Favorite/Best Restaurant Outside Louisville?

Here's one for you frequent KY backroads travelers. What's your favorite/best restaurant in KY outside the city limits? Please include location, favorite meal served, type of building it's housed in (historic v. new) and distance from Louisville. I've done so much international travel that I'm starting to feel bad that I haven't explored my own back yard much.

There are many choices but at the top of my list would probably be Westport General Store in Westport Kentucky. It's less than 20 miles from Prospect with most of the trip on U.S.42, their website with this complete directions. The building is relatively new but has a good country feel and atmosphere. The menu has many good choices but among my favorites are the baby Hot Brown appetizer and the Bison Ribeye for entree. I don't really have a favorite dessert because I'm normally full by then.

Here's the website: Westport General Store

My favorite is Science Hill in Shelbyville. They have a Sunday brunch that is just fantastic. Call ahead for reservations and be sure to have the bread pudding with bourbon sauce for dessert.

Simpsonville has the Old Stone Inn. In the past things have been inconsistent but the last few visits have been quite good. They have a nice outdoor patio thats great when the weathers right, and their cozy little bar area hits the spot on cooler days.
Just down the road closer to Shelbyville is Sergios World Beers. Cant say enough about this place,you just have to experience it. They now offer well over 800 beers with a great selection on tap.
One other place I dont see get mentioned here on the forum is in Frankfort. The White Light Diner is a great little spot. The building looks like a White Castle thats been to hell and back. It just kind of hangs off the side of a hill just down from the bridge over the river. Hes almost always got the smokers going outside that perfumes the air in the building with pork smoke. Its a real old school diner with terazzo floors,long counter with short stools,a few small tables,one wise cracking cook and one waitress. One of the things I really like about the place is hes committed to using locally produced organic meat,and the quality really shows in the burgers,they are now among my favorites. Good oyster po boys,eggs benedict,pulled pork and great home made pies. The place and its owner/cook are very eclectic. You can see it the decorations hanging around the place as well as the specials offered. If your going thru Frankfort its one of he best spots around in an overchained area.

The original "Our Best Restaurant" in Smithfield...down-home country cookin' that makes Cracker Barrel pale in comparison...no reservations, and can be very busy on weekends....

...almost forgot: Knoth's BBQ, near Kuttawa, KY -- EXCELLENT BBQ!

Easy Choice:

Patti's Settlement in Grand Rivers (Land Between the Lakes).

Best Porkchop you can get, anywhere.

[Robin Garr]

Operating on the assumption that Oldham and Shelby are part of the Louisville Metropolitan area for census purposes, I'd consider Westport General Store, Sergio's, Science Hill and others to be more local/regional than "outside."

How about Holly Hill Inn in Midway, though? That's a Louisville-quality restaurant in the boonies.

Hofbrauhaus
Newport, KY

A very tasty and festive bier hall JUST inside Kentucky's state line; down the street from Newport Aquarium.

One other place I dont see get mentioned here on the forum is in Frankfort. The White Light Diner is a great little spot. The building looks like a White Castle thats been to hell and back. It just kind of hangs off the side of a hill just down from the bridge over the river. Hes almost always got the smokers going outside that perfumes the air in the building with pork smoke. Its a real old school diner with terazzo floors,long counter with short stools,a few small tables,one wise cracking cook and one waitress. One of the things I really like about the place is hes committed to using locally produced organic meat,and the quality really shows in the burgers,they are now among my favorites. Good oyster po boys,eggs benedict,pulled pork and great home made pies. The place and its owner/cook are very eclectic. You can see it the decorations hanging around the place as well as the specials offered. If your going thru Frankfort its one of he best spots around in an overchained area.

I have to say it's great to see someone suggesting the White Light. During our tenure in Frankfort, we lived just a a few blocks away across the Singing Bridge and got to know Rick pretty well as we were regular Saturday morning customers. My wife was absolutely addicted to his Eggs Benedict and skillet potatoes, I bought quite a few bags of his pulled pork, and he foisted a fair share of beignets on me. Watch out for the Cajun Omelet, though, the sauce is on fire.

Like his cajun sauce, Rick's personality is also not for the weak, and at the White Light the customer is definitely not always right. He's about as irreverent as it gets and has no inhibitions when it comes to any kind of commentary.

But don't let him scare you too much, because his food is the bomb. Rick is CIA trained and served as personal chef to one of KY's governors (can't remember which one). He also did a stint at the Greenbrier in WV, I believe as Executive Chef. Now that we're in the Ville, we reminisce about strolling down to the diner, but the best we can do is stop in from time to time and keep up to date on his facebook page http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1275718531

I'm assuming by your use of "backroads," that Lexington restaurants are out of the discussion.

That being the case, my two would easily be (1) Westport General Store and (2) the Beaumont Inn in Harrodsburg (upscale country food, very old and historic building/inn). It's pretty drive too, and if you're tired/have too much to drink, just get a room at the inn!
http://www.beaumontinn.com/dining.htm

The Schnitzelbank Restaurant
393 Third Avenue,
Jasper, Indiana 47546
(812) 482-2640
(812) 482-7687 (fax)

Monday - Saturday 8am - 10pm
Closed Sundays and most holidays



Kraut Balls
Fried Chicken
Filet Mignon
German Sampler Platter
Soup & Salad Bar



http://www.schnitzelbank.com/

Perhaps, I'm misunderstanding the question. I initially though you only asked favorite places outside of Louisville, but you're more inclined to want ones on back roads?

Hofbrauhaus
Newport, KY

A very tasty and festive bier hall JUST inside Kentucky's state line; down the street from Newport Aquarium.

Ditto, great beer and food. I go about 3-4 times a year.

Hey, don't forget about the fine food in Glendale.........

Oh for a slice of Chocolate pie

Here are places I like in no particular order. I highlighted the ones not mentioned yet.

Beaumont Inn - Harraodsburg
Beehive Tavern - Augusta
Doe Run Inn - Brandenburg
Kentucky Depot - Stanford
Holly Hill Inn - Midway
Missy's Out of The Way Cafe - Raywick
Old Stone Inn - Simpsonville
Our Best - Smithfield
Patti's Settlement - Grand Rivers
Science Hill Inn - Shelbyville
The Lighthouse - Sulphur Wells
Tony York's On Main - Glendale
Xavier's - Bardstown