Where should Alex and I eat there? Lives hang in the balance. Your assistance is much appreciated.
Lexington, Kentucky bleg
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The only thing I’ve eaten there is a sort of open-faced sandwich covered in gravy (a “hot brown” or something like that.) It’s barely a sandwich- there’s a piece of bread at the bottom of a lot of stuff- but it was pretty good and a local specialty, I guess.
A co-worker of mine is from Kentucky and used to live in Lexington, and he suggested Bella Notte. http://www.bellalexington.com/
His disclaimer is that he has not been in Lexington in twelve years, but the restaurant is still around so they must be doing something right.
It’s Italian food, not local cuisine, but aside from that he can’t think of anything aside from a general “country food” answer.
Hooters/Twin Peaks
The only worthwhile thing I’m aware of in Lexington is Joseph-Beth Booksellers. So go there and eat something nearby.
Sav’s Grill – west african food
http://www.savsgrill.com
The hot brown is a Ky Derby specialty.
Toast, turkey or chicken , cheese, a white sauce — I make it with mushroom soup when I make them to use up my left over turkey –baked in an oven.
My best food memory from being an undergrad at UK in the early 1960s was a little tavern right next to Good Samaritan Hospital — on the downtown side not the campus side — that cooked the best hamburgers I’ve ever had. They did them on a grill, but sprinkled water on them and covered them with a lid so that steamed some. I have no idea if that little tavern is still there. It was very popular with the police and emergency medical personnel.
Bombay Brazier on S. Limestone – Indian
Panda Cuisine on Nicholasville Road – Chinese
Tally Ho on S. Limestone – Great greasy American
Bangkok House on Euclid (called Avenue of Champions at that point) – Thai
Seki on S. Broadway – Sushi (called the Sushi Nazi locally)
I will second Pazzo’s. It has the added benefit of being just off campus, so you get some of that local flavor. Assuming it’s still there, Atomic Cafe is good, too. Caribbean food, downtown. Bella Notte is good, but it’s out in the sprawl. Blech.
Recommend Sawyers for some great burgers. They have a burger bar with several condiments you can put on it. Downtown and close to Rupp Arena.
The hot brown was invented in Louisville at the Brown Hotel, tho I dunno if you can still get them there; hot browns are all over Kentucky.
I’m not big into Lexington eateries, but if you’re passing through Louisville, there are some great restaurants. Check out Louisville Hot Bytes.
After she drank it and said it’s gross, they told her she was drinking urine.
Oh hahahah, that is, like, soooo funny.
Actually, I hope somebody gets sued successfully and they catch the idiot and throw their ass in jail.
anon, if you follow the link, the police have been (half-heartedly) investigating it as a class D felony.
However, all things considered, while what they did was wrong, they didn’t really endanger her. The people who stay at Homewood are typically upper-middle class, so it’s unlikely the dude’s urine had anything infectious. Urine may be gross, but its sterile (like bare land in the physiocratic paradigm).
The Mellow Mushroom on the UK campus. (http://www.mellowmushroom.com/)
My aunt and uncle own/operate the Ketch. While I tend to avoid seafood in land-locked states, this comfy, family-style restaurant is worth the trip. They make their own ice cream and cakes, too. Tell Janet or Artie that Trey sent you and I’m sure you’ll get…something special?!
Definitely go to Ramsey’s on High Street for the Hot Brown and then order a pie at Ramsey’s made by Missy’s (right around the corner on Woodland Ave). The pies are incredible. In fact, step into Missy’s before eating at Ramsey’s to get a whiff of how good dessert is going to be. If you are like me, after eating a slice of Missy’s pie at Ramsey’s you will stop into Missy’s on the way back to the hotel to buy an entire pie (or two). They are delicious! And I am a pie snob.
I can’t recommend a place, but I can recommend food.
Mutton BBQ-a local specialty that is well worth trying.
Sushi-some of the best sushi I have had outside NYC. I was taken to a small strip mall sushi restaurant that was outstanding. Apparently there are many others.
I went to Sav’s Grill on UK campus 2 months ago w/ a local friend who rightly recommended it. Serves West African dishes.
There is Cincinnati-style chili in Lexington; Greek origins, very tasty. If you are not in southern Ohio\Kentucky very often you must try it.
Joe Bologna’s – order the fried banana peppers.
I second Alfalfa and Ramsey’s. There are four Ramsey’s but if you go then go to the one on High St. I can’t believe so many readers are familiar with my hometown! (I’m guessing a lot more people read this blog than I realized).
Furlongs. I can’t believe it hasn’t been mentioned yet. I’ve only eaten there once since they reopened but it was fantastic. It’s a nice restaurant.
Some other options which come to mind:
Puccini’s for pizza. They also have excellent lasagna and their salad dressings are second only to Furlongs.
Gumbo Ya Ya for Cajun. I get the maque choux over rice. It is excellent. The restaurant isn’t anything fancy.
Was going to tell you Dudley’s, but it looks like they may be moving. Used to be great. Johnathan’s at Gratz Park. Billy’s Bar-B-Q in Chevy Chase. Malone’s for good but overpriced steak. deSha’s downtown. If you’re looking for the greasy home-cooking adventure that a certain kind of local eats, you can either go to Buffalo and Dad’s (my dad used to go there every day for a fried bologna sandwich) or to Hattie’s which has got cornbread with everything. And she yells at you.
http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=restaurants&ns=1&find_loc=lexington%2C+ky
Yelp is your friend
Your lives do hang in the balance. Drive to Louisville.
Looking over these recommendations I’d say that very few of them would lead you to uniquely local food.
If local specialties are what you want I do second the recommendation of jeana. Mutton bbq is particular to Kentucky and you can get it at Billy’s BBQ.
As a number of people have pointed out hot brown is a big sloppy pile of meat and gravy that is local to kentucky (Louisville to be precise). Its not really my thing but it’s featured at Ramsey’s.
If you want the more upscale versions of any of the local specialties (Burgoo- a sort of minestrone soup, Hoppin John- black eyed peas with various fixings, or hot brown) Jonathan’s at the Gratz Park Inn is nice.
For dessert I second Joseph LeBlanc’s recommendation of Missy’s Pies next to Ramsey’s. This is where I take all my visitors. The black bottom banana pie is excellent.
You can and should get one of the bluegrass’ fine bourbons (I like buffalo trace) at most of these places.
Coming from the east I was floored to find that Lexington has no real bagel shops. Fortunately, what the city lacks in bagels it makes up in donughnuts. I prefer Spalding’s Bakery but there are no shortage of excellent fresh doughnuts.
Finally, while Lexington leaves something to be desired in terms of international food, there is a little place in a mall on Nicholasville Rd called the Curry House. Its a southern indian place (Tamil I think) that has an excellent Chili Curry. Its really similar to the “Chili Chicken” that you get at every Chinese take out in India but seems surprising hard to find in the states.
Are you guys giving a talk at UK?
I go to Centre College (Econ major) in Danville, KY, about 45 minutes to the south in the middle of gorgeous horse farm country. I will buy your dinners at the quaint Shaker Town Inn – gourmet country cooking with old Shaker recipes.
Coming from NoVA I’m not sure if you’d be looking for Turkish food in Lexington, but Istanbul Palace, recommended by “anon” above, is seriously good. Don’t be turned off by the fact that they now have a website: http://www.istanbulpalace.net/
Not exactly a local speciality…but a very good meal nonetheless. I’m not a buffet lover but the buffet is a steal if you want to eat to the point of food coma. Recommend going for dinner though and ordering a la carte.
HOT BROWNS!
Wallace Station in Midway, KY..right outside Lexington. Try the meatloaf sandwich!!
Finally, while Lexington leaves something to be desired in terms of international food, there is a little place in a mall on Nicholasville Rd called the Curry House. Its a southern indian place (Tamil I think) that has an excellent Chili Curry. Its really similar to the “Chili Chicken” that you get at every Chinese take out in India but seems surprising hard to find in the states.
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