Walt's Hitching Post, Kentucky

I love Kentucky!! I have been fortunate enough to visit a few times over the years and I am always amazed at the beauty..open skies, acres and acres of lush, green grass, scary thunderstorms and rain like I have never seen : )

On my most recent trip, I noticed Walt’s Hitching Post while out for a drive.. It was set way back from the road and all of the parking spaces were dedicated to valet, I knew something great was happening behind those doors. The building reminded me of an old hunting lodge or a place where gentlemen would sit and sip bourbon and play cards.. rustic and old but also rich and well maintained. I googled Walt’s and the menu was everything I knew it would be. Everything from ribs with a secret sauce to blackened salmon. It was clear that this was the place to get your seafood or enjoy a southern classic with a fine dining twist. I also learned that Walt’s was opened in 1942 and got its name from the hitching posts out front where diners could tether their horses.

I decided some surf and turf sounded great and called for a reservation. Walt’s has a beautiful dining room with an exposed log wall that was part of the original hunting lodge that was there in the early 1900’s.. before it was a restaurant. Stone and aged wood make up the rest of the walls which are covered with horse racing memorabilia. As stunning as the dining room is, I opted for one of the four private dining areas..I booked the Cauthen Room.

This room is dedicated to Steve Cauthen, a native of Kentucky and the youngest jockey to win the U.S. Triple Crown. It was so fun to look out over the other diners from behind our swinging saloon doors and viewing window that held this amazing trophy..

The staff at Walt’s was welcoming and friendly. Our waitress stopped by often to check in and to share some bits of history..she told us that Walt’s has long been a spot for horse owners and jockeys to gather after the races and play cards late into the night while drinking bourbon.. Speaking of bourbon.. I don’t normally drink but I figured I had to at least sip a little bit of Kentucky bourbon while I was in town..especially at Walt’s where according to our waitress, “ it’s aged in a barrel out back”. I have to say..I have never had any alcohol that tastes good but that bourbon was so smooth and velvety and delicious that I finished it over the course of the evening.

We started our meal with escargot. I have always wanted to try it but I have actually not seen it on a menu yet so I figured now was the time..here’s the deal..It’s snails.. no matter how you dress it or cook it… Yes, the flavor was amazing, with a slight char and a creamy, herby butter sauce but I could only eat about three of them because I couldn’t get over the fact that it’s snails : ) at least I tried.

see.. it’s totally a snail!!

We also had a house salad with Walt’s Famous Tomato and Garlic dressing..it was delicious.

The salted rye bread was probably the best rye bread I have ever had.. just a hint of rye, warm from the oven and drenched in butter..I still dream of this bread.

The blackened salmon was cooked and seasoned perfectly and looked stunning. Served with quinoa and veggies.

Surf and Turf!! Filet medallions and lobster tails..sooo.. basically heaven : )

For dessert, Grace’s Carrot Cake..another story from the waitress that Grace is the owners friend and she makes an amazing carrot cake, so I had to give it a try..It was delicious.

I can’t wait to go back to Walt’s. I had an amazing time with great food and great people..This visit was a sample of their seafood and it exceeded my expectations..Next time will be a look at ribs, succotash, burnt ends, fried green tomatoes.. all their traditional southern stuff : ) I can’t wait!!

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