50 Best American Restaurants in Lexington

“Carson's is one of our favorite places to go for a company lunch or when treating a client. Their food, atmosphere and service is a 10/10.“

“One of our favorite restaurants we have ever been to while home or traveling. The food is amazing, the place is exciting and the service is exceptional! One of the key staff members is Shelby. We always request her as our server. Shelby has excellent bourbon and food knowledge, provides first class service and makes every dinner fun and enjoyable. She is half the reason we go to OBC Kitchen. Shelby is simply amazing. Thank you Shelby!“

“I really enjoyed my meal with family this evening. Food was great and Clark (our server) was exceptional. Thank you Clark for giving us 5 star service!“

“Agave & Rye is the best taco restaurant in Lex! They have the tastiest, most extravagant tacos! This is a great environment to try something new and have a few drinks with friends. Highly recommend ordering their Epic Queso Dip, the best queso dip in town!“

“Cole’s is a beautiful dining experience with educated staff and a lovely menu!“

“Agave & Rye is the best taco restaurant in Lex! They have the tastiest, most extravagant tacos! This is a great environment to try something new and have a few drinks with friends. Highly recommend ordering their Epic Queso Dip, the best queso dip in town!“

“Great brunch menu. Delicious food.“

“Outstanding food and service!“

“Great Kentucky atmosphere! The mile high brisket, I highly recommend, so good melt in your mouth! Took my son there for his birthday, he’s a regular there, I’m going back, next time I want to try the hot brown!“

“Hidden Gem alert!! First off- the prices are an incredible value. My son and I stopped by early to watch the horses train and stumbled across this amazing place.The staff are so friendly and the food is exactly what you want on a crisp spring morning.They are here to provide food for the many folks of Keenland, but we were welcomed and felt right at home dining.If you are a horse aficionado or just a novice the restaurant had picture of horses and jockeys scattered on the walls and a rich history of Keenland.Don't let the nice price fool ya...this is southern cooking at its finest!!Vegetarian options: They have different options.Dietary restrictions: They make orders fresh so this is easy to accommodateParking: East parking access.Kid-friendliness: They are kiddo friendly and have high chairs.Wheelchair accessibility: Standard accessibility“

“Great service and food is excellent“

“It was an outstanding experience with a very good friend! The food was perfect and the atmosphere chill. I look forward to another visit.“

“Best meat and 3 in Kentucky!“

“Great food, great atmosphere. Highly recommended!“

“If you like Cole’s you’ll love this place. Excellent food. Great service. Nice atmosphere.“

“Great environment and the shrimp and grits are to die for!“

“Rosemont is easily one of my favorite places to visit! Food is world class and the atmosphere is a blast!“

“Love the vibe and the food here. Casual and classy, with a very well done upscale burger. While I enjoy seeing burgers that are different, if given the option I will always go for a classic cheeseburger and this place doesn’t disappoint. Well cooked and with proper proportions to meat, cheese and bread. Fries are good (a little chewy for them to be great) but the ketchup hides that well. The chili is a sweet with cinnamon flavors which can be off putting if you are expecting a southern chili, but a very good one if you like the flavors.“

“Stop by for breakfast they did not disappoint. My Shrimp and grits was flavorful with charred sun-dried tomatoes, andouille sausage! My husband got his usual 3 eggs over easy, sausage links, potatoes and toast with coffee. Service was attentive and pleasant.“

“Great food and staff! Would recommend to everyone!“

“Waitress was AMAZING! Pumpkin pancake is the BEST ever!!“

“By far the best burgers and fries (and curry ketchup!) in town... but is soooo much more than burgers. The constantly rotating menu is consistent in it's quality and execution. Wyatt and his team are a gem worth seeking out!“

“One of our regular spots in Lexington! Pizzas are great stone-fired right in front of you, topping selection is great, and they do it right for dine-in or takeout. Salads and cheese bread are delish! Outdoor area next door is lovely in the summer as well.“

“I had the Cobb Salad. The greens were fresh and of good quality, the chicken was fried well, the remaining veggies were fresh and the blue pimento cheese was delicious. I had blue cheese dressing instead of the suggested dressing. I definitely will order it again.“

“Extensive bourbon and whiskey lists, delicious cocktails, and tasty food makes this place a must visit. Recommend trying the bread sticks, meatballs, bourbon glazed salmon, and any of the burgers. The only regret was not trying their pizza!Parking: Large parking lotWheelchair accessibility: Ramp access available“

“The most personable, ecclectic, welcoming crowd! Join the kaleidoscope and enjoy friendly bartenders, great bar food, meeting great people and genuinely just having fun!“

“This is amazing! Lexington residents are so fortunate! If you are a vegetarian, so many wonderful options. One of the best meals I have ever eaten. The delicious sweet and savory combination s is the pimento cheese fritters. A wonderful beat and brussel sprout salad and then the gnocchi - just these wonderful pillows of deliciousness. Great staff too. Such a great place. When Im back in town, staying next door again.“

“We celebrated my daughter-in-law's birthday yesterday with a lovely brunch. We had a table in the room with the fireplace. We enjoy the ambience there and it was quiet and cozy. Our food was delicious - the men had steak and eggs, my daughter-in-law had the salmon scramble special and I had the frittata. They were all delicious. Cocktails were yummy and we had a gorgeous and delicious baked Alaska to celebrate. Dudley's is the best!“

“This place is great!! If you stop by the Lexington, KY location, make sure you have Chloe as your waitress. She is so patient and kind. As if she serving her own family. Very attentive and ensuring everyone has exactly what they needed. If she ever leaves, this will be an asset you’ll never get back. You need to double or even triple her salary.“

“the best. Best service. tasty dishes. friendly staff.“

“The food & service has always been top notch. The fanciest fried green tomatoes & macaroni & cheese, and fabulous charcuterie boards. Their wines are of the chain. Highly recommended! ?“

“Great waffle and egg omelette“

“The food was absolutely delicious! I had the BLT on white bread with a Liquid Marijuana and without a doubt it was the best BLT I had ever laid my lips on. 10 out of 10 I would recommend this little hole in the wall right off the interstate!“

“Very good! Our waitress Tayler was fantastic. Was really fast and very nice!!“

“An Upscale CheddarsOur first time at J Alexander’s to celebrate a college graduation. My understanding and expectations of the restaurant set my opinions high only to have a lackluster experience. I wouldn’t not recommend the restaurant, justknow what to expect. In my mind and after reading the menu I assumed this was a high end steak house with a heavy French influence. Most others at our table ordered lunch friendly entrees and everyone was very satisfied with their meal. I had the steak and fries and I do have some thoughts.1. The lower quality steak (as I expected) really needs some sort of sauce to accompany it with the fries. A simple chimichurri or hollandais would have made this meal 10x better.2. One of the first times I have experienced this, in the menu it makes this statement: “WE DO NOT RECOMMEND AND WILL RESPECTFULLY NOT GUARANTEE ANY MEAT ORDERED ‘MEDIUM WELL’ OR ABOVE.” A statement like that makes me think this kitchen must really know their stuff. I ordered my steak Medium Rare… and I will let you be the judge if the steak was cooked correctly or if I am blowing everything out of proportion.The carrot cake was some of the best cake I’ve eaten… period. Cudos to the pastry chef.Staff was very nice and facility’s were sanitary.We did have a party of 10 and it was a little bit of a squeeze I would have liked to have had a better seating situation.When we return again I will have my expectations lowered and I believe I will have much better experience. If you want a steak go to Malone’s, but for anything else check this place out!Parking: Inside a large shopping community. Building is not connected, but people will park in shared lot to visit multiple stores.“

“If I could give this place 10 Stars I would! My husband and I were traveling back home to Michigan after our trip to Mammoth Cave National Park. We had a fun afternoon of burbon drinking after camping and Desperately needed something to eat. Unfortunately, it was so late everything was closed. In a last ditch effort we spontaneously asked a passing local of ANY WHERE we could eat He immediately pointed us to Minglewood. We arrived an hour before close and quickly and apologetically ordered a couple cocktails and some food. I had the pimento hamburger and GIRL LEMME TELL YOU!!! Iv never had a hamburger more delicious in my entire life! It doesn’t stop there, we then had the absolute pleasure of meeting the LADY BOSS (maybe the owner? I was pretty tipsy by then lol) She was AMAZING and after bonding of chef life and hearing how much I love chicken wings, she suggested they had the BEST and proceeded to make us an order HERSELF even tho they were pretty much closed! OH. MY. ACTUAL. GOSH…SHE WAS NOT WRONG! I can’t tell you how serious I am when I tell you these were the BEST wings Iv ever had!! We are going to be camping in Smoky Mountains National Park for New Years weekend and have planned our trip specifically to include a stop here again for those wings! Do your mouth a favor and eat here. -Rose & Todd“

“Love this place!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The food is always great, and so is the friendly service!!“

“I had never been out on St. Patrick's Day. I went to O'Neills with a friend and we had a great great time. They had karaoke and a live band and I was really surprised at all the people that were there and the food they were serving was on one sheet of paper. This made sense because it was so crowded. You couldn't make all that food off of the regular menu so that was a good idea. They did good there.“

“My Family and I were in town in March and all visited the Sage Rabbit for an afternoon event. John and his staff were great and their service was spot on. Their burger, noodle salad and homemade tortellini were fantastic and each of us loved our meal and time at his restaurant. I would highly recommend visiting, saying hello to the Team and enjoying one heck of a meal.“

“Excellent! Fabulous filet mignon. Desserts were terrific. Can’t wait to go back.“

“My first time to Banners… Outstanding burger! I’m a cheeseburger nut, and that was a really good burger. And, the house chips were the perfect side for me. And, our server, Aaron, couldn’t have been better. Cheers! Will definitely be back soon!“

“What a great neighborhood bar! The regulars and bartenders are friendly, interesting and funny. The karaoke is fantastic. I stopped by while in Lexington for a week of appts at UK MED. It was just what I needed. You'll meet no strangers here. Cheers!“

“the new dining room on N. Forbes does not have the same class as the previous location; more like eating in a basement. But! The food is still great and fast, friendly service. Don't let the location fool you, still the same great food.“

“Best steak and salad I’ve had at any restaurant! Waiter was great too!“

“My wife and I always enjoy dining at Malone"s. At our age, we generally split a quality steak between us and Malone's is very accommodating in that respect. It was enjoyable seeing all of the "promoters" last evening at the Lansdowne location. We ofter treat our extended family to birthday dinners at Malone's. They, too, are never disappointed. Looking forward to our next visit!“

“If sams has 1000 fans i am one, if sams has 100 fans i am one, if sams has 1 fans i am one, if sams has 0 fans im dead.Good dogs for a food price, the hours are tricky because sometimes i wanna get a late night weenie and SAMS IS CLOSED. Usually open until 1 on weekends but sometimes they close early and it makes me sad.“

“The best food in town! Great beer & great service! I highly recommend Salt & Vinegar to everyone who’s looking for something extraordinary when it comes to food and craft beer & cocktails.“

“I just left and our meal was delicious. Service was excellent, and the place was clean & tidy. Our waitress was great, our meal slipped off the big tray as they were bringing it through the crowd, nobody's fault, nobody injured or got food on them. She apologized profusely. Staff had it cleaned up and gone in minutes. We were worried we'd have to wait a while for new food but within 10 minutes we had piping hot replacements. Management and staff couldn't have done better on a busy Friday night and we will definitely be returning. Thank you Suttons!“

“I loved Drake's! My friend and her husband had us go here for dinner as it's one of her favorites. I understand why! I love a menu that brings in options, from wings, salads, burgers to sushi rolls! Not featured in my photos was my amazing bbq burger. I ate the entire burger and fries. Best to say I was full! To back track: we had the pretzels to start off which were nice and soft. Loved the dipping sauces. I had one of their special salmon rolls and I was very happy with it. They had a lot of good options - it was hard to pick. Honestly so pleased, our server Katelyn was super friendly and prompt. I would recommend for those who like various options of great food!“

“Everything at Honeywoood is done with such beautiful intentionality, like all of a Ouita Michel’s creations. It is no accident that you feel surrounded by Kentucky history, agriculture and the arts when you enter any of her establishments. The food is no exception. While she could not possibly be in all restaurants at the same time, she selects the best team members to represent her vision and values. We loved every part of our experience at Honeywood. Food: creamy grits and polenta, slow cooked greens, risotto, local beef and quail, fresh seasonal vegetables, crispy country ham, deviled eggs stuffed with lump crab???? AND those damn sweet potato beignets!!! Never disappoint. service is top notch, without all the fanfare of a fine dining restaurant. Wine list and craft cocktails are legit. Anything goes and we felt comfortable in fancy duds and blue jeans with a T-shirt (which you can purchase in any of her places as well as her cookbook). Thank you, Ouita, and her cool a** hubby, Chris.“