Boyle County dining guide: Handmade pies, bourbon, brick oven pizza and shawarma

“Everything you love about Kentucky. It’s all right here,” promises the Danville-Boyle County visitor’s bureau. Although advertising slogans always make me nervous, I’m hard pressed to argue with that one.

On a couple of recent visits to sample food, cultural and recreational offerings the region impressed. Thanks no doubt in part to the presence of Centre College, the food scene is lively and varied even in the midst of a pandemic, the community is beautiful, rich in history but vibrant, there’s a beautiful new distillery and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the countryside.

Let’s start with some ethnic eating opportunities. Two Hispanic restaurants were recommended to me by local experts, La Hacienda Tienda Mexicana and the venerable Guadalajara.

There are only so many meals so I tried La Hacienda and enjoyed the tasty tacos served with lime, radish and two sauces. Wrapped in two small corn tortillas, they were a delight on a gloomy day. Guadalajara is one of the first Mexican restaurants in the area, enjoys strong reviews and has a loyal following as well.

Just reopened after a long Covid lockdown when I visited was Tut’s, it was clear the community welcomed it back with empty stomachs and open arms. It was just barely after noon when the owner told me he had already sold out of falafel and didn’t have enough left to make my sandwich. No worries, I pivoted to the hummus and chicken shawarma and was well satisfied.

On another visit I got a lovely reuben and very good cup of coffee at the Hub a coffee shop and café that shares space with the Centre’s book store on Danville’s Main Street. A few blocks away on Main is Danville mainstay Burke’s Bakery whose doughnuts have fueled many early morning and late night study sessions. But it’s a full-service deli and bakery, with legendary gingerbread men, flaky rolls, pies and a wide selection of cookies.

My introduction to Bluegrass Pizza and Pub, another gem on Main St., came a couple of years ago during a stop on the Bourbon Chase where, too often, meals meant something picked up on the run (pun intended) at a fast-food place. What a joy it was to have a pizza fresh from a brick oven, made with fresh and local ingredients. Thankfully, you don’t have to go through such rigors to sample their pizzas and other delicious offerings.

Downtown there is plenty of history to absorb, on Constitution Square, which commemorates the site of the constitutional conventions that led to the county of Kentucky separating from the state of Virginia to become the 15th state in 1792.

I chose to take the 13-mile trip to the Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge, a 500-acre preserve with lovely trails (the Ridge trail deserves its “strenuous” rating) that take you through grasslands, by ponds and wetlands with plenty of benches to stop and contemplate the beauty of it all.

Wilderness Trail Distillery is a striking presence on Lebanon Road on the way to the Refuge, and one well worth a stop. A young distillery, it has gained respect in the wider world with its bourbon, rye and vodka offerings. The architecture and grounds are stunning and Wilderness Trail offers several tours a day that include a tasting and shot glass at the end.

This is a very quick overview but there’s more to discover in Danville and Boyle County. Some additional dining options to consider:

▪ Red Rooster Cafe, a go-to place for a hearty breakfast and home cooking at lunch.

▪ Jane Barleycorn’s, a wry play on words, offers a wide range of bourbons, wines and mixed drinks as well as a limited but impressive menu of cheeses, cured meats and smoked fish.

▪ Next door is Harvey’s a local bar that bills itself as “where friends gather,” with events like Ultimate Grilled Cheese Fridays and Cocktails with Alex and Ay (the owners.)

▪ Another relatively new offering is Bluegrass and Buttercream where – as the name would suggest – there are some mouth-watering dessert offerings but also sandwiches, panini and soups.

▪ The Farmhouse Restaurant, which is a bit of a drive outside of Danville, has a farm to table menu: The owners raise Black Angus cattle and it is their beef on the menu, along with locally grown produce and heritage breed pork.

▪ Copper and Oak on Main Street is a bar and restaurant that caters to bourbon trail visitors and has menu of double-patty burgers, salads and entrees such hot honey chicken and Creole shrimp & grits for lunch and dinner. Open Wednesday through Sunday, the restaurant also serves brunch on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

It’s a short drive to discover more of what you love about Kentucky.

This story was originally published May 6, 2021 at 6:00 AM.