Billy's BBQ *

I'd heard this place had gone downhill but we had to see for ourselves (having never been there before). Everything about this place turned out to be unremarkable. In fact, I can't think of a lot of adjectives to describe the place or the food. Despite it's closeness to our house (a pleasant 10 minute walk), I won't be going back.

Don Pablo's **

Maybe it's because I don't like REAL Mexican food that I like this watered-down Tex Mex chain. That said, their salas could use some more kick.

Panda Garden *****

Probably my favorite restaurant in Lexington, this is the place where I discovered REAL Chinese food. Some years back, the owners got themselves a genuine chef from Sichuan (pronounced Citron, not Sejwan) and authenic spicy cuisine of Southwest China came with him. Start yourself off with jellyfish salad, wine chicken and some mouth-buzzing spicy beef tendon. Head on to string beans with garlic, salt & pepper shrimp and a kickass spicy fish & tofu dish. Eat here and never order sweet & sour pork again.

Eat Up, It's on the House!

Having just moved from Brooklyn, NY (and having also lived in San Francisco), I was ready for the relative lack of dining choices here in my hometown of Lexington, KY. Somewhere among the glut (& gluttony) of the countless chain restaurants serving rubbery fried cheese sticks & gigantic slabs of overcooked meat are hidden culinary gems. They're few & far between and they're reviewed herein (along with some lumps of coal & guilty pleasures). Enjoy!