Our Story
A casual, family-owned restaurant serving traditional food with a Southern influence — in a historic home in Owensboro’s downtown district.
A model of beauty, elegance and convenience
Larry and Jeanne Kirk purchased the home in 2006 and began plans for restoring it, as part of the up-and-coming downtown area. With construction about to get underway in the Historic District, a tornado struck Owensboro in October of 2007, causing extensive damage to the home. The back portion of the house was demolished, several windows blew out, and the large tree near the front porch uprooted and landed on the second-story roof.
Again, the future of this historic home was in question. Fortunately, the damage was surmountable, and construction resumed following repairs. Restoration continued throughout the next two years — and over a century after Elmer Miller built his extraordinary home, a new era began.
- 1905Elmer Miller builds his home on East 5th Street, “a model of beauty, elegance and convenience throughout.”
- 2006Larry and Jeanne Kirk buy the house and begin plans to restore it, as part of the up-and-coming downtown.
- 2007In October, a tornado strikes Owensboro. The back of the house is demolished and a tree lands on the second-story roof.
- Two yearsRepairs, then restoration, continue through the next two years.
- TodayThe Miller House Restaurant and Spirits, its bourbon bar below.
Southern food, made with care
The Miller House is a casual, family-owned restaurant serving traditional food with a Southern influence. Enjoy brunch, lunch and dinner in our historic home. We take reservations, and walk-ins are always welcome.
Our menus change with the seasons to ensure the highest quality produce, and we proudly serve Kentucky Proud products. We even grow our own vegetables in our garden for the freshest meal in Owensboro.
- Seasonal menus
- Kentucky Proud products
- Vegetables from our own garden
Chef Kasey Kirk-Dillow
Kasey Kirk-Dillow, the head chef at The Miller House, will tell you that she wanted to be a chef or a photographer for as long as she can remember. The former Kentucky Wesleyan College soccer player and communications major even had her own darkroom growing up.
It wasn’t until she had the opportunity to study abroad in London, England that her appreciation for food truly began to take shape. Halfway through her degree at Wesleyan, she decided to pursue culinary school in Louisville.
The cozy little bar beneath the house
With an eclectic mix of patrons, anyone coming to Spirits for the first time will surely feel right at home. As a bourbon-focused bar we always have more than 700 bourbons in stock, making us the largest bourbon bar in Western Kentucky.
All bourbon aside, we also offer a wide variety of signature martinis, mixed drinks, beer, wine and live entertainment.
Recognized near and far
- 2026Garden & GunFeatured: Spirits, the bourbon bar beneath The Miller House
- 2023Tasting TableTop 5 Bourbon Bar in the U.S.
- 2017Whiskey AdvocateOne of the best whiskey bars in America
- 2013–2016The Bourbon ReviewOne of the Best 55 Bourbon Bars in the Country, four years running
- 2012111 Fabulous Food Finds in KentuckyOne of the best food finds in Kentucky