Merle's Whiskey Kitchen — Restaurant in Louisville

Was passing through Louisville and was hoping for a good southern dinner in a great live music atmosphere. Food was fantastic, atmosphere was great (the singer that night was amazing) but our waitress ruined the entire experience. We can quickly recognize when a restaurant is understaffed and a server is doing her best and can't help delays, etc. This was not the case. Our server (believe her name was Megan) was rude and unprofessional from the time we sat down. She was working the bar and it was clear she had no desire to wait tables as well. Was annoyed when we asked questions about the menu, annoyed when I asked for a straw for my mixed drink (which I eventually went and got myself bc she never came back) never checked on us once we got our food. One item was never even put in to the kitchen. The table next to us had cycled through two different parties who both left after she never came to check on them either. It took 20 minutes to get our check once we were finished with our meal. Again...she wasn't overworked there was hardly anyone there and two other people were working the bar. She was chatting it up with a group of men at the bar and just walking around talking to other servers. To make things worse she combed through her hair with her fingers the entire time she was taking our order and at one point the bartender raised his shirt and she grabbed his chest bare handed. Look, I can appreciate fun being had behind the bar on a Saturday night...but that's just gross and unprofessional when...

After a long day of driving and whisky tasting we left the last tasting and asked the local team of where we should go to eat. Low and behold they simply pointed across the street to this amazing location.

We sat down quickly and listened to the couple next to us talk about how their food was tasting and how impressed they were with the selections.

Considering the way the day started and the $42 pit stop at a gas station of pure junk food we were crazy excited to get some real food to help balance us back out before having to drive the 2.5 hours back to the hotel.

Started with the pretzel and queso dip. To a total surprise the pretzels were made with a secret ingredient that blew our minds and this just lead us down a path of ordering with our eyes.

Chicken tenders with maple whisky syrup Tacos - fried chicken and bourbon Que Texas gold burger - brisket, bacon, cheddar, pickle with garlic fries Candied bourbon maple bacon with maple bourbon glaze

Of each item ordered we can hands down walk away saying 5/5 for each item.

Then to make the night even more of a surprise they had a live band setting up to shred the night away.

For a day trip to Kentucky it did not let us down in any way at all.

This is a great location and when we come back we will be returning to this location for dinner once again and for the travels we do we barely go to the same place twice when traveling always wanting to try something new, however this made the must do it again...

The service started bad, when we walked in and three employees where standing at the front booth ,and was not immediately greeted they finished their conversation before giving us nasty looks and seating us. Food was about what you would expect, good not great. The atmosphere ruined the decent food,music was extremely too loud which made it to where every table would have to yell to speak to anyone. Also the waitress seemed like everything was such an inconvenience to her. I could go on about the disappointment here, considering I have been wanting to try it since it was opened. I'm glad I tried it but sadly will not be returning. A couple recommendations ... Get more of a focus on the menu and pick a type of food just because you can somehow add bourbon to a sauce in some way that doesn't mean it will be good. Music I understood it was going to be more of a country type restaurant turn the music down, and remember just because it's country doesn't mean your live musicians need to be praising Jesus while people are trying to eat, as an atheist, and being raised Southern Baptist, I still found this off putting, and could tell other people did also. Lastly being in the south we are known for our hospitality and charm, maybe pass this along to your staff, and make sure that they are using these traits with your customers. The prices weren't bad, but service and atmosphere...