Diners' Choice: Best Ambience restaurants in Central Kentucky

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best ambience in Central Kentucky? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Watch Hill Proper

4.8

4.8 (52)

$31 to $50

American

East Louisville

About the restaurant

Watch Hill Proper Bourbon Bar & Kitchen is a unique restaurant experience located in the heart of bourbon country. Open to the public, we offer the largest selection of American whiskey in the country along with a world class cocktail program made entirely with American whiskey. Chef Michael Crouch is a master of blending flavor to pair with our whiskey, cocktails, and wine offerings.

Top review

MichaelVIP

Dined 6 days ago

We had a medium sized group looking for a place to celebrate a birthday. Wonderful place. Excellent service.

The Urban Stillhouse - Somerset

5.0

5 (107)

$31 to $50

American

Somerset

About the restaurant

Come and join us at The Urban Stillhouse Somerset, the food & beverage experience that showcases Horse Soldier Bourbon.

Top review

ChrisVIP

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

Love this place! I had the pork chop. It was cooked perfectly! She had the pecan crusted salmon with pomegranates and said it was amazing. The espresso martini is perfect and the old fashioneds are the best! We’ve been there a few times and will return any time we’re in Somerset. If you haven’t been there, give it a try.

The Chalet

4.9

4.9 (321)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Somerset

About the restaurant

The Chalet is unique dining experience in a beautiful setting with outdoor (open seating) and indoor (reservations) seating. The Chefs provide 50+ years of culinary experience building flavors using contemporary cooking techniques and the highest quality of ingredients. Our mission is to provide the best service possible combined with delicious foods that will leave a lasting memory of your epicurean journey.

Top review

Tomi

Dined on Jan 8, 2025

Fine Dining, excellent food, wonderful service and great environment.

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4.9

4.9 (498)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

East Louisville

About the restaurant

Resting in the East End of Louisville, Cuvee Wine Table is a wine bar and restaurant with comfortable tables and patio perfect for any wine fan – no matter your skill level! We’re ready for the person with no wine knowledge curious to learn and try new wines as well as the experienced wine connoisseur with an extensive list of personal selections made by co-owner and Master Sommelier Scott Harper. Cuvee also has several craft beers on tap and a full bar for cocktails. And, we feature a happy hour!
Open for dinner, for a quick bite or an elegant full table dining experience. The menu includes small plates and entrees with a variety of cured meats, artisanal cheeses, flat breads and our special daily entree. The eclectic wine program lead by Master Sommelier Scott Harper serves a huge wine selection including more than 55 wines available by the taste or glass. Our award wining wine list is all available for retail to go sales.

Top review

Daniel

Dined 1 day ago

Excellent, as always. I just wish the lobster bisque came in bigger bowls (i.e, buckets).

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Experience

Burger Night

Experience

Happy Hour 4PM -6:30PM Tuesday Through Saturday

Bardstown Bourbon Company Kitchen & Bar

4.9

4.9 (2577)

$30 and under

American

Bardstown

About the restaurant

Thoughtfully executed, approachable cuisine informed by both Kentucky classics and the world's finest flavors. We source locally, calling out the farms right on the menu, and make everything in house. We call this the Modern Kentucky Experience.

Please allow ample time to enjoy your meal prior to a tour with us. Our suggestions: 1-2 guests 1 hour 15 minutes, 2-4 guests 1 hour 30 minutes, 4- 8 guests 1 hour 45 minutes, 9-12 guests 2 hours

Top review

Cindy

Dined 1 day ago

Great place food was excellent . Would definitely come back.

Caproni's on the River

4.9

4.9 (160)

$31 to $50

American

Maysville

About the restaurant

Traditional Italian, Kentucky Classics and the best of American Cuisine.. Our approach is to utilize the freshest ingredients and support our community of local growers and producers while providing a memorable dining experience.

Starting back in 1930's as a sandwich shop for railroad workers and travelers, Caps quickly became a favorite in the region! Today diners from across the country seek Caproni's and our river town out for the best dining, art, shopping and history.

Top review

MarkVIP

Dined 2 days ago

I am a regular at Cap's. It is always great food, service and ambience.

Rodney's on Broadway

4.8

4.8 (1134)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Lexington

About the restaurant

Rodney's on Broadway is located in a historic 1840's home in the heart of downtown Georgetown, Kentucky. The restaurant has been beautifully restored to commemorate the best that "The Bluegrass" has to offer.

Rodney's on Broadway has been featured in such magazines, newspapers, and other publications as: Southern Living, Discover Horses, Kentucky Monthly, AceWeekly, The Lexington Herald-Leader, Louisville's Courier-Journal and Keeneland Magazine.

Top review

Tilly

Dined on Dec 28, 2024

I have never had a bad experience at Rodney’s. The food is always great and the restaurant staff is always friendly and the ambience is very nice. Food, drinks and dessert are fantastic!

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Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse - Louisville

4.8

4.8 (7031)

$50 and over

Steak

Downtown Louisville

About the restaurant

The first & only steakhouse of its kind in the Louisville area, Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse serves only dry-aged USDA prime beef. While steak is the foundation of the menu, Jeff Ruby's promises to please seafood lovers as well with its raw/sushi bar & seafood entrees.
Jeff Ruby regulars will be pleased to know that their favorite signature items from the Cincinnati restaurants will be well represented in Louisville. The bone-in filet, the 7 cheese baked macaroni, creamed spinach, truffle flake, & of course Jeff Ruby's secret recipe cheesecake are all staples of the Louisville menu.
Styled after the great NY steakhouses of the 1930s & '40s, Jeff Ruby's promises to be as pleasing visually as it is to the palate. French art-deco design, plush mohair upholstery, hand-selected antique furniture, and cinematic crystal chandeliers anchored by a 1950s-era antique are featured in the Starz series Magic City and the 32-foot wall of wine.

Top review

Bradley

Dined 3 days ago

The atmosphere and ambience was fantastic! Michael was a fantastic waiter for my wife and I at our table. We enjoyed the sea bass and steak, both were cooked perfectly and the other food items we had were great as well. Highly recommend trying the espresso martinis. Overall, the quality was great and it exceeded our expectations. We will definitely be coming back to Jeff Ruby’s again.

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4.8

4.8 (1132)

$50 and over

Farm-to-table

Midway

About the restaurant

At Holly Hill Inn, we offer a unique dining experience which showcases our seasonal and innovative use of local ingredients and heritage Kentucky foods. Our reservations for each service are limited so that our guests may enjoy their time with us to the fullest.

Relax in an art-filled dining room and savor a leisurely dinner or brunch, enhanced by our award-winning wine list, craft cocktail menu, and curated bourbon collection. Our culinary team is led by founder and chef Ouita Michel and Culinary Director Tyler McNabb.

Holly Hill Inn has been featured in Garden and Gun, Southern Living and the N.Y. Times.

For more information, visit www.hollyhillinn.com. To receive our newsletter and explore recipes and stories, visit www.hollyhillandco.com.

Top review

TracyVIP

Dined 1 day ago

First time dining at Holly Hill while meaning to try it for quite a while. Per usual with Chef Ouita’s restaurants, it was a wonderful experience! Highly recommend.

Enso

4.8

4.8 (264)

$50 and over

Regional American (Southern)

Frankfort Ave - Crescent Hill

About the restaurant

A Southern restaurant using Japanese technique and style to connect the parallels in culture between Japan and the American South. All service is a la carte and come out as they are prepared to insure they are served at their peak. Share the table with family and friends. We are honored to welcome all guests.

Top review

TaylorVIP

Dined on Oct 18, 2024

The staff and service was fabulous! We had a delicious meal and will be back. Favorites included the sashimi, shishito peppers, broccolini and lamb skewers. One of my favs in Louisville!

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