Hello, I will be in Lexington the first week in Sept. Would love to hear about fine restaurants in and around the area. Will be at the Horse Park for a horse show. But we would happily travel around for finer dining. Thank you

Tatchibana for Japanese. It is on Newtown Pike. VERY good sushi, and a favorite of the Toyota executives and Japanese racehorse industry folks!

Science Hill in Shelbyville is an experience you should not miss. About 30-45 minutes west of Lexington, Shelbyville is a nice little town in the middle of horse country.

Science Hill is a fantastic Southern restaurant. The hot brown is one of the best. Science Hill is part of Wakefield-Scearce Galleries -- you'll be amazed at the quality of the English antiques and silver. Here's the website: www.wakefield-scearce.com

Louisville also offers several excellent restaurants (particularly Vincenzo's); it's about 75 minutes west of Lexington.

From the website:

Located under one roof, the Galleries share the Science Hill School complex with a number of unique shops and with the Science Hill Inn. During your visit to the Galleries, you may choose to enjoy a midday meal in the Georgian Room of the famous Science Hill Inn. Fine southern hospitality and unique fare make for delightful dining. Lunch is served daily, except Monday, from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling 502-633-2825.

Thank you so much everyone! The idea that their are good English Antiques and Silver will really make the trip for my husband. Not that he does not like to watch me ride all day....All of your suggestions sound wonderful...we have many in our group that Love Sushi.
Thanks again, Kris

If your husband likes silver, tell him to go to the Museum of the Horse at the Horse Park. They have all of Calumet Farms' old trophies on display!

Hi, Are their any "upscale" bars and places to go for lunch around the Horse park? Would love to stay away from the "chain thing". Thank you!

Hello Ferragamo,

I've lived in Lexington for the past 17 years. I agree with you about not caring much for chain restaurants. I try to avoid them as well, although, chain restaurants are the most popular restaurants in Lexington. There are no restaurants or bars very near the horse park. You'd have to come into Lexington (about 4-5 miles) to find any decent bars.

Below is part of an email that I cut and pasted which I sent to someone who wanted some information about local restaurants in Lexington. All are locally, family-owned.

Coach House - THE COACH HOUSE, MUCH LIKE THE MARRIOTT, USED TO BE THE NICEST IN TOWN. IT'S GETTING A LITTLE OLD AS WELL. IN FACT, IT WAS CLOSED A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT IS NOW OPENED BACK UP UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT. IT'S KIND OF A LOCAL JOKE HERE NOW, BECAUSE THEY HAVE JUSTED OPENED UP A "WAFFLE HOUSE" RESTAURANT RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO IT. I'M SURE THEY WERE DELIGHTED WHEN THAT HAPPENED. MY IMPRESSION OF THE COACH HOUSE IS IT'S SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE LOCAL CUISINE WITH WELL ABOVE AVERAGE PRICES.

Merrick Inn- PERSONALLY, MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN LEXINGTON. IT IS TRULY AUTHENTIC KENTUCKY CUISINE IN A BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED OLD MANSION. THE PRICES ARE A LITTLE ABOVE AVERAGE ($15 - 25 PER ENTREE) BUT THE ATMOSPHERE, SERVICE AND QUALITY OF FOOD ARE SUBPERB. NO JEANS ALLOWED IN THE DINING ROOM. AT LEAST KHAKIS AND A NICE SHIRT.

Roger's- MY FATHER JUST PASSED AWAY. THIS WAS HIS FAVORITE RESTAURANT. THIS IS CHEAP, CASUAL, LOCAL FARE IN THE SAME BUILDING ITS BEEN IN FOR 50 YEARS. KIND OF GREASY FOOD, BUT THEIR STAFF HAS BEEN AROUND FOR AN AVERAGE OF 20 YEARS, SO IT MUST NOT BE THAT BAD OF A PLACE TO WORK. THEY ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR FILLING, COMFORT FOOD, E.G. MACARONI AND CHEESE AND SALMON CROQUETS (ON FRIDAYS ONLY). EACH DAY THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT SPECIAL.

Ramsey's- GO TO THE ONE ON THE CORNER OF HIGH STREET AND WOODLAND AVENUE. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL. THIS IS PROBABLY WHERE COST MEETS QUALITY. THEY DO NOTHING HERE OUTSTANDING, BUT EVERYTHING IS DONE WELL. NICE HAPPY HOUR BY THE WAY. THEY HAVE KENTUCKY HOT BROWNS AND FRIED GREEN TOMATOES. LOTS OF VEGGIES AND MEATLOAD, ETC. GREAT BREAKFAST TOO (WHICH THEY SERVE ANYTIME).

deSha's- HIGHLY OVER-RATED. FOOD SUCKS AND THE PRICE IS OVER-INFLATED TO PAY FOR THE RENT. BEAUTIFUL LOCATION RIGHT DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON. I WOULD ONLY RECOMMEND GOING HERE FOR COFFEE AND DESSERT LATE AT NIGHT.

a la lucie's- EXCELLENT FRENCH CUISINE IN A SMALL BUT QUAINT SETTING. A LITTLE EXPENSIVE, BUT GOOD. OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT KENTUCKY FOOD.

Nadines- SOME PEOPLE LOVE THIS PLACE. IT'S KIND OF COSMOPOLITAN FOOD, E.G. STUFF THAT'S TOO REFINED FOR MY WIMPY PALATE. IT'S WHAT MY DAD CALLED "FOO FOO FOOD".

Dudleys- OUTSTANDING LOCATION IN A TURN OF THE CENTURY SCHOOL HOUSE. DUDLEYS IS HALF-WAY BETWEEN MERRICK INN AND RAMSEYS. GREAT LOCAL FARE, BUT FAIRLY EXPENSIVE. GREAT SETTING. YOU CAN EVEN SIT OUTSIDE ON THEIR PATIO, WHICH IS VERY NICE. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS PLACE WITHOUT HESITATION.

Homestead- I'VE NEVER BEEN HERE, BUT EVERYONE WHO GOES TELLS ME THAT IT'S GOOD, "JUST LIKE MERRICK INN."

Billy's BarBQ- JUST A LITTLE BBQ JOINT IN A NICE AREA OF TOWN. NOTHING SPECIAL, BUT IF YOU LIKE BBQ, IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO GO FOR AROUND $10 EACH.

Duane

Thank you very much Duane! This will be a well used list...Trying to keep the "guys" happy while we girls ride. Lets see, football will not have started by then, to bad. Thanks again
Kris

Ferragamo,

You're welcome! Football will be starting by then. The regular season NFL starts Sunday, September 7th. Of course, the nearest pro football city is Cincinnati, 75 miles north. You should also know that Lexington is a BIG college town, and the Cats (as they're known around UK country) have a home football game on Saturday, 6th. I tell you this because when Commonwealth Stadium is full of Kentucky football fans, believe it or not, the 70,000+ fans in that stadium would be the third largest city in Kentucky. Louisville first and then Lexington. Football weekends are extremely popular and populated in this area.

If you have specific, additional questions, please feel free to email me at [email protected].

Duane

I will be sure to do that as the time gets closer. We have a large group that will be going. They are being kind to come and watch the horseshow, but they really would like evening dining and good places to escape during the day!!!!
Thank you!

Ferragamo,

One last question. Where are you staying? You can get a wonderful hotel in Lexington through Priceline for no more than $45 per night. When our house was being renovated, my wife and I spent 2 weeks at the downtown Hyatt Regency for $38 per night. If you need hotel recommendations, I can help you out as well.

Duane

If you are looking for daytime activities, the Pleasant Hill Shaker Village is on the Harrodsburg Road, not very far from Lexington. You can tour the village and see how the Shakers lived and/or just eat in the dining room, and their food is super. If you like lemon, try their Shaker Lemon Pie that is made with the whole lemon, peel and all, sliced paper thin. It's scrumptious.

We are staying at the Sheraton Point?? It was part of the Horseshow Package. We are paying ALOT more than your suggestions...Now we will know for next time. We thought that we needed to be close to the show grounds to check on the horses. The Village sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks

This post is already cold I'll assume, but I had some input on hotels in Lexington, KY. I offered $40 for a 4 star hotel in Lexington on Priceline.com and got the Marriott Griffin Gate Resort. Conveniently located just off the beltway (can't remember the highway number, it was a little dated, but very nice amenities including located right on a highly rated golf course, indoor pools and spas, fitness, and a little mini-mall of services and restaurants. Clean and well appointed rooms. The service was so good that we had 4 people (Priceline only allows 2 to a room) and the desk clerk let us upgrade to a suite with 2 Queen beds for free! Give it a try!

Michelle