Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Central Kentucky
  4. Lexington
  5. Lexington
Barrel 53, Lexington, KY

Barrel 53

4.1
4.1
28 Reviews
$30 and under
American

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 1 time today
  • Charming
  • Great for happy hour
  • Great for live music
At Barrel 53 we proudly offer a casual dining experience with a sophisticated touch of down home southern cuisine. Located in the heart of the Bluegrass, our Bourbon & Spirit selection is the front runner to the start of the evening. Join us Saturday evenings for live music showcasing a variety of local bands. Grab a quick drink in our rustic copper & barrel themed lounge or dine in with friends and entertain our extensive dinner menu!

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Cocktail Bar, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 11:00–01:00
  • Phone number
    (859) 475-0950
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Area
    Lexington
  • Cross Street
    I-75 at exit 104 Athens Boonesboro by Lexington Sport Club Pro Soccer Arena
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Vegan, Wine

What 28 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.1
4.1 based on all time ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

28 Reviews
  1. BethS

    Charleston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 2 March 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We stopped here for dinner on our way to do Kentucky bourbon distillery tours. All of us enjoyed the food and drinks!

    Is this helpful?

  2. VinceP

    VIP

    Louisville

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 15 February 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    If I could give less than a 1 star I would. We went here for our Valentine's Day dinner, and it was absolutely terrible. We sat at our table for 20 minutes before our waitress came to speak to us - she didn't even ask for our drink order at that time, and she NEVER asked me for my drink order the entire dinner. We both ordered the Valentine's Day Special ($50 per person for 3 courses = salad appetizer, filet with vegetables for main course, and a dessert). After 30 minutes waiting from our order time the waitress finally brings food to us - but it isn't the salad appetizer, it's the main course. We asked where our salads were and she said, "oh I thought someone else brought it to you". She goes back and brings us our salads with our meal. We cut into our filets, and they are VERY UNDERCOOKED (husband ordered medium and it was rare, I ordered medium well and it was medium rare). We mentioned this to the waitress, and she took plates back to the kitchen. 5 minutes later she brings them back to us with the steaks cooked a little bit more - still not close to what we ordered. We finally just gave up and didn't eat the steak. The waitress came back and asked how it was and we told her the steak still wasn't cooked appropriately but we weren't going to send it back again. She then brings us our check - FULL CHARGE and she didn't even offer us dessert. I asked if our meal came with a dessert and she said yes. Then why didn't you offer it?! I asked for 2 desserts to go just to get out of there. Service was terrible. Food was terrible. And we still had to pay full price for a meal that we didn't get all parts of without asking for it (they never asked us what we wanted to drink, or dessert), and our filets were inedible. Absolute disgrace.
    Barrel 53Responded on 27 February 2024
    Vince, we are so sorry to hear about your bad experience with us. We always strive to provide a 5 star experience and we are so sorry this how your night went. I will absolutely be speaking with our service staff this get this issue corrected. We sincerely hope you will be willing to give us another shot soon.

    1 person found this helpful

  3. RobB

    Louisville

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 15 February 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very busy for Valentines Day, yet everyone killed it! Food, service, atmosphere...excellent!

    Is this helpful?

  4. LouF

    Louisville

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 14 February 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Food took a long time to process and found a hair in my dessert.

    1 person found this helpful

  5. WhatAJoke

    Louisville

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 10 February 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    This place was a joke. The menu online didn’t match the menu in the restaurant. Literally NO ONE was in the restaurant but my table and we couldn’t even get service. The drink menu didn’t match what they actually had available so the waiter kept going to the bar and coming back to say they didn’t have what we wanted. So we would ask what they do have and he would say “I just really don’t know”. He didn’t even take the time to write down what was available. He also kept forgetting what drinks we ordered. I’m not sure if he was high or what. After waiting almost 20 minutes just to get a drink we decided it was probably best we did not eat there. Not to mention we were the only people in the entire restaurant on a Saturday night the weekend of Valentine’s Day. I’m not sure where the food rating for this restaurant come from but they are definitely not from me.
    Barrel 53Responded on 27 February 2024
    We are so sorry to hear about your bad experience with us. We always strive to provide a 5 star experience and we are so sorry this how your night went. I will absolutely be speaking with our service staff to see why they were unable to provide our selections. We sincerely hope you will be willing to give us another shot soon.

    1 person found this helpful

  6. RobB

    Louisville

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 4 February 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Looked great after renovation. Ambiance was perfect.
    Barrel 53Responded on 27 February 2024
    Rob, We sincerely appreciate you sharing your positive experience at our restaurant. We cant wait to host again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  7. ShirleyS

    VIP

    Louisville

    33 reviews

    1.0

    33 reviews

    Dined on 18 October 2023

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    We had reservations and drove about 45 minutes to get there. When we walked in five employees were sitting at the bar and said sorry, but we don’t have food tonight but you’re welcome to join us for a drink said the cook was sick, had an appointment or something like that. We left and tried to make other reservation on OpenTable, but it wouldn’t let us since we had that reservation. Seems there should’ve been a way to let us know about the situation. We will not be back.

    1 person found this helpful

  8. EinLEX

    Louisville

    27 reviews

    3.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on 15 October 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 1
    Based on reviews, I wanted to try this place. My hub and I had already planned on having the halibut and filet. I wasn't sure where it was located. Barrel 53 is a hotel bar/restaurant and not the atmosphere I wanted. The server, who may have been new, didn't want to be there. Halibut is no longer on the menu. Husband had the rib eye and I had a pizza and both were very good,. I'm glad we tried a new place. We will not be back

    1 person found this helpful

  9. WilliamT

    Louisville

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 October 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome service and food. I will definitely be back.

    Is this helpful?

  10. SusanH

    VIP

    Louisville

    13 reviews

    4.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on 19 August 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    This is a hotel restaurant however it looks like the hotel is being renovated and is closed currently. Our food was good - I had the halibut and my husband had the chicken cordon bleu. Music started at 8 pm but was pleasantly not loud and overwhelming.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Barrel 53 is rated 4.1 stars by 28 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 1 time today
Google Map for Barrel 53

5532 Athens Boonesboro Rd, Lexington, KY 40509-9491

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    I-75 at exit 104 Athens Boonesboro by Lexington Sport Club Pro Soccer Arena
  • Area
    Lexington
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 11:00–01:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Cocktail Bar, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Hotel Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Vegan, Wine
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable International Ltd. Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo