Our group stopped here Friday midday for a light bite and refreshment while visiting the area. This dining option is housed within the bookstore near the back wall area. Terrific views overlooking a pond through the oversized windows. Waitstaff were friendly and we were seated immediately and given menus. We mainly opted for dessert options of peach cobbler, chocolate cake, peanut butter pie, and a chicken salad croissant sandwich. Our experience was a 6/10. 1) One person was overcharged $3 for a $5 item and had to point out the correct posted price on the menu. Our server left to speak to her manager and returned to say it was a misprint, but that they'd honor it this time. WTH? Doing us a "favor" for their error? 2) Another friend ordered the chocolate cake and asked for the whipped cream to be held. The server said it wasn't possible since this was in between the layers of the cake. This was incorrect. 3) Another friend also ordered the chocolate cake based on the server's description. He inquired as to where the cherries were she'd listed as a component to the cake. (One of the reasons he'd actually ordered that item.) The server said the cherries were a "seasonal item" and weren't included at this time. Again, WTH? Should've been accurately informed prior to ordering to perhaps reconsider this chosen selection. 4) I ordered peach cobbler and am thankful it actually came with the peaches! However, I specifically requested it without ice cream. I'm sure it won't be a surprise when I say that it arrived with a large scoop plopped on top and melting, so I just removed as much as I could at that point. So, for anyone with dairy allergies, you might be wise to avoid this place. Also, it's like a game of roulette when one orders from the printed menu and then expected to unquestionably accept whatever version of food happens to arrive table-side. Be sure to look over your final check for accuracy and please also note that a 20% gratuity was automatically added to each of our checks. (This might explain the poor level of service?) Anyway, we usually leave a larger percentage, but all opted to leave it "as is" since the decision had been made for us. read more

See all

I wish I could give this establishment a negative star! Our server Jennifer was incredibly rude. My family and I traveled here to celebrate my daughter's graduation from college and stoped in while shopping. Her demeanor was so off-putting I thought she didn't want to serve us because we were African American. As the only Black people (that I could see) in the restaurant, I thought it was odd that she was pleasant to the white patrons and incredibly curt with us. One of our hot beverages was dripping as she carried it to the table and she not only didn't take care as she placed it but she walked away without offering napkins to clean up her mess. To make matters worse (again), there were not many patrons in the restaurant and at one point we were the only ones in the restaurant and still were not attended to properly. As for the food, my daughter ordered a turkey melt, and got a tuna melt. I ordered the hot ham and Brie, got a weird cold sandwich with what I think was apple sauce as the condiment and couldn't even eat it. I will never EVER step foot in this establishment again and sincerely caution any Black or Brown patrons to skip this one. Spend your money where you're treated with respect. Total waste of our time, and energy. UPDATE: A lovely server named Ciarra came over to check on us and changed the trajectory of our afternoon for the better. She spoke to us thoughtfully and offered to get the GM for us. The GM and Kitchen Manager (Kathy and Betty) were very kind and apologized for how we were treated by their server, Jennifer. I was clear that if I ever came back I wouldn't sit at her table. They even changed our server to Ciarra to ensure we'd be treated respectfully - which we were after the change. I hope for the sake of the Bronte Bistro restaurant they either counsel Jennifer or help her find another occupation because she should NOT be representing this establishment or serving Black/Brown people. My biggest concern are the patrons that never spoke up and just never came back to the restaurant and told others how awful their experience is. I believe in giving people feedback so they at least have an opportunity to improve. However, their small business will suffer tremendously if people like Jennifer are their representative, and I made that clear both to the managers, and directly to Jennifer as a courtesy. read more

Bronte Bistro - Wine trifold - New American Near Me - Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

Very good Egg Benedict, tasty. Generous portions of the hollandaise sauce. Comes with side of fruit and hash browns/potatoes. Good service, we didn't feel rushed. I enjoy the setting since it is situated inside of the book store. Gives me a chance to browse for the latest books. read more

Bronte Bistro - New American Near Me - Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

We (2 people) got sat almost immediately. There were a total of 4 other tables with guests. Took forever to even get a server to see us and the first words out of her mouth were "are you ready to order?" When asked about the winter cocktails she said "we're a full bar so..." Saw our server 1 other time and we waited for almost an hour for our check. We had to go to the bar to even ask for it & waited another 20 min. Waste of time and money. I've never not tipped before and today was my first time not tipping. They need a new manager / management. read more

Recently tried the new Fall beverage menu which I included a butter pecan beverage! While this is one of my favorite flavors, the drink was a little too sweet for me, but I think any fall girlies who like sweet drinks will love it - and it was so unique! Great place to take a breath while kiddos are shopping for books. read more

Bronte Bistro - New American Near Me - Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

We aren't exactly "regulars" of Bronte Bistro, but we drop by for a late lunch every month or so. We have been going there for many years... and we have kept it in our rotation of favored restaurants. The service in many restaurants is hit and miss these days with staff shortages (or people just not showing up for work everyday) being a real issue for many restaurants. I always factor that in, and I always try to not judge any restaurant too quickly. I understand that some things like employee attendance may vary from time to time... and thus is beyond their control. Lately, the service here has been better, and today we had Sergei, and even though we were dining outside... he still provided the most attentive service we have seen to date! He certainly went out of his way to ensure that we were comfortable, our drinks were always refilled, and we were completely satisfied! Mission accomplished! The food at Bronte Bistro is tasty, vegetarian friendly, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the service is (usually) good as well. The patio overlooking the lake is particularly scenic and pleasant during the warmer weather months! read more

Stick to selling books instead of food. I ordered a blue moon draft and and a ham and cheese croissant which was described on a the menu as having melted brie cheese and a toasted croissant. It was served ice cold, like it was just pulled out of the refrigerator. I was served a blue moon draft that set so long on the bar the foam was completely gone. I thought somebody already sampled this drink when it was served. There was a total of two occupied tables in the whole place. Now I know why. Do yourself a favor and go anywhere else! read more

Really enjoy their food and I love sitting by the window with a view of the lake with ducks and swans. Their soup of the day is always great. The servers are very friendly. The food is typically a little on the slower side coming out. It's great that it is attached to such a wonderful book store! read more

See all

Finally went to Bronte Bistro. Don't know what took me so long. The quiche was delicious. The crust was buttery and had just the right amount of everything. Plus the portion was quite big. The hash browns were also perfectly seasoned and crispy. As for the service, it was ok. I felt bad for our server as she appeared to be the only one that was tending the bar for the entire bistro and then serving us at the same time. So our service was a bit slow but that's because they had her stretched thin. I plan to go back though. read more

Bronte Bistro - Quiche - New American Near Me - Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

nice waiters and decent food, however service takes FOREVER. it is a calm environment with good views and seating but getting the food and drinks out takes longer than it should. read more

I love Joseph-Beth so when I go to the Bronte Bistro, it's often out of convenience. They seem to be suffering from a lack of staffing like so many, however, the staff they do have can be inattentive. They will be back in a corner chatting or playing on their phones. The food items themselves aren't terrible but they don't hit it out of the park with anything either. If you get a specialty coffee they tend to be on the smaller side. The main thing to keep in mind is that if you need something (such as a refill or there was an issue with your meal/something left off) you will literally need to chase down a server before you get assistance. read more

Adorable little bistro tucked inside the coziest book store. Very reasonably priced and the food was very good. I tried the Kentucky Hot Brown which had a mornay sauce. I've never had this before but would compare it to a béarnaise sauce. It was delicious I just wish there was more of it! I couldn't leave without dessert so I got a piece of peanut butter pie to go and it was surprisingly amazing. In all honesty it didn't look like anything too special but it was heavy with peanut butter flavor and very rich! read more

See all

We've been to this restaurant many times. We went at 1:30 on a Saturday afternoon and it was not crowded. After waiting around several minutes a lady finally came up and asked if she could help us. We told her that we wanted to get a bite to eat and she went out of her way to discourage us from eating there. It worked. We left and haven't gone back since. read more

I have been to Joseph Beth so many times throughout the years but last night was the first time I ate at the cafe, Brontë's Bistro. It was later in the evening on a Saturday (around 8pm) and there wasn't a wait for a table. The cafe is roomy and spacious and there were probably 10 other tables occupied while my friend and I were there, all in various stages of dining. The menu mainly consists of sandwiches and burgers, although there are maybe 8 entrees to choose from, some salads and 3 appetizers. I would have liked to seen a little more variety in the options. My friend and I both had the crab cake sandwich, which was two crab cakes with remoulade, lettuce and tomato, served on a croissant with chips and a pickle. It was tasty but not something I would make a special trip to the restaurant for. Our server wasn't too attentive and we waited awhile for our check and refills. All in all, the Bistro was okay, but I wouldn't make a special trip just to dine there. read more

Bronte Bistro - Crab cake sandwich on a croissant. - New American Near Me - Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

One of Lexington's best kept secrets! Phenomenal food, fantastic atmosphere, and a family favorite for us! Ask for Sydney if you go, 10/10 service! read more

Was in Joseph Beth, just stopped by for some coffee to go, to drink while looking at books. Was pretty simple and decent

The food is fine; not bad, not great. Just fine. House salad a basic, simple, easy enough. Nothing exciting but a solid staple. Tried the Guinness Stew off the seasonal menu - came out stone cold so sent back to be microwaved. Decent but nothing to write home about. Crab cakes were bland. Grilled cheese sandwich was yummy but that's a tough one to screw up. Unlike a number of other reviewers, our service was good. Attentive waitress who came by regularly. Am in Joseph Beth weekly; would love to see this place be a go to spot. Would definitely increase my time in the store. read more

Awesome little spot in the back of the bookstore! Great patio with awesome water views of the pond! The service was incredible and the food... ooo the food.. so we drove down from Cincinnati to go to the red river gorge.. glad we stopped here on our way back! We started with Fried Green Tomato's loaded with Cheese and bacon( umm need I say more?) then we had the fish sandwich and Hawaiian Jerk chicken... then to end the splurge, we had the best and creamiest peanut butter pie ever!!... like serious I was too full but couldn't stop eating it!! There was not one thing that was not just amazing! I will return to try more! read more

See all

Had the crab cakes - Delicious!!! Very clean Restaurant is noisy. That is why I didn't give 5 starts read more

Nice small restaurant inside the bookstore. I especially enjoy seating near the windows that overlook the duck pond. I will admit, I usually only dine here when I receive a coupon (these come with the loyalty plan). The menu does not seem to change frequently. The salads and sandwiches are good. Sometimes the servers can be hard to catch for condiments and refills, but you can get a quick meal here that you will enjoy. read more

Bronte Bistro - New American Near Me - Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

I've eaten breakfast here many times but my husband and I were Christmas shopping today at the bookstore and decided to try lunch. We had a 10 minute wait but looked around and even sat by the warm fire for a few minutes. We were seating in about 10 minutes as promised. We were immediately greeted by a young man named Dylan who promptly took our orders. We ordered fried green tomatoes crab cakes. We had our food in about another 10 minutes. We enjoyed watching the ducks and swans on the water and our food was very good. Our drinks were promptly filled and the service was very good. We enjoyed our experience today and we will go back. Not sure why anyone would complain unless they expecting a 5 star hotel service! read more

I will never understand how this has such low reviews! I've been coming here atleast once a year the past 3-4 years and it has never let me down. Good food, good service, good prices. I enjoyed lunch with a friend here recently and it was one of the best lunches we've had- appetizer, entree, dessert, and a bottle of wine for 40$. Please and thank you! The pear salad was delicious although the pears could have been more ripe. Turkey sandwich was large and delicious. Fried green tomatoes were spot on! They sit on a bed of spring mix with ranch poured on the plate. I would definitely suggest asking for it in a ramican. PEANUT BUTTER PIE is an absolute must... it's the main reason I keep coming back. So delicious. Service was good! Our waitress seemed a little inexperienced but other than that, our lunch was lovely. Nothing beats the setting. read more

See all

Food was okay--lukewarm and salty. Nothing really bad but nothing really outstanding. Service was awful. Waitress never checked on us, we waited for the food and ticket--we asked two different servers for help until we found our server. It was obvious she forgot we were there. No thank you for coming or apology for lack of service. read more

Delightful, fresh food! Their quiche is the BEST. Service is friendly and helpful. Top notch!

For the life of me I've not been able to figure out why this place has such bad reviews and an overall low rating. I've been here countless times and I've never had a bad experience. In a world where most bookstores host basic coffee shops, Joseph Beth brings us this fantastic bistro. So, instead of only being able to grab a latte and a muffin, we have a wide array of options. And did I mention they have a full bar?! Inside. Of. A. Bookstore! The food that I've ordered has always been on point. The crab cake is one of the best around and the salads are fresh and filling. Maybe I'm going at the perfect time each time, but none of the other reviews seem to match any of my experiences. We always sit at the bar area. The bartender always seems to be the same one on duty, very personable and remembers our last conversations. The happy hour is one of the best around. We tend to stop in here before each Comedy Off Broadway show that we attend. I think a lot of people forget about this hidden gem when they're participating in Lexington Green night life. I'd love to see BB lead the way as predinner kick for Lakeside Live and comedy shows. Let's do this, Lexington! read more

See all

This place is much better than a restaurant inside of a bookstore has any right to be.

Always good food People are friendly and helpful Very pleasant surroundings and great view out the window wall read more

This particular restaurant is really neat because of its location. It's tucked in the back of a bookstore, so if there's a wait, you can do some shopping! I've been here quite a few times and I really haven't had a bad experience. Service is good and food is delicious. I had the Bronte Salad and it was filled with greens, hard boiled eggs, avocado, tomato, and bacon. It was refreshing and filling. I'd recommend eating on the patio if the weather's nice! Or the veranda, really neat spot and great view of the pond. read more

Bronte Bistro - Bronte Salad - New American Near Me - Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

Good luck on getting in. Not because of the crowds, but because they're not open when they say they will be. This is twice now that I have arrived 20-30 minutes before closing only to find they had closed early. The first time they refused to seat my family at all. The second time after pointing out that it was not yet their closing time, they seated me but could not serve me anything hot, which precluded me ordering most things on the menu. Look, I don't care what time you close; just don't tell me your closing time and then close a half hour before that. read more

Was great! Ate outside on the patio. Service was a little slow but it was a great day so it didn't matter. I ate the vegan burger with fries. My friends got the crab cake sandwich and onion rings, bronte salad. All delicious read more

See all

Great service. Very helpful. GF options. Large portions. Food was fresh and tasty. Chai tea was very small in size, but tasted great.

I am always looking for a great patio spot for happy Hour and dinner. I've been to Bronte Bistro several times but never sat outside. Service was excellent! Beautiful view of the water and could enjoy the live music offered below. Happy Hour was until 7pm with some of the best drink specials in town. I got a craft cocktail - the New York Sour. A bourbon sour drink made with Cabernet. It was DELICIOUS. It had a hint of sangria but a more dominant bourbon flavor. It was not too sweet - I don't care for sweet drinks - it was sour and robust. Highly recommend, never had anything like it. I get the burger every time I come here. Lots of interesting options on the menu, but I'm always satisfied with the burger and fries. Can't go wrong. This is my side of town. Was put off by being told of a 45 min wait at a competitor next door that visibly had open tables. And glad that occurred. This will be my new "go-to" patio spot. Friendly service. Good food. Good drinks. Good prices. Good atmosphere. Give it a try! *Check in on Yelp and receive a 25% off offer* Thanks Bronte - I'll be back. read more

Bronte Bistro - Patio view at Bronte Bistro - New American Near Me - Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

Can't believe tonight was our first experience! This Bistro is a true hidden gem with amazing options for seating - Large Windows - Patio - Veranda to set just the ambiance you desire. The food was excellent and the service was some of the best we've ever had. read more

The Good: you are in a library, customer service is decent. The Bad: much of the food is hit or miss but nothing is amazing, the coffee. The Rundown: I have been here several times as I come to Joseph Beth for the books. From the few times I have eaten here nothing has ever been exceptional. I have eaten here for breakfast and lunch and have found nothing worth revisiting for. For breakfast you are looking at a basic breakfast menu and some different specialty coffees. The coffees I must warn you, they taste artificial and overly sweetened. As for the lunch, the best thing I have come across is their Brie and apples plate. You really can't mess this up because it is just Brie, apples, honey, and nuts, all warmed until the cheese is gooey. The worst item I ever had was a salmon salad wherein the poppyseed dressing was awful and the salmon was the worst salmon I have ever gotten at a restaurant. The color was off, it smelled off, and had the texture of having been cooked in a microwave. The Impression: if you are wanting to be there for the bar in the evening and to read some books while you have some cocktails then this is a good option. If you are looking for some great food, go anywhere else for a better option. read more

Bronte Bistro - New American Near Me - Lexington-Fayette, Kentucky

Let me start by saying I had high hopes for this cute little spot tucked behind the super cool Joseph Beth bookstore. The menu is extensive to say the least and we felt we lucked out with a last minute decision to stop in for brunch. We sat down and drinks were brought quickly, we happily ordered. Then things got weird. It took almost an hour for our food to come out (50 minutes give or take) which was odd since we were some of the only guests in the restaurant. The food came out cold, nothing less gross than cold eggs/hash brown casserole. Then we asked for our check and another 20 minutes until we finally were able to cash out and leave. All in all, here for almost two hours. The staff was polite and the waitress was nice but the horrible slow pace made the experience frustrating. The food was ok even though cold. read more

Well it is official... this place has been and is going down hill... mainly service, but even the food is not what it used to be! Our party of four had two orders of sliders, a tuna melt and a hot brown. Our glasses were empty most of the meal, and no one could be seen. I could have gotten up from the table and left with no one being the wiser! Now back to the food. The sliders were ordered medium rare but came medium well/ well done. They also advertise a brioche but for these and that is not what came on the plate! The fries were the highlight of these meals! The hot brown was the only meal that had no issue! It was done as well as they always have. The tuna melt the onion rings were burned and the tomato they put on just one half was ridiculous! It was the bottom of the fruit and was not prepped correctly, it still had the blossom spot on it and was mostly skin so that when you bit the edge it pulled out of the sandwich! I said something to the waitress and it was kinda like oh well... and like I noted before the other half of the sandwich had no tomato! Again service is extremely slow and inattentive.... wish they could figure this out and get back to where they used to be!!! read more

See all

They have great food, service, and a cozy atmosphere. It's wonderful to be attached to the bookstore.

Average service. Good food but nothing very special. Bar drinks are good. I like the taco salad and their burgers. Great place for a book club meeting! read more

I've only eaten there once, and it was a disaster. Now, I've visted Joseph-Beth many times as a bookstore and am a big fan of the store as a place to buy books, CD's, DVD's ect. I will never eat at the cafe again though. I was in college and taking my girlfriend out on a date. We went there on a weekday afternoon, and business was slow. We were seated at a table when the cafe was almost entirely empty. Our waiter was slow in coming up to us to take our drink order, we sat for almost 10 minutes before he came up to us and put down menus. We made our drink order. . .and he stood there and wanted us to order our food on the spot having barely seen a menu. We asked for a little more time, and he gave us about a minute. Literally. He walked off then walked right back and stood there wanting to take our orders. We felt rushed and awkward and made our order. The waiter disappeared again, and our food didn't come out for over 20 minutes. When it finally came out, it was cold and soggy, like it had been sitting around far too long. He dropped the food off and walked off. He never checked back on us, he never filled up our drinks. We never saw him waiting on anybody else, as we were the only table at the time. After far too long and our drinks sitting empty and our mediocre meals having been eaten, we sat around waiting for our check. He came by and slapped it on the table, and again stood there wanting us to pay it on the spot. I gave him cash and he went back and got change. Promptly this time, he returned with the change and quickly walked off again. I left him a penny tip. That wasn't the end of it. My girlfriend and myself went into the bookstore proper, I was in the magazine section, she was way over in science fiction. Our waiter calls out from behind me "Was there a PROBLEM with my SERVICE?!?!". He'd followed me out of the cafe, into the bookstore, and was now shouting at me, berating me for not leaving him a good tip! I told him, point blank, that he'd never checked up on us, never filled our drinks, rushed us to make our orders, rushed us to pay, and the only time he was prompt was when he was taking our money. He got a fuming, raging look on his face and started screaming about how he's doing this job to support a family and he can't do it on penny tips, and how I better think twice about giving penny tips to the people who handle my food. All the time he is shouting so loud my girlfriend across the store can hear it, everyone in Joseph Beth could hear his outburst. He returned to the cafe, and we left the store immediately. I called and complained to the Manager the next day, told her the whole story I just told here. I got a profuse apology, and from the sound of things the manager had already heard about the incident and was expecting this call. The manager implied he didn't work there anymore. She sent me a $50 gift certificate as an apology, which kept me going back to the bookstore. I'll never eat at the cafe again though. read more

I have immune issues and have to watch where I can eat. eating outside is my best option. My wife and I thought we should go to Bronte's before a day of shopping in Lexington. I called the night before and asked if the outside seating was available and was told it was. We drove for 90 minutes from Cincinnati and when we went to Bronte's we were told no outdoor seating was available today. It will be a long time, if ever, we will eat at Bronte's again. read more