I just bought a home nearby that I'm remodeling and don't usually have much time. So when I…read moredropped into Backstretch I expected, like many neighborhood bars, to be "assessed" by everyone prior to figuring out if I was cool enough to be in their neighborhood bar (patrons more than owners). I was pleasantly surprised. Rachel, the bartender, and Mike, owner, were both working behind the bar and both welcomed me and introduced themselves. The service was great, the burger the best you can get on this side of town. It was fast, attentive, and followed up to ensure that I was happy. It's got a smokers patio for those of us who don't want to die from natural causes and the regulars out there were friendly and talkative. When I asked for my check I got it. Both Rachel and Mike thanked me for coming in and invited me back. Stop in and don't miss this one. I'm glad I'm a bike ride from the place.

When i go to a bar after work every once in a while i don't really care for a rude waitress. I…read morethought maybe she just had a bad day. Nope its every single time. I want to relax and wind down and bullshit with friends. If I want to deal with a shitty attitude I can get that at home and the beers aren't $3.50. The only other option is deal with the other waitresses who constantly try to scam you into paying for more beers than you actually had. When it happens consistently, it's not a mistake. One time i paid the girl beer for beer, no tab. when i was leaving she insisted that i owed for 4 beers. Another time me and a friend had 2 beers apiece, i went inside and paid. Ten minutes later the girl gave my buddy a tab for 4 beers that were already paid for. I hate it for Mike.

We LOVED our time at The Obstinate Sons! This place is a MUST TRY!…read more We were recently on a little getaway for our Anniversary, looking for a good spot to have a nice dinner. We really struck gold finding this gem of a spot!! The atmosphere is perfect! Soft lighting, not a lot of tables, not at all crowded, beautiful decor, we were very impressed from the moment we stepped in the door! Our waiter stopped by our table pretty quickly and did such a great job for our whole dining experience! He was very helpful when we asked for recommendations, and was perfectly attentive throughout our time! Several super friendly people stopped by our table over the course of our evening, the service was remarkable! Obstinate Sons keeps a small menu - I love this!! Not only does it make it easier to choose what to order, it also typically means a place does the things they offer, VERY well! This idea fit accurately with this restaurant! Every single thing we had was top notch and done so very well! We left so impressed! We started cocktails! The bar tender was excellent and had our drinks out quickly! We both ordered various Old Fashioned's, when in Rome, right?! Since we were in town for some local distillery tours, it only felt right to sample some of the local flavors - and they have a LOT of choices! Extensive bourbon list! Everything we had was superb! Next we went in for an appetizer, the deviled eggs! They rotate how they make them, variating flavors and ingredients! I can't remember exactly what flavors they had the night we were in, but they were delicious! Bacon and horseradish were for sure elements! Loved these!! I am a sucker for a good salad so when I saw that they offered a wedge salad with their "own memorable bleu cheese" I knew I had to try one! It was extremely memorable as I'm still thinking about it weeks later! ;) The roasted heirloom tomatoes were exceptional, tiny little guys packed with SO much flavor! I could have used a few more of those, they complimented the salad so perfectly! The toasted onions were also superior! This was a really great salad!! Next up entrees with beers! :) We tried a couple of beers we had never had before, the Bearded Iris Homestyle and the Country Boy Cougar Bait - both amazing and refreshing!! We ordered the Prime Pork Chop which came with the most delectable risotto, wow! So good! We also ordered the Sole Piccata which was quite possibly the best fish entree I've ever tasted! The sauce was perfection and the fish was perfectly prepared with the best panko parmesan crust, HIGHLY recommend!! We also tried a side of the Smashed Roasted Garlic Herb Red Skins Potatoes, very good! The sides serve 3 so they go a long way! We had too much to finish!! ;) Lest you think I'm finished here, I haven't even gotten to the best part! DESSERT!!! We don't often order dessert out - we don't usually save room and it's just not usually our thing. Because we were celebrating our anniversary, I guess we felt extra on this particular evening because we decided to try some dessert. After some great explanation and recommendations by our server we landed on the bread pudding. This dish also varies regularly with the chef's discretion. They have different flavor profiles that rotate, if I understood correctly. On this particular evening the waiter explained the bread pudding feature: I wish I could remember the way he described it, word for word. I'm struggling to remember the details but I believe it was a chocolate bread pudding with a caramel bourbon sauce. Maybe something to do with Kahlua sauce. You'll have to forgive my memory, I just don't know all that he said - however, what I DO know and am QUITE certain of, this was very literally THE BEST dessert I have EVER tasted in my life! EXTREME delight! I literally told my husband I felt like my life was complete after finishing this dessert, it was THAT incredible! My advice on this restaurant - Do not skip a bourbon based cocktail and DO NOT SKIP DESSERT! ;) The entire meal was an honest absolute pleasure, but those two things stand out for me about our meal! If there were a yelp rating higher than 5 stars, The Obstinate Sons would deserve it - EXCEPTIONAL PLACE!!! Make this your next choice!

Cute place, but doesn't take reservations. Our first attempt at this, there were six of us and we…read morewere going on Saturday evening - don't even try it. For two people, ok.. for 4 it's a toss up... anymore than 4 there is no way. The second attempt was a weekday and my husband and I decided to try again and we got right in. Pros: - Good service - Good bar (which included port wine on the dessert menu) - Good food - we had the bread pudding for dessert and it was great! It is good food, I got the shells and it was good, but nothing I would go out of my way to have again. Cons: - Somewhat of a small menu (both food and cocktail); I think (for me) expanding the cocktail menu would be a very feasible upgrade for this place. - It's toss up on prime time weekends how long you'll have to wait for a table since its a pretty small place

Strong reviews and an interesting menu lured us to this upscale casual restaurant. We grabbed a…read moretable on their covered patio since the weather was so nice for early October. Our friendly waiter kept things moving. It was happy hour (3-6pm) so we got drinks at a reduced price. The menu had so many tempting choices it was difficult to choose. I opted for the Hawaiian chicken sandwich which was tasty. The only downside was the top of the bun was bit dry. The broccoli covered in cheese was a good change of pace. My wife got the spinach and field green salad with a piece of salmon. It was excellent and the salmon perfectly done medium rare. Prices were reasonable. Highly recommended.

After seeing the online reviews, we decided to check out Carson's for dinner, and this place comes…read morehighly recommended by locals as well! On a Sunday night, there was a wait, but we were able to snag two seats at the bar. The bartenders were great--I wish I remembered their names! They made some excellent food and drink recommendations and were very attentive. We started with a Caesar salad to share, which isn't pictured, and then ordered two pasta dishes that we absolutely devoured. Everything was delicious! The following day, we discovered that many restaurants are closed on Mondays, so we ended up at Carson's again. This time, we decided to check out the back porch. We were expecting a similar menu, but the back porch seemed to focus more on meat and fish options, while we were looking for sandwiches. So, we relocated to the main dining area at Carson's without a reservation. Thankfully, the hostess was able to seat us but let us know that we would need to be finished dining by 7 p.m., which wasn't a problem for us. Our server was great, and we started with the goat cheese appetizer, which was absolutely incredible! Unfortunately, my Buffalo chicken sandwich was drenched in Buffalo sauce to the point that I couldn't really enjoy it. My spouse and I also decided to share sides of the mac and cheese and smoked Gouda broccoli. I was pretty disappointed with both because they were heavily covered in truffle, which I personally don't like. Because of that, I wasn't able to enjoy my second meal here as much as I had hoped. Nonetheless, I would still recommend checking out Carson's. There are plenty of menu options, and our first experience was fantastic. Based on my two visits, though, I would strongly recommend making a reservation if you plan to dine here!

I happened across this place by accident and it turned out to be the best restaurant experience…read moreI've had in months! Firehouse decor and fire fighter gear adorn the walls. A massive bar with selections too numerous to list here. The staff was outgoing and helpful. You got your money's worth and then some with the entrees and the atmosphere was fun and inviting. The menu ranged from $9 burgers to $20 sandwiches. Appetizers looked tempting. The servings were generous. What more could you ask for? Big screens throughout the restaurant featuring sports events and the jukebox was playing rock and roll classics. The crowd was a nice mix of young and old. This would be a great place to catch a Kentucky game with your friends. I had the Firehouse Club sandwich with fries and I was blown away. My wife had cheese quesadillas and was equally impressed. Check this place out soon!

Went on a Saturday during a UK fball game. They have several TVs by the bar and a huge 4 screen for…read morethe whole restaurant to see. They played the game sound on their speakers during the game which I love. Order at the bar. Really enjoyed their fried pickles and basket of fries. The fries were extra crispy. Staff was very friendly.

While out shopping, the movies, and enjoying a great day in Lexington, the Fat Man and his wife…read moredecided to get a late lunch. We swung into Southern Cookhouse & Bar. Southern Cookhouse features scratch-made dishes using local ingredients, a variety of burgers, pizzas, and classic Southern entrees. I started with the Chicken & Sausage Gumbo because I love soup and all soup-adjacent things. The gumbo had a good, rich flavor from the roux, with subtle heat and a sweet finish. The chicken had a nice flavor, a little saltiness, and it was tender. The Andouille sausage was cooked well and rounded out the flavor profile. The tomatoes and scallions added brightness and crunch. The rice had a few hard pieces, but overall it was good. I do want to mention that I did find a few chicken bones in the dish, just so people are aware. My wife tried the Dunwoody Cobb, made with Grilled chicken breast, boiled eggs, bacon, avocado, tomato, and blue cheese crumbles, with spring mix tossed in Dijon vinaigrette. The lettuce was crunchy and fresh. The bacon had a great salt level, crunch, and crispiness. The avocado added a creamy richness to each bite, while the tomato's acidity cut through the Dijon mustard's sweet and bitter notes. The star of the show was the salty, nutty, creamy blue cheese crumbles, which meshed well with all the other components. The chicken was cooked well and had good flavor, but it was dry. While I avoided it, my wife said the boiled egg was well-cooked and added it to the salad. I had the Nashville Hot chicken, which comes with spicy pickles, coleslaw & mayo on slider rolls with potato salad. The potato salad was mustard-and-mayo-based. The potatoes were soft but still offered some texture. The mustard and mayo balanced each other and added flavor. There were eggs in the potato salad, but they blended into the background and did not stand out. The sweet pickle relish added crunch and texture without being overly sweet. I'm not sure if it was made in-house or from a container; it was good nonetheless. The slider was fresh, soft, and nicely toasted. The slaw was medium-chopped, with a great mayo ratio and a good sweetness, tasting fresh, crunchy, and creamy without being so rich as to drown out the vegetables or the chicken. The pickle was not spicy, but a thick-cut bread-and-butter type with a little sweetness and a velvety, buttery flavor. The chicken was juicy, tender, and cooked well. The Nashville-style spices were mild to medium, just enough to know it was there but not so overpowering that it was all you tasted. It was not overly oily either, which often plagues sandwiches of this type. The entire sandwich worked well together. Southern Cookhouse has a full menu, but some items do rotate or are seasonal. The bar is fully stocked, offering draft beer, tea, and soft drinks. They offer counter ordering, and the staff is very friendly. The Fat Man says that Southern Cookhouse & Bar is Fat Man Approved with 2 chins.

If you love Shoestring Fries, this is your place!! They are some of the best shoestring fries that…read moreI have ever had. I always come back for that Waymore's Chicken Pot Pie!! I guarantee that you won't find a similar dish on anyone's menu. I love the gravy over the top of a chicken pot pie chimichanga. It is brilliant!! Anyway, they have great burgers and it's a great neighborhood bar. You should check it out. It is owned and operated by a family that lives in the neighborhood.

A gem of a downtown dive joint. Great burgers, tunes, atmosphere, service, and folks. It's our go…read moreto for getting together for a casual bite almost any time.

Sidebar Grill is a dive. A wonderful dive with the best burgers in Lexington. Don't miss the sweet…read morepotato fries.

My friend and I stopped by for lunch. When we walked in…read morethere were a couple of people picking up orders. She ordered the three piece chicken tenders and got a order of fries with cheese. I don't know what seasoning they use on the fries but its so good! The food came out piping hot and fresh. They don't skimp on the portions. She ended up taking the rest home with her. The chicken tenders were so hot She had to wait a few minutes before she could eat them. The food is always consistent every time we go. The store has several tables to sit at if you choose to stay and eat. The tables as well as the store was clean. The man at the register was friendly and he did let us know when her food was ready. They have a huge selection of beverages including beer. And the soft serve ice cream is really good as well.

Loved the Philly cheesesteak sandwich!! That cheese is to die for! Went ahead and bought the fries…read more& drink with it and it's worth the price. Can't wait to visit this place again.

This place is a state treasure. Sometimes I go just for the Hawaiian fries…read more.. But everything is good here. And I've tried everything at least twice. My favorites are the Big Kahuna burger, the fries obviously, but the pulled pork is amazing but the fish plate is my all-time favorite. You could just throw a dart at the menu and be fine though. They have nothing that won't rock your face off.

I had never had spam and have never been to Hawaii, so Big Kahuna was a fun option to try for…read moretakeout. I got the spam and eggs. Spam was a little salty (duh, that's to be expected) but well fried. The fried sunny side up egg was amazeballs too, so rich and runny. Fries were hot and crispy as well, but honestly the spam and eggs (which also came with sticky rice and macaroni salad) was so filling that I barely touched the fries. This delicious smorgasbord was only 9 dollars! My colleague had the juicer, which is mahi mahi with cabbage slaw and spicy mayo. He also got the Hawaiian style fries. Topped with spicy mayo, sweet soy, house chili sauce, green onion, and sesame seed, this is an extravagant dish! He enjoyed it. My other colleague got spam musubi is spam and sweet soy on sticky rice, wrapped in seaweed. He says it's his favorite dish from there. Other dishes include kalua pork (Hawaiian bbq sauce), teriyaki chicken, grilled tofu, coconut shrimp, and katsu, which is panko fried pork with their house sauces. For a meal out of the ordinary, give Big Kahuna a try. They say they have the "second best fish sandwich in town!" (Charlie's claims the first spot).

Fantastic Brunch. Loved the freshness and flavor and service was very quick and friendly. The…read morebartender/server gave great recommendations. It's also very aesthetically pleasing in terms of seating and decor. Will have to try for lunch/dinner sometime

I love the Lomo Saltado Loaded Fries and I ask for extra brown sauce. It has an amazing rich umami…read moreflavor and the most prominent flavor is from Aji amarillo paste (Peruvian yellow chili). I love their version of this common Peruvian dish! As far as brunch goes, I love their breakfast burrito! They melt cheddar cheese on the flour tortilla before loading it up with eggs, potatoes and meat. That extra step of melting the cheese makes a difference -it's a nice layer of melted cheddar and they put a cheese sauce over the top too!l

Great brunch spot! Server was great, food was delicious. Super cute space-- not too many tables…read morethat you feel crowded. The food was really good. The savory French toast was also different but SO good. Highly recommend

My wife and I had lunch here late on a Wednesday afternoon, around 2 PM. This was our first time…read moresince they moved from the small place on N Limestone to the much bigger location on National Ave. There were only 2 or 3 other parties. We were greeted and seated promptly inside. Our hostess and server were both friendly and engaged. They have outdoor seating, as well, but it was way too hot for that. We got water and menus right away. They serve Breakfast/Brunch from open to close (9 am to 3 pm, dinner hours Fri, Sat) as well as lunch items and the menu looks good all around. My wife got the Fried Green Tomato BLT. I got Brunch on a Bun (fried egg, a large sausage patty, pepperjack cheese, bacon jam, on a toasted pretzel bun). Both came with Tots that were crispy and hot. She said the BLT was great and it was large and a lot of food. My sandwich was hot and delicious, but really messy to eat with hands. Might be best as a knife & fork dish. Either way, it was a lot of food and I took home part of it for later. Both dishes were $17 and worth it. We look forward to going back as this experience was flawless.