OBC Kitchen is a large restaurant in a shopping center in outer Lexington. The huge restaurant has a full bar with surrounding tables, another area filled with tables and patio seating. The vibe is very bourbon country with lots of wood décor and barrel bottoms. Disappointingly, despite a reservation having been made weeks before, our party of 8 who was in town for a couple of days was shoehorned into a high top table at the end of the bar. We were so jammed that we even lost a water glass (as in, off the side of the table)! The service was friendly but a little uneven. Because of the number of tables assigned to each server and how many people are in the restaurant, they could use some runners to help make sure that water stays full and customers stay happy. Fortunately, the food does not disappoint. The complimentary bread with whipped butter is warm and tastes fresh. But, don't eat too much, because the apps are amazing. We ordered the hot crab dip, which comes in a cast iron skillet with sourdough toast points and a little, tangy apple slaw. Definitely enough for 8 people to share, this rich and creamy concoction had a crunchy top and a lovely sweet flavor. The slaw adds a lovely zing. As if that were not rich enough, the bacon snack with its peanut butter dipping sauce is sweet and salty perfection. I knew that peanut butter and pork was a good combination, but this was other worldly. Rather than just load up on all of the heavies, you should also check out the salads. The spring mix salad with apples, blue cheese, cornbread croutons and glazed pecans was out of this world. Not the lightest, but it was filled with flavor. The stacked wedge was similarly impressive. A steak of iceberg is bathed in blue cheese dressing and topped with a disk of blue cheese, grape tomatoes, candied pecans and bits of bacon and then is crowned with onion straws. Okay, maybe this is heavy too, but it is delicious. For entrees, we got a steak and crab cake. Despite having to slice, this is an excellent sharing dish. The tender meat was cooked to a perfect requested, rare and was rich and tender. The sweet and crunchy crab cake was similarly rich as it was loaded with crab and not a lot of binder. It had an excellent remoulade for the crab cake and blue cheese butter for the steak, both of which were perfect. The cola braised short ribs were one of the best dishes at the table. The tender meat was just the right amount of sweet which was grounded by the hearty greens. The sweet grits were tender and perfectly cooked. Those grits were also a star in the delicious shrimp and grits, which had perfectly cooked sweet shrimp tossed with diced andouille in a spicy gravy over said grits and topped with sliced scallions. While it is a little spicy, the grits really bring down the heat and make it a very approachable dish. The salmon and quinoa was the surprise hit. The super fresh and rich salmon was cooked to a perfect as requested rare and served over this kale and quinoa mixture in a cider-honey vinaigrette with bits of slightly spicy red onion and bits of cheddar cheese. Texturally, this dish was very appealing. And, the flavors were similarly balanced, with hints of sweet and spice. We should have skipped the sides - more cheesy grits with greens, roasted root vegetables (multi-colored carrots, parsnips and onions), the sweet potato brulee, Brussels sprouts, and cornbread. With the exception of the soggy, under seasoned Brussels sprouts, they were all delicious. But we had WAY TOO MUCH FOOD!!! You don't need to order grits or cornbread if you have grits on any plate. It is just too much. The sweet roasted root vegetables are nice and caramelized and crunchy, but one can only handle so much. The sweet potato brulee was gorgeous - a nice crunchy top over a smooth and well prepared interior. But, we couldn't even finish it. But, we couldn't skip dessert. We were holding out a bit for it. They had these amazing housemade buttermilk donut holes that are rolled in sugar and served with chocolate and caramel sauces and jam. They were perfection. We also ordered the butterscotch mousse parfait, which was a rich and caramely custard topped with whipped cream and honeycomb that is served in a low ball glass. Very good, but definitely worth skipping in favor of the donuts if you are only picking one. Last but not least, and really served during appetizers, the cocktail program here is amazing. I had an aged Manhattan, which was harmonious and most enjoyable. You could also go with one of their dozens and dozens of bourbons, a significant portion of which are local. We very much enjoyed our dinner at OBC. While we were a little uncomfortable and a bit neglected, we left jammed full of yummy food. read more

See all

I am really torn about this review. If I had the option, I would give 3.5 stars. In the end, I still want to come here for drinks, bourbon and cocktails so it ended up with a 4 star. First, the bourbon list was extensive. My husband wants to make it his mission to try them all. The cocktails are fun and unique with names like "Off with his head", "I'll get you..My little pretty" and "Ramsey Bolton" (for all you Game of throne fans). I have been to OBC a couple times now and I realized, I really prefer to drink here than eat here. They also have ipads on the table with pictures of the cocktails and menu items. it's fun to play with. I ordered the pimento cheese app. it was pretty good. A small bowl or pimento cheese served with spicy, crunchy toasts. I have had better pimento cheese spreads, but the spicy toasts were delightful. For dinner I ordered the braised short ribs which came with wilted greens (kale) and cheesy grits. There were some problems with my dish in that I really didn't enjoy it. The braised ribs tasted like pot roast, a very dry pot roast. The kale needed flavor like garlic or lemon. They were under seasoned. And the grits were congealed upon arrival but tasted ok. The husband ordered the crab cake, but it smelled entirely too fishy for my taste. The were very attentive and offered to get me something more to my liking but honestly, it was my birthday and I really just wanted cocktails at that point. Previously we have tried the candied bacon which is thick cut bacon with a sugary crust. It was tasty, but it is served at room temp. (that just seemed weird to me.) Like I said, i have every intention of coming back and drinking here. I will probably try a salad or another app next visit. read more

See all

I've been a few times as this place has been around for some time now and my opinions of it have improved over time. At this point I basically just stick to any dish of theirs that has short rib and go from there. It's a cool concept, and they have a stellar drinks program. There's an expansive bourbon list, though prices seem more geared for tourists than locals with a few hidden gems (barrel picks are usually a great way to get good deals). Brunch was delicious as well, and as always...short rib. read more

I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty the menu is at OBC. I had dinner with two of my friends and we shared a few appetizers. The service was good, our waitress came to check on us and fill up our drinks often and she boxed our leftovers for us. We had cheese "fondue", which I actually wasnt impressed by because it was more like a cheese dip and totally not what I was expecting. I liked the taste of the cheese because it had blue cheese in it. My friend who doesnt like blue cheese was unable to eat it, and no where on the menu did it say it contained blue cheese. Fine with me, but not for those who don't like certain cheeses. We also had smoked wings, and short rib tacos. I am still thinking about those short rib tacos. They were the melt-in-your-mouth kind of taco. A little pricey at $12 for 3 tacos with nothing else, but I'd still order them again because they were unbelievably good. The smoked wings were great too. They were a better deal at $12 for about 8 wings. I ordered the bacon and egg frisee salad. It was a nice addition to the appetizers, and for $6 it was a good size. The bacon was also melt in your mouth. So good. I will definitely be back. I would love to try the oysters, but I think $12 for 4 oysters is too steep. read more

See all

First, let me say we had the best Old Fashion drinks there. The Rock is AMAZING!! Drank at the bar. Both Ryan and Akim (spelling) were so knowledgeable regarding Bourbon. You HAVE TO have drinks there. We went back for my birthday dinner. The food is another story. I had the Seabass. While the fish was good, and served at the proper temperature, the bed of beans and greens it sat on were lukewarm at best. My husband had the Shrimp and Grits. Not only was it lukewarm, it had a film over it. I believe the film was because it sat around too long waiting to be served. We believe the food was served the way it was because there was a table of 25 next to us. We got our food shortly after they did. We think they were so busy getting their food out, that ours suffered. While we will DEFINITELY go back for drinks, not so sure we'd try the food again. read more

I went for brunch and had a great experience. I got the pimento cheese and bacon omelette (I'm a sucker for pimento cheese!) with a side of cheesy grits. The omelette was perfectly cooked and the cheese so gooey. Flavor was great! Our waiter was very good, he was attentive and always available if we needed him. read more

Absolutely loved the ambiance. They had so many different Bourbon options that they had an app made to make it easier on the customer! Shelby (our server) was probably the best part if our experience! She was Kind, Fun, and gave great suggestions. The food was amazing and their chocolate creme brûlée was to die for. read more

OBC Kitchen - Cubano, Thai Calamari, Pork tacos, Roasted Glazed Brussels Sprouts The rock old fashion - Salad Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

The drink selection is phenomenal. I loved the professor oak cocktail. Im typically a cocktail sweet drinks person but I wanted to try their bourbon because im in Kentucky. I thought the drink was good. Good mix of just plain good bourbon without being bitter. In fact slightly sweet drink. Big fan. The food was amazing. We did the the fried green tomatoes (yuuuummm). That whipped cheese ( I think it's gruyere) was a nice contrast to the fried tomatoes. We also got the wagyu beef burger (very juicy) with a side of fried potatoes. We asked for it extra crispy and it was bomb. I would recommend the beec to be medium rare vs medium. I think our burger was more on the medium well done. But it was still soft and juicy and sort of charbroiled. We also got the short rib tacos. Ive had better but it was also good. The cola marinaded short rib was a bit on the dryer end. Overall, would definitely recommend. read more

OBC Kitchen - Clockwise from top: professor oak, friend green tomatoes, Short Rib Tacos and wagyu burger - Salad Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Preface: The only reason this is getting 5 stars is because of our server April. She was a lot of fun and great with our kids, so were multiple other servers who would come by and say hi to our boys. They even went and got a band-aid for my son who had scratched off a scab. The food alone would give it a 4 star review. It was pretty good but not 5 star worthy. The drinks were however, 5 star worthy. read more

Delish! Lots of great options, even go kids. Great bourbon. Steaks and seafood, oh so good. What more could you ask?

10/10 would go again. Absolutely delicious. The service was friendly and the server's were very attentive.

My wife and I came here for appetizers and drinks before dinner at another restaurant. We had excellent service from our waiter, Will. The bourbon/whiskey selection is unreal. They have an iPad for their selections and it was tough to choose from. I had bacon in a glass which was amazing. My wife had the sushi cones and the Macgyver cocktail. Awesome place and we can't wait to visit again. read more

Okay, this place was quiet a find. I learned of it from a local I met on the plane heading to Lexington this week. She told me this would be the place for a good meal and a great selection of bourbon served by knowledgeable barmen and staff. Understatement. It was all that and more! We went in late afternoon for a snack and a taste of that only-in-Kentucky elixir. The menu is fantastic and everything we ordered was phenomenal. The star snack on offer is a glass of bacon. They serve about six pieces of house maple glazed bacon, slow grilled and standing upright -- in a tall glass. It's served with a peanut butter sauce that is to die for. Best afternoon snack ever. I washed it down with an Old Fashioned made with one of their barrel select bourbons. A perfect combination. We also had short rib tacos. Everything on the menu is designed to compliment the hundreds of bourbon options at OBC. And they do. The recommendation was epic, and so was the visit. The place is gorgeous. It's like you're in a barrel room at a distillery. But with a huge backlit bar that features hundred of bottles of bourbon. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. And they run a loop on a big screen of the bartenders making great cocktails that should have its own cable channel! If you're near Lexington, this is a must do! read more

OBC Kitchen - Salad Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

I was out in Kentucky on a work trip and decided to stop by on the first night for dinner. The reviews said this place was good so I took that chance. Best decison of the trip if you ask me. I liked the setting of the restaurant. Wood finishes everywhere with the dim lighting. The seating feels intimate. I had the bacon burger cooked medium. That was a good dish. The patty was flavorful. Came with thick cut bacon. Served with pickles and fried potato slices. All of it was good. The pickles has this sweet savory taste. The potato slices seasoning was gooood. Might have been steak seasoning. And they had a crunch to them. Which tipped it off. I had a mixed drink that was made with smoke. Pretty cool to see and experience. I sat at the bar. Where you can see their large selection of bourbon and whiskey. Pretty impressive. Service was good and consistent. I was served by Clint. He was very attentive and made sure I had everything I needed. Cool dude who shared some funny stories. Would definitely cone again. Thank you!!! read more

We had the most fantastic dinner at OBC while visiting Lexington, KY. Cool vibe and wow to their bourbon selection! Funny, too, that you can see pictures and descriptions of all their cocktails/beer/wine and food on iPads located near each table. We had some good laughs scrolling through. Our server was pleasant and did not rush us at all. The food was unbelievable. We started with the delicious bread, which for $2 for a huge, warm, hearty loaf of wheat bread covered in poppy and sesame seeds. Don't miss the bacon in a glass appetizer - thick slabs of crunchy bacon covered in sugar and served with a dipping peanut sauce! Portions of both appetizers and entrees were huge. Entrees we tried were all fabulous and we would recommend them all - the cola braised short ribs, the smokey shrimp and grits, the short rib tacos, and the crab cake. We were stuffed but it was hard to have self control when everything tasted so delicious. We loved the whole evening and will definitely be back. read more

See all

Their branch menus were good, with a decent portion size of the meal with friendly staff. I would like to try their breakfast burrito next time because it seems like everyone ordering it read more

This restaurant was fabulous. I would give it 10 stars if I could! Our waiter was Conner. Connor deserves 10 stars on his own He was professional, engaging in funny. The calamari and fried green tomatoes were the best we've ever had anywhere! So much food my appetizer was the meatballs I couldn't even finish them. This restaurant is a repeat restaurant and ask for Connor when you go in. You won't be sorry. The ambience and menu choices. The alcohol choices really top-notch read more

BRUNCH at OBC. I like OBC. I want to LOVE OBC due to its proximity to the abode, but I LIKE it. Brunch got it to 5 stars today, BTW lunch is a good solid 4/4.5 and dinner closer to a low end 4). I will admit there are some things to love. Bacon in a glass--candied bacon with a side of peanut butter...yep. That makes the list. The BBQ Shrimp starter...also pretty good. Great sauce, shrimp can be a bit overcooked at times, but you ALMOST overlook that while licking the sauce off your fingers and dipping the bread. Enteees area little better than okay, but the inventive cocktails make up for that (I can easily be talked into sharing a bunch of small plates when the cocktails are great). Today we went for Brunch. Had been hearing good things. Did not disappoint. Hubs had the Pimento Cheese and Bacon Omelet (subbed in egg whites, 'cause that made it ALL better) and it was Goooood!!!! I had the Smoked Salmon Plate......sooooo goood. Crispy Capers, whipped creamed cheese and perfectly delicate Smoked Salmon. Comes with a wonderful batch of dressed greens. A bit pricier than one of faves Winchell's for bfast....does not open until 11 if you get an early start but you can grab a res on Open Table and not have to wait like at some other Breakfast/Brunch spots around town. No day drinking this visit, but is a great spot to pop in for a cocktail most any time. read more

OBC Kitchen - Smoked Salmon Plate on the Brunch Menu at OBC. Fabulous!!! - Salad Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

The best restaurant we've been too in Lexington. Great service. An iPad was left at our table that contained the entire menu with descriptions and pictures of everything. Beautiful decor, soft lighting and a large but respectful group of patrons. They stock over 650 different types of bourbon as well as signature drinks and a wide selection of craft beers. The bill was also very reasonable when compared to our experience. What's not to like. We will be back with a desire for more of what the OBC Kitchen has to offer. read more

Food was amazing and the service was top notch. My fiancé and I went here for a special dinner before we left to go home and glad we did. Lovely night. read more

Good variety of food and tasty not overly expensive would prefer a different variety of background music but good ambiance definitely worth trying out if you've never been there read more

Amazing craft cocktails with a focus on bourbon (obviously!). Pictured here is the Avada Kedavra (left) and Happee Birthdae Harry! (right). Food was incredible to match. My husband got the short Ribs and I got the Kale & Quinoa with Grilled Salmon. Both were delicious. The atmosphere is upscale, trendy and lively. However, what really made our experience top notch was our server, Zach who was professional and personable. He greeted us, made us feel welcome, made great recommendations and demonstrated true southern hospitality. Highly Recommend! read more

OBC Kitchen - Cocktails - Salad Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Well let's start with them having a Harry Potter themed alcohol list. Then you're in Bourbon heaven with hundreds to choose from. The food was outstanding, as was the service. I definitely will be back! read more

OBC Kitchen - Smoked Salmon Potato Skins, Buttermilk-Jalapeno Skillet Cornbread, Roasted Glazed Brussels Sprouts, and Golden Snitch cocktail. - Salad Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

We dined here over the weekend and were impressed with the quality of the food, as well as the prompt and courteous service. The short rib was to die for, the crab dip was excellent, and the gnocchi were likewise super yummy. As beverages go, this is mainly a Kentucky bourbon joint -- their selection is absolutely massive -- but as a beer guy I was pleasantly surprised to find some good craft labels available. They also have a full bar with both custom cocktails and your old favorites. Depending on what you order, this restaurant can get a little pricey, but it was worth it -- and that's not necessarily true of far too many places these days. We will definitely visit this one again. read more

Tonight's meal (we ate at the bar) was outstanding! I had the Shrimp and Grits. They were the best I've ever had. Grits were flavorful and the perfect consistency. Chunks of andouille and thick bacon married well with the smoked shrimp. The gravy was the cherry on top. My wife ordered Parmesan Chicken which was also a hit. And Sean (bartender) was amazing. Knowledgeable, prompt, entertaining with the drink making. Highly suggest OBC when you want an incredible dinner. We are heading back for Saturday brunch tomorrow. read more

See all

Tried a Variety of small plates! Short rib tacos were wonderful. Oysters and carpaccio very tasty. Loved their Mac n cheese!! Sweet potato creme brûlée would have been a great dessert too. Only let down was the cornbread...looked lovely but the only flavor we could taste was the bacon grease. Service was great!!! read more

See all

Kitchen staff are amazing, staff is great! Management is top notch. Definitely would recommend this place over and over again! Food is delicious every time! read more

The food was excellent, our waiter was extremely knowledgeable about bourbon and we had a great time eating and drinking at OBC.

Loved feeling like an absolute princess here!!! My only suggestion is a bigger vegetarian option besides salads :). Lemon drop martini has my heart! Our waiter was so good and attentive. Love this place! read more

Food came out within 5 minutes after being ordered, big red flag to me, and yet fried chicken was over cooked and stringy and tough. I think this is a crime in Kentucky to do such a poor job on fried chicken, either do it great or take it off the menu. It was not great but at least it was a tiny portion so you didn't gave to eat a lot if it. Everything was pricey, I would avoid this place. I guess it is just for bourbon drinkers. Brussels sprouts were ok but no saltiness to offset the sweet. I didn't want to order dessert due to the fact that everything I had up until now was poorly done, why pay for more disappointment. read more

First visit today for brunch. Very attractive venue and excellent focus on cleanliness & covid-safety. Good set of menu choices. We had ham & cheese omelet, fruit salad, steak & eggs, shrimp & grits and a Hot Brown. All were outstanding and service was excellent as well. Went based on recommendation from my daughter; she called it right ....outstanding! read more

I have looked forward to every meal I've sought at OBC however they've disappointed every time. I am guessing some inconsistencies in Chef's because you never know what to expect out of even the same dish. I've given brunch and dinner a try and was never satisfied. Service is great and the ambiance is nice but I'll pass on the food! read more

We tried out OBC while visiting Lexington and loved the experience! Delicious food and very friendly service. We will be back the next time we are in town to enjoy more great food-- this time we tried Cornmeal Catfish and Shrimp & Grits. read more

Food was amazing! Not a single complaint and our party of 7 all ordered something different for brunch. Very friendly staff. Our waitress stayed on top of everything. Would absolutely go back again and again! The restaurant itself was so nice and clean. Good music while eating. read more

OBC Kitchen just recently started serving Sunday Brunch. It's definitely a good thing that they decided to start doing brunch! While I was in town visiting some friends, the group of us decided to stop and give it a try. It greatly exceeded my expectations! From the smoked Bloody Mary, to the candied bacon with peanut butter sauce, to the pimento cheese and bacon omelet, all of my taste buds were completely satisfied. We got a little bit of everything at our table to the point where we had trouble finding room for our drinks! They have an amazing bourbon selection, which you can easily browse prices on their iPads. The iPad shows their full menu of food, drink, and cocktails. It is nice to be able to have a visual of what you are ordering if you are having trouble making a decision. They also have bottomless mimosas for $14. If you're looking for a good start to your Sunday Funday or just to have a good brunch, you have to try OBC Kitchen! read more

THINGS I LIKED: the bacon in a glass with peanut butter sauce was out of this world, definitely recommend the waitress was a sweetheart who took pains to make sure my fussy stomach needs were respected they had tiny tables for 2 if that was your situation, which I like because there were only two of us, as well as giant tables if you needed that instead THE MEH: the fried green tomatoes were kinda forgettable (no flavor or texture in the breading) i realize this is something they can't really change because there aren't any windows, but it weirds me out to eat brunch in a restaurant that's got dim, "dinner" lighting? I dunno I realize that's super personal and maybe someone who really likes that idea will see this and want to go. (I've bought pink yarn PURPOSELY because someone else was complaining that the "red" was too pink, because I wanted pink.) In any case you should go just for the candied bacon, if you eat bacon. It was great! And it saved great as leftovers for our road trip, too. read more

Great food and drinks! The drinks are so unique and they rotate the cocktail menu every so often which I love!!

OBC is a great place to have a quick bite or brunch. Their bourbon selection is over the top and the food is delicious. Try the fried green tomatoes! You won't be disappointed. The only reason I didn't give them five stars is our bartender was distracted and we were left basically being ignored at times and had to flag someone down to get our check. So it may take a little extra time to have a meal here. Keep that in mind. read more

I really loved the atmosphere here and the drink were good. My bloody mary was smoked and delicious. Food was great at brunch time and service was good. read more

See all

Great food, kinda expensive, and I like the seasonal menu, cause it doesn't get boring. Wish it wasn't as far for me as I live in Hamburg, definitely would go more often if it was closer! read more