Ole Bus Stop Diner — Restaurant in Booneville

Visited while traveling through Booneville as it seemed to be the only restaurant in town that was open for breakfast; on second thought I think it may have been the only restaurant in town.

Parking is shared with the gas station next door, and at 9AM we had no trouble finding a spot, although parking does seem to be rather limited. After coming in the front door I asked the person behind the counter if we seated ourselves, to which was answered with a nod. We seated ourselves in the larger of the two dining areas, where to other parties (one group 6 people and a group of 2.) We sat there a good 20 minutes and several passes of the counter-clerk/waitress before I decided to go out to the car to get a drink. A few minutes later the waitress appeared and we placed our biscuits & gravy and fried bologna order.

After placing our breakfast order we waited another 15 minutes, which isn't incredibly long. The food that we received was underwhelming.

Brown gravy, typically meant for a roast or a Salisbury steak versus milk or sausage gravy with frozen biscuits that can only be described as undercooked and gummy. The gravy was incredibly salty, like what you would imagine from a packaged mix you would buy in bulk. We didn't finish them, but still asked for a box in the hopes that our German Shepherd would eat what had been paid for, but even he wouldn't eat it.

I had hopes for the fried bologna. It's such a simple, filling, and tasty meal, but again we were let down. The bologna was the super thin sandwich slices so there was no substance to it. The toast was done well, but must have sat waiting for the biscuits to thaw, because the sandwich itself was room temperature.

The food was bad, but inexpensive, costing less than $20. Aside from the smell of stale smoke the restaurant seemed clean-ish, but apparently hadn't been inspected by the Health Department since December 2021 if the inspection sheet displayed on the corkboard at the entrance is up-to-date. The service was okay, but seemed understaffed for a Saturday morning.

Overall, eat before you get...

Got a chicken bacon ranch wrap. The bacon was 95% transparent fat for starters (no exaggeration) and it was raw. If you simply look at the other negative reviews it's immediately clear that undercooked, unseasoned food is the running theme of this place. Dangerous business model to perpetuate seeing as it's years of this being stated. The bacon was wet noodle limp undercooked and had a miniscule toothpick thin strand of meat on the skirt that was pink. Utterly disgusting, I pulled it off and left it on the plate. The chicken on it was devoid of any seasoning whatsoever, just chopped breast meat. At least it was done though and there was a generous amount of it. There was essentially no ranch on it at all, even after specifically requesting extra ranch. I just felt like it was gonna make me ill the rest of my meal after pulling that raw pork off of it. Thank god it didn't or our entire riding trip would have been ruined. Very very poor choice to serve up undercooked meats to anyone. The inspector should shut this place down as many reports of undercooked meat and fish as there are. They made the other couple sick with raw catfish. Insane that they have a near 5 star review but... Google reviews are a bad joke. The fries were good enough and the sweet tea was good. The service was good country folk service. The restroom is just crazy though, it's practically joined to the dining area. It's just weird as all hell, you literally open the door and are staring at a dining room full of eating customers looking at you. Crazy uncomfortable and feels grossly too joined with where you eat. Put up a partition or curtain for Christ's sake... something... sheesh. We were visiting from out of town but only from Northern Kentucky. Certainly wouldn't give it a second shot next year when we return for Red River Scramble '26. No chance! Do...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Hidden Gem in the Mountains — Ole Bus Stop Diner in Boonville, KY

While traveling through the beautiful mountains of eastern Kentucky, we pulled into the charming town of Boonville in search of a good meal. We always enjoy discovering non-franchise, mom-and-pop restaurants on our trips — and Ole Bus Stop Diner was exactly what we were hoping to find.

From the moment we stepped inside, we were impressed by the cozy, country atmosphere. The walls are paneled in knotty pine, giving the dining room a warm, rustic feel. Everything was spotless and well lit — a sure sign that the folks here take pride in their place.

The menu offered a great selection of home-cooked favorites, the kind of hearty comfort food that’s getting harder to find these days. I ordered the Salisbury steak, which came with two tasty sides, while my wife went with a classic cheeseburger served with fries and coleslaw. Both meals were absolutely delicious — fresh, flavorful, and cooked just right.

Our waitress was delightful — friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. And the best surprise of all? The bill for both of us, drinks included, came to only $20.00. That’s an incredible value for such a satisfying meal.

Ole Bus Stop Diner is the kind of place that makes you feel right at home. If you ever find yourself passing through Boonville, don’t miss it. Excellent food, friendly service, and small-town charm all rolled into one — I highly recommend Ole...