I know I missed your trip, how was it? There are so many new places downtown that I hope you found. Azur happens to me one of my favorites! Hope you had a good visit!

I ate at Doc Crowe's last weekend and it was really good! I have also heard great things about Proof at the 21C hotel. Have a good trip!

Buffalo Trace is my fav along with Woodford Reserve!

I am fortunate enough to live about 30 minutes from both distilleries in KY! Hope you find it in NYC, Im sure you can with bourbons being so popular right now! Try bourbon in a peach tea, Woodford does it for events and it is amazing!

So far we are having an Amazing trip!
Thursday: Al's Italian Beef - we bouth had the original and loved them!
For dinner we went to Sable and ordered small plates. We had the Pork belly BLTs, Deviled Eggs, Pretzels with Cheese, and the Merguez sausage flat bread. The BLTs were our favorite & heavenly!

Friday: Bongo Room - My fiancé had the Crossiant sandwich with bacon, I had the Breakfast Burrito, and we split the Banana and Bacon pancakes. We loved our choices, except my fiancé didn't care for the pancakes. I wish we had gone for the Pretzel pancakes. Maybe we will revisit.
Tru - Wow!! Unbelievable food and service! We both did the 3 course Prix Fixe. For appetizers, my fiancé had the Veal Cheeks and I had the Duck Consumme. Our main courses were the Prime Ribeye and Fallow Deer. Then dessert we had the S'mores and Apple Beignets. Also our server brought us individual Root Beer Floats! Incredible!!

We ended up also having a late night snack of Lou Malnati's Classic. We both enjoyed it very much!

Thanks for everything & we are looking forward to 2 more days of great eating! Happy New Year!

Thank you for all of the suggestions!! We leave in the morning and here is my itinerary that I have come up with:

Thursday:
Dinner: The Publican or Sable

Friday:
Breakfast: Bongo Room
Lunch: One of Rick Bayless' restaurants
Dinner: Tru

Saturday:
Breakfast: Little Branch Cafe
Lunch: Lou Malnati's or Uno
Dinner: Alinea
*debating as to whether or not to buy tickets to the Aviary for New Year's. They offered today when they called to confirm our reservation. The tickets are $200 a piece and include drinks and food. Our reservation is for 5:15 at Alinea and I do not have plans for the rest of night. Thoughts?

Sunday:
Brunch: North Pond
Dinner: Purple Pig

Monday:
Breakfast: ?
We leave at 11:00, so it may just be at the hotel.

Thanks again! Have a Happy New Year!!

Thank you so much!! We def plan to go to Aviary one night. Will let you know our final plans!

We don't have any set plans except for the dinner reservations. I do want to go to Sear's Tower, the Museum of Art, the Aquarium, and probably the Navy Pier. Thank you for your reccommendations!

Bummer about Hot Doug's! I also plan on visiting the Doughnut Vault.

Anna

Hi Chicago Hounds! I am a KY Hound coming to your city for New Year's Eve and want to try as much good food as possible. My fiance and I will be arriving on Thursday, Dec. 29 and leaving Monday, Jan. 2. We are staying at the Essex Inn on Chicago on South Michigan Ave. Here is what I have put together so far:

Thursday night: The Publican or Sable after we check into the hotel

Friday:
Breakfast: ?
Lunch: ?
Dinner: Tru (already have reservations)

Saturday
Breakfast: ?
Lunch: ?
Dinner: Alinea (already have reservations)

Sunday
Brunch: ?
Dinner:?

Monday
Breakfast: ?

I really want to visit Hot Doug's, a good restaurant in Greek town, Lou Malnati's or Uno. Any suggestions are welcomed! Thank you very much!

Thank you! Just what I was looking for! I am from KY & love all foods at all prices! I will check these places out! Thanks again & Happy Thanksgiving!

I am in OKC for the NRHA Futurity for a week and a half & am looking for some of the best local places to eat, casual or fancy. I know about Cattleman's & the Crabhouse. So where else should I go? Thanks!

Anna

I have to tell you that I have eaten at that chef's restaurant on the Allure of the Seas named 150 Central Park and it is AMAZING!! I know Molly overcooked her shrimp but I think we underestimate how hard these challenges really are.

Now the buffets on the cruise ships are still not stellar, but the dining rooms and especially the fine dining restaurants I have found can stand up to many fine dining establishments on the shore! Molly, you are a wonderful chef and I am very happy to have eaten at your restaurant!

Anna

Unfortunately, Bistro La Belle is closed :(

But the rest are amazing places!

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Bistro La Belle
121 E Main St, Midway, KY 40347

Hi! KY Chowhound here & unexpectedly I will be in Denver tomorrow night & Saturday night. I would like a recommendation for fine dining where I could eat at the bar or not feel out of place as a solo diner. Also I would love to know anything I should not miss! Thanks so much!

I just got engaged at Heirloom a few weeks ago, so where I loved it before - I really love it now! haha It is remarkable though and you can't beat the ambiance in Midway!

Heirloom - one of my favorites in this area!!

I am so glad you enjoyed your trip! I have not tried the White Light Diner yet, but my friend & I are planning on going soon! Thanks for the report!

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White Light Diner
114 Bridge St, Frankfort, KY 40601

You definitely need to go to Shakertown! It is a great place to tour as well as they have a restaurant there that has an amazing dinner.

I've heard Beaumont Inn is an institution in Harrodsburg that is a Must, but I have not made it there yet. Have a great weekend!

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Beaumont Inn
638 Beaumont Inn Dr, Harrodsburg, KY 40330

I would definitely recommend one dinner in Midway at either Heirloom or Holly Hill Inn! Also there is a cafe at Woodford Reserve & I have heard really good things about the food.

For food in Lexington, we have so many good restaurants, so it depends on what you are looking for. For innovative, delicious cuisine go to Azur. For down home cooking, go to Ramsey's. Downtown, my favorites are Jonathan's and Metropol.

You have to try a Hot Brown while you are here! Hope you have a great weekend, the weather has been great the past couple of days!

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Metropol
307 W Short St, Lexington, KY 40507

Holly Hill Inn
426 N Winter St, Midway, KY 40347

Azur
3070 Lakecrest Cir Ste 550, Lexington, KY 40513

In regards to MB, you need to drive down to Murrell's Inlet that is where the best restaurants are. For a casual dinner, go to Lee's Inlet Kitchen, it is a classic great seafood restaurant. For a more upscale dinner, go to Capt. Dave's Dockside.

My family also loves Hanser House in Litchfield. Have a great trip!

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Hanser House
14360 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island, SC 29585

Lee's Inlet Kitchen
Highway 17 Bus, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Bar Americain's seafood appetizers are really good! The seafood trio was amazing last time I was there!

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Bar Americain
152 W. 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019

Thanks chris & LaLa! I will put those on my list!

Brickhouse is the go-to restaurant for the Davidson Basketball coach after games & my family goes there all the time! It was good the last time I ate there too!

Please report back! I've heard good things about him & saw they have a tasting menu that I would like to try. Have a great meal!

I also like th brisket at Butt Rub BBQ on Southland and I think the new Red State BBQ is good on Georgetown Road. Billy's is one of my fav since it leans more towards the Eastern Carolina BBQ & I am from SC!

Does anyone know of restaurants in Lexington or Louisville that have tasting menus? Which would you recommend?

Good to know about Casanova, I am always weary about the restaurants that come into that location, but it is on my Try list now. I have not tried Grey Goose or Tulip, so I will also try those. I love Heirloom in Midway!

Also I have heard good things about Table 310 downtown, so I must get over there too!

You mentioned several of my favorite restaurants!! I just had dinner at Azur & had the fabulous pork tenderloin with mushrooms & gnocchi. We also had the appetizer meatball, my faviorite menu item right now!

I also love Osaka and Good Foods Co-op! You should try School off of Richmond Road which has great Japanese & French food!

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Azur
3070 Lakecrest Cir Ste 550, Lexington, KY 40513

I agree chileheadmike, I did not like JJ McBrewster's. I agree also that Billy's isnt the best, but the pretty decent in this area. The new Red State BBQ on Georgetown Rd is amazing!

I love Ramseys! Their red sauce pork chops are my favorite!

My favorite place in Lexington is definitely Azur! It has creative cuisine & a fun atmosphere, it is in Beaumont Center. I also love Metropol downtown, it is French & the owner is usually sitting at the bar. I also just had a very nice birthday dinner at Jonathan's at Gratz Park. Hope this helps!

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Metropol
307 W Short St, Lexington, KY 40507

Azur
3070 Lakecrest Cir Ste 550, Lexington, KY 40513

I really enjoy American Grocery & the Lazy Goat, both downtown!

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American Grocery Restaurant
732 S. Main St., Greenville, SC 29601

The Lazy Goat
170 Riverplace Dr, Greenville, SC 29601