Kentucky has emerged as a culinary force in recent years, with the bourgeoning Bluegrass dining scene gaining national attention and acclaim. Our cuisine is a melting pot of regional food, cultural influences, and farm-to-table fare, and it's wholly unique to Kentucky. This year, we recommend checking out the best the Bluegrass has to offer, by eating your way through the state one restaurant at a time! Here are 12 bucket list restaurants in Kentucky, one for each month of the year:

1. January: Pompilio's

Let's kick off the year with a bang, at one of Kentucky's most famous restaurants! While best known as the location of the iconic toothpick scene in "Rainman," Pompilio’s is a place well worth visiting in its own right. It's *the* place to go for authentic Italian cuisine in the Bluegrass. And we're not talking about the so-called Italian fare you’ll find at most restaurants, either. Traditional Italian food is not smothered in sauces, mountains of cheese, and served with never-ending breadsticks. It’s nuanced and veg-forward; fresh and light; balanced and best served with a glass of red. Which is precisely what you’ll find at Pompilio’s in Kentucky!

2. February: The Brown Hotel

For the most romantic month of the year, we recommend checking out (or *into*) The Brown Hotel. Home of the world-famous hot brown, the Brown Hotel is the perfect mix of Southern hospitality and five-star luxury. From premier fine dining in the English Grill to the effortless elegance of J. Graham’s Café to the jaw-dropping glamour of the Lobby Bar and Grill, The Brown Hotel is home to Louisville’s most exceptional and memorable dining experiences, and a bucket-list must!

3. March: Starnes Bar-B-Q

As soon as the weather shows any hint of warming up, you'll find us dining outside. And Starnes Bar-B-Q is perhaps the best place to sit and celebrate spring's arrival. This legendary spot is famous for its slow-cooked, fall-off-the-bone ribs, which are prepared in a massive smoker behind right the eatery. Our tip? Buy a bottle (or two... or 10) of their signature barbecue sauce to take home.

4. April: Wallace Station Deli and Bakery

In April when the birds and bees begin to buzz in the Bluegrass, hop in the car for a scenic drive in horse country. And when you get hungry, stop at Wallace Station Deli and Bakery, one of the most adored restaurants in the Bluegrass. Located along the idyllic Old Frankfort Pike, this darling little eatery is housed in a building that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and was built around the turn of the 20th century. While rustic and unassuming, this restaurant is led by Ouita Michel, a highly respected, James Beard Award-nominated chef, and her hot, fried chicken sandwich is the stuff of fried chicken dreams!

5. May: Castle Farms Restaurant

In May when the rolling blue hills of Kentucky are awash in verdant greens and bold blooms, the Kentucky Castle is almost too beautiful to be real. It is a spectacular destination in and of itself; a place of pure fantasy and revelry in the idyllic hills of Versailles. This majestic property is wonderfully unusual and bucket-list worthy, and has a hotel, spa, and restaurant. This castle restaurant in Kentucky is easily the most unique dining experience in the Bluegrass State — a fairy tale fantasy come to life!

6. June: Patti’s 1880's Settlement

There's no place in Kentucky quite like Patti's, a long-standing Bluegrass favorite. Patti's is so much more than a restaurant and has earned statewide and national recognition for food and hospitality, and truly is one of the best country restaurants in Kentucky. From the appetizers to desserts, their food earns rave reviews; Patti's is known for Southern-style cooking, offering items like steak and potatoes, catfish fillets, and their specialty two-inch pork chops. Make sure you get a side of their flowerpot bread -- and be sure to bring your appetite, as the portions at Patti's are as big as the restaurant's hospitality!

7. July: Sanders Cafe

Here in Kentucky, we know our fried chicken. Not to brag, but we’re kind of world-famous for it. And in the Bluegrass, the Sanders Cafe is a place that belongs on every Kentuckian’s bucket (of fried chicken) list — not simply because it’s the amazing restaurant that birthed a culinary legend, but also because it has its own museum that’s devoted to all things fried chicken!

8. August: The Freight House

Owned and operated by Bluegrass chef (and "Top Chef Kentucky" runner up) Sara Bradley, at The Freight House, you’ll dine on down-home Kentucky cuisine. From cornbread and grits to burgers and fried chicken, everything on this menu feels like a big, warm hug! The Nashville Hot Chicken is an absolute must-try, and the deviled eggs are downright, well, sinful.

9. September: Rich's Proper Food & Drink

After a hot summer spent outdoors, we recommend getting dressed up and a bit *fancy* for a night out on the town. And in Kentucky, one of our favorite places to go for a fine dining (yet accessible) experience is Rich's Proper Food & Drink. The eatery opened in 2018, and has quickly become a standout for its incredible food, next-level cocktails, and wholly unique ambiance (Rich's operates out of a 100-year-old building formerly occupied by Rich's Gruen Watches, a high-end jewelry store).

This restaurant boasts an incredible bourbon bar and an expansive menu that's a casual take on American pub fare with a dash of Southern and Creole influences thrown in for good measure. Dining here truly is an experience, and one you'll remember long after the last drink!

10. October: Barn8 Restaurant

Just 30 minutes outside the hustle and bustle of Louisville, Hermitage Farm is 683 acres of pure Bluegrass beauty: rolling hills, bucolic farmland, original horse barns, historic buildings -- and a fantastic, farm-to-table restaurant. Originally building number 8 of Hermitage Farm's historic horse stables, Barn8 Restaurant is a converted barn restaurant that's easily one of the most unique places to dine in Kentucky. And in October, when the fall foliage is at its peak in the Bluegrass? Perfection.

11. November: The Bluebird

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, pause for a family brunch at The Bluebird. This delightful spot in Stanford dishes up Southern classics, but with a modern twist. From cornbread stuffing to crawfish tacos, this Bluegrass dining spot is serving up some truly inspired, next-level Southern cuisine.

12. December: The Old Talbott Tavern

We're closing out our epic year of Kentucky eats with a place worthy of a grand finale. Located in the heart of Bardstown, Old Talbott Tavern is the oldest restaurant in Kentucky -- and it's also the oldest bourbon bar in the world! The ambiance here is everything: a step back in time with amazing food (and drink!) to boot. And make an entire night of it, if you can, as Bardstown is Kentucky's most dazzling Christmas town, sure to put you in the proper holiday spirit!

Now this is a resolution we can get behind! And of course, this is by no means an extensive list of the best restaurants in Kentucky. Did we miss one of your can't-miss restaurants? Nominate it for a chance to be featured!

For more delicious Kentucky fare, be sure to check out this comprehensive guide to the state's superlative superstars.