We came into Bistro on Main after reading good Yelp and Google reviews. But, after eating here, we have NO idea why the reviews are so good! We were asked if we had a reservation even though the entire restaurant was empty... um what? They said they could "fit us in." Ok... . We sat down in a very run down dining room and almost left when we saw the menu. Short ribs with rice? Some odd choices on there. I settled with the shrimp and grits. How bad could it be? Their beer bread is actually pretty tasty - it's kinda sweet and soft with a crunchy crust. But, our entrees were quite unappetizing and not good. My shrimp were pale and covered in a weird cream sauce with mushrooms and tomatoes. The grits were stiff with hardly any flavor. I had some shrimp shells on my plate too. My husband's Gumbo was just as sad. It looked like cafeteria food. His okra was soggy and flavorless and the rice was so over cooked. 4 stars??? Absolutely not!!! The only redeeming factor was the good service and friendly staff. read more

Really cute place on the main drag. It was busy so service was working hard and things did take some time but when it got there it was good. Portions were not the biggest but prices were reasonable. Good desserts although we weren't sure if the bread pudding was supposed to be warm or cold because it was a bit of both. read more

A great Lexington restaurant in terms of service, location and especially food. Very nice bar as well. The shrimp and grits is equal to any I had in my 12 years on the South Carolina coast; creamy, well-seasoned with nice shrimp. The last time we were there the special was a swordfish preparation with a delightful sauce. read more

Bistro on Main - Shrimp and Grits - Southern Near Me - Lexington, Virginia

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The food is excellent as is the service and ambiance. We always eat early (before 5:15 p.m.) and have never had a moment when staff wasn't on top of providing helpful service and suggesions. The Bistro has become our "go to" spot for all family celebrations. Susan K. read more

Bistro on Main truly exceeded our expectations. After enjoying an elegant 4-course meal the night before Bistro on Main continued our excellent culinary journey. We received great service and our 2 seafood dishes were well prepared and executed. We took home 2 desserts to enjoy later and they were both very good. I'd recommend this establishment, a credit to the local restaurant sce read more

Bistro on Main - Freshwater prawns, large and excellent - Southern Near Me - Lexington, Virginia

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Along the way home. Hoping my fellow Yelpsters didn't steer me wrong. And they did not. What a fabulous place for dinner. I'd not been to Lexington VA before and was very impressed with the town. We had dinner at the bar with Morty as our bartender and host and he treated us with the best of service. We started out with the spring rolls which came piping hot and we're delicious. I took a chance with the Beef Wellington as my main course - which could be a bit of a risk as not many restaurants prepare this well. It was perfect and tender and very tasty. It was accompanied by some decadent bacon cheddar smashed potatoes. My husband had the roasted chicken breast which was accompanied by delicious corn pudding. He gave the kitchen staff a bit of an easier time as he returned his plate with nothing on it. We will definitely remember this place and return on another trip. read more

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Arrived before reservation time and still promptly seated. Ambience elegantly casual and relaxing. Remarkable waitress gave just enough attention but not intrusive during a long 4 course meal. Wine selection pairs well with menu. Salmon cooked to perfection and served over sweet potatoes with spinach. Pasta perfectly steamed and very flavorful. Butternut squash soup great choice to start meal with fresh bread and Greek salad. Crème de brûlée and bread pudding with glass of Bailey's were perfect end to dinner. read more

a gem in the heart of Lexington the food was absolutely delicious. The service is fantastic! must try if you're looking for something different. read more

Excellent place to have dinner. We stop in Lexington on our way to & from Florida. We used to eat at The Southern Inn, but it closed. Our new special place is Bistro on Main. read more

"Aggressively ok" would be the way that I would describe Bistro on Main. Having come highly recommended by locals, I came in with high expectations that unfortunately, simply weren't met. Our server was attentive and friendly, and was the best part of the entire dining experience. I ordered an old fashioned, and as any whiskey connoisseur can attest, you can tell when a joint knows how to make a *good* old fashioned....and which places merely check the ingredients boxes. Bitters? Check. Whiskey? Check. Orange and cherries? Check. But this was definitely the most "ok" old fashioned I've had in a while. Was it bad? Not by any means. But was it something I'd order again? Not by a long shot. The cocktail menu is comprised of almost entirely vodka-based beverages, so I shouldn't be surprised that this whiskey drink is beyond their expertise. I also ordered the salad with almond-crusted chicken. The chicken itself was underwhelming, lukewarm at best, and barely seasoned. The best part about the dish was the citrus vinaigrette that saved the salad and made it palatable. That being said, my companion ordered the butternut squash ravioli and liked it, saying it was very filling and delicious. We also shared a Brie with jam and baguettes, and that was a perfect appetizer to split! Perhaps my friend just ordered better than me, but I was unimpressed with the meal and drink that I ordered. I wouldn't be opposed to coming again, but I'd likely want to ask the server more questions before ordering. The couple next to us ordered a gigantic Tomahawk steak and seemed to LOVE it, so I think I'll be ordering that next time I come in! read more

Bistro on Main - a bar with many bottles of alcohol - Southern Near Me - Lexington, Virginia

We're doing a quick get away weekend from NOVA (and COVID-19!) to visit this sweet little Virginia country town and staying across the street so we thought we'd try this restaurant out. Food (5/5): They provided some fresh baked white bread with butter for starters. We ordered the vegetarian spring rolls, which were crispy and delicious. For entries, we had the burger and the Shrimp and Grits. The burger was a large charbroiled patty and served with crispy fries. The Shrimp and Grits were creamy and the shrimp was perfectly cooked. It was some of the best shrimp and grits I have ever had. Drinks: We had a bottle of Sauvignon blanc and tried the special holiday "Candy Cane martini." Both were delicious! Atmosphere/COVID: (5/5): This place was not crowded on a Tuesday night and we felt safe there. All the staff was wearing masks. Service (5/5): Our waiter was great- she was kind and efficient and delivered the food quickly. read more

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A delightful stop for a nice meal. The salmon with sweet potato mashed potato's were cooked perfectly. My server was Medea and she was fantastic. I will definitely return. read more

Once I got there, alone, it took the staff sometime to get my order. Nevertheless, once they started, everything was wonderful. The food is great and the staff friendly enough. I would recommend it read more

Bistro on Main - Delicious Butternut squash ravioli. - Southern Near Me - Lexington, Virginia

My wife and I, in advance of our Saturday night overnight stay in Lexington, selected Bistro on Main for our dinner choice and made a reservation on another app. Good thing we did as after our 7pm arrival they were full up and turning people away. We were seated in the bar area which has a couple of tables, seating at the bar and seating along the front window. Despite it being a busy night, service was prompt and on point. For drinks we selected a Malbec but our first choice was not available; however, the recommended replacement turned out to be just fine. We also started with the warm Brie which prepared well and to our liking. I was really looking forward to a steak this evening and saw several on their online menu. This evening though they only had one beef entree and it was a special that they had just run out of. I fell back to the vodka penne dish to which I added sausage. As with the wine this turned out to be an excellent twist of fate. The dish was wonderful and I particularly enjoyed the flavorful sausage. My wife though had a different experience. She ordered the shrimp and grits which was delivered cold to her with grey colored shrimp. Clearly not prepared well we sent it back. She then got to watch me enjoy my meal for several minutes until hers returned with hot pink shrimp. Even properly cooked she found the flavors mediocre and disappointing. Our dining experience was a bit of hit or miss. For my wife, I had to take her to an ice cream parlor around the corner to ease the pain. read more

Bistro on Main - Easy to find on Main St - Southern Near Me - Lexington, Virginia

Food was excellent, as was service. Fish was lovely, and cooked perfectly. All in all, a nice experience.

Classic menu, classic atmosphere, upscale casual... usually busy, so reservations are recommended. We live in Lexington so eat here semi-regularly. Everything on the menu is good, fresh, slightly simple. Local ingredients are a nice touch and their homemade bread is delicious. read more

Bistro on Main - Shrimp and grits (I asked for them to spice it up and I was very happy with the spice level), hubby had gumbo. - Southern Near Me - Lexington, Virginia

We are glad to have found this place! With a small curated menu the Bistro on Main puts the focus on fresh and flavorful dishes. The shrimp and grits and the unicorn fish entrees did not disappoint. The key lime pie and bread pudding disappeared as soon as we brought it back k to our hotel room. The staff is gracious and kind. We would visit again. read more

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I'd be embarrassed to represent my restaurant in the manner the owner did tonight. Before we were even seated, she declared she would be intentionally rushing our service for our reservation. (While multiple tables sat open for the reminder of the night) She then took it a step further, replacing our server with another because our initial server apologized for the owner's attitude. The food is fine at best. If you're in town, try to find a reservation somewhere else. read more

Delicious food, attentive service, great location. Highly recommended. We had shrimp and grits and gumbo. Yum!

This is one of our favorite places in Lexington. We normally have the same server (I'm sorry I don't recall her name) and she is amazing. I love the butternut squash ravioli and the French 75. Highly recommend read more

[4.25 Stars] After a nice day of exploring Lexington we stopped at Bistro on Main for a later dinner. Still satisfied from a surprisingly good lunch, we weren't seeking a heavy dinner-- although the carefully curated dinner menu looked amazingly tempting. We arrived without reservations on a Tuesday evening and were promptly seated in the front room, at the last available table. That front room is the working station of an engaging bartender/host, while the larger back room is the main dining room. Both were nicely decorated, and the environment was relaxing. Bistro on Main does appear to be a favorite amongst the locals and many a working day appeared to be winding-down over a glass of wine, cocktail and/or dinner. Due to post-Covid staffing woes it was obvious that staffing was "slammed." Yet, despite this challenge, everyone was cordial, patient and professional. Interesting stylings of Southern and continental fare were listed among the ten dinner entrees. These included a cheeseburger billed as "the best in Virginia." Ms. G. and I shared a delicious app of brie and housemade raspberry compote. Next we each ordered a Caesar Salad with Grilled Shrimp ($15). Well-made and satisfying, the Caesars "hit the spot." read more

Food was fare priced & good atmosphere was also nice service I got the salmon was great small piece but was plenty

Quaint restaurant, great food(we had shrimp and grits and NY strip & both were great). Waitress was very nice, attentive, and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere. read more

Really cute, fancy dinner restaurant right on Lexington Main Street. The ambiance was perfect and the food was great. The crab cakes were a hit along with the ravioli. Wouldn't get the cauliflower curry again. I'm a fan of hot curry and this one was cold.. read more

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We celebrated our daughter's graduation and made reservations in advance. The restaurant had saved their best table for us, despite a huge demand that night. The food was outstanding. Special that night was grass-fed meat loaf. Followed by the best Tiramisu ever (and we've tasted dozens). If you're in Lexington, don't miss this restaurant. We live 2500 miles away but when we're back in Virginia, we'll be at Bistro on Main. Thank you staff for an unforgettable meal read more

It has been a very long time since I've left a negative review for a restaurant, but I feel I had to for this one. I attempted to reach out to the business via email expressing my complaint and hoped to avoid leaving a public review, but no one from the restaurant replied to my email. So here we go. My two children and I dined at Bistro on Main on Friday, May 10. We were traveling to Lexington for the weekend from the Washington DC area. I had made a reservation a few days prior and believe I had spoken to the manager, who was very pleasant over the phone. When I arrived, I was quickly seated, and the experience started off well. The restaurant is located in a great place and the waitress/bartender were friendly. The menu was somewhat limited, but I did enjoy the food. However, maybe 15 minutes into our experience, I felt the manager woman (the individual who was standing by the door and acting as the hostess but was likely the manager or owner) was glaring at me and my kids, and acting very uncomfortably that we were dining in the restaurant. It was making me feel uncomfortable during the entire meal. She never made a comment or anything, but I just noticed a lot of staring and when she passed our table, she had a very unpleasant look on her face and one that made us feel unwelcome. I know sometimes people are opposed to kids dining in their restaurants, but in this situation, my two children were quiet and not disturbing other customers. It was a very bad experience for me because when I spend more than $100 on a meal, I want to feel welcome and comfortable. I noticed I was rushing my meal just to get out of the restaurant because I felt that we were a burden to this manager. During my weekend in Lexington, we dined at two other restaurants in close proximity to Bistro on Main and had wonderful experiences, ones where my kids and I felt welcome. I hope other families with children that choose to dine at Bistro on Main do not have the same feeling I had. read more

I liked being welcomed in by the owner? Watering the flowers out front. The willingness of our waitress and the bartender to concoct whatever we desired for cocktails, the superb appetizers we had with same cocktails. It was fun sitting at a window bar watching the passers by as we were tourists in town for the day. A genuinely delicious, pleasurable experience. read more

Bistro on Main - Southern Near Me - Lexington, Virginia

Still one of the best places in the area; we recently tried another "trendier" place nearby and were sadly disappointed. Look forward to returning here on our next trip. read more

I love this place. Comfortable, unpretentious and friendly The food is local, fresh and well prepared The service is always friendly and prompt Not expensive!! I love that it's not loud. Very bistro atmosphere. Simple good food The Brie appetizer is warm, with bread and applesauce The fried oysters are fresh and big with a tasty romaloude sauce Butternut squash ravioli is homemade and wonderful Pasta with vodka sauce was good but not as creamy as some places Quick drinks from the bar. On street parking Definitely make a reservation!!! read more

Last week we went here for my wife's birthday, it was our first time (we are new to Lexington), service, food and value was terrific. Great Job Folks! read more

After the commissioning ceremony, we went down to look for a place to have lunch. We went to one place, waited about 20 minutes before we came here, we got seated and reviewed the menu. Most of the family members either went with salads or salad/soup combo, I went with Oyster PoBoy sandwich and nephew went with Crabcake sandwich. Skip oyster PoBoy - the serve it on a hamburger bun instead of the sub bun. To be honest, it really has no taste that brings the sandwich together. The crabcake sandwich was better then the PoBoy, so if you want a sandwich, try their crabcake sandwich. As for the salads, well, mixed greens out of a bag, plated and served with chicken tenders.... yeah... The service was bit slow here as well, but at least we got seated and had some food, which was the important part :) read more

Over a weekend stay in Lexington we discovered several nice dining spots. Bistro on Main was certainly near, if not the best, place we tried. Morty, the bartender there, was most professional but also very inviting and helpful in choosing our meals. We also met a great group of folks from California while there that added to our nice experience. Our meals were both excellent, mine the jambalaya and Jean's salmon. Will definitely visit here again if we make it back to Lexington, Va. read more

Bistro on Main - Southern Near Me - Lexington, Virginia

we ate there on 4-20-23 and ordered two Gumbo dinners at menu price of $23 each, when bill arrived I was charged $26 each. I feel like they stole six dollars from me, also i feel they gouged me on alcohol. $9 for a draft beer and $13 for a small martini. You can use your own judgement on this, but they will never get me again. read more

Beef Wellington pastry was undercooked, French onion soup was served with no cheese, red wine was screw top, but somehow we found a way to enjoy our meal. The mushroom bruschetta was delicious, the bread was sweet and gooey, the tenderloin was tender, potatoes au gratin were wonderful. Service was friendly. I would eat here again. Trust me. read more

Owner incredibly unfriendly- food is good but it's all about the experience and the friendliness for me.

Stopped for a light lunch on a Sunday (when other places are closed). They were busy but offered us seating at the bar or in the window. Window seating gave a nice view of the old building across the street, and the various interesting pedestrians. Ordered the Greek salad with the unusual addition of fried oysters. Great crunchy, briney little oysters. Nice salad (see photo), but the dressing was too sweet for a Greek salad. No olive oil taste. A little Mediterranian spices would have been nice. The spinach salad with almond encrusted chicken was tastey and good to the last bite. (Why is it that spinach sticks to the teeth, and other greens don't?) Service was pleasant, efficient. Thanks Medea. read more

Bistro on Main - Oysters on a Greek salad. - Southern Near Me - Lexington, Virginia

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All around excellent. Great food at great prices. Owners are very welcoming. Fun bar atmosphere.

Dinner here with a colleague was a nice unexpected treat! The bread was warm, slightly sweet with a nice more dense, homemade bite. Tasty calamari appetizer and we both ordered shrimp and grits. Perfect creamy grits with a creamy non-spicy sauce. Service was on point and the place is clean. Appears to be frequented by several locals. Always a good sign. read more

Bistro on Main is always on point. Clean ingredients. Simple seasoning. I enjoyed my Frenched Chicken very much. My sister has the shrimp and grits and is honestly the best grits she has ever had. When in Lexington the is a must stop. Danielle is incredibly sweet, she smiles consistently and knows the menu. Our first lunch when my daughter had her W&L interview. We will be sure commencement weekend we enjoy our last dining experience in Lexington. read more

Bistro on Main - Frenched Organic Chicken. - Southern Near Me - Lexington, Virginia

This is definitely a 5 star restaurant. The meal was one of the best I've ever had. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. Had the roasted trout and is was cooked to perfection and well as the salmon my mother gotten. We will definitely return to this place when in the area. You won't be disappointed with the food, prices, or the staff. A true gem for Lexington! read more