Charming and delicious. Cozy atmosphere. Order at the bar and they bring to you. Recommend the goat cheese and tomato appetizer. It's amazing. Best kale salad I've had. Sober Cowboy was super good! read more

See all

Staff, food and service are always amazing!! Best little gem Berea has. Love how the menu has seasonal offerings read more

Nightjar - Elderberry - Burgers Near Me - Berea, Kentucky

On a business trip to Berea, my hotel recommended Nightjar for dinner. The server recommended a cold noodle dish- I'd say lomein or udon noodles, nicely seasoned with edamame, chicken, and fresh vegetables. I was burgered-out and the cool entree sounded OK for a warm summer evening. The local draft lager seemed to work well with it. It was a decent sized bowl and was just enough for a light dinner. The service was great, and the place was clean and well-organizanized. On a Wednesday evening, about half of the seats were taken. I arrived about an hour before closing time. The price was fair. I'd go back again on another visit to Berea. read more

Staff is friendly and I love the wall of plants. We always order the delicious hamburgers and yummy fries, I recommend the Bleu Cheese and Onion Strings with tomato jam burger, it's the bomb! They also offer gluten free Udi's buns for a small upcharge. Their cocktails are wonderful too; the house made Chai Old Fashioned was amazing! read more

Good service taps and food. Small but cozy. Try the friend green tomato's! Locals eat there.

Finally got to enjoy Nightjar in Berea tonight. The food and drinks were fantastic. It's a small place, so plan ahead. We sat at the bar, which was fine for 3 of us. The bartenders were friendly and talkative. Our appetizer, Smoked Deviled Eggs came out quick and were delicious. Our main dish, Smashburgers and fries were very good, but the wait time was about 30 minutes. The Chuck Will's Widow cocktail was very good. read more

See all

Night jar is a wonderful local restaurant. The food is always delicious and the cocktails are great. It's usually crowded ( a very good sign of a quality restaurant ). I don't recommend it if you're in a hurry, but the food is always fresh and well prepared. The burgers are so good as are the fries. On a recent night we also enjoyed the creole shrimp and grits. The staff is friendly and helpful. The atmosphere casual and lively with conversation. Bar and table seating available. A note about the burgers. My brother in law is very choosy about the meat he consumes and he loves the locally sourced Berea college organic beef. We bring him here when he visits from out of state. He's a big fan of the Oklahoma burger! read more

Operating out of a space which holds a bagel shop (which looks like a great bagel shop; that review is hopefully coming someday), the evening iteration of this place is more classic American food. They did offer a few vegetarian items, which convinced me to give them a try. Their version of a veggie burger is chickpea-based, but features artichokes and was quite freshly fried. It was good without the mustard I asked for on the side, but better with. They had a number of fixings that maybe I should have ordered more of. The fries were ample and delicious. Their online menu showed many other things, such as the option to substitute sides (not evident in person). I was a bit dismayed that I couldn't get a salad; I know I'm in the minority here, but of all the things that are easy to make vegetarian... I did splurge on a chocolate cherry cake, which I might not have gotten if I'd realized how the main meal would turn out. It was covered with cold preserved cherries, not my favorite way of doing them, but was suitably rich. If not perfectly aligned with my tastes, it was unique stuff presented in good faith, and definitely on the indulgent side. And as I consider what life might hold for me after I eventually leave the area, this seems like a very Kentucky place. read more

See all

Great casual dining in the evening. Also coffee in the am. Good selection prepared quickly

I am a cheeseburger lover for life. Pattie melts are my favorite. Well this place gave me the best Pattie melt ever!!! It is perfectly cooked and seasoned, the onions are amazing and so soft. The bread is fresh baked and grilled perfect. It is a little high but so worth it. I have gone twice so far and both times excellence. The person who waited on me was so friendly and talked while I waited. read more

On a chilly Friday evening, Fat Man Reviews took a solo mission to visit Nightjar in Berea, KY. Nightjar, located inside Native Bagel, serves Pennsylvania Dutch-German inspired food, bird inspired craft cocktails, beer and wine. I sampled a cocktail called the Night Hawk. It was made with Old Forester bourbon, honey, rosemary, and lemon. The drink is served in a chilled rocks glass overtop a square ice cube. You can smell the honey right away with a hint of the rosemary, but the drink is not very sweet. The lemon is very forward and the bourbon is hidden until the end, coupled with the honey it adds a slight bite to the drink. I started with the Sauerkraut Fritters. This is prepared with mild sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, speckwurst sausage with honey mustard on the side. The fritters were fried to a perfect golden brown, and they were delicate. The sauerkraut was soft but still crunchy with light flavor. The cheese gave the inside an ooey gooey creaminess and helped bind the fritter. The surprise star was the sausage. It gives each bite a salty, fatty pork flavor. The mustard is stone ground and has a good tang to it, but I did not catch much honey in its flavor. The special burger of the day was a Bacon Blue Burger. This burger was made with two 6oz patties, bacon jam, blue cheese on a Martin's potato roll and served with hand cut fries. The fries were fried and seasoned well. The bacon jam was slightly sweet and there was plenty on the burger. The bacon reminded me of bacon bits and the onions were finely chopped too. The blue cheese was melted and added a nice saltiness, creaminess and sharpness to the burger. The bun was soft, fresh and the burger to bun ratio was great. The burgers had a very hard sear on them, and they were almost burnt. The burger was not bad at all but if they were a little juicer it would have been even better. Nightjar sources their ingredients locally, and their beef specifically from Berea College farm. They also have a small menu and have limited seating. A wait is possible. The service was pretty good as well. The Fat Man says that Nightjar is Fat Man Approved with 2 chins. read more

See all

The best burger in Berea. Employees are always friendly, and the food is consistently great.

Cocktails are so refreshing !!! I got the Cardinal and it was a valentines special. We got burgers (they are smashed style) and they are good quality meat! The fries are some of the best ever!!! They are hand cut & remind me of Five guys fries My husband tried the smoked bratwurst and it was one of the best brats we have tried!!! Perfect smoked flavor! Lastly the tiramisu was soooo good! They said it goes quick and I can see why! Such a cozy and cute spot! read more

See all

We finally visited Nightjar this evening for a delicious burger. We were greeted by Katie the owner who said that a few years ago she wanted to open a place in Berea that sells great burgers and she has accomplished it very well! Nightjar shares its space with Native Bagel which is open in the mornings. Nightjar is proud to use local and Animal Welfare Approved Berea College Farm beef for our burgers. Served on a Martin's potato roll. We both had the Oklahoma Cheeseburger. This was a 6 ounce double patty smash burger with caramelized fried onions and topped with American cheese which included a generous portion of their hand cut French fries. The burger could have use a little more seasoning for my personal taste (maybe some seasoned salt) but it was a very delicious meal! Their hours are Wednesday - Saturday from 5:00pm - 9:00pm and is a very popular place with the locals. If you don't want a burger, there are other items available on their menu. Definitely a great place to visit while in Berea! read more

Nightjar - Oklahoma Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Berea, Kentucky

The food at Nightjar is amazing, unique and well prepared. The same goes for drinks. When I have been there, the number of staff was limited. Orders are placed at the counter and you have to figure out where to get your own napkins, etc. No receipts were offered or apparently available. Tables were extremely close. Good luck squeezing between them unless you are tiny. Because of the crowding, it was very noisy. If you are in a party mood, dine in. Otherwise, get food to go! read more

Lively spot on a Saturday night with a big concert on nearby Berea College campus. Friendly, warm atmosphere with a definite buzz. Great cheese burgers and fries. And the Cowboy Kicker craft cocktail rates in my top 10. Refreshing, flavorful, a total pleasure. I will be back next spring and this is the first place I'll come for dinner. read more

I've eaten at the morning operation (Native Bagel Co) a number of times, but this was my first chance to try the evening concept (Nightjar). I was sure the experience would be good and I wasn't disappointed. I got there at opening to meet some friends for drinks before dinner. We found a table in a corner and cruised the menu. Ordering of food and drinks is done at the bar. I ordered a signature cocktail "Whip-poor-Will" (gin, pear, egg white) and it was positively delightful. I'd happily drink three or four more. I also ordered the sauerkraut fritters - balls of kraut, bacon, and swiss breaded and fried, served with a honey mustard dipping sauce. I could have eaten a dozen - they are excellent. Not greasy, just excellent. My friends ordered the bacon cheese fries. They were a large order, filling up the pie plate they were served in. Hand cut fries, big pieces of bacon, and a nice melty cheese. Probably my new "go-to" for cheese fries. My dinner companions showed up and we switched to dinner. I ordered the Apple Orchard Sangria cocktail and it was the best sangria I've ever had. Not overly sweet, and a perfect blend of apple, wine, and apple brandy. I drank three. (don't judge me) Two friends ordered the Baby Burger (single patty, side of fries.) It was a standard plain smashburger style, and looked good. The side of fries was huge. Two others ordered the Vegan Artichoke Burger, which they said was good. (They're not vegan, either. But they'd had it before and it was worth ordering again.) I had the Roast Beef dinner special. Local beef, sliced, and served with green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy. It was good, and I enjoyed it. I don't typically love sliced roast beef, but this was quite tasty. The horseradish sauce they served on the side was a good addition. On reflection, I wish I'd ordered a burger since that's the mainstay, but another time! We left just before closing, but after last call. It was a great atmosphere to sit and linger and visit with my friends. There are several pros: The size of the operation lends itself to a very local feel. The folks will know your name and the service is good. The food was amazing. And the bartender named Leslie who is coming up with the special drinks is doing a great job. (Again, that sangria!) The cons: The limited hours / days of operation are a bummer, no matter how understandable they are. They are Wednesday to Saturday, 5-9. I want to eat this food earlier in the day, and more days. The only other thing I can think of is the size of the space and the need for counter service. (Again, very understandable.) It can make it feel cramped when folks are waiting at the bar to order and others are seated at the tables in the middle of the room. Thankfully, we were tucked away in a corner spot, which kinda kept us apart some. I would travel the two hours from my home to Berea just to eat at Nightjar. I'm ready to go back now. read more

See all

I've eaten here a number of times and have yet to be dissatisfied. It's not a big space so it can get crowded but the food is consistently good and the staff is friendly and helpful. The Watermelon Mojito I had tonight was one of the best cocktails I've ever had. I love that the beef is organic and locally sourced and the weekly specials offer some variety for those not in the mood for a burger. I'm so glad to have this restaurant in Berea! read more

See all

Okay, so my husband wanted pretzels and beer cheese for movie night tonight so I went searching and found Nightjar. Eureka! Not only did I succeed in finding excellent pretzel nuggets for him but also some great main fare food. Even though some of the items we wanted to try weren't on the menu tonight, what we got didn't disappoint. Found their food to be locally sourced, freshly prepared and incredibly tasty! The cob salad was huge and chocked full of fresh salad items and lettuce that looked like, well, fresh lettuce - who knew?!? The take out service was quick; food was being bagged when I walked in. Can't really speak to the ambiance but the place was small and cute. Btw, the pretzel bites are nearly gone and we haven't even started the movie - will definitely be back to this little gem in Berea! read more

Excellent local place in Berea staffed by the owners. This place is a Bagel shop in the morning and a restaurant in the evening. Limited but tasty dinner menu and a variety of cocktails and local beers. We ate at Nightjar twice having burgers, Patti Melt and a Cobb Salad. All were very good! It's a small place but they move folks through quickly. read more

Sadly, last night was the first chance I had to visit Nightjar. We are always so busy with our own business, we rarely get a chance to get out. I'm sorry to say I'm even sadder I waited so long. It was many things all in one. Comfortably intimate Delicious Beautiful and I really dig the vibes A lovely place with familiar faces I'm the girl who romanticizes her life and honestly, last night at Night Jar felt like I was living in a real-life Hallmark movie. Thank you Katie Startzman for creating yet another beautiful space for food, friends and a great atmosphere. I hope more entrepreneurs come forward and create these delicious food spaces for us. Please do what you can to support our family owned businesses. I'm all about keeping Berea small, but we all gotta shop small for it to work. PS...the burger was chef's kiss. #thisisberea #smalltownvibes #shoplocal #supportsmallbusinessowners read more

Top notch Burger and Brat! This is a bagel place by day (Native Bagel) and for evening switches up to serve drinks and a great burger and the best bratwurst I've ever had. Its a very very small space inside, and I opted for carry-out. The food is worth the stop either way. The short pick-up interaction was pleasant so i stopped for a bagel breakfast sandwich the next morning. it was good too. A nice little spot, if a little cramped, I'd go back to when in the area. read more

Passing through town, staying at hotel. So, we ordered takeout. Walked in to pickup food and was impressed by the indoor dining vibe with nice music, good crowd, and a staff that seemed happy, fun, and relaxed. Unbeknownst to me this spot is a daytime Bagel joint. Anyhow, there was mixup with the online menu and some items are not technically available in evening. Anyhow, Katie put together falafel bowl for me :)... and we also had fritters, burger, and fries. All the food was excellent. Thanks so much for accommodating us. The fritters and mustard were awesome! Will recommend all day and stop in next chance we get! read more

Recommended to us for dinner when we were passing through. My husband had the Oklahoma burger and I had the chicken sandwich platter. Absolutely delicious! Service was fast and very friendly! read more

I love this place. I go every other week and meet friends there. If my friends can't go, I go anyway. I order a burger and a cocktail. Sometimes I add on some yummy deviled eggs. The food, the staff, the cocktails, the atmosphere are all delightful. read more