Bruen’s Restaurant

Don’t let the run down outside appearance fool you, this place is amazing for prices cheaper than fast food. We live in ohio but were traveling through from red river gorge on a Sunday right around when the church people go out for lunch. One thing you should know before you eat here is that they only accept CASH. I’m sure the locals know that but there was no sign posted for travelers. My boyfriend is a head chef and I was a cook in the fine dining industry so we know food and this food was delicious. We got the double cheeseburger, bbq sandwich, onion rings, fries, Cole slaw and potato salad and a soda all for 11 dollars. That is not a mistype, 11 dollars even. Every single bite we took was delicious and they didn’t skimp on the portion sizes. This is down home country food made right. We will definitely be back the next time we are in town.

Made pit stop in Stanton, Kentucky and found this hole in the wall. The double burgers were huge and chilli dogs filled full. The best part was being surrounded by White people and being served by a fabulous White staff. Five stars for White staff and hometown feel!!!

FYI if you aren’t a smoker or don’t like it don’t come here. Everyone was chain smoking. Wait staff was nice. Food took forever. It was a cheap meal. Waitress/​cook was in the bathroom smoking when I tried to use the restroom.

Solid breakfast food! It’s a pretty homey place, people still smoke inside and I’m pretty sure it was cash only. It would be very hard to recommend any other breakfast diner for your money though– the food was very inexpensive! One star off for slowish service, but it wouldn’t (won’t) deter me from eating here again.

It is what it is, a bland restaurant serving mostly fried frozen food. It’s OK if you go for breakfast and just get bacon and eggs. They really stay within their safety zone and mostly serve pre-​packaged junk food. If you order wisely you won’t be disappointed. But you won’t be blown away either.
Yes, it’s a dive. But it’s a dive with nothing quirky to say WOW! this place is a hole in the wall, but you have to try their rabbit stew!!! Nothing like that at all.
But if you want just a decent breakfast, or lunch with deep fried shrimp, pre-​packaged cocktail sauce, and an Ale-​8, then you won’t be disappointed. It’s pretty clean, for a dive. So you won’t catch anything eating there. It just is what it is. A dive in a small town.

We may have gotten used to city living, so it was shocking to sit down here and some guy is sitting with 2 toddlers and chain-​smoking at the next table. It seemed that all of the dozen or so customers in here was smoking. Then there was the lady swatting flies with a flyswatter. And the flyer for the Southern Brothers picnic next week, adorned with Confederate flags. but it’s a small-​town diner, and we had no higher expectations. We had a Sunday morning breakfast. Food was good, not great, and the service was slow. The prices, though — a comparable meal at Cracker Barrel would have been twice the price. Definitely a step back in time.

Ate lunch here today, giant double cheeseburger! I had to dislocate my jaw to get a bite! Tasted great, had onion rings and chocolate pie for desert. Bill for wife and I, including iced teas (she had hamburger, fries and coconut pie) was less than $ 18.00! Great diner chow!

Breakfast is good. Lunch and dinner are OK if you are not expecting home made. I ordered turkey dinner. I received a piece of turkey roll, what appeared to be stove top stuffing and mashed potatoes. The potatoes were the best part. Smoking is permitted inside with no designated non-​smoking area, so be prepared if you don’t smoke.

Four stars for the gem! We were driving through eastern KY, and all we wanted was some good cheap diner food– and we found it! This place has a pretty thorough menu, and the service is as friendly as they come. I recommend just calling things from the menu a la carte, and seeing how it all works together– it worked out great for me! It is cheap and you get a lot for your buck– which brings me to my only complaint– it is cash only! If good diner food is what you want– this place is want you want.

This is what we call a hole in the wall diner. Please do not expect white tablecloths or fancy meals. They do smoke in the restaurant do beware if this bothers you.
We have been 10 plus times for breakfast and lunch and food has been consistently delicious home cooking.
I would suggest but we like these types of places.

I’ve eaten at Bruen’s for years and kept hearing local horror stories about it. I had never seen anything with my own eyes so I ignored the rumors. A year ago I was eating there and the family next to me found a band aid in a salad. So I guess maybe all those rumors had been correct. Bleck :(.

This is the prefect image of a diner. First off you don’t find it where everything else is located. You actually get really lucky and find it the first time next to Post Office or you drive between the Landramat and the Valero Gas Station. Its a small cinder block building with a red metal roof. Parking is limited, so be a little creative just not at the gas station!
Their best deal is a meal with a meat choice (pork tenderloin, grilled ham, chicken filet, chicken livers, meatloaf, and what ever else is wrote in menu that day), salad, and two veggies for $ 6.25! The ribeye sandwich tops out prices with fies and cole slaw at $ 6.45! But what if you want breakfast, how about $ 4.25 for standard egg, bacon, biscuits and gravy. I really ate there at 8pm and went back at 9 am for breakfast. But breakfast is all day. They have regular home style sandwichs like peanut butter, egg, hot dogs, burgers, and all are under $ 3.
The atomosphere is small town prefection, you aren’t from here and they know that. But they don’t really care. You can find out about our peoples children, the county’s affairs, and whether you are at someones table. The place is run by some older women and they do get you everything you need, but you aren’t at a fast food place. This is worth the trip if you are by the Red River Gorge/​Natural Bridge State Resort Park stop by!

This place is great. Country ham breakfast. Can’t beat it

Talk about boonies, I’m from California and this place was out there.
The food was pretty good. I had not expected any Unilocalers but why not!!! You are loyal freaks of nature. Thank you for that!
The service was okay, our server was pre-​occipied and seemed annoyed that we asked for things like ketchup, and syrup… Who does that???
The last think that I must say is, a screen door is a great way to keep flies out…
Stay hungry my friends,
O

I was traveling with a work colleague from Martin, KY to Lexington, and as noon approached, I used Unilocal,and found that Bruen’s was listed favorably. Always interested in new restaurants, it sounds very promising, and was distinuguished from the many pizza restaurants and fast food chains listed in the area.
Both my colleague and I were very pleased with our lunch experience. We ordered cornbread as our choice of bread, and it was outstanding. I have no idea what there other breads are like, but I would urge you to order the cornbread. It was freshly made on a griddle, was moist, had a great corn flavor, and its warmth quickly melted the spread that was served with it. It’s some of the best cornbread I have had.
I ordered a side of hominy with my pulled pork sandwich, and the hominy came in a butter style sauce. I have only cooked with hominy a few times, had never had it as a side dish, and I enjoyed both the taste and the texture. I also ordered a side of mac and cheese, and it was good, though not as distinctive as the hominy.
My pulled pork sandwich was quite good, with the sauce on the sweet side. It was served on a bun, and I ate every drop. I might have preferred that the pork pieces be a bit thicker (less pulled/​less shredded), but aside from that had no complaints.
The table next to us ordered what appeared to be two double hamburgers or double cheeseburgers, and I told my dining companion that she needed to take a look, and that it was worth being accused of startng because the burgers looked so good. They advertise as the best burger in town, and from the appearance that is easy to believe.
The gentleman serving us was very friendly and attentive. We laughed when he asked us if we had left room for dessert. I thought the pricing was very good, and that it was a great lunch. They accept cash or check, but no credit cards. The exterior of the building was unassuming, and the interior was «homey, country, diner».
I am giving this restuaurant a high rating, because it was such a pleasant surprise. If I were driving in this area in the future, i would definitely make a point to stop here, and I think it’s worthwhile to go several miles out of your way to visit. As long as you are not expecting fine dining, and are instead looking for tasty well cooked food, this restaurant should be a place to visit.

Wonderful country diner with friendly staff and great food. $ 1 peanut butter sandwich

Good service. Pretty good diner style food. Best home cooking in the area. Very popular hang out for locals… especially the older crowd.