Kentucky has birthed some truly iconic dishes, from fried chicken and hot browns to Benedictine and bourbon balls. Many of these dishes have legendary restaurants attached with them: the Brown Hotel, of course, is known for the hot brown and The Sanders Cafe has made our fried chicken an American icon. And in central Kentucky, the Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant of Berea College has entered the Bluegrass Culinary Hall of Fame for a single menu item, and it’s a dish every born-and-bred Kentuckian knows and loves: spoon bread.

Anchoring the downtown of beautiful Berea, Kentucky, the stately Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant has been delighting guests and diners since 1909.
Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant of Berea College/Facebook
The Boone Tavern Hotel has welcomed guests for over a century and remains a popular overnight destination, as well as an award-winning restaurant.
Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant of Berea College/Facebook
The restaurant has made a name for itself for its fresh, forward-thinking approach to fine dining in the Bluegrass. The menu features what's local and in season, and elevates humble ingredients in the most inspired ways.
Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant of Berea College/Facebook
But don't mistake "fine dining" for stuffy or inaccessible; Boone Tavern is southern hospitality at its best, and this is epitomized by the menu item that accompanies each and every lunch and dinner plate....
Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant of Berea College/Facebook

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...spoon bread.
Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant of Berea College/Facebook
A traditional Appalachian dish, spoon bread can be found in cookbooks dating back to 1824 and has become a staple in many southern establishments.
Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant of Berea College/Facebook
Boone Tavern began serving spoon bread over 75 years ago, and has become known as *the* place to get the best spoon bread in Kentucky.
Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant of Berea College/Facebook
The establishment even sells its beloved spoon bread mix, so you can recreate it at home.
For many, the creamy, pudding-like dish is the standout of the meal -- and that’s really saying something, as the Boone Tavern is one of the finest dining establishments in Kentucky!
Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant of Berea College/Facebook
Come to Berea for a taste of the dish that's made the Historic Boone Tavern a Kentucky legend: the spoon bread.
Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant of Berea College/Facebook

Have you tried the spoon bread from the Boone Tavern before? What do you think of this classic KY dish? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Looking to sample the best the Bluegrass has to offer? Visit these restaurants, who do our classics right!

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Featured Addresses
Historic Boone Tavern, 100 N Main St, Berea, KY 40403, USA