Man, this place is ... well, it's just good. It is a longtime Lexington staple located in an old neighborhood in a run down strip mall on a two-lane road just out of downtown Lexington. This is a Comfort Food Place with friendly people and large portions of really good food at great prices. Cheap drinks. Horse Racing on the TVs, as well as other sports and such. My wife and I went last month on a whim as we were in the area (it's a bit of a drive for us) and ran into 4 people we knew on a Thursday night. It's a small dive of a place, so that was 10% of the crowd. I've been several times for lunch but this was my first dinner. They have a standard menu with a good bit of variety and a lot of great desserts. But, they also have daily specials. For my lunch visits, there are usually 5-8 options and when they're gone, that's it. For dinner... I swear there were 25 options handwritten on the damn chalkboard. It was insane. What do I get!? I got the frog legs. My wife got the standard menu cheeseburger. Both as delicious as the fish platter, the open faced roast beef, and every other thing I've gotten here. Home Cooking my friend, and I mean food you want to eat. This ain't no health club, this ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around. It isn't fancy, it isn't pretty, it's old. And, I'd go there 3 nights a week if it was within a 10-minute drive. read more

The food was amazing. Very cool decorations. Try the fried green tomatoes they were delicious

Old fashioned place with basic bar food. Nothing available for vegans. Greasy and basic. Nothing special

Big fan here! I went there the first time about 18 months ago, and now I'm a regular. Love their seafood! Service is terrific, and I like the ambience as well. read more

We arrived at the Thoroughbred at 1:30 and they were closed. We had to find another place.

Lexington mainstay, if you've never been, it's a must. Lunch and dinner a bargain at the prices service is always top-notch. Country cooking... There's always a little bit of everything. Think Winchell or Ramsey's but better. It definitely has that 50 year-old dive bar feel. I forget how great it is until I go back, but I will continue to return on a regular basis. read more

Thoroughbred Restaurant - Menu - American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Stopped in after YP's recommended the place. From the outside with the fact it's in a strip mall type setting it doesn't really stand out. I've driven by it several times. Inside was quaint with several tables to eat and a 10 seat bar area. They have a printed menu and also a chalk board for daily specials. On that board today was liver and onions. I ordered and was extremely happy with it. Tender and full of a sweet flavor from the grilled onions. Came with two sides which were corn and mashed potatoes(probably instant). I will come here again when in town. They do get a lunch crowd read more

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This is a local dive that has been here for decades. It is very unassuming and surprisingly delicious food! Comfort food and fried bar food at its finest! They have excellent specials and the good stuff is on the chalkboard. Tonight I had the Crab Stuffed Flounder and it was delicious. Next time I want to try the Cod in Crack Sauce. I have to admit that one of my pet peeves is when they bring the salad with the meal. That really irritated me and by the time I finished my salad, the mashed potatoes and gravy were cold. The owner, Mark was there working hard and checking with all the customers and I really appreciated that. Don't be scared by the looks of the place, the customers are very friendly and the food is excellent. read more

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The food was very authentic and tasty! Interesting because we just returned from Frankfurt Germany and this food tasted just like we were back in Germany. read more

I'd really like to rate this a 3.5 but can't do half. This is a great local spot, very popular and gets very busy. You will wait to be seated. They start writing the menu board at 5, so I would suggest getting there right at 5 to secure your table and be ready to order. Things we ordered: Mahi fingers appetizer - for $10.95 you get a plate of about 5 mahi fingers. These are good but I thought just a tad bit dry. Steak - I wouldn't recommend the steak. It doesn't have enough flavor out seasoning and is just a plain unseasoned cut. Lamb chops - we've been wanting to try lamb chops but we weren't impressed. I'm not sure if it was lacking seasoning or if we just didn't care for the meat. Grouper: this is my sons favorite - but I was a little disappointed in the batter as it was falling off the fish as I was eating. Seafood platter: this is probably the best thing to get - the batter in the fish has a good crust and did not fall off. Each meal comes with cornbread and two sides. read more

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Service and food were great! Good music and perfect for chat, dinner and a drink or just watch a game and have a burger read more

Thoroughbred Restaurant - Stuffed flounders - American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Had dinner here for Valentines as we had not made any fancy reservations. Best decision ever! Sat in front if the fireplace, watched the basketball game and had wonderful food and drinks. Best martini! Spinach Artichoke dip was hand made and baked to order-FANTASTIC! Met the owner and reminisce about old Lex. Might be the best place in town. read more

Food was good and the service was spot on. So good I came here both nights for my trip to Lexington. Hot brown the first night and stuffed flounder with crab the second night. read more

Ate supper at this restaurant, the food was terrific! Nice, friendly atmosphere, they look to please. If I'm in the area, we will be stopping at the Thoroughbred Restaurant again. Side note: it looks like a bar from the outside, but kids are welcome. read more

Great local spot with homestyle food. friendly staff, good prices. definitely would go again.

Great place. Locally owned for decades. Real hidden gem. Good food. Generous helpings. Great service. Highly recommend

Food was very good, I was surprised by the menu selections. Service was excellent, friendly, Professional, Courteous. A Great Hometown Restaurant, with a down home feeling. read more

Go! Try this place. Man, everything was so good!!!!! Seriously, every single item was to perfection. Wish we lived near this place. Cannot believe all the years we lived in Lexington and never heard of this place. Can't wait to visit Kentucky again and eat here. read more

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On a Saturday date night, the Fat Man and his wife headed into Lexington to try a new place. We landed on Leestown Road at Thoroughbreds Restaurant. Thoroughbreds have been in business for over 40 years, serving home-cooked Kentucky comfort foods on a rotating specials menu. We started with some Mahi Fingers and homemade tarter sauce. The tartar sauce was thick and creamy, with a great taste. The pickles are roughly chopped, making it hard to dip the fish, so expect to use a utensil. The Mahi was lightly battered and fried to a golden brown; it was not oily; they were frozen but came out tender and flaky. My wife tried Smitty's Meatloaf with loaded baked potato, broccoli casserole, and a hoe cake. The hoecake was a little oily, with a slight sweetness in the flavor and a good crunch on it. The baked potato is cooked perfectly and has the correct amount of butter and sour cream. The meatloaf has a great ketchup topping, and the flavor is good, but it is a little mushy in texture and slightly greasy from the bacon on top. It has a smokiness to it as well. For my entrée, I had the Kentucky Hot Brown with broccoli casserole. The broccoli was slightly undercooked in some pieces but not inedible. The seasoning is excellent, and the cheese is ooey gooey, while crackers offer a crunch and texture. The hot brown comes out as a large portion. The Mornay sauce is thick and creamy with a slight sweetness that cuts through the salt of the dish. The bread on the bottom is fluffy and chewy, and the ham and turkey were thinly sliced and piled on, offering both sweet and salty meaty bites. The cheddar cheese is melted well, with the bacon crunchy and salty. The only knock is that the Roma tomatoes, while good, are small. A larger serving would work better. Thoroughbreds have an extensive menu with daily appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, and fresh specials. The menu rotates with the season. The servers were amiable, and the same family has owned it for over forty years. The Fat Man says Thoroughbreds Restaurant is Fat Man Approved with 2 chins. read more

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The food and drinks are delicious. I wish there were more seats. It can load up up fast

Our meals were spoiled!! Had to send back! Absolutely Horrible... not even an apology....We are there on 10/08/2024 . we were shocked since we had eaten there over the years and always loved it . So sad. read more

Thoroughbred Restaurant - American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Good food, we went after Dr appointment and bar scene but chill environment. We had great service and just what we were looking for.

My friend and I meet in Lexington. We have been here twice so far. I reside in GA and he lives In MI. We pretty much got snowed and iced in on our last visit but truly enjoyed this establishment again! It's "our" favorite place to eat now. I love that it is small and cozy. The food is excellent especially the fried mushrooms and the atmosphere is nice and quiet. I also LOVE the fireplace it's a great touch. Service is always top-notch . Kary and Shellie read more

Different little off the beat restaurant. The food was not bad but nothing memorial. Based off other ratings was expecting more.

My wife and I tried the Thoroughbred for the first time after many many years. We shared the banana peppers which were very good. We both had cheeseburgers which were good but not great. The service was excellent. Probably won't drive out of our way again, as we can get better cheeseburgers elsewhere. read more

I enjoyed my choice of pork cutlet sautéed mushrooms and loaded baked potato. The potato was large portion, covered with butter, sour cream, fresh bacon bits and chives. One of the chefs loves baking and makes beautifully presented desserts. I ordered the strawberry cheesecake. The portion was huge! It was creamy, covered with fresh strawberries and a nice graham cracker crust. I enjoyed part that evening with my milk and the rest the next morning with my coffee. The owner came to check in our service and spent time visiting with us. Nice man. This restaurant has been in the family since 1954, small dining area with bar, nice crowd overall and right down the street from Keenland. read more

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Great place! Had I not been told about this restaurant I'd never have stopped, glad I did. Great food and service and the staff made us feel like they were glad we were there, even though they were super busy!! Fantastic! read more

Great spot with great food. Not over the top and very casual. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

The BOMB had meatloaf, green beans and fried potatoes, and some of the best corn cakes in the world read more

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The food in this vintage horse racing dive is much better than you'd imagine, but only because you don't know horse people. Ha! I've never had bad food among racing peeps. The entree menu changes daily so get there at 5p to see what they post. Staff is friendly and the dessert is fresh. read more

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The grilled Turkey n cheese was good and so was the burger! A cold Woodchuck was welcome after local bourbon tastings. Service was friendly too. read more

Thoroughbred Restaurant - Cold Woodchuck! - American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

In town for business and went looking for a nice local restaurant. Found this place just down the road and it was definitely a popular local hang-out. Friendly staff and packed. Had to wait on a table a few minutes, so keep that in mind if you're super hungry. Sat at the bar (I was a party of one) so a couple could have the only table available. Plenty of good items on the menu; I had the fish and chips which were served with a side of slaw and a cornbread sort of thing. All very good. The bar looked well stocked, too. Recommend. read more

Thoroughbred Restaurant - PBR and the bar - American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Stopped here while in town for a sporting event. I would never have stopped if not for Yelp reviews! Simple place. Outstanding service and food!! I got one of the specials: pickle brined fried chicken breast sandwich. So much juice when I bit into it! Sooooo good! Fried got a burger and onion rings. Both super good! Simple menu, fabulous food. Lots of locals eating there. read more

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Oh my gosh!!! What an awesome eatery! Reminded me of "Cheers". The food was amazing! Jalapeño poppers were off the hook! read more

Loved this spot! My friend & I traveled to Lexington to attend an evening event & looked for a spot to have a bite.... We both love diner type restaurants & this place fit the bill to a tee! A small place located in a strip mall with wonderful wait staff & dining choices. We both got the perch & had so much a take home box was required.... Huge portions of perfectly battered & cooked flakey white fish accompanied by 2 cornbread cakes & 2 sides. We both chose cauliflower casserole, I selected green beans while she had Lima beans... all were quite tasty. We took a good portion of our meal home & shared a slice of butterscotch pie for dessert. Thank y'all for a lovely dining experience! read more

First time here and we'll definitely be back. The food was hot and delicious Bacon on top of the meatloaf awesome. The service was fast and so friendly. We got a huge piece of Oreo cake to go. read more

Thoroughbred Restaurant - Cornbread - American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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The quality is fairly good. Just a hole in the wall restaurant, but people like it. The menu is expansive! Service is hit or miss. The ambience is appropriate for what this restaurant offers. From time to time I just have cravings. The corn cakes are awesome. Not a bad place to enjoy a meal. If I had to pinpoint what kind of restaurant this is I think I'd describe it as a neighborhood dive with pretty good comfort foods. read more

Classic atmosphere with four tvs: three on horse races and one baseball. Almost full around 6:30 pm Saturday night. I agree with other reviewers the rib-eye: it was lovely and cooked to order. I saw other patrons order local classics like hot browns and fresh cut bologna sandwiches (meat about an inch thick). Do this for the experience! read more

Everybody was welcoming and wonderful. We had the hamburger the grilled ham and cheese and the classic club all of which were loaded with meat. Very tasty. Definitely go again. I have the basket of onion rings and some chips. Highly recommend it was a surprise only through this app that I found it, it was close to my daughter's apartment which she was moving into, please try them out. They've been there since 1954. There's a good reason for that excellent experience. read more

Wow !! A hidden gem .. big thanks to the bartender at Town Branch for the recommendation . Friend chicken .. crunchy on the outside .. juicy on the inside and yes the chicken breast was moist and delicious .. greens .. mashed potatoes .. I always get the gravy on the side .. just in case I don't like it . Not the case .. it was amazing . Service was fast and friendly .. I wish I lived closer. Highly recommend this place read more

Thoroughbred Restaurant - Fried chicken .. greens and mashed potatoes . - American Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky