As you know, my family loves the Kentucky State Parks.  We visit them as often as time allows and always plan our trips to include at least one meal.  Fortunately for us, Rough River Dam State Resort Park is so close, we can conceivably make two trips in one day.

That’s exactly what we did a few Saturdays before Christmas. My husband, our middle daughter Brittany, and I went to Rough River for lunch in the afternoon.  We read that the special that evening was Sirloin, so we decided then and there we’d be making a return trip!

Brittany has been a vegetarian since she was 12 years old, so she was content to make just one trip that day. However, our youngest daughter (Stephany) and her husband (Rusty) were as excited about sirloin as we were, so they joined us when we returned for supper.

I’ve been meaning to write this review for what seems like forever, but with Christmas, New Year’s, and the worst possible head cold known in the world, I”ve gotten a bit behind. Not to worry, though, the memories of this delicious food are as vivid as they were the day I ate myself into a frenzy.

Lunch at Grayson’s Landing

As you could pretty much imagine, I ordered fried catfish and onion rings for lunch.  You can order the catfish, by itself, or as a sandwich and choose the side you’d like with it.  I normally get the catfish sandwich, but sometimes all I want is the catfish…. just the catfish.  Heck, sometimes I’m tempted to order “Fried Catfish with a side of Fried Catfish… and could I get Fried Catfish for dessert?”

As a matter of fact, yes, I am obsessed.

The catfish at Rough River’s Grayson’s Landing is always perfect. Perfectly seasoned and fried just right. The crispy onion rings also float my culinary boat and I’m shocked each and every time by just how good the hush puppies are.  Seriously, they’re better than some pups I’ve gotten in swanky seafood restaurants.  Add a glass of awesome iced tea and a crunchy pickle and it’s a lunch I could eat every day of the week.

I had expected that Brittany would need to order a salad or a couple of vegetables, but we were delighted to see a Vegetarian Burger (above) on the menu. She ate every bite, which tells me it must have been fantastic! The fries… yes, I snuck one… were golden and delicious. 100 times better than any you’ll find in fast food restaurants.

My husband, Michael, ordered the burger, which is always fantastic.  He also got the golden and delicious fries and I did, indeed, sneak one of his as well.  Caught him not looking and the rest was history.

Just look at those beautiful fries, who can blame me?!

Supper at Grayson’s Landing

When we went for lunch, we (at the time) had no intention of a return trip in the same day.  Then they went and mentioned sirloin.  It was like waving a salmon in front of a grizzly bear.  Frankly, it’s all my husband and I thought about the rest of the day.  When we told Steph and Rusty about our dinner plans, they weren’t just in, they were ALL in – as in, “When do we leave?!”

The Sirloin meal included the salad bar, the Sirloin and a side, and rolls or fried cornbread.  Take a look at the picture above and you can see our approach to the situation. Our very (very, very) colorful and friendly server asked, “Rolls or Cornbread?” and we were pretty much like, “Yes, please!”  She smiled and said she’d bring both.

I loved her.

The rolls were delicious, but the fried cornbread should have come with a warning label. They were outstanding.  Just take a look at the picture above… they’re even more delicious than they look!

The rest of the group ordered fries as their side, but I went with a baked potato.  I should have put my butter and sour cream on the potato before I took the picture (it’d have been prettier), but I was in a state or sirloin hysteria and couldn’t think clearly.

The sirloin was so moist and delicious! It literally melted in your mouth and the experience was nothing short of Heavenly. You’re given a choice whether or not to have your sirloin served with gravy and mushrooms or not – but don’t even think for a second of turning them away. There was so much amazing flavor in that gravy, I wanted to march back to the kitchen and drink it out of the pan.  My family frowns on such behavior, so you’ll be glad to know I stayed in my seat.

I just can’t say enough great things about the sirloin and gravy. It was possibly the best piece of meat I’ve ever had in any restaurant at any time.  I know I’ve never had better, I’d remember it.  Now, every other piece of meat in the world will have to live up to the sirloin at Grayson’s Landing. Well, they can try anyway.

The tender sirloin and wonderful gravy kept me so deliciously entertained I didn’t even steal any fries.  Not a single fry was jacked that evening.

I’m even obsessed with the salad bar at Rough River. The French Dressing, which I got on this particular visit, isn’t the best of the bunch – you’re better off with Ranch or Italian.  I’ve found that when it comes to French Dressing, the closer it is to red, the better it tastes. Having said that, it’s impossible to mess up one of Grayson’s Landing’s salads.  The vegetables are always perfectly fresh and I love the fact that they have sunflower seeds ready to sprinkle on top.. or, in my case, heap on top.

One of my favorite things about Rough River Dam State Park’s salad bar are their beets. I haven’t found any quite like them anyplace else, and goodness knows I look.  If you followed me around to other salad bars, you’d hear me whispering to my husband each and every time, “THEY don”t have beets like Rough River….” or “Why can’t anyone put together a salad bar like they do at Rough River?”

The winter hours in Grayson’s Landing are different from the rest of the year and the menu for certain nights varies.  It’s always, always, always best to call for information (800- 325-1713) before planning your trip.

Grayson’s Landing Dining Room Winter Hours

• Thursday Lunch 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Thursday Dinner 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm

• Friday & Saturday Breakfast 7:00 am – 10:00 am
• Friday & Saturday Lunch 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Friday & Saturday Dinner 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm

• Sunday Breakfast 7:00 am – 10:00 am
• Sunday Lunch 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Sunday Lunch Buffet available from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

CLOSED:  From Sunday Dinner through (and including) Thursday Breakfast

Be sure to call (800) 325-1713 for the special of the day or other questions you may have. They’re some of the friendliest people in the world and they’ll be more than happy to answer your questions.  Whatever you do… just go! The food is outstanding, the people are friendly, and the view is gorgeous.  And, if I’m there, I promise, promise, promise not to steal your fries.