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    Big Bad Breakfast - Barret Ave

    4.2 (664 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:30 pm

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    BIG BAD BREAKFAST - BARRET AVE ATMOSPHERE

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    Big Bad Breakfast Plate
    Caroline E.

    Food 7/10 : Food was overall good. My breakfast plate was decent. (Not pictured) I got a side of bacon and enjoyed that over the chicken because it was slightly dry. My boyfriend's biscuit was better, mainly because the gravy was so good! Service 6/10 : Not bad either. Kind and attentive. Not very helpful at recommendations. Ambiance: 9/10 : Music was fire, they played early 2000 hip-hop. Very aesthetically pleasing!

    Melissa M.

    Enjoyed the morning happy hour cocktails ~ pineapple mimosa ~ big bad Bellini and another one. Enjoyed the breakfast burrito with potato cakes and the hot green sauce is delicious. Service is great Sharon and Evan are great fantastic. Ambiance good.

    Jack Benny
    Reghan G.

    Big Bad Breakfast was the perfect way to start the day today! We've driven by many times on the weekend and noticed a long line so figured this place must be good. It was great! I tried the Jack Benny and ohhh my gosh, that crispy hash brown with the hollandaise sauce was the perfect combo. Our server was kind and attentive, refilling our waters often.

    Jeremy J.

    I had a great experience at Big Bad Breakfast in Louisville when I went with a group of friends. Right from the start, the ambiance stood out--it's beautiful, welcoming, and has a cozy yet lively breakfast vibe that makes it a great spot to catch up and enjoy a relaxed meal. The biscuits were excellent--fluffy, warm, and clearly made with care. One of the standout surprises was the green salsa they serve, which was fresh, flavorful, and a great addition to the meal. My personal favorite, though, was the strawberry butter. It was absolutely delicious and added the perfect touch of sweetness. Service was top notch from start to finish. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure our table was taken care of without feeling rushed. Overall, Big Bad Breakfast delivered a really enjoyable experience with great food, excellent service, and a beautiful atmosphere. Definitely worth checking out.

    Steak n Eggs
    Lauren S.

    I always love big bad breakfast, the steak is well seasoned & they have a homemade steak sauce. I love their grits and their iced coffee isn't too sweet and sugary just how I enjoy it! The server is very attentive & friendly, the bussers were quick & the overly all atmosphere is lively & chill. Their artwork is interesting & engaging & it's very hipster like!

    Huevos Rancheros
    Summer S.

    Stopped by on a Wednesday morning for breakfast. Got the French toast with fruit, the huevos rancheros grit bowl, and steak and eggs. The potato cakes were the best thing there. The huevos rancheros grit bowl was so bland and mushy it felt like I was eating baby food.. so that was incredibly disappointing. The French toast was pretty good, I'd recommend it. If we come back I'd keep it really simple and just get eggs and potatoes probably.

    Side of bacon
    Darlene N.

    My husband and I lucked out and arrived just in time for parking and to be seated without a wait. The entire time we were here there was a wait for a table. BUT the good news is, the wait would have been worth it. We enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant with bright light and diner like tables throughout. The service was quick and very friendly. Our food came out hot and just how we ordered it. The bacon was SO GOOD! My avocado toast was also very filling. I couldn't eat it all and took leftovers home. The Breakfast Dude was exactly what I needed on a slow Sunday mid-morning before going home from Louisville.

    JD H.

    I came here for breakfast on 3 of the 4 mornings I was in Louisville for work. That should give you an idea of what I think of the place! Open at 7a in a sleepy neighborhood business district, this is exactly what you need to start your morning right (or to treat your late night hangover the next day). The place is bright, cheery and has some fun artwork to look at. They do not hold back here on all the things that are probably not good for you but make you very happy to be alive: Lard, Salt, Bacon, Gravy, Biscuits, Butter, Hot Sauce. If you can't find something to like here, you are either a severely repressed vegan or dead. I can definitely vouch for their homemade biscuits that have a black pepper kick to them, their homemade green hot sauce, the local andouille sausage (also with more than a kick to it), and their gravies. I have had sausage gravy before and having it here is as good as anywhere. But I had never had "Red Eye" gravy so decided to try it. It is a savory thin sauce made of pork fat drippings, coffee, some vinegar and probably sugar, and lastly some chopped up bacon bits at the bottom. I think I actually saw God when i tried it for the first time. It was a revelatory experience. This was my first trip to Louisville so I don't have a lot of experience with the local breakfast eateries. But I think I hit the jackpot with this place and have no reason to go anywhere else when I am back in town.

    Fall drink specials.
    Marshall P.

    Had a real good brunch here. Finally was able to grab a table without a wait as it's normally packed on weekends. The good part is they have Yelp Waitlist so you can show up right when you need to be there. The stores nearby are sort of hipster and funky - art supplies, small gifts, consignment stores - so there's a lot to do while waiting. Food options are extensive. We opted for their classic biscuit sandos, which were pretty filling. Kid ordered French Toast, which looked amazing - brioche fried and decked out with fresh hipped cream, fruit, and maple syrup. It was gone quickly as it was pretty tasty. They have bottomless regular coffee which is a nice touch. All in all, it has a very informal vibe that is good for kids and low key groups. It's very casual but not diner, greasy spoon as there are some more elevated options on the drinks and food menu.

    Joshua A.

    I had a great experience at this restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious, every dish felt thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. Even though the place was busy, the service never missed a beat. The staff stayed attentive, friendly, and efficient, which really made the experience stand out. What I appreciated most was the diverse menu. There's something for everyone, and it definitely leaves you wanting to come back and try more. Overall, it was a fantastic time, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

    Steak and eggs with hashcake and a biscuit, egg and cheese biscuit sandwich with a side of fries
    Katie C.

    Amber W. was a fantastic server. So attentive and friendly. I especially enjoyed the Vietnamese cold brew and the biscuits. This location is also great if you want to do some vintage shopping nearby.

    Biscuit Crumble
    Yelp User 1.

    Make sure you sign up for their loyalty program beforehand and set your birthday month to when you're eating! $10 off, just tell them you're in the loyalty program and you have a coupon to redeem, and the phone # associated with it. Cathead biscuit was fantastic. Chicken was soo perfectly crisp and juicy, gravy meshed well with the biscuits. Server Erin recommended it. She also recommended Biscuit crumble and Screamin Demon. We got the crumble, there were too many tomatoes making it too acidic for my boring palette. We also got the oyster scramble, the meats in which was quite salty for me and I remembered my dislike for pork I discovered when I was 5 years old. The creole omelette was a little salty as well but overall was nice, though a bit expensive. The French toast was tasteless on its own and oily but the syrup wasn't too sweet or artificial tasting, which was nice. Biscuit dipped in blackberry preserves and strawberry jam was fun to try. Bruleed grapefruit was refreshing if you've never tried one before. Hash cake was just like any other. Nice sitting area and they had a good outdoor space available too. They don't add tips to your total so bring some cash. All in all, a nice experience, but stay away from the non-chicken meats if you don't like salty. It will set you back $80 and 8000 calories for the pics attached. We did get someone else's food at first. We thought, so fast, we waited 1 minute! But it wasn't ours, we waited around 20mins. We also asked for an old school wrap and didn't get it. Would need to find the receipt and see if it's itemized and if we got charged for it.

    Shrimp Poboy Crispy Hash Cake
    Stephanie D.

    The place was packed which has me high hopes. We made online reservations so we were seated in a great time. But our waitress took about 15 minutes to even ask for a drink order. She jokingly said well I'm sure by now you know what you want it took about 25 minutes to get our food which was huevos ranchero grits and shrimp Po boy. Husband said his meal was delicious, my Po boy on the other hand left a lot to be desired. The oysters were mushy and I didn't care for the breading on the oysters or shrimp and the bread wasn't good. Now the hasbrown cake thing was tasty. Not sure if I'd return. It was also freezing inside.

    Belgian Waffle

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    2 months ago

    Great place! Great food! Great staff! Have been here plenty of times and have never had a bad experience!

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    2 months ago

    Excellence! Vibe, service and food! And even their SWAG is top notch! Well balanced menu but be sure to get the biscuit!

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    This may be the best breakfast plate I've ever had, and I'm a food snob who almost never gives five star reviews.

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    Page 1 of 17

    Big Bad Breakfast - Barret Ave Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Big Bad Breakfast - Barret Ave

    Do you take reservations? Is there unlimited mimosas? Thank you!

    We are unable to accommodate reservations, however we offer Yelp Waitlist as an option to reduce your wait time! Find us on the Yelp app, click join waitlist, add your name and party size and we’ll let you know what time to check in with our Host.… 

    Is BBB dog friendly?

    I think they are. But they only have a small patio outside. I've been a few times and saw a couple dogs before.

    Are there gluten-free options?

    Here’s our options if GF is a dietary preference, if you have Celiacs or other gluten sensitivities we should mention we make biscuits, pancakes and waffles fresh during our service periods and do not have a dedicated area to prepare GF requests.… 

    Does Big Bad Breakfast take reservations?

    Hey Tom! BBB does not accept reservations. We are first come, first serve. We hope to turn our Yelp Waitlist app on early next week so that you may join the waitlist online.

    View All 6 Questions

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    Retta’s

    Retta’s

    4.5
    (42 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Looking for mint chocolate chip? Retta's won't be for you. But if you're into unique flavors of…read moreice cream, you've found nirvana. Everything is made in house with organic ingredients. There's even a few non-dairy options for the lactose intolerant. But if a "regular" flavor speaks to you, they offer free enzyme supplements. But Retta's is more than an ice cream counter. They specialize in custom, house made desserts. Evidently, the neighborhood hosts a "progressive" dinner and the last stop, dessert, of course, is at Retta's. Desserts are featured after 4pm, so we didn't get to sample. But, we did watch the owner, Ben, handcraft the evenings' dessert. While his sous chef was busy in the back making other sweet specialties. Make no mistake, the menu is diverse, expensive, and made with care. The vibe is coffee house, with a huge record collection to provide the right ambiance. Oh, hours later and my wife is still raving about her Matcha, Black Sesame, chocolate ice cream!

    Happy to see an ice cream shop like this in town! Who doesn't love elevated dessert and unique…read moreflavors? The owner was there. Didn't rush us when we wanted to try multiple samples of the ice cream. I was impressed with the variety. I settled on bay leaf ice cream, while my friends got coffee and donuts, vanilla, and hay. The ice cream is smooth and creamy. Not quite like soft serve but very close to it. It wasn't busy so we sat at one of the tables. My friend ordered a drink, dealers choice. Our server took the time to ask which liquors and flavor profiles she likes, noting any allergies too and concocted something based on her preferences. Pretty cool! That's the selling point to this place. Service is definitely top notch! They want you to have a good experience and enjoy the flavors you get. It's a small shop so I can see it getting busy during the hotter months. Parking is easy. Parallel.

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    Retta’s
    Retta’s
    Retta’s

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    Varanese

    Varanese

    4.2
    (339 reviews)
    1.6 mi
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    I like an older restaurant whose stretched their legs and built ties with community…read more Varanese has been on franfort ave for some time. Its a local date night favorite. I took my son on a date and we fancied up. He pulled out chairs for me and ordered our drinks. He was 15. He talked to the waiter about his steak and what the different toppings meant and talked planes with our food neighbor as he wants to be a pilot. That's what this place offers. Community. The food was also stellar, we had creme brulee for dessert both our favorites and my son left a little older, a little more mature. He left with confidence. It was a great experience.

    Our dining group of 5 enjoyed a gorgeous evening here and were impressed with the food and the…read moreoverall atmosphere. Service was excellent. Leah was our dedicated waitstaff and she was assisted by great servers. We were seated in the main dining room and were pleased that the mild weather enabled the doors to be pushed totally open to enjoy the elements. A wall water feature was prominent in our immediate dining area and the visual and audio addition was very pleasant. We were also entertained by subtle, unobtrusive live music provided by a trio who apparently perform nightly. I enjoyed a glass of Prosecco with the fried green tomato, crispy prosciutto, and goat cheese salad. Tomatoes were crunchy and tangy atop a tender bed of baby lettuce. My entree choice was So Difficult to choose among at least six varied choices -- pork chops, U-10 scallops, salmon, lobster ravioli, duck, etc. I finally selected the pecan-encrusted walu Hawaiian butterfish on a bed of sweet potato sage risotto. The fish was moist, flaky, and flavorful with a slight crunchy exterior. It was nestled in a delicious bed of risotto that had the unmistakable sage element. My dining companions enjoyed varied entree choices of salmon, scallops, and steak as well as a bruschetta appetizer, pistachio and goat cheese salads, and bread sticks. Each diner was generously praising their selections. Determined to return here soon to try so many unexplored menu items and enjoy the serene setting. Top notch.

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    Varanese
    Beef Tenderloin
    Beef Tenderloin
    Manhattan

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    Manhattan
    Bourbons Bistro

    Bourbons Bistro

    4.3
    (326 reviews)
    1.8 mi
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    I visited this morning for a pop-up barre class. The private space upstairs is fantastic and…read morerentable for events. The Rick Room had plenty of space for all of us attending to spread out on mats and complete a challenging workout. It was a beautiful space with brick walls, hardwood floors, and windows. I could see it being a fantastic space for some fancier events too. Off of the main room was a lounge area with huge couches. It was nice chatting with a few other attendees here after the workout. After class, we had a couple of cocktail options (option for N/A too) and light bites. Light bites were tasty! I tried the champagne cocktail, ooooh it was strong, but really tasty. It would be a perfect drink at dinner time! The owner and bartender were both really kind. This was a fantastic pop-up event and a great glimpse at Bourbons Bistro. Thanks for inviting us into the space :)

    We were thankful to score a last minute reservation for a table of 8 on this busy Kentucky Derby…read moreweekend. We were seated immediately on their enclosed back porch with a beautiful roaring fire in their corner fireplace. Lovely! Our server was efficient, drinks and complimentary bread and butter were served quickly. Their small, one basket serving of bread and dabby do of butter was not enough for our table, but they honored our request for more. My Caesar Salad was crispy fresh and hit the spot. I ordered the appetizer Spicy Fried Oysters served over grits as my entree. The 6-7 oysters were fried perfectly crispy, not too spicy, and the creamy parmesan grits were a nice accompaniment. This appetizer really was the right entree portion for me.

    Photos
    Bourbons menu on a set table
    Bourbons menu on a set table
    Bourbons Chop
    Bourbons Chop
    Cocktails on the bar

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    Cocktails on the bar
    Copper & Kings American Brandy

    Copper & Kings American Brandy

    4.2
    (151 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Great spot...I'm ashamed to admit it took me as long to get to as it did. Review is solely on the…read moresocial venue aspects, as I've not done any tours or tastings. But nothing but good things to say. Lots of space, cool design...was there on a day when the courtyard type area had a tent set up for World Cup viewing, had an energetic crowd, and the rooftop bar had a more chill vibe, for lack of a better term...both fantastic in their own ways. Rooftop setup is amazing! Yeah, you'll get some sun at different points, but the space is classy but relaxed, and the city views are pretty damn nice. Great selection of cocktails (love getting to try some brandy options, I enjoy something different), bartenders are welcoming and helpful. Failed to get a pic, but the charcuterie boards from Cultured are top notch! Well worth a visit...or maybe making it a regular happy hour spot, as I intend to do.

    Very pretty place but so very disappointed that they do not offer food options any longer. We…read morestopped in for our lunch but then we were told they no longer had a kitchen, bummer. We shopped in the gift shop and took a look around. We went up to the rooftop bar and I will say the bartender was nice and good at her job. This visit to the distillery was part of an all day and night trip in Louisville in which we made 10 stops. I will say that the cocktail I had was the best of the day and definitely a good way to start my day. The cocktail I had was the Grape in Rio and it was made with the Copper & Kings Brandy and had coconut creme, pineapple juice, lime juice and a brandied cherry. It was also a very pretty cocktail. We went out on the patio to take a look around, it was breezy out there but I could see where it would be nice to sit out there and have a cocktail. We will stop in again as it looks like they offer some nice amenities on their patios in the warmer weather.

    Photos
    The Tasting Room
    The Tasting Room
    Fly Me to the Moon + French 75 (?)
    Fly Me to the Moon + French 75 (?)
    Fly Me to the Moon

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    Fly Me to the Moon

    Big Bad Breakfast - Barret Ave - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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