RedPoint BBQ (Red River Gorge, KY)

A little off the beaten path near Kentucky's Red River Gorge, RedPoint BBQ serves up hearty meals and offers a large variety of cocktails!

By: Alisha Trenalone

When you're traveling in Red River Gorge, there are moments when it feels like you're completely getting away from it all — which is, of course, the whole point! The views, the hiking, the camping — they're exactly what an outdoor adventurer is looking for.

Deciding which hiking trails to tackle? We recommend Gray's Arch, Rock Bridge, Silvermine Arch, and Hanson's Point. For a less popular but very scenic option, try Jailhouse Rock.

But sometimes you also like to know that you're not that far from civilization and a delicious hot meal.

That's why we've enjoyed scoping out the dining options around the gorge. There are a lot more than there used to be! And one place that gets a lot of love locally is RedPoint BBQ.

I was excited to get to try it recently. And it did not disappoint. Here's what a meal at RedPoint is like.

Finding the Restaurant

RedPoint BBQ can't be seen from the highway. There's a small sign for it at the mouth of a gravel road ("Jim Smith Road") that leads up a hill, off Highway 715.

You'll pass a cemetery and a private home or two before you reach the restaurant. It's surrounded by forest, making for a rather idyllic setting.

For context, the restaurant is about 10 to 15 minutes from places like Koomer Ridge Campground, Gorge Underground, Miguel's, Thatcher Barbecue, and Natural Bridge State Park.

When the weather's nice, you might want to sit outside under the tent and enjoy the view.

Redpoint BBQ isn't open every day; be sure to check their website for current hours.

We went around opening time in the early evening, while it was still easy to get a table. It does get busy, though; so if you go later in the evening there may be a wait.

The indoor dining area feels open and bright. This place only opened in 2021, and it still has a nice "new" look to it.

The Menu at Redpoint BBQ

The portions here are huge! I was easily able to take part of my meal home to enjoy as lunch the next day — although everything is so tasty that it's honestly a bit hard to know when to stop eating.

The entrées include two sides, and some of the sides here have quite a reputation. The friends I was dining with, who'd all been here before, were talking up their favorites, like the baked beans and the corn grits bread.

You'll notice from the pictured menus that RedPoint does a great job of indicating which items are gluten free, vegan, or can be modified as vegan. There's also an "S" for spicy on some dishes.

What's possibly most impressive about this restaurant in the rurals is its extensive cocktail list! There's a full bar near the entrance, with a huge selection of liquors reflected on the drink menu. Beer is available too.

I ordered the pulled pork platter, with mac and cheese and corn grits bread. The barbeque sauce was maybe the best I've ever had.

But I also got to sample my friend's apricot glazed fried chicken, and that glaze was phenomenal.

A special side being offered that day was jalapeno corn bread. Some of my friends opted for that and let me try it. Although I rarely go for jalapenos, I thought it was amazing.

Others in our group ordered platters with beef brisket or blackened catfish.

It was a meal to put everyone in a good mood, and it left me in no doubt why everyone who lives around here is so excited at the arrival of this restaurant.

Redpoint BBQ is at the top of my list to visit again. If you're traveling around the Gorge, I suggest planning a stop here!