Stopped here as we were driving by because the outdoor patio looked inviting. We asked to sit outside and were told we could only sit inside. We were hungry so we agreed but this totally killed the ambience and the reason we stopped. I ordered a burger and the meat smelled on the verge of being spoiled. I couldn't eat it. Their bourbon prices are crazy expensive. This seems like a tourist trap from people going to the local distilleries. The food prices were a little high also for the lack of quality. I would say look elsewhere. read more

On our way to Castle and Key we stopped at a small side of the road place to eat. Well turns out it was a very good choice. The inside of the place is small but has a lot of character. They have one wall the is completely barrel staves. Now being called the stave and have barrel staves I assumed they would have bourbon which they did and they give you choices of different bourbon flights. The menu is fairly normal with sandwiches and such. Worth a stop if you are traveling to Woodford reserve or castle and key. read more

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Can I give more than 5 stars? What a find!! Unassuming little place off even the side roads. Tiny parking lot so heed the warning!! Warm inviting cabin cozy feel, tiny kitchen I don't know how the 3 guys manage to move, but BOY can they cook!! If you want Whiskey BTW, I didn't have time to count from the wall of bottles. Amazing selection. My food was to-go so none for me. This time. read more

The Stave - Fried green tomatoe/okra fritters - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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OK - good thing this isn't about first impressions - which were terrible. We could not get good reception on our trip over so we could not make a reservation. Hoping to get lucky we showed up at The Stave for dinner at a little before 5. The restaurant was doing an ok business outside but still had empty tables - and plenty of empties indoors. So when the Host person told us we could not be accommodated until after 7:00, we were stunned. (They also mentioned something about "I asked other tables and they are expecting more guests, so...". Waaaaa???????? I chalked this up to inexperience and the fact that the host person was getting pressure from a colleague who wanted to seat their parents by 6:00. They both proceeded to ignore us entirely at that point and began their own engrossing conversation. We decided to go elsewhere - but discovered our second choice was closing early. So - we drove a few miles - got reception - and got online. We were able to make reservations at 5:30. HUH? Can't seat us until 7????? Anyway - we went back and were seated immediately. In fact - they greeted us like they had never seen us before. So - WORD TO THE WISE - ALWAYS HAVE A RESERVATION because front of the house/wait staff is NOT always on their game. (A few may not even KNOW the game). The food was tasty and filling, and they had some interesting choices. I agree with one other reviewer who said the chef has a heavy hand - things were a tad salty - but most in my party didn't notice. We would return. And I would love the recipe for the rosemary vinaigrette! read more

The service and atmosphere was great! Very very very small and quaint but worth the stop. My husband got a bourbon flight and I got a gin cocktail. Loved my cocktail and my husband was happy to try some bourbon he didn't have in his collection. I tried a few small plates and feel so-so about them. I got the ham sliders, the corn bread and the pimento and grits balls. Loved the cheese balls. My husband said his fried chicken sandwich was to die for. I'd stop by if I'm the area again. read more

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Everything was excellent! Off the beaten path but go find it! We did a walk-up at 5:00 and barely got to n, so make reservations.

This restaurant was able to accommodate our group of 12 on a Friday evening, kicking off our bourbon country weekend. Great drinks, food was incredible. Hands down the best Brussels sprouts ever!! All of our parties food was delicious and the wait staff was wonderful!! read more

This was my second time to The Stave. The first time was amazing but I'm not sure what was going on last night. We had reservations for the treehouse at 7. We were seated right at 7 but didn't have someone wait on us and take our complete order until 7:15 then received water at 7:20 and by 7:43 when we still didn't have our old fashions or appetizers or food we decided to just leave. We showed up hungry and ready for a good drink to watch Derek Spencer sing. Derek was a phenomenal singer and I feel really bad for him that the entire crowd seemed sour because everyone was in the same boat we were. We watched one couple say they had not received their drinks for 30 minutes and as the night went on we saw it happening to everyone around us. It did not seem that busy but it could have been a staffing issue because it seemed like the employees had some tension between them. One employee kept yelling very loudly no more walkins but there were plenty tables available both indoor and out. I really hope the owner/manager sees this so it does not continue this way because this can be a really great place! read more

Ambiance was good. Food was average at best. Bologna sandwich we ordered was cold on the center. Service was good. Nope we did not complain since we were in a hurry to get to our next stop. read more

Every time we are up from Florida we try and eat at The Stave, it out of the way but worth the effort to come. There is a great bourbon menu, delicious food and beautiful surroundings. The stave is close to Woodford Reserve and Castle and Key. I would highly recommend giving it a try, read more

The Stave - Stave Burger with Cheese grits! - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

Went here today (had a reservation because I've heard it gets busy due to the distilleries nearby) and was not disappointed!! The ambiance to the amazing waiter, T-bone, to the delicious food with decent prices and generous portions really wowed us all. I was happy to see how many vegetarian and GF options there were. All the food was comfort food. I got the burgoo, hot brown and deviled eggs and fried cheese grits to start. None of us could finish our food. It was so good! No complaints! And I was super happy that all of items I tried were made GF! I will be back! read more

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Good service was the only thing that was good. The wait was too long and we had reservations, still had to wait over 30 min. Not real satisficed with the dinner menu for seniors. The food was very overpriced for the portion sizes. They need to remember the customer should be their first priority. Then ran out of some of the items we ordered. read more

This joint is soooo cool. Amazing ambiance with the wood details and lights on the wrap around deck. It feels like something right out of HGTV. Darla was a great waitress. The Nashville Hot Chicken bites with ranch were really good, and so was the beer cheese. We'd come here all the time if we lived in the area. read more

Great food, great service, great atmosphere. They also have a fantastic bourbon selection for the enthusiasts.

This hole in the wall joint is amazing! We found it by chance and will definitely be going back! Large portion sizes, delicious taste & a great atmosphere. read more

The Stave - Breakfast hash. - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

My sister and I took my father here on Father's Day. I had heard good things and knew that the home cooking, small town feel would be something we would all enjoy. We weren't disappointed. Although we didn't have a reservation and they were really busy, we were seated right away, inside the main restaurant. The service was quick, friendly and attentive. They've got a wide variety of menu choices, mostly comfort foods. Sis and Dad ordered the catfish plate and I got the Pig and Pickle (a sandwich with roasted pork, country ham and pickles.) Delicious. Fries are really good and look to be fresh cut. They've got a full bar, but we had good sweet tea. I wish we'd left room for dessert as they looked really good. I look forward to going back. read more

Great restaurant, especially when on the bourbon trail visiting nearby Castle & Key, Woodford Reserve or even Buffalo Trace. Had probably the best grits in my life. Catfish was outstanding and fresh. Everything is locally sourced and prepared on site. Delicious food, great service. Highly recommend: Blackened Cat Fish & Grits Fried Chicken Sandwich Great bourbon cocktails as well. Go! read more

Great food, awesome service. Lots of alcohol. This was a spur of the moment pop in. This place was awesome. Very nice and supportive staff with a great small quaint environment. We will be back. read more

We were having trouble finding something on a Sunday evening in Frankfort. Saw The Stave on a Yelp and decided to give it a try. We had to drive down some back roads, but it was WELL worth the trip. Small place with great wood walls and the food was Fantastic. We had the cornbread appetizer....tasty and moist. I had the Hot Brown....wow.. lots of flavors going on there... bread pudding for desert...again...WOW. The GPS sent us on this winding back road to get there and we were pleasantly surprised when we found this place..... just hope I can go back for lunch tomorrow.!! read more

Such an awesome find! Visiting from Oregon I was thrilled to find they offered our state's famous Pinot Noir on their menu. This place is great! They have local favorites on the menu - with a twist. Prices are comparable with any decent restaurant. This isn't a dive. This isn't a chain. So don't expect the usual, or a deal. (I'm surprised someone said the place was pricey!!! NOT!) And the hostess was super friendly without being fake, and the bartender was happy I stopped in as an out of towner! Don't miss this gem! Soon, they'll gain popularity & you'll wish you could grab an open seat!!!! (Plus - this place is farm-to-table! Locally sourced!) read more

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Let me start off my review by saying that this place has only been open a couple of weeks and I've already been there three times. With bourbon barrel decor (it is called The Stave, after all!), a great outdoor patio, and tasty food, this place has really been a winner for me and a nice change of pace from the typical Frankfort fare. Between myself and my fellow diners, we've made our way through many of the meals and cocktails. The cocktails were probably a bit overpriced, but they were interesting and many of their spirits come from local distilleries, including Castle & Key just down the road. My top recommendation: Order the pimento cheese grit fries. They are hands down the best thing any of us has tried (and reordered) and the sauces that come with them are delicious! Grab a couple extra plates to share. If you're a Frankfort native looking to try something new or are passing through along the bourbon trail, this place is for you! read more

Guys! Run, this place is so refreshing! I cant wait to go back. This spot is tiny! But has a great patio with a great view. The decor is fabulous! I've not seen anything like it, bourbon barrel wall, the light fixtures are unique. The bar is small, maybe 6 stools but perfect. Intimate, relaxing, farm to table. We had a couple of drinks. The cornbread(not disappointed, but not wow-ed either) and tomato sandwich app (fresh garden tomatoes! Yum!) My date had the burger added cheese and egg, they were very accommodating, hand cut fries. I had the bone in chop special with roasted tomatoes potatoes.... and some sort of fresh green bean. Now some people ear green beans kind of crunchy and raw. Us south eastern Kentucky folk like our white half runners and we like them green and cooked to death for a couple of hours til they are tender and almost melt in your mouth. NOT saying the green beans were bad.... just simply different and not my preferred method of cooking. I cant wait to go back to try the rest of the apps! Hot brown fries and pimento cheese is calling my name. read more

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Terrible service, over seasoned food, worst old fashion drink ever. When we arrived they were trying to seat us outside on the covered patio in the corner, mind you we had this reservation booked 8 months ago for our planned trip; not even crowed inside plenty of open tables so we pushed back and were accommodated. The service was ridiculously slow being that there were only 6 or 7 tables seated. It took over 20+ minutes to get our drinks and it was terribly made. Not one of us finished our old fashion; it's like the bartender never made it before and used small ice cubes too (sorry its know that you use a single large cube for bourbon), I noticed other tables didn't drink theirs either. When the food finally arrived everything was over seasoned or burnt. I don't understand how you can serve burnt food? No quality control at all. I would not recommend this place for dinner. I'm sorry we even wasted our time here! read more

Came here on a Saturday morning with a large group before a distillery tour at Buffalo Trace. We ordered the Snack Board and Build Your Own Biscuits which were both really good with unique condiments for make different combinations. I ordered the Pimento Grilled Cheese which was good, but not the best grilled cheese I have ever had. For dessert we shared the local pick of cheesecake and it was AMAZING! Definitely order cheesecake when you are here. Side note: We had a friend in crutches and found their bathroom difficult to handle (door opened out; no ADA railing), so just be aware if you have anyone with a disability. read more

Middle of nowhere restaurant with amazing food. Nothing lazy about any of their food, they put the extra effort in. I asked for a medium burger and got a medium burger, that never happens even at high end restaurants. The service was even better than the food, altering dishes a certain way due to food allergies and consistent check-ins to see if we could use anything. On top of all that pretty much everything is locally sourced. This will likely be my new regular spot, sorry Bourbon on Maine! read more

The Stave - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

This little place is off the beaten path but we'll worth the trip! A huge selections of bourbon and cocktail drinks. The food was AWESOME! Very friendly staff. Our waitress was Melissa, she took great care of us. The food was unbelievable, we had the burgoo and cornbread, and the blackened catfish with cheese grits-excellant! Also had their pork and rice bouidan balls for an appetizer. Had a pecan pie with bourbon whipped cream-out of this world! I will drive anywhere to try something new and the 30 minute drive from Shelbyville, Ky was well worth it, and we will be going back read more

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Stopped here for brunch when passing through the Frankfort area on our KY adventure. They have a great menu, I could not pass up the burgou, it's hard to find. Came with a corn cake. I also had a chicken sandwich. Food was good, service was five star. On a nice day, sit on the patio! read more

By far our favorite dining experience during our stay in Kentucky. The Stave is a hidden gem just down the street from the Woodford Reserve distillery (also a must-see). We had the grilled pimento cheese sandwich, the burger, and the hot chicken sandwich, and they were all outstanding. With farm-to-table ingredients, upscale preparation, and small-town congeniality, you can't get a better lunch anywhere. For those with a taste for bourbon, they've got a solid bourbon list as well as several interesting cocktails. We had bourbon lemonade, which was crisp and refreshing on a hot August afternoon. Above anything else, ask for Loria! She's a super star, and is guaranteed to turn lunch into an afternoon get-together on the porch. Thanks to Loria and the folks at The Stave for such a great visit. read more

Beautiful night and music. Reserved a firepit for the evening. Great for kids, families and dates. Food was decent, good cocktails and nice service. The quail entree is delicious, hot chicken not bad. Menu selection is amble but not overwhelming. Awesome bourbon selection. read more

The pimento cheese was amazing! Great service and drinks. It is a little hole in the wall.

Wonderful stop in between distillery tours. We had the pickle brined chicken sandwich and the catfish on a salad. Olivia our server was wonderful! Food is great, bourbon selection is outstanding. Would definitely recommend and go back again. Very cool place. read more

Visited after touring a wedding venue in the area and loved it! Had the Rebecca's Choice flight, the bbq and hoe cakes app, the blackened pork chop and the hot chicken. My fiancé also got the barrel pick bourbon which was a great deal and I got the NY sour cocktail. Heather, our server, was wonderful and everybody seemed to really be enjoying themselves. read more

Exceptional dishes and so worth the trip. Tucked away on a quiet road - this gem has a lot to offer. We stopped in after a few bourbon tours and it didn't disappoint! Would come back again read more

Unique is a good word to describe their menu selection! Items you can't find anywhere else! The food and service are both excellent! Off the beaten path but the drive there is beautiful! Worth every minute! read more

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The burnt orange old fashioned wasn't horrible but it wasn't awesome. The deviled eggs appetizer was ok. The pimento cheese and veggies appetizer was ok. The cheeseburger was disgusting. It tasted like it was cooked in old grease. The fries were soggy. Not at all fresh. The staff was friendly and attentive as they could be considering how busy they were. This was around 2pm on a Saturday and they were super busy. We typically eat out in Louisville so maybe for Frankfort this is the best option but we definitely won't be back. Not an issue for us because we don't live in this area but if you're used to awesome craft cocktails and great food, I don't recommend. The bourbon list was huge with lots to offer. read more

Great place to stop along the bourbon trail! Really pretty drive to get there and well worth it. We made patio reservations for lunch before the Castle and Key tour. Pimento cheese app was great with a little kick to it. We followed that by splitting the fried cast fish and grits. Excellent! Portions may seem small because they aren't giant - they are definitely right sized. Staff was super friendly and efficient. read more

Had high hopes but disappointed. First portions are extremely small, if you're hungry plan on supplementing your meal with another stop on the way back. Second, the burger was dry m, medium warm and had pockets of extreme salt as you bite in. The fries were soggy and contained less than a small McDonald's fries. Ribs were forgotten and had to wait extra, upon receiving them we were shocked to find only 3 ribs - and lacking any kind of flavor. What we did like: the game board was really good. read more

Was visiting Frankfort, KY for training and was told about The Stave and I am damn glad I went to check it out. Great service friendly and went out of their way to make us feel welcomed. Our waitress Brittney was fantastic and never once left us alone, service was spot on. Heather the GM has a great atmosphere setup here. Would absolutely recommend the place great food great service great atmosphere. Oh and the bourbon selection is very impressive. read more

The Stave - Their homemade bread pudding to die for. - Southern Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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We really enjoyed this place! The food was solid, very quick for a short staff and the drinks were decent. Large bourbon selection as well. Had the fried chicken and it was awesome! Carla our waitress was very good, funny and engaging and made the experience that much better. Would definitely recommend and we plan on going back again on this trip! read more

10/10 a must stop at The Stave. Easily the best meal and drinks I've ever had. Our group had gone to the castle & key distillery down the road from the Stave and decided we'd stop in around 3ish on a Saturday on our way back. The Stave doesn't look like much on the outside but I can assure you it did not disappoint on the inside. If you're lucky enough to be there when Scarlett is bartending, make sure to order her Whiskey Sour-- it brought happy tears to our eyes it was so delicious. We ordered apps all around-- ho cakes, craw fish, and brussels-- all being simply amazing. Leave room for cheese cake or some of the best bread pudding you'll ever have. There is a huge patio out back too which will be super nice in the warmer months. read more