Lexington Ky Restaurants

Classic

Your Guide to Fine Dining

Ramsey'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. Ramsey's is in a house that looks like one we remember from our youth, whether one of our relatives lived in it, or just a neighbor down the street. The Springs is the oldest continuously running restaurant in Fayette County, having opened in 1948. Buddy's was known for most of a century as The Saratoga, the famous neighborhood social center when Lexington was much smaller and the Chevy Chase / Henry Clay area WAS the residential neighborhood. 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.

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.

DeSha's reigns over Triangle Park, queen of the Victorian block beautifully restored around it. It's a classy and historic restaurant, great before or after an event in Rupp Arena. Try to get a window seat so you can look out on the park and downtown. Among appetizers, we like the Sampler, which includes potato skins, stuffed banana peppers and coconut chicken strips. They offer their own excellent versions of Kentucky Hot Brown and Fried Green Tomatoes. But they add a delicious Hot Prime Rib Sandwich, and Shephard's Pie, a deep dish pie of ground beef and vegetables baked in a flaky crust and topped with mashed potatoes and a Carbernet bordellaise. Kentuckians have been fixing this on the trail since the days of Daniel Boone and eating it in a fine restaurant is a real treat. Their Roasted Pork Loin features medallions of slow roasted pork loin glazed with a red currant sauce over mashed potatoes with fresh vegetables. DeSha's offers a 12 oz. ribeye and an 8 oz. filet mignon, both very competitive with full scale steak houses. If you stop for lunch, they change their Chile with the season. In Winter, it includes beef and red tomatoes. In Summer, it includes chicken with yellow tomatoes. There's a half pound Broadway Burger you won't find at any fast food outlet. Or try the Gardenburger, char grilled on a toasted onion bun with roasted garlic, red pepper, lettuce, tomato and onion. We're not big fans of Reubens, but theirs might convert us. 101 North Broadway. Directly across the street from Triangle Park. Avoid noon hour.