Someone in Frankfort recommended we stop here for dinner on our way to Lexington, since it's on the way. The place was busy. Some kind of fairy festival going on in the area? There was no parking in their parking lot, so we had to drive down the hill and try our luck with street parking, then walk back up about 5-7 minutes to get into the restaurant. A bit of a pain, especially since the restaurant was only about 50% full. The host or person at the front desk was hiding - sitting on the floor on his phone. We had to lean over the counter to ask him to get up so we could ask him to seat us. He ended up being our server as well, after he literally argued with a coworker who walked up while we were inquiring about a table. "I just took the last two damn tables, isn't it your turn?" doesn't inspire confidence that you're a welcome guest. I ordered the Kentucky Hot Brown. When in Rome, right? The menu says you can get it with Mornay sauce or Kentucky Hot Brown sauce. I asked the waiter which was better - he said the Hot Brown sauce. Sounds great! It came out with the mornay sauce. It was still good, but I was a wee bit disappointed. My companions enjoyed their meals. I picked up a reasonably priced bottle of Sazerac Rye on the way out, since they didn't have any left at the distillery when I was there earlier in the visit. read more

In Midway and stopped in with friends for lunch. Two of us shared the grouper fingers. Hot and crisp. And the fried green tomatoes. Didn't particularly like their bouged up version with small bits of shrimp and balsamic. Just give me good ol' fashioned fried green tomatoes. 104 read more

See all

I love Midway and this is a great choice for lunch. My favorites are the Club Sandwich and The Kentucky Hot Brown. The Mornay sauce is delicious and I love that they put ham on the Hot Brown. It is one of my favorite Hot Browns anywhere. The portion size is perfect for me -not too much and not too little. The Blind Squirrel has rare and collectible bourbons for sale and they have a wide selection for drinks. read more

See all

The ribs were the absolute best I've ever had. Highly recommended. They were succulent falling off the bone. Super soft and juicy. We couldn't stop raving about them. Grouper fingers were also a hit. Young waitress was very friendly as well. read more

Brown Barrel - Ribs and grouper fingers - American Near Me - Midway, Kentucky

See all

The food was tasty, the service good and I liked the sports bar vibe. We tried fish and chips and Nashville hot chicken sandwich and both were good. Nice little place for drinks and a good meal read more

Staff is friendly and helpful. This is a good place for dinner. I started with the fried green tomatoes. Last time they were amazing. But this time they were cut very thick and not cooked very much. My catfish was good with crispy tots . The Mac and cheese was creamy and delicious. The hot brown was good. The midway restaurant is nice inside with a good bourbon collection. I believe it's better than Frankfort. read more

See all

Atmosphere was neat. Food and service was good! Cute little town to stop and get a bite!

Everyone had the best dance moves and we ate grouper way past closing time, we watched the sun come up as we did the robot

So I have to say that my Nashville hot chicken sandwich was the best one I've ever had in my entire life anywhere! The chicken breast itself was exceptionally large, tender, and juicy perfectly fried the Nashville sauce on it was hot, but not too hot you know what I mean and the coleslaw wasn't runny and have too much mayonnaise. It was just a really good solid cold coleslaw. The brioche bun was excellent. My wife's Cuban sandwich was amazing and my mother-in-law's hamburger was very good as well. The only thing I will say is that the service from the young man that we had was just average. It took us a lot of effort, joking around with him, asking his suggestions and recommendations to get him to even smile I would suggest that he acts like he wants to be working and not come across to his customers like we're a bother to him. If that wouldn't have been the case, this would've been a 5+ star review. read more

A random patron strolled by our table and stopped to rave about the Fried Green Tomatoes. She wasn't lying. Buffalo wings were perfectly crisped, salad was chilled, fresh and ample; and the bacon-wrapped pork medallions were excellent. Priced fairly with good service and nice people. Casual atmosphere...lowest sales tax I've encountered in years...I LIKE Kentucky! read more

We hit the Brown Barrel for lunch with some friends. The restaurant has a big outdoor patio and a section of the restaurant with big doors that were open. We sat in the quasi outdoor area because it was beautiful out. There were lots of TVs showing different college football games which was nice. The staff were all very friendly and helpful with suggestions. We tried the Loaded Brown Barrels, potato skins, and the Fried Banana Peppers, all were delicious! I have to say the Brown Barrels were amazing though. Some of the food we had were the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich with sweet potato waffle fries, the fish and chips, and a build your own burger. Everything was good. The Nashville Hot Chicken had great flavor with just enough heat to not be too spicy. The coleslaw was good but there was only a small amount on the sandwich. The sweet potato fries were good too. My friend that had the fish and chips said the fish was seasoned perfectly and it was lightly battered so it wasn't greasy. The burger was good and just what my friend wanted. The beer was cold and the cocktail drinks were made well. If you are in Midway and are looking for good food, great service and a nice atmosphere, I recommend checking out the Brown Barrel! read more

See all

Initially we had planned to stop at Wallace Station after visiting the Headley-Whitney Museum, however, the long line of people and packed parking lot said find a restaurant in Midway. After some discussion we decided on the Brown Barrel. Fortunately we were able to get a table immediately and had pleasant and friendly service, My wife ordered a chicken salad that was quite large. I ended up with the crab cakes that came with a salad, and coffee. The salad was fine and I did get refills on coffee that was good. Although the crab cakes were good sized and tender the sweet Thai chile drizzle was a bit overpowering in my opinion. The apple tart with ice cream was a winner. It was delicious and enough for two to share and reasonably priced. Based on ambience, service, and my wife's chicken salad I gave them 4/5. read more

Brown Barrel - Apple tart with ice cream was a winner. - American Near Me - Midway, Kentucky

I had a well-crafted cocktail made according to my requests. The sirloin bites I ordered were a bit chewy, but prepared exactly as I had requested and the accompanying mashed potato cake was a treat. My wife enjoyed her chicken breast sandwich. What made our meal delightful was our server, Lauren. She was high-energy, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. She was perfectly attentive, but never invasive. We will talk about and fondly remember her service for years to come. Her presence would draw us back to the Brown Barrel whenever we might return to the area. read more

The food was fabulous! The restaurant was crowded and noisy but we had only a short wait for an inside table for two. Outdoor tables were present, but our wait would have been longer. Hubby had been here before and wanted me to have the experience as well. His house salad was generous and tasty, and the ravioli with chicken was delicious. The wedge salad exceeded my expectations given that it starts with flavorless iceberg lettuce! The addition of the dressing, cheese, tomatoes, and bacon enhance the crunch of the lettuce and provide good flavor. The piece of catfish was huge and I took half of it home for a future lunch. That meant I needed to save some of the mashed potatoes, but that wasn't so hard due to the generous salad. We will definitely return for another experience. read more

See all

Excellent service, great prices and the food was phenomenal! Best chicken salad sandwich I have ever had!

Super good American cuisine. Burgers, steaks, etc. they had a bratwurst special last time we came and they were exactly what we needed after a day of distilleries. Don't fall for their bottled whiskey selection, their prices are brutal so they lose a star, but the food is quality. read more

Yum yummy and yummy. The service was fantastic. If you can get as your server, Lauren "as in Ralph Lauren" you will be golden! She is in it! The did is so good. The atmosphere is clean and inviting. read more

Food and service is about as good as it gets at this hidden gem in Midway. Went to their second location in Frankfort a few weeks ago and it was awesome too! Had to get the grouper fingers again since it's one of my favorites now. So many options on the menu. Great little downtown shops also to enjoy read more

Brown Barrel - Grouper fingers - American Near Me - Midway, Kentucky

See all

Brown Barrel was packed the day we went for lunch. After waiting about 10 minutes, we were seated and our server was personable, professional and very friendly. The food was- I had a salmon BLT and my husband had a piece of blackened fish - good. All in all, a pleasant restaurant experience. One suggestion: please give the women's bathroom a deep clean, a fresh coat of paint and a nicer, newer toilet and sink. read more

We stopped there to check out the town and really enjoyed the food. Service was great and it was beautiful out so we could sit outside. We would definitely eat there again next time we visit the area. read more

Salad was excellent New York strip was like beef jerky. Didn't have courage to try fried mashed potatoes. Mustard Greens were great. Service very nice read more

What an awesome experience. This is our second trip to Brown Barrel, and we brought our friends with us this time. We will all be back. We were seated immediately, and our waitress was very helpful with recommendations. I had the hot brown and it was perfect! My husband had the surf and turf. He loved it. Our friends had the grouper as their meal. It was cooked perfectly. Great taste. Looking forward to our next trip. read more

Brown Barrel - Kentucky Hot Brown - American Near Me - Midway, Kentucky

We're visiting from Ireland. When we walked in, a young boy and girl working behind the front desk made disparaging comments while looking at us under their breath, then looked away and started giggling. It was incredibly rude and unwelcoming, so we left immediately. Uninviting atmosphere--would not recommend. read more

I was here with a group of family 16 of us in all and there were no issues Problems or complaints from anyone great place to eat I will definitely go back and I do recommend there Steak read more

4/8/23 We'd completed a tour of a nearby distillery and were ready for a lunch stop. Googled for places and the Brown Barrel sounded just right for a short drive. Upon arriving in MIdway, we loved how lovely and historic Main St was, and saw that the Brown Barrel was right on the corner. What a sweet welcome! We walked in and were given a friendly greeting and asked if we wanted lunch. I said yes for two and we were asked if we'd like a table, booth or seats at the bar. We asked for a booth and we were escorted to one in the bar area. Killian was our server and also bar tender. She came promptly and answered a couple of questions about the menu, which is small but several items appealed to us. She brought us the local brews we ordered while we considered the information she gave us on the options. We each ordered a Hot Brown. We didn't expect a presentation or taste like the original recipe served up at the Brown Hotel in downtown Louisville. It wasn't. HOWEVER, it still looked and tasted wonderful and was much less expensive, We enjoyed the brew and entrees and Killian was engaging and pleasant, not only with us, but with several folks who were sitting at the bar. Afterwards, we walked down Main St in MIdway and visited a few shops despite the cool windy day, it was delightful. read more

See all

Actually, we visited the location in Georgetown. According to the waitress, they have only been open a few weeks. Lucky us. We had the onion rings to start. Light breading and crunchy. I had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp was bacon wrapped which made the shrimp crunch on the outside but not over done inside. The grits reminded me more of a polenta which is more creamy. Delicious. My husband ordered the Salmon with a butternut squash and pecans. I tasted the squash and it also was delicious. Bathroom were clean. Place is large and on the corner in a cute downtown area. Don't miss it. read more

Stopped in this small town on our road trip and found this amazing place for lunch. The staff and service was friendly and great. We ordered the "Shorty"&"The Cuban" sandwiches with fries and slaw. The portions were great and the flavor was amazing. Have never had these sandwiches before and we were pleasantly impressed at how tasty they were. The fries and slaw were excellent also. Even had leftovers to take home. Would highly recommend this small town restaurant!! read more

The food has always been excellent and I have eaten there many times the waitress is always friendly and efficient

Off duty staff was very loud, vulgar and offensive. The event resulted in us leaving before we ordered food. The Goose and Gander across the street treated us very well. read more

Great service, excellent food and they were able to accommodate my daughter's volleyball team and families with just a few hours notice. The downtown area is so picturesque. This is a destination restaurant. Perfect stop if you are on the bourbon trail and worth the short drive from Lexington. They even have a very good selection of hard to find bourbons at reasonable secondary prices. read more

Daughter found and read reviews so thought we would give a try before getting back on the road after leaving a few of the distilleries. The service and food were amazing. She made excellent suggestions. Was too full for dessert but looked just as delicious. read more

See all

Most of us ordered the piccata (salmon and chicken). It was tasty, but a bit too much sauce leading to the meat being soggy. The service was friendly. It was a little slow - it was a crowded night. It was VERY loud - tough to have a conversation during dinner. It has a sports bar feel, but prices were more moderately nice restaurant. read more

Food and service were great!! It had a good atmosphere and we had no wait time to get in.

Very upset over today's fiasco. We so looked forward to Thanksgiving dinner here with our family. We made reservations two weeks ago for 1 pm for 7 adults and 1 baby. When we arrived today there was a mass crowd in and outside the restaurant. It was cold for the many standing outside. Inside was chaos. I asked the crowd who do we give our name to, they said some guy with a clipboard. I asked a staff member, she said the same thing. I finally found the man with the clipboard--he was not only taking names but seating people. I asked how long it would be since we had reservations and he didn't have a clue. Many people were speaking out but it went unanswered by staff. The folks seated in the downstair section had to walk through the crowd with their plate of food as the buffet was set up in the middle section of the restaurant. We didn't get seated until after 2 pm. A waitress came and got out drink order promptly and then we went and got in a long line for the buffet. The buffet was set up one-sided only. It absolutely made no sense. It should have been double-sided and when an item needed to be refilled by staff, people would have gladly stepped aside. The line was about 30 minutes long. I will say, The food was very good, but only one dessert option was disappointing. To the owner: Brown Barrel has been in business long enough to know how to handle this event much better than it was. Outdoor heaters should have been on the patio so people waiting would have not all had to crowd inside to escape the cold. The host taking names should not have been seating as well. Patrons should not have had to play find Waldo with the clipboard. He should have been at the front door the entire time. A double-sided buffet is a no-brainer. Reservations should have been spaced out appropriately to keep people from the long wait times. Unless changes are made for next year, we will go elsewhere. read more

The four of us had a very good lunch. The hamburger was good and the Buffalo chicken sandwich was huge and tasty. Tater tots were great. The ladies loved their salads. Fast, friendly service. read more

We tried this place as we were traveling in the area. It's very large with out door, semi-outdoor, and indoor seating. We sat inside. There was live music, which was okay, but too loud for the dining room. Service was good. I had steak skewers from the small plate menu. It came with a fried potato cake, which was like a twice baked potato with breading on the outside and a house salad. The salad was large for a side and I liked the Caesar dressing too. The steak was cooked to my liking and was very good. The potato cake was okay. I also enjoyed a glass of White Zinfandel. I thought the overall experience was generally satisfying, but not noteworthy. read more

Brown Barrel - The side house salad. - American Near Me - Midway, Kentucky

We are local to Midway and the service has steadily declined over the last 6 months at Brown Barrel. We have gone back 3 different times in an effort to "give 'em another chance" and each time the service is terrible. Whether it be the college aged girls working the hostess desk, or the service of the waitress/waiter, all of it has gone down and continues to decline. Maybe it's a management issue, not sure, but the issue definitely needs to be addressed. We will no longer dine at Brown Barrel but instead take our money & time to either Goose & Gander, Gibson's, or Don Jockey. read more

Beautiful day here! Great attentive staff. Started with the onion rings and the fried green tomatoes the absolute best we have ever eaten with a incredible dipping sauces and a kick. My partner had the special the Philly Cheese steak sandwich which was the size of the plate with a generous portion of fries and I chose the infamous Hot Brown piled high with turkey and ham generous strips of thick cut bacon and home grown tomato with a delicious mornay sauce. Quite the bourbon menu and bottles for sale! Midway is the quintessential American town with many great restaurants and shops and a block party tomorrow! People are so friendly and the back roads are TRUE KENTUCKY! read more

Thanksgiving day was chaos. 1pm reservation, we were seated at 2. We were in the side room and had to cross back through the CROWDED lobby to get to the buffet. The buffet had a line down one side only, so the line was extremely long, the food was decent at best. I understand its a busy holiday and most reservations are for large groups, however: 1. Space out the reservations 2. If you put football games on TV, people will stay for hours once they are seated and you'll have no turnover 3. Put patio heaters outside 4. The "host" should not also be seating people 5. Have the buffet set up so there are two lines, or put a buffet in the side room also read more

Excellent food, excellent service. We had a party of 8 and were very well taken care of. Would highly recommend the crab cakes! Fried green tomatoes were good as well. Would have been 5 stars but the bottled bourbon prices are absurd!! read more