Lexington Restaurants

Jalapeno's is very casual, and has good food at an inexpensive price. If you're into spicy food and think their salsa is too mild, ask the chef for the hotter green salsa.

Favorite Dish: Camarones Chilangos- Shrimp in a creamy (spicy) chipotle sauce with rice, beans and a salad. With a cerveza of course- Bohemia or Negro Modelo.

Our hotel staff could not recommend a good local restaurant or pub in the area. After checking out a few very busy chains we took the table we could get at TGI Friday's. I am a points member with them and the food was pretty good. But it did not satisfy like a local place would have. Next time I'll go to Furlong's !!

Favorite Dish: BLACKENED-CAJUN CHICKEN SANDWICH
Served on toasted ciabatta bread with melted cheddar cheese - it must hvae been the "blackened" part that made it tasty

I'm not a vegetarian, so I may not be the best person to give advice. However, this restaurant has been a favorite of UK students for 30 years. Kentucky Monthly magazine named it Kentucky's best vegetarian restaurant in 2003. I like it because of its homey atmosphere. The waitressess treat customers and each other like family.

See web link below (other) for reviews from other vegetarian diners. See Kentucky listings.

Favorite Dish: I've enjoyed the whole grain breads and buckweat pancakes.

Authentic drive-in similar to that in the movie American Graffiti. The late Joe Smiley opened the restaurant in 1951 on a gravel road off Liberty Road, years before there was a New Circle Road. The resturant unexpectedly closed but has been reopened by a group of businessmen who wanted to save this local landmark.

With its carhops, double-decker Poor Boy hamburgers and distinctive neon sign, the Parkette will take you back to the days poodle skirts, cars with lots of chrome and fins on the back, and simple box lunches without happy toy treats for the kids.

Favorite Dish: Frankly, the food is only average (which is the true with most fast-food restaurants). But it is fun to come here on Friday nights when bikers and members of car clubs bring their hot rods and restored antique cars from the 1950's. See photos and story about reopening on contact information below.

Lexington doesn't have an outstanding local barbeque restaurant, but several chains serve good barbeque.

The newest for Lexington is Famous Dave's Ribs located in front of the Lexington mall (New Circle at Richmond Rd), where several other resturants have failed. Famous Dave's has good ribs and side items. I hope it can remain in business despite the unlucky location. An old standby near Joseph Beth Booksellers is Tony Roma's. Excellent sauce selections.

Favorite Dish: Ribs. Its the only thing I've ordered from either restaurant.

After many years of neglect, the Campbell House Inn is being restored and has a great Sunday buffet featuring roast beef, fried chicken, and side items.

Another good Sunday Buffet located near I-64/75 is the Marriott at Griffin Gate.

Joe Bologna's located North of the University of Kentucky campus (120 W. Maxwell) has great food and is a favorite with students and visitors. It is located in a historic old church building and has nice stained glass windows. This resturant can be crowded, especially after basket ball games.

See http://lexington.citysearch.com/review/4317455/?order_by=positive for other reviews.

Favorite Dish: I've never had a bad pizza here. Choose among your favorite ingrediants.

I've listed two choices: For authentic seafood, the Regatta Restaurant (located in the Lexington Green Mall overlooking the lake) is decent considering Lexington is located nowhere near an ocean. Fish are flown in weekly and it has a wide selection.

For a local central Kentucky treat, try one of the casual catfish restaurants on the Kentucky River near Athens, such as Hall's on the River. Try the famous snappy beer cheese. This is a great place to enjoy a warm fall day overlooking the river and eat catfish in a casual atmosphere.