Very reasonably priced, great atmosphere and the food was exceptional.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Colin Attwood
Food and service were fantastic! We sat at the bar and had the Grilled Salmon, my wife had the Burger. Both were cooked to perfection + delish fries crispy and fluffy in the middle. Cinnamon ice cream for dessert. Bloody brilliant!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shelley Javaux
This place is great! The atmosphere is amazing, the food is top notch, and the service is spectacular. We went 3 times in 2 days because we were staying at a hotel nearby. I highly recommend the sirloin steak, the appetizer trio and, as crazy as it sounds, the best buffalo chicken wrap I've ever had!!
Props to the two bartenders that took care of us. Clay and Danielle, you made our vacation's end very special. You both rock!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jessi Whitehead
If you’re in Lexington KY, or on I-75 in either direction- you have got to make plans to stop in and eat here at this hidden gem. It’s one of those places that after you leave, you keep thinking about it. From the staff, to the vibe, to the exceptional menu- Barrel 53 definitely delivers on all levels. My husband ordered the Buffalo Chicken Wrap which sounds simple- but the flavors were phenomenal throughout the whole wrap. (It’s no simple wrap) I was really happy with my choice of the Salmon entree and the dill sauce prepared in-house - I got it ordered on the side because I don’t always enjoy a dill preparation because they tend to overdo it with the dill and ruin it- but no, I could’ve eaten this on just about anything. (And I would suggest getting it even if you don’t order the salmon- it would be good even with chicken or steak). I also ordered a drink that wasn’t on the menu, and Mark our server decided he would play with flavors and it ended up really good. This is so silly, but on the television was “The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross” (via the Bob Ross channel on Roku) and it’s such a pleasant and enjoyment entertainment choice that spurred on conversation between my husband and I ? (Mark told us that the channel hasn’t been changed in 5 months because everyone has enjoyed it ?) Finally, we almost never enjoy dessert with a meal- but I had to try the “Barrel Rolls” which captivated my attention on the menu as I am a self-proclaimed “cinnamon roll connoisseur” and what a great way to end this truly amazing meal & experience. Seriously, this place may not look like much from the outside, as it’s tucked away in a great new hotel called “Hotel Lex” (also reviewed if you’re looking for a great place to stay in Lexington that is far from average ?) but you’ve got to give this place a try. Not mentioned in the review so far are the great prices for the menu offerings - as well as Bourbon options are the restaurant itself is themed around Kentucky’s finest. I’m not a bourbon person- but I’m sure if you are, you’ll enjoy this place on a whole other level. Look for their nightly calendar on the website for either local talent, open mic nights, or even for a great karaoke night (apparently this is one of the audition locations for the “Karaoke World Championships USA”). This place is kid friendly, especially on nights like “open jam night” where all ages welcome! Aesthetically beautiful, and tastefully decorated- the menu matches the atmosphere here at Barrel 53–and we can’t wait to come back soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Larree Coomer
We came on a Tuesday they had a band and karaoke. The vibe of the place was absolutely amazing. The bar tender clay was as nice as can be. Very friendly and welcoming. The food was okay as well. It wasn’t anything special but it was okay. We had wings, pizza, and a prime rib sandwich.
Awesome little gem, food was excellent and the service was great. We had the bourbon glazed wings, pretzel and the sirloin steak. Would highly recommend this place.
10/10 would recommend the Trifecta Combo on the appetizer! Mozzarella Wedges were perfectly seasoned and the cheese itself was delicious, and I was pleasantly surprised with the pretzel bites with the crunchy outside but so soft on the inside!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Trifecta Combo
Amy Bedell
Delicious AND they were so helpful with our allergy restrictions. Soy is a tough one for restaurants to avoid, but they made it work! The food was delicious and my children were safe! The staff was friendly and very casual. We appreciate that. The style was so cute and it was quiet in the booth area. The bar was lively after 9pm and everyone was having a great time.
Dietary restrictions: Soy free is very difficult to find while traveling. Chef D was incredibly helpful and confirmed all of our order was safe for us. We trusted them to double check, and our children were safe and pain free! The food was delicious and we would definitely stop here again.
Parking: Close to entrance and they give you a map at hotel check in. Several doors and lights all around the building.
Kid-friendliness: Casual dining and they were fun & engaging with our Littles.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seasonal Vegetable Medley
Gord
Stopped at the Hotel Lex for a one night stay during a road trip. It was around 7:30, and we didn't feel like driving around half the night looking for a restaurant, so we "settled" for the one in the hotel.
Such a pleasant surprise!
Given it was late on a Wednesday, there was nobody else in the bar or restaurant.
We were greeted warmly by a young man named Mark (Mark C on the receipt-I want to make sure the right Mark hears about this!)
The menu was not extensive but certainly looks like it has something for everyone.
Mark answered our questions and guided our choices very nicely. Great recommendations, and great care about dietary restrictions.
We enjoyed the fried catfish and a nice BLT with delicious fries.
A bottle of wine was nice.
This is a nice looking bar and restaurant, very clean, excellent music throughout our meal, at the right volume (for us old folks!).
Thanks Mark for the hospitality!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Madison Singleton
Took forever. Waited 1 hour and 45 minutes for a baked potato. Chicken wrap came out with NO chicken after waiting an hour for our food, sent it back and took another 30min to get a new one. No refills even after we asked, had to ask another waiter for refills and a bunch of missing stuff. Took almost 3 hours for dinner.
Wonderful hotel and restaurant! Amazing service! And saranading us to some of our favorites, Ms. MARTIN, such wonderful talent. Thank you for making our stay so special!
Parking: All of it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Mashed Potatoes, Potato Skins, Caesar Salad, Powerade, Kentucky Fudge Brownie, Seasonal Vegetable Medley, Chicken Tender Platter, BBQ Chicken Quesadilla, High Stakes blt, Trifecta Combo, Kids Chicken Tenders, KY Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwich, Soup of the Day, Kids Mac N' Cheese, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Fettuccine Alfredo, Cole Slaw, House Salad
Carri Foley
Hotel Lex and Barrel 53 were amazing! From the time you entered the facility until the time you left you felt like family. Jacob at the desk took wonderful care of us on both visits with getting us a wonderful court side room that had been freshly cleaned. James the maintenance man made sure everything was taken care of and had a well taken care of facility. Pammy had a wonderful breakfast for us. Mark in the restaurant was very entertaining and a wonderful waiter. Then you have Marcie, who displayed what a true manager is and does! She was everyone/everwhere from the desk to cleaning our room, even over to the restaurant serving us dinner! This was a wonderful experience. Thank you for a wonderful time and making our experience a good one!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tonya Abney
Over two hrs waiting for the food finally when it came out we sat waiting for silverware baked potato was cold catfish was way over cooked chicken wrap came out with NO chicken no refills had to go ask server he came back once but didn't get our refills. Got up asked a different server she took care of us. Yes we paid the whole bill and left a tip.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: House Salad
Big Tdawg
Stopped by to try out the featured burger for burger week and it was amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Janice Mueller
What a pleasant surprise to find this place right off the highway; I liked the food and the vibe (leather booths and copper accents). We enjoyed the appetizer trio, sliders, and the burger. Jonathan took good care of us. Very reasonable prices too.
Very reasonably priced, great atmosphere and the food was exceptional.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Food and service were fantastic! We sat at the bar and had the Grilled Salmon, my wife had the Burger. Both were cooked to perfection + delish fries crispy and fluffy in the middle. Cinnamon ice cream for dessert. Bloody brilliant!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is great! The atmosphere is amazing, the food is top notch, and the service is spectacular. We went 3 times in 2 days because we were staying at a hotel nearby. I highly recommend the sirloin steak, the appetizer trio and, as crazy as it sounds, the best buffalo chicken wrap I've ever had!!
Props to the two bartenders that took care of us. Clay and Danielle, you made our vacation's end very special. You both rock!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you’re in Lexington KY, or on I-75 in either direction- you have got to make plans to stop in and eat here at this hidden gem. It’s one of those places that after you leave, you keep thinking about it. From the staff, to the vibe, to the exceptional menu- Barrel 53 definitely delivers on all levels. My husband ordered the Buffalo Chicken Wrap which sounds simple- but the flavors were phenomenal throughout the whole wrap. (It’s no simple wrap) I was really happy with my choice of the Salmon entree and the dill sauce prepared in-house - I got it ordered on the side because I don’t always enjoy a dill preparation because they tend to overdo it with the dill and ruin it- but no, I could’ve eaten this on just about anything. (And I would suggest getting it even if you don’t order the salmon- it would be good even with chicken or steak). I also ordered a drink that wasn’t on the menu, and Mark our server decided he would play with flavors and it ended up really good. This is so silly, but on the television was “The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross” (via the Bob Ross channel on Roku) and it’s such a pleasant and enjoyment entertainment choice that spurred on conversation between my husband and I ? (Mark told us that the channel hasn’t been changed in 5 months because everyone has enjoyed it ?) Finally, we almost never enjoy dessert with a meal- but I had to try the “Barrel Rolls” which captivated my attention on the menu as I am a self-proclaimed “cinnamon roll connoisseur” and what a great way to end this truly amazing meal & experience.
Seriously, this place may not look like much from the outside, as it’s tucked away in a great new hotel called “Hotel Lex” (also reviewed if you’re looking for a great place to stay in Lexington that is far from average ?) but you’ve got to give this place a try. Not mentioned in the review so far are the great prices for the menu offerings - as well as Bourbon options are the restaurant itself is themed around Kentucky’s finest. I’m not a bourbon person- but I’m sure if you are, you’ll enjoy this place on a whole other level. Look for their nightly calendar on the website for either local talent, open mic nights, or even for a great karaoke night (apparently this is one of the audition locations for the “Karaoke World Championships USA”). This place is kid friendly, especially on nights like “open jam night” where all ages welcome! Aesthetically beautiful, and tastefully decorated- the menu matches the atmosphere here at Barrel 53–and we can’t wait to come back soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We came on a Tuesday they had a band and karaoke. The vibe of the place was absolutely amazing. The bar tender clay was as nice as can be. Very friendly and welcoming. The food was okay as well. It wasn’t anything special but it was okay. We had wings, pizza, and a prime rib sandwich.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mozzarella Wedges, Potato Skins, Kentucky Fudge Brownie, House Salad
Awesome little gem, food was excellent and the service was great. We had the bourbon glazed wings, pretzel and the sirloin steak. Would highly recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Tender Platter
10/10 would recommend the Trifecta Combo on the appetizer! Mozzarella Wedges were perfectly seasoned and the cheese itself was delicious, and I was pleasantly surprised with the pretzel bites with the crunchy outside but so soft on the inside!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Trifecta Combo
Delicious AND they were so helpful with our allergy restrictions. Soy is a tough one for restaurants to avoid, but they made it work! The food was delicious and my children were safe! The staff was friendly and very casual. We appreciate that. The style was so cute and it was quiet in the booth area. The bar was lively after 9pm and everyone was having a great time.
Dietary restrictions: Soy free is very difficult to find while traveling. Chef D was incredibly helpful and confirmed all of our order was safe for us. We trusted them to double check, and our children were safe and pain free! The food was delicious and we would definitely stop here again.
Parking: Close to entrance and they give you a map at hotel check in. Several doors and lights all around the building.
Kid-friendliness: Casual dining and they were fun & engaging with our Littles.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seasonal Vegetable Medley
Stopped at the Hotel Lex for a one night stay during a road trip. It was around 7:30, and we didn't feel like driving around half the night looking for a restaurant, so we "settled" for the one in the hotel.
Such a pleasant surprise!
Given it was late on a Wednesday, there was nobody else in the bar or restaurant.
We were greeted warmly by a young man named Mark (Mark C on the receipt-I want to make sure the right Mark hears about this!)
The menu was not extensive but certainly looks like it has something for everyone.
Mark answered our questions and guided our choices very nicely. Great recommendations, and great care about dietary restrictions.
We enjoyed the fried catfish and a nice BLT with delicious fries.
A bottle of wine was nice.
This is a nice looking bar and restaurant, very clean, excellent music throughout our meal, at the right volume (for us old folks!).
Thanks Mark for the hospitality!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Took forever. Waited 1 hour and 45 minutes for a baked potato. Chicken wrap came out with NO chicken after waiting an hour for our food, sent it back and took another 30min to get a new one. No refills even after we asked, had to ask another waiter for refills and a bunch of missing stuff. Took almost 3 hours for dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Wonderful hotel and restaurant! Amazing service! And saranading us to some of our favorites, Ms. MARTIN, such wonderful talent. Thank you for making our stay so special!
Parking: All of it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Mashed Potatoes, Potato Skins, Caesar Salad, Powerade, Kentucky Fudge Brownie, Seasonal Vegetable Medley, Chicken Tender Platter, BBQ Chicken Quesadilla, High Stakes blt, Trifecta Combo, Kids Chicken Tenders, KY Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwich, Soup of the Day, Kids Mac N' Cheese, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Fettuccine Alfredo, Cole Slaw, House Salad
Hotel Lex and Barrel 53 were amazing! From the time you entered the facility until the time you left you felt like family. Jacob at the desk took wonderful care of us on both visits with getting us a wonderful court side room that had been freshly cleaned. James the maintenance man made sure everything was taken care of and had a well taken care of facility. Pammy had a wonderful breakfast for us. Mark in the restaurant was very entertaining and a wonderful waiter. Then you have Marcie, who displayed what a true manager is and does! She was everyone/everwhere from the desk to cleaning our room, even over to the restaurant serving us dinner! This was a wonderful experience. Thank you for a wonderful time and making our experience a good one!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Over two hrs waiting for the food finally when it came out we sat waiting for silverware baked potato was cold catfish was way over cooked chicken wrap came out with NO chicken no refills had to go ask server he came back once but didn't get our refills. Got up asked a different server she took care of us. Yes we paid the whole bill and left a tip.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: House Salad
Stopped by to try out the featured burger for burger week and it was amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a pleasant surprise to find this place right off the highway; I liked the food and the vibe (leather booths and copper accents). We enjoyed the appetizer trio, sliders, and the burger. Jonathan took good care of us. Very reasonable prices too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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