Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant
321 W Main St, Louisville, KY, 40202
Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant Menu
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Address :
321 W Main St
Louisville, KY, 40202 - Phone (502) 566-3259
- Website https://downonebourbonbar.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dessert
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kathleen W.
What's with these really obvious restaurant names? The night before I had dinner at 8UP (Restaurant on the 8th floor) and here, restaurant that is 1 floor below street level. I totally missed the street entrance so found this weaving through the office building next door and then taking a suspicious elevator down 1 flight. Cozy decor, warm and inviting. They have whiskey flights, full bar and some fun cocktails. My friend and I shared the bread, butter and really good olive oil appetizer - the olive oil was okay, I've had better. I started with a roasted beets w/ Mixed Greens salad - which was huge and a meal in itself. I wish it came with more beets. For my entree I had the Shrimp and Grits which was tasty, but by no means exceptional. It was my friends birthday so we HAD to have dessert. We indulged on a brownie and replaced the vanilla ice cream with the Happy Tracks flavor. Very decadent. The food was solid and service was very nice, albeit a bit over eager. We were interrupted several times to ensure that everything was okay.
(3)Mark Y.
Only hit the bar for an Old Fashioned and Ole Stubborn Mule- Overrated Both missed the mark for a genuine cocktail. The group could use a mixology lesson. Plenty of other choices on the row to choose from.
(2)Michelle E.
We stopped while passing through and I guess I should have known something was amiss when the hostess didn't give us any menus and took the silverware off the table. We were sat and it took a bit before a server came to us and he didn't have any menus for us either. He asked if we needed menus and we said yes. He returned with the food menus and a drink menu and then informed us the kitchen was closing in 2 minutes. So we said okay and we would just order drinks. Granted, we didn't read far enough down to see what time the kitchen closed, but in our defense we had just driven into town from western NY and we're tired and hungry. I would recommend the hostess ask people if they were planning on eating, especially if it is that close to the kitchen closing and not from the area to know any different. This way guests don't get sat and then find out they cannot eat. I gave 3 stars because my husband enjoyed his flight of bourbons, but didn't remember which was which because our server took the drink menu.
(3)Keena M.
This place is a great chill bar. The music is really soft so you can have conversations easily. It also has a ton of drink options to choose from. They have tvs around so you can come here to watch the game and hang out. The bartenders are also really nice and know what they are doing. I would recommend this place if you want to go somewhere to chill and hang out with friends. This isn't a bar you could go to, to mingle and meet new people.
(5)Matt K.
I stopped in here for lunch while at a conference at the Galt House hotel next-door. I had the beet salad, which was good. It was more salad than beets. The three little pigs sandwich was tasty. Pork belly, pulled pork, and bacon. Mmmm.
(4)Harley P.
I'm flying into Louisville for a friends wedding and getting in fairly late at night. I was looking for a couple places to meet up with friends when I arrive and grab a bite to eat and this place popped up. Seems very fun and interesting and called to place a reservation for 6. Apparently, however, contradictory to what Yelp states Down One Bourbon Bar DOES NOT ACCEPT reservations. Please change this info on the site as the hostess would not let me place a reservation. (Although she did mention that at the time I was planning to get there, there should be no problem getting seated) Will update this review once I return from Louisville.
(2)Andy J.
I had lunch during the week here. It was an excellent experience. The location is nice. I was unsure of the basement location, but it worked. The trees and location seemed to silent the noise from the street. I had the Cobb style salad. It was really good. Everything seemed fresh and the price was great. I liked the use of guacamole rather just slices of avocado. I ordered an ice tea to drink and was offered a nice tea for the road which was unexpected.
(4)Dan S.
This place was excellent! We came in from Denver and stopped by for some bourbon flights. OUTSTANDING service and incredibly knowledgeable staff who can educate you on all things bourbon! DON'T MISS IT!
(5)Sharee M.
For my 300th review: A trip to Louisville included a visit to Down One. Such a cool little spot. I think I ordered a mix drink without bourbon, but those around me were a bit more adventurous. I tried a little of the Cardinal Smoke cocktail, which had a great presentation. As others have commented, the prices were reasonable. The service was ok. I thought it was a little weird that she made us pass things around instead of her taking the time to hand us things one by one. But she made up for it in her advice and knowledge of drinks. We sat outside on the patio was really nice. We did not have food, as the kitchen was closed when we arrived. Oh yeah, the speakeasy room looked so cool.
(4)Martin K.
Great bourbon selection at good prices. You can get flights if you can't decide or well known to obscure bourbons at any price range starting from $5 and ranging to over $90 a glass. The food was overall good. The stand out for me were the Shrimp and Grits, which were amazing. They come in a small skillet and are a great mix of shrimp, chorizo, creamy grits and veggies. If it could have, I would have licked the pan! Their chef salad was very good as well. Large and with tons of toppings. The rest of the food was only ok and the upside down strawberry shortcake was not good. First of all it wasn't upside down, second it only had a few small pieces of strawberry and all that on a large chunk of dry, biscuit-like cake. The biggest problem was the service though. And it's not the fault of our server, because she did all she could, but they clearly were understaffed and she had to serve our area, tables at the other side of the restaurant AND outside, so it took her forever to take our orders, bring us our drinks, or the check at the end. Again, not her fault, but management needs to hire adequate numbers of staff. For the bourbon and the Shrimp and Grits I would definitely go back though.
(3)T P.
Went for drinks while doing the "Urban Bourbon Trail" passport. Our bartender, David, was knowledgeable and patient when answering all our questions about bourbon and bourbon drinks, and he made each of us a great drink. I had an Old Fashioned, which he made artfully and was delicious. Definitely will go back.
(4)Emily W.
Stay far away from Down One if you're planning on ordering food. I came here a couple weeks ago for a Friday lunch with a small work group. One member of our party had made reservations for us to ensure we wouldn't have to wait. When we arrived, nobody was at the hostess stand. We saw two ladies sitting on a bench and assumed they were waiting for a table. A couple of us walked around, peeked inside the bar, stood back at the hostess stand. Eventually, one of those two ladies stood up and asked if we needed a table. Not sure why we weren't asked when we got there initially. Anyway, we let them know we had made reservations and confusion abounded...they said we wouldn't need reservations and just put us at a table outside. The service did not get better from there. The waitress took forever to take drink and food orders, on top of getting our food and checks out to us. The lunch took us nearly two hours, which is NOT okay on a weekday. I had the turkey sandwich and it was good, but I will never be back for a meal due to the service issues. Maybe I'll stop in again for a drink.
(2)Amy L.
Bourbon, bourbon and more bourbon with an awesome private patio and the best appetizer- Bacon wrapped dates! Oh how those bacon wrapped dates just melt in your mouth. Even if you aren't typically a bourbon drinker, you should go and try one of their cocktails made with bourbon. Delicious. The food was presented on rustic bourbon barrel type plates which was very cool. The shrimp and grits were very tasty and the service fantastic. Do it!
(4)Michelle C.
We came here for a fun group outing and got seated in what I will call the TARDIS room because I'm a big nerd :D You get to go through a British phone booth to a private room which even has a hidden door to the kitchen for staff. They had an extensive bourbon list, and will hopefully soon be on the Urban Bourbon trail! I ordered something with cinnamon in it, which I probably won't order again, but it's always good to try different things out. But for food, drool! I ordered the Three Little Pigs which I thought was going to come out as three individual sandwiches. Instead I got a heavenly conglomeration of pork belly, pulled pork, bacon and cole slaw with pickles, all on one sandwich, AKA food orgasm!! I also got their greens which had the TINIEST bit too much vinegar in them, but other than that they were delicious :D I would totally go back for a date night.
(4)Ann S.
Visited there this evening, absolutely delighted with the food and the service. Extremely comfortable and nice atmosphere.
(4)Howard C.
Bourbon heaven! Great entrees and starters. The hummus and wings are excellent. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.
(5)Christopher P.
Excellent place for lunch. I highly recommend the Brisket sandwich. Service was great and quick. Loved the location because it was close to everything for us.
(4)Sarah C.
Wasn't very impressed with the menu. I ended up getting the St. Matthews salad. It was just okay. Definitely wasn't the best salad I've ever had. Do NOT go with a large group. Our waiter just couldn't handle it. He was also upset that we did not want to sit in the seats he "assigned" us. Not the best service or food, but decent.
(3)Alyssa K.
This was a very cute place with great service. I had the 3 Little Pigs of course and it was all it was cracked up to be! Bacon wrapped dates are a "don't miss" and the hummus platter was terrific.
(3)Josh T.
Great Drinks and Great Atmosphere ! Love their Manhattan and pretzel with Beer Cheese!
(5)DeOnna D.
I had the three little pigs. So yummy! Also tried the Brussels Sprouts. Best I ever had!
(4)Kevin S.
As you would expect by the name, they have a huge selection of bourbon and cocktails. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and accomodated a group well in the private party room. The menu is limited, but perfectly fine as the food is awesome!
(5)Sarah P.
The food was predictable and reasonably priced but the service was extremely low quality. In fact, it was one of the worst server experiences I've ever had. She didn't treat my family with any respect. I can't imagine that she ever received training on how to do her job. Worst birthday dinner ever. I encourage you to avoid this restaurant and spare yourself any disappointment.
(2)Kim B.
We came across this place for lunch and could not have been more pleased. The atmosphere is great and the food was amazing!! We got the Korean wings as an appetizer and they did not disappoint. There were 10 in the order as well so it was easily shareable. I got the Three Little Pigs and can honestly say this is one of the the best sandwiches I've ever had. It has pulled pork, pork belly and bacon along with slaw, pickles and a mustard based BBQ sauce! I never wanted it to end! The Willet Family flight sampler was also wonderful. Three great bourbons. This place is on our list of "Must Visit" when we are back in Louisville! Stephanie was also a great waitress!!
(5)David F.
Food was very good. I had the three pigs sandwich and my wife the turkey sandwich. The three pigs sandwich has this mustard type sauce that they make in house that certainly makes the sandwich. Chips are kind of hard, just not my style. Atmosphere is nice, lots of bourbon bottles on display. Service was good, friendly. Looks like they have these glass garage doors that would be opened during the summer, but it's cold and rainy today. Bathrooms very clean. We liked it.
(4)Orlando G.
Awesome vibe, great service, and impressive bartenders. Was in Louisville for biz fell in love work downtown and this place!
(4)Travis C.
This place has a great patio for sitting outside and an excellent drink menu. Of course bourbon is the theme and the cocktails are excellent!! I enjoyed the cardinal smoke, very sweet cocktail. The manhattan my brother in law ordered was very good as well, slightly bitter. The server was very knowledgeable and friendly. The food looked delicious from a far and we'll def come back to try it. This is a cool low key place to have a cocktail, which is rare in louisville.
(4)mellow y.
We dropped in here as our first stop on the urban bourbon trail, really wanting to have a proper tasting. Fortunately, the bar was relatively empty and David the bartender, was an excellent guide. He rec'd a different bourbon flight for me and each of my friends (based on our whisky tastes) which turned out to be perfectly suited. He was patient, attentive, very knowledgable and just generally great at his job. We didn't eat much, but split the Three Little Pigs between us, and I'm hard pressed to think of a sandwich I've enjoyed more. Ever. Each meat was cooked to tender (or crispy) perfection, the sauce was a great compliment, though not overwhelming and the bread on which it was served was a fluffy, buttered, toasted dream! The side of greens was really unusually seasoned, and utterly delicious as well. There's really no reason you shouldn't go. I actually wish I was going right now.
(5)Rita W.
Great place for drinks and food downtown. It was a pretty quiet when we arrived, could be because it was a Wednesday night. We sat at the bar and we were served by Beth the bartender. Beth was awesome, she was super friendly and she made some unique drinks! We ordered the pretzel bread with cheese, shrimp and grits, and a green salad. The food was really good, we were actually surprised how good our shrimp and grits were!! Don't miss out on the shrimp and grits if you come here!
(4)Clare T.
David the bartender was really nice and super knowledgable. I'm not usually a bourbon or whisky drinker so on the bourbon trail had no idea where to start.. He steered me towards the right flight and I walk away a bourbon convert! Knob creek maple bourbon is like dessert! Also suggest trying the 3little piggies sandwich and collard greens! Yum!!!!! It has turned into a Bourbon trail and food trail .. No regrets! Nice jazz music vibe and there is a British telephone box for photo ops!
(5)Brian B.
This is a great bar! The selection of bourbon to choose from is very large. To get your moneys worth I recommend getting a flight so you can sample many bourbons at once. The staff was very friendly and prompt. Also, if you get the chance try thier old fashioned sundaes. The ambience feels like you re in a speakeasy. Very relaxed. Definitely stop in!
(3)Red W.
Amazing service! Amazing food! Knowledgeable staff! Try the Korean bbq chicken wings (soo good!), the roasted beets salad, and the homemade chocolate brownie! Best old fashioned in town! Best Bourbon bar in Louisville.
(5)Aprill K.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Louisville. The food is great and moderately priced, the staff is always very attentive, the atmosphere is quaint (there is outdoor seating) and they play great dinner music. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice place to dine. Great job, Down One.
(5)Rich M.
I absolutely loved this place. I got the shrimp and grits on the servers suggestion, and it was great! I'm not much for grits, but it really worked. My wife got the three little pigs and she really liked it. the house bourbon is from four roses, and it was pretty good. I highly recommend this place
(5)Donna M.
Just spent 4 days doing the Bourbon Trail....the dining and cocktail experience at Down One was by far the best. The staff was exceptional....Ronnie, the chef, offered to make us an entree from the dinner menu (shrimp & grits) even though it was lunchtime. The dish was delicious! Stephanie, our bartender, recommended a drink they created for their Fall menu even though it wasn't on the menu yet. It was exceptionally good and creative - made with a housemate pumpkin simple syrup. We will definitely return whenever we're in the area.
(5)Evan B.
Down One Bourbon Bar is an old meets new take on Kentucky's gift to the world - bourbon. As most Kentuckians know, bourbon is more than a drink, more than any ole whiskey - bourbon is a culture...a heritage. The folks at Down One do a fantastic job blending the heritage of bourbon with modern eats and creating an atmosphere that is both antique and modern depending on where you sit (the bar or patio, respectively). As you descend the short flight of stairs from Main Street, you are promptly greeted by the hostess and sat. We went on a Thursday around 6PM - there was no wait. Oh, and I would be remise if I didn't mention the glass wall of bourbon - just awesome! We were sat in the indoor/outdoor section. We were covered but still had a nice view of the live band - a nice touch, indeed. The patio, though completely outside, is nicely secluded and had plenty of shade. We rummaged through the drink menu and bourbon lists. I started with a Bourbon Smash and my wife ordered a Chris Smith. The Smash was refreshing - perfect for a hot Kentucky day. My wife said the Chris Smith is a good cocktail for the novice bourbon drinker...then again...if you put Woodford in anything, it becomes amazing. We started with the Feta Plate. I was hesitant as I am not a fan of feta cheese, but the bread, peppers, cheese and olive oil paired perfectly. Like an other reviewer mentioned, a few more slices of bread would have been perfect. But still, we were off to a good start. Moving onward we finally decided on the Three Pigs for me and the Shrimp and Grits for my wife. Both were excellent. The Three Pigs is a sandwich containing pulled pork, bacon, sliced pork belly and topped with slaw - a must for any ole' Merican carnivore. Don't let the size fool you, this is a very filling and satisfying sandwich. The shrimp and grits came in a cast iron skillet (always points in my book). The shrimp were large and the grits (jalapeno cheddar cheese) plentiful. My wife throughly enjoyed the dish. We finished the meal with a few more drinks - a Bourbon Smash for my wife and a Bulleit Tea for me. The Bulleit Tea was refreshing - perhaps more so than the Bourbon Smash. Either way you go, perfect on this hot Kentucky day. Our server, Megan, was excellent. She was helpful with the menu and was kind enough to give her opinion on some of the cocktails. Down One Bourbon Bar seems to fit in with the theme of Downtown Louisville - modern, but let's not forget where we came from. Good food, good drinks, good music combine for a good time at Down One.
(4)Brent S.
If you love bourbon, this should be on your list for Louisville. If you can get in there, the speakeasy room is amazing for small groups. Bourbon flights are affordable and there is always a good assortment of cocktails as well. The food is pretty solid as well.
(5)Christian S.
Went here on "purge" night and definitely purged some bourbon. Cardinal smoke was my pick with Knob Creek in it. Got my stamp in the passport for the urban bourbon trail.
(5)Melanie K.
The Name Describes it All.... No literally the name is a pretty accurate description. You go down one flight of stairs at Main and Second and walk into a Bourbon bar. The atmosphere can fit a casual lunch hour, preshow cocktails, or even a business meeting. In fact there are usually other guests that fit all of the descriptions I just listed. We attended for dinner and drinks before a performance across the street at Actors Theater Louisville. The cocktail menu actually features more drink variations then bourbon like Gin and Vodka. The first round of cocktails we ordered of the tequila Paloma and Bourbon Smash were incredibly unbalanced and overpowering. We did not give up and ordered another round . I tried the signature copper cup served cocktail the American Mule. The American Mule was fantastic and I would recommend this light cocktail to any first time guest. For dinner we had the St. Matthews salad which was slightly too small for two to share, but was delicious. For dinner we had the beef brisket sandwich with the jalapeno grits. We both really enjoyed the flavor of the sandwich and side. I am pretty sure we fought over the last bite of grits. As a note this place serves all of there food Togo. Our plates and silverware were both plastic even though we came for dinner service and had grown up glass cocktails. I do not remove a star for this because I have had many delicious things served on more unique and odd plates then plastic Togo containers. I plan on venturing back down off main soon and so should you.
(4)Kellyo O.
Went with two other friends for a drink. Love the atmosphere, great bartender and sweet wait staff. I ordered the American Mule, it was very good. My girlfriend had the old fashioned - fabulous and very strong. I loved it. Other girlfriend had the Strawberry Basil Gimlet, it was fruity and refreshing. We also ordered the fetta cheese plate. It came with just a few pieces of bread and lots of cheese with lemon and olive oil and something green - I don't remember but it was refreshing and great. The only problem is that we needed more bread to finish the block of fetta and they charged us another dollar. Yeah, that's not much but really they should have put more than 3 small pieces of bread on the plate and then charged us more for 2 more pieces. That was dumb. AND don't cut back on the fetta just add more bread! I will definitely be back because I loved it.
(5)Andrew R.
Love this place. Have had lunch a few times and everything I have tried has been great. Very nice outside patio for downtown and great Bourbon bar inside. One of my favorite places downtown.
(5)Nick M.
Just stopped in for a drink. As expected, good selection but a little pricey. Atmosphere was OK, not too remarkable.
(3)Matthew S.
The drinks were adventurous adventures in adventuring, but the waiter dared not venture our way after his significant other showed up. He forgot some of our order but was "kind enough" to take it off our bill. How sweet, since, you know, we didn't get our food we shouldn't have to pay. A bit overpriced and they turned the TV off on us. Very rude.
(2)Daryl's E.
If you're into dinning in hidden libraries accessible only through an old timey phone booth this place may be for you. If you're into eating salads out of oversized wooden bowls that don't contain the ingredients listed on the menu this place may be for you. I'm not into those things.
(2)Bill S.
Three little pigs were amazing! Beth makes the best old fashioned I've ever had! Now I'll never be able to drink one anywhere else!
(5)Kristie T.
I haven't tried their food just yet, but the drinks are amazing. The service also was very friendly. The perfect location and such fun bourbon drinks!
(4)Denise B.
We were on our way to a brewery from The Galt House hotel and decided to stop here instead. Friendly staff, prompt service. Don't know much about bourbon but enjoyed my smoky flavored bourbon cocktail. We enjoyed the date/bacon appetizer and split the turkey sandwich which was decent but not mind-blowing. The atmosphere was great and I'd imagine it would be even better in the evening.
(4)Kristin D.
Amazing cocktails here (did not order food). For drinks we ordered a chocolate manhattan (chocolate bitters gives it the name), which was unique and subtle. Also loved the Fumando plata besos martini, which was sweet and sour. I got my second one without the pineapple juice that it calls for in the first one and it was perfect (more spicy for my liking). Friendly bartenders and great location -- adjacent to the Galt Hotel and KFC Yum center.
(5)Kelly F.
Can't speak on the food. Bar was mostly empty. But a large party in in the TARDIS room had the staffs attention. Service was slow but hey I'm in the south. At least it was accurate. So the bourbon selection was amazing, good selection of flights. I had the Old Fitzgerald, Old Fitzgerald 1849, and the Down One Single Barrel by Forrestor. Now I usually drink Irish whiskey and good scotch (not many of those) but I did like these 3, sweet with no real bite, nice spice and after taste. My palate couldn't differentiate much between them. All in all a good place and a fun time.
(4)L F.
Of course, they have a huge selection of bourbon. That's one point. Really nice, relaxed atmosphere. Fairly quiet. Two points. Friendly staff. Three. And the food...soooo tasty! Four points. (Try the shrimp and grits) In all honesty, I rarely would give a five star review. But Down One had all of this going on plus most items can be made gluten free. That sends them over the top for me. Keep up the good work!
(5)Leslie S.
We went to down one before going to the center for the arts, which was very convenient. We walked right in on a Friday night. The atmosphere was incredible. I liked the old video, pictures on the wall, phone booth and the garage type doors. We had attentive service and the food was okay, but the prices were high and the portions were small. I had the cheeseburger and the house salad. All of the sandwiches were served ala carte. My husband had the three pigs sandwich and the date wrapped with bacon and Gorgonzola. They were delicious, but only 4 small pieces for $4.99. There was an extensive drink list , as well.
(3)E C.
Most of my stars go towards atmosphere! Great place to sit outside and enjoy an evening with friends. I don't drink bourbon, still had a great wine list. My girlfriends loved their bourbon drinks as well. Food was yummy but not amazing. I had a hamburger that was tasty. Overall, the atmosphere will have me come back. Would be a great happy hour.
(4)Tracy S.
Great sandwiches at a reasonable price; jalapeño cheddar grits were awesome...so glad our server recommended them. Service was fast and attentive. Will be back to explore their extensive bourbon selection.
(5)Brian M.
If I were reviewing it on the food alone, based off what I got, I'd give it 4 stars (since 3 1/2 is not possible). Three Little Pigs... YUM. A sandwich with pulled pork, pork belly and bacon. Really? It's almost like they met me before I got here. Of course, the brussel sprouts I ordered as a side were 86'ed. At 7:00 on a Monday. (I heard the bartender tell the person three seats down that two other things he asked for were also 86'ed, which raises a host of other questions...it's Monday at 7 PM! Keep track of your par levels much?) And I didn't know about it until the runner delivered my food, with a sandwich on the plate and nothing else, and a curt "Hold on" when she dropped the plate off. She then walked over to the bartender (who was at the other end of the bar, just like the rest of my visit), who then came over to deliver the already obvious news. She asked me what else I wanted as a side without offering the menu. When I asked what the choices were, she said "greens". So I said greens. She repeated back, "Ok, grits". I said, "No. Greens." She replied, "Greens, got it." So naturally what was delivered 45 seconds later was a crock of lukewarm cheddar grits. I didn't protest...I just wanted to go. Two bartenders behind the L-shaped bar, both of them seemed only interested in serving people in the middle of the bar. Unfortunately for me, I was at the end. Having spent a lot of years as a bartender, nothing infuriates me more than bad service from a bartender. If I come back, it would only be because I peeked in and saw that neither of the two working tonight were working.
(2)Geoff J.
Cool little spot in downtown Louisville. We sat in the bar area. Great selection of bourbons. The cocktails were hand crafted and tasted great. I recommend a Basil Hayden whisky sour. Very yummy. For dinner we had the wrapped dates and pretzel/beer cheese dip. Both were great starters. I opted for the chicken and grits. Good entree and plenty of food, but the chicken was a tad dry. The pork shoulder was ordered at the table and received good reviews.
(5)Ryan S.
So much potential, but fell short. The Brussels sprouts were small and burnt, chili lacked anything special, salad bland, and service mediocre. Maybe the HH drink specials make up for it...?
(2)Dan Y.
I love this place. One look at their bourbon menu and you will have tears of happiness streaming down your face. Their pulled pork sandwich is wonderful. They also host these amazing dinners in partnership with local breweries and distillers. I went to one that featured Goodwood Beers this past week. It cost $25 dollars for a 4 course meal and a bunch of Goodwood's beers. It was probably the best $25 dollars I have ever spent on food. It was pretty delicious and so much bang for the buck. It was obvious that Down One took a lot of time to orchestrate their menu and ensure that the customers would be happy with the product. Service here is awesome. The place is clean, relaxed, and perfect for an after-work beverage. I'm going to miss this place when I have to leave Louisville.
(4)Chelsea C.
Disclaimer- this review is for drinks only! We wandered in here after the Katy Perry concert after being unable to get a cab due to the crush of people leaving the concert. So glad we found this place! The one thing that stood out most to me about this place was that it was around midnight- and I was fully expecting the service to be not-so-great. Being a former server myself, I know how it can get after midnight and you can get fed up easily but every single employee of this place was awesome and so friendly. When we were ready to go our server used an app on her phone to call a cab and came and got us when he got there. Now that's service! We had a bourbon flight and a couple of beers and totally enjoyed ourselves out on the patio. Their bourbon selection is out of control- and they have certain flights that are pre-chosen that all complement each other which is really cool. Also have a great draft beer selection. Will definitely be returning to try the food, but a great late-night place to relax too.
(5)Joe D.
I love this place. Accidentally found it. Sit at the bar. Order a bourbon smash. David is man!
(5)David H.
Interesting atmosphere and quality drinks. They do all the details right here, whether you get one of their specialty drinks or a classic like an old fashioned. They slightly burned the citrus peel in the old fashioned to give it a unique flavor. They also have a private room that is accessed via a British phone booth. Fun place.
(4)Stephanie B.
The most noticeable thing about this restaurant is the atmosphere. The decor is gorgeous with the full open bar really stealing the show. My guests and I ate here before a show at Actor's Theater. We were in a rush to make our show, and the server was able to get us in and out quickly. I ordered the mushroom burger which was cooked perfectly. I felt like it was a bit on the small side for the price, but any disappointment I had was quickly made up when I reached for my drink. The White Russian is the best drink I have ever ordered at a bar, hands down. I could have easily drank four more. The presentation was beautiful. I can only wait for winter to go by quickly so that I can enjoy a few on the outdoor patio.
(3)Jon W.
We were struggling to find an alternative to all the pub grub, fried food and chain restaurants downtown. We skated in just before the kitchen closed and Morgan happily served us. My wife wanted something lighter and was very satisfied with the roasted beet and Gorgonzola salad with lemon oil vinaigrette. I was feeling more adventurous and opted for the shrimp and grits. It came in a cast iron skillet and was covered in an amazing gravy/sauce. Shrimp was cooked perfectly and the sausage was a great addition. It was a warm gooey skillet of amazingness. The Old Fashioned was simple, but well executed. Made with their "house bourbon" a large cube, orange bitters and a single cherry. If we hadn't been drinking bourbon since 10am we would of indulged further in their extensive bourbon selection.
(5)Heather M.
I've been to Down One a few times, but only twice for food. As far as drinks go, it shines as a place to go for happy hour with a wonderful outdoor area that feels both separate from the bustle of the street, but still right in the middle of the city. My food had mixed results. I did not care for the chicken salad. I went over a year ago, so it's hard to remember, but the big chunks of chicken were too large and were maybe dark meat and a little stringy. However, I just went recently and I had the 3 little pigs (BBQ, pork belly, and bacon sandwich) which was very good. I particularly liked the brussels sprouts (also with bacon). The waitstaff is always friendly, but they are very busy so sometimes not as attentive as I'd like when refilling drinks. Overall, my esteem has grown over the times I have been for drinks. I'd go again.
(4)Gregg M.
The wife and I had almost an hour and a half to kill before our tour started at the nearby Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. We decided to grab lunch at Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant since we were across the street and its rating on Yelp was strong. Intended or not, the Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant was true to its name, down one flight of stairs from the sidewalk off of Main St. It had a nice tree-covered patio for al fresco dining separated from the dining area by large rollup doors. It was fairly busy, looking like it attracted a good lunch crowd largely consisting of workers from the surrounding office buildings, not tourists. Although it was a beautiful day, we opted to sit inside. This was likely a mistake as things worked out. The place was also true to its name by having a solid selection of bourbons and other whiskeys on hand. Unfortunately, we passed on the bourbon and only had food from the otherwise promising looking lunch menu. I ordered Three Little Pigs sandwich made with roasted pork belly, pulled pork, and bacon on a soft roll topped with a mustard-based BBQ sauce, pickles, and slaw. The wife had the Roasted Portabella Mushroom "Burger" topped with smoked gouda, red leaf lettuce, avocado, and chipotle mayo on a soft roll. Both sandwiches came with a side of house-fried potato chips. Then we waited...and waited...and waited for our food to come out. As we were waiting, we noted that our server had a very large section, serving tables in the bar area where we were seated, out on the patio, and also in the main dining room. Although there were other servers on duty, none of them seemed to have as many tables, let alone as spread out, as our server. When our food finally arrived, delivered by someone other than our server, it was lukewarm at best. Other than it not being served hot, my sandwich was over-sauced with the mustard BBQ overwhelming everything else, and the roll was soggy having sopped up all of the juices from the pork components. The wife's sandwich was just as sad as a cold mushroom was topped by cold, congealed gouda cheese. The chips weren't a saving grace as they were massively over-salted making each chip look as if they were salt-crusted and essentially inedible. It was obvious to us that our food had sat at the pass for an extended period of time before being run out to our table. If we'd had more time and didn't have someplace to be, we would've sent our food back and asked for it to be redone. As it was, we left a lot of our lunch untouched. It was a shame that our lunch was so memorable in its disappointment. Maybe we caught Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant on a bad day. That said, it was easily the worst meal we had while in Bourbon Country.
(2)Tony S.
Loved this place, but didn't try any of the food. My perfect bar. Drinks were excellent, fun, interesting, and unique. Tried a bombini, really tasty. Heavy bourbon, and the flavors were nice notes, superb. I took sips of what everyone else got and I wanted a glass of each. Outside seating was excellent, and so was the crowd. Lots of other places close if you change your mind. We tried a few other places but regretted we didn't come back here. Hostess was a little rude, but excusable overall. Server was perfect.
(5)Stephanie S.
The food was good, but the quantities were small... Like, WAY smaller than I was anticipating for the price! The drinks were good (I got a mule) and came quickly IF you sat at the bar OR went up to the bar from your table to grab a drink. Aside from small portion sizes, what really brought the score down for me was the service. It was SO SO SO slow. Thankfully the waitress gave us a heads up once we were seated that they were short staffed, but if the hostess had told me that 30min prior to being seated, probably would have gone elsewhere. I went with a friend, she ordered a burger and I ordered 2 sides. They brought out the food and when she realized that the burger wouldn't quite be enough, she ordered a side of fries. 30min after that STILL never got the fries (don't they take like, 7min to cook??) and we had to flag the waiter to get the bill. When we wanted a second drink, one of us went to the bar to get one, because it was faster than trying to get a hold of a wait staff person. Maybe this was a bad day for them... But for now I will not go here unless I have a ton of time to kill. My food was AWESOME, but o don't always have 2 hours to kill for restaurant time...
(3)Ron R.
Came in from Indianapolis for a buddy's birthday. Looked on trusty Yelp for top rated places that were within walking distance of our hotel and came across this little gem. I was very impressed. This place according to our server has been around for 2 years now and serves designer cocktails and chef prepared food. I was down to try both! For the drink, I chose "7 across the board", which caught my eye when the bartender was using a blow torch on a piece of wood. "What the hell is that?" I must've asked out loud as the server began explaining. They take a piece of the oak barrel used to make the bourbon and they a blow torch on it to get the smokiness of the wood mixed with the devil's cut of the bourbon. They then take a glass and put Sage in it and turn the glass upside down on the wood so it collects the smoke billowing from the wood. They create the cocktail of blueberries, simple syrup, a few other things I'm forgetting and the Bourbon and present it to you at the table, still facing down. When you are ready, you flip it over and pour the drink in it. Fantastic presentation!! The flavor was good too! After that type of presentation, explanation and hard work...I bet a Sprite would have tasted good to me, but I honestly think this drink was very tasty. Keep in mind, these drinks will run you $12-15 a piece. As I said, Designer Cocktails! I ordered the "top seller" on their menu which was called "3 Little Pigs" and is a sandwich of Pulled Pork, Pork Belly and Bacon with a delicious spicy BBQ sauce. This was a DELICIOUS sandwich and I can see why it is their top seller. If you come here, this one is a must! We also ordered two appetizers, the Korean BBQ Wings, and the Bacon wrapped, Gorgonzola stuffed Dates. Both were AMAZING. The wings, I could have eaten until I blew up. They were that delicious. They had a sweet & spicy Korean sauce that included a sour tang from some Kimchee. The Dates, were perfectly delicious bite size amazingness. If I had one complaint however, it is that you get 4 dates....4...that's it!! For $6! For you math wizards at home, that is $1.50 per date. Yikes! Anyway, worth trying, not worth ordering a whole bunch :) If I'm in Louisville again, this is a place I must come back to!!
(5)Amaresh S.
1. It took us about 1.5 hours to get food. And we didn't get anything special. 2. The mushroom burger was pretty bad. Flavor wise 3. The place is clearly understaffed and disorganized. They switched our appetizers with another table's, didn't really check up on us, and it took us ages to flag down anyone who worked there. A pretty poor experience overall
(2)Joel B.
Lots to choose from. Don't JUST look at the drink menu. There's tons behind the bar too. Wifey enjoyed the flight our bartender recommended too. I had the Willetts flight and that was a bourbon I hadn't had before -- good recommendation!
(5)Ashley I.
I came here for happy hour and it was great. Great drinks and small plates. The Bacon wrapped dates were amazing! The mules were good and the old fashions kept coming. Also very cool vibe! I really enjoyed and hope to come back!
(5)Lauren H.
I went here for lunch, and have not yet dined here for dinner, so this is a review of their lunch only. This place has a really cool atmosphere. I came here for lunch and was able to get a table right away, but it is on the smaller side, so I could see it getting really crowded for dinner. Unfortunately, I came in the middle of a workday, so I didn't get to try any of their amazing cocktails. Their cocktail menu, however, sounded great. I ordered the brisket sandwich with caramelized onions, Gouda cheese, and whole grain mustard. My husband ordered the Three Little Pigs. We both chose the whiskey chili as our side. After we placed our order, our waitress told us "that will be out in just a couple minutes." Of course, this gave me the impression that they must have quick ticket times. However, a good 20+ minutes later, our food arrived. Twenty minutes isn't a terrible wait time, but after her promises of "only a couple minutes," I was ready to eat. The brisket sandwich was amazing. I'm a huge fan of beef brisket, and I'll tell you, this was a good sandwich. The sandwich did not come sauced, and it was not dry at all like I've had some places. The sandwich had great flavor, and I even occasionally dipped it in my husband's side of mustard BBQ sauce, which was tasty. On the other hand, the chili was some of the most bland chili I've ever had. Very disappointing for "whiskey chili." Order a different side with your meal and I hope you have better luck. I did try a bite of my husband's Three Little Pigs, and while I thought it was very good, it didn't even come close to my brisket sandwich. Keep in mind, I am partial to brisket. We both drank water, and there is a $2 upgrade for any side if you don't want the chips that come with the sandwiches. Our bill was around $30 after tip, which is to be expected for a nice, sit down lunch for two.
(4)Leigh W.
This is a great little, reasonably priced lunch spot in a central downtown location. Because it's a story beneath street level, you get all the benefits that seclusion brings without having to go off the beaten path. Yet, there's still plenty of light and a wonderful, heavily shaded patio area. If you're feeling a little half in and half out, the venue is equipped with garage doors that open to extend the alfresco dining area on temperate days. Additionally, there's a semi-secret library-esque room that can only be accessed through a British phone booth. A nice touch indeed and the perfect area for a private event. It seats 20. The space is worth the trip alone, but the food is pretty good too. We started with Klaus' pretzel bread and warm beer cheese. You can never go wrong with Klaus' bread. My only beef is that I could use another loaf of the bread with the order. I tried the portabella burger and subbed the chips with the braised greens. I also shared an order of the jalapeno cheese grits. While the greens were tasty, this vegetarian won't be ordering them again. They're full of meat. The burger and the grits were good, but they weren't particularly noteworthy. Because I live for dessert, we ordered the brownie sundae (subbing the vanilla ice cream with the triple caramel ice cream, which I highly recommend) and the turtle sundae. Both were large enough to share with at least two people. The brownie was a delightful combination of crunchy and chewy. There are tons of ice cream flavor options, but I was a little disappointed to learn that they're all from the very average Blue Bell. Definitely make a visit, but go for the location and the drinks. Food is definitely a secondary reason for the stop.
(3)Nicole M.
I came her for dinner before a play at the actors theater. The menu is small, but the drink selections are better. My friend tried the seven sister bourbon drink which was quite the presentation. It comes with a giant ice ball and smoked hay on the side. For appetizers I highly suggest the "really good" hummus. The name really speaks for itself. The pretzel bread with beer cheese is good as well. For dinner I tried the whiskey chili and side salad. I wasn't a big fan of the chili, it had a lot of red kidney beans in it and not enough meat in my opinion. And not much spice to it. The salad was good, the mixed greens were fresh and they completely over fill the small bowl they give you. Atmosphere is relaxed, and they have an outdoor section if the weather is nice.
(3)Cassidy S.
My coworker and I stopped here for a light dinner on our way to work. We arrived just before the dinner rush, so we were given a nice table indoors. Soon after, though, the place filled up, and they opened the sliding doors to let more customers out (onto the patio) and a chilly breeze in. We had a nice meal. My friend's chili was on par, and my house salad was a bit delayed but did the job. The shrimp and grits were very tasty, though I considered the andouille the real star of the plate. Our service was hasty but well-meaning. I'd try coming here again for lunch, which perhaps would be a slower pace and a quieter atmosphere. Got to love those happy hour specials, though - $10 for a bottle of red is always a nice deal.
(3)Thomas K.
Great looking menu with a classic cocktail selection. Food was delicious and the serving size was noticeably smaller than expected. But the Old Fashioned made up for that in strength and quality. Customer service was more informal than we anticipated. The desserts come from a nearby ice cream and shakes shop. The chocolate and Nutella shake was yummy.
(3)Merritt G.
A lovely outside seating area with trees and decorative lighting made it feel like in another world, instead of on Main St in a busy downtown. The staff was friendly and helpful. The downside to Down One is that it's too expensive. I went here for 502 Lunch Week, and that is the only time I would go. For that event you get lunch for $10, whereas any other time you could easily pay $20. I got the Roasted Portabella Mushroom Burger. The "burger" was delicious, and just the right size. The french fries as a side dish were bland and cold when my plate arrived. I have not tried their drink menu, so this is with food in mind only.
(3)Corey H.
For lunch too! Best bang for your buck for downtown lunch no questions . I had the smoke salmon sandwich with avocado & sun-dried tomato, it was spectacular and was a mere $10! The sides are outstanding, highly recommend the jalapeño cheese grits or the baked beans. This place has great ambience, ANY bourbon you would like (though we did not have any). The service & staff were warm, friendly, & helpful. They have take out menus for us busy downtown folks looking for a fast lunch.
(5)Lauren H.
I went here for lunch, and have not yet dined here for dinner, so this is a review of their lunch only. This place has a really cool atmosphere. I came here for lunch and was able to get a table right away, but it is on the smaller side, so I could see it getting really crowded for dinner. Unfortunately, I came in the middle of a workday, so I didn't get to try any of their amazing cocktails. Their cocktail menu, however, sounded great. I ordered the brisket sandwich with caramelized onions, Gouda cheese, and whole grain mustard. My husband ordered the Three Little Pigs. We both chose the whiskey chili as our side. After we placed our order, our waitress told us "that will be out in just a couple minutes." Of course, this gave me the impression that they must have quick ticket times. However, a good 20+ minutes later, our food arrived. Twenty minutes isn't a terrible wait time, but after her promises of "only a couple minutes," I was ready to eat. The brisket sandwich was amazing. I'm a huge fan of beef brisket, and I'll tell you, this was a good sandwich. The sandwich did not come sauced, and it was not dry at all like I've had some places. The sandwich had great flavor, and I even occasionally dipped it in my husband's side of mustard BBQ sauce, which was tasty. On the other hand, the chili was some of the most bland chili I've ever had. Very disappointing for "whiskey chili." Order a different side with your meal and I hope you have better luck. I did try a bite of my husband's Three Little Pigs, and while I thought it was very good, it didn't even come close to my brisket sandwich. Keep in mind, I am partial to brisket. We both drank water, and there is a $2 upgrade for any side if you don't want the chips that come with the sandwiches. Our bill was around $30 after tip, which is to be expected for a nice, sit down lunch for two.
(4)Leigh W.
This is a great little, reasonably priced lunch spot in a central downtown location. Because it's a story beneath street level, you get all the benefits that seclusion brings without having to go off the beaten path. Yet, there's still plenty of light and a wonderful, heavily shaded patio area. If you're feeling a little half in and half out, the venue is equipped with garage doors that open to extend the alfresco dining area on temperate days. Additionally, there's a semi-secret library-esque room that can only be accessed through a British phone booth. A nice touch indeed and the perfect area for a private event. It seats 20. The space is worth the trip alone, but the food is pretty good too. We started with Klaus' pretzel bread and warm beer cheese. You can never go wrong with Klaus' bread. My only beef is that I could use another loaf of the bread with the order. I tried the portabella burger and subbed the chips with the braised greens. I also shared an order of the jalapeno cheese grits. While the greens were tasty, this vegetarian won't be ordering them again. They're full of meat. The burger and the grits were good, but they weren't particularly noteworthy. Because I live for dessert, we ordered the brownie sundae (subbing the vanilla ice cream with the triple caramel ice cream, which I highly recommend) and the turtle sundae. Both were large enough to share with at least two people. The brownie was a delightful combination of crunchy and chewy. There are tons of ice cream flavor options, but I was a little disappointed to learn that they're all from the very average Blue Bell. Definitely make a visit, but go for the location and the drinks. Food is definitely a secondary reason for the stop.
(3)Evan B.
Down One Bourbon Bar is an old meets new take on Kentucky's gift to the world - bourbon. As most Kentuckians know, bourbon is more than a drink, more than any ole whiskey - bourbon is a culture...a heritage. The folks at Down One do a fantastic job blending the heritage of bourbon with modern eats and creating an atmosphere that is both antique and modern depending on where you sit (the bar or patio, respectively). As you descend the short flight of stairs from Main Street, you are promptly greeted by the hostess and sat. We went on a Thursday around 6PM - there was no wait. Oh, and I would be remise if I didn't mention the glass wall of bourbon - just awesome! We were sat in the indoor/outdoor section. We were covered but still had a nice view of the live band - a nice touch, indeed. The patio, though completely outside, is nicely secluded and had plenty of shade. We rummaged through the drink menu and bourbon lists. I started with a Bourbon Smash and my wife ordered a Chris Smith. The Smash was refreshing - perfect for a hot Kentucky day. My wife said the Chris Smith is a good cocktail for the novice bourbon drinker...then again...if you put Woodford in anything, it becomes amazing. We started with the Feta Plate. I was hesitant as I am not a fan of feta cheese, but the bread, peppers, cheese and olive oil paired perfectly. Like an other reviewer mentioned, a few more slices of bread would have been perfect. But still, we were off to a good start. Moving onward we finally decided on the Three Pigs for me and the Shrimp and Grits for my wife. Both were excellent. The Three Pigs is a sandwich containing pulled pork, bacon, sliced pork belly and topped with slaw - a must for any ole' Merican carnivore. Don't let the size fool you, this is a very filling and satisfying sandwich. The shrimp and grits came in a cast iron skillet (always points in my book). The shrimp were large and the grits (jalapeno cheddar cheese) plentiful. My wife throughly enjoyed the dish. We finished the meal with a few more drinks - a Bourbon Smash for my wife and a Bulleit Tea for me. The Bulleit Tea was refreshing - perhaps more so than the Bourbon Smash. Either way you go, perfect on this hot Kentucky day. Our server, Megan, was excellent. She was helpful with the menu and was kind enough to give her opinion on some of the cocktails. Down One Bourbon Bar seems to fit in with the theme of Downtown Louisville - modern, but let's not forget where we came from. Good food, good drinks, good music combine for a good time at Down One.
(4)Brent S.
If you love bourbon, this should be on your list for Louisville. If you can get in there, the speakeasy room is amazing for small groups. Bourbon flights are affordable and there is always a good assortment of cocktails as well. The food is pretty solid as well.
(5)Christian S.
Went here on "purge" night and definitely purged some bourbon. Cardinal smoke was my pick with Knob Creek in it. Got my stamp in the passport for the urban bourbon trail.
(5)Heather M.
I've been to Down One a few times, but only twice for food. As far as drinks go, it shines as a place to go for happy hour with a wonderful outdoor area that feels both separate from the bustle of the street, but still right in the middle of the city. My food had mixed results. I did not care for the chicken salad. I went over a year ago, so it's hard to remember, but the big chunks of chicken were too large and were maybe dark meat and a little stringy. However, I just went recently and I had the 3 little pigs (BBQ, pork belly, and bacon sandwich) which was very good. I particularly liked the brussels sprouts (also with bacon). The waitstaff is always friendly, but they are very busy so sometimes not as attentive as I'd like when refilling drinks. Overall, my esteem has grown over the times I have been for drinks. I'd go again.
(4)David F.
Food was very good. I had the three pigs sandwich and my wife the turkey sandwich. The three pigs sandwich has this mustard type sauce that they make in house that certainly makes the sandwich. Chips are kind of hard, just not my style. Atmosphere is nice, lots of bourbon bottles on display. Service was good, friendly. Looks like they have these glass garage doors that would be opened during the summer, but it's cold and rainy today. Bathrooms very clean. We liked it.
(4)Orlando G.
Awesome vibe, great service, and impressive bartenders. Was in Louisville for biz fell in love work downtown and this place!
(4)Gregg M.
The wife and I had almost an hour and a half to kill before our tour started at the nearby Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. We decided to grab lunch at Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant since we were across the street and its rating on Yelp was strong. Intended or not, the Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant was true to its name, down one flight of stairs from the sidewalk off of Main St. It had a nice tree-covered patio for al fresco dining separated from the dining area by large rollup doors. It was fairly busy, looking like it attracted a good lunch crowd largely consisting of workers from the surrounding office buildings, not tourists. Although it was a beautiful day, we opted to sit inside. This was likely a mistake as things worked out. The place was also true to its name by having a solid selection of bourbons and other whiskeys on hand. Unfortunately, we passed on the bourbon and only had food from the otherwise promising looking lunch menu. I ordered Three Little Pigs sandwich made with roasted pork belly, pulled pork, and bacon on a soft roll topped with a mustard-based BBQ sauce, pickles, and slaw. The wife had the Roasted Portabella Mushroom "Burger" topped with smoked gouda, red leaf lettuce, avocado, and chipotle mayo on a soft roll. Both sandwiches came with a side of house-fried potato chips. Then we waited...and waited...and waited for our food to come out. As we were waiting, we noted that our server had a very large section, serving tables in the bar area where we were seated, out on the patio, and also in the main dining room. Although there were other servers on duty, none of them seemed to have as many tables, let alone as spread out, as our server. When our food finally arrived, delivered by someone other than our server, it was lukewarm at best. Other than it not being served hot, my sandwich was over-sauced with the mustard BBQ overwhelming everything else, and the roll was soggy having sopped up all of the juices from the pork components. The wife's sandwich was just as sad as a cold mushroom was topped by cold, congealed gouda cheese. The chips weren't a saving grace as they were massively over-salted making each chip look as if they were salt-crusted and essentially inedible. It was obvious to us that our food had sat at the pass for an extended period of time before being run out to our table. If we'd had more time and didn't have someplace to be, we would've sent our food back and asked for it to be redone. As it was, we left a lot of our lunch untouched. It was a shame that our lunch was so memorable in its disappointment. Maybe we caught Down One Bourbon Bar & Restaurant on a bad day. That said, it was easily the worst meal we had while in Bourbon Country.
(2)Tony S.
Loved this place, but didn't try any of the food. My perfect bar. Drinks were excellent, fun, interesting, and unique. Tried a bombini, really tasty. Heavy bourbon, and the flavors were nice notes, superb. I took sips of what everyone else got and I wanted a glass of each. Outside seating was excellent, and so was the crowd. Lots of other places close if you change your mind. We tried a few other places but regretted we didn't come back here. Hostess was a little rude, but excusable overall. Server was perfect.
(5)Stephanie S.
The food was good, but the quantities were small... Like, WAY smaller than I was anticipating for the price! The drinks were good (I got a mule) and came quickly IF you sat at the bar OR went up to the bar from your table to grab a drink. Aside from small portion sizes, what really brought the score down for me was the service. It was SO SO SO slow. Thankfully the waitress gave us a heads up once we were seated that they were short staffed, but if the hostess had told me that 30min prior to being seated, probably would have gone elsewhere. I went with a friend, she ordered a burger and I ordered 2 sides. They brought out the food and when she realized that the burger wouldn't quite be enough, she ordered a side of fries. 30min after that STILL never got the fries (don't they take like, 7min to cook??) and we had to flag the waiter to get the bill. When we wanted a second drink, one of us went to the bar to get one, because it was faster than trying to get a hold of a wait staff person. Maybe this was a bad day for them... But for now I will not go here unless I have a ton of time to kill. My food was AWESOME, but o don't always have 2 hours to kill for restaurant time...
(3)Dan S.
This place was excellent! We came in from Denver and stopped by for some bourbon flights. OUTSTANDING service and incredibly knowledgeable staff who can educate you on all things bourbon! DON'T MISS IT!
(5)Sharee M.
For my 300th review: A trip to Louisville included a visit to Down One. Such a cool little spot. I think I ordered a mix drink without bourbon, but those around me were a bit more adventurous. I tried a little of the Cardinal Smoke cocktail, which had a great presentation. As others have commented, the prices were reasonable. The service was ok. I thought it was a little weird that she made us pass things around instead of her taking the time to hand us things one by one. But she made up for it in her advice and knowledge of drinks. We sat outside on the patio was really nice. We did not have food, as the kitchen was closed when we arrived. Oh yeah, the speakeasy room looked so cool.
(4)Sarah P.
The food was predictable and reasonably priced but the service was extremely low quality. In fact, it was one of the worst server experiences I've ever had. She didn't treat my family with any respect. I can't imagine that she ever received training on how to do her job. Worst birthday dinner ever. I encourage you to avoid this restaurant and spare yourself any disappointment.
(2)Kim B.
We came across this place for lunch and could not have been more pleased. The atmosphere is great and the food was amazing!! We got the Korean wings as an appetizer and they did not disappoint. There were 10 in the order as well so it was easily shareable. I got the Three Little Pigs and can honestly say this is one of the the best sandwiches I've ever had. It has pulled pork, pork belly and bacon along with slaw, pickles and a mustard based BBQ sauce! I never wanted it to end! The Willet Family flight sampler was also wonderful. Three great bourbons. This place is on our list of "Must Visit" when we are back in Louisville! Stephanie was also a great waitress!!
(5)Ron R.
Came in from Indianapolis for a buddy's birthday. Looked on trusty Yelp for top rated places that were within walking distance of our hotel and came across this little gem. I was very impressed. This place according to our server has been around for 2 years now and serves designer cocktails and chef prepared food. I was down to try both! For the drink, I chose "7 across the board", which caught my eye when the bartender was using a blow torch on a piece of wood. "What the hell is that?" I must've asked out loud as the server began explaining. They take a piece of the oak barrel used to make the bourbon and they a blow torch on it to get the smokiness of the wood mixed with the devil's cut of the bourbon. They then take a glass and put Sage in it and turn the glass upside down on the wood so it collects the smoke billowing from the wood. They create the cocktail of blueberries, simple syrup, a few other things I'm forgetting and the Bourbon and present it to you at the table, still facing down. When you are ready, you flip it over and pour the drink in it. Fantastic presentation!! The flavor was good too! After that type of presentation, explanation and hard work...I bet a Sprite would have tasted good to me, but I honestly think this drink was very tasty. Keep in mind, these drinks will run you $12-15 a piece. As I said, Designer Cocktails! I ordered the "top seller" on their menu which was called "3 Little Pigs" and is a sandwich of Pulled Pork, Pork Belly and Bacon with a delicious spicy BBQ sauce. This was a DELICIOUS sandwich and I can see why it is their top seller. If you come here, this one is a must! We also ordered two appetizers, the Korean BBQ Wings, and the Bacon wrapped, Gorgonzola stuffed Dates. Both were AMAZING. The wings, I could have eaten until I blew up. They were that delicious. They had a sweet & spicy Korean sauce that included a sour tang from some Kimchee. The Dates, were perfectly delicious bite size amazingness. If I had one complaint however, it is that you get 4 dates....4...that's it!! For $6! For you math wizards at home, that is $1.50 per date. Yikes! Anyway, worth trying, not worth ordering a whole bunch :) If I'm in Louisville again, this is a place I must come back to!!
(5)Amaresh S.
1. It took us about 1.5 hours to get food. And we didn't get anything special. 2. The mushroom burger was pretty bad. Flavor wise 3. The place is clearly understaffed and disorganized. They switched our appetizers with another table's, didn't really check up on us, and it took us ages to flag down anyone who worked there. A pretty poor experience overall
(2)Joel B.
Lots to choose from. Don't JUST look at the drink menu. There's tons behind the bar too. Wifey enjoyed the flight our bartender recommended too. I had the Willetts flight and that was a bourbon I hadn't had before -- good recommendation!
(5)Ashley I.
I came here for happy hour and it was great. Great drinks and small plates. The Bacon wrapped dates were amazing! The mules were good and the old fashions kept coming. Also very cool vibe! I really enjoyed and hope to come back!
(5)Nicole M.
I came her for dinner before a play at the actors theater. The menu is small, but the drink selections are better. My friend tried the seven sister bourbon drink which was quite the presentation. It comes with a giant ice ball and smoked hay on the side. For appetizers I highly suggest the "really good" hummus. The name really speaks for itself. The pretzel bread with beer cheese is good as well. For dinner I tried the whiskey chili and side salad. I wasn't a big fan of the chili, it had a lot of red kidney beans in it and not enough meat in my opinion. And not much spice to it. The salad was good, the mixed greens were fresh and they completely over fill the small bowl they give you. Atmosphere is relaxed, and they have an outdoor section if the weather is nice.
(3)Cassidy S.
My coworker and I stopped here for a light dinner on our way to work. We arrived just before the dinner rush, so we were given a nice table indoors. Soon after, though, the place filled up, and they opened the sliding doors to let more customers out (onto the patio) and a chilly breeze in. We had a nice meal. My friend's chili was on par, and my house salad was a bit delayed but did the job. The shrimp and grits were very tasty, though I considered the andouille the real star of the plate. Our service was hasty but well-meaning. I'd try coming here again for lunch, which perhaps would be a slower pace and a quieter atmosphere. Got to love those happy hour specials, though - $10 for a bottle of red is always a nice deal.
(3)Kathleen W.
What's with these really obvious restaurant names? The night before I had dinner at 8UP (Restaurant on the 8th floor) and here, restaurant that is 1 floor below street level. I totally missed the street entrance so found this weaving through the office building next door and then taking a suspicious elevator down 1 flight. Cozy decor, warm and inviting. They have whiskey flights, full bar and some fun cocktails. My friend and I shared the bread, butter and really good olive oil appetizer - the olive oil was okay, I've had better. I started with a roasted beets w/ Mixed Greens salad - which was huge and a meal in itself. I wish it came with more beets. For my entree I had the Shrimp and Grits which was tasty, but by no means exceptional. It was my friends birthday so we HAD to have dessert. We indulged on a brownie and replaced the vanilla ice cream with the Happy Tracks flavor. Very decadent. The food was solid and service was very nice, albeit a bit over eager. We were interrupted several times to ensure that everything was okay.
(3)Mark Y.
Only hit the bar for an Old Fashioned and Ole Stubborn Mule- Overrated Both missed the mark for a genuine cocktail. The group could use a mixology lesson. Plenty of other choices on the row to choose from.
(2)Michelle E.
We stopped while passing through and I guess I should have known something was amiss when the hostess didn't give us any menus and took the silverware off the table. We were sat and it took a bit before a server came to us and he didn't have any menus for us either. He asked if we needed menus and we said yes. He returned with the food menus and a drink menu and then informed us the kitchen was closing in 2 minutes. So we said okay and we would just order drinks. Granted, we didn't read far enough down to see what time the kitchen closed, but in our defense we had just driven into town from western NY and we're tired and hungry. I would recommend the hostess ask people if they were planning on eating, especially if it is that close to the kitchen closing and not from the area to know any different. This way guests don't get sat and then find out they cannot eat. I gave 3 stars because my husband enjoyed his flight of bourbons, but didn't remember which was which because our server took the drink menu.
(3)Brian M.
If I were reviewing it on the food alone, based off what I got, I'd give it 4 stars (since 3 1/2 is not possible). Three Little Pigs... YUM. A sandwich with pulled pork, pork belly and bacon. Really? It's almost like they met me before I got here. Of course, the brussel sprouts I ordered as a side were 86'ed. At 7:00 on a Monday. (I heard the bartender tell the person three seats down that two other things he asked for were also 86'ed, which raises a host of other questions...it's Monday at 7 PM! Keep track of your par levels much?) And I didn't know about it until the runner delivered my food, with a sandwich on the plate and nothing else, and a curt "Hold on" when she dropped the plate off. She then walked over to the bartender (who was at the other end of the bar, just like the rest of my visit), who then came over to deliver the already obvious news. She asked me what else I wanted as a side without offering the menu. When I asked what the choices were, she said "greens". So I said greens. She repeated back, "Ok, grits". I said, "No. Greens." She replied, "Greens, got it." So naturally what was delivered 45 seconds later was a crock of lukewarm cheddar grits. I didn't protest...I just wanted to go. Two bartenders behind the L-shaped bar, both of them seemed only interested in serving people in the middle of the bar. Unfortunately for me, I was at the end. Having spent a lot of years as a bartender, nothing infuriates me more than bad service from a bartender. If I come back, it would only be because I peeked in and saw that neither of the two working tonight were working.
(2)Geoff J.
Cool little spot in downtown Louisville. We sat in the bar area. Great selection of bourbons. The cocktails were hand crafted and tasted great. I recommend a Basil Hayden whisky sour. Very yummy. For dinner we had the wrapped dates and pretzel/beer cheese dip. Both were great starters. I opted for the chicken and grits. Good entree and plenty of food, but the chicken was a tad dry. The pork shoulder was ordered at the table and received good reviews.
(5)Ryan S.
So much potential, but fell short. The Brussels sprouts were small and burnt, chili lacked anything special, salad bland, and service mediocre. Maybe the HH drink specials make up for it...?
(2)Dan Y.
I love this place. One look at their bourbon menu and you will have tears of happiness streaming down your face. Their pulled pork sandwich is wonderful. They also host these amazing dinners in partnership with local breweries and distillers. I went to one that featured Goodwood Beers this past week. It cost $25 dollars for a 4 course meal and a bunch of Goodwood's beers. It was probably the best $25 dollars I have ever spent on food. It was pretty delicious and so much bang for the buck. It was obvious that Down One took a lot of time to orchestrate their menu and ensure that the customers would be happy with the product. Service here is awesome. The place is clean, relaxed, and perfect for an after-work beverage. I'm going to miss this place when I have to leave Louisville.
(4)Keena M.
This place is a great chill bar. The music is really soft so you can have conversations easily. It also has a ton of drink options to choose from. They have tvs around so you can come here to watch the game and hang out. The bartenders are also really nice and know what they are doing. I would recommend this place if you want to go somewhere to chill and hang out with friends. This isn't a bar you could go to, to mingle and meet new people.
(5)Chelsea C.
Disclaimer- this review is for drinks only! We wandered in here after the Katy Perry concert after being unable to get a cab due to the crush of people leaving the concert. So glad we found this place! The one thing that stood out most to me about this place was that it was around midnight- and I was fully expecting the service to be not-so-great. Being a former server myself, I know how it can get after midnight and you can get fed up easily but every single employee of this place was awesome and so friendly. When we were ready to go our server used an app on her phone to call a cab and came and got us when he got there. Now that's service! We had a bourbon flight and a couple of beers and totally enjoyed ourselves out on the patio. Their bourbon selection is out of control- and they have certain flights that are pre-chosen that all complement each other which is really cool. Also have a great draft beer selection. Will definitely be returning to try the food, but a great late-night place to relax too.
(5)Joe D.
I love this place. Accidentally found it. Sit at the bar. Order a bourbon smash. David is man!
(5)David H.
Interesting atmosphere and quality drinks. They do all the details right here, whether you get one of their specialty drinks or a classic like an old fashioned. They slightly burned the citrus peel in the old fashioned to give it a unique flavor. They also have a private room that is accessed via a British phone booth. Fun place.
(4)Stephanie B.
The most noticeable thing about this restaurant is the atmosphere. The decor is gorgeous with the full open bar really stealing the show. My guests and I ate here before a show at Actor's Theater. We were in a rush to make our show, and the server was able to get us in and out quickly. I ordered the mushroom burger which was cooked perfectly. I felt like it was a bit on the small side for the price, but any disappointment I had was quickly made up when I reached for my drink. The White Russian is the best drink I have ever ordered at a bar, hands down. I could have easily drank four more. The presentation was beautiful. I can only wait for winter to go by quickly so that I can enjoy a few on the outdoor patio.
(3)Jon W.
We were struggling to find an alternative to all the pub grub, fried food and chain restaurants downtown. We skated in just before the kitchen closed and Morgan happily served us. My wife wanted something lighter and was very satisfied with the roasted beet and Gorgonzola salad with lemon oil vinaigrette. I was feeling more adventurous and opted for the shrimp and grits. It came in a cast iron skillet and was covered in an amazing gravy/sauce. Shrimp was cooked perfectly and the sausage was a great addition. It was a warm gooey skillet of amazingness. The Old Fashioned was simple, but well executed. Made with their "house bourbon" a large cube, orange bitters and a single cherry. If we hadn't been drinking bourbon since 10am we would of indulged further in their extensive bourbon selection.
(5)Matt K.
I stopped in here for lunch while at a conference at the Galt House hotel next-door. I had the beet salad, which was good. It was more salad than beets. The three little pigs sandwich was tasty. Pork belly, pulled pork, and bacon. Mmmm.
(4)Harley P.
I'm flying into Louisville for a friends wedding and getting in fairly late at night. I was looking for a couple places to meet up with friends when I arrive and grab a bite to eat and this place popped up. Seems very fun and interesting and called to place a reservation for 6. Apparently, however, contradictory to what Yelp states Down One Bourbon Bar DOES NOT ACCEPT reservations. Please change this info on the site as the hostess would not let me place a reservation. (Although she did mention that at the time I was planning to get there, there should be no problem getting seated) Will update this review once I return from Louisville.
(2)Andy J.
I had lunch during the week here. It was an excellent experience. The location is nice. I was unsure of the basement location, but it worked. The trees and location seemed to silent the noise from the street. I had the Cobb style salad. It was really good. Everything seemed fresh and the price was great. I liked the use of guacamole rather just slices of avocado. I ordered an ice tea to drink and was offered a nice tea for the road which was unexpected.
(4)Martin K.
Great bourbon selection at good prices. You can get flights if you can't decide or well known to obscure bourbons at any price range starting from $5 and ranging to over $90 a glass. The food was overall good. The stand out for me were the Shrimp and Grits, which were amazing. They come in a small skillet and are a great mix of shrimp, chorizo, creamy grits and veggies. If it could have, I would have licked the pan! Their chef salad was very good as well. Large and with tons of toppings. The rest of the food was only ok and the upside down strawberry shortcake was not good. First of all it wasn't upside down, second it only had a few small pieces of strawberry and all that on a large chunk of dry, biscuit-like cake. The biggest problem was the service though. And it's not the fault of our server, because she did all she could, but they clearly were understaffed and she had to serve our area, tables at the other side of the restaurant AND outside, so it took her forever to take our orders, bring us our drinks, or the check at the end. Again, not her fault, but management needs to hire adequate numbers of staff. For the bourbon and the Shrimp and Grits I would definitely go back though.
(3)T P.
Went for drinks while doing the "Urban Bourbon Trail" passport. Our bartender, David, was knowledgeable and patient when answering all our questions about bourbon and bourbon drinks, and he made each of us a great drink. I had an Old Fashioned, which he made artfully and was delicious. Definitely will go back.
(4)Emily W.
Stay far away from Down One if you're planning on ordering food. I came here a couple weeks ago for a Friday lunch with a small work group. One member of our party had made reservations for us to ensure we wouldn't have to wait. When we arrived, nobody was at the hostess stand. We saw two ladies sitting on a bench and assumed they were waiting for a table. A couple of us walked around, peeked inside the bar, stood back at the hostess stand. Eventually, one of those two ladies stood up and asked if we needed a table. Not sure why we weren't asked when we got there initially. Anyway, we let them know we had made reservations and confusion abounded...they said we wouldn't need reservations and just put us at a table outside. The service did not get better from there. The waitress took forever to take drink and food orders, on top of getting our food and checks out to us. The lunch took us nearly two hours, which is NOT okay on a weekday. I had the turkey sandwich and it was good, but I will never be back for a meal due to the service issues. Maybe I'll stop in again for a drink.
(2)Amy L.
Bourbon, bourbon and more bourbon with an awesome private patio and the best appetizer- Bacon wrapped dates! Oh how those bacon wrapped dates just melt in your mouth. Even if you aren't typically a bourbon drinker, you should go and try one of their cocktails made with bourbon. Delicious. The food was presented on rustic bourbon barrel type plates which was very cool. The shrimp and grits were very tasty and the service fantastic. Do it!
(4)Michelle C.
We came here for a fun group outing and got seated in what I will call the TARDIS room because I'm a big nerd :D You get to go through a British phone booth to a private room which even has a hidden door to the kitchen for staff. They had an extensive bourbon list, and will hopefully soon be on the Urban Bourbon trail! I ordered something with cinnamon in it, which I probably won't order again, but it's always good to try different things out. But for food, drool! I ordered the Three Little Pigs which I thought was going to come out as three individual sandwiches. Instead I got a heavenly conglomeration of pork belly, pulled pork, bacon and cole slaw with pickles, all on one sandwich, AKA food orgasm!! I also got their greens which had the TINIEST bit too much vinegar in them, but other than that they were delicious :D I would totally go back for a date night.
(4)Ann S.
Visited there this evening, absolutely delighted with the food and the service. Extremely comfortable and nice atmosphere.
(4)Howard C.
Bourbon heaven! Great entrees and starters. The hummus and wings are excellent. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.
(5)Christopher P.
Excellent place for lunch. I highly recommend the Brisket sandwich. Service was great and quick. Loved the location because it was close to everything for us.
(4)Sarah C.
Wasn't very impressed with the menu. I ended up getting the St. Matthews salad. It was just okay. Definitely wasn't the best salad I've ever had. Do NOT go with a large group. Our waiter just couldn't handle it. He was also upset that we did not want to sit in the seats he "assigned" us. Not the best service or food, but decent.
(3)Alyssa K.
This was a very cute place with great service. I had the 3 Little Pigs of course and it was all it was cracked up to be! Bacon wrapped dates are a "don't miss" and the hummus platter was terrific.
(3)Josh T.
Great Drinks and Great Atmosphere ! Love their Manhattan and pretzel with Beer Cheese!
(5)DeOnna D.
I had the three little pigs. So yummy! Also tried the Brussels Sprouts. Best I ever had!
(4)Kevin S.
As you would expect by the name, they have a huge selection of bourbon and cocktails. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and accomodated a group well in the private party room. The menu is limited, but perfectly fine as the food is awesome!
(5)Travis C.
This place has a great patio for sitting outside and an excellent drink menu. Of course bourbon is the theme and the cocktails are excellent!! I enjoyed the cardinal smoke, very sweet cocktail. The manhattan my brother in law ordered was very good as well, slightly bitter. The server was very knowledgeable and friendly. The food looked delicious from a far and we'll def come back to try it. This is a cool low key place to have a cocktail, which is rare in louisville.
(4)mellow y.
We dropped in here as our first stop on the urban bourbon trail, really wanting to have a proper tasting. Fortunately, the bar was relatively empty and David the bartender, was an excellent guide. He rec'd a different bourbon flight for me and each of my friends (based on our whisky tastes) which turned out to be perfectly suited. He was patient, attentive, very knowledgable and just generally great at his job. We didn't eat much, but split the Three Little Pigs between us, and I'm hard pressed to think of a sandwich I've enjoyed more. Ever. Each meat was cooked to tender (or crispy) perfection, the sauce was a great compliment, though not overwhelming and the bread on which it was served was a fluffy, buttered, toasted dream! The side of greens was really unusually seasoned, and utterly delicious as well. There's really no reason you shouldn't go. I actually wish I was going right now.
(5)Rita W.
Great place for drinks and food downtown. It was a pretty quiet when we arrived, could be because it was a Wednesday night. We sat at the bar and we were served by Beth the bartender. Beth was awesome, she was super friendly and she made some unique drinks! We ordered the pretzel bread with cheese, shrimp and grits, and a green salad. The food was really good, we were actually surprised how good our shrimp and grits were!! Don't miss out on the shrimp and grits if you come here!
(4)Clare T.
David the bartender was really nice and super knowledgable. I'm not usually a bourbon or whisky drinker so on the bourbon trail had no idea where to start.. He steered me towards the right flight and I walk away a bourbon convert! Knob creek maple bourbon is like dessert! Also suggest trying the 3little piggies sandwich and collard greens! Yum!!!!! It has turned into a Bourbon trail and food trail .. No regrets! Nice jazz music vibe and there is a British telephone box for photo ops!
(5)Brian B.
This is a great bar! The selection of bourbon to choose from is very large. To get your moneys worth I recommend getting a flight so you can sample many bourbons at once. The staff was very friendly and prompt. Also, if you get the chance try thier old fashioned sundaes. The ambience feels like you re in a speakeasy. Very relaxed. Definitely stop in!
(3)Red W.
Amazing service! Amazing food! Knowledgeable staff! Try the Korean bbq chicken wings (soo good!), the roasted beets salad, and the homemade chocolate brownie! Best old fashioned in town! Best Bourbon bar in Louisville.
(5)Aprill K.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Louisville. The food is great and moderately priced, the staff is always very attentive, the atmosphere is quaint (there is outdoor seating) and they play great dinner music. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice place to dine. Great job, Down One.
(5)Rich M.
I absolutely loved this place. I got the shrimp and grits on the servers suggestion, and it was great! I'm not much for grits, but it really worked. My wife got the three little pigs and she really liked it. the house bourbon is from four roses, and it was pretty good. I highly recommend this place
(5)Donna M.
Just spent 4 days doing the Bourbon Trail....the dining and cocktail experience at Down One was by far the best. The staff was exceptional....Ronnie, the chef, offered to make us an entree from the dinner menu (shrimp & grits) even though it was lunchtime. The dish was delicious! Stephanie, our bartender, recommended a drink they created for their Fall menu even though it wasn't on the menu yet. It was exceptionally good and creative - made with a housemate pumpkin simple syrup. We will definitely return whenever we're in the area.
(5)Melanie K.
The Name Describes it All.... No literally the name is a pretty accurate description. You go down one flight of stairs at Main and Second and walk into a Bourbon bar. The atmosphere can fit a casual lunch hour, preshow cocktails, or even a business meeting. In fact there are usually other guests that fit all of the descriptions I just listed. We attended for dinner and drinks before a performance across the street at Actors Theater Louisville. The cocktail menu actually features more drink variations then bourbon like Gin and Vodka. The first round of cocktails we ordered of the tequila Paloma and Bourbon Smash were incredibly unbalanced and overpowering. We did not give up and ordered another round . I tried the signature copper cup served cocktail the American Mule. The American Mule was fantastic and I would recommend this light cocktail to any first time guest. For dinner we had the St. Matthews salad which was slightly too small for two to share, but was delicious. For dinner we had the beef brisket sandwich with the jalapeno grits. We both really enjoyed the flavor of the sandwich and side. I am pretty sure we fought over the last bite of grits. As a note this place serves all of there food Togo. Our plates and silverware were both plastic even though we came for dinner service and had grown up glass cocktails. I do not remove a star for this because I have had many delicious things served on more unique and odd plates then plastic Togo containers. I plan on venturing back down off main soon and so should you.
(4)Kellyo O.
Went with two other friends for a drink. Love the atmosphere, great bartender and sweet wait staff. I ordered the American Mule, it was very good. My girlfriend had the old fashioned - fabulous and very strong. I loved it. Other girlfriend had the Strawberry Basil Gimlet, it was fruity and refreshing. We also ordered the fetta cheese plate. It came with just a few pieces of bread and lots of cheese with lemon and olive oil and something green - I don't remember but it was refreshing and great. The only problem is that we needed more bread to finish the block of fetta and they charged us another dollar. Yeah, that's not much but really they should have put more than 3 small pieces of bread on the plate and then charged us more for 2 more pieces. That was dumb. AND don't cut back on the fetta just add more bread! I will definitely be back because I loved it.
(5)Andrew R.
Love this place. Have had lunch a few times and everything I have tried has been great. Very nice outside patio for downtown and great Bourbon bar inside. One of my favorite places downtown.
(5)Nick M.
Just stopped in for a drink. As expected, good selection but a little pricey. Atmosphere was OK, not too remarkable.
(3)Matthew S.
The drinks were adventurous adventures in adventuring, but the waiter dared not venture our way after his significant other showed up. He forgot some of our order but was "kind enough" to take it off our bill. How sweet, since, you know, we didn't get our food we shouldn't have to pay. A bit overpriced and they turned the TV off on us. Very rude.
(2)Daryl's E.
If you're into dinning in hidden libraries accessible only through an old timey phone booth this place may be for you. If you're into eating salads out of oversized wooden bowls that don't contain the ingredients listed on the menu this place may be for you. I'm not into those things.
(2)Bill S.
Three little pigs were amazing! Beth makes the best old fashioned I've ever had! Now I'll never be able to drink one anywhere else!
(5)Kristie T.
I haven't tried their food just yet, but the drinks are amazing. The service also was very friendly. The perfect location and such fun bourbon drinks!
(4)Denise B.
We were on our way to a brewery from The Galt House hotel and decided to stop here instead. Friendly staff, prompt service. Don't know much about bourbon but enjoyed my smoky flavored bourbon cocktail. We enjoyed the date/bacon appetizer and split the turkey sandwich which was decent but not mind-blowing. The atmosphere was great and I'd imagine it would be even better in the evening.
(4)Kristin D.
Amazing cocktails here (did not order food). For drinks we ordered a chocolate manhattan (chocolate bitters gives it the name), which was unique and subtle. Also loved the Fumando plata besos martini, which was sweet and sour. I got my second one without the pineapple juice that it calls for in the first one and it was perfect (more spicy for my liking). Friendly bartenders and great location -- adjacent to the Galt Hotel and KFC Yum center.
(5)Kelly F.
Can't speak on the food. Bar was mostly empty. But a large party in in the TARDIS room had the staffs attention. Service was slow but hey I'm in the south. At least it was accurate. So the bourbon selection was amazing, good selection of flights. I had the Old Fitzgerald, Old Fitzgerald 1849, and the Down One Single Barrel by Forrestor. Now I usually drink Irish whiskey and good scotch (not many of those) but I did like these 3, sweet with no real bite, nice spice and after taste. My palate couldn't differentiate much between them. All in all a good place and a fun time.
(4)L F.
Of course, they have a huge selection of bourbon. That's one point. Really nice, relaxed atmosphere. Fairly quiet. Two points. Friendly staff. Three. And the food...soooo tasty! Four points. (Try the shrimp and grits) In all honesty, I rarely would give a five star review. But Down One had all of this going on plus most items can be made gluten free. That sends them over the top for me. Keep up the good work!
(5)Merritt G.
A lovely outside seating area with trees and decorative lighting made it feel like in another world, instead of on Main St in a busy downtown. The staff was friendly and helpful. The downside to Down One is that it's too expensive. I went here for 502 Lunch Week, and that is the only time I would go. For that event you get lunch for $10, whereas any other time you could easily pay $20. I got the Roasted Portabella Mushroom Burger. The "burger" was delicious, and just the right size. The french fries as a side dish were bland and cold when my plate arrived. I have not tried their drink menu, so this is with food in mind only.
(3)Corey H.
For lunch too! Best bang for your buck for downtown lunch no questions . I had the smoke salmon sandwich with avocado & sun-dried tomato, it was spectacular and was a mere $10! The sides are outstanding, highly recommend the jalapeño cheese grits or the baked beans. This place has great ambience, ANY bourbon you would like (though we did not have any). The service & staff were warm, friendly, & helpful. They have take out menus for us busy downtown folks looking for a fast lunch.
(5)Thomas K.
Great looking menu with a classic cocktail selection. Food was delicious and the serving size was noticeably smaller than expected. But the Old Fashioned made up for that in strength and quality. Customer service was more informal than we anticipated. The desserts come from a nearby ice cream and shakes shop. The chocolate and Nutella shake was yummy.
(3)Tracy S.
Great sandwiches at a reasonable price; jalapeño cheddar grits were awesome...so glad our server recommended them. Service was fast and attentive. Will be back to explore their extensive bourbon selection.
(5)E C.
Most of my stars go towards atmosphere! Great place to sit outside and enjoy an evening with friends. I don't drink bourbon, still had a great wine list. My girlfriends loved their bourbon drinks as well. Food was yummy but not amazing. I had a hamburger that was tasty. Overall, the atmosphere will have me come back. Would be a great happy hour.
(4)Leslie S.
We went to down one before going to the center for the arts, which was very convenient. We walked right in on a Friday night. The atmosphere was incredible. I liked the old video, pictures on the wall, phone booth and the garage type doors. We had attentive service and the food was okay, but the prices were high and the portions were small. I had the cheeseburger and the house salad. All of the sandwiches were served ala carte. My husband had the three pigs sandwich and the date wrapped with bacon and Gorgonzola. They were delicious, but only 4 small pieces for $4.99. There was an extensive drink list , as well.
(3)