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    Dudley's on Short

    4.1 (311 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM

    Dudley's on Short Photos

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    DUDLEY'S ON SHORT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Upscale
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Dudley's on Short

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    Chad M.

    Always a fan of stopping in here when I'm in Lexington. Classy but not overly pretentious--go there for a fancy date night, a time to catch up with friends, or just hang out at the bar and grab an exquisite burger and a drink (or two). Plenty of strong selections on the menu, and the specials are always outstanding (had a rigatoni in a creamy sauce with sliced ribeye last time I was over there that was just insanely good). Solid cocktail selection as well. Service is always attentive without being intrusive, and the staff seems to be very much on top of covering for each other as needed, which is truly great (last time there, our server was tied up longer than usual to run through questions from another table, so a colleague helpfully ran our drinks over from the bar so we weren't stuck waiting). Give it a go, you won't regret the trip.

    Drinks!
    Earl-Ray N.

    Dudley's on Short is a gem in downtown Lexington that absolutely delivers on every front. I stopped in for a light lunch and was blown away by the flavors, service, and ambiance. The smoked salmon deviled eggs were a standout--elegantly plated and bursting with rich, smoky flavor. Paired with a crisp Caesar salad, the meal was simple yet elevated, showcasing the kitchen's attention to detail and quality ingredients. Service was impeccable: attentive without being intrusive, and genuinely warm. The staff made me feel welcome from the moment I walked in. And the atmosphere? Outstanding. Dudley's strikes the perfect balance between upscale and inviting. It's the kind of place that makes you want to linger a little longer. Highly recommended for anyone seeking refined flavors and a memorable dining experience in Lexington.

    Diana J.

    Celebrated two great friends 50th at Dudley's. This place is classy to the 10th degree. Absolutely loved the atmosphere and the service was impeccable. The menu has something for everyone. I ordered the Baby Wedge which was so delicious. There's nothing infantile about it. It's enough for an entree. Everyone's food was beautiful and delicious. They surprised the birthday girls with two ice cream sundaes for us all to enjoy. It was a beautiful night.

    Menu
    Andrea C.

    The food was good--my favorite part was definitely the fries. The chicken was beautifully crisped, but a bit greasy, possibly due to the red sauce used, and it lacked some flavor on its own. They did bring out some bread to the table, which was a thoughtful touch. We sat on the patio and really enjoyed the cool summer morning--it made for a lovely dining experience. There was a bit of miscommunication among the staff at first, but once that was sorted, a sweet young lady took our order and everything was served promptly.

    Dinner - Tournedos Maxwell
    Allison P.

    Fantastic experience! We had take out appetizers one night and decided to eat there the next! It's in downtown but they do offer valet parking. It was a super busy Saturday night after Keeneland but we were seated at our reservation time and waited on quickly. We had wine and apps (deviled eggs and cauliflower). I ordered the tournedos Maxwell and it was delicious! As was the bread service. It was a great experience and on our list next time we're in town!

    Hunter S.

    Food: excellent. Service: excellent. Manager's treatment of staff and the ridiculous vase in the middle of the dining room: we'll get to that. An upscale American venue. We started with the creamy, luxurious baked goat cheese, served with hot honey, dukkah, crushed almond, and lavash. I was considering this versus the mushroom tartine (mushroom gremolata, basil ricotta, pine nuts, sourdough). I'm happy with our decision. Other starters include house fries, marinated olives, oysters, salmon tartare, calamari, crane cake, shrimp cocktail, and more. I am not a bread person, but we did all enjoy the luscious, slightly salty, delicate yet rustic, bread. Free of charge, courtesy of their on site pastry chef. We each had a salad. My companions enjoyed the Caesar salad, the beet carpaccio, the TG Salad, and I enjoyed the wilted Brussels sprout salad. Each salad had fresh fruits, greens, and vegetables, various herbs, cheeses, nuts, accented by balsamic and vinaigrette dressings. My Brussels sprout salad was large and filling. The others were lighter. Entrees include king salmon, pasta, steak frites, braised lamb, a burger, the Kentucky hot brown, garlic chicken, and scallops. I had the Tournedos Maxwell, petite filets, crab, potato puree, and béarnaise. The medallions were tender, the crab was sweet and an amazing contrast to the steak meat . . . though I must say I ordered the steak medium and got closer to medium rare . . . which for me was okay. One of my companions ordered medium and one of her filets was blue, prompting her to pack it up for the ride home, to have for lunch the next day, after her own "re-fire." Another companion had the grouper and enjoyed it. Another the scallions and found them okay, but not over the top. Desserts included creme brûlée and a cheesecake that wasn't quite a cheesecake. Great dessert selection, which seems to rotate, as, again--on site pastry chef. Our service was AMAZING! Maddy (or Maddie) was wonderful. Attentive and right on top of every special and menu ingredient. We also had an amazing service member who kept filling our water who was personable and fun to interact with. We kept trading fun facts and jokes. It added some much needed levity to a more serious white table cloth type venue. THAT BEING SAID. There is this clunky table and large vase RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DINING ROOM. It's not functional, it doesn't add to the decor or ambiance, it blocks the path of servers and patrons. It makes the diners feel crowded. A couple of servers/employees came too close to this literal obstacle and in front of our whole group, the owner accosted them, essentially telling them that if they bumped into the vase, they would be unemployed the next day. What would happen if a patron bumped into the vase? Would we be held responsible? It was a stain on our evening to see the owner threaten the staff in front of us, much less over A BAD IDEA AND BAD DECORATING DECISION. Clear out that obstruction and treat your staff better. They are wonderful and you're lucky to have them.

    Sahndra F.

    This place is sooo bougie and the food tastes good. We attended in a party of sixteen and there was enough space. Service was exceptional and the servers showed up on time, very often. The place looks so gorgeous and there are pics of the derby horses nearby.

    Kentucky hot brown
    Mallory R.

    We had reservations on a Monday night and the place was pretty packed, so definitely get a reservation if you can. We were sat at a booth two top and it was pretty loud in the restaurant. It was hard to hear the person two feet across the table from you, so maybe not the spot for a super intimate dinner. The service was friendly and efficient, so no complaints there. I tried a bourbon drink, I can't remember the name but rose is in the name. I really like it. My boyfriend got an old fashion and it had some spice to it. I tried the Kentucky hot brown and he got steak. I've never had a hot brown so I don't know what to compare it to but it was good; steak was good too. He also tried the Dudley eggs and we split some house fries. The fries were meh, they came with some tasty sauces. We were too full for dessert but they had several things on the menu that looked good. I'd go back to maybe sit at the bar and get dessert and some drinks.

    Drew G.

    I highly recommend their weekend brunch! The food is delicious and the prices are very reasonable for what you get. I'm not a fan of their bloody Mary mix, but they do allow you to add all kinds of condiments and vegetables and meat to drink. The club sandwich with country ham is incredible and I can't wait to go back to eat it again.

    Barramundi Cajun Style
    J E.

    A large group of us came here on a weeknight for a business dinner. The staff was very helpful and accommodating. The restaurant is very nicely decorated and the architecture has been beautiful restored. Their menu was filled with amazing southern-inspired dishes, it was hard to decide what to get. They have a nice cocktail and wine list too. The dishes I ended up with were both from their nightly specials, one being split pea soup. I love a good split pea soup, it's just hard to find and their was spot-on what I desire! Especially on a cold, windy evening! The entrée I chose was a barramundi done Cajun style and it was also prepared quite nicely and flavorful, though I did have to spike it up with a little Tabasco sauce. Save room for dessert - they offer some amazing options, such as their daily cake, in this case it was chocolate cake with orangesicle icing and it was moist and delicious! Overall, highly recommend stopping in, especially for groups and/or business dinners!

    Courtney F.

    My sister has made a reservation for my bachelorette party here. We walked in and they had a table ready which was awesome. This is a nicer place for sure, white tablecloths and dressed up wait staff. Service was great all night and food and drinks were pretty quick. I loved the brightness of the place, maybe it was the large windows but I hate eating in the dark! This was perfect. Now, the food. Wow. We ended up splitting a couple appetizers - curry cauliflower, baked goat cheese, broccolini, brussel sprout salad. They are very generous with their servings and everything was SO GOOD. We got the s'mores dessert which I'm still dreaming about, it was the star of the show, and ended with their house made lemon cello. There wasn't one thing I tried that I didn't love. Props to the chef, it was phenomenal. Great experience and highly recommend as a nice dinner if you're visiting.

    Calamari
    Rodger S.

    We were very disappointed in this restaurant, it was attractive & had a classy feel about it, but the food wasn't anywhere near as good as it should have been, The fried calamari we ordered for an appetizer wasn't fresh or flavorful. It was rubbery & overcooked, The ribeye steak we shared was also tough & lacking in flavor. The only thing we ordered that was good & worth the price was the bourbon. It was very strong & very good.

    Celebrating our 34th anniversary in the catbird's seats!
    Robert G.

    We moved to Lexington in 1997, and used to enjoy Dudley's at its original location many times, but kind of forgot about it for a decade or so and fell in love with it all over again! The food and service were delightful and it would be hard to pick a better Outdoor area than the rooftop dining experience and we will definitely be coming back like we used to back in the day!

    Dining area

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    Georgie's Social House

    Georgie's Social House

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    I really enjoyed this bar! I went with a friend for a pre-dinner drink, and it was not crowded,…read morewhich was nice. It has a very modern lounge look with a great view of the street and people walking by. It was a beautiful day so the windows were open. You almost forgot you were in Lexington. I got the funkadelic drink, and my friend got the Clooney. Both were really good but completely different. I enjoyed the funkadelic, it was like having a drink on a beach.

    When I lived in Lexington, this spot was a longtime deli that was pretty popular for downtown…read moreworkers. Georgie's only opened a couple of years ago and every friend I heard from that has gone raved about it. While bourbon is a longtime Kentucky treasure, the cocktail scene in downtown Lexington has only recently grown from a handful of weekend spots to a thriving business. On this particular occasion, my wife was at a banquet in the downtown Hyatt, so I took myself out for dinner and drinks at some new places. This was stop #3, and it was by far my favorite. I found a seat right at the bar and started looking over the extensive cocktail list. As I took in the atmosphere, I noticed several couches, a long bar, and some open area by the front. The bartender working while I was there was Jordan, who runs the bar as well as one of my favorite Lexington late night spots, Centro (another 5). And when I say he "runs" the bar, I mean it. He managed to make cocktails and keep the line moving mostly by himself while I was there. He recommended the Quiet Beatle, which I thoroughly enjoyed for a perfectly reasonable price. I got one more vodka soda when things calmed down a bit, and went on my way. There are little bites available, as well as an extensive cocktail and bourbon list. This is definitely a place you can meet a group of friends for happy hour or late night drinks, or have a nice date. I can't wait to come back!

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    Margarita
    Margarita
    Inside
    Inside
    Several comfortable spots along the back wall to chill

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    Several comfortable spots along the back wall to chill

    Dudley's on Short - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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