WilKat Tavern

We love this place! Not only have we made friends with the wait staff, who are a beautiful bunch of happy, sweet girls - but the bands are AWESOME, the food is pretty darn good - try the BLT, go in for Monday's Steak Night, or try that club salad - all are mouth watering and such a great deal! BUT the bartenders pour very GOOD drinks; if you ask for a vodka tonic, YOU GET A VODKA TONIC, not a glass of bubbles with zero alcohol. They are FAST to deliver, very attentive, and as I said, happy and sweet!

The best thing about Wilkat - it is NON SMOKING! They do have a covered smoking area out back for smokers (we have friends who smoke, they like it out there, you can still hear the band of course and it's a whole nuther social area for them). The bands are always superb; the stage is a decent size, dancefloor definitely decent, and the layout of the restaurant is very accommodating, even when it's standing room only, a friend in a wheelchair can still get around pretty good.

They used to not charge a cover, which was great, but now charge after 10pm. In my opinion, this is VERY fair, considering how great the place is, AND the bands are so tight and so much fun to listen to. Bands always start at 10pm which is when the droves show up. Get there early and you won't have a problem. They are very accommodating for birthday parties, bachelorette parties, etc.

The age range of the bar is somewhat cougarish - you'll see lots of older single ladies prowling for men! But mainly it's a 40-something bar - all of us who grew up in the 80's and just want to hang with our own mindset, listen to 80's music being played live by very talented bands, drink some nice strong (and affordable) drinks, eat some good food... you want to be here. Convenient location too, right off the Florence exit on US 42. Kinda buried back behind a dentist office, but once you find it, you'll be back...!

After a few too many typical chain lunch options I feel over done with the  'been there and ate that' feeling, I took a shot in the dark with Wilkat, having driven by it a few times. Clearly off the beaten path, Wilkat was completely empty when I walked in and I stood reading the menu which I needed to do a major hunt for to find as I was not received for about 10 minutes. The back portion of the menu listed the evening events and entertainment. It is my opinion that the evenings scheduled events are popular and well attended. From customer wing specials to 80's cover bands, Wilkat focuses on the PM as opposed to the AM.
I ordered the Ultimate-I think-Burger with bacon and blue cheese which was really good. The tomato was thick the onions were purple, perfectly set to my liking and the bun kept the sloppyness all together. The fries were over salty and reheated, but not awful. The service was definitely lacking as I found myself looking to ask for an extra ketchup and mayo, having only be provided one, which was not easy, actually it didn't happen.
The bartender was more in the kitchen than at the bar, until a few older locals showed up and the service and attendance was kicked up a notch. So non locals need to understand that and possibly tip accordingly, which I did not do and tipped more than I should have. Note to self.

I travel a lot and recently moved down to the Florence Area.    My tastes are simple foods.    This is a quite place during the day and lively at night.  (Tuesday and Thursdays are Karaoke).

The bar is non-smoking.   The crowd is full of regulars.

The food is surprisingly good.    Some items to try with a beer I recommend are:

- Wings
- Hawg Wings (these are good size individual bbq ribs)
- Firecracker Shrimp - (larger shrimp (larger than a chicken wing)

They have the normal assortment of sandwiches and such.   If you are in the area and want to try the food do so.   I would not go out of my way but it is a good alternative vs the normal fast food / chain restaurants I see in Northern KY along the freeway.

The place is packed with locals after 9pm and on Friday Nights and Saturday Nights.    

Word of Advice.   Do not park in the Waffle House Parking lot - they will tow.

Used to be called Dollar Bill.   I believe the menu changed when bar changed ownership...