Bud’s Tavern Offers Mighty Tasty American Fare in Jeffersontown
Come hungry if you want to get the double cheeseburger at Bud’s Tavern. Photos by Kevin Gibson
In recent years, downtown Jeffersontown has become a bit of a mini-dining hot spot, thanks to the addition of 3rd Turn Brewing and restaurants and bars like RecBar, Gaslight Diner and I Love Tacos. But a pseudo-dive bar about a mile and a half away, Bud’s Tavern, is worth a look when you’re hungry too.
My girlfriend Cynthia and I went to Bud’s recently to see one of our favorite local bands, inviting our friends Butch and Jane along for some food, music and fun. It’s set in an aging strip mall between a Mexican restaurant and a bingo hall. No, it wasn’t what you would call fine dining, but we all left with full bellies and happy thoughts.
The place was hopping, even for a Sunday afternoon, thanks in part to the live music by Mom’s Music’s Rock Band students, so we ordered a round of beers from our friendly server, cued up an order of fried pickles and settled in.
The pickles came before we had decided what our late lunches were going to be, and it was immediately clear we might be taking home a few leftovers. Why? Because that basket of fried pickle slices was more than ample. We dug in and soon learned they also were addictive. Accompanied by ranch dressing and a horseradish sauce for dipping – I couldn’t get enough of the latter – the fried pickles are a cut above most I’ve had, with the light breading holding its crispiness while locking in the juices brought by the pickles. The smaller ones, I found, are the best, so I gobbled up as many as I could.
For lunch, Cynthia and I both got a burger, while Jane ordered a BLT on toast and Butch chose a fish fingers platter.
Can’t go wrong with the fish fingers basket.
Ignoring the fact that at least half the pickles remained in their basket, we started in on our main courses. Jane’s BLT had ample bacon with a couple thick slices of tomato and a layer of fresh lettuce on lightly toasted wheat bread. It looked delicious, and she seemed quite pleased with her choice.
Meanwhile, Butch went toe-to-toe with four or five whitefish fingers that were cooked perfectly and more fries than he could finish off. I got a bite of the fish, and it’s well worth ordering if you go. But be sure you’re hungry.
Speaking of hungry, Cynthia’s burger – by the way, the menu classifies them as “Bud’s Big Burgers” – included what looked to be an inch-thick patty. While she liked it plenty, she couldn’t finish it. Feeling especially hungry upon ordering, I chose the double cheeseburger (“It’s Big!” is printed next to it on the menu) with bacon. My hubris quickly changed to humility as I learned it was nearly impossible to get my jaws around it to take a bite.
Served on a Kaiser-style bun with lightly seasoned fries, the fresh-tasting beef was plenty juicy, the bacon crispy, smoky and salty, and let’s just say my dog Atticus and I had a pretty good lunch of leftovers the next day. Seriously, I would love to shake hands with the person who can finish that burger, because it just defies logic. My only complaint is that it came out medium well when I had ordered it medium rare. I’m not the send-it-back kind, so I overlooked it, and it was still delicious.
Bud’s feels like a classic neighborhood bar, and those can be hit and miss when it comes to food and service. Bud’s Tavern is definitely a hit, with both service and quality rounding home along with a robust menu of American dishes. We’re talking about 10 sandwiches, from a “Philly beef cheese” to fried bologna; seven different burgers, including a Rueben burger; barbecue, including rib racks; soups and salads, and plenty of starters like smoked wings, fried green tomatoes and Louisiana meat pies.
Assuming you don’t overdo it on the cocktails, it would be easy to get out of there with a dinner for two for between $25 and $30. Oh, and expect to take home leftovers for your dog.
