Black Rabbit has a really cool atmosphere. We visited on a Thursday evening for live jazz, cocktails, and appetizers, and the vibe made for a great night out. The lounge seating setup was a little unconventional, but the staff quickly accommodated us when I mentioned a concern, which I really appreciated. The service was outstanding. I wish I could remember our server's name because he truly made the experience. He handled the entire lounge area by himself and never missed a beat -- personable, knowledgeable, attentive, and incredibly efficient. We ordered a few cocktails along with the hush puppies, Cajun calamari, and Brussels sprouts. The drinks were fantastic, and while the appetizers were good, they weren't quite memorable enough for us to reorder next time. That said, we're definitely planning to come back and explore more of the menu. Overall, I'd absolutely recommend checking out Black Rabbit for yourself. It's a great spot for either a romantic date night or a fun evening out with friends. read more

Our dining group of 10 met here for our monthly dinner and it was a very interesting property. I plugged in the address in my GPS app and the name of another business popped up. Since this restaurant has a speakeasy vibe, I thought it might be part of the schtick. However, I'm not sure how long the business has been open, so maybe the GPS was accurate. Our dinner host who made the reservation had told our group the "password" in order to be taken to our private dining room. When I arrived and approached the hostess stand, she took me via a convoluted route to the rest of the diners, no password required. I guess I was lucky because other diners in our group said they had to provide the password. We arrived during happy hour and it was also martini night, so several items from the appetizer menu (wings, spinach dip, tempura shrimp) and cocktail list were available for reduced price. I ordered tempura shrimp (5 pieces) and a glass of Malbec. The shrimp were bland and were served with a sweet chili sauce that was cloyingly sweet with absolutely no heat. I ended up ordering a bourbon roasted pear salad as my main. It was a better choice with buttery lettuce, chunks of firm pear, crunchy walnuts, and pickled red onions. One of my fellow diners had to wait for her first course appetizer to arrive well after the rest of us had finished ours, as it was either overlooked by waitstaff or the kitchen. Service was slow at times, although the place appeared at not even 1/2 capacity when we arrived and possibly 2/3 when we left 2 hours later. Another diner ordered pizza and said that the toppings were good, but commented that the texture of the crust (underdone) made it unpalatable. Finally, another person in our group had to send her food back to be heated. She indicated the plate was warm, but the food (pot roast Manhattan) was not. Final bill was just under $50 (happy hour shrimp $10, wine $11, salad $18, and an automatic 20% gratuity had been added). Upon reflection, I would perhaps return here for a cocktail to enjoy the lounge and live jazz when that is offered. I would be very hard pressed though to order any food, as there are many more valuable and appealing options nearby at this price point. read more

I didn't expect this bar to have a huge calamari appetizer with a hip vibe. I wish I would have taken a picture of their light up menu and their drinks. But I went here sober with a happy belly. read more

Our first time at the Black Rabbit was terrific. The parking lot is a little tight, so be ware if you drive a beast. Other than that we have no complaints. We were in the live Jazz room tonight. The live music was very nice. We shared a fried rice ball appetizer and had our first cocktail. If you like espresso martinis then you must get one here. It is bourbon based and great! We both did the salmon entree and a second cocktail. After dinner a third cocktail was in order. The server was very attentive and we were not rushed at all. We were welcomed to sit and enjoy music. Great experience! read more

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This is one of my favorite places in the city! The fried chicken is my favorite, and all of their sides are just as good. The live band on Saturdays makes it the perfect place for a romantic night or a good time with a group of friends. Even on busy nights the service is impeccable, which is another thing that makes this place great. read more

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Came in for a business dinner, the restaurant very low lit, and casual like a cigar lounge. It can also be difficult to hear if there are a few groups in at the same time as the restaurant isn't huge and the tables are fairly close so people's voices travel pretty easily (especially raised voices or loud laughter). Service was solid, had to ask for several things a couple times as the server(s) had forgotten, but they owned up to it and completed the requests promptly after being reminded. The French dip sliders were truly AMAZING! & easily the best I've ever had anywhere. For my entree I had Deano's chicken which was great, however, I would have preferred it without the gravy. But the chicken itself was cooked perfectly and the greens were very good. read more

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I wanted to love Black Rabbit. It markets itself as a speakeasy, but aside from some moody red lighting, it felt more like a regular bar with inflated prices & underwhelming execution. Despite being told they were "busy," the place was barely half full. Service was incredibly slow, nearly two hours just to receive two drinks. Our waitress was kind, which I appreciated, but the delay was excessive. When the drinks finally arrived, they were well-crafted, but not enough to salvage the overall experience. I ordered the lemon basil pasta, hoping for something fresh & flavorful, but it tasted like plain noodles, no discernible lemon, no basil, just... bland. For the price point & the hype, I expected something far more atmospheric & attentive. Sadly, this felt more like style over substance. read more

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They have revamped this place. We went on a Saturday night with live music and really enjoyed ourselves. I will say it you aren't familiar with the restaurant it may be a little difficult trying to figure out which room to book when making reservations. I would definitely recommend making reservations. It was sold out the night I went. Luckily, the live music can be heard throughout the building. The band that played that night was amazing. The food waa really good. Service was a little slow and one of our drinks didn't get put in. But we were offered a comp dessert for our inconvenience. We will definitely return. read more

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The space definitely has a cool speak easy feel. Lots of arm chairs and loveseats. A very small bar area that's first come but everything else you'll most likely need reservations to get a seat. The Saturday night we were there, they had live music in the hidden room. Service was extremely nice but the kitchen was very slow to get the food out. The food was worth the wait though. The fried wings with their special sauce was perfection. The fried fish and fries was what you would expect. 2 nice size pieces of fried fish with their homemade tartare sauce. All in all a great experience. read more

Ambiance and atmosphere: 10 / 10! Food: 6 out of 10 Value : 2 out of 10 We spent $90, pre tip, for an appetizer, burger, fries, pizza, and two drinks. We ordered the mini-crab cakes and they could be best described as the size of a quarter. So much breading that we could not tell if there was any actual crab in them. My wife got the hot brown pizza and it was hands down the shining star of our dinner. If you're looking for 'bougie'' pizza, it's well worth the trip. The burger was pretty disappointing. Nothing special about it at all which does not reflect the price they charged. Over all, a pretty sub-par experience despite the awesome atmosphere they've created. read more

The Tracey Morris Combo is a jazzy jazz band. The ambience is fantastic. The food was yummy.

We came with a group of 12 and the service was pretty fast for our group. The restaurant setting is nice but it is a little dark. There was live jazz tonight and it was a good ambiance. Food: Spinach dip: 4/5 Tempura Dinner: 3/5 (very neutral dinner option, nothing special, the fries were really good) West End Salmon: 4.5/5 (really good) Pot Roast: 3/5 (good flavor, didn't come out hot and we had to get it warmed again, get the toast on the side) Not pictured: Chicken Wings (sent back due to being nasty, the inside texture was described as "gelatinous") Banana Pudding: 4.5/5 (really good) Drinks: Lemon Drop: 3/5 (too sour) Margarita: 4/5 Amaretto sour: 4/5 read more

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I had an amazing experience at The Black Rabbit. The staff, the food, and the live jazz was phenomenal. Excellent ambiance! I highly recommend booking reservations. read more

Black Rabbit - Lounges Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

I stopped in here to preview before an upcoming party. I Loved the comfy lounge vibe and cozy seatings. The drinks were expertly crafted and delicious. The Banana Alibi was a fabulous after dinner dessert drink and I am still thinking about it 6 days later! I can't wait to go back! read more

Black Rabbit - Bar menu - Lounges Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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We were in Louisville celebrating a birthday and came here for trivia night based on other reviews. It was absolutely horrible. No trivia. Drinks were not balanced. We waited 30 minutes to order and another 30 minutes without getting any food. We gave up. read more

Amazing cocktails, food was good but heavier than I would have preferred. Ambiance is everything and the service was excellent. read more

Black Rabbit - Lounge. - Lounges Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Everything was wonderful!! The salmon was delicious as well as the pomegranate mule and the signature old fashioned. Service was excellent as well. We were there on Friday night and the live jazz set the room perfectly. read more

The food and the ambiance were amazing. I really enjoyed it and will definitely be back. The drinks were delicious, and the live jazz set the perfect mood. You can tell the owners were intentional and thoughtful with the design and layout--it all comes together beautifully. read more

This is a nice spacious lounge. The music was nice to relax and unwind to. The service was fast and the server and hostess were very nice. The owner came by and greeted everyone. While I didn't get to hear the live band the background music was still very nice. The drinks are very strong and they have a nice bourbon selection. I wasn't very crazy about the food but the mac and cheese was yummy. read more

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The vibe was classy and extremely nice! Dimly lit and intimate. There was a live band playing jazz. Bonus points. Service was extremely good. My food was hot and good. My drinks were also very well made! I will definitely go back and I definitely recommend this spot. A hidden gem. read more

Black Rabbit has a refreshed interior and - y'all - it's worth a look. I was here recently for a happy hour and the self proclaimed 'modern speakeasy' is lush and romantic, giving elevated date night (hint hint, get those Galentines / Valentines reservations booked!). The service is exceptional, try their signature Maple Cinnamon Old Fashioned if bourbon is your thing, I enjoyed it. read more

The atmosphere is fun, dark, red lighting. This was my first speak easy, you enter through a bookcase that you knock on and they ask you what your reservation is. Pretty fun! The place is pretty small. Which is fine, but I could see being a problem if you wanted to go with a large group. Which is probably a better choice. My wife and I went, and while we had fun and it was a cool experience, it was more of a novelty going with just one other person. Our bar tender Austin was chill and awesome. Made great drinks and his recommendations were spot on. The cookies and cream desert looked awesome, but sadly it was just ice cream with cookies crammed in it. Which I guess technically was cookies and cream, but individual tastes rather than the normal CNC mix. It was good though. The fries were very tasty too! Cool place to check out if you have never been to a speak easy, but probably more fun to bring another couple or a small party. read more

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Service was undoubtedly amazing. Thank you Patrick for taking care of our rowdy group!

Had a fabulous girls night at Black Rabbit! The bartender was fabulous and accommodated all my random cocktail requests, and the food was 10/10! The okra hush puppies were SO amazing, but the banana pudding was the star! So creamy and bruleed so well! Great service rounded out this awesome night! read more

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We went to the Black Rabbit after hearing about their Happy Hour. Everything was fabulous, especially our server, Jen. Her recommendations were spot on and we had an amazing meal. Even nicer was the conversation and her suggestions on things to do while we are in town. She really made our whole trip better as well as our dinner. read more

Black Rabbit is pretty neat. Justin was our server and gave tour of the restaurant and speakeasy. Definitely a spot to revisit with people from out of town. The Madhattan was excellent. read more

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Black Rabbit is definitely a vibe -- moody, stylish, and tucked away just enough to feel special. The speakeasy atmosphere is on point: low lighting, intimate seating, and a menu that makes you feel like you stumbled into a secret world. The drinks are no joke. I ordered a French 75 expecting something light and bubbly, and it turned out to be sneaky strong -- crisp and delicious, but stronger than it tastes. Perfect for sipping slowly with water on the side. The food is a mixed bag. The French fries? Absolute 10/10 -- perfectly seasoned and crispy. The pasta sauce had real flavor and felt like it was almost restaurant-perfect. But the meatballs... that's where they lost me. They weren't offensive, but they weren't worth seeking out either. Usually meatballs are the treasure you fish out of a pot of pasta, but here they felt like filler. Warm, fine, but forgettable. Service was solid -- I never felt rushed, even when I lingered to finish my water and food before driving. That respect for pacing is appreciated. The crowd was mostly white when I went, which gave the space a slightly less diverse feel than I hoped for, but the overall energy is still worth experiencing. All in all, Black Rabbit nails the speakeasy ambiance and cocktails, with room to grow on the food side. I'd come back for the drinks and fries, and I'd love to see the kitchen put as much heart into the meatballs as they do the pasta sauce. read more

I really wanted to love this experience. Unfortunately, it fell short on everything except ambiance. From the host who greeted us with a stern, unfriendly demeanor. The menu is limited and expensive. Our table of four received our meals separately and nearly 15 - 20 minutes apart. The service was nice and slow! Once the food made it to the table it was even more disappointing. Getting our bill was yet another issue! I travel a lot and visit restaurants on different levels. This is one of the worst experiences by far. read more

The BR is a unique gem - an iconic local space - taking dishes and vibe from the space's legacy concepts Equis and Jack's - giving props to Louisville's celebrated, late chef Dean Corbett... Spaces include old World bar elegance to a speakeasy and even outdoor tables - all with excellent food, ambiance(s) and bar service. read more

This place has lost its mind. Ordered a martini $15 looked like a shot glass. Food was terrible and service was below par. Third time I have been there. This place needs improvement. Don't waste your time read more

A very eclectic place for sure. Off the beaten path and very relaxing. The bartender Austin gave us a run down on his signature drinks. If you are in the mood for mescal, try the Locust. Smokey and a bit fruity flavor. The other drinks are great as well. If you are looking for a quiet place with great food and drinks look no further! read more

I don't know how people find this place. Knocking random, moveable walls, awaiting a reply from the mysterious individual on the other side...blah, blah, blah....(you know how it works) always seemed a little extra for me, but folks obviously love it; a very popular concept! The vibe on that Thursday night would be be described as dark, smooth, velvety; a bit secluded....somewhere one might venture off with the side piece ;-) Only like a couple of guys working. Not a full house...one on the food, the other on the drinks. Our bartender for the evening, I believe, served as the manager as well. He had a pretty cool story; stopped and chatted with us a bit, and went over the exclusive handcrafted cocktails. I selected one with "dual personalities" ...the name escapes me, but he said it was inspired by an ex gf....interesting.... It was a super glorified margarita....but it wasn't. Lol Awesome presentation! Flavors I had never tasted before! I don't know much about the price tag on the libations because I didn't pick up the bill, but I heard it was hefty..... read more

Black Rabbit - "Two personalities "cocktail. Came with an elaborate story about the creator's/bartender's ex gf. Think margarita with much bolder flavors! - Lounges Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

We didn't know you had to have a reservation to have a drink at the bar. Maybe so, maybe not. But the hostess at the front tonight (hair tied back into a slick bun) -- was so snarky about not having a reservation and didn't tell us a wait time until we asked; if you want business then you give a wait time but she turned us away. Seemed like it was too busy to try and see if there was open seating. The hostess didn't explain if reservations were a requirement or not (our first time here). Totally deterred from the service. read more

Lately my husband and I have been trying out different speakeasy's. Overall this was a nice place for relaxation and seclusion. The furniture could use some upgrades. We tried the pizza for food. It was actually really good. I am not a thin crust fan but this was definitely the exception. For drinks my husband had the Maple Cinnamon Old Fashioned. My first drink was the Spicy Skinny Margarita. My husband enjoyed the old fashion. The spicy was a little too spicy for me but I drank it nonetheless. Then I moved to a sprigger which was really good. I would get it again. The entrance to the Black Rabbit was closed so we had to go through a maze from the front part of the restaurant to get back to the speakeasy. That was cool cause it actually made it feel like a speakeasy. If you're wondering why a 4 star instead of a 5, it's because in comparison to others it could use an upgrade to the furniture and overall feel. But the service, food and drinks were great!!! Clientele was diverse and upscale. Nice spot. We will do it again. Oh and one of my favorite features...online reservations. read more

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I used to love Black Rabbit, my husband and I ate there often, it was our favorite place to go for Anniversaries and Birthdays until recently. We had a Birthday celebration for 2 of our family members who had never been there before and were looking forward to eating at Black Rabbit. I don't know what has happened to this restaurant, the service was atrocious and the food was mediocre. Our server was truly the worst, she took forever to get our drinks, forgetting to bring my granddaughter her drink until halfway through the meal. We waited for her to come back to ask if we wanted appetizers, she did not come back for 20 minutes. We ordered appetizers and our dinner at the same time because we were afraid we might not see our server again. Our server forgot to take my food order, when I looked up from my menu to order she was gone. I had to get up and go to the kitchen to look for her, since she wasn't there, I asked another server to send her back to the table to get my order. Our appetizers took quite some time to get and our dinners were brought out before we finished our appetizers. All of the dinners were lukewarm because she had probably put in our appetizer order at the same time as our dinner order, so our dinners were sitting getting cold. We thought about sending back our lukewarm food but decided it wasn't worth the trouble. I asked to see a manager twice without any results. Finally as we left I asked again for the manager who met me at the entrance and I complained about the service. His excuse was that they had too many walk-ins. I informed him that we had made reservations a few days ahead so we should have been prioritized, they could have turned away walk-ins. We will not be going back. read more

I have had this place on my must visit list for awhile. I finally got the opportunity to stop by after dinner this past weekend. Being a noob, I was unaware I needed reservations. But, the hostess worked my group in last minute. I am so thankful that she did! It's not often that I'm on that side of town. The service throughout the night was amazing. We had just about every cocktail on their menu, the nachos, and crab cakes. I loved that the crab cakes were not as starchy as most. It actually had a good seafood consistency. I can't wait to have those again. Probably one of the few places I have found crab cakes are even worth ordering. I loved the vibe, it's a very nice place to join a small group of friends for small bites and drinks. Also, I have to thank the server for keeping the music down it really allowed us to have conversations without having to shout over the musi read more

True hidden gem! We tried their smoked old fashion which was amazing and their espresso martini was spot on! New favorite place! read more

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My boyfriend and I had a great time on 8/31/23 and the cocktails were delicious. Some patrons may not understand or appreciate the concept... but the food and cocktails were great. The service from the bartender was outstanding. The best dirty martini I've had in Louisville. read more

Black Rabbit - gin cocktails - Lounges Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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I really like the ambiance of this place. You feel like you are stepping into a relaxed hidden spot away from the rest of the world. There is very little light, which makes it harder for an older person like me to read the menu, even with my reading glasses. The bartender in the speakeasy had to turn on a small lamp to see to make cocktails. Although it is advertised as you have to go through a bookcase to get to the speakeasy, that is a little misleading. The restaurant tables are actually right behind the bookcase. The host, waitress, and back waiter, were all very nice. They were efficient. The food was excellent. My friend had the special of the evening-Shrimp and Grits. I had Oyster Mushroom Bucatini and for an appetizer we had Yellowfin Tuna Wontons. As we were sitting at our table, we noticed people going behind a white curtain. I thought it was off to have a curtain hanging as a divider in an upscale restaurant. We asked, and found out that was where the speakeasy was located. IMO that is where the bookcase should have been, not a curtain. We told the waitress we would go check it out after we finished dinner. She said she would have to check and see if there was room. We were kinda confused as how it could be packed back there. She told us there were 2 seats at the bar for us. We walked back there, thinking there were only 2 seats left, but every chair at the bar was available. LOL There were tables back there and some dining was happening, but people had to eat more off coffee type tables. The bartender Austin was nice and accommodating. I would for sure recommend everyone check this place out at least once. I did expect more choices for craft cocktails. There were maybe 5 to choose from. They didn't have any Green Chartreuse at the bar. I was hoping for the Final Word, but the Boulevardier and the Locust were good, as well as the chocolate martini. read more

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Good food and great service in a cozy, relaxing environment. The staff is wonderful, and the location is ideal--right in the heart of St. Matthews with free parking available. A perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a quality meal! read more