such as "what are you reading in the New York Times?" And the music, well it wouldn't be my choice but then I am always impressed when someone can play the strings.
(2)
Zain K.
Had a great business lunch here. Ordered the tuna steak ($11, I think), served with a red pepper puree and sauteed veg. It was cooked exactly to order, well plated, and quite tasty. And in spite of the restaurant being busy, it wasn't hard for the eight of us to talk and hear one another. All in all, one of the better business lunch spots I've been to downtown.
(4)
Diana L.
Always a good time to be had here, love the calamari hot crispy and delicious, any drink is a treat and the crowd was moderate, or server was very knowledgeable and nice, she even made me a peach ice tea.
(4)
Amanda W.
Second time being here. It is a little pricey, but food is amazing. And our waitress is the best waitress I've ever had.. Cut up and joked around right along with us..
(4)
Jim S.
Some things great, some things average. GREAT: Green Chili Won-Tons, bread, house salad dressing, Ruby Red Trout, wine flight No so much/Average: home fries good but a tad too greasy. Steak have little or no seasoning on it.
(3)
Pepper T.
Visited last night and I must say I was a bit disappointed in the overall atmosphere but the taste of the food made up for the lack luster decor. Started: Scallops - Perfectly cooked, the sauce was very flavorful and the grits were good. Drinks: Bloody Mary's - I was a bit off by this at first. They tasted exactly like a watered down cocktail sauce for your shrimp. It wasn't bad. It was different. I did not order another. Main: I ordered Pork Shoulder Roast w/ Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Collard Greens and Fried Sweet Potatoes. Let me say, I licked my plate clean. Wow! It was amazing. My friend ordered a special for the evening. Trout w/ steamed veggies. He enjoyed it but I was too busy chowing on mine to notice or ask. We topped it off with a chocolate mousse and espressos. Very good choice to end a great evening. Will I go back? Yes! I highly recommend it.
(4)
J D.
Absolutely fabulous!
(5)
Kelly J.
Great choice for a slightly casual/slightly fancy birthday dinner. As a table we ordered the Kentucky Bourbon Shrimp and Grits and the Wonton Chili Apps. I believe we all preferred the Shrimp and Grits. They were to DIE FOR! I had the Bristol Burger and it was nothing to write home about. That's the only reason for the 4 stars. My husband and another one in our party had one of their specials. It was fried chicken, greens, and grits. His dinner was AMAZING. We ended the dinner with a complimentary piece of Derby Pie ala mode. It was truly delectable. Our server, Emily was so attentive, even though she was very busy that evening, and truly a delight!
(4)
Britany G.
This rating should really be a 3.5. Our service was great and the food was good. The resturant was too quiet, they had no music so we felt awkward talking and chatting. The menu could be better. No big complaints but this wouldn't be my pick when asked we should go out again.
(3)
Chris W.
Neat and quaint little spot in a very old/historic area of Louisville. Great view from the dining room out the front windows, was an especially good night for the view due to snowing. The Martini specials are great and very tasty. Had the teriyaki salmon, was cooked perfectly and very delish. This restaurant had a nice small town feel and charm about it that makes the experience feel more like you are at a bed and breakfast kinda place. Super small bar area so not a good place if you want to sit or hangout on the bar area as there are only like 6-8 chairs at the bar.
(4)
Victoria T.
We dine at The Bristol fairly often primarily because they are open late and offer a varied late night menu. I've noticed a steady slide into mediocrity over the past few years the food has become less and less edible. I fear our last supper at The Bristol happened last night. Sexy Beast and I were hungry and tired and not in the mood for cooking. It was after 10:00pm when we finally decided to eat out. That late our options are pretty limited. Off to The Bristol we went. We were seated promptly (as usual) and greeted by the wait staff quickly. Water and a cocktail were prompt. The appetizer (Green Chili Wontons) was great. This is the only dish that seems to be consistently good. I love the guacamole that is served with them and usually stash some aside for my Bristol Burger. Bread was brought to the table after the appetizer. It was hard. Not crusty, not crisp, hard all the way through. The cold butter that came with it did nothing to render it edible. Sexy Beast ordered the Sweet Chili Linguine and a salad. The salad needed a support group. It was sad and wilted and wallowing in self-pity. Sexy Beast picked at it for a while before abandoning all hope and leaving it to wither away. The entrees were the nail in The Bristol's coffin. The chicken in the Sweet Chili Linguine was coated in an overly spicy, gritty, soggy breading. The sauce was too sweet and a bit congealed. The pasta was overcooked. Sexy Beast pushed the noodles around on the plate and declared the breading to be something akin to Shake & Bake. I ordered the Filet Mandarin. It was cold. I ordered it medium rare. It was medium rare, but it was also cold. This dish is usually rather tasty, requiring no steak sauce due to the subtle orange and soy sauce marinade. This time, that marinade was overwhelming. I could taste nothing but orange. The flavor had been excommunicated from the meat. The accompanying potatoes were undercooked in some spots, overcooked in others and completely unseasoned. We skipped dessert because I was not in an emotional state to witness the demise of a good Creme Brulee.
(1)
Randy H.
Green chili wontons are one if the greatest bites in Louisville. Mandarin filet and steak au poivre are both awesome. Theresa's sweet chili linguine is my favorite. Had dinner there last night and service was a bit slow, but the food was excellent. It's more of a classic than a hip and trendy location. Great wine flights at good prices.
(5)
Ellie S.
Friendly staff, wonderful ambience. Recommend the Thai noodles and hot brown. Meals are very reasonably priced and come with salad and bread. A good place for families. Also a great place for Louisville classic dishes, and several entrees perfect for bourbon aficionados. Recommend eating outside if the weather permits
(5)
Pamela C.
I would like to extend a heart felt thanks to Pete, Arron & their team for making my Dad's post-memorial reception so terrific in every way! From my first phone call during a very difficult time they offered kind advice and exceeded our expectations on the day of. Everyone raved about the food & hospitality from the Carolina Pulled Pork, Truffle Potatoes, Chili Wontons, Mini Hot Browns and much more guests went back for more. Cheers to you for making ours Dad's memorial so wonderful! Pamela Cravens
(5)
Kasey C.
There's no lot, so we parked at the PNC next door. Once the bank is closed, you can park there. The restaurant ambiance is lacking. You walk into a small hallway that was jammed up all evening. It was our first time and we didn't know which way to go, so we kind of just stalled there. A lady from the bar above us came over to seat us. I definitely prefer a hostess at a restaurant like this. First impressions are lasting impressions and all that. Our server was funny, but a bit off color for a dinner with my husband, mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law; both VERY proper women. He made jokes about us getting drunk and him dancing on our table. Other than those, he was super energetic and really enjoyable. My husband thinks he was the best server he's ever had. We got the wontons and hummus plate for our starters. Both were good. Deep friend wontons stuffed with cheese and dipped in guacamole. It was a fat kids dream. We all got meals with salad; was there bread? Not sure. If so, it was forgettable. Blue cheese dressing was very thin. I was happy to get some vegetables after those wontons though and love when restaurants give you salad with your entree. We got the sweet chili pasta, red snapper (special of the day), crabcakes and the pork tenderloin (another special). All were delicious. I was kind of amazed at how tasty the chili linguine was. It was basically spicy-sweet alfredo sauce with pickled red cabbage and a piece of fried chicken on top. I ordered it out of curiosity; when you're not paying, you're more adventurous. And I liked it enough to recommend it! None of us had room for dessert, but it was my husbands birthday so they brought him a piece of chocolate cheesecake and he nearly finished it anyway because it was so good.
(4)
Cleve E.
Had dinner with my wife last night. Was very disappointed. The bread actually had mold. Told waiter and he did not even offer to replace. The green wontons were good (best part of the meal) I had the crab cakes and they were cold and tasteless. I had brunch here before and it was good, but dinner not so good.
(1)
Christopher M.
Lunch today was amazing. Best burger in town! Very friendly waitress and incredible fast service despite the crowd. Everything on the menu is so good. Each time I eat here I am reminded just how good it is. I need to eat here more often!
(5)
Andrea H.
Very mixed Yelp reviews had me curious, but it was the sign outside that caught my eye and earned my patronage. Half-price bottles of wine on Tuesdays with the purchase of a dinner entree?! Yes, please. We followed the recommendations of fellow Yelpers and ordered the green chili wontons and the crab cakes. The wontons were amazing.... But pretty much glorified jalapeño poppers. The crab cakes definitely impressed... Larger than most I've had and had a large amount of crab (can be a tricky dish to get right.) I contest the mixed reviews are due to the fact that this eatery is likely to please everyone, but wow no one. If you're going for something with a little more pizzazz, there are plenty of other options in the Highlands. But still a great, relaxed location for a dinner... And make sure to catch the wine special on Tuesday!
(4)
Chris M.
In from out of town, cool location. Green chili won tons very good, beef short rib on grits was excellent. Half price bottle of wine was a wonderful added and unexpected benefit.
(4)
Shelley J.
On our travels we try and make it a point to meet our friends and try places they suggest. On this particular trip we were meeting an old friend of Larry's and fellow poet. This is a restaurant he frequents with a number of his friends and he thought we would enjoy it. This restaurant bears the "Kentucky Proud" logo on their menu, meaning they are using local ingredients. Obviously the seafood can hardly be local, but they are making the effort to get at least some ingredients locally. One of these is a natural Italian style sausage called Vito's produced in Kentucky. We ordered the Bristol Fish sandwich which consisted of fried white fish with lettuce and tomato on rye, and Mideast Grilled Cheese which is flatbread wrapped around green onions, spinach, mushrooms and havarti cheese. The fish was cooked well and tasted fresh, but was a little bland. We opted for skillet potatoes instead of slaw. They were also poorly seasoned, though made with fresh potatoes and not frozen. The flatbread on the grilled cheese was flaky and delicious, the spinach was fresh and crisp and the mushrooms were well prepared. We felt it was a bit of a misnomer to call it a "grilled cheese" since there was far more veggies than cheese, but it was delicious and enjoyed. The restaurant was very clean and the service was good. Since we were there to primarily meet a friend it was an extended stay. Never once did we feel rushed by any of the staff to leave, or ignored with the hopes we would. This restaurant would certainly warrant revisiting it, which we hope to do when we return for future visits with friends. Three and a half stars would actually be more accurate.
(3)
Ausra P.
Bad bad server. The wontons bad. Tuna dry. Looks good but tastes bad. Would not go back.
(1)
Jordan M.
I've eaten at the Bristol many times over the years, at many of the locations around Louisville. This is the first time I have been inspired to write a review. I've always thought of the Bristol as ok food, and I just like the atmosphere of the Bardstown Rd location, so I would go occasionally. As for the atmosphere, you've probably noticed from my other reviews that I like laid back, no bull-shit drinking establishments, well the Bardstown Bristol is like a classy old dame of a restaurant that has taken to hitting the bourbon bottle a little too often and has a few nicks to show for it, so obviously, I love it. I always ask to be seated on the bar side, I get comfort from a darkly stained wooden bar stocked full of bourbon looking over me while I eat, and I get entertainment looking out the window to people watch. Pappy usually rests on the highest perch of the bar, and you can get a generous pour of 15 there for half of what it will cost at other establishments around town, you can thank me later for pointing you to some of the best Pappy prices in town, but so help me baby Jesus, if you all go drink it all, and I can't order my Pappy 15 with a steak the next time I am there, I will start openly sobbing for the loss of innocence of the slightly intoxicated old dame's bar. This will be really off-putting for my wife, who never likes it when "I make a scene", so be warned, if you drink all the damn Pappy at the Bristol, you will make a grown man sob over a steak, and you will embarrass my wife, who will have to sit there beside a sobbing, bearded, steak eating, broken man. On to the food, (apparently, man cannot live on bourbon alone - trust me, I've thoroughly tested this statement, and I've never had good results). The Bardstown Rd location has really stepped up their game lately in the food department. As I mentioned above, the food has always been just ok for me. However, about a month ago, I had such a great experience there (yes, it involved 2 pours of 15 neat, and by pours, I mean a whole damn glass) that I returned twice within the last month. The first time, I had a local steak special that was topped with blue cheese butter. The medium-rare was spot on medium rare, the blue cheese butter wasn't just some damn butter with a blue cheese crumble slathered like a 3 year old's finger-painting rendition of what he did at preschool that day (spoiler, he played on a swing-set, napped, and ate some cheerios), it was the master stroke of a butter savant - the steak was his canvas and the blue cheese butter was this master's final stroke of perfection. Seriously, this was so good, I still remember it a month later. I'm pretty sure I might have started sobbing out of raw, unfiltered emotion. After that description, I really don't know how my description of the other two meals... I'll try: next meal, lunch after a night of too much steak and bourbon (is too much possible? I don't think so, but sometimes my body is like "dude, seriously, if you eat more red meat, I'm just going to shut down") (also, steak and bourbon seems to be a running theme in my life). Anyways, I had a salad with grilled tuna. Yeah, I pretty much violated my rule where foliage cannot out number meat on my plate, but I was still full from the night before. Anyways, the salad was good, the greens fresh, the tuna cooked spot on, and it had mushrooms and eggs. Very solid for a light -I can't believe how much food I ate last night- lunch. Final meal, bourbon braised pork shoulder. I mean, I don't know how this could be bad, it is bourbon and meat, combined. In fact, it isn't bad, it is delicious, thus supporting my theory that meat + bourbon = good. I'm not one to remember sides that often, but the collard greens that came with the pork shoulder were basically slow cooked in awesome and some onion. The pork shoulder was so tender, tasted slightly like bourbon, and took up like 1/2 the plate.
(5)
Christopher W.
This was one of our stops on the Urban Bourbon Tour. If I could give this place zero stars I would. The lady that waited on us at the bar was probably the worst server/bartender I have ever had. The other 3 people in my group all agreed. She seemed to have a terrible attitude and wasn't the least bit friendly. When we walked into the restaurant the hostess also wasn't the slightest bit interested in our business. 2/2 on bad employees. Really makes me believe overall this is what you will get there. We ordered chicken tapas, calamari, and two drinks. The chicken tapas were palatable at best. The calamari were seemingly fried in oil that wasn't nearly hot enough. Soggy and gross. The organizers of the tour should look at removing this place from their list. Would never go back.
(1)
Andrea R.
I recently dragged a few dining companions here for an early bird 5pm dinner so I could make my 8pm flight back to Chicago. Based on the Yelp reviews the first thing we ordered was the green chili wontons and they did not disappoint. I promised myself I'd just eat one...but 4 later I was in wonton heaven. There's lots to choose from the menu so limiting it down to 1 entree wasn't an easy task, but I settled on the thai stir fry. Not as amazing as the wontons, but much healthier...and pretty tasty as well. I had to rush our waitress along so I wouldn't miss my flight, but we had a tasty meal and had plenty of time to spare before heading back to the windy city.
(4)
Megan F.
People I've met who are from Louisville seem to unquestionably love Bristol. Bristol and Ramsi's. They're right down the street from each other and in the same place in the hearts of Louisville natives. I like Ramsi's a bit more because of the variety. Even though Bristol has a relatively lengthy menu, there's really nothing on it that stands out as stellar. Even the green chili wontons are only ok. It's the name that bothers me--it's somewhat misleading. I assumed it would be much closer to a dumpling at a Chinese restaurant and have more of a chili spice. In actuality, it is like a cheese popper with a hint of chili somewhere amongst the gooey-ness. The guacamole dip is pretty good, but questionably lighter in color than most avocados I've seen and a little too creamy for my taste. The review before me nailed it on the head calling it perfect for a business lunch. If I went on business lunches, I'd totally add this to my list of places. It's a safe bet no one will be opposed to. That being said, I'll probably end up going back at some point because the two meals I've had here over the last year, the burger and the california club salad, were certainly edible and I'm curious to know why and how this place became such a popular staple.
(3)
Elizabeth B.
My rating of 3 stars is for the brunch menu only. I do enjoy the Bristol in the Highlands for dinner and a late night bite all the time and would give that a 4, but the brunch....not so much. It was fine, but not great. It was good, but not super. I had the french toast and fruit. The french toast was just ordinary. The fruit was really fresh so that was good! I got a side of bacon and let me tell you it was a lot of bacon for $3....I liked that a lot. The coffee was good and strong. All in all, the sides were the best part of my brunch experience and my main dish was sub par.
(3)
Shana K.
After reading mostly positive reviews of Bristol I hoped for a pleasant meal when I stopped in tonight. However, my dinner could not have been more underwhelming or poorly executed. We started with the Chicken Tapas appetizer which was a puzzling plate of overcooked chicken, large pieces of peppers and onion, and olives covered in far too much peppercorn. This may have been a decent dish if it had been served with some kind of bread, the chicken were not overcooked, and it had less pepper but that was not the case. I moved onto the Southwestern Chicken entree which was ruined by a bed of undercooked, crunchy rice. Additionally, the chicken was again on the verge of being overcooked. My boyfriend felt that his Bristol Burger was very plain and not noteworthy. At the end of the meal I had eaten so little of my food that I left the restaurant still hungry.
(1)
Wes B.
Love The Bristol on Bardstown Road. Nothing better than the Bristol burger and skillet fries. My wife thoroughly enjoys the grilled salmon. People watching at this location is very entertaining. I have been a regular here since it's beginning in the 70's. Sunday buffet brunch is a must. Service has always been excellent. Congratulations to Pete Peters, their GM, a consummate professional. Wes B.
(5)
Heather H.
Oh Bristol! I loved you for so many years! I spent many a humid night on your patio and was quite happy to see you again last weekend, minus the humidity. Rushed to have lunch at Bristol before my flight back home to Vegas. My friends and I sat on the patio and I immediately ordered Green Chili Wontons! These are so good! Definitely one of my favorites at Bristol. My Bristol Burger was not as good as I remember but I was also in the throes of a serious sinus situation, so that could be the reason. The wontons were so spicy that even I could actually taste them. My friends had a club and steak sandwich and seemed pretty satisfied. I still love you Bristol!
(4)
Bryan X.
This is like a American dining food chain in Louisville? It seems a lot of Louisville local like to come here, or the other ones around the town. However I'm getting a little tired of their food going there almost at least once per week as a after work drink place. The food is decent, but nothing to have a WoW factor. They do have a good mixed menu with beer and wine list. One thing I still want to try is the fish taco, it looks good.... My recommendation to the restaurant is to prepare more today's special so the frequent visitor like us can have something new to choose from!
(3)
Troy W.
"Good, not great." That is a direct quote from my last review and I still feel the same. Now let me say, I'm really holding back on some stars because I feel the menu is limited. I feel good when I'm interested in a few entrees and I have the luxury of choice. I don't really have that here. For anyone thinking of a first visit, to no surprise, their menu is online. Simply decide for yourself. I do consider this place to be 5 stars based on service and ambiance of this older building. Like creme brulee? They serve up this dessert with a touch of peanut butter... definitely worthy of 5 stars for that. There is a *tiny* rear parking lot accessible from the road in front or from the alley in the back. However, unless you are visiting, oh say 3am on a Tuesday, plan on this lot being full. No biggie though.. parking on the street, I've never been more than a block a way.
(3)
Sarah C.
A first meeting of the in-laws required a meeting in Louisville (the halfway point) and Bristol was selected after reading some of the Yelp reviews. We didn't really know what to expect, as a party, but the menu online appeared to have a dish for every palate. From salads to sandwiches and burgers our lunch was more delightful at Bristol Bar & Grille. The entire staff was attentive and conscientious of our table as guests in a restaurant that clearly took pride in their heritage of being one of the best restaurants in Louisville for quite some time. I could see why! The food was amazing! For lunch, I ordered the Mideast Grilled Cheese (~9) which came on a tortilla-like flat bread stuffed with spinach, Havarti cheese, and mushrooms. I am a huge sucker of grown up grilled cheese and I must say that I could have had seconds! The only disappointment was that my particular sandwich did not voluntarily come with chips or fries as the other sandwiches had. I also took a helping bite out of my hubs-to-be's Rembrandt; equally delightful!
(5)
Glory O.
Bristols was the first restaurant i had an 'open faced sandwiche' haha. and i remember it being delicious!! i had recently moved back to kentucky from an extended stay in korea (due to my dad's job) and have been kind of out of the loop as far as american cuisine goes. but bristols definitely has the classic 'american' menu! their salads are fresh, delicious, and well portioned (you definitely wont feel hungry after!). i wish i could go back to kentucky and visit. its been over 10 years since ive been to bristols but i remember it like it was yesterday! its a great place to hang out with friends and family and the menu definitely doesnt disappoint!
This used to be my favorite restaurant when I lived in the Highlands about 10 years ago. This place has definitely gone downhill in quality and flavor of the food. I am not sure if my palate has matured or it was crap 10 years ago and I did not know any better. Go figure.
(2)
Dararith L.
The Green Chili Wonton with Guacamole AKA Jalapeno Cheese Bombers (Church's chicken) on steroids. Cheesy, gooey, rich = Highly delectable and highly recommended. Waitress recommended "Theresa's Sweet Chili Linguine" which was a pasta dish tossed with cream and Thai Chili Sauce with grilled blackened chicken. I had to go for it. The pasta was very sweet and not so much spicy. In the end, I scarfed this sucker down so fast, it was a real treat. Yay! I'm a fan.
(4)
Matthew S.
green chili wontons Henry Bain sauce* Bristol burger ** steak sandwich with Henry Bain sauce breakfast buffet Henry Bain sauce that's all you need to know. _____________________ * en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He… **one of my favorites even though it deviates wildly from the profile of my ideal burger. see English muffin and bleu cheese.
(5)
Michael T.
First dined at the Bristol 20+ years ago and it was always a favorite. Moved away for a number of years and now coming back and dining there its as good as ever. Always consistently great food, service and fun atmosphere! Just a great restaurant!
(5)
Adam C.
Overpriced for some good food. I think they bought into the idea they can charge 20% more than they should for average to good meals. I like the sunday brunch, never left hungry, but only eat there for dinner once every 6 months. Main issue is the pricing, I am willing to pay a little extra if the food is memorable, but it is usually just an ok steak or just alright crab cakes. If you are going to pay almost $10 for a burger for lunch, do yourself a favor and head on down to Jack Frys
(3)
David H.
Has some surprisingly nice local flavor. Started out with calamari. The sauce they use was excellent. Most of their sauces are homemade. For the main course, I had the pasta with smoked salmon and portabello mushrooms. This was excellent. The smoked salmon wasn't lox, they were chunks of cooked salmon that was smoked (Shuckmans Smoked Fish). What an excellent flavor it gave to this dish! My colleagues had the steak with mushrooms and the crab stuffed sole. They both raved as well. Put this on my list of places to come back to.
(4)
Matthew H.
Returned for lunch and was not quite as impressed as I was with their brunch. Had a turkey club w/ chips. The turkey felt like it was from one of those pre-packaged Oscar Meyer supermarket packs. The rest of the sandwich was decent. Our waitress checked on us an appropriate amount.
(3)
Carolynne M.
Brunch at the Bristol was a very nice way to end our mini vacation in Louisville. Happy to find a place open for business on Easter Sunday, we were seated on a lovely patio surrounded by other patrons all decked out in their Sunday best. Brunch is buffet style, and this one (I dont know if every Sunday is this elaborate or not) is huge. There was a custom waffle station, fruit, salmon, two kinds of eggs, grits, bacon, sausage, some kind of sweet corn pudding, vegetables....good lord it just went on and on. The eggs were delightful - very fluffy, and the fruit and vegetables were very fresh and crisp. service was attentive and coffee was plentiful and very good. You know it was a good spread when Andy was too full to go back and sample the biscuits and gravy! I would definitely go back - nice place!
(4)
Andy M.
Grub-a, Grub Grub!!!!!! The Brunch at the Bristol Bar is one of the more classy spreads that I ever experienced. We dined outside on a beautiful spring day in the heart of the Highlands section of Louisville. Our visit came on a sunny, Easter morning. What made it even nicer is that we were surrounded by people dressed to the nines in their fancy, Easter duds. What makes this Brunch special is the Variety that they offer. You have your typical Brunch favorites like Bacon, Eggs, Hash browns and french toast. The Bristol also offered sliced Beef, fresh Salmon, Ham that's cut right off of the bone and a Waffle station. The food was fresh and delicious. The joint was packed, and the staff at the Bristol handled the crowd with ease. We were seated within a few minutes. Our server did a wonderful job keeping our coffee mugs full with their delicious, home brewed Joe. If you are looking for a wonderful Brunch in the Louisville area, look no further than the Bristol. The food is fresh and delicious and the servers do a awesome job. It's a great way to get your Sunday morning Grub on.
(5)
Jodie T.
Checked out BB&G when my folks came into town for a visit. Four peeps and eight thumbs up! The patio was charming, the wine was an abundant pour, everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals (three pasta dishes and the "Hot Brown") After sampling everyone's, resounding unanimous vote for best dish: The Lemon Shrimp. To-die-for. Portions matched the prices and no complaints there. Service was impeccable all the way around and our particular server (wish I could remember her name!) was a gem - witty, funny and wonderful! Will be back for sure...
(5)
Suzanne H.
Just had dinner at the Bristol. Was traveling and looking for a place to eat in Louisville. Great food and nice variety. Everything is reasonably priced. Had the wine flights. Peppercorn steak was fabulous. Next time I'm in town will definately go back. Service was spot on, very friendly.
(5)
Cate W.
Not good, great! I was suprised to see some of these low ratings. The food at the Bristol is always delicious, and the menu is good sized, with something for everyone (well, maybe not vegetarians, but I think there's a portobello sandwich still hanging around from the '90s.. Just kidding!) Bristol, I'm a big fan, and have been since I was a child: Sunday brunch. Glass of wine and a side salad with friends at the bar. Dinner with the parents. There's nothing to complain about here, except that it gets crowded at dinner on weekends, and sometimes around those tables are seated Wagnerian-quality divas, whose voices carry over your conversation. For those Bristol virgins out there, let me tell you what to get: Green chilie wontons The steak sandwich with bearnaise The pork dijonnaise The California club salad (with shrimp, crab, avocado, artichoke hearts, with Harry's (the house) dressing!) You really can't go wrong with any of the Bristol Classics (steak sandwich and pork fall into this category), and the salads are usually pretty solid. People who order the Bristol burger really like it, though I've never gotten used to eating 1/3 lb of angus on an English muffin. Another standout: the blue cheese dressing is sharp and very distinctive--it depends on the day whether I'll ask for the bleu on my side salad, or Harry's. And the bread is a simple yeast bread, but it's always warm and delightful. As for dessert, I don't know if they still do this, but at one point I had an incredible vanilla ice cream topped with brandied cherries, amaretto, and toasted almonds. Gorgeous!
(5)
Dano R.
The staff was very friendly and the food was excellent. I have been there twice for lunch and it's a perfect location for it. Parking out back, well lite, quiet, elegant theme, and moderately priced. Perfect for a business lunch.
(4)
Abbey V.
Decent food, but not particularly amazing. The staff is friendly, however, and in fact continued to come back to spark conversation - quite nice.
(2)
Angie H.
This was a cute, smallish restaurant with a lot of charm. Had a traditional hot brown for the first time and it was delicious. The atmosphere was casual and the people and staff were friendly. The service was a bit slow, but admittedly they were crowded. Cool place to go for a trendy Louisville experience.
(4)
Kate D.
I like The Bristol - it's a good stand-by for drinks and snacks. The rolls are yummy, and the won tons too. I've yet to have an entree that I loved, however I did enjoy the seafood chowder. ...or maybe it was clam.
(3)
Greta K.
I truly love Bardstown Road. And I love eating al fresco on Bardstown Road. The Bristol is just a classic restaurant that has stayed in Louisville at a time when many new restaurants have come and gone. The service is usually fantastic and the food is always delicious. For starters, you have to try the green chil wontons, which taste absolutely delicious and go perfectly with the guac they are served with. The salads are really delicious and have a lot of fresh ingredients. The Spinach Salad is my favorite, with the excellent croutons, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and goat cheese, among other things. The California Club salad is also good, but the spinach salad is what I usually order. For dinner, you can't really go wrong with anything and my favorite dish is Theresa's Sweet Chili linguine, which is is served with a grilled chicken strips and a very creamy, fattening sauce. This dish has quite a kick! I've been to this location and the one in Jeffersonville, which has an awesome view of the city of Louisville, but this Highlands location is definitely the original and best. The atmosphere is really near-perfect. Also, I've heard the Sunday brunch is very good but I haven't tried it yet.
(4)
Christian S.
Went to the downtown location for lunch --- I'm not from Kentucky, but I've had a few before, and their hot brown was delicious. "Fries" were interesting - closer to fried potato slices than traditional fries, but well seasoned. The lunch prices are also extremely reasonable - every menu item, including the specials, was less than $10.
(4)
Jim R.
Friendly service. Good food. A little pricey, but different menu than average restaurant. Cheese burger from kids menu is same size as regular menu, but $5 less expensive.
(4)
Mandi B.
If I lived in KY, I would have to visit this place a couple more times to check out more of the menu. Their beer, wine and booze selection looked good and I imagine this place would be a fun spot to gather for early evening drinks. I got the referral from my Yelp app and convinced my sis we should eat here. Good choice! The green chili wontons were delish! Sooo cheesy and just enough chili for a hint of spice, and the guacamole dip was a perfect accent. It was lunch so I had the chicken salad sandwich. It had an orange mayo which was something I hadn't had before, but it was pretty good. Sis enjoyed her pub burger served on an english muffin and her bf devoured his club (although I gotta rat him out and tell you he picked off the avocado... sinner!) My only sadness in this lunch was that the Hoegaarden keg wouldn't work. I wasn't feeling any of the other beers and decided against the delicious sounding mojito (only $6.25!) so I had a diet pepsi. All in all, it was a nice spot!
(3)
Raymond B.
I had brunch at the Bristol Bar and Grille on Bardstown Rd. The atmosphere was great and my fiancee and I really enjoyed the outside patio. The service was also excellent. The Brunch offered scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, grits, a waffle bar, salad, fried chicken and biscuits, among other things. Overall the food quality was okay. I was unimpressed with the waffles and biscuits, but the fruit bowl was fantastic. I would say it was a nice place to have a leisurely brunch, but it wasn't anything to rave about.
(2)
Greg B.
My wife and I have always loved eating dinner together at the Bristol in the Highlands. It's a fine Louisville establishment. Every few years when we visit relatives we always manage to find time to eat, drink and be merry at the bristol. We start at the bar and have a round of Newcastle. Then we eat! i got the chops, my wife got the chops. The waiter had an easy time. We ordered the same exact thing. Caeser salad, the potatoes. Same as I remembered. Delicious.
(5)
Keshia S.
I enjoy the Bristol I love the spinach, chicken, and goat cheese salad, the chili poppers and the white chicken chili...yummy!!
(3)
Neuro G.
Let's face it - this is a restaurant that has devolved into one thing - green chili won tons. Seriously, folks, do they make anything else worth discussing? We already know the outcome if you lived on them for a month: just go NetFlix the movie "Super-Size Me" and spare yourself the 50-pound-weight-gain, steatorrhea, loss of ability to attract women of any type, and elevation in your liver enzymes. Really, let's recall the origins of the Bristol. No, better yet, let's recall waiting in the smoke-filled bar area over the years for a seat in this generic bistro with the clear knowledge that they drop steaks raw on the floor, then plop them on the grill, and ultimately onto your plate. This comes from family members who worked there. Neither will I forget the middle-aged chef there who hit on my girlfriend when she was waiting at the Sunday brunch buffet line. The sleazeball asked her for her pager number without so much as a chat. We complained to the manager with no meaningful apology. Friends that worked there indicated that this was the guy's modus operandi. Why was he still working there? But I digress. Have you tried their green chili won tons?
(2)
Amelia P.
Just get the Green Chili Wontons and a Cesar Salad. And booze. Then you will not be disappointed.
(3)
Jessica D.
Oh Bristol, I have so many great memories with you. Post-first tattoo dinner, coffee with friends, nights out with family. You always have something veggie friendly on the menu, and you have tons of tasty tea and coffee options for non-soda drinkers like myself. I feel like you're a little pricey, given the location and atmosphere, like you're trying too hard, but I still enjoy your food and the service in generally pretty stellar.
(4)
Dan K.
We visited Louisville last week. The restaurant had decent food and the staff was pleasant overall, but our waitress must have either been having a bad day or was simply in a bad mood. Took forever to get served. Drinks were spilled. Had to ask another waitress to clear and bring us the check. It was not a good situation to be in while minding a hungry toddler.
(2)
Tre P.
The Bristol is a Louisville tradition. Love their crabcakes and green chili wontons!
(4)
Mary R.
The Bristol has adopted a genius strategy: why not stay open late, offer reasonably priced wine to get people in the door, have them drink themselves hungry, and then let them contemplate the mostly-overpriced menu carried by a few outstanding plates? Fortunately, it's easy to maximize your drinking while protecting your wallet. Here is the answer key to the Bristol experience: 1. Find a bottle of wine under $20. 2. Gradually order as many bottles of wine as there are people at the table. 3. Nosh on a couple of orders of the divine green chile wontons. 4. If still hungry, go with the Bristol burger--classic and reasonably priced. 5. Call in to work the next day as needed.
(5)
Alan F.
I had the Sunday brunch at Bristol, and was underwhelmed. The atmosphere and service was very good, but at $14 a head, the buffet felt like a poorly executed version of a Holiday Inn breakfast buffet.
(2)
Melissa R.
Tried the Bristol one evening and was pleased with the menu, price, and drink selection. The salad I got with my entree was substantial and the raspberry dressing delicious. Bread was good, and my pasta was the best. Recommend!!
(3)
Matthew W.
Always pretty good to me. I've never really had a bad experience at The Bristol, and it's open late which is a good thing for a rock n' roller like me. Dinner is what I usually head to The Bristol for, and I love Teresa's Sweet Chili Linguini. It's somewhat spicy with a Thai creme sauce on linguini topped with blackened chicken strips- it rocks, and they give you quite a bit of it. Green chili won tons are probably the most popular item on the menu at The Bristol and for good reason, these things are very rock n' roll and quite addictive, and they come with a guacamole sauce for dipping which works very well. The Bristol also does a buffet style Sunday brunch that is very worthwhile. It consists of most typical breakfast foods and also some non breakfast items such as meat or fish. I make many trips through the line which is a testament to how good it is, and I'm always happy with what they've got for brunch. Nice atmosphere here as well, I'm all about soft light and The Bristol definitely has it. During the warmer seasons you can sit on the patio and that is definitely recommended. I really dig this place- I could eat here more than twice a week if I somehow needed to.
(4)
Jesse W.
When it's late and you don't want total crap food, Bristol is a very viable option.
(3)
Jay R.
Decent food. I love the black bean soup and the bread. They have these green chili egg roll things for apetizers that are awesome. Salads are pretty good size. The one on Bardstown road has a nice little bar area, but parking is tough.
(4)
Cindy K.
Good place for a late snack or drink. Green chili wontons are small, gooey, filled with cheese and jalapenos and a side of guacamole. Skillet fries with a side of ranch and a Bristol burger -- comes on an English muffin. Also a decent place to take a party with various tastes in food. Really fun: sit in the window and watch the people going by on Bardstown Road.
(3)
Laila K.
definitely decent food, good wine selection, generally decent service. we had the artichoke fritters (good if not a bit well done), chicken pot pie (nicely spiced), the rueben (which for some strange reason is called the rembrandt, was good too). all in all, a worthwhile go to for lunch. (although not more than a couple of options for vegetarians)
(4)
Tim W.
I'm really sad about this review. We used to love coming here for the amazing green chili wontons, some good (and inexpensive) wine, and a seat on the side patio on a beautiful day. Unfortunately the service has gotten so terrible over the past several months that it just isn't worth it anymore. This includes both wait staff and the kitchen. Even If you want a plain salad with no meat or anything, you can expect to wait 30-45 minutes on a slow night. There are so many places on Bardstown Road that have better food and significantly better service.
(2)
Andrea B.
This is an oldie but a goodie. I've been here several times but most recently visited on March 6. Our service was a little weird but the food was good overall. The green chili wontons are excellent as an appetizer. I got the pork tenderloin as an entree and the sauce was really good. My side of "truffle fries" was really more like sliced potatoes with truffle oil but they were good. Bristol has an excellent drink list including many wines and bourbons. I like that you can get wine flights here. Another positive is that it is big and can accommodate large groups and you can make reservations.
(3)
Sarah C.
i have no idea how i have never reviewed this place. I have probably been to this spot more times than i would like to admit. I used to walk up often for a snack or dinner with friends. They have a very easy to order off of menu here that suits most. I happen to dig the green chili wontons and the artichoke fritters (as far as the appetizer menu goes). For dinner I usually either pick the spinach salad (sans the meats) or the mid-east grilled cheese. Both yummy depending on what you are in the mood for eating. Their desserts are pretty good here too...especially the derby pie and the bread pudding. I should add that on Tuesdays they have half price bottles of wine all night! yay! Aside from that deal they always have reasonable prices on drinks. A glass of wine ranges from about 6 dollars to 8, I think. The happy hour is $1 off all drinks-drafts, bottles of beer, glasses of wine, cocktails. Their patio is super nice if the weather is right. It feels pretty private from the bustle on Bardstown Road. :) I have had two events here in the past year and both times they have been overly accommodating to us and friendly. This is my favorite Bristol location! Just saying.
(4)
Mona T.
Bristol is always a safe bet for good food when it comes to Louisville. As a vegetarian, my meal options are somewhat limited, but I have found the chefs to be accommodating, since I frequently get Theresa's Sweet Chili Linguine without the chicken. This is the best service out of the Bristol locations I have visited, along with the best food. And. Green Chili Cheese Wontons with avocado dipping sauce.
(4)
Nicole M.
I have been here for both the Saturday brunch and lunch. I've heard their Sunday brunch buffet is much better. Saturday brunch menu is nothing special, but I'd say it's not really crowded so you probably don't have a wait time. And they take reservations. No drink specials though. I tried the chicken and waffles which was good. For lunch you must get the green chile wontons. It comes with a guacamole sauce and they are amazing, with just a little kick to it. I also had the short ribbed grilled cheese which was outstanding. If it's nice outside they have outdoor seating. Staff is very friendly and knowledgable about the menu.
(4)
Angela K.
Amazing food! We go here all the time for Dixon family dinners, and we had our rehearsal dinner upstairs. Zach is a phenomenal bartender. Always attentive, gives great recommendations, and just a super friendly guy. Get the shrimp and grits, short rib, bourbon braised pork shoulder, black bean soup, or the Bristol Burger.
(5)
Morgan E.
I went to Bristol for a friend's bachelorette party. I was a little apprehensive because I read the reviews beforehand - but I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was great! I had the shrimp and grits. The presentation was beautiful. The grits were thick and a nice consistency and flavor. However it needed more shrimp. I would probably feel that way no matter what but it only came with 6-7 medium-sized shrimp. The house salad was basic and the ranch had cottage cheese in it. Taste-wise it was fine but texturally I wasn't digging it. The bread was amazing - hot with a nice outside crust. The service overall was fine - not horrible or above and beyond. Just...fine. Everyone in our party loved their food. I'd definitely make a trip back.
(4)
Joseph S.
This is a great place to go if you want to go to pretend to go to a nice restaurant without actually going to one. The name still fools many people (mainly tourists) but those who live in the area are well aware of this restaurant's many flaws. The most glaring of which is bad service and bad attitudes. This is the only place I have ever been where the staff make fun of regular customers and argue about waiting on certain people. In particular one of the bartenders who has worked there for many years is an arrogant jerk who is rude and deliberately smashes beer & wine bottles in the trash whenever there are people who are around he doesn't like. He also makes snide comments to women who order drinks that are not up to his standards. Someone like this would never cut it at any real restaurant, but at this establishment he is considered a hall of famer! This and the place smells like cat piss when you walk in the door, although I understand they finally changed the musty 20 year old carpet recently. Add to that the mediocre food and it's a recipe for a weekend debacle. Once I even got food poisoning when I ate there several years ago (shocking). Save your money and give it to a place that appreciates your business! This is by far the most overrated restaurant in all of Louisville.
(1)
Lauren H.
Everything I've tried from the Bristol has been consistently good. I always order the green chili wontons as an appetizer because they are amazing. I highly recommend them. I've tried various dishes including the chicken fajita sandwich, braised beef short rib, a couple pasta dishes, fish sandwich, etc. No complaints. Their salad dressings are also very good (they have a ranch dressing made with cottage cheese that I usually get). Not the most new, modern, or trendy place in town, but I always know I'm going to get good food here.
(4)
Todd F.
Went there and was going to order shrimp and grits cause they sounded good but then saw the braised beef short ribs. absolutely delicious. melt in your mouth tender and the wine sauce was out of this world. only complaint i could have is i would prefer a softer bread besides the french bread...i still ate 2 baskets though so i guess i cant complain
(4)
Samantha F.
Love the family feel and delicious food! You must try the green chili wontons and the specials are a safe bet! Also great: the hot brown soup and truffle fries. The salad dressing (name escaping me) that is similar to ranch was delicious on the salad
(5)
Edward R.
After unsuccessfully trying two other restaurants near by to get appetizers and drinks quickly, the girlfriend and i decided to go with old faithful. She ordered a white zinfendel and i had an angels envy and ginger. Our waiter promptly returned w our drinks and told us the evening specials. All sounded amazing. However, we were just there for the wontons. And once again they did not disappoint.
(5)
D. R.
First time in Louisville, KY for business. Heard about local delicacy "Kentucky Hot Brown," and was told Bristol's restaurant is one of the better preparers of this dish. Description of Hot Brown in tourist magazines didn't sound very good. However, I couldn't pass up a cultural opportunity - so I tried Bristol's "Hot Brown." IT WAS DELICIOUS! This bubbling hot dish accompanied with refreshing iced tea on a hot & humid day was the perfect kiss! Bristol's southern ambiance and hospitality was/is an ideal venue for travelers and locals. I can't wait to return!
(5)
Valerie W.
I lived in Louisville a little over 10 years ago, and just visited again this week. We couldn't resist stopping by Bristol. Consistently good food and service--not mind-blowing, but good. Dishes that your mom and dad would consider adventurous, like the seafood or green chili wontons. Had a decent wine flight with four readily available, but well-chosen whites. Would go again, but will search out other options to try first on our next trip to Louisville. It just felt good to know Bristol was there
(4)
Trent G.
I ate here with my wife for Saturday Brunch. The food was delicious! The wait staff was also wonderful. We barely had to wait from ordering to eating. This would be a 5 star except they had a guy cleaning the windows right next to our table and he was making a noise like fingernails on a chalkboard. The waitstaff was saying he was almost done but he should have stopped instead of constantly interrupting our meal. It was 100% terrible. I will eat here again but probably at a different location.
(3)
Kathy V.
The food was delicious! One day I shared the crab cake appetizer and had the teriyaki salmon as my meal. The salmon (not usually one of my favorite seafoods) was FANtastic. The crab cakes too were very good. Another night I partook in some kind of shrimp appetizer. The sauce that came with them was spectacular! I got the stuffed sole because it sounded interesting and, as someone else was buying drinks, I figured I could swing the price. It was good, but not worth the high price, in my opinion. I had a couple bites of a friend's pork dijon dish, and THAT was amazing. The honey dijon sauce is dangerously good. Both visits were aided by some wonderful service provided by the waitstaff! They were on the ball!
(4)
Aaron E.
You can never go wrong with this Louisville icon. Great location in the Highlands. Their menu is always fresh and there is something you can easy choose from to make lunch dinner awesome.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
michelle l.
If I were just rating the food, this place would get 3 stars, but because the service was so good, I bumped them up to 4 stars. I came here with some work colleagues. The place was nearly empty, but I will say that this resulted in exemplary service by our waiter, Demetrios. That man is a gem and deserves to work in a busier, higher end restaurant. The wine list is very reasonable, and the bartender works quickly. The food is a bit eclectic. There are Asian-inspired dishes and southern dishes and a section of the menu dedicated to locally grown/raised foods. I tried a special, the pork shank. I think the chef did not pay attention to my dish, as he gave me two bony pieces of pork shank, so all I received was a lot of pork skin and bones. Yuck. Luckily, I had the accompanying salad, grits and daily vegetables (broccolini) to fill my stomach because I was not about to eat pork gristle as a meal. My colleague who also ordered the pork shank seemed to get all the meaty pieces and no bones. :/
(4)Greta S.
I guess once you get a relatively good name in Louisville and the masses love you, it's hard for someone to scream "the emperor has no clothes!". Sunday brunch for two, with tip will be over $40 and you'll get greasy fried chicken, mac and cheese that turns into industrialized globs before you can get it into your mouth, some overcooked green vegetable (I am always so sad when I look down and see good brussels sprouts swimming completely overcooked), a salad that at least offers some freshness and the option of biscuits and gravy (but really you want to eat that?). I can't talk about the green chili wontons because I would go on and on about how bad they are. People love them and can you tell me why they love thick, sticky globs of breading (frozen) clinging to tasteless goo. Maybe if you pour sauce over everything and pretend. The staff, however, is what bugs me the most--they tend to be intrusive the minute you walk in the door and continue interrupting, asking inane questions such as "what are you reading in the New York Times?" And the music, well it wouldn't be my choice but then I am always impressed when someone can play the strings.
(2)Zain K.
Had a great business lunch here. Ordered the tuna steak ($11, I think), served with a red pepper puree and sauteed veg. It was cooked exactly to order, well plated, and quite tasty. And in spite of the restaurant being busy, it wasn't hard for the eight of us to talk and hear one another. All in all, one of the better business lunch spots I've been to downtown.
(4)Diana L.
Always a good time to be had here, love the calamari hot crispy and delicious, any drink is a treat and the crowd was moderate, or server was very knowledgeable and nice, she even made me a peach ice tea.
(4)Amanda W.
Second time being here. It is a little pricey, but food is amazing. And our waitress is the best waitress I've ever had.. Cut up and joked around right along with us..
(4)Jim S.
Some things great, some things average. GREAT: Green Chili Won-Tons, bread, house salad dressing, Ruby Red Trout, wine flight No so much/Average: home fries good but a tad too greasy. Steak have little or no seasoning on it.
(3)Pepper T.
Visited last night and I must say I was a bit disappointed in the overall atmosphere but the taste of the food made up for the lack luster decor. Started: Scallops - Perfectly cooked, the sauce was very flavorful and the grits were good. Drinks: Bloody Mary's - I was a bit off by this at first. They tasted exactly like a watered down cocktail sauce for your shrimp. It wasn't bad. It was different. I did not order another. Main: I ordered Pork Shoulder Roast w/ Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Collard Greens and Fried Sweet Potatoes. Let me say, I licked my plate clean. Wow! It was amazing. My friend ordered a special for the evening. Trout w/ steamed veggies. He enjoyed it but I was too busy chowing on mine to notice or ask. We topped it off with a chocolate mousse and espressos. Very good choice to end a great evening. Will I go back? Yes! I highly recommend it.
(4)J D.
Absolutely fabulous!
(5)Kelly J.
Great choice for a slightly casual/slightly fancy birthday dinner. As a table we ordered the Kentucky Bourbon Shrimp and Grits and the Wonton Chili Apps. I believe we all preferred the Shrimp and Grits. They were to DIE FOR! I had the Bristol Burger and it was nothing to write home about. That's the only reason for the 4 stars. My husband and another one in our party had one of their specials. It was fried chicken, greens, and grits. His dinner was AMAZING. We ended the dinner with a complimentary piece of Derby Pie ala mode. It was truly delectable. Our server, Emily was so attentive, even though she was very busy that evening, and truly a delight!
(4)Britany G.
This rating should really be a 3.5. Our service was great and the food was good. The resturant was too quiet, they had no music so we felt awkward talking and chatting. The menu could be better. No big complaints but this wouldn't be my pick when asked we should go out again.
(3)Chris W.
Neat and quaint little spot in a very old/historic area of Louisville. Great view from the dining room out the front windows, was an especially good night for the view due to snowing. The Martini specials are great and very tasty. Had the teriyaki salmon, was cooked perfectly and very delish. This restaurant had a nice small town feel and charm about it that makes the experience feel more like you are at a bed and breakfast kinda place. Super small bar area so not a good place if you want to sit or hangout on the bar area as there are only like 6-8 chairs at the bar.
(4)Victoria T.
We dine at The Bristol fairly often primarily because they are open late and offer a varied late night menu. I've noticed a steady slide into mediocrity over the past few years the food has become less and less edible. I fear our last supper at The Bristol happened last night. Sexy Beast and I were hungry and tired and not in the mood for cooking. It was after 10:00pm when we finally decided to eat out. That late our options are pretty limited. Off to The Bristol we went. We were seated promptly (as usual) and greeted by the wait staff quickly. Water and a cocktail were prompt. The appetizer (Green Chili Wontons) was great. This is the only dish that seems to be consistently good. I love the guacamole that is served with them and usually stash some aside for my Bristol Burger. Bread was brought to the table after the appetizer. It was hard. Not crusty, not crisp, hard all the way through. The cold butter that came with it did nothing to render it edible. Sexy Beast ordered the Sweet Chili Linguine and a salad. The salad needed a support group. It was sad and wilted and wallowing in self-pity. Sexy Beast picked at it for a while before abandoning all hope and leaving it to wither away. The entrees were the nail in The Bristol's coffin. The chicken in the Sweet Chili Linguine was coated in an overly spicy, gritty, soggy breading. The sauce was too sweet and a bit congealed. The pasta was overcooked. Sexy Beast pushed the noodles around on the plate and declared the breading to be something akin to Shake & Bake. I ordered the Filet Mandarin. It was cold. I ordered it medium rare. It was medium rare, but it was also cold. This dish is usually rather tasty, requiring no steak sauce due to the subtle orange and soy sauce marinade. This time, that marinade was overwhelming. I could taste nothing but orange. The flavor had been excommunicated from the meat. The accompanying potatoes were undercooked in some spots, overcooked in others and completely unseasoned. We skipped dessert because I was not in an emotional state to witness the demise of a good Creme Brulee.
(1)Randy H.
Green chili wontons are one if the greatest bites in Louisville. Mandarin filet and steak au poivre are both awesome. Theresa's sweet chili linguine is my favorite. Had dinner there last night and service was a bit slow, but the food was excellent. It's more of a classic than a hip and trendy location. Great wine flights at good prices.
(5)Ellie S.
Friendly staff, wonderful ambience. Recommend the Thai noodles and hot brown. Meals are very reasonably priced and come with salad and bread. A good place for families. Also a great place for Louisville classic dishes, and several entrees perfect for bourbon aficionados. Recommend eating outside if the weather permits
(5)Pamela C.
I would like to extend a heart felt thanks to Pete, Arron & their team for making my Dad's post-memorial reception so terrific in every way! From my first phone call during a very difficult time they offered kind advice and exceeded our expectations on the day of. Everyone raved about the food & hospitality from the Carolina Pulled Pork, Truffle Potatoes, Chili Wontons, Mini Hot Browns and much more guests went back for more. Cheers to you for making ours Dad's memorial so wonderful! Pamela Cravens
(5)Kasey C.
There's no lot, so we parked at the PNC next door. Once the bank is closed, you can park there. The restaurant ambiance is lacking. You walk into a small hallway that was jammed up all evening. It was our first time and we didn't know which way to go, so we kind of just stalled there. A lady from the bar above us came over to seat us. I definitely prefer a hostess at a restaurant like this. First impressions are lasting impressions and all that. Our server was funny, but a bit off color for a dinner with my husband, mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law; both VERY proper women. He made jokes about us getting drunk and him dancing on our table. Other than those, he was super energetic and really enjoyable. My husband thinks he was the best server he's ever had. We got the wontons and hummus plate for our starters. Both were good. Deep friend wontons stuffed with cheese and dipped in guacamole. It was a fat kids dream. We all got meals with salad; was there bread? Not sure. If so, it was forgettable. Blue cheese dressing was very thin. I was happy to get some vegetables after those wontons though and love when restaurants give you salad with your entree. We got the sweet chili pasta, red snapper (special of the day), crabcakes and the pork tenderloin (another special). All were delicious. I was kind of amazed at how tasty the chili linguine was. It was basically spicy-sweet alfredo sauce with pickled red cabbage and a piece of fried chicken on top. I ordered it out of curiosity; when you're not paying, you're more adventurous. And I liked it enough to recommend it! None of us had room for dessert, but it was my husbands birthday so they brought him a piece of chocolate cheesecake and he nearly finished it anyway because it was so good.
(4)Cleve E.
Had dinner with my wife last night. Was very disappointed. The bread actually had mold. Told waiter and he did not even offer to replace. The green wontons were good (best part of the meal) I had the crab cakes and they were cold and tasteless. I had brunch here before and it was good, but dinner not so good.
(1)Christopher M.
Lunch today was amazing. Best burger in town! Very friendly waitress and incredible fast service despite the crowd. Everything on the menu is so good. Each time I eat here I am reminded just how good it is. I need to eat here more often!
(5)Andrea H.
Very mixed Yelp reviews had me curious, but it was the sign outside that caught my eye and earned my patronage. Half-price bottles of wine on Tuesdays with the purchase of a dinner entree?! Yes, please. We followed the recommendations of fellow Yelpers and ordered the green chili wontons and the crab cakes. The wontons were amazing.... But pretty much glorified jalapeño poppers. The crab cakes definitely impressed... Larger than most I've had and had a large amount of crab (can be a tricky dish to get right.) I contest the mixed reviews are due to the fact that this eatery is likely to please everyone, but wow no one. If you're going for something with a little more pizzazz, there are plenty of other options in the Highlands. But still a great, relaxed location for a dinner... And make sure to catch the wine special on Tuesday!
(4)Chris M.
In from out of town, cool location. Green chili won tons very good, beef short rib on grits was excellent. Half price bottle of wine was a wonderful added and unexpected benefit.
(4)Shelley J.
On our travels we try and make it a point to meet our friends and try places they suggest. On this particular trip we were meeting an old friend of Larry's and fellow poet. This is a restaurant he frequents with a number of his friends and he thought we would enjoy it. This restaurant bears the "Kentucky Proud" logo on their menu, meaning they are using local ingredients. Obviously the seafood can hardly be local, but they are making the effort to get at least some ingredients locally. One of these is a natural Italian style sausage called Vito's produced in Kentucky. We ordered the Bristol Fish sandwich which consisted of fried white fish with lettuce and tomato on rye, and Mideast Grilled Cheese which is flatbread wrapped around green onions, spinach, mushrooms and havarti cheese. The fish was cooked well and tasted fresh, but was a little bland. We opted for skillet potatoes instead of slaw. They were also poorly seasoned, though made with fresh potatoes and not frozen. The flatbread on the grilled cheese was flaky and delicious, the spinach was fresh and crisp and the mushrooms were well prepared. We felt it was a bit of a misnomer to call it a "grilled cheese" since there was far more veggies than cheese, but it was delicious and enjoyed. The restaurant was very clean and the service was good. Since we were there to primarily meet a friend it was an extended stay. Never once did we feel rushed by any of the staff to leave, or ignored with the hopes we would. This restaurant would certainly warrant revisiting it, which we hope to do when we return for future visits with friends. Three and a half stars would actually be more accurate.
(3)Ausra P.
Bad bad server. The wontons bad. Tuna dry. Looks good but tastes bad. Would not go back.
(1)Jordan M.
I've eaten at the Bristol many times over the years, at many of the locations around Louisville. This is the first time I have been inspired to write a review. I've always thought of the Bristol as ok food, and I just like the atmosphere of the Bardstown Rd location, so I would go occasionally. As for the atmosphere, you've probably noticed from my other reviews that I like laid back, no bull-shit drinking establishments, well the Bardstown Bristol is like a classy old dame of a restaurant that has taken to hitting the bourbon bottle a little too often and has a few nicks to show for it, so obviously, I love it. I always ask to be seated on the bar side, I get comfort from a darkly stained wooden bar stocked full of bourbon looking over me while I eat, and I get entertainment looking out the window to people watch. Pappy usually rests on the highest perch of the bar, and you can get a generous pour of 15 there for half of what it will cost at other establishments around town, you can thank me later for pointing you to some of the best Pappy prices in town, but so help me baby Jesus, if you all go drink it all, and I can't order my Pappy 15 with a steak the next time I am there, I will start openly sobbing for the loss of innocence of the slightly intoxicated old dame's bar. This will be really off-putting for my wife, who never likes it when "I make a scene", so be warned, if you drink all the damn Pappy at the Bristol, you will make a grown man sob over a steak, and you will embarrass my wife, who will have to sit there beside a sobbing, bearded, steak eating, broken man. On to the food, (apparently, man cannot live on bourbon alone - trust me, I've thoroughly tested this statement, and I've never had good results). The Bardstown Rd location has really stepped up their game lately in the food department. As I mentioned above, the food has always been just ok for me. However, about a month ago, I had such a great experience there (yes, it involved 2 pours of 15 neat, and by pours, I mean a whole damn glass) that I returned twice within the last month. The first time, I had a local steak special that was topped with blue cheese butter. The medium-rare was spot on medium rare, the blue cheese butter wasn't just some damn butter with a blue cheese crumble slathered like a 3 year old's finger-painting rendition of what he did at preschool that day (spoiler, he played on a swing-set, napped, and ate some cheerios), it was the master stroke of a butter savant - the steak was his canvas and the blue cheese butter was this master's final stroke of perfection. Seriously, this was so good, I still remember it a month later. I'm pretty sure I might have started sobbing out of raw, unfiltered emotion. After that description, I really don't know how my description of the other two meals... I'll try: next meal, lunch after a night of too much steak and bourbon (is too much possible? I don't think so, but sometimes my body is like "dude, seriously, if you eat more red meat, I'm just going to shut down") (also, steak and bourbon seems to be a running theme in my life). Anyways, I had a salad with grilled tuna. Yeah, I pretty much violated my rule where foliage cannot out number meat on my plate, but I was still full from the night before. Anyways, the salad was good, the greens fresh, the tuna cooked spot on, and it had mushrooms and eggs. Very solid for a light -I can't believe how much food I ate last night- lunch. Final meal, bourbon braised pork shoulder. I mean, I don't know how this could be bad, it is bourbon and meat, combined. In fact, it isn't bad, it is delicious, thus supporting my theory that meat + bourbon = good. I'm not one to remember sides that often, but the collard greens that came with the pork shoulder were basically slow cooked in awesome and some onion. The pork shoulder was so tender, tasted slightly like bourbon, and took up like 1/2 the plate.
(5)Christopher W.
This was one of our stops on the Urban Bourbon Tour. If I could give this place zero stars I would. The lady that waited on us at the bar was probably the worst server/bartender I have ever had. The other 3 people in my group all agreed. She seemed to have a terrible attitude and wasn't the least bit friendly. When we walked into the restaurant the hostess also wasn't the slightest bit interested in our business. 2/2 on bad employees. Really makes me believe overall this is what you will get there. We ordered chicken tapas, calamari, and two drinks. The chicken tapas were palatable at best. The calamari were seemingly fried in oil that wasn't nearly hot enough. Soggy and gross. The organizers of the tour should look at removing this place from their list. Would never go back.
(1)Andrea R.
I recently dragged a few dining companions here for an early bird 5pm dinner so I could make my 8pm flight back to Chicago. Based on the Yelp reviews the first thing we ordered was the green chili wontons and they did not disappoint. I promised myself I'd just eat one...but 4 later I was in wonton heaven. There's lots to choose from the menu so limiting it down to 1 entree wasn't an easy task, but I settled on the thai stir fry. Not as amazing as the wontons, but much healthier...and pretty tasty as well. I had to rush our waitress along so I wouldn't miss my flight, but we had a tasty meal and had plenty of time to spare before heading back to the windy city.
(4)Megan F.
People I've met who are from Louisville seem to unquestionably love Bristol. Bristol and Ramsi's. They're right down the street from each other and in the same place in the hearts of Louisville natives. I like Ramsi's a bit more because of the variety. Even though Bristol has a relatively lengthy menu, there's really nothing on it that stands out as stellar. Even the green chili wontons are only ok. It's the name that bothers me--it's somewhat misleading. I assumed it would be much closer to a dumpling at a Chinese restaurant and have more of a chili spice. In actuality, it is like a cheese popper with a hint of chili somewhere amongst the gooey-ness. The guacamole dip is pretty good, but questionably lighter in color than most avocados I've seen and a little too creamy for my taste. The review before me nailed it on the head calling it perfect for a business lunch. If I went on business lunches, I'd totally add this to my list of places. It's a safe bet no one will be opposed to. That being said, I'll probably end up going back at some point because the two meals I've had here over the last year, the burger and the california club salad, were certainly edible and I'm curious to know why and how this place became such a popular staple.
(3)Elizabeth B.
My rating of 3 stars is for the brunch menu only. I do enjoy the Bristol in the Highlands for dinner and a late night bite all the time and would give that a 4, but the brunch....not so much. It was fine, but not great. It was good, but not super. I had the french toast and fruit. The french toast was just ordinary. The fruit was really fresh so that was good! I got a side of bacon and let me tell you it was a lot of bacon for $3....I liked that a lot. The coffee was good and strong. All in all, the sides were the best part of my brunch experience and my main dish was sub par.
(3)Shana K.
After reading mostly positive reviews of Bristol I hoped for a pleasant meal when I stopped in tonight. However, my dinner could not have been more underwhelming or poorly executed. We started with the Chicken Tapas appetizer which was a puzzling plate of overcooked chicken, large pieces of peppers and onion, and olives covered in far too much peppercorn. This may have been a decent dish if it had been served with some kind of bread, the chicken were not overcooked, and it had less pepper but that was not the case. I moved onto the Southwestern Chicken entree which was ruined by a bed of undercooked, crunchy rice. Additionally, the chicken was again on the verge of being overcooked. My boyfriend felt that his Bristol Burger was very plain and not noteworthy. At the end of the meal I had eaten so little of my food that I left the restaurant still hungry.
(1)Wes B.
Love The Bristol on Bardstown Road. Nothing better than the Bristol burger and skillet fries. My wife thoroughly enjoys the grilled salmon. People watching at this location is very entertaining. I have been a regular here since it's beginning in the 70's. Sunday buffet brunch is a must. Service has always been excellent. Congratulations to Pete Peters, their GM, a consummate professional. Wes B.
(5)Heather H.
Oh Bristol! I loved you for so many years! I spent many a humid night on your patio and was quite happy to see you again last weekend, minus the humidity. Rushed to have lunch at Bristol before my flight back home to Vegas. My friends and I sat on the patio and I immediately ordered Green Chili Wontons! These are so good! Definitely one of my favorites at Bristol. My Bristol Burger was not as good as I remember but I was also in the throes of a serious sinus situation, so that could be the reason. The wontons were so spicy that even I could actually taste them. My friends had a club and steak sandwich and seemed pretty satisfied. I still love you Bristol!
(4)Bryan X.
This is like a American dining food chain in Louisville? It seems a lot of Louisville local like to come here, or the other ones around the town. However I'm getting a little tired of their food going there almost at least once per week as a after work drink place. The food is decent, but nothing to have a WoW factor. They do have a good mixed menu with beer and wine list. One thing I still want to try is the fish taco, it looks good.... My recommendation to the restaurant is to prepare more today's special so the frequent visitor like us can have something new to choose from!
(3)Troy W.
"Good, not great." That is a direct quote from my last review and I still feel the same. Now let me say, I'm really holding back on some stars because I feel the menu is limited. I feel good when I'm interested in a few entrees and I have the luxury of choice. I don't really have that here. For anyone thinking of a first visit, to no surprise, their menu is online. Simply decide for yourself. I do consider this place to be 5 stars based on service and ambiance of this older building. Like creme brulee? They serve up this dessert with a touch of peanut butter... definitely worthy of 5 stars for that. There is a *tiny* rear parking lot accessible from the road in front or from the alley in the back. However, unless you are visiting, oh say 3am on a Tuesday, plan on this lot being full. No biggie though.. parking on the street, I've never been more than a block a way.
(3)Sarah C.
A first meeting of the in-laws required a meeting in Louisville (the halfway point) and Bristol was selected after reading some of the Yelp reviews. We didn't really know what to expect, as a party, but the menu online appeared to have a dish for every palate. From salads to sandwiches and burgers our lunch was more delightful at Bristol Bar & Grille. The entire staff was attentive and conscientious of our table as guests in a restaurant that clearly took pride in their heritage of being one of the best restaurants in Louisville for quite some time. I could see why! The food was amazing! For lunch, I ordered the Mideast Grilled Cheese (~9) which came on a tortilla-like flat bread stuffed with spinach, Havarti cheese, and mushrooms. I am a huge sucker of grown up grilled cheese and I must say that I could have had seconds! The only disappointment was that my particular sandwich did not voluntarily come with chips or fries as the other sandwiches had. I also took a helping bite out of my hubs-to-be's Rembrandt; equally delightful!
(5)Glory O.
Bristols was the first restaurant i had an 'open faced sandwiche' haha. and i remember it being delicious!! i had recently moved back to kentucky from an extended stay in korea (due to my dad's job) and have been kind of out of the loop as far as american cuisine goes. but bristols definitely has the classic 'american' menu! their salads are fresh, delicious, and well portioned (you definitely wont feel hungry after!). i wish i could go back to kentucky and visit. its been over 10 years since ive been to bristols but i remember it like it was yesterday! its a great place to hang out with friends and family and the menu definitely doesnt disappoint!
(4)Justin M.
Went to the location on Bardstown Road. We had a great meal and service. We both had a fish entrée and were pleased. The teriyaki salmon was really tasty.
(5)Valerie P.
This used to be my favorite restaurant when I lived in the Highlands about 10 years ago. This place has definitely gone downhill in quality and flavor of the food. I am not sure if my palate has matured or it was crap 10 years ago and I did not know any better. Go figure.
(2)Dararith L.
The Green Chili Wonton with Guacamole AKA Jalapeno Cheese Bombers (Church's chicken) on steroids. Cheesy, gooey, rich = Highly delectable and highly recommended. Waitress recommended "Theresa's Sweet Chili Linguine" which was a pasta dish tossed with cream and Thai Chili Sauce with grilled blackened chicken. I had to go for it. The pasta was very sweet and not so much spicy. In the end, I scarfed this sucker down so fast, it was a real treat. Yay! I'm a fan.
(4)Matthew S.
green chili wontons Henry Bain sauce* Bristol burger ** steak sandwich with Henry Bain sauce breakfast buffet Henry Bain sauce that's all you need to know. _____________________ * en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He… **one of my favorites even though it deviates wildly from the profile of my ideal burger. see English muffin and bleu cheese.
(5)Michael T.
First dined at the Bristol 20+ years ago and it was always a favorite. Moved away for a number of years and now coming back and dining there its as good as ever. Always consistently great food, service and fun atmosphere! Just a great restaurant!
(5)Adam C.
Overpriced for some good food. I think they bought into the idea they can charge 20% more than they should for average to good meals. I like the sunday brunch, never left hungry, but only eat there for dinner once every 6 months. Main issue is the pricing, I am willing to pay a little extra if the food is memorable, but it is usually just an ok steak or just alright crab cakes. If you are going to pay almost $10 for a burger for lunch, do yourself a favor and head on down to Jack Frys
(3)David H.
Has some surprisingly nice local flavor. Started out with calamari. The sauce they use was excellent. Most of their sauces are homemade. For the main course, I had the pasta with smoked salmon and portabello mushrooms. This was excellent. The smoked salmon wasn't lox, they were chunks of cooked salmon that was smoked (Shuckmans Smoked Fish). What an excellent flavor it gave to this dish! My colleagues had the steak with mushrooms and the crab stuffed sole. They both raved as well. Put this on my list of places to come back to.
(4)Matthew H.
Returned for lunch and was not quite as impressed as I was with their brunch. Had a turkey club w/ chips. The turkey felt like it was from one of those pre-packaged Oscar Meyer supermarket packs. The rest of the sandwich was decent. Our waitress checked on us an appropriate amount.
(3)Carolynne M.
Brunch at the Bristol was a very nice way to end our mini vacation in Louisville. Happy to find a place open for business on Easter Sunday, we were seated on a lovely patio surrounded by other patrons all decked out in their Sunday best. Brunch is buffet style, and this one (I dont know if every Sunday is this elaborate or not) is huge. There was a custom waffle station, fruit, salmon, two kinds of eggs, grits, bacon, sausage, some kind of sweet corn pudding, vegetables....good lord it just went on and on. The eggs were delightful - very fluffy, and the fruit and vegetables were very fresh and crisp. service was attentive and coffee was plentiful and very good. You know it was a good spread when Andy was too full to go back and sample the biscuits and gravy! I would definitely go back - nice place!
(4)Andy M.
Grub-a, Grub Grub!!!!!! The Brunch at the Bristol Bar is one of the more classy spreads that I ever experienced. We dined outside on a beautiful spring day in the heart of the Highlands section of Louisville. Our visit came on a sunny, Easter morning. What made it even nicer is that we were surrounded by people dressed to the nines in their fancy, Easter duds. What makes this Brunch special is the Variety that they offer. You have your typical Brunch favorites like Bacon, Eggs, Hash browns and french toast. The Bristol also offered sliced Beef, fresh Salmon, Ham that's cut right off of the bone and a Waffle station. The food was fresh and delicious. The joint was packed, and the staff at the Bristol handled the crowd with ease. We were seated within a few minutes. Our server did a wonderful job keeping our coffee mugs full with their delicious, home brewed Joe. If you are looking for a wonderful Brunch in the Louisville area, look no further than the Bristol. The food is fresh and delicious and the servers do a awesome job. It's a great way to get your Sunday morning Grub on.
(5)Jodie T.
Checked out BB&G when my folks came into town for a visit. Four peeps and eight thumbs up! The patio was charming, the wine was an abundant pour, everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals (three pasta dishes and the "Hot Brown") After sampling everyone's, resounding unanimous vote for best dish: The Lemon Shrimp. To-die-for. Portions matched the prices and no complaints there. Service was impeccable all the way around and our particular server (wish I could remember her name!) was a gem - witty, funny and wonderful! Will be back for sure...
(5)Suzanne H.
Just had dinner at the Bristol. Was traveling and looking for a place to eat in Louisville. Great food and nice variety. Everything is reasonably priced. Had the wine flights. Peppercorn steak was fabulous. Next time I'm in town will definately go back. Service was spot on, very friendly.
(5)Cate W.
Not good, great! I was suprised to see some of these low ratings. The food at the Bristol is always delicious, and the menu is good sized, with something for everyone (well, maybe not vegetarians, but I think there's a portobello sandwich still hanging around from the '90s.. Just kidding!) Bristol, I'm a big fan, and have been since I was a child: Sunday brunch. Glass of wine and a side salad with friends at the bar. Dinner with the parents. There's nothing to complain about here, except that it gets crowded at dinner on weekends, and sometimes around those tables are seated Wagnerian-quality divas, whose voices carry over your conversation. For those Bristol virgins out there, let me tell you what to get: Green chilie wontons The steak sandwich with bearnaise The pork dijonnaise The California club salad (with shrimp, crab, avocado, artichoke hearts, with Harry's (the house) dressing!) You really can't go wrong with any of the Bristol Classics (steak sandwich and pork fall into this category), and the salads are usually pretty solid. People who order the Bristol burger really like it, though I've never gotten used to eating 1/3 lb of angus on an English muffin. Another standout: the blue cheese dressing is sharp and very distinctive--it depends on the day whether I'll ask for the bleu on my side salad, or Harry's. And the bread is a simple yeast bread, but it's always warm and delightful. As for dessert, I don't know if they still do this, but at one point I had an incredible vanilla ice cream topped with brandied cherries, amaretto, and toasted almonds. Gorgeous!
(5)Dano R.
The staff was very friendly and the food was excellent. I have been there twice for lunch and it's a perfect location for it. Parking out back, well lite, quiet, elegant theme, and moderately priced. Perfect for a business lunch.
(4)Abbey V.
Decent food, but not particularly amazing. The staff is friendly, however, and in fact continued to come back to spark conversation - quite nice.
(2)Angie H.
This was a cute, smallish restaurant with a lot of charm. Had a traditional hot brown for the first time and it was delicious. The atmosphere was casual and the people and staff were friendly. The service was a bit slow, but admittedly they were crowded. Cool place to go for a trendy Louisville experience.
(4)Kate D.
I like The Bristol - it's a good stand-by for drinks and snacks. The rolls are yummy, and the won tons too. I've yet to have an entree that I loved, however I did enjoy the seafood chowder. ...or maybe it was clam.
(3)Greta K.
I truly love Bardstown Road. And I love eating al fresco on Bardstown Road. The Bristol is just a classic restaurant that has stayed in Louisville at a time when many new restaurants have come and gone. The service is usually fantastic and the food is always delicious. For starters, you have to try the green chil wontons, which taste absolutely delicious and go perfectly with the guac they are served with. The salads are really delicious and have a lot of fresh ingredients. The Spinach Salad is my favorite, with the excellent croutons, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and goat cheese, among other things. The California Club salad is also good, but the spinach salad is what I usually order. For dinner, you can't really go wrong with anything and my favorite dish is Theresa's Sweet Chili linguine, which is is served with a grilled chicken strips and a very creamy, fattening sauce. This dish has quite a kick! I've been to this location and the one in Jeffersonville, which has an awesome view of the city of Louisville, but this Highlands location is definitely the original and best. The atmosphere is really near-perfect. Also, I've heard the Sunday brunch is very good but I haven't tried it yet.
(4)Christian S.
Went to the downtown location for lunch --- I'm not from Kentucky, but I've had a few before, and their hot brown was delicious. "Fries" were interesting - closer to fried potato slices than traditional fries, but well seasoned. The lunch prices are also extremely reasonable - every menu item, including the specials, was less than $10.
(4)Jim R.
Friendly service. Good food. A little pricey, but different menu than average restaurant. Cheese burger from kids menu is same size as regular menu, but $5 less expensive.
(4)Mandi B.
If I lived in KY, I would have to visit this place a couple more times to check out more of the menu. Their beer, wine and booze selection looked good and I imagine this place would be a fun spot to gather for early evening drinks. I got the referral from my Yelp app and convinced my sis we should eat here. Good choice! The green chili wontons were delish! Sooo cheesy and just enough chili for a hint of spice, and the guacamole dip was a perfect accent. It was lunch so I had the chicken salad sandwich. It had an orange mayo which was something I hadn't had before, but it was pretty good. Sis enjoyed her pub burger served on an english muffin and her bf devoured his club (although I gotta rat him out and tell you he picked off the avocado... sinner!) My only sadness in this lunch was that the Hoegaarden keg wouldn't work. I wasn't feeling any of the other beers and decided against the delicious sounding mojito (only $6.25!) so I had a diet pepsi. All in all, it was a nice spot!
(3)Raymond B.
I had brunch at the Bristol Bar and Grille on Bardstown Rd. The atmosphere was great and my fiancee and I really enjoyed the outside patio. The service was also excellent. The Brunch offered scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, grits, a waffle bar, salad, fried chicken and biscuits, among other things. Overall the food quality was okay. I was unimpressed with the waffles and biscuits, but the fruit bowl was fantastic. I would say it was a nice place to have a leisurely brunch, but it wasn't anything to rave about.
(2)Greg B.
My wife and I have always loved eating dinner together at the Bristol in the Highlands. It's a fine Louisville establishment. Every few years when we visit relatives we always manage to find time to eat, drink and be merry at the bristol. We start at the bar and have a round of Newcastle. Then we eat! i got the chops, my wife got the chops. The waiter had an easy time. We ordered the same exact thing. Caeser salad, the potatoes. Same as I remembered. Delicious.
(5)Keshia S.
I enjoy the Bristol I love the spinach, chicken, and goat cheese salad, the chili poppers and the white chicken chili...yummy!!
(3)Neuro G.
Let's face it - this is a restaurant that has devolved into one thing - green chili won tons. Seriously, folks, do they make anything else worth discussing? We already know the outcome if you lived on them for a month: just go NetFlix the movie "Super-Size Me" and spare yourself the 50-pound-weight-gain, steatorrhea, loss of ability to attract women of any type, and elevation in your liver enzymes. Really, let's recall the origins of the Bristol. No, better yet, let's recall waiting in the smoke-filled bar area over the years for a seat in this generic bistro with the clear knowledge that they drop steaks raw on the floor, then plop them on the grill, and ultimately onto your plate. This comes from family members who worked there. Neither will I forget the middle-aged chef there who hit on my girlfriend when she was waiting at the Sunday brunch buffet line. The sleazeball asked her for her pager number without so much as a chat. We complained to the manager with no meaningful apology. Friends that worked there indicated that this was the guy's modus operandi. Why was he still working there? But I digress. Have you tried their green chili won tons?
(2)Amelia P.
Just get the Green Chili Wontons and a Cesar Salad. And booze. Then you will not be disappointed.
(3)Jessica D.
Oh Bristol, I have so many great memories with you. Post-first tattoo dinner, coffee with friends, nights out with family. You always have something veggie friendly on the menu, and you have tons of tasty tea and coffee options for non-soda drinkers like myself. I feel like you're a little pricey, given the location and atmosphere, like you're trying too hard, but I still enjoy your food and the service in generally pretty stellar.
(4)Dan K.
We visited Louisville last week. The restaurant had decent food and the staff was pleasant overall, but our waitress must have either been having a bad day or was simply in a bad mood. Took forever to get served. Drinks were spilled. Had to ask another waitress to clear and bring us the check. It was not a good situation to be in while minding a hungry toddler.
(2)Tre P.
The Bristol is a Louisville tradition. Love their crabcakes and green chili wontons!
(4)Mary R.
The Bristol has adopted a genius strategy: why not stay open late, offer reasonably priced wine to get people in the door, have them drink themselves hungry, and then let them contemplate the mostly-overpriced menu carried by a few outstanding plates? Fortunately, it's easy to maximize your drinking while protecting your wallet. Here is the answer key to the Bristol experience: 1. Find a bottle of wine under $20. 2. Gradually order as many bottles of wine as there are people at the table. 3. Nosh on a couple of orders of the divine green chile wontons. 4. If still hungry, go with the Bristol burger--classic and reasonably priced. 5. Call in to work the next day as needed.
(5)Alan F.
I had the Sunday brunch at Bristol, and was underwhelmed. The atmosphere and service was very good, but at $14 a head, the buffet felt like a poorly executed version of a Holiday Inn breakfast buffet.
(2)Melissa R.
Tried the Bristol one evening and was pleased with the menu, price, and drink selection. The salad I got with my entree was substantial and the raspberry dressing delicious. Bread was good, and my pasta was the best. Recommend!!
(3)Matthew W.
Always pretty good to me. I've never really had a bad experience at The Bristol, and it's open late which is a good thing for a rock n' roller like me. Dinner is what I usually head to The Bristol for, and I love Teresa's Sweet Chili Linguini. It's somewhat spicy with a Thai creme sauce on linguini topped with blackened chicken strips- it rocks, and they give you quite a bit of it. Green chili won tons are probably the most popular item on the menu at The Bristol and for good reason, these things are very rock n' roll and quite addictive, and they come with a guacamole sauce for dipping which works very well. The Bristol also does a buffet style Sunday brunch that is very worthwhile. It consists of most typical breakfast foods and also some non breakfast items such as meat or fish. I make many trips through the line which is a testament to how good it is, and I'm always happy with what they've got for brunch. Nice atmosphere here as well, I'm all about soft light and The Bristol definitely has it. During the warmer seasons you can sit on the patio and that is definitely recommended. I really dig this place- I could eat here more than twice a week if I somehow needed to.
(4)Jesse W.
When it's late and you don't want total crap food, Bristol is a very viable option.
(3)Jay R.
Decent food. I love the black bean soup and the bread. They have these green chili egg roll things for apetizers that are awesome. Salads are pretty good size. The one on Bardstown road has a nice little bar area, but parking is tough.
(4)Cindy K.
Good place for a late snack or drink. Green chili wontons are small, gooey, filled with cheese and jalapenos and a side of guacamole. Skillet fries with a side of ranch and a Bristol burger -- comes on an English muffin. Also a decent place to take a party with various tastes in food. Really fun: sit in the window and watch the people going by on Bardstown Road.
(3)Laila K.
definitely decent food, good wine selection, generally decent service. we had the artichoke fritters (good if not a bit well done), chicken pot pie (nicely spiced), the rueben (which for some strange reason is called the rembrandt, was good too). all in all, a worthwhile go to for lunch. (although not more than a couple of options for vegetarians)
(4)Tim W.
I'm really sad about this review. We used to love coming here for the amazing green chili wontons, some good (and inexpensive) wine, and a seat on the side patio on a beautiful day. Unfortunately the service has gotten so terrible over the past several months that it just isn't worth it anymore. This includes both wait staff and the kitchen. Even If you want a plain salad with no meat or anything, you can expect to wait 30-45 minutes on a slow night. There are so many places on Bardstown Road that have better food and significantly better service.
(2)Andrea B.
This is an oldie but a goodie. I've been here several times but most recently visited on March 6. Our service was a little weird but the food was good overall. The green chili wontons are excellent as an appetizer. I got the pork tenderloin as an entree and the sauce was really good. My side of "truffle fries" was really more like sliced potatoes with truffle oil but they were good. Bristol has an excellent drink list including many wines and bourbons. I like that you can get wine flights here. Another positive is that it is big and can accommodate large groups and you can make reservations.
(3)Sarah C.
i have no idea how i have never reviewed this place. I have probably been to this spot more times than i would like to admit. I used to walk up often for a snack or dinner with friends. They have a very easy to order off of menu here that suits most. I happen to dig the green chili wontons and the artichoke fritters (as far as the appetizer menu goes). For dinner I usually either pick the spinach salad (sans the meats) or the mid-east grilled cheese. Both yummy depending on what you are in the mood for eating. Their desserts are pretty good here too...especially the derby pie and the bread pudding. I should add that on Tuesdays they have half price bottles of wine all night! yay! Aside from that deal they always have reasonable prices on drinks. A glass of wine ranges from about 6 dollars to 8, I think. The happy hour is $1 off all drinks-drafts, bottles of beer, glasses of wine, cocktails. Their patio is super nice if the weather is right. It feels pretty private from the bustle on Bardstown Road. :) I have had two events here in the past year and both times they have been overly accommodating to us and friendly. This is my favorite Bristol location! Just saying.
(4)Mona T.
Bristol is always a safe bet for good food when it comes to Louisville. As a vegetarian, my meal options are somewhat limited, but I have found the chefs to be accommodating, since I frequently get Theresa's Sweet Chili Linguine without the chicken. This is the best service out of the Bristol locations I have visited, along with the best food. And. Green Chili Cheese Wontons with avocado dipping sauce.
(4)Nicole M.
I have been here for both the Saturday brunch and lunch. I've heard their Sunday brunch buffet is much better. Saturday brunch menu is nothing special, but I'd say it's not really crowded so you probably don't have a wait time. And they take reservations. No drink specials though. I tried the chicken and waffles which was good. For lunch you must get the green chile wontons. It comes with a guacamole sauce and they are amazing, with just a little kick to it. I also had the short ribbed grilled cheese which was outstanding. If it's nice outside they have outdoor seating. Staff is very friendly and knowledgable about the menu.
(4)Angela K.
Amazing food! We go here all the time for Dixon family dinners, and we had our rehearsal dinner upstairs. Zach is a phenomenal bartender. Always attentive, gives great recommendations, and just a super friendly guy. Get the shrimp and grits, short rib, bourbon braised pork shoulder, black bean soup, or the Bristol Burger.
(5)Morgan E.
I went to Bristol for a friend's bachelorette party. I was a little apprehensive because I read the reviews beforehand - but I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was great! I had the shrimp and grits. The presentation was beautiful. The grits were thick and a nice consistency and flavor. However it needed more shrimp. I would probably feel that way no matter what but it only came with 6-7 medium-sized shrimp. The house salad was basic and the ranch had cottage cheese in it. Taste-wise it was fine but texturally I wasn't digging it. The bread was amazing - hot with a nice outside crust. The service overall was fine - not horrible or above and beyond. Just...fine. Everyone in our party loved their food. I'd definitely make a trip back.
(4)Joseph S.
This is a great place to go if you want to go to pretend to go to a nice restaurant without actually going to one. The name still fools many people (mainly tourists) but those who live in the area are well aware of this restaurant's many flaws. The most glaring of which is bad service and bad attitudes. This is the only place I have ever been where the staff make fun of regular customers and argue about waiting on certain people. In particular one of the bartenders who has worked there for many years is an arrogant jerk who is rude and deliberately smashes beer & wine bottles in the trash whenever there are people who are around he doesn't like. He also makes snide comments to women who order drinks that are not up to his standards. Someone like this would never cut it at any real restaurant, but at this establishment he is considered a hall of famer! This and the place smells like cat piss when you walk in the door, although I understand they finally changed the musty 20 year old carpet recently. Add to that the mediocre food and it's a recipe for a weekend debacle. Once I even got food poisoning when I ate there several years ago (shocking). Save your money and give it to a place that appreciates your business! This is by far the most overrated restaurant in all of Louisville.
(1)Lauren H.
Everything I've tried from the Bristol has been consistently good. I always order the green chili wontons as an appetizer because they are amazing. I highly recommend them. I've tried various dishes including the chicken fajita sandwich, braised beef short rib, a couple pasta dishes, fish sandwich, etc. No complaints. Their salad dressings are also very good (they have a ranch dressing made with cottage cheese that I usually get). Not the most new, modern, or trendy place in town, but I always know I'm going to get good food here.
(4)Todd F.
Went there and was going to order shrimp and grits cause they sounded good but then saw the braised beef short ribs. absolutely delicious. melt in your mouth tender and the wine sauce was out of this world. only complaint i could have is i would prefer a softer bread besides the french bread...i still ate 2 baskets though so i guess i cant complain
(4)Samantha F.
Love the family feel and delicious food! You must try the green chili wontons and the specials are a safe bet! Also great: the hot brown soup and truffle fries. The salad dressing (name escaping me) that is similar to ranch was delicious on the salad
(5)Edward R.
After unsuccessfully trying two other restaurants near by to get appetizers and drinks quickly, the girlfriend and i decided to go with old faithful. She ordered a white zinfendel and i had an angels envy and ginger. Our waiter promptly returned w our drinks and told us the evening specials. All sounded amazing. However, we were just there for the wontons. And once again they did not disappoint.
(5)D. R.
First time in Louisville, KY for business. Heard about local delicacy "Kentucky Hot Brown," and was told Bristol's restaurant is one of the better preparers of this dish. Description of Hot Brown in tourist magazines didn't sound very good. However, I couldn't pass up a cultural opportunity - so I tried Bristol's "Hot Brown." IT WAS DELICIOUS! This bubbling hot dish accompanied with refreshing iced tea on a hot & humid day was the perfect kiss! Bristol's southern ambiance and hospitality was/is an ideal venue for travelers and locals. I can't wait to return!
(5)Valerie W.
I lived in Louisville a little over 10 years ago, and just visited again this week. We couldn't resist stopping by Bristol. Consistently good food and service--not mind-blowing, but good. Dishes that your mom and dad would consider adventurous, like the seafood or green chili wontons. Had a decent wine flight with four readily available, but well-chosen whites. Would go again, but will search out other options to try first on our next trip to Louisville. It just felt good to know Bristol was there
(4)Trent G.
I ate here with my wife for Saturday Brunch. The food was delicious! The wait staff was also wonderful. We barely had to wait from ordering to eating. This would be a 5 star except they had a guy cleaning the windows right next to our table and he was making a noise like fingernails on a chalkboard. The waitstaff was saying he was almost done but he should have stopped instead of constantly interrupting our meal. It was 100% terrible. I will eat here again but probably at a different location.
(3)Kathy V.
The food was delicious! One day I shared the crab cake appetizer and had the teriyaki salmon as my meal. The salmon (not usually one of my favorite seafoods) was FANtastic. The crab cakes too were very good. Another night I partook in some kind of shrimp appetizer. The sauce that came with them was spectacular! I got the stuffed sole because it sounded interesting and, as someone else was buying drinks, I figured I could swing the price. It was good, but not worth the high price, in my opinion. I had a couple bites of a friend's pork dijon dish, and THAT was amazing. The honey dijon sauce is dangerously good. Both visits were aided by some wonderful service provided by the waitstaff! They were on the ball!
(4)Aaron E.
You can never go wrong with this Louisville icon. Great location in the Highlands. Their menu is always fresh and there is something you can easy choose from to make lunch dinner awesome.
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