Tousey House Tavern in
Burlington (KY)

Tousey House has always been one of my favorite restaurants. It is everything southern hospitality should be. You are greeted and welcomed into the door, the food (especially the fried chicken) has never disappointed... And the service has always been exceptional (dishes are swiftly moved from the table, waters are refilled at half empty mark without being asked... Food comes out piping hot and timely. We ate last night and the server Emmalee by far provided the best service we've ever experienced ever. She was prompt, knowledgeable, friendly and personable. My husband even asked about the coffee and she went out of her way to get us the name of it for us ( it's made local by the way and he raved about it- yet another reason we love Tousey house is it's a local business that also promotes and supports other local businesses). I will pick dining at Tousey House over a Jeff Ruby's dinner any time!

My wife and I love the traditional setting of this restaurant and the food is always great. Emmalee gave us extraordinary service. Honestly I think she was the best server I've ever had at any restaurant.

We had dinner at Tousey House for New Years Eve. Seating host was very nice. Very good waiter as well. My wife ordered the halibut. She loved it. I had the sea bass lying on a gravy with some shrimp in it. The shrimp were inedible due to the fact that the gravy was extremely salty. I had a side of button mushrooms that were super salty as well. Kitchen was heavy on the salt shaker. Not good. We dined with others. The fried chicken thighs were salty as well. One had the lobster ravioli and it was very salty. Kitchen needs to know that salt can’t be taken out. Less salt the better. Could have enjoyed this meal more but did not happen. Will give it a second thought next time we consider the Tousey House.

Beautiful old house circa1822. So cozy and decorated all Christmasy. I’ve hosted private parties here, but tonight was an evening with a couple of friends. We started with a beer cheese appetizer. My husband had sea bass. I can’t order anything, but fried chicken when I come here. Their other dishes temp me, but their chicken is so perfect it’s what I always order. I had hot slaw for my side. The chicken comes with mashed potatoes The best part is that I have fried chicken for lunch tomorrow. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Northern Kentucky for its quality of food and the warm ambiance.

10/10 – Toussey House Tavern is pure magic! Stepped into this gorgeous historic gem and instantly felt transported. The atmosphere is everything: cozy fireplaces, beautiful antiques, and so much charm in every corner. It’s like dining in a perfectly preserved piece of history. The food? UNREAL. I had the crispy chicken thighs and I’m still dreaming about them – hands-down the best I’ve ever had anywhere. Perfectly seasoned, juicy inside, crispy outside… perfection. And those cinnamon muffins with cream cheese frosting? Melt-in-your-mouth heavenly. Everyone in our large group raved – zero complaints at the table! The sweet tea is dangerously good (sweet, strong, and refillable), and our server Soo was an absolute sweetheart – attentive, friendly, and made our whole afternoon even better. We came for a late lunch and it was relaxed and wonderful. If you love great food, warm hospitality, and a stunning historic setting, run (don’t walk) to Toussey House Tavern. Already planning our next visit! 🐓🍯🏛️✨

Fantastic food and experience. Great bourbon selection and the bartender convinced me to try Blanton's Gold. We think Blanton's regular is mostly just hype and everyone's pavlovian response when they ask about bourbon but he went and found a bottle of gold for us and highly suggested it. It was fantastic and a perfect pairing with our meals.

Great food and friendly service. Great for Brunch, try the mimosa flight. Loved the breakfast potatoes, too.

Loved the waffle, & potato spuds. Chicken was nicely breaded buy lacked seasoning. That will not keep me from not coming back. Plan on going back very soon. The services was excellent and I want to thank the entire staff super nice and attentive. The blueberry cobbler was amazing! I recommend going there over & over again.

We’ve enjoyed brunch at Tousey House several times, but this was our first dinner visit. We came to celebrate a birthday with a party of three before heading to a concert, so we skipped appetizers to stay on schedule. One person in our group started with a Kentucky Mule, which was a nice beginning to the meal. For entrées, we ordered the mahi-mahi with a tropical-infused beurre blanc, the Alaskan halibut topped with Parmesan artichoke, and a wedge salad with grilled chicken. Each dish was flavorful and well-prepared, with the exception of the grilled chicken, which was a bit rubbery. Our server handled the situation gracefully and adjusted the bill without hesitation. The atmosphere at Tousey House leans more formal, but this is still Kentucky—so you’ll see everything from shorts in summer to jeans in winter. At the same time, it’s the kind of place where you’ll feel comfortable dressing up for a special occasion. The historic inn setting makes for a beautiful and cozy backdrop, and the attentive waitstaff strike the right balance of service without being intrusive. A highlight worth mentioning: the standout homemade rolls with butter, which are absolutely fabulous. Overall, while not perfect, Tousey House remains one of the best fine dining options in Boone County. It’s a great choice for celebrating or simply enjoying a nice meal without driving all the way into Cincinnati

Tousey House has been a family favorite for YEARS but it's been awhile since I've visited. There was a large group of us and we sat on the back patio which was amazing since the weather has been so nice. Our server, Zoe, was awesome! The entire staff did a great job of clearing plates, providing refills, etc. It really makes a difference when you feel like the staff cares. The food was really good too. I had the fried green tomatoes and the beet salad. My only small complaint was with the beets. There were four thinly sliced beets and I didn't think that was enough, and they were overcooked. The fried green tomatoes were delicious! It's truly a gem of a restaurant and it was a nice return visit.

Have been to Tousey House so many times that we have our own waiter. Love this gem of a restaurant. We love their fried chicken so much that it is hard to order anything else. We finally decided to try the Fried Chicken Sandwich with Pimento Cheese and hot honey with fries. First bite we were sold on this baby. We did break down and order the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli casserole. James waited on us and he always takes great care of us when we visit. He even asked where "grandma" (my mom) was since he hadn't seen her in a while. The support staff is awesome as well, they keep your water, tea, soda filled and your table cleaned. We love restaurants that still put table cloths on the tables (even though that is an extra expense to them). Keep your eyes open for Mr. Wainscott to drop in wearing his farm clothes, he will walk right up to your table and start chatting away. One visit he walked up and we had no idea who he was, started a conversation and said "it was nice meeting you but I have to get back to the farm I have a lot of work to do". We couldn't figure out who he was so of course went to Google and low and behold it was him. Such a sweet man with a big heart. Thank you for sharing your wonderful establishment with the community.

Had an absolutely fantastic meal on a Friday night while in town for business. We had the hot brown as an appetizer, the BLT salad, and two entrees ( the crispy chicken thighs and risotto and the ny strip.). We finished the night with the bread pudding. Everything we ate was amazing! I always appreciate excellence and that is what we enjoyed tonight. The food, service, and experience were straight fire 🔥. If you get a chance check these guys out!!!

Great dining in a historic house. Staff is always attentive and friendly. Food orders are quick and made to order. Have never had a wait for drink or food orders. Atmosphere is great in this historic house, with great views in the out door seating. For busy days it's great to get a reservation but slower days or off hours easy to walk in and get a table, especially during warmer months with the outdoor patio open.

The food was really enjoyable but the thing that really bothered me was that there was a ton of bees and flies flying around at the tables outdoor:( requested to change seats but none indoors were available because they were all booked 😓. Overall not bad, especially as it is getting colder so insects wont be much of a problem but I went on a sunny day and the bees outside were super annoying! 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 - Only other thing is that I asked for Medium cooked steak but it felt more like Medium rare. - french fries were so crispy and yum

Absolutely a positive experience, the food was very tasty served in a quaint tavern that was built in 1822 as a home originally. The crispy chicken thighs with risotto was one of the best dishes I've had in months. The chicken was succulent and juicy and the cream sauce with shallots was a standout. Prices are moderate especially considering the atmosphere and service. The hot slaw was also very good something you don't see much. When we travel we like to find unique dining experiences, The Tousey House exceeded our expectations.

I have ate at Tousey House many times, food is always good n service is good. Being a country boy, love the Devil Eggs, their Salmon is excellent also, good selection of Bourbons!

This is truly a fine dining experience, so much so that you'll probably need a reservation. We had excellent fried green tomatoes. The lobster ravioli was the best I've ever had. I felt a little rushed between the salad course and the main course.

We came to this spot to try some traditional Kentucky cuisine. The appetizers were really nice. Deviled eggs were delicious, and all of the dishes looked very nice. The interior is astonishing interior, and also the waiter was very nice and friendly. Hot brown is a really weird dish, and we couldn’t finish it because it is really fatty, but we really wanted to try. It was an amazing experience.

The Tousey House Tavern is a wonderful historic restaurant located in beautiful Burlington, Kentucky. Originally built in the early 1800s, it's withstood time and is now one of the best restaurants in Burlington. The setting inside is charming and somewhat romantic, with more seating outside during nicer weather on their covered patio. As for the food, there's a little something for everyone on the menu from steak to chicken, salmon, and pasta. Although their family specifically is fried chicken, which is very good, just expect a longer wait for it to be prepared. Of course, they do offer Kentucky Hot Brown as well, a favorite that is as good as it gets! Overall, it is a wonderful restaurant that's worth trying. I do recommend making reservations online before going to avoid any disappointment.

Love this place! I hadn't been there in a long time, silly me, but I won't be making that mistake again any time soon. The restaurant itself is beautiful; the old home makes you feel like you've stepped back in time when you walk in....with modern comforts, of course. We passed on appetizers, and I just wanted something light, so I ordered the chicken salad plate, which comes with a huge scoop of chicken salad, a large portion of fresh fruit and a muffin that was to die for. So much food it took me two days to eat it (except for the muffin, which my husband helped finish off). Hubs had a Manhattan, and apparently they did not skimp on the bourbon, plus their special, with multiple items served on a wood plank, including a barramundi filet (if I remember correctly) and stuffed shrimp, among other things. He got blackberry cobbler for dessert and I tried a bite; it was as delicioius as it looked. I can't wait to go back and try more of their offerings....but dang, that chicken salad plate was so good I want it again! Service was great, too. Update: took my brother-in-law, who moved away from Kentucky many years ago, to TH and he was in heaven; chicken livers, hot slaw and a hot brown brought him right back to home. Edited: we had dinner at TH again tonight and the food was again outstanding. Salmon, sirloin with crab and crab and lobster nachos were new to today's menu.

House salad was crisp and delishious. Hot Brown was exactly as our server described it, rich and a salty from the ham and very filling. French fries are some of the best ever. Deviled eggs had smoked salmon, capers and fresh dill on top. Yes, I'll eat here again, it reminds me of The Golden Lamb in Lebanon.

Amazing! The building itself is gorgeous and each room is decorated beautifully. Dinner was fantastic and our waiter, Shaun, was outstanding. He had some great recommendations. It was my first visit and a special occasion. It was nice to live rich for a night. Highly recommend giving them a try.

Thirteen of us ate here and we were not disappointed! I highly recommend you make reservations for dinner at this wonderful restaurant. The filet mignon was the most thick and tender I have ever eaten! The waiter was very efficient and pleasant. All others were very pleased with their food choices, also. The Hot Brown looked very good and I was told it was the best hot brown my friend had ever eaten. This restaurant is within 20 minutes from the Ark Encounter. Eating there definitely topped off a wonderful day visiting the Creation Museum!!

Absolutely amazing the service was great and the patio was beautiful. The food was out of this world. My wife loved her filet and I had the NY strip witch had crab on it. And the app was Fred’s cheese dip. I’m over the moon happy haven’t stopped smiling since I ate. The best dining experience ever

Excellent Dining in local Tavern. Went for the first time today to have a late lunch. Place was busy with all seating occupied downstairs and outside. We were offered seating upstairs at a cozy corner table. For starters my wife and I shared the crab cakes accompanied by a Bloody Mary. Crab cakes were perfectly cooked with ample amounts of lump crab. The remoulade sauce was well made and tasty. It was served along with some greens and cherry tomatoes. We both picked a fried chicken club sandwich for the main course that was served with fries and coleslaw. Chicken club had lots of bacon on top, cooked to a crisp. Waitress was attentive and very nice. We will definitely be back for seconds. Highly recommended!

Went there after a wonderful day at the creation museum. This place is very nice and looks to be a local favorite. We had kids with us and a few spills but our watress was sweet about it. The food was good but not 5 star worthy for the price. I think the filet was the best on the menu overall. Glad we stopped though.

We love this place! The food is awesome, especially the Alaskan Halibut, KY Hot Brown and the Short Rib Ravioli. The homemade desserts are all great too. We had the Orange Cake with White Chocolate Ganache and the Swiss Chalet Chocolate. It was the first time I tried a Southern favorite too. . . Hot Slaw. Yum. Ask for Jennifer. She is so sweet and will take great care of ya. Will will return to this gem and the porch is beautiful.