This Classy Venue, Sets A New Tone.. Pleasantly Kicked Out of Our Comfort Zone: What a Gorgeous Night to be out & about, with Beau, on the night before the Full Moon, during Derby Week, in Bowling Green. We'd never been here before, thus, we were new to this scene! Even stepping in seemed an experience, following behind two ladies, donned in Derby Hats, & their two dapper gentlemen, who smiled, held open the door, & graciously waved us in!! Then, at a long table we happily joined, our extended, car fanatic family. Thus, the festivities began, as our evening flowed pleasantly.. What We Found : Service: Friendly & Attentive.. Our iced tea was refilled & our tables kept clean. And our server, steered us in the right direction, in recommending the Surf & Turf dinner, which was Delightful.. Ambiance: Lofty & Modern Aesthetic, with Rustic Elements. (But still too modern, for our liking). Nearby, seemed a nicer table: with a wooden tent like canopy, situated near a great hearth.. Food: Generous portions of entrees & sides. The hearty sides, are served family style. We ordered: Bacon Cornbread; Mac & Cheese; Roasted Brussel Sprouts; Roasted Mushrooms; & Truffle Fries. These Tasted Divine... Especially the bacon cornbread, served with a dollop of brown butter, which disappeared in no time!! Whilst our Surf & Turf Dinner, of: Shrimp & Beef, served on skewers, atop a bed of Fried Rice, Kicked Us Out of Our Comfort Zone. This was quite unlike the country cuisine of Bowling Green, for so long known!! And, the horseradish sauce, served alongside, seemed rich & robust!! Indeed, the menu seemed to convey the chef's creative touch!! However, our friend beside us, bemoaned that his elk steak dinner, was mostly burnt!! To the staff, not saying a word!! Moreover, Beau found his Strawberry Shortcake, a tad too dry. But from Beau's pretty dessert, to the Almond Cake, ordered at the table--all seemed a pastry feast for the eyes!! Overall: We Found This Classy Venue, A Welcome Change From The Familiar..Hearty Southern Fare, Fine Tuned With A Touch Of The Exotic!! So Happy To Say: We Loved It !! read more

Food was great, though service a bit slow. Very noisy. The real problem is with handicap accessability. Just a handful of spots to park on the street. Majority of parking is in the rear, shared with many other businesses & apartments.Then a long walk around the entire building , over curbs, grass, and steps, to a handicap ramp halfway down the block. (Or you may find a few spots across the street in Circus Square Park.) Once inside, you need somehow negotiate a wheelchair or walker through narrow aisles and even up a couple of stairs. Not at all handicap accessable. read more

We loved our experience at H&O! The service and food were excellent. I loved the atmosphere and decor as well. read more

Hickory & Oak - The elk and morels were amazing! - Steakhouses Near Me - Bowling Green, Kentucky

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We went for another anniversary dinner and as usual were so blown away by the food! It hits on all the aspects....taste, presentation, and quality. Our server Lillian(i think) provided us with phenomenal service and was one of the best to date! As always the ambiance for us is perfect. If you want a higher caliber steak house experience without having to drive to Nashville....you should try this one! We love this place! read more

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On a stormy Saturday evening we were passing through BG and stopped for dinner. Highly recommended, we had to search for the front doors to the establishment. We parked in the back, near the commerce building. A beautiful interior, comfortable seating, nice music playing to relax to. I ordered a cocktail, hooked on a feeling was the name, it was delicious. My husband and I had not eaten all day, we shared a wedge salad. Which is big enough for 2-4 people. I had French onion soup, which I would skip next time. It wasn't bad, just not worth the expense or room in my stomach when there are better things to eat. My husband was intrigued by the carrots, we shared some and they are very unique. Sweet, savory, spicy, all the flavors melt in your mouth. The elk was tender, while the steak had a nice crust and was cooked to order. The Brussels were cooked perfectly, though I would have liked a drizzle of some kind of sauce or oil. The dessert was our favorite part. We both love bread pudding and this was the best version we have had in Kentucky. Thank you for a great evening! read more

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Service here is impeccably great! We had the bread as an appetizer and I can't remember the name of it but the goat cheese and honey was phenomenal on it. My husband had the bone in ribeye and I had the filet both were fantastic and cooked perfect. We also had the Brussels sprouts which were okay but glad we also had the broccoli bc the broccoli was great!! read more

The food was excellent, the ambiance is great. Service was on par with a restaurant of this quality.

Visited here to take our kids out for dinner. Inside has very nice decor! The food was really good and the choices were amazing! The New York strip our son ordered came out overcooked but the staff was quick to re fire and comped a dessert for us all to share! Truffle fries were a hit! read more

Hickory & Oak - S'mores tart - Steakhouses Near Me - Bowling Green, Kentucky

In town for our daughter's college volleyball tournament. Hickory&Oak was recommended... we absolutely loved it!! One of my top steakhouses I would say..of all time. Oysters Rockefeller appetizer may have been the best oysters I've ever had! These were Alabama coast oysters and being from Alabama and eating oysters in Kentucky I was skeptical... but absolute deliciousness were these oysters! Perfection. ‍ We followed with a wedge salad. Large enough to split for 2-3 people. The bacon on this was TOP bacon. The lettuce & cucumbers were COLD &. Crisp. The dressing- scrumptious. I had filet mignon. Hubby had ribeye. Both perfectly cooked with a side of steak fries that were out of this world! Our server was top notch! So descriptive & personable. The atmosphere & decor were superb without being stuffy. Casual yet elevated. Absolutely we will eat here every time we come to Bowling Green KY! read more

Hickory & Oak - Filet perfection - Steakhouses Near Me - Bowling Green, Kentucky

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The service is always good. I normally get the salmon. It wasn't on the list this time. I ordered outside my comfort and got the pork chop. It came out in two big chunks of meat on top of jalapeños fried cornbread (very good) and a red sauce. The red sauce and chunks of meat is not a do over for me. I took the pork home. I can not eat meat in chunks it was not appetizing. It tasted ok a little dry. read more

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Went here last weekend with friends. It was our first time there. We absolutely loved this place. Upscale but down-to-Earth feel at the same time. Our service was superb and our meal was equally awesome. We ordered a ribeye, mushrooms with bacon and onions, and crispy potato salad. Excellent beverages. Can't wait to get back. read more

Pleasantly surprised with my experience here. Being from Nashville where we have a ton of great food, I wasn't expecting much from a steak house in bowling green to be honest. We went for my friend's birthday and I really enjoyed my dinner! The ambiance was nice with the very unique decor inside that makes you feel like you're on an adventure with the hobbits (lots of wood with greenery accents). The service was nice a friendly and they even helped coordinate a proposal at the table next to us while we were there (she said yes, followed by a round of applause). See my take on the food below. Pro tip: make sure you bring a jacket! It's pretty cold in there and they have to keep it that way due to the nature of the building they use. -Wedge salad: huge! There must have been a pound of bacon just on top. It was very good. -bacon cornbread - excellent -8oz filet - cooked perfectly -blackened garlic butter - terrible; comes out cold and the steak doesn't need it; don't waste $5 -spicy butter (can't remember which one but it's the spicy one) - that butter was great! Wished it had gotten that one instead of the other -loaded mashed potatoes - excellent, although not much topping; I think I would get the regular if I went again -Brussel sprouts - good but not great compared to everything else -blueberry parfait - excellent -brownie with cherry ice cream - so good and very impressive; would definitely recommend 2 scoops of ice cream though because it's so rich (maybe one on top and one on the side) Overall great experience! I would definitely go back if I am in the area again. read more

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This is a really good restaurant but very expensive. The steak was very good. The service was very good, but I don't know about the expense. You got a really good steak cooked perfectly but I guess you get what you pay for. read more

Delicious choices & chic decor. Will definitely dine here again. Fab food. Convenient to local concert.

Wife and I stopped by the bar for expresso martinis and an appetizer. The drinks and the bar service was excellent. We ordered two oysters rockerfeller for $30 each. What a disappointment. Tiny tiny portions. Not worth the price. read more

My wife, sister, and I took my mother to dinner here to celebrate her 70th birthday. We booked the reservation a couple weeks in advance for 6pm on a Friday. The place was bustling and the ambiance was nice, but they unfortunately sat us at a high-top in the bar area. The foot traffic was high in this area and was right next to the exit door. Given how far in advance we booked the reservation, I would have assumed we could have been seated in the calmer main dining area, but we went along with it. Our server and the food were above average and my mother had a nice evening. The menu items are creative and fun, but, the pricing is a little cheeky in my opinion. Personally, I thought the pricing was about 12-15% out of line. For that reason, I think it was a nice thing to do...once. I'm glad we tried it, but I don't see myself as a repeat customer. read more

I was in town from Miami and was looking for a good steakhouse and this Hickory & Oak restaurant was recommended. I had a wedge salad with a boneless ribeye. Steak was seasoned and cooked to perfection. Sides were awesome as well whipped potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Restaurant has a good vibe in downtown area close to the University. Great meal and atmosphere without being gouged in price like Miami. Service was attentive and knowledgeable. Bourbon selection was excellent as well if you are a bourbon connoisseur. read more

Hickory & Oak - Steak and whipped potatoes - Steakhouses Near Me - Bowling Green, Kentucky

In town for work. Came here at the recommendation of a local. Was not disappointed! Dined alone so hard to get all I wanted to try. Got the focaccia bread based on previous pics - delicious!!! Ordered the rainbow trout and was pleased - nice preparation and flavors. Green bean almondine was delicious and buttery. Definitely impressed by the bourbon selection! Very nice barrel pick old fashioned and finished with a pour of Weller Full Proof. Craig was excellent - friendly and attentive with good recommendations, he was training Reece who also was super nice. Sat outside on the patio with excellent weather and a good view. The music was nice and not too loud. Would definitely recommend and am very glad I stopped in. Would definitely come back next time I'm in Bowling Green!! read more

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If you go toe to toe on customer service (from host to server to bartenders), quality of food for cost point, range of menu, and care, head to Tony's. Hickory and Oak is an okay restaurant but lacks in the total experience by comparison. read more

Our first impressions, we were very disappointed they would not accommodate us in any way to have a hamburger unless we sat on their patio and it was cool that night and my mother is 84 years old and she was not about to sit outside just to have a hamburger so we went into the dining room and they would only let us order off their main menu so she had to order a filet mignon, which she did not eat all of it. She asked to have fried chicken they would not give her fried chicken. They had soup on the menu, but told her it was not available. What you see is almost what you get. The food was very good. That's the only thing positive I can say about this restaurant they will not bend over even a little to accommodate anyone apparently. where is the Southern hospitality? if you are looking strictly for a steak, I will say this was one of the best steaks I have had in a while. read more

This place was recommended to me, and in fairness it was the best meal I had in Bowling Green. The menu was interesting and made choosing something difficult. I went with the Argentinian steak and wasn't disappointed. Desserts were also delicious. Prices aren't cheap but dishes are huge and well worth it. I ate at the bar area. Service was friendly if not very attentive. They have bourbon galore if you're into that. Reservations are likely a must so plan ahead. Park on the street or in the nearby park. They have an indoor dining area, bar, and covered patio area. read more

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The meal was wonderful and our server Craig was a delight! They made us feel celebrated on our anniversary.

Pros - Easy to find parking nearby. Friendly greeting. Celebration of my birthday and our anniversary noted upon arrival. Pretty nice menu of mostly locally sourced ingredients. Seemingly knowledgable server. Nice wine list. Nice ambiance. Seated in a comfortable corner booth. Great cocktails. Cons - Server steered us to temporary offerings that ended up less than ideal (i. e. Shepherds Pie $35 has 3 small pieces of meat in the whole thing, 4 carrot slices, 3 pearl onions, 1 mushroom and mostly gravy {advertised/hyped by the server as a red wine beef bourguignon} tasted like brown gravy from a jar or can - no wine in it whatsoever}. Verrrrry underwhelming special of the day to say the least. Had a $100 online gift card to spend and they had a really hard time validating it for use. All food ordered was overcooked (i.e. rack of lamb ordered medium rare and came medium, sausage app was over cooked and thus dry, etc.) Another example was our potatos. The bacon was nearly petrified and the cheese on top was salamandered into a hard shell. Verrrrry overcooked. read more

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5/5 experience. Every course was incredible from appetizer to dessert. Our waiter, Nimmo, was very knowledgeable of all menu options, offering suggestions and conversation that was quite enjoyable. It is a higher-end restaurant so plan to spend $$. But totally worth it, best meal I've had in Bowling Green! read more

Hickory & Oak - Oysters, Spinach dip, Cauliflower appetizers - Steakhouses Near Me - Bowling Green, Kentucky

Great steakhouse in downtown Bowling Green. Central location makes it easy to walk anywhere in downtown Bowling Green. Amazing food and cocktail options. Great indoor/outdoor seating. Service is always top notch. read more

Great food and service had a great table everything was perfect i am trying to think of more to add it says i need to have 85 letters or I can't post it that is crazy i bet a lot of people don't post because you need to write a big letter read more

The only misgiving I have with Hickory & Oak is the expense. And it's not really a misgiving so much as an annoyance: it's REALLY expensive, if you do it right and get all the drinkies that go with the nibbles and don't skip dessert... But (and you true foodies back me up here) there are worlds of difference between places that charge you a c-note or two or even more, and leave you happy and satisfied, wanting to do it again as soon as you can take out a second mortgage or sell your children or whatever, and places that make you regret your decision to go in the first place, and have you dreaming of all the things you could have done with the money instead. This place is the former. Good atmosphere, excellent and inviting service, full of suggestions for pairings and knowledgeable about what they serve, which is a rarity these days. The food is deeply thoughtful, with layered flavors and sharp plating, and (very importantly) an eye for the cocktails and wines they serve. Portions may feel stunted by local "biscuit and gravy" standards, but very importantly they actually allow room for their excellent desserts, which you should NOT miss. This is the kind of place you go when you know how to eat. When you know what goes in to superior food and mixology. When you want it done right, and are willing to submit to the wiles of a chef and barkeep willing and able to make it happen. Even in Kentucky, such places exist. This is probably the best restaurant in Bowling Green, and the lack-luster reviews tell me, after eating here, that Bowling Green simply isn't ready for world-class cuisine. I hope they can keep it going despite the local penchant for bland, beige, gelatinous gravy-smothered "down home cookin' " deep fried and dubiously sourced bilge served at far too many other places in this region. Recommended. read more

I ordered the dry age steak and was a bit bland. Everything else was amazing. Everyone else had great meals. I will assume I got a bad steak. I will try again sometime. read more

Incredible and unique interior design. Loved the atmosphere and private, cozy corner booth. Our waitress was Meghan and she was fantastic. Complimentary Champagne for our anniversary was very good. Cranberry Ginger Sangria- too dry for my liking, and too heavy on ginger. Under the Mistletoe Margarita- amazing. I can't remember everything in the drink, but it had the perfect amount of coconut. BG Wedge salad- huge and delicious. Perfect size to split. Plenty of bacon and fresh veggies. Carrots- wow. Waitress called them a show stopper and she wasn't wrong. Cooked with a coffee rub and excellent char flavor. Served with bleu cheese crumble and a chopped *hot* pepper. Absolutely packed with flavor and more than enough for 3-4 people. Blackened Trout- very good. Served with fried rice and aioli sauce. Bistro Steak Dinner- waitress recommended this as the best bang for your buck and she was right. So delicious and perfectly cooked. 10 oz NY strip over whipped potatoes topped with fresh fried onions. Highly recommend. We will be back! read more

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Wow! Best place to eat in the bluegrass! Our group tried a little bit of everything: country ham wontons, crawfish dip, crab cakes, oysters, elk, and trout hash. It was all delicious. The waiter was right on with all of his recommendations. He was very informative and gave us an amazing dining experience. The drinks were great! We tried a new fashion, raspberry mule, gin with elderberry, and my husband got a bourbon. When they realized they had run out of his first choice they made it up to him with a heavy pour of his second choice. We will definitely go back when we visit again. read more

We decided to take an impromptu trip to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky which is a short 5 hour drive from home. It's been rather eventful with bad GPS routings, totally dumpy hotel and some questionable fast food. (Pro travel tip - when the GPS takes you literally five miles down the levee it's probably not taking you where you want to be. Cue the banjos, please). To help lighten our spirits (we were really laughing out loud about our day) and hopefully reset the day we decided to have the best steak we could find in Bowling Green. Well...we succeeded! Hickory and Oak delivered exactly what we hoped it would. Immediately on the left when you walk into the front entrance is a giant dry aging machine! Welcome to steak utopia. We skipped appetizers and went straight for drinks and meat. I got a Spiced Hard Apple Cider Sangria which was really yummy with a lot cinnamon flavor. It was wonderfully refreshing and one of the most unique drinks I've ever been served. For dinner we split the 16 ounce ribeye choosing both some balsamic and bacon mushrooms and the never before seen smoked cabbage and our table attendant suggested the Diane sauce. When everything arrived it was all beautifully plated with care and a real sense perfectionism. The plating was a precursor to the absolute amazing flavors that were in everything we got. The char on the steak was one of the highlights because it can't be done at home. There's nothing like a steakhouse wood fire grilled steak! We were so full when we finished our main meal we shouldn't have done it but we had to try their house made honey buns. Nobody has honey buns on the menu and just like the steak these did not disappoint. Having freshly fried dough with fancy honey, fennel pollen and whipped cashew butter how can it be bad! When we find ourselves back in Bowling Green, KY we will absolutely be back! read more

Amazing food and exceptional service. The Bourbon list was extensive and prices were reasonable. read more

Hickory & Oak - Rhubarb Pie - Steakhouses Near Me - Bowling Green, Kentucky

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For a vegetarian this is not a place to go. We tried the salt and pepper fries (not worth it, no place makes good fries like county hospital cafeterias do); spinach dip was good; foccacia was very salty; cauliflower was good. Mac and cheese was average. As drinks I tried the new fashioned which has a cherry ice cube that melts, you just gotta savor it; once the cherry ice melts the drink has a sweet beautiful taste. Overall I might visit this place again coz I live in Bowling Green now, but they can work on their menu more especially vegetarian options. It was disappointing when we asked for a kids menu, and they said we can order the chicken spaghetti for the same price (34 dollars) without the chicken as we are vegetarians. Customer service was good. read more

Let's begin with positives... Friendly staff, cool decor, fantastic bourbon offerings- great selection to choose from. Steak was 2/5 stars at best, tough, came out less than even luke warm, lacking flavor. Brussels sprouts sitting in far too much vinegar. I would return for a drink, but not for dinner. Again I would reiterate the staff was fantastic, but in terms of the steak, Outback or Longhorn would score more stars for a steak and Brussels sprouts. Now to end on a positive note, as I began - the Strawberry shortcake was fantastic, light and just the right amount of sweetness - would order the dessert again for sure (the chocolate cake also looked intriguing). . read more

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I come home to bowling green from Ft. Lauderdale quite often and was so happy to find hickory and oak in our little town. And being that I sell wine - very excited to see a wine list that offered more than kendall jackson. I made it a point to visit this restaurant every trip. Went in solo last night and sat at the bar - 1 of 6 people - 2 bartenders, one for service and one for bar customers. I sat unacknowledged for about 5 min while female bartender walked by me several times. I finally said "hi there" she snarked "I'll be with you" over her shoulder. She proceeded to pick up the dirty dishes off the bar down from me and spray cleaner onto the bar (some of the spray hit my arm) then gave me the menus and walked away. When she returned I ordered a cocktail spicy mango something - was very good - and asked her where the west coast oysters were from. Her response "I don't know". Could you find out? I can but I'm busy it will take a while. ???? She yells to a waiter "where are the oysters from" I hear his response because they are yelling to one another across the bar. I order the oysters from Washington - no idea the name of them because all the information I was given is that they were from Washington. The manager, who I have met on prior trips and is a great guy - suggested I order the elk and in turn I paired with a bottle of cherry pie Pinot noir. The bartender opens the bottle and immediately pours me a full glass. I suggested to her that in the future she should only pour enough for the customer to try to make sure the wine isn't corked - which happens in roughly 1 out of 12 bottles. Was not happy about my suggestion. The elk arrived and was absolutely stellar. I asked for my check several times only to fall on deaf ears - finally the other bartender (who I later found out was the bar manager) delivered my check - 162.00 - very fair for the quality of food and drink - I asked her if I had done something to upset the other bartender - as I'm asking the question the other bartender says "what are you saying" I responded "why are you such a b--ch to me?" She replied "I was busy" The conversation got heated - the other bartender said "I'm so sorry" I walked out and will probably never go back all because one girl was too busy to do her job and just be pleasant. read more

We absolutely love coming here. The ambience, the quality of the food and the long standing servers which help to keep the level of service high which you can't find that anymore in most places. We come here for special occasions because we know the experience is consistent. Love their rib eye steak as well as the sides like the brussels sprouts, Gouda Mac and Cheese and the loaded whipped potatoes. Also several seasonal desserts. This place also supports local businesses. read more

On 12/6/24 our wife's were having a Lady's Christmas party so three of us guys thought we would go for a guys night out. We stopped at hickory & oak without reservation to see if we could get a table. Walking in we were greeted and explained we didn't have reservations but was wondering if there would be a table open anywhere. The hostess didn't look but explained there wouldn't be that we were welcome to sit at the bar. There were three stools open at the bar so we sat there. With in 20 to thirty minutes the bar cleared out and two tables of people left and those tables stayed available the rest of the night. We wondered why the hostess didn't tell us upon arrival they would have a table open in possibly 30 minutes or so. We were dressed nice so surly could not have been our appearance. We were disappointed because it is a better experience sitting at a table and service in the past is better at a table. At the bar there was two working, a bubbly, friendly girl and a guy with a no fun attitude. When the guy would wait on us he just didn't have a server's attitude on the other hand the girl was all about service with a smile. Our food was delicious as always and every time I've eaten at hickory and oak. I had the pork tenderloin with fried corn pudding and as i stated it was delicious. Thank goodness the girl came to get our dessert order. We just let her pick our dessert and she picked the carrot cake and explained it was large enough for us three to split. She brought 3 plates and three forks and a knife for us to split the cake up. She was on her game. The guy came by and i ordered a coffee and cream. In a little while he brought the coffee and sat it down and walked off. I waited and when he came back with the dessert i asked again for some cream. In a little while he came back with almond milk in a glass and said that's all I could find. The dessert was again delicious!!! So delicious that when the guy came by i said... i want to ask you for a favor... i would like another carrot cake to go and would you slice it into 3 pieces and put in a to go container please. He said and i quote... there's no one here that has the time for that i will give you the to go boxes and you can do it. I've eaten at hickory and oak a few others times and this is not the attitude I've ever experienced sitting at a table. The girl came by with our checks and i asked if she had to split tips with the guy and she said yes and i said he is hurting you you need to ask for someone else. My meal was 85.00 i did leave a $30 dollar tip and told the girl i sure hated half had to go to him. read more

Pretty good food but Ridiculous bourbon and whiskey prices. Better food in Bowling Green with as good bourbon selections. read more

Hickory & Oak - Bourbon menu - Steakhouses Near Me - Bowling Green, Kentucky

Service was excellent and drinks were reasonably priced. Unfortunately after that our group was disappointed. One filet was inconsistently cooked, rare on one side and well-done on the other; not quite sure how you do that. The carrots were burnt to a crisp. Initially were thought the coffee rubbed carrots were supposed to look that way, but one was actually ash on the end, and several were pitch black on one side. The carrots on other people's table did not look anything like ours. The beef carpaccio was fair, but all the accompaniments over powered the beef which lacked full beefy flavor. Sad to say, but the meal was definitely over priced for the quality. read more

Excellent choice for bowling green Kentucky. Food was good. Service was wonderful. Parking was easy and a good choice of menu items.