Classic
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Classic |
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Alfalfa's |
Blue Fire Grill |
Cheesecake Factory |
Coles 735 Main |
Lexington Diner
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Ramsey's |
Winchell's |
| Call it American, Traditional, Comfort Food or Family. Whatever we call it, there's still a place for those good old restaurants serving fried chicken, hot roast beef sandwiches, mashed potatoes and gravy, peas, apple pie, pancakes and all the other foods most of us grew up with. Fortunately, Lexington still has some very good restaurants that more or less fit into that category. Some serve traditional items with new twists. Some specialize in one kind of traditional fare, such as vegetarian. Some emphasize the Southern aspect of Kentucky's heritage, while others lean toward a more national menu. But they all feel vaguely familiar. You don't have to ask the waiter how to pronounce an entree, or what's in it, or how hot it is. Some of these restaurants have a historic feel. But these restaurants are not listed here simply because they have been around and serve familiar food. They are recommended because they are the best at preparing these foods. They fix them as well as Grandma used to. Some fix them better.
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At Alfalfa you know you're in for an adventure as soon as you see the drink list: Ale 8, Ginseng Ginger Ale, Seltzer, Cinammon Coffee, Twig Tea and Soy Milk. Among various eccentric appetizers, we recommend the Spinach Mushroom Quesadilla. Order the Soup Of The Day. It's often quirky but always great. The best salad is the Phoenix, a mix of greens, apple, raisen, cucumber, red onion, alfalfa sprouts, and sunflower seeds. Chalk Boards list daily specials. Entrees rotate by season, but when available, we like their Meat Loaf, a hearty blend of ground chuck, red bell peppers, garlic, red onion, eggs, worcestershire, bread crumbs, spices, roast red peppers and chipotle. If you saw Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and remember Big Daddy's love for Hoppin John, but never got to eat it yourself, this is your chance. Alfalfa makes the best Hoppin John of any restaurant in Kentucky. It contains black eyed peas, brown rice, creole tomato sauce, diced onions, green peppers, and cheddar cheese. That's the classic Southern recipe. If you go for lunch, three sandwiches stand out. The Grilled Avocado on Whole Wheat is a concoction of hummus, swiss, cheddar, avocado and tomatoes. The Smoked Turkey adds lettuce and a cranberry herb pesto. The Original Dagwood (from the comic strip) stacks city ham, country ham, turkey, bacon, lettuce, cranberry herb pesto, and white cheddar. Lunch or dinner, save room for Carrot Cake, which includes whole wheat and honey, or Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake. Alfalfa's is on Main Street, four blocks east of Triangle Park, across the street from the Public Library. |
| Blue Fire Grill is inside the atrium of the Hyatt Regency Hotel adjacent to Rupp Arena. The ambience and menu are now cutting edge. Among the appetizers, we like the Butter Bean Hummus, Bourbon Barrel Ale Onion Rings, and Catfish Fingers, but the Crab Cake (blue lump crab, avocado, charred corn salsa) is the star of the show. It, a soup and salad are all you need. They offer a Soup of the Day, but the White Bean & Tomato (toasted fennel, fresh basil) is available daily and is hard to beat. The Heirloom Tomato Salad (goat cheese, bibb, white balsamic) is the best of their five salads. Sides are pretty creative : Wild Rice, Bacon White Cheddar Grits, Sweet Potato Fries. If you're from out of state, you MUST try Burgoo, Bison, Catfish and Hot Brown while you're here, and the Blue Fire offers fine interpretations of those old Kentucky classics. Their Maple Bourbon Salmon (local maple syrup and Woodford Reserve) and Filo Pouch (green chili creme fraiche) are also very good. You may not have room for dessert, but if you do, there's a Mint Julep Creme Brulee, Blueberry French Vanilla Cobbler or Whiskey Vanilla Sauce Bread Pudding waiting. |  |
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A famous national critic described The Cheesecake Factory as a place where people suffer through a mediocre menu as an excuse to eat the world's greatest cheesecake. We agree that this is incredible cheesecake, but we're not as down on the rest of the menu. They make everything from scratch every day, and adjust anything to anyone's dietary needs, which is more than a lot of restaurants can say. Among appetizers, the Sweet Corn Cakes, Avocado Eggrolls, Crabcakes and Vietnamese Shrimp Rolls are the best of a tasty dozen. There are seven salads and 11 sides. On their Seafood page you'll find four Salmon and three Shrimp dishes, but we think the Shrimp & Chicken Gumbo and Southern Fried Catfish are their best. The "Specials" include mostly Chicken and a few Mexican dishes, but the treasure hiding here is the Shepherd's Pie. There are five Steaks and a Grilled Pork Chop. The Huevos Rancheros, Chorizo Avocado Omelette and Farmhouse Omelette are very good. There are various desserts, but ignore those and go to the 15 kinds of Cheesecake. The only problem is the wait, and they don't take reservations. |
| Cole's 735 Main features Classic Upscale Southern Cuisine. Among appetizers, we like the Spanakopita (spinach and feta souffle wrapped in phyllo with shallot cream),Fried Avocado stuffed with crab salad, Sea Cake and the Roast Beet & Goat Cheese With Arugula. The beets are surprisingly tart and contrast nicely with the goat cheese. The 14 item entree menu includes Beef Shoulder, New York Strip, a Petite Filet and Duck Breast. The seafood section is outstanding : Scallops, Tuna, Shrimp & Grits, Scottish Salmon, and a Seafood Medley which includes scallops, shrimp, clams and mussells in a tomato herb broth on spinach fettuccini. Ribs fans will find Baby Back Ribs or Short Ribs excellent. There's Amish Chicken with mushrooms and spinach. For vegetarians, Morrocan Butternut Squash Stew includes garlic whipped potatoes and lemon shallot brussel sprouts. A Bar Food Menu, available by request, is a bounty of items below $12 : Spicy Duck Tacos, Salted Endamame, Baked Brie, Duck Fries, Wild Mushroom Bruscetta, Artisan Cheese Plate and the Kobe Burger. 735 East Main. From downtown, drive East on Vine / Main, and look left. |  |
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Lexington Diner has a new home on Lane Allen Road in the former Brasabana building. The menu is mostly the same. They serve Breakfast all day with favorites like Chicken & Waffles, five overstuffed Omelettes (especially the Smoked Gouda Omelette), Mexican Hot Chocolate, Buttermilk Biscuits, and the unique Breakfast Brown (chorizo, scrambled eggs, gravy, grilled tomatoes and baked cheddar). The Sunrise Burrito (scrambled eggs, bell peppers, chorizo, cheddar, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo) is the star of the show. For Lunch or Dinner, the Farmstead Salad is one of the best in town (turkey, ham, bacon, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggs, cheddar and mixed greens). But there's the Taco Salad (pulled chicken, red onion, tomato, cheddar, mixed greens, in a tortilla with pico, sour cream and guacamole), and a fine Chicken Quesadilla. Their Soup of the Day is always worth ordering. The Chili contains beef, chorizo and a shot glass of ale. There are five Burgers : Bourbon Burger, Jive (tomato, pickled onion, basil pesto, mozzarella, balsamic drizzle), Short Street (onion, provolone, bacon, chipotle aoli), Kilauea (steak, pineapple chutney, garlic aoli, pepper jack cheese, fried wonton strips) and the Traditional. We're big fans of their Hot Roast Beef Sandwich. There are also Nachos and Fish and Chips. Sides include red wine slaw, mustard potato salad, spiced apples and cheddar garlic fries. Try the dessert nachos and berry compote. |
| Ramsey's keeps its menu simple: 13 entrees, seven salads, a soup of the day, 21 vegetables and 15 sandwiches. Ramsey's offers one of the best Chicken & Dumpling versions in Kentucky. You should order Soup of the Day when it's Chicken & Rice, Corn Chowder or Cheese. Among veggies, go for Honey Mustard Carrots, Fried Green Tomatoes, Yellow Squash and Onions, Apple Fritters, Creamed Corn and Mashed Potatoes & Gravy. Kids like their Macaroni & Cheese. Entrees are a more difficult choice. They're all great. In true Blue Grass Tradition, you can get Classic Hot Brown, Veggie Hot Brown or an Open Face Pot Roast Sandwich. These are some of the best Chicken Livers you've ever had. The Meat Loaf is outstanding. We like their Catfish (fixed as you'd like), Skillet Fried Pork Sirloin, and Pot Roast. Pork Chops in Ramsey's Red Sauce are memorable. One creative item is Lemon Yogurt Chicken. For lunch, order Traditional Reuben, Zucchiniburger, or Meatloaf Sandwich. And you MUST save room for the best pie in town. You order by the slice or the whole pie. There are 13 flavors, all served hot. They range from Peanut Butter to Butterscotch to Black Bottom and Black Cherry. West Zandale, just off Nicholasville Road (moved from original High Street location). |  |
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Winchell's is famous for Fried Green Tomatoes, the best version in town of this classic dish. But we also endorse the Pork Quesadillas. The Tomato Basil and Loaded Potato Soup are excellent. This is one of the last stands of Kentucky Hot Brown: roast turkey, country ham, toast, Mornay cheese sauce, cheddar and parmesan cheese, bacon and tomato. Their Catfish Dinner ranks up there with Hall's. It's a hand breaded catfish filet with jalapeno cheese grits, vinegar slaw and homemade tartar. For lunch try the Grilled Portabella Sandwich. Save room for Bourbon Pecan Pie. There's a strong UK / sports ambience here, especially on game days. 348 Southland Drive. From downtown, use South Broadway / Harrodsburg Road to Rosemont Garden, turn left, then turn right onto Southland. Winchells's is on your right over in the shopping center just before the Oleika Temple building. |
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