Diners' Choice: Neighbourhood gem restaurants in Lexington

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighbourhood gems in Lexington? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Heirloom - Midway

4.9

4.9 (2230)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Midway

About the restaurant

"Voted Best New Restaurant in the State of KY 2007"- The Lane Report.

"Voted Best Fine Dining Restaurant in Lexington Area"- KY Monthly Magazine.

Located in the heart of horse country and just 20 minutes from downtown Lexington and 20 minutes from Keeneland. Offering an extensive boutique wine list and specializing in eclectic contemporary cuisine.

Top review

Sarah

Dined 2 days ago

Every dish we ordered was superb! We plan to return for another date night in the future.

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4.9

4.9 (471)

$30 and under

Sushi

Lexington

About the restaurant

At Zen Sushi & Sake, we only use the freshest ingredients – the essence of Japanese cuisine. we strive to use only sustainable seafood. Our goal is to offer high quality ingredients in an innovative and sustainable way.
We fly in fish from Japan every Monday and Thursday.

Top review

travis

Dined on 15 Dec 2024

Best sushi ive had in this state & its not even close! Fresh fish from Tokyo! Great sake prices as well. Our waitress Brooke was the BEST too! Great sense of humor & funny quips. Like she wanted to actually be there! Unlike most servers! Will 1000% be back.

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4.8

4.8 (3658)

$31 to $50

Unspecified

Lexington

About the restaurant

At Coles, we're dedicated to bringing the art of dining to every experience. Think local meats cured in-house. Crisp vegetables fresh off the vine, pickled onsite. Breads baked fresh each day. The best seasonal ingredients available, sourced from local farms and trusted purveyors. And our menus go beyond the plate, with handcrafted cocktails featuring unique, house-made ingredients, hundreds of bourbons available for tasting, and an award-winning carefully curated wine program. We believe in honoring history and chose to set our restaurant in a restored historic landmark in downtown Lexington.

Top review

Jeff

Dined 2 days ago

Never a bad experience here. Great food and drinks! Will be back again…

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Popular dish

Filet Mignon

Popular dish

Truffle Infused Lobster Bisque

Popular dish

Duck Confit

Distilled on Jefferson

4.8

4.8 (1739)

$30 and under

Southern

Lexington

About the restaurant

From award-winning Heirloom Restaurant in Midway, Ky stems Distilled Restaurant and Bourbon Bar. Chef Mark Wombles and team specialize in farm-to-table fare, incorporating an artful and elevated approach to southern cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere. The establishment removes all unnecessary ingredients from fine dining, leaving only the artistic expression food.

Top review

Penny

Dined on 19 Dec 2024

The food and service were very good, but I feel it is overpriced

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Popular dish

Fried Chicken

Popular dish

Porcini Dry Rub Filet

Epping's on Eastside

4.8

4.8 (2203)

$30 and under

Unspecified

Lexington

About the restaurant

We're a bit like our hometown: sophisticated, well-traveled, but grounded in our roots. We believe there's nothing more important than taking time to dine well with family and friends in a beautiful space. And we have a passion for all things Bluegrass - curing our meats in-house, supporting the region's diverse farming and food community, and keeping a local-first mindset in everything we do. Epping's is located in a renovated historic building that once held Epping Bottling Works, home to the hustle and spirit of local entrepreneur John G. Epping. Today, we are proud to honor that history and be part of the energy of downtown Lexington's Warehouse Block.

Top review

Geoff

Dined 2 days ago

Did a mix of 5 small plates and had a great time. Had our 3 teenage daughters with us and we seemed slightly out of place (not may other families) but we were welcomed and had a great time overall.

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Popular dish

Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Popular dish

Lamb Kabobs

Bella Cafe & Grille in Chevy Chase

4.8

4.8 (144)

$30 and under

American

Lexington

About the restaurant

Everyday Dining Elevated
We have taken your everyday favorites and elevated them a smidge!
At Bella Cafe & Grille, we’d like you to enjoy our menu prepared with attention to detail and the quality you deserve.

Bella Notte Restaurant Group’s newest concept keeps with the same tradition of using fresh local ingredients and letting the natural ingredients speak for themselves with a focus on convenient carryout and delivery.

Top review

PatrickVIP

Dined on 20 Dec 2024

The food was wonderful, love the cozy little restaurant. Service was good - my sister and I had a wonderful time. Plus the restrooms were very clean.

Bella Cafe & Grille (Fountains at Palomar)

4.8

4.8 (234)

$30 and under

American

Lexington

About the restaurant

At Bella Cafe & Grille, we’d like you to enjoy our menu prepared with attention to detail and the quality you deserve.

Top review

Tabitha

Dined 2 days ago

Food & drinks were great! We sat outside on the patio, but it was warm and inviting. Our server was fabulous!

AZUR Restaurant & Patio

4.6

4.6 (2094)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Lexington

About the restaurant

AZUR restaurant & patio was designed after European establishments providing the feel of being in a different place without leaving Lexington. The food is described as new American and Heirloom Contemporary. The chefs react to what comes at them from the local markets making our cuisine locally influenced, but worldly inspired. The walls are bold blues and greens with curves throughout. The interior space flows outside through three sets of French doors onto the elegant stone bordered brick patio. Weather permitting, the patio is opened and the patio sides could be lowered for inclement weather.

Top review

DavidVIP

Dined 1 day ago

A very sad last meal at one of the best restaurants in Lexington. The fact that they are closing after 20 years serving here is sad. The fact that it appears to be secondary to property owners that don’t understand the loss makes it harder to accept.

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Popular dish

Seafood Risotto

Popular dish

Prime Frenched Pork Chop

Popular dish

Top Chop

School Sushi

4.5

4.5 (192)

$30 and under

Sushi

Lexington

About the restaurant

School Sushi offers authentic Japanese cuisine, featuring tapas, traditional Izakaya style dishes and fresh sashimi and sushi.
Available 2 private dining rooms with Karaoke system and old bank vault room.

Top review

Michael

Dined on 26 Nov 2024

The fish was fresh, service was great and well worth the money.

Cypress & Oak

4.5

4.5 (30)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Frankfort

About the restaurant

A high-end steakhouse with an unparalleled dining experience marries traditional elegance with modern sophistication. The restaurant exudes a classic steakhouse vibe with an open kitchen layout and an ambiance rich with dark wood and jewel tones. With 66 seats in the main dining room and bar, 32 in a private rentable dining room, and 30 on the outdoor patio, Cypress & Oak offers versatile dining options for both intimate gatherings and larger events.

Top review

Misty

Dined 2 days ago

The filet medallions were beautifully prepared with potatoes of a perfect consistency and flavor. The chocolate tarte was to die for as was the lemon cheesecake. Service by Jesycka was top notch. All around a wonderful experience.

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