It’s official: Lexington diners have spoken.
Each month, OpenTable — a popular restaurant reservation platform — releases a list of the most booked restaurants in major US cities. Based on “nearly 500,000 new global diner reviews,” these are the top five most-booked restaurants in Lexington.
- Carson’s on Main | Truly a local favorite, Carson’s original downtown location is the perfect outing for $10 old fashioneds during happy hour, classic steaks, and signature entrees like the Sweet + Spicy Ribs. Editor Alexis loves stopping in for lunch, where Carson’s serves some of the best burgers in town. Pro tip: Weekday reservations are fairly easy to come by, but you will need to plan at least a week in advance for a weekend reservation. You may need to book more than a month in advance for a day with a seasonal event. For example: Brunch before Keeneland’s Spring Meet opening weekend.
- Carson’s at Andover | If you’re a fan of Carson’s and haven’t had the chance to explore the second location, it offers the same menu + drinks with a different design concept. A few standout features are the elevated decor, an all-season terrace, and a larger bar accompanied by windows overlooking a lake.
- Malone’s — Hamburg | A classic dinner spot known for its great food, Malone’s offers a lively, laid back environment. It’s the perfect spot to catch a game or bring friends after the races this spring. We’re never getting tired of the Malone’s Lexingtonian salad. Pro tip: It’s best to make a weekend reservation a week in advance, but be mindful of UK Athletics schedule.
- Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse | Arguably the best fine dining experience in Lexington, this restaurant has top of the line sushi, wagyu beef, and classics like steak + lobster, lobster burrow, and more. Pro tip: Similar to Carson’s, weekday reservations can be flexible with enough notice, but weekend reservations need to be planned in advance, especially if you have a large party. The restaurant has limited Saturday evening availability for the next month.
- Malone’s — Palomar | Lexingtonians are in luck, with three Malone’s locations across the city: Hamburg, Palomar, and Lansdowne, which also landed in OpenTable’s top 10. Malone’s is part of Bluegrass Hospitality Group (BHG), which also owns Harry’s, Drake’s and OBC Kitchen (No. 8 on the list). It’s safe to say Lexington is a big BHG fan.
Curious about how more of Lexington restaurants ranked? View the rest of the most-booked hotspots or peruse best overall, best food, best value, and more rankings.
