Enjoy Culinary Specialties at Moonlite Bar-B-Q

Owensboro, Kentucky is one of several cities in the United States that claims to be the “BBQ Capital of the World.” One of the things that adds credibility to this claim is that Owensboro is the host of the International Bar-B-Q Festival every May, which draws barbecue fans from all over the world.

So what exactly makes Owensboro’s barbecue stand out from that of other cities? Two things: mutton and burgoo. Barbecued mutton (sheep), which is slowly smoked over a pit of hickory wood, is a local favorite in Owensboro. Burgoo is a hearty soup made from various meats and vegetables with a perfect blend of spices. Burgoo experts often disagree on the exact ingredients, and no two cooks make it the same way, nor do they share their secret recipes.

In Owensboro, you will find everything from mom and pop barbecue joints to fine dining establishments. We ate at Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn which has an amazing reputation for having outstanding barbecue and a first-class buffet. They have received many awards and recognitions from publications such as Kentucky Monthly and Kentucky Living, and have been featured on the Food Network and the Travel Channel. USA Today also listed Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn as one of the “10 great places to fill up your plate.”

At Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, the buffet is the main event. You can try all of the delicious meat options, decide which one is your favorite, and then go back for more. On the evening buffet you will find barbecued mutton, pork, ribs, chicken, ham, and beef, several vegetable choices, a salad bar, and a dessert bar of homemade pies.

The buffet is in an area in the center of the restaurant, which provides easy access for all guests. Rob was looking forward to the buffet, but unfortunately due to current restrictions, Moonlite did not have their buffet open on the day that we visited. In order to get to try and sample as many different meats as possible, Rob ordered a sampler platter, which he thought was great, but said it wasn’t quite the same as being able to enjoy the buffet.

There are several other different items on their menu, and we all tried to order different things so that we could sample as much variety as possible. I ordered a ham sandwich which ended up being a great choice. Fun fact: Moonlite serves 6,000 to 10,000 pounds of mutton per week, making it the largest user of mutton in the country.

Silas ordered the chopped mutton sandwich. He really enjoyed the mutton but said that the bottom bun ended up being too soggy for his liking. Fun fact – The first mutton sandwich at Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn cost 40 cents.

Micah ordered the kids shrimp plate. We were impressed with the amount of food that came on the kids plate. Micah said her food was delicious.

Of course we couldn’t come to Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn and not try the burgoo! So we ordered a bowl to share. The burgoo at Moonlite is made with mutton and beef from a family recipe that has been handed down through several generations. Fun Fact: “Kentucky Burgoo” is the celebrated stew served on Derby Day.

Delicious corn bread muffins for the whole table to enjoy. The corn bread muffins were Hadassah’s favorite.

We asked our waitress which desserts were made in house and of those desserts, which ones were the most popular. She suggested the coconut meringue pie, cherry cobbler, and banana pudding. So we got all three to share and all three were amazing!

Fun fact: When Moonlite first opened, Catherine Bosley made pies at home to sell at the restaurant.

Moonlite Bar-B-Q began in the mid-1940’s and has been in the hands of the Bosley family since they purchased it in 1963. The Bosley family has seen Moonlite grow from a restaurant with 30 seats to a large establishment that can now seat 350, and a catering department that can serve up to 15,000.

Inside the restaurant, you will find a carry-out area which offers everything from sandwiches to meat by the pound. You can also purchase freshly made desserts as well.

Near the takeout counter you will find a large selection of canned and bottled products, T-shirts, stuffed animals and more. Cullan was fascinated by the handcrafted bone jewelry that was made by a Moonlite employee.

We learned that the enormous black kettle that sits in front of the restaurant signifies the Burgoo pots inside the kitchen. Fun fact: On Halloween in 2003, Moonlite sold 19,000 sandwiches in one day.

For another look at our visit to Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, check out our YouTube video below. You can also read about our visit to other popular destinations in Owensboro – the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden and the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

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